Armando Urdiales - Page 2

Shawanna Renee Rivon is a creative force in Houston, known for blending humor, heart, and insight into the communities she serves. This season, she brings her distinctive vision to STAGES by directing The Twelve Dates of Christmas, a holiday story that explores how festive traditions can both challenge and uplift.

Gabriel Regojo returns to Stages this holiday season with a double challenge and a double delight. In It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, he takes on two characters who sit on opposite ends of George Bailey’s world: the cold, calculating Mr. Potter and the warm, loyal Harry Bailey.

4th Wall Theatre’s production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is a heartfelt, wonderfully acted reminder of why this American classic continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. With clarity, simplicity, and a deep respect for Wilder’s vision, the company creates a Grover’s Corners that feels both familiar and profound, pulling us gently into a story where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

In Theatre Under the Stars’ sparkling production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, sisters Betty and Judy Haynes bring heart, humor, and dazzling harmony to the stage, and this year they are portrayed by two dynamic talents: Courtney Markowitz and Karli DiNardo. As they step into these beloved roles, the actresses infuse the Haynes sisters with fresh warmth, whip-smart wit, and the timeless spirit of sisterhood that has made White Christmas a holiday classic for generations.

Husband and wife duo Spencer Plachy and Laura Kaldis are no strangers to the world of Christmas at Pemberley. Having originated their roles as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy across all three installments of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s beloved holiday trilogy.

Tenuous scene changes, promising performances, and Stephen Sondheim's dazzling score are hallmarks of Opera in the Heights' season-opening production of A Little Night Music. While there are some areas for improvement in this evening's performance, this production is a music lover's dream, offering the chance to witness this score delivered with a truly classical voice. 

What did our critic think of IL TRITTICO at Houston Grand Opera?

Finally, as the theater district is abuzz for the 2025 - 26 season, Theatre Under The Stars brings out not with a bang but with a heartfelt and endearing show: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. With performances from legendary Houston locals and direction from the original Broadway choreographer, Spelling Bee is a smash. 

As Houston performing arts ventures grow for the 2025-26 season, Houston Grand Opera surpasses them all with a thrilling 50th anniversary production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Starring powerhouse performers Angel Blue and Michael Sumuel in the title roles, this theatrical staging further cements HGO's monolithic presence not only in Houston but in the world of opera at large.

Dominique Morisseau’s Mud Row is a powerful story about legacy, reconciliation, and the unshakable ties that bind families together. Set across two generations of women in one Pennsylvania home, the play explores how the past continues to echo through the present. At STAGES, actor Ashlyn Evans takes on the role of Toshi, a woman fighting to rebuild her life while wrestling with family history, addiction, and the hope of redemption. Evans brings a fierce honesty and emotional depth to the role, capturing both Toshi’s rough edges and her quiet strength.

Houston audiences are in for a treat as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee returns to Theatre Under the Stars, featuring one of the city’s favorite comedic performers—Mark Ivy—reprising his beloved role as William Barfée. Known for his quirky brilliance, quick wit, and (of course) the “magic foot,” Barfée has long been an audience favorite in this hilarious and heartfelt musical about the pressures and peculiarities of growing up.

Shannon Emerick, a celebrated Houston stage actress and two-time Houston Press Best Actress winner, takes on one of Greek tragedy’s most formidable figures in Classical Theatre Company’s production of Electra. As Clytaemnestra, the queen, mother, and murderer whose actions set a family and a city on a path of grief and revenge, Emerick brings a deeply human perspective to a character often seen as purely villainous. In this interview, she discusses how she approached the role, the personal and emotional connections that shaped her performance, and what drew her to embody one of theatre’s most iconic and challenging women.

Orlando has long been one of Houston’s most beloved actors, captivating audiences with his dynamic performances in productions like Private Lives, American Mariachi, and Sherlock Holmes and the Jersey Lily. Now, he takes on an extraordinary challenge in STAGES production of The Lehman Trilogy, a sweeping saga that spans nearly two centuries and follows the rise and fall of the iconic Lehman family.

Jennifer Dean, Artistic Director of 4th Wall Theatre Co., brings a keen eye for both timely storytelling and innovative theatrical craft to the company’s latest production, Eureka Day.

James Mirrione, the bookwriter behind The Grippe, invites audiences to revisit a pivotal moment in history through the lens of theatre. Inspired by the overlooked story of the 1918 Spanish Flu and its striking parallels to contemporary society, Mirrione combines rigorous historical research, personal family history, and music of the era to craft a play that is both enlightening and emotionally resonant.

What did our critic think of SCHMITT'S PSALM 47 AND STRAVINSKY'S FIREBIRD at Houston Symphony?

Houston Ballet’s Rock and Roll and Tutus brings together legendary choreographers with fresh new voices, and among them is Jacquelyn Long, who not only performs but also contributes her own original work to the program.