Austin is fortunate to be one of 13 communities to present Illusion Theater’s second statewide tour of the award-winning production, “My Antonia.”

Illusion Theatre is located in downtown Minneapolis. According to their website, “Producing Directors Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris have led Illusion Theater in illuminating the illusions, myths, and realities of our times and in using the power of theater to catalyze personal and social change.”

Over the years, Illusion has generated more than 500 plays, developed thousands of artists, and created ground-breaking educational works.

“My Antonia” is amongst one of these great productions. Adapted from the 1918 Willa Cather novel by Allison Moore, “My Antonia” chronicles the friendship between Jim Burden and a young Bohemian woman named Antonia as it blossoms in their small town of Black Hawk, Neb.

The underlying story focuses on the 1880s European immigrants who came to this country to make their American dreams come true. They endured bitter winters and struggled to make a living farming in the Nebraska prairie.

Moore’s adaptation is told through the memories of narrator Jim Burden, who returns to his small town to see Antonia, the Czech immigrant girl who shaped his understanding of life.

The story is wrapped up in an environment of the changing prairie created by the actors, set and sound.

The tour of this production was made possible through the Arts Tour Minnesota grant program, supported through the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Hertiage Fund.

This grant allows Illusion Theater to expand its touring in Minnesota, and bring quality arts experience to youth and adults. All student tickets for this event are free and general public tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

“My Antonia,” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10

Order tickets by calling 434.0934 or online at paramounttheatre.org.