Houston Theater Reviews Page 3

Review: SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CAST OF THE JERSEY LILY Thrills Its Audiences with Grace and Charm
by Miranda Keating - May 05, 2023

Honestly, I did not know what to expect when I was walking into the Alley Theatre for SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE JERSEY LILY; I have never been a person who goes out of their way to engage in tales of mystery. However, when this show ended, I was still on my toes and itching for more!...

Review: The Heart-Wrenching STEEL MAGNOLIAS Is Stealing Hearts Right Here in Houston!
by Miranda Keating - April 28, 2023

I felt incredibly lucky to be the recipient of the very last ticket available for the Sunday, April 23rd performance of Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS, produced by The Garden Theatre. I was very excited to see this production, and once I saw the heartwarming tale and the exquisite production, I un...

Review: PHOTOGRAPH 51 At Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Theatre At The J
by Brett Cullum - April 21, 2023

It’s a tale not told often enough about a Jewish woman who helped to decode the building blocks of life itself. It is even more poignant when we look across the scientific field and see how women are still marginalized and not given the same voices that men often take....

Review: Denise Fennell Captivates Her Audiences with Joy and Sentimental Reflection in THE BRIDE: OR, DOES THIS DRESS MAKE ME LOOK MARRIED?
by Miranda Keating - April 17, 2023

Walking into Stages for the first time, I was not sure what I was getting myself into. All of a sudden, Denise Fennell sprinted onto the stage in a huge wedding dress and asked the big question present in the show's title: 'Does this dress make me look married?' The wonderful rollercoaster of THE BR...

Review: TUTS BREAKS TROUPES WITH LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL AT THE HOBBY CENTER
by Armando Urdiales - April 12, 2023

We all have heard or maybe used the inappropriate phrase 'dumb blonde.' However, the musicalization of challenging this notion in Legally Blonde the Musical, currently in performances at TUTS, challenges our use of the expression with a heartwarming and uplifting tale of breaking the glass ceiling....

Review: THE OLDEST BOY at Main Street Theater
by Brett Cullum - April 11, 2023

This is easily one of Main Street Theater’s strongest offerings this year, and it is a show that is well-thought through and exquisitely paced. Sophia Watt achieves near nirvana balancing acting with design and execution in her direction. THE OLDEST BOY is about as perfect as you can manage to get i...

Review: 4th Wall Theatre Pulls at Heartstrings in Sanctuary City.
by Armando Urdiales - April 06, 2023

Immigration. The word that has been much on the lips of everyone in the last years. On both sides of the political aisle, this topic has created laws that have impacted many. An expert production at 4th Wall reveals the real-world ramifications of this legislation in Martyna Majok's Sanctuary City. ...

Review: CLYDES At Ensemble Theatre Is a Masterclass Production
by Armando Urdiales - March 27, 2023

Do you ever feel anxious at work? Tired? Maybe you are stressed because your home life is chaotic. Now add the pressure that you are formerly incarcerated, and your boss (who was also in prison) consistently uses this fact against you. On top of which, your work is making sandwiches at a busy truck ...

Review: THE BOOK OF MARY inspires the 'Diva Within' at DIRT DOGS THEATRE
by Brett Cullum - March 24, 2023

There is a short, tight list of Houston actors who could do a show about their life and have it mean anything more than a vanity project, but she is at the top of that register. There is something about Mary Hooper that Houston loves, and if you are lucky enough to catch this one woman show called T...

Review: COWBOY BOB takes her last stand at the Alley until March 26th!
by Brett Cullum - March 20, 2023

What did our critic think of COWBOY BOB at ALLEY THEATRE? Despite any narrative difficulties, COWBOY BOB is still something to see. It’s a celebration of what a daring musical should feel like. It asks tough questions, it presents us with gorgeous ballads, and it shows off truly Texan stage design t...

Review: New Sketch Musical NOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN ME NAKED Charms And Delights Its Audiences at MATCH
by Miranda Keating - March 15, 2023

Walking into one of the small, black box theater spaces at MATCH, all I knew was that I was about to watch a brand-new sketch musical about Drs. Percy Hinks and Adelaide Hibble attempt to discover a formula that reveals 'the mysterious love code'. I was not ready for the chaos that was about to ensu...

Review: Houston Ballet's Summer and Smoke Takes My Breath Away with Its Gorgeous Storytelling
by Miranda Keating - March 14, 2023

As much as I admire the art of ballet, I have never seen a new, professional ballet performance, one that no one else has seen before. To say I was excited to be in the audience for the opening night of the world premiere of Houston Ballet's SUMMER AND SMOKE is an understatement, and it was everythi...

Review: MISERY Hobbles Along at Dirt Dogs
by Brett Cullum - March 07, 2023

That Dirt Dogs would choose MISERY for their “season of love” makes perfect sense. As a company they have made a name for themselves by creating plays fueled by testosterone laden energy and provocative rough language. There is an intensity and violence that suggests MISERY would be a perfect projec...

Review: STAGES Brings Politics to The Forefront in ROE
by Armando Urdiales - March 03, 2023

Whoa! The literal words audience members exclaim after witnessing the powerful performances that are currently happening in Roe at STAGES. Houston’s prolific theater, brings Lisa Loomer’s play not only an important time but also does so with some of our city’s brilliant actors. ...

Review: AD Players Brings Hope In EVERY BRILLIANT THING
by Armando Urdiales - March 03, 2023

Every Brilliant Thing at AD Players, a one-man show that finished at the George Theater, can only be summed up in one phrase, freaking brilliant. Orlando Arriaga, one of Houston's very own master actors, proves his extraordinary acting prowess in this play and does so with equal parts joy and humili...

Review: MOULIN ROUGE!: THE MUSICAL Makes Audiences Roar with Delight Night After Night at The Hobby Center
by Miranda Keating - March 03, 2023

I made sure that I managed my expectations when attending MOULIN ROUGE!: THE MUSICAL because the stage production could not be as visually exciting as the original film, right? Wrong. As soon as the show began, I was instantly transported into the beautiful world of the Moulin Rouge. The spectacle l...

Review: ROMEO AND JULIET STUNS AUDIENCES WITH ITS CLASSIC STORY AND BEAUTIFUL DESIGN at Houston Ballet
by Miranda Keating - March 02, 2023

ROMEO AND JULIET…the classic love story of star-crossed lovers. To say that our culture is saturated with this tale is a fact that no one can deny. However, knowing the talent of the Houston Ballet, I was intrigued to see this legend translated to dance. As I watched the production, I quickly realiz...

Review: CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC DAZZLES AUDIENCES WITH A SHOW LIKE NO OTHER at The Hobby Center
by Miranda Keating - February 17, 2023

I could only imagine what a magic show would consist of…perhaps a few white rabbits, a deck of cards, and a fabulous dancer that gets cut in half. I went to the show with all these images in my mind, but due to a lack of experience, I ultimately had no expectations. To say that CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC ex...

Review: THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL STUNS AND DELIGHTS AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES at MATCH
by Miranda Keating - February 21, 2023

I remember the day when I first saw the cover for “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan. I would soon consume that book in a matter of days. When I heard that THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL was being produced in Houston, I knew I had to go, and the show proved to be everything that l...

Review: The Very Trippy EDDIE GOES TO POETRY CITY At Catastrophic Theatre
by Brett Cullum - February 14, 2023

You won’t find a more technically stunning or well acted show in Houston right now. There is a lot to recommend EDDIE GOES TO POETRY CITY, but with one caveat. It will seem presentational and all stylistic performance rather than anything linear or narrative. If you love abstract or absurd theater y...

Review: CHICAGO is Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary at Theatre Under the Stars with New, Rousing Energy
by Miranda Keating - February 08, 2023

Show after show, CHICAGO makes the crowd roar and come to their feet, energizing all with its storytelling, dancing, and glamor. There is no wonder why CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations over the years, and the show is still rousing audiences ...

Review: The Garden Theatre's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Presents Shakespeare with Modern Sass and New Energy
by Miranda Keating - January 27, 2023

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is arguably the most well-known comedic play in the world. Every production I have seen has had its own charm, but they all followed the story traditionally, making the same jokes and all trying to reach mimesis. Going to The Garden Theatre's production, I expected no dif...

Review: Classical Theatre Company's THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL Presents Classical Theatre in An Innovative, Groovy Way at The Deluxe Theater
by Miranda Keating - January 20, 2023

THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL is presented with new life! The play reflects a comedy of errors that occurs after a false rumor is purposely spread. In a typical Restoration Comedy, you may expect wigs and quill pens, but this production uses minimal wooden set pieces, modern costumes, and a cast of 6 to te...

Review: STIRS UP STILL THINGS at Ishida Dance Company
by Brett Cullum - January 06, 2023

If true art is the ability to tell a story through a medium, then what this group has achieved is a remarkable level of marrying movement with narrative. Rarely have I witnessed dance where emotions and poetry are so clear, and performed with such passion....

Review: The Traditional A CHRISTMAS CAROL Enraptures Audiences With Its Exciting, New Telling at The Alley Theatre
by Miranda Keating - December 19, 2022

Many already know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. However, despite the many productions and movies I have seen of this timeless story, I truly believe that the Alley Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL was the most exciting telling that I have experienced. Live music, active puppets, and daring spectacle kep...