Oral Fixation started as “what’s that now?” but in four teeny tiny years it’s grown into a personal essay powerhouse. Each showcase has a theme, hundreds of essays are submitted and the ones that make it to the stage are the best of the best. What we’re trying to say here is this is basically an episode of “To Catch a Rising Star” – it’s gonna be good. Some essays are funny, some are heart-warming and, in the words of every mother ever, some “are what they are.” The final Oral Fixation showcase is at 8 p.m. Wednesday, at Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. The theme is “Happy Camper” and essays range from Ken Bethea’s tale of quitting the corporate world and starting the Old 97’s at age 30 to Melissa Smrekar’s 8th realization that “it’s really liberating to say no to shit you hate” to Ryan Gifford-Robinson’s fighting-back-tears tale of working at a camp for disabled youth. Tickets are $25 at oralfixationshow.com.
Wed., April 22, 8 p.m., 2015