out of this world

The Intergalactic Nemesis prepares for the epic world premiere of second book,Robot Planet Rising

They've performed sold out shows at The Long Center for the Performing Arts, toured all over the country, been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and even spent Valentine's Day on television with Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter.

So after the success of their first amazing show, what would make The Intergalactic Nemesis — the live action comic book created and directed by Austinite Jason Neulander — even better? How about a second show with more otherworldly robot action, a new 30-city tour and a huge world premiere set right here in Austin?

On June 8, the whole Nemesis crew will take the Long Center stage once again to present the next chapter in the story of intrepid reporter Molly Sloan and her assistant, Timmy Mendez, in their epic battle to save Earth from utter destruction.

In Book One: Target Earth, Molly and Timmy, with the help of the mysterious Indiana Jones-esque stranger Ben Wilcott, were able to outwit the villainous Mysterion and stop the alien race of Zygonians from their mission of destroying Earth. In doing so, however, they landed themselves on a distant planet populated by seemingly benign robots also at war with the Zygonians.

As the title of the second book is Robot Planet Rising, however, you can guarantee Molly and Timmy are in for way more than they bargained for...

Cast members assure us you don't have to have seen the first show to jump right into the second, so don't let that stop you. You can always buy the first graphic novel at Austin Books and Comics and get yourself caught up.

And if it all sounds a bit too fantastical and, well... comic book-y, for your tastes: don't worry. As anyone who saw the first installment can tell you, the amazing radio play aspects of the show are just as important as the plot itself.

As the three talented voice actors — Danu Uribe, Jason Phelps and Shannon McCormick — play all of the story's characters, Graham Reynolds lays down the dramatic original score and Buzz Moran provides the on-stage Foley work. You get to watch all of these talented performers at the top of their game, performing an old-time serial drama played out alongside the giant projections of David Hutchison and Lee Duhig's beautiful comic book panels.

You literally cannot get bored with all of the moving parts that are executed flawlessly over two hours. It's thrilling, it's funny, and it's absolutely unforgettable.

After the world premiere explodes at the Long Center, the cast and crew will head out on a cross-country tour to spread the gospel of Nemesis to hungry audiences around the U.S. Now with two complete shows and graphic novels to wow America, this once-local phenomenon that began as an idea between visionary friends at a coffee shop is a full-speed rocket ship headed to the stars and beyond.

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The world premiere of The Intergalactic Nemesis: Robot Planet Rising is Friday, June 8 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

CultureMap is also hosting a pre-show CultureMap Lounge where you can enjoy food and drink, get an autographed copy of the second graphic novel and meet the cast during an exclusive backstage tour at intermission. Tickets are available through the Long Center ticket office.

New

Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Elisabet Ney Museum Austin

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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