The TUTS shuffle

Theatre Under the Stars shuffles new season due to COVID-19 pandemic

Come from Awat TUTS Theatre Under the Stars tour

Fans can look for the upbeat Come from Away.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of slowing, arts organizations have been forced to pivot and adjust programming. The latest local group to do so is Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), which had planned to launch its 2020/2021 season at the Hobby Center with the highly anticipated, Broadway-bound revival of 1776 in September, followed by Rock of Ages in October.

But due to the pandemic, TUTS has just announced that both productions have been moved to later in the 2020/2021 Season. The season will now begin with the Disney classic, The Little Mermaid, on December 6 and end with the two postponed productions.

The ’80s-themed musical comedy, Rock of Ages, will run August 10 through 22, 2021. The Broadway revival of 1776 will cap off the season September 28 through October 10, 2021, immediately following its run in New York City. The Houston engagement of 1776 will feature the complete Broadway cast and is directed by Tony Award-winning director, Diane Paulus.

“Rock of Ages is going to be the perfect party show for some summer fun, and we’re thrilled to snag the full Broadway production of 1776 for Houston audiences,” said TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges. “We’re so thankful that we can retain both musicals for the upcoming season.”

The TUTS season also includes Disney’s The Little Mermaid, December 6 through 24; South Pacific, February 9 through 21; Sister Act, April 6 through 18; and the North American tour of Come From Away, May 18 through 30.

All productions will be in the Hobby Center’s Sarofim Hall.

Tickets for Theatre Under The Stars 2020/21 Season are currently only available by subscription; individual tickets will go on sale to the public later this year.

TUTS is also converting all in-person summer camps for children and young adults to online classes. Those interested in camps from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre and The River, can get more information online.

theater

let's roll

Soccer star and Grammy-winning singer will lead Houston Art Car Parade

Courtesy of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art

Art Car weekend returns April 9-12.

If you see a lot of unusual-looking automobiles on the streets and freeways next month, it’ll be for one simple reason: the Art Car Parade is back.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art announced the return of the Houston Art Car Parade Weekend presented by Team Gillman, taking place Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12. This will culminate in the Houston Art Car Parade – its 39th – on Saturday, April 11, featuring more than 250 one-of-a-kind, rolling works of art.

The four-day celebration transforms the city into a canvas of color, creativity, and community, with the parade serving as the weekend’s crowning spectacle, drawing more than 315,000 spectators annually and making it the largest free cultural event in Houston. Serving as the 2026 Featured Artist is Phillip Pyle II, a visual artist, graphic designer, and photographer whose work engages with issues of race and popular culture through the lens of graphic design.

This year’s grand marshals, former Houston Dynamo player Brian Ching and singer/The Suffers frontwoman Kam Franklin, represent two powerful pillars of Houston’s cultural identity: sports and music. Ching and Franklin join a distinguished list of past marshals, including Bun B, Carl Lewis, Marilyn Oshman, J.J. Watt, Dan Aykroyd and George Clinton.

“This year’s Orange Show Art Car Parade honors Kam Franklin and Brian Ching as Grand Marshals,” said Orange Show executive director Jack Massing. “Selected for their positive contributions as Houstonians, both are dedicated community leaders committed to fostering creativity through music and sports, helping build a happier, healthier city.”

Attendance remains free and open to the public, reinforcing the Orange Show’s mission to make art accessible to all. For those looking to immerse themselves in the parade’s energy while supporting its mission, the VIPit offers a festival-style atmosphere with limited tables and reserved grandstand seating starting at $250. Admission includes complimentary food and beverages from Houston favorites, private restrooms, and premium parade views. Proceeds directly fund year-round Art Car programming at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, including Art Cars in Schools, a curriculum aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards that brings hands-on creative learning into classrooms across the region.

For more information, visit the Orange Show website.

art car parade brian ching kam franklin houston