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    Reaching for the Stars

    New artistic director Bruce Lumpkin thinks small — and creative — to expandTUTS' future

    Tarra Gaines
    Aug 22, 2012 | 10:15 am
    • Lumpkin believes that pairing Spamalot (pictured here) with Camelot as part ofTUTS' new season is brilliant
    • Bruce Lumpkin, the new creative director at TUTS
    • Lumpkin directed the TUTS production of White Christmas.
      Photo by Bruce Bennett
    • Lumpkin also directed the TUTS production of Miss Saigon.
      Photo by Chris Bennion
    • Lumpkin believes that expanding smaller productions to the smaller Zilkha Hallin the Hobby Center, pictured here, will help TUTS grow. Its large productionsare shown at Sarofirm Hall at Hobby.

    There’s a new creative sheriff in town at Theatre Under the Stars, but his name might be familiar to Houston musical theater lovers. Last month, award-winning director Bruce Lumpkin was named artistic director of TUTS. CultureMap recently checked in with Lumpkin to see how he’s settling into his new role and to catch a glimpse of his vision for the future of TUTS.

    Lumpkin, who previously served as a director at Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia for 16 years and also has directed productions around the nation and the world, is no stranger to Houston or TUTS. He was born and raised here and first began directing at Humphreys School of Musical Theatre in its early days. Most recently he directed Miss Saigon and White Christmas for TUTS.

    He’s excited to return to Houston and hometown audience, believing theater offered all over Houston is of “such high quality” that audiences “have become educated and intelligent in their taste of what they want to see.”

    While Lumpkin did not have a hand in choosing the 2012-2013 season, his fingerprints will be all over the TUTS-produced shows.

    While Lumpkin did not have a hand in choosing the 2012-2013 season, his fingerprints will be all over the TUTS-produced shows as he has already begun picking the shows’ artistic staffs, with input from TUTS president John Breckenridge.

    TUTS seasons are usually a mixture of self-produced musicals and national touring shows. For the 2012-2013 season, TUTS will be producing Camelot, Spamalot and Man of La Mancha especially for its Houston audience, while opening and closing the season with the touring productions of Jekyll & Hyde and Flashdance, respectively.

    Though Lumpkin did not pick this lineup, he says “I think the idea, the smart idea, of putting Camelot and Spamalot in the same season is really quite brilliant. They are two shows that are so totally different in their content and yet the same. And then [we’re] putting Man of La Mancha in the middle of that, which is beautiful classic love story.”

    Looking ahead

    Lumpkin is already thinking about the “long process” of selecting shows for 2013-2014 season. “Trying to find what is the right mix of home-produced shows for our audience is always a struggle to try to keep in touch with what they want to see. That’s why we do the audience survey and spend so much time going over that with our staff,” he says.

    While the 45-year-old theater company has a long and illustrious history, Lumpkin realizes that no artistic director can afford to relax in these challenging economic times. One issue theater organizations of all sizes around the country must contend with is how to keep loyal season subscribers while reaching out to that next generation and new demographic.

    "Your loyal subscribers of the future are the 17, 18, 19 years olds, and what they want to see — they’re certainly not season ticket holders yet —but what they want to see is not necessarily what their parents want to see," Lumpkin says. "I have an 18-year-old and I know that from my kid’s point of view that the type of theater that my child wants to see, although I love it, is not necessarily the type of theater my audience would want to see.”

    Lumpkin believes to expand the audience base sometimes TUTS needs to go smaller. “One of the things we’re talking about, that we’re very excited about, is alternate space," he says.

    He has come up with a bit of a paradoxical solution to this problem. He believes to expand the audience base sometimes TUTS needs to go smaller. “One of the things we’re talking about, that we’re very excited about, is alternate space. We’re actually talking about doing, in addition to our regular season, eventually doing some shows next door in Zilkha,” he explains.

    Hobby Center has two theater spaces — the 2,650-seat Sarofim Hall and the 500-seat Zilkha Hall. TUTS uses Zilkha for student productions from Humphreys School, but not for their main season. Lumpkin’s idea is to keep the same number of big musicals in the main season, but to add some smaller shows with a “different flavor” to run in Zilkha.

    He believes utilizing the smaller hall would allow TUTS to do the kind of plays the organization “could never do on our big stage because of the size of the shows themselves.” Using Zilkha might actually open up their range of choices for the season since there are many new, innovative musicals that would just never work in a big venue because they were written and created for smaller spaces.

    Edgy musical

    Lumpkin gives the example of the edgy musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which Generations Theatre Company recently gave its Houston premiere, as the kind of show that would not work in a big hall like Sarofim, but would work in Zilkha. And this type of smaller show might be what some younger audiences are looking for.

    “People who don’t want to see Camelot might want to see something we’re doing in the small theater. We’re certainly going to entertain that idea and introduce it slowly at first, but it’s something we’re definitely talking about doing,” he says.

    “Shared productions or co-productions, as we call them, are something that we’re really working on for the future," he says.

    Lumpkin’s other long-term goal for TUTS is to prove that creativity loves company.

    “Shared productions or co-productions, as we call them, are something that we’re really working on for the future," he says. "Theater in itself around America has taken a real hit over the last decade. A lot of theaters have closed. There’s less money to spend around the country.

    "We have hope of getting theaters that do the same sort of thing that we do to share in productions (where) we can share the sets, the costumes, the lights, the actors, the directors. Share the cost of that show, which will make for a better show, and then be able to play in both of our venues. It’s hard to organize all of that but we’re working on it."

    TUTS entered into this type of co-production in the past, including just last year with Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey for the musical Curtains. "There are so many ways of going about this, but it is the future I think. I feel really strongly about that. Sharing theatre instead of being in competition with everybody is really the answer, not only just in Houston but in the country as well,” he says.

    For Lumpkin, ideas like shared productions and adding new, smaller productions to coming seasons is the future state of the arts for Theatre Under the Stars.

    His final vision? “I just want to help bring this organization further into the 21st (century) with new ideas and fresh ideas, and new energy to keep up what we’ve done for the last 45 years for the next 45.”

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    independence day fun

    Where to celebrate the 4th of July throughout the Houston area in 2025

    Holly Beretto
    Jun 18, 2025 | 11:30 am
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    A country only turns 249 once. To celebrate Independence Day, cities around the Houston region have a host of entertainment options for all ages — including, of course, fireworks to light up the night sky. Happy 4th of July!

    Thursday, July 3
    Houston Symphony: Star-Spangled Salute
    This annual concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is free for everyone, and offers a selection of patriotic songs to celebrate the holiday. 8pm.

    Friday, July 4
    Freedom Over Texas
    Houston’s annual July 4th bash returns to Eleanor Tinsley Park along Allen Parkway with local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice. Attendees also have access to a beer garden; a sponsored area with representatives from local sports teams; the "Red, White & Play Kids Zone" with games, face painting, and entertainment; and "Liberty Park," which salutes the military and includes pictures with military assets. The grand finale of the celebration is a “Texas-sized” fireworks display. This year’s event will donate a portion of the entrance fee to the Houston Food Bank. Gates open at 4 pm. The cost is $10.

    Bubbles and Fireworks
    Buffalo Bayou Partnership hosts this event, which sets sail from Allen’s Landing at 8 pm. Hop on a boat and head into the bayou for a sensational view of fireworks over downtown, complete with bubbly, wine, beer, and light bites. The cost is $150 per person. Space is limited and this event is for ages 13 and older. Reserve online.

    City of Baytown 4th of July Celebration
    Beginning at 4 pm, the event includes live performances from groups like the Spazmatics and The Zydeco Outlaws, among others, food and craft vendors, and children’s activities. The evening is capped off with fireworks. The event is free to attend.

    City of Bellaire Celebration of Independence Parade & Festival
    This free event at Loftin Park kicks off with a parade at 9 am. A festival, held from 9:30 am-12 pm, includes music, food, and other family fun.

    City of Friendswood July 4th Celebration
    The day begins at 10 am, with a parade on Friendswood Drive, followed by a festival in Stevenson Park with rides, games, music, and entertainment. At 7 pm, a celebration will be held in Centennial Park, with live music and other entertainment, capped by a fireworks show around 9:10 pm.

    City of La Porte 4th of July in Five Points
    After a parade down Broadway, there’s a party at Five Points Plaza, featuring free hot dogs while they last, live music, and a fire truck that will spray water in the street. All festivities are free. The fun starts at 10:30 am.

    City of Pasadena 4th Fest
    Pasadena's party features a live DJ, Pasadena Idol performers, and a host of other activities celebrating the nation’s birthday at the Pasadena Fairgrounds. The festival starts at 4 pm, with a fireworks display at 9:15 pm. The event is free to attend.

    City of Pearland Celebration of Freedom
    Live music, kids activities, strolling entertainment, giveaways, and a photo booth top the list of fun on the 4th in Independence Park, beginning at 6 pm. The evening finishes with an 18-minute fireworks display. It’s free to attend.

    City of Seabrook Fourth of July Parade
    The parade begins at the Miramar Shopping Center and ends at Rex L. Meador Park. Kids are encouraged to decorate bikes, scooters, wagons and other non-motorized vehicles for a special children’s parade. Look for a bounce house, hayrides, hotdogs and other Fourth of July-themed fun. Festivities begin at 9:30 am.

    City of Sugar Land Red, White, and Boom
    Gather at Constellation Field for this epic celebration with music, food, vendors, and a grand fireworks finale. Admission is free. The event kicks off at 5 pm.

    Dueling Pianos and Fireworks
    Katy’s Home Run Dugout hosts this bash, headlined by dueling piano duo Joilux. Guests can request their fave tunes, and enjoy a killer fireworks show. The event is free, and those attending can order bites and drinks off the gathering spot’s regular menu. Celebrations kick off at 8 pm.

    Einstein’s Fireworks Cruise on Lake Conroe
    Depart from Einstein’s Surf & Boat Shop at the Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe for this three-hour cruise, which includes music, snacks, and a great vantage point for seeing the fireworks on Lake Conroe. BYOB. The cost is $75.

    Fourth of July in The Woodlands
    An array of activities are happening all day long, beginning at 8 am with festivities that precede the 49th Annual South County 4th of July Parade, which winds through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street, featuring fire engines, military units, and marching bands.

    From 10 am to 6 pm, Woodlands townships have a host of Red, White, and Pool activities in their pools (fees vary). Finally, the Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza kicks off at 6 pm with food, live entertainment, and family fun at multiple locations throughout The Woodlands.

    Houston Symphony: Star-Spangled Salute
    The Symphony’s free July 4 concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park is a Houston tradition. Expect songs like “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “America the Beautiful,” followed by a grand finale fireworks display. The concert begins at 8:30 pm.

    Kemah Boardwalk July 4th Celebration
    The popular entertainment zone has live music beginning at 2 pm, with multiple bands taking the stage. A fireworks show starts at 9:30 pm. The fireworks show is free. Those wishing to hop on a boat and catch the show from the water need to pay $40. Boarding begins at 9 pm.

    Missouri City Fourth Fest
    Taking place on the Houston Community College - Southwest College campus, this free party includes carnival games, live performances, food from local vendors, and a fireworks display. Festivities begin at 5 pm.

    Valley Ranch 4th Fest
    Cover band Dunn & Brooks and ZZ Tex highlight this day-long celebration, which also features yard games, a kids’ zone, train rides, a shopping boutique, July 4th swag, food trucks, and a Red, White, and Brews cash bar. It’s all capped off with Montgomery County’s largest fireworks display. The fun starts at 5 pm and admission is free.

    Saturday, July 5
    Stars, Stripes, and Swing
    The Jazz Connection Orchestra performs at Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe’s Del Lago Ballroom. There’s a cash bar with offerings such as tacos, hot dogs, and other snacks. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. The concert is at 7:30 pm, with a fireworks show immediately following at 9:20 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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