As humanity once again turns its gaze toward the Moon, Apollo’s Venture season finale explores the enduring human drive for discovery and the often untold stories that make it possible. Rooted in the ideals of American democracy - innovation, collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas - the program centers not on missions alone, but on the individuals whose voices, labor, and resilience have shaped the course of exploration.

At the heart of the evening is the world premiere of Hidden Figures: Shared Orbit, a staged concert work by Houston composers Mark Buller and John Cornelius, developed with research and historical insight from Space Historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal. The work interweaves the lives of Miguel Hernandez, a Cuban immigrant who served in NASA’s Mission Control, and Shirley K. Price, a pioneering Black and disabled leader who expanded access and opportunity within the agency.

Set within Houston’s identity as a global hub of innovation and collaboration, VENTURE traces a continuum from Apollo 13 to today’s lunar missions - revealing how progress depends on many voices working together to nurture democracy and propel humanity toward an interconnected future.