Austin Playhouse presents Describe the Night by Rajiv Joseph

January 30, 2026 7:30 PM - February 22, 2026 5:00 PM (CST)

Description

A gripping historical thriller tracing the blurred line between truth and fiction. In Poland, 1920, a war correspondent befriends an officer of the Russian Red Cavalry. In 1989, a Stasi agent spies on a woman in Dresden and falls in love. In 2010, an aircraft carrying Polish government officials crashes in Smolensk. Connecting seven lives over 90 years, this Obie Award-winner is a powerful and timely look at memory, misinformation, and how lies have the power to shape history in an increasingly unstable world. 

Age Recommendation: Describe the Night contains adult language and frank discussions of totalitarianism, paranoia, and violence in Soviet/Post-Soviet Russia. It is recommended for adults. Children aged 13 and above are permitted, but parental discretion is advised. 

January 30 - February 22, 2026. 

Special events: 

Friday, January 30 - Opening Night Reception: Raise a glass to the opening of this Austin premiere! Join us after the show for light bites and a champagne toast with the cast. 

Friday, February 6 - Pride Night: Join us before the show for complimentary bites and sweets, and connect with fellow LGBTQIA+ theatre lovers for a night of powerful storytelling, connection, and community. 

Sunday, February 15 - Pre-Curtain Chat: Step into the world of the play before the performance begins. Dramaturg Jennifer Sturley will share historical and artistic context, offering insight into the play’s ideas and inspirations, with time for audience questions. Begins onstage approximately 15 minutes before curtain.

www.austinplayhouse.com/describe