"Bar Nancy" won't work
Name that Theater: New company needs your help with a moniker
So you missed out on naming that bar a few weeks back. I know I did, "Bar Nancy" just didn't make the cut.
Now all of us have a chance to name one of Houston's newest theater companies. Husband and wife team Philip Lehl and Kim Tobin, formerly of Brave Dog Theatre, are launching a new operation, and they want you to give it a name.
Should you pick the winner, you win two tickets to their first two plays, one of which will be announced shortly. The deadline is midnight Feb. 14. The company's new name will be announced on Feb.16, along with their inaugural production. Submissions go to nameourtheatrecompany@gmail.com.
"There are two reasons for having a community naming contest for the new company; first, it gets people talking and helps us let our patrons know what is happening. Second, if two heads are better than one then 500 heads are really scary," says Tobin. "Our favorite submissions so far: Kookie Banana Theatre Company and Your Mom Theatre Company (from 12-year-old James Wolf). Keep 'em coming Houston!"
The Juilliard educated Lehl is one of the most prominent actors in the city. He has appeared at the Alley Theatre, Classical Theatre Company, Houston Shakespeare Festival Main Street Theater, Horse Head Theatre Co., and is presently appearing in Will Eno's masterful Oh, The Humanity and other exclamations at Stages Repertory Theatre.
Tobin, another accomplished actor, directs the Kim Tobin Acting Studio and was last seen as the zany heroine of Reckless, the final production of Brave Dog Theatre.
Lehl and Tobin intend to carry on the traditions passed on to them by Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler. Lehl assumes the role of artistic director with Tobin as managing director.
The idea behind the new troupe is to present a wide range of visionary works, from classics to contemporary works. Knowing the caliber of work coming from this team thus far, Houston is in for something special.