broadway is back

Tina Turner, MJ, and can't-miss classics headline Broadway at Hobby Center's thrilling new season

For performing arts lovers, the real most wonderful time of the year has just begun with season announcement season.

Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center has revealed its lineup with nine shows to keep our musical theater calendar filled. With new Broadway and West End blockbusters returning classics, bio-musical and lots of '80s inspiration, we’re anticipating one “Thriller” of a 2023-2024 season.

“The 2023-2024 Season delivers on the promise to our audiences to bring the very best of Broadway right here to Houston. The Broadway series is as hot as ever with Houstonians filling Sarofim Hall for performance after performance,” said Hobby Center president and CEO, Mark Folkes in a statement announcing the season. “We are inspired by the enthusiasm we've experienced from audiences in recent months and look forward to another blockbuster season with eight spectacular diverse productions.”

MJ (November 14-19, 2023)

This one doesn’t even need a full name in the title: we know that sound and silhouette of Michael Jackson. The hottest show on Broadway right now makes its Texas debut in Houston bringing the music, moves and story of Michal Jackson. With a book by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, we expect to go deeper into the rise of the king of pop.

The song list includes global hits like “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Man in the Mirror” but also real surprises like Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Climb Ev'ry Mountain.” the Broadway at Hobby season is gonna Be Startin’ Something with this one.

Tina-The Tina Turner Musical (January 2-7, 2024)

The new year opens with simply “The Best” and all round queen of rock, R&B, soul, pop and really the musical universe. Another Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, this time, Katori Hall wrote the book on Turner’s extraordinary, no holds barred story.

The musical follows her from childhood singing in the church to her rise to stardom, marriage and divorce to Ike Turner and her triumph second, third and beyond acts as a international rock superstar. Who needs another hero when we’ve got Tina Turner.

Les Misérables (January 23-28)

Do you hear the people sing, singing the songs of the show that began a Broadway revolution? Dream a dream and storm the barricades once more with this revival of the Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony-winning phenomenon.

Beetlejuice (March 5-10, 2024)

Say his name, say his name, say his name and prepare for chaotic, ghostly fun in this musical based on the '80s Tim Burton film. (BTW, that film now could be seen as a timely exploration of property rights and home renovations when the previous owners won’t move on — because they’re dead).

While the two movie showstoppers “The Banana Boat Song” and "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)” will still have us dancing in our Hobby Center seats, listen for brand new songs written for the show by Eddie Perfect.

Girl from the North Country (April 30-May 5, 2024)

While by definition a jukebox musical, this Girl tells a poignant tale as acclaimed Irish playwright weaves the songs of Bob Dylan into story of lives changed one faithful night. Though Dylan originally wrote many of these songs in the '60s and '70s, they set an authentic mood for this depression era saga.

In Duluth, Minnesota (Dylan’s birthplace), we meet a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect as they take shelter in a guesthouse one stormy night. The Tony-nominated show reimagines 20 Dylan’s songs as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.”

Hairspray (June 4-9, 2024)

The musical based on the '80s John Waters film that was later made into a movie musical is back on tour with an all-new production that reunites Broadway’s award-winning creative team led by Director Jack O’Brien and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

This dance revolution will be televised as '60s high schooler Tracy Turnblad’s ambition to take her big hair and curves onto the Corny Collins Show opens her eyes to segregation and racial injustice. Filled with some big comedy, the show still packs powerful emotional punch.

Disney’s The Lion King (July 11-August 4)

Long live the king of Broadway with this family-favorite becomes an add on to the lineup. This version of Hamlet as depicted by big cats keeps enchanting each new generation with its music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi and most of all its stunning costumes, set and choreography.

Funny Girl (August 20-25, 2024)

The revival that’s been on everyone’s musical radar for the past year takes to the road in 2024, and we won’t rain on this parade. Featuring one of the most beloved, and sing-along-able scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein, Funny Girl was one of the first Broadway shows about Broadway.

The show follows the indomitable Fanny Brice climbs her way from vaudeville to musical stardom. For decades she’s reminded us that people who need theater people are the luckiest people in the world.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Naomi Rodgers channels Tina in a can't-miss musical.

Vegan News

Bustling Brazilian steakhouse chain lightens up with new plant-based options

Fogo de Chao

Fogo tofu with black bean pasta.

Well, here's a twist: Fogo de Chão, the churrascuria-style restaurant concept from Brazil known for its dedication to meat, is expanding its menu in an unprecedented new direction:

They're adding tofu.

Effective immediately, the restaurant will offer new plant-based and nutrient-dense dishes, alongside an enhanced Bar Fogo beverage list that has new non-alcoholic craft cocktails made with low-proof spirits (less than 0.5% alcohol).

Fogo CEO Barry McGowan says in a release that they're responding to demand from their younger, more health-conscious customers.

"Our young and dynamic guests consider themselves food explorers who seek new culinary discoveries with each visit,” McGowan says. “For nearly 45 years we’ve had nutrient-dense and plant-forward dining options for every occasion and dietary tribe through our Market Table. With the rollout of our new dining choices and clean cocktails, we continue to offer our guests the variety and discoveries they crave while doing it in a wholesome and flavorful way.”

The Market Table is their famed salad bar, which has sated many a vegetarian diner or else those just not up for the whole skewered meat thing that is a trademark of Fogo and other churrascuria-style places.

Entrees
Two new plant-based innovations will join Fogo's existing Vegetarian and Pescatarian dishes such as the Cauliflower Steak, and will be available on the main dining menu available for lunch, brunch, and dinner as an alternative to the Full Churrasco Experience, as follows:

Seared Tofu with Miso Black Bean Pasta - Chimichurri-marinated tofu served atop black bean pasta sautéed with green onion, Napa cabbage, pickled onions and carrot ginger-miso dressing. Vegan and gluten-free.
Roasted Power Vegetable Bowl - Roasted eggplant, marinated mushrooms, roasted zucchini, asparagus, and baby peppers served with chimichurri spinach rice. Vegan and gluten-free.

togo power bowl Roasted Power Vegetable Bowl at Fogo de Chao.Courtesy of Fogo de Chao

They're also rolling out new dishes on the Market Table which for the past 45 years has showcased nutrient-dense and flavorful choices including seasonal salads, micro greens, natural and plant-based proteins, imported charcuterie, and more.

New items on the Market Table are as follows:

Spring Hummus - Fresh hummus blended with herbs, roasted garlic and citrus, topped with radish, fresh mint, edamame, and olive oil.
Baby Kale & Mango Salad - Fresh baby kale, Napa cabbage, red radish and mango, tossed in a lime honey dressing.
Miso Black Bean Pasta - Gluten-free black bean pasta tossed with green onion, Napa cabbage, pickled onions and carrot ginger-miso dressing.
Apple Manchego Salad - Granny Smith apples and Manchego cheese tossed with honey, cracked pepper and black mission figs.
Power Greens - A seasonal mix of vitamin-rich greens, fresh herbs and micro-shoots

The Bar
The Bar Fogo menu now features five new cocktails, including three made with Clean Co’s non-alcoholic spirits with less than 0.5% alcohol, as follows:

Yellowbird - Desolas Mezcal, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Cointreau, La Marca Prosecco
Espresso Martini - Diplomatico Reserva Rum, Caffe Borghetti and Licor 43
Clean Cosmo - CleanCo V (Vodka) Apple, Cranberry, Fresh Lemon
CleanR Sour - CleanCo R (Rum), Passionfruit, Pineapple, Aquafaba, Bitters
Clean Cucumber Martini - CleanCo V (Vodka) Apple, Cucumber, Basil, Lemon Twist

Founded in southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo has eight locations across Texas including three in the Houston area: Friendswood, Westheimer, and The Woodlands.