best summer theater

Houston's hottest theater openings spotlight Mean Girl summer and more

As the days heat up, we’re ready for nights of the coolest live theater. From Shakespeare to beloved musicals to comic twisty mysteries, Houston theater companies offer some of their breeziest shows of the year.

Plus, a new company’s debut, a couple of world premieres, and one mean Broadway touring smash all make this a summer theater season to remember.

Tamarie Cooper's Live In-Person Sticky Sweet Summer Show! from Catastrophic Theatre (now through August 6)
Happy 25th anniversary to a decidedly Houston summer tradition, an original musical, comedy extravaganza from Catastrophic co-founder Tamarie Cooper. The local star known as Tamarie teams with writing partner Patrick Reynolds for the laughs and weaves in original music composed by Miriam Daly, Erin Rodgers, and Alli Villines.

Starring Tamarie herself and her crew of Catastrophic regulars and favs, her latest she will tackle the joys and paradoxes of just making it whole into 2022. Highlights include feral actors, dancing egg rolls, Tamarie’s sixth grade disco dance-off nemesis Charlotte Lloyd, a sassy chair, and racist step-uncle Roy.

Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them from Thunderclap Productions (now through July 10)
Though not a new to Houston, this theater company has flown under the radar for the past few years to now unleash a one, two dramatic punch at MATCH in July.

In this first show, 12-year-old Edith makes an unfortunate, spur-of-the-moment decision with her air rifle, changing her own life as well as the lives of her older brother Kenny and his boyfriend Benji when they all find themselves suddenly at odds with the adult world around them.

The show, penned by playwright A. Rey Pamatmat, is part of Thunderclap’s John Steven Kellett Memorial Series, an annual production of a play, musical, or film dealing with equality and pushing back against LGBTQ+ discrimination.

The Sound of Music at A.D. Players (July 6-August 14)
The George Theater comes alive with the sound of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. Culminating its return to live, in-person theater, A.D. Players highlights the indelible human spirit with that most beloved of love stories, as a never-to-be-nun novice brings music and love back to into the Von Trapp home and battles Nazis along the way.

Longtime A.D. Players fans should note Sound of Music will also becomes something of a “So Long, Farewell” swan song for its director and regular company actor and creative artist, Emily Tello Speck. She’s be leaving Houston with her husband, outgoing A.D. Players executive director Jake Speck, as the family moves back to Nashville — as CultureMap reported.

Simprov from Thunderclap Productions (July 15-24)
The second July production from Thunderclap, also at the MATCH, this world premiere futuristic comedy from Obie-winning playwright Laurence Klavan tells the story of two couples on contrasting journeys.

Middle-aged Barbara and Alan are pulled apart by her ever-increasing involvement in video and internet experiences. Meanwhile, the nameless young 20somethings Actor and Actress — suddenly fired from their TV series — find themselves thrown into a world of new technologies and plastic surgery.

The two couples paths cross in “Simprov,” a live version of Sims-like video games that use real and discardable people. They will meet again when they are unrecognizable even to themselves, before returning to completely altered.

Is God Is at Rec Room (July 14-August 6)
In this modern myth from award-winning playwright Aleshea Harris, twin sisters set off upon a vengeance journey for their own brand of justice. The show is said to merge Spaghetti Western and Afropunk genres into a dark comedy.

This intriguing mix should be in good hands with director Candice D’Meza, as the local actor, director, writer, and filmmaker’s most recent short films have delved into sci-fi and AfroFuturism. Rec Room has a habit of casting some of our favorite local actors while introducing us to new faces, so we can’t wait to see the world this cast creates.

The Real Inspector Hound at Main Street Theater (July 16-August 7)
If it’s summer, that must mean a manor house mystery, But since this is a Tom Stoppard play, expect lots of theatrical and intellectual fun in this spoof on Agatha Christie-type murder mysteries.

For decades MST has been the go-to theater for plays of ideas — and especially Stoppard plays of ideas, from chaos theater to brain science to Russian philosophy. With that, we’re looking forward to their take on this early Stoppard twist on both murder mysteries and stage criticism, something that Stoppard did himself early in his career.

(Theater criticism that is, we have no knowledge about Stoppard solving or doing crime.)

Clue at Alley Theatre (July 22-August 28)
Get ready for some summer comic chills with this madcap mystery based on the cult classic ’80s movie based on the ’40s board game. On a dark and stormy night, six supposed-strangers gather for a dinner party where murder is on the menu.

Who killed Mr. Boddy? Did the butler do it? Was it Mr. Green in the study with a lead pipe, Mrs. White in the drawing room with a rope, or Dr. Chartreuse with a catapult in topiary garden? (Okay, we might have made that last one up, but for live, comic summer theater and the Alley resident acting company likely letting loose, who knows what could happen?)

For this beloved board game-turned film-turned live theater, the real mystery we want answered is (spoiler alert) will there be multiple endings?

Dream: The Story of the Everly Brothers at Stages (July 22-September 4)
Country rock pioneers the Everly Brothers get their stage homage in this world premiere musical from Ben Hope and Eric Anthony, two of the creators of another musical bio/tribute hit at Stages, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.

One of the first 10 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Everly Brothers were known for tight harmonies and steel-string acoustic guitar. Hope and Anthony play tribute to these legends as they share the music and stories of the Everly Brothers weaved among their own tales of influences, music making, and family.

With more than 25 songs, from No. 1 hits to deep cuts, Dream showcases the full humanity of the Everly Brothers and the rich legacy.

H.M.S Pinafore from The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston (July 23-31)
To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society will launch the most operatic of parties on the Hobby Center’s Zilkha stage.

In this Gilbert and Sullivan fan favorites filled with the most memorable numbers, a sailor falls in love with the captain's daughter, but they can’t be together due to his lowly station in life. At the same time, the high-ranking First Lord of the Admiralty, played by stage director Alistair Donkin, seeks the daughter's hand for himself.

After participating in Gilbert & Sullivan’s summer productions for the last 40 years, Pinafore will be Alistair Donkin’s curtain call production, and the last chance to see the G&S veteran in one of his most famous roles.

King Lear and Cymbeline from Houston Shakespeare Festival (July 28-August 6)
After two years, one of Houston’s favorite theatrical traditions is finally back home at Miller Outdoor Theater.

Since 1975, the University of Houston Department of Theatre and Dance has partnered with the city to bring free summer Shakespeare to Hermann Park, and this year, the festival offers quite the pairing. Though King Lear is one of English theater’s greatest tragedies, the festival hasn’t staged this monumental story of family betrayal, love, loyalty and madness in 20 years.

On alternate nights, dive into Cymbeline, a fairytale romance that some consider one of Shakespeare’s most complex and occasionally perplexing comic plots. Long-lost siblings, a wicked stepmother, cross-dressing, conniving royals, (in)fidelity tests, mistaken identity, and forest shenanigans all included.

Runaways from On the Verge Theatre (August 5-21)
Houston’s newest theater company, founded by two Houston director veterans, Bruce Lumpkin and Ron Jones, begins its inaugural season with this provocative, ’70s musical based on real stories of teen runaways.

Don’t expect late-20s and 30-something actors to play the characters; instead, the roles will be performed exclusively by students from Houston area high schools and colleges — adding a layer of casting authenticity.

Structured as a collection of songs, dances, and spoken word pieces, the show might serves as an intriguing look into this new company’s mission and theatrical point of view. While On the Verge has plans for shows in unusual venues and locations, Queensbury Theatre will host this first musical.

Mean Girls from Broadway at Hobby Center (August 16-21)
In the early oughts, Tina Fey tried to make a comic/anthropology film about the cutthroat world of high school popularity wars happen, and girl, did it ever happen. The movie’s plot, characters, and cutting lines quickly became pop culture staples. In 2018, Fey partnered with husband Jeff Richmond (music) and Nell Benjamin (lyrics) to turn the story into a smash musical.

While the pandemic might have confiscated their Burn Book for a few years, no one keeps these Mean Girls down for long. Now Cady, Regina, Gretchen (played by Houston nice girl and TUTS Tommy Tune Award winner Jasmine Rogers), and the rest of the girl gang head to Hobby to sing their way to the top of the class.

The Mean Girls rule the Hobby Center in August.

Photo courtesy of Broadway Dallas

The Mean Girls rule the Hobby Center in August.

theater

Best February Art

10 art museum and gallery exhibits to see in Houston this month

María Fernanda Cardoso's Maratus: Spiders of Paradise

Image courtesy of Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino

María Fernanda Cardoso, "Spiders of Paradise: Maratus plumosus", 2024. Pigment print on paper, 35 7/16 x 35 7/16 x 1 9/16 inches.

Art and history merge in many museums and galleries across Houston this month, as contemporary artists and curators look to the past for inspiration and examination. From Black History Month to agricultural history in the Americas to queer history to the mid 20th century glamorization of dining, we’ve got a range of shows for all art and history tastes. If that’s not enough, we get up close to Australian spiders and celebrate Houston as a town of makers.

"The Black Experience: Past, Present and Future” at Bisong Art Gallery (now through February 28)
Celebrating Black History Month, Bisong Art Gallery presents this show curated by The Dream Affect Foundation. With a focus on Black artistic practice as both an archive and a catalyst, the exhibition features the work of six contemporary artists, including Lauren Luna, Romeo Robinson, Craig “TheArtist” Carter, Corey Haynes, Lanre Buraimoh, and John Whaley Jr. The gallery notes that these artists’ works reflect the enduring influence of history while asserting bold, forward-thinking visions of Black life, identity, and imagination. Though using a varied of medium and visual languages, what each artist has in common is an engagement with cultural memory, resilience, and creative sovereignty.

"Just Wood - Mostly” at Archway Gallery (now through March 5)
Featuring whimsical, creative, and utilitarian works “mostly” in wood, this new show showcases the quirky utilitarian and decorative sculptures by Robert L. Straight, as well as cabinet work by guest artists and furniture maker Tom Wells. From wooden race cars to body parts, Straight’s work offers many unique visions of what woodwork can be. Look for sculptures, new furniture, clocks, and sundry surprises from both artists.

“Nick Vaughan And Jake Margolin: Around The Corner And Two Blocks Down” at McClain Gallery (now through March 7)
The acclaimed Houston-based duo continues their multimedia 50 State Project to reveal lost queer histories and stories from across the U.S. This exhibition at McClain Gallery features some of the latest art from their wind drawing series, a selection of charcoal work within the larger project.

To explore ideas of history lost and rediscovered, the artists translate photographs of prior queer spaces into laser cut stencils and lay down charcoal powder onto the page. Then, they blow the charcoal away using pressurized air. The force of the wind drags the charcoal particulates across the tooth of the paper, etching the final image onto the page.

“Art, Place, and Power: Project Row Houses in Houston's Third Ward” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (now through November 8)
One great Houston arts institution celebrates the history of another great Houston art organization with this MFAH installation of works on paper by several of the founders of Project Row Houses, including James Bettison, Bert Long, Jr., Jesse Lott, Rick Lowe, and Floyd Newsum. In 1993, seven artists came together to transform a block of abandoned row houses in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood, making them into a new kind of cultural space. As the Project Row Houses mission reminds us, the founders sought to preserve the culture and history in one of the city’s oldest Black neighborhoods through the practice of socially-engaged art.

For over three decades PRH has staged free exhibitions, offered artist residencies and youth programs, promoted the preservation of historic architecture, and become a cultural landmark in Houston. With this installation, the MFAH helps Houstonians gain further appreciation of the founders' art. These works celebrate the powerful impact of community-oriented artists and art.

“Boris Lurie: Nothing To Do But To Try” at Holocaust Museum Houston (February 13-July 19)
For this exhibition focused on Boris Lurie, the acclaimed artist, writer, and Holocaust survivor, organizers use his artwork to trace the story of his remarkable life. Viewed together within the show, Lurie’s paintings, drawings and sculptures – many of which he never exhibited during his lifetime – create a portrait of an artist reckoning with devastating trauma, haunting memories, and a lifelong quest for freedom. The HMH notes that these works, presented along with objects from the artist's personal archive, trace his experience from his childhood in Riga through the concentration camps and postwar period in Europe, to his immigration to the United States, followed by his return visit to Riga thirty years after the Holocaust and beyond. Photographs, official documents, and personal writings underpin the visual retelling and processing of Lurie's survival and its crucial function in forming his identity as an artist.

“Midcentury Menu: Dining in the Atomic Age” at Rienzi (February 18-July 31)
The MFAH plates up a visually delicious dish of Midcentury Modern at Rienzi, the museum’s house for European decorative arts located in River Oaks. This unusual and fascinating exhibition draws from Rienzi’s historical cookbook collection and loans from the Heritage Society, to explore how convenience, technology, advertising, gender, and labor converged to redefine the meaning of eating in postwar World War II America.

The exhibition will examine how American’s perspective on food and dining changed at the end of WWII with waves of scientific advancement, complex supply chains, and the rise of popular culture media that put preparing meals, dining, and ads for modern appliances into magazines and on television. Cooks like Julia Child encouraged women to experiment with French cuisine, and the fictitious Betty Crocker championed convenience with step-by-step guidance. Food and home entertaining took center stage in this new age of abundance, and a wide range of cookbooks promoted everything from curious Jell-O salads to international cuisine.

“In Search of History” at Throughline Collective (February 20-March 21)
This juried exhibition and part of FotoFest Houston’s “Participating Space” program, examines the evolution of lens-based art. Curated by Museum of Fine Arts photography curator, Lisa Volpe, this show focuses on 21st century photography and especially the new uses of technology and the diversity in stories that technology brings.

“The works of art submitted to Throughline Collective demonstrate the wide-ranging vision of lens-based art,” Volpe said. “The artwork included in this exhibition provides a fascinating cross-section of artistic production, representing the diverse landscape of contemporary photography and also the vigorous involvement of the artists in contemporary discourse.”

“Maratus: Spiders of Paradise” at Sicardi Ayers Bacino (February 27-April 11)
This show of multi-disciplinary artist María Fernanda Cardoso’s work will feature her ongoing photographic project to bring the minuscule Australian Maratus spider into larger focus. Featuring large-scale and small-scale digital photographic portraits of various Maratus species, each photographic image is comprised of over 1000 individual photos. Seen together as one spider image, the photos reveal the spider’s colors and form and especially its unique and brightly colored abdomen that are part of the species’ elaborate mating rituals. Much of Cardoso’s work explores connections and tensions between society and the natural world.

“Mud + Corn + Stone + Blue” at Lawndale Art Center (February 28-May 2)
Last month, the Blaffer Museum opened the first section of this exhibition, organized by Blaffer chief curator Laura Augusta, that uses artwork to trace the historical entanglements between the United States and Central America through the angle of U.S. agricultural policy. Now Lawndale expands the selection of works from artists with ties to farming communities in the U.S., Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. To complement the Houston presentation of this exhibition, Lawndale has commissioned a mural from Dario Bucheli, activations with Zine Fest Houston, and textiles and candies made by Jorge Galván. Lorena Molina will also install an outdoor corn maze in Lawndale’s 4900 Main Street lot as an immersive piece that explores the experience of immigration and diaspora.

“Clutch City Craft” at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (February 28-August 8)
Clutch City, Space City, Bayou City, now among our other favorite monikers for Houston, HCCC would like to add one more: Maker City. Calling H-Town “one of the nation’s most formidable centers of making” HCCC celebrations that maker spirit by organizing this special exhibition to examine Houston’s craft traditions and material cultures. The show features a wide spectrum of making practices, from the artists behind century-old, mosaic street signs to cowboy boot makers and fiber artists who design space suits and preserve the woven interiors of NASA mission control.

“Drawing its title from the city’s emblematic nickname — earned during the Houston Rockets’ back-to-back NBA championship wins in 1994 and 1995 — this exhibition uses Clutch City as both a cultural ethos and curatorial framework to examine how skilled craftsmanship underpins Houston’s industrial, social, and aesthetic identities,” HCCC Curator and Exhibition Director Sarah Darro said.

$Mar\u00eda Fernanda Cardoso's Maratus: Spiders of Paradise$

Image courtesy of Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino

Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino presents "Maratus: Spiders of Paradise"

visual-art museums openings