Best January Theater

Broadway blockbusters and sublime operas take Houston stages in January

Houston stages celebrate the New Year with a musical bang, as big Broadway shows and sublime opera ring us into 2026. This month also takes a literary turn with plays and musicals inspired by great novels and fairytales. From beastly romances to chaotic weddings, wartime respites to highflying circus drama, Houston theaters invite us to be their guests at these greatest shows on stage.

Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical from Garden Theatre (now through January 11)
Take a seat at the cruel kids table as Garden Theatre continues to celebrate its five year anniversary by bringing back some audience-favorite shows. The jukebox musical based on the film starring Reese Witherspoon, was of course inspired by the classic French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses. In this modern, musical retelling set in an exclusive New York prep school, two step-siblings make a wager over whether one can seduce the innocent new girl, who happens to be the headmaster’s daughter. Featuring 90s hits from Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, REM, 'NSYNC, and Britney Spears, this sexy musical is definitely not intended for younger audiences but makes for the coolest anniversary and New Year’s theatrical party.

Disney’s Beauty & the Beast presented by Broadway at the Hobby Center (January 6-18, 2026)
Broadway at the Hobby opens 2026 with this beauty of a show that has a big Houston connection. Thirty years ago, Disney made theatrical history and put its lasting mark on Broadway with the timeless story of Belle and her beastly prince. Houston was part of that history, as the musical had an early tryout here.

While beloved songs like “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast” remain the same, this 30th anniversary update will feature spectacular new sets and costumes. Reuniting to create this new production are members of the original Tony Award-winning artistic team, including composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, and director and choreographer Matt West.

The Bride: Or, Does This Dress Make Me Look Married? at Stages (January 16-February 9)
Stages collaborator Denise Fennell puts on a very different kind of veil than her usual nun attire from her many turns as Sister in the Late Nite Catechism shows. Fennell was inspired by her own wedding anxieties and joys to co-write this one-woman show, which Stages debuted for a short run in 2023. Now back by popular demand, Fennell walks us down the reminiscing aisle, as the bride finds herself in a whirlwind of doubts, memories, and last-minute revelations. Her groom, preparing for his second marriage, factors into her hilarious reflections on suddenly becoming a stepmom to his two children. Fennell reveals all directly to audiences, interacting with them, and making them welcome guests for all the wedding hijinks and festivities.

Silent Night from Houston Grand Opera (January 16-February 8)
Composer Kevin Puts won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for this operatic retelling of the World War I Christmas Truce. Now HGO and New York’s Metropolitan Opera collaborate in bringing this new staging, created by award-winning director James Robinson, to Houston before the production travels to New York. A rarity of opera, the production is performed in three languages (German, French, and English) representing the nationalities of the front lines. Silent Night gives this epic story an intimate scope, zooming in on a German singer/soldier and his diva lover, a Scottish soldier and his priest; and a French Lieutenant, awaiting news of the birth of his son. Along with acclaimed conductor Kensho Watanabe, look and listen for an award-winning and international mix of cast and creatives, including returning HGO favorites and artists making their HGO debuts.

Fade To Black Reading Series at MATCH (January 22-25)
Get a sneak peek into tomorrow’s theater with this annual series of short plays. Each year, Black playwrights from around the country submit work to this prestigious program. Audiences will experience staged readings of 10 original plays presented over one dramatic weekend. This season’s selections span comedy, drama, social commentary, sci-fi, and relationship satire, offering a dynamic mix that reflects the richness of Black storytelling. Fade to Black also gives audiences the opportunity to become an intrinsic part of the creative process, as they enjoy an up close first look at developing scripts, while playwrights gain valuable feedback that helps shape their works.

The Bluest Eye at Ensemble Theatre (January 23-February 22)
Keeping with this month's literary trend, Ensemble will perform this devastating play based on the first novel by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison. Playwright Lydia Diamond stayed close to Morrison’s powerful language when adapting this heartrending story for the stage. The play follows three young Black girls in 1941 Lorain, Ohio – two devoted siblings and their sometimes foster sister, Pecola Breedlove. Pecola wants nothing more than to be loved, and believes that having blue eyes like Shirley Temple will gain her that love and acceptance. In a society that gives them so little autonomy and agency of their own, these girls attempt to make some sense of racism, abuse, and hate, while trying to hold onto love and sisterhood.

Real Women Have Curves at Alley Theatre (January 23-February 15)
Bucking this month's trend of plays and musicals based on novels, the Alley opens the new year with this critically acclaimed 1990s play by Josefina López that later became both a film and a Broadway musical. The narrative centers around Ana, a recent high school graduate awaiting financial aid to go to college, but also follows the lives of four other Latina women all working in the same small garment factory as Ana. While the play might be 30 years old, it remains just as relevant and moving today, mixing comedy and drama as it explores the characters’ individual fears and hopes, while they remain tied together in community.

“While set in East Los Angeles, the love and humor of this play will resonate strongly here in Houston, Texas. This play is so honest, emotional, moving, and yes sometimes a bit bawdy. I just love it and am excited to share it with Houston audiences,” Alley artistic director Rob Melrose said in a statement.

Water for Elephants presented by Broadway at the Hobby Center (January 27-February 1, 2026)
The second Broadway at the Hobby show this month is inspired by the best-selling historical romance-turned-film. On Broadway, Water for Elephants was a critics’ favorite in 2024. After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the tracks will take him and finds a new home, family, and love among the remarkable crew of a traveling circus. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age. Experience all the light, color, and music of a 1930s big top circus in this emotional extravaganza.

Crime and Punishment: 2026 at A.D. Players (January 28-February 22)
Playwright and A.D. Players artistic director Jayme McGhan has penned this new vision of Dostoevky’s masterpiece novel about a law student who rationalizes murder and then must confront the moral consequences. In this contemporary reimagining, Dostoevky’s Rodion becomes Rodya, a former university student living in poverty in our social media influencer world where everyone has a platform to announce their personal truth. After Rodya kills in the name of his own twisted sense of justice, the guilt eventually becomes unbearable. Hot on his trail is a detective able to see through his constant lies. As the law closes in on him, Rodya begins to have an awakening to the reality of his broken self and must decide whether to own up to his crimes and seek the forgiveness he so desperately needs, or let his soul wither.

Hansel and Gretel from Houston Grand Opera (January 30-February 15)
HGO brings the Brothers Grimm fairytale to the stage with this Engelbert Humperdinck classic. Hansel and Gretel set off on their quest through the forest and stumble upon the Witch, who reigns from her irresistible house of cake, topped with a shining red cherry. A tasty operatic treat for all ages, this rich, delectable production comes from HGO — in partnership with with the London’s Royal Ballet and Opera and San Francisco Opera and brought to life by award-winning director/designer Antony McDonald in his HGO debut. Conductor Andreas Ottensamer also makes his company debut at the podium.

There’s lots of Houston connections with this star-studded cast, including Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano and Shepherd School of Music at Rice University alum Sasha Cooke; HGO Butler Studio alumna Mané Galoyan as Gretel; Butler Studio alumna Jamie Barton, who sang the role of Elizabeth on HGO’s 2026 Grammy-nominated Intelligence album, as the Witch; and Grammy-winning baritone and Butler Studio alumnus Reginald Smith, Jr. as Father.

Photo by Daniel Boud

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents the national tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

performing-arts

Best August Art

9 must-see art openings at Houston museums and galleries for August

DiverseWorks presents Jesus Benavente: "NuestroWorld"

Jesus Benavente, A Life A Home and A Horse Named Triste, 2021. Photo courtesy of the artist.

undefined

As the summer sizzles on, Houstonians have the opportunity to contemplate some cool new art around the city. As some art institutions get ready for big fall blockbusters, this month's list highlights some intriguing gallery exhibitions and smaller shows that have popped up this month.

Along with showcases of ancient and contemporary textile work at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Ismaili Center, art gets wild, teal, and tattooed over at Sawyer Yards. Plus, a new mural in Southwest Houston builds international bridges, and DiverseWorks invites art lovers to a new kind of amusement park.

"Between Flame, Stone, and Tide” at Mitochondria Gallery (now through August 29)
Though using very different practices and mediums, artists Alex Peter Idoko, Chika Idu, and Ejiro Fenegal create work that explores how elemental forces shape narratives of memory, identity, belonging, and environmental responsibility. Idoko uses a blowtorch on canvas and paper, exploring themes of destruction and renewal. Fenegal sculpts in marble, using the classic medium to preserve individual stories while affirming collective identity. Idu’s textured oil paintings depict children in aquatic landscapes to depict the relationship between vulnerable communities and threatened environments. When taken together, the exhibition helps viewers reflect on the enduring relationship between material, place, and the environments that sustain us.

"Beyond Skin Deep: Tattoo Artist Showcase” at Sawyer Yards (now through September 12)
Painter, tattoo artist, and exhibition curator Julian Solis wants to defy distinctions between fine art and folk art, making the case for body art as fine art. Solis has organized the exhibition around local tattoo artists’ works in a variety of media. These pieces done in oil, graphite, ink, and more prove their rightful placement on gallery walls, yet they also reveal the unique visions of the artists who usually create on a canvas of human bodies. Visitors to the exhibition will discover traditional flash paintings alongside portraits in oils, with both displaying the relationship tattooers have between their personal art practices and art made for clients

"Transformative Teal” at Sabine Street Studios (now through October 10)
Instead of organizing this group show around a theme or genre, this exhibition asks Sabine artists working in a variety of mediums — including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital media — to contemplate the color teal and its constant metamorphosis between blues and greens. The artists find meaning in the color in a myriad of ways, from intimate narratives of identity and healing to expansive meditations on nature and society. The organizers note that the works showcased reveal how the concept of transformation is at once an external phenomenon and an internal journey.

“WILD” at Sabine Street Studios (now through September 12)
For its biennial exhibitions the WiVLA (Women in Visual and Literary Arts) organization selects a theme and members form collaborative partnerships of two or three artists from different disciplines to create visual and written works in conversation with each other. This year’s “Wild” theme inspires the artists to create work untamed and unconfined. Whether literally or abstractly these artists will decide what wildness means to them, opening their art up to risk, intensity, and freedom.

Persia to Paisley: Global Luxury and the Kashmir Shawl at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (now through November 29)
This special installation within the MFAH’s eminent Hossein Afshar Art of the Islamic Worlds Galleries examines how one piece of clothing, the Kashmir shawl, changed and shaped cultures of its time. Handwoven from pashm, the under hair of Himalayan goats, Kashmir shawls represented the height of luxury for hundreds of years across, Asia, Africa, and Europe. These shawls also became the ultimate piece of wearable art, as it took months of coordinated labor among expert designers, dyers, and weavers to create one piece.

The show will feature extraordinary Kashmir shawls and textiles from the early 17th century to today, including a later 19th century European Long Shawl, signed by Antony Berrus, director and designer of one of the most successful textile ateliers in Paris, an early 17th century Waist Sash from Mughal India, and depictions of Kashmir fashion in classic paintings.

“Painted Bridges” located at 9750 Bellaire Blvd. (ongoing)
Led by Houston’s own street art–and beyond–superstar GONZO247, six emerging Taiwanese artists and designers offer the city a seat at an international art table with this new mural in the Southwest Management District. The six artists are the inaugural cohort of Meridian Fellows from EpNex, an organization based in Taiwan with a network across the U.S. and Asia-Pacific, which has a mission to design programs that connect people across cultures.

With GONZO247 acting as mentor, the artists designed and painted a permanent public mural inspired by the theme of “The Space Between.” The final vision honors Houston’s connection with its oldest official sister city, Taipei, while also telling the story of a "shared feast,” with one empty seat at the center. The space left open holds a dual meaning: one of honoring those who have passed from our lives, while also reminding the viewer that "There is always a seat for you.” The astronaut at the table represents Taipei-born Houston astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren.

Jesus Benavente: "NeustroWorld" presented by DiverseWorks at 5601 B Navigation Blvd. (August 13-September 13)
For this DiverseWorks-commissioned project, Brooklyn-based, Texas-born artist Jesus Benavente uses humor to explore how cities such as Houston constructs its identity. Playing with images and ideas from Houston’s past, and our mythologizing of that past, Benavente eschews the traditional gallery show by creating a fictional visitors center for “NeustroWorld.” The title is a Spanglish phrase meaning "The World Is Ours,” and, of course, a spin on AstroWorld.

This “NeustroWorld” will merge concepts of visitors center, gift shops, and amusement parks into an immersive art space containing large scale banners, Tejano music paired with a custom neon video sculpture inspired by Selena’s rodeo performances, and a 13-foot blimp roaming through the gallery. Visitors can also pick up a free NuestroWorld Amusement Guide and purchase limited-edition merchandise, including custom screen-printed t-shirts, mugs, and stickers. That Amusement Guide will also serve as a kind of art map inviting “NeustroWorld” goers to explore other parts of the city, asking viewers to think about them in new ways, perhaps even as adventure rides in the amusement park we call Houston.

“Imagined Ancestors” at the MFAH Glassell School of Art (August 15-October 4)
This exhibition highlights the work of Patrick Palmer, dean of the Glassell School. With both paintings and sculptures, Palmer depicts the generations of people who shaped his life in both profound and small ways. The pieces are inspired by “the impossible idea” that the art can portray a single moment. Palmer investigates quiet moments to better understand how the past and present are forever connected.

“Article” at Ismaili Center (August 15-January 10)
The Ismaili Center continues to champion local artists with this solo show from textile-based works by Houston artist Gabriel Martinez. Using garments collected from the streets of the city as his medium, Martinez’s pieces ask viewers to think about how material circulates and the different values people place upon everyday objects. The title work of the exhibition is a 30-foot wall-sized composition sewn entirely by hand without assistants or machinery.

While visiting the Center, be sure to take time to find and marvel at the new commissioned and site-specific installation “No. 1573 Reflectors” by acclaimed Bangladeshi-British artist Rana Begum that the Center has just added to its permanent collection. Installed in the east atrium, the 20 feet high pink-and-white reflective piece explores the nature of the infinite.

Jesus Benavente, A Life A Home and A Horse Named Triste, 2021. Photo courtesy of the artist.

DiverseWorks presents Jesus Benavente: "NeustroWorld"

visual-art museums galleries openings