Entry No. 30 — the Austin file — filed under: immersive theater

The Vortex

A scrappy nonprofit theater half a mile east of I-35 that stages electronic puppet operas ("Atlantis: A Puppet Opera"), circus-and-dog retellings of Oz ("The Wizard of dOgZ," with aerialists and live dogs), and shows performed semi-outdoors in a structure the company calls "The Pony Shed" — with the outdoor Butterfly Bar's misters and string lights as the between-acts sensory space.

The move: Grab tickets to whatever original or alternative show is running, arrive early to sit in the misted, lantern-lit Butterfly Bar garden, and let a puppet opera or circus-inflected play be the immersive part of the night.

• 📍 Central East Austin (Cherrywood)
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 2307 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · Yelp

last checked: 2026-07-20