Hamilton sets Houston dates

Hamilton finally sets a date with Houston in eclectic Broadway series season

Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment you’ve been waiting for, the pride of Broadway, here comes Alexander Hamilton. That’s right, he’s almost (a year away) here, when Hamilton hits Houston as part of the just announced 2017-2018 BBVA Compass Broadway at the Hobby Center season.

Scheduled for April 24-May 20, 2018, Hamilton will anchor the Broadway season with five other Houston premieres including Escape to Margaritaville, a show we’ll see before New York does, and two shows from Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock and Love Never Dies, the sequel to the phenomenal Phantom of the Opera. So get ready and On Your Feet as we look to the next Broadway season at the Hobby.

Escape to Margaritaville (October 31-November 5, 2017)
The season begins with no trick but a Halloween treat, a limited pre-Broadway engagement and brand new show featuring Jimmy Buffett’s classic laid-back, beach-life songs along with special new tunes written by Buffett for the show. This musical love story between an aspiring singer/bartender and a career-focused tourist comes from Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, who both have plenty of Hollywood cred with the show helmed by Tony nominated director Christopher Ashley.

On Your Feet! (November 21-26, 2017)
The true-life, struggles-to-stardom story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan follows the couple from Cuba to Miami and their trip up the music charts to become Latin and pop royalty. The hit Broadway musical with plenty of Estefan songs takes Houston next fall, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots), with choreography by Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and an original book by Oscar winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman).

The Color Purple (January 9-14, 2018)
This new production of the musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel won the Tony for Best Musical Revival in 2016. Expect a score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues woven into heart-wrenching life story of Celie as she tries to unite with her beloved sister.

School of Rock (January 30-February 4, 2018)
Based on the hilarious and surprisingly sweet Jack Black film, School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a substitute teacher from hell — or from any kid’s point of view, rock heaven —turns a class of earnest misfits into the a kick-ass rock band. The show features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber sung by the kid cast who play their own instruments.

Hamilton (April 24-May 20, 2018)
For anyone living in a deep sea trench the last two years, the hip hop musical that recounts and raps out the life of founding father and the first U.S. Treasury Secretary has pretty much changed our perceptions of what musical theater can be. Created by the Tony, Emmy and Grammy winning Lin-Manuel Miranda, who’s probably fast on his way to an EGOT, Hamilton is still almost impossible to get a ticket for on Broadway, even after most of the original cast has moved on to television and film. In April 2018, there’s no need to fly to New York to try for that Hamilton lottery. Mister Secretary comes to us.

Love Never Dies (July 17-22, 2018)
Spoiler alert: the Phantom survived that total misunderstanding at the Paris Opera House, and now, 10years later, he’s moved to America to hang with and haunt the freaks and geeks of Coney Island. Will he get that second chance with the lovely Christine as she too heads west to sing in New York? And what of her tumultuous marriage to the rich and handsome Raoul? Andrew Lloyd Webber gives them all the songs they need to sing their continuing saga out in the summer of 2018.

Riverdance (March 9-11, 2018)
The 20th Anniversary World Tour of the beloved Irish dance and music show is the 2017-2018 BBVA Compass Broadway at the Hobby Center season option that can be added to a subscription package. Though holding fast to the songs and dances of the original production, this 20th anniversary tour will feature new costumes, lighting, projections and a brand new acapella hard-shoe number “Anna Livia,” by the female members of the troupe.

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Tickets for Hamilton can be guaranteed to those who purchase season tickets for the Broadway at the Hobby Center 2017-18 series. For more information, go to www.BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com, call (800) 952-6560, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 7:00 pm CST, or visit the Hobby Center Box Office at 800 Bagby Street during business hours.

Chris D'Sean Lee and the cast of the Chicago company of Hamilton.

Chris De'Sean Lee and cast of Hamilton, Chicago company

Photo by Joan Marcus

Chris D'Sean Lee and the cast of the Chicago company of Hamilton.

theater

Get inspired

Noted Houston street artist paints vibrant new mural at downtown venue

Photo courtesy of Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

GONZO247 poses in front of his new mural, "Houston is Inspired" inside Hobby Center

Visitors to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts can now see an incredible new mural by one of Houston's most iconic street artists.Mario Enrique Figueroa, Jr., known as Gonzo247, debuted his piece, "Houston is Inspired" on Friday, December 12.

“This piece is all about capturing the energy that makes Houston, Houston," said the artist in a statement. "It’s that raw, vibrant hustle — the music, the culture, the stories we’ve been telling for generations. I wanted to create something that pulls people in, gets them hyped for what they’re about to experience. Every color, every shape, every detail is telling a story, a vibe. This ain’t just a mural or a piece of art — it’s a journey. It's about the grind, the growth, and the inspiration we pass on to each other, on and off the stage.”

The piece is called "Houston is Inspired," after the program at Hobby meant to showcase local performers by offering them week-long residencies on a prestigious stage. This season includes CJ Emmons's one-man comedy musical show I'm Freaking Talented; a rhythmic interactive storytelling experience called Our Road Home by Jakari Sherman; and Lavanya Rajagopalan's combination of music, dance and verse, Kāvya: Poetry in Motion. Information about all three shows, including ticket prices and availability, can be found at TheHobbyCenter.org.

The last show (debuting May 1) was a particular inspiration to Gonzo247. Viewers may notice a pair of hands in a traditional Indian dance pose, a direct reference to Rajagopalan's show.

The Houston is Inspired program was launched launched in the 2023-2024 season. In addition to the residency in Zilkha Hall, artists are given a $20,000 stipend for production and marketing costs. It is now a permanent fixture of the Hobby season. Applicants for future seasons can submit here.

Known for his original "Houston is Inspired" mural in downtown's Market Square, Gonzo247 has been an active force in Houston art for 30 years, including producing the video series Aerosol Warfare about the street art scene in the 1990s and 2000s as well as founding the Graffiti and Street Art Museum. He also served as the artist liaison for Meow Wolf's Houston installation. If anyone's visual vision is perfect to welcome audience members to shows highlighting homegrown talent, it's him.

“Art’s all about telling stories, but it ain’t just what you see — it’s what you feel," he said. "This piece speaks to the heart of everything we’re about: culture, rhythm, struggle, and triumph. When you walk into the space, you gotta feel the anticipation, the energy building up. That’s what I wanted to capture — the vibe of the whole city, the passion in the work, and that next-level hunger to rise up and create something fresh. It’s like the beat drops, and everything just connects.”

visual-art downtown mural gonzo247