back to ballet

Houston Ballet leaps into new season with a trip to Neverland, Beach Boys vibes, and a holiday favorite

Peter Pan kicks off the new season.

Photo courtesy of Houston Ballet

Fans of our beloved ballet can now book dates for fall’s most anticipated shows. Houston Ballet single tickets for its fall performances are now on sale now, the ballet announced.

The ballet’s 2022-2023 season kicks off with the classic Peter Pan, a dynamic, triple-billed series dubbed Good Vibrations, and ends the year with the cherished holiday favorite, The Nutcracker.

Individual tickets start at $25 (and starting at $30 for The Nutcracker) and can be found online. Here is a rundown of the shows set to run at the Wortham Theater Center this fall and winter.

Peter Pan
September 9-18

The ballet leaps into the new season with Sir James M. Barrie’s children’s classic that has been long cherished across the globe. Choreographed by Trey McIntyre, the story follows Wendy, John, Michael, and Peter’s journey to the magical — and sometimes wild — world of Neverland.

Expect high-flying scenes, swashbuckling swordfights, larger-than-life puppets, and punk-inspired costumes. Broadway World dubbed Houston Ballet’s version, “a magical ballet produced by a supremely talented dance company.”

Good Vibrations
September 22-October 2

This three-part series celebrates Australian artistry, a rhythmic interpretation of classical giant’s symphony, and an eagerly anticipated world premiere of a Beach Boys-inspired romp.

First up is the vibrant, Australian-focused Red Earth, which is accompanied by an original score from Peter Sculthorpe and artwork from scenic designer Kevin “Pro” Hart.

The Letter V, the second in the series, was crafted by choreographer Mark Morris for the Houston Ballet in 2015. Here, dancers respond to the music of Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 88 in G Major.

Finally, Good Vibrations closes the series with a salute to the Beach Boys. Featuring a commissioned score by Christopher Austin, the show marks the inaugural Houston Ballet debut for internationally acclaimed choreographer, Arthur Pita. Expect a lively, head-nodding show that promises to be a whole vibe.

The Nutcracker
November 25–December 24

In a time-honored holiday tradition for generations of Houstonians, the ballet closes 2022 with arguably its grandest spectacle each year. Tchaikovsky’s dazzling world comes alive for viewers of all ages with elaborate costumes, sword fights, a sky-scraping Christmas tree, and a set that seems positively dreamy.

Vivid and enchanting, the story follows Clara and Drosselmeyer as they venture to the Kingdom of Sweets and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her prince, with a host of unforgettable characters along the way. This year’s Nutcracker run is dedicated to Patsy Chapman, who has worked with the ballet and Nutcracker Market Patsy Chapman for decades.

“We are excited to return to the stage with these two fantastic fall performances before ending the year with Houston’s ultimate holiday tradition, The Nutcracker,” said Stanton Welch AM, Houston Ballet’s artistic director, in a statement. “Our team is hard at work preparing our spectacular fall performances, and we can’t wait to share another holiday season with the Houston community.”

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The Houston Ballet performs at The Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. For tickets, schedules, and more information, visit the Houston Ballet online.

holidays openings dance

MFAH expands

Houston museum acquires historic Masonic lodge property for new greenspace

Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook

The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a prime parcel to expand its campus in the Museum District. On Tuesday, December 23, the museum announced it has purchased a two-acre parcel of land at 4911 Montrose Blvd that will bring its total footprint to 16 acres.

Located just north of the Glassel School of Art, the property will be developed as a greenspace that will serve as a community lawn as well as be utilized for future museum events and parking. MFAH has retained landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz — the firm responsible for work at Memorial Park and the recently-opened Ismaili Center — to create the design for the new greenspace.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston greenspace rendering A rendering offers a bird's-eye preview of the new greenspace.Image by by Cong Nie/Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

At this time, the museum does not have plans to build anything on the property, according to a press release.

To make way for the greenspace, the property’s existing building, Holland Lodge No. 1, will be torn down. Built in 1954 as a home for the oldest Masonic lodge chapter in Texas, the building features a sandstone mural facade. It has been for sale since at least 2005, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle.

Demolition on the site is expected to begin in spring 2026 with the greenspace opening in approximately two years, according to press materials. In addition to the Glassell School, the museum’s campus includes the Audrey Jones Beck Building, the Caroline Wiess Law Building, the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, and the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building.

“We are delighted to contribute to Houston’s greenspace access with this new initiative, which will expand the museum’s 14-acre campus to a thoroughly walkable 16 acres,” Gary Tinterow, director and Margaret Alkek Williams chair of the MFAH, said in a statement. “While the primary objective for the purchase of this property is to secure land for any potential future expansion of the museum, our priority now is to create a welcoming community lawn. Thoughtfully designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz, one of the leading firms in sustainable landscape practice, the site will serve as public greenspace and provide additional parking for museum visitors.”

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