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    Five Questions

    Houston parking lot theater: Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons looks back at hishumble, local start

    Sarah Rufca
    Apr 21, 2010 | 8:07 pm
    • Parsons in IBP's "King Ubu is King" back in the parking lot and warehouseperformance days.
    • Jim Parsons in a modern-day publicity shot.
    • Parsons, right, in Infernal Bridegroom Production's of "Woyzeck".

    Before Jim Parsons was the eccentric genius Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, he was a founding member of Houston's Infernal Bridegroom Productions (IBP), performing in 18 plays with the group. Parsons also graduated from Klein Oak High School and the University of Houston.

    With the talented IBP crew having reorganized as Catastrophic Theatre, Parsons is taking a trip back to town as the honoree Saturday night for Catastrophic Theatre's gala, "Big! Bang! Catastrophe!" at Houston Studios.

    In advance of his glorious one-night return to the Houston theater scene, CultureMap spoke with Parsons about his Houston experiences and his beloved breakout character.

     CultureMap: Tell me about your time at Infernal Bridegroom Productions. What did you learn from the experience?

     Jim Parsons: The experience was very life-encompassing ... it really took over, and I threw myself into for a period of time. I went to undergrad at the University of Houston and graduate school at the University of San Diego, and the further I get away from those days the more I feel that my Infernal Bridegroom experience was on par with my traditional education in getting me where I am.

    It gave me a chance to do a type of play that I wasn't exposed to at university, like Beckett and Brecht. Both of my university experiences were pretty straight and narrow, with plays in spaces that were very typical, as opposed to Infernal Bridegroom performing all over the map. More often then not we were in a warehouse or parking lot, whatever we could create a show in.

    There were a lot of important lessons that I learned, including the ability to perform under any circumstances. You can only learn it by getting the chance to do it, to perform in whatever room, in front of whatever audience that you have. It builds confidence that's born of literal fact that you have done that. It's harder to throw me as an actor than it would be had I not had that experience.

     CM: You were nominated for an Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series last year. In an ensemble cast, what makes Sheldon stand out as being so funny?

     JP: If Sheldon stands out its because, I think, Sheldon is a combination, an extreme example of some very humanistic traits. His obsession with his spot, that's a very normal thing, but what makes it not normal is his obsession. He's not trying to be rude, he's just stating a fact, but most people would find it to be rude to tell someone to move in their own house. That's what makes him so appealing as a character, he has these normal tendencies but they're so magnified, so extreme, and there's no one else like him on TV.
     
    And these are geniuses, they aren't just nerds, they aren’t just smart, they have some of the brilliant, beuatiful minds that shape our world. And because he has such an exceptional mind, we allow him to go there. And theres a great freedom in that and a great joy in that. You have a very large color palette, which is kind of ironic.

     CM: As someone with multiple degrees, do you ever use your personal experience when playing Sheldon on Big Bang Theory?

     JP: You know, I'd be lying if I said I did. Maybe subconsciously … I really enjoyed the educational environment, my mother and sister are both schoolteachers — they teach first grade — so I think being in an educational environment is in my DNA. But the only thing that's ever consciously brought in is what (the writers) write. I know I bring something in, but very little is beyond what they put in the pages. They do a good enough job with saying who he is and having him say who he is.

     CM: How often do you make it back to Houston? Is there anything in town you always try to visit while you're here?

     JP: About twice a year, Christmas and summertime, and its usually very family-centric, with maybe a couple friends that I try and see. We always, end up at two places: Lupe Tortilla and Pappadeaux. When I lived here I don't think we had Lupe Tortilla, or it was new, but my family has started going there and I really like it. Mexican is my favorite kind of food, and I've eaten it wherever I've lived.

    It's very different in New York and in California, but I like it all. But Tex-Mex is my favorite. I could take a trip and eat Tex-Mex every day.

     CM: Is it weird to be coming back as a special guest and honoree for the same people you started out with?

     JP: It's a little odd, but at the same time, if I can help bring attention to not just a theater group, but a group of people who have been important to my life and my growth as an actor, if I can bring attention financially, it is so my pleasure to try.

    This has been for so long now such worthy work, both back when we were together and what they still do. It's a crucial part of a cultural theme in Houston. It fills a void, I got to work and people got to see things they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to see.

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    Movie Review

    New Superman movie forges into the future while honoring the past

    Alex Bentley
    Jul 11, 2025 | 3:30 pm
    David Corenswet in Superman
    Photo by Jessica Miglio
    David Corenswet in Superman.

    When the character of Superman was invented in 1938, it was perhaps easier to see the world in good and bad terms. Fascism was already on the rise in Germany under Adolf Hitler, and the idea of an all-powerful superhero who stood up for people in need was a welcome one. In the nearly 90 years since, though, the world and the character have undergone multiple evolutions, and the thought of someone who is purely good is often met with cynicism or worse.

    The new Superman, written and directed by James Gunn, puts the superhero (or metahuman, as the film calls him and similar creatures) squarely in the midst of the modern world, with geopolitical conflicts, mega-corporations, and social media all combining to make the altruism of Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) questionable. That skepticism even extends to his coworker/girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), whose knowledge of his exploits puts her in a tricky position personally and professionally.

    Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is out to dominate the world and take down Superman, with his eponymous corporation and vast group of underlings dedicated to doing both. Superman is generally a one-man fighting crew, but he’s occasionally aided by a group calling themselves the Justice Gang, comprised of heroes many have never heard of like Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), a version of Green Lantern; Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), a flying metahuman; and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who knows all kinds of technology.

    One of the best things about this new version of Superman is that it mostly dispenses with introductions, putting the audience in a world where Superman is already a well-known quantity who’s adored by many and hated by some. Gunn has used his new position as co-CEO of DC Studios to honor the past of the hero and take him into the future. With the 1978 John Williams theme song echoing throughout and Corenswet giving off Christopher Reeve vibes, it’s clear Gunn wants audiences to feel nostalgia while still getting something new.

    He also appears to want viewers to fight against the negativity that the modern world can bring. The plot involves manipulation of the public, usually at the hands of Luthor, through bombastic talk shows, political theater, and social media, the latter of which — in a great joke — comes to involve hundreds of typing monkeys. The film could be read as a rebuttal of many real-world ills as, despite Luthor’s machinations, many choose to continue to believe in the goodness of Superman.

    There is a lot going on in the film, but somehow it never comes off as overly complicated. Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane and Luthor’s attempts at taking him down are given the most prominence, with everything else supporting those two main things. The Justice Gang is a fun addition, with Mr. Terrific becoming the breakout hero of the group. The addition of the (CGI) dog Krypto provides levity, poignant moments, and unexpectedly great action scenes. The only part that gets somewhat short shrift is the crew of The Daily Planet, with everyone besides Lois and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) getting little more than face time.

    Being the new Superman is a lot to live up to, but Corenswet is completely up to the job. He, like Reeve, plays the character as someone who is earnest but not naive, a quality that comes through even when he’s in the middle of fight scenes. Brosnahan is also fantastic, providing a nice balance to the relationship while also proving the character’s own worth. Hoult makes for a great new version of Luthor, and Gathegi nearly makes the case that Mr. Terrific should get a starring film of his own.

    Just as he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn has shown that success can be found through making characters people want to see. Not everyone in this Superman will be familiar to viewers, but in the end a group of people working together toward a goal that serves the common good is one worth watching and cheering for.

    ---

    Superman is now playing in theaters.

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