John Cooper News

Eighteen new provocative and engaging plays will be presented in groups A and B of 9 plays each. The plays, directed by innovative directors, are produced by a select team of New York's finest designers. Each performance is a well-orchestrated production, with smooth transitions between each polished segment in a string of works from the 8 MINUTE PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL 2011.

Eighteen new provocative and engaging plays will be presented in groups A and B of 9 plays each. The plays, directed by innovative directors, are produced by a select team of New York's finest designers. Each performance is a well-orchestrated production, with smooth transitions between each polished segment in a string of works from the 8 MINUTE PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL 2011.

Mercury Baroque stylishly celebrates Valentine's Day with 8 Seasons, a special program featuring the Four Seasons by both Antonio Vivaldi and by tango composer Astor Piazzolla. The 8 Seasons uniquely juxtaposes Baroque and Tango musical styles, showcasing the ensemble's versatility and virtuosity.

This season, Mercury Baroque offers a refreshing approach to Handel's Messiah with three special programs. For the first time ever, Mercury Baroque hosts a Sing-Along performance of Handel's holiday masterpiece on Friday, December 10th at 8:00pm. Families and children alike will enjoy learning about the instruments of the orchestra and Handel's music itself during the Messiah for Families performance on Saturday, December 11th at 10:30am. Lastly, the orchestra performs the rarely heard original ‘Dublin' version of the Messiah on Saturday, December 11th at 8:00pm. A fun pre-concert lecture begins on Saturday at 7:15pm in the Wortham's Green Room.

This season, Mercury Baroque offers a refreshing approach to Handel's Messiah with three special programs. For the first time ever, Mercury Baroque hosts a Sing-Along performance of Handel's holiday masterpiece on Friday, December 10th at 8:00pm. Families and children alike will enjoy learning about the instruments of the orchestra and Handel's music itself during the Messiah for Families performance on Saturday, December 11th at 10:30am. Lastly, the orchestra performs the rarely heard original ‘Dublin' version of the Messiah on Saturday, December 11th at 8:00pm. A fun pre-concert lecture begins on Saturday at 7:15pm in the Wortham's Green Room.

Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to the four Competition Categories, the Festival presents films in six out-of-competition sections to be announced on December 2. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

This season, Mercury Baroque offers a refreshing approach to Handel's Messiah with three special programs. For the first time ever, Mercury Baroque hosts a Sing-Along performance of Handel's holiday masterpiece on Friday, December 10th at 8:00pm. Families and children alike will enjoy learning about the instruments of the orchestra and Handel's music itself during the Messiah for Families performance on Saturday, December 11th at 10:30am. Lastly, the orchestra performs the rarely heard original ‘Dublin' version of the Messiah on Saturday, December 11th at 8:00pm. A fun pre-concert lecture begins on Saturday at 7:15pm in the Wortham's Green Room.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is thrilled to announce the 45 Houston area schools competing in the ninth annual Tommy Tune Awards. Developed by TUTS in 2002, the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level, celebrating outstanding student achievement in 15 categories. During the 2010-2011 school year, a team of Houston-based theatre professionals will evaluate the participating high school productions and announce the winners at a Tony Awards-style ceremony to be held April 20, 2011 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The event will feature spotlight numbers from the nominated shows, as well as award presentations to the performers, directors, choreographers, orchestras and designers, who have defined excellence throughout 2010 - 2011. The Best Leading Actor and Actress will go on to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this coming June.

American-born playwright T.S. Eliot said it best: 'Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.' Suits and Ties/Suits and Capes, two one-act plays at The Shell Theater, push that theory to its outermost limits.

American-born playwright T.S. Eliot said it best: 'Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.' Suits and Ties/Suits and Capes, two one-act plays at The Shell Theater, push that theory to its outermost limits.

The 2010 Tommy Tune Awards have been announced! To a crowd of over 2,000, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) President and CEO, John C. Breckenridge, declared the winners of TUTS' eighth annual Tommy Tune Awards on the evening of Tuesday, April 20, at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

We're set to kick off our eighth season celebration with our popular 8-MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL of 2010. Nineteen new provocative and engaging plays and musicals will be presented in groups A and B of 10 plays each.

We're set to kick off our eighth season celebration with our popular 8-MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL of 2010. Nineteen new provocative and engaging plays and musicals will be presented in groups A and B of 10 plays each.

We're set to kick off our eighth season celebration with our popular 8-MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL of 2010. Nineteen new provocative and engaging plays and musicals will be presented in groups A and B of 10 plays each.

We're set to kick off our eighth season celebration with our popular 8-MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL of 2010. Nineteen new provocative and engaging plays and musicals will be presented in groups A and B of 10 plays each.

We're set to kick off our eighth season celebration with our popular 8-MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL of 2010. Nineteen new provocative and engaging plays and musicals will be presented in groups A and B of 10 plays each.

First-year Festival Director John Cooper has dubbed the 2010 Sundance Festival a reboot, calling for a return to the Festivals rebellious roots.

Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Matt Weaver & Scott Prisand, two of ROCK OF AGES' lead producers and co-owners of the LA-based Corner Store Entertainment, have two films in the top dramatic category at Sundance Film Festival. The films, which star a host of stage stars, are SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS (Mark Ruffalo, Laura Linney, Orlando Bloom and Juliette Lewis) and HESHER (Natalie Portman and Joseph Gordon Levitt).

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is thrilled to announce that the eighth annual Tommy Tune Awards will include 45 high schools from the greater Houston area. Developed by TUTS in 2002, the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level. During the 2009-2010 school year, a team of 35 Houston-based theatre professionals will evaluate the participating high school productions and announce the winners at a Tony Awards-style ceremony to be held April 20, 2010 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The event will feature spotlight numbers from the nominated shows, as well as award presentations to the performers, directors, choreographers, orchestras and designers, who have defined excellence throughout 2009 - 2010.

Turtle Shell Productions is proud to present LOVE & SEX, a trio of one-act plays by prolific, multi-award-winning Italian playwright Mario Fratti (THE MUSICAL NINE) Directed by John Cooper at the Shell Theater in May.