Free shows at Hermann Park

Enduring Houston theater raises the curtain on 2024 season at Hermann Park

One of Houston's most-beloved arts organizations kicks off its 2024 season this Friday, March 29. For more than 100 years, Miller Outdoor Theatre has offered an array of performing arts programming that's completely free. Generations of Houstonians can fondly recall picnicking on the hill above the theater in Hermann Park before taking in a performance when the sun goes down.

“We look forward to welcoming audiences back on the hill as we kick off the 2024 season,” said managing director
Claudia de Vasco in a statement. “Miller Outdoor Theatre has a storied history of offering a diverse range of exceptional arts programming, and I’m thrilled to join the tradition of bringing high-caliber performances to Houstonians for free as we look toward the next 100 years.”

This year's roster of shows brings ensembles from around the city and beyond to create a season of more than two dozen shows. Here are some of the highlights.

Rondstadt Revue featuring Gesenia, officially opens the MOT season on March 29. The show pays homage to the legendary singer Linda Rondstadt with the kind of seamless blend of English and Spanish hits that span Rondstadt's illustrious career.

On April 5, Open Dance Project brings its aerial skills and contemporary choreography to Alice. Reprising their performance that lit up the MATCH this season, the show is the timeless story of a girl who tumbles down the rabbit hole and finds herself in Wonderland, encountering a cast of unforgettable characters and navigating bizarre power dynamics.

Moksh Community Arts, the Missouri City-based arts collective that showcases dance as both a cultural force and unifying art form, presents Houston's Got Bollywood - Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever After on April 13. An explosion of color and sound that showcases a variety of Bollywood beats, it shines a spotlight on the diversity of cultures that call Houston home.

The theme of cultural diversity is echoed in April 19's performance of Chinese Folktales: Wit and Wisdom of the Ancestors produced by Dance of Asian America and Express Children’s Theatre, telling the story how those who populated our past can help us understand our present.

On May 3, Wells Fargo Presents Cinco de Mayo At Miller Featuring Ballet Folklorico, bringing a performance that incorporates ballet, Mariachi music, and a celebration of Mexico. The Houston Ballet comes back to the MOT stage May 10 and 11 for A Night of Celebration, featuring a mixed repertory that showcases the artistry of H-Town's home ballet troupe. The performance is at 8 pm. Houston Grand Opera also comes back to MOT, bringing Puccini's timeless Madame Butterfly to Hermann Park May 17 and 18 at 8 pm.

June opens with a fan favorite: The 35th Annual Accordion Kings and Queens, presented by Texas Folklife. This energetic concert is slated for June 1 at 7 pm.. On June 22, Classic Albums Live presents Aretha Franklin – Aretha’s Gold at 8:30pm. The ever-popular Star Spangled Salute Presented by Truist and produced by Houston Symphony lights up the stage on July 4.The orchestra plays a selection of patriotic melodies, followed by a fireworks show courtesy of Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

A MOT tradition returns in August .The Houston Shakespeare Festival offers A Midsummer Night's Dream in repertory with Romeo and Juliet August 1 through 10. The festival is produced by the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance and The Kathrine G. McGovern College of The Arts.

Seating at Miller is always free. For more season details and to learn more about how to attend the performances, visit the MOT website.

The rest of the season's performances will be announced at a later date.

The cast of Open Source Dance's production of Alice.

Photo by Lynn Lane

Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole into Wonderland in Open Dance Project's production of Alice, at Miller Outdoor Theatre this season.

parks performing-arts

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