Armando Urdiales - Page 3

Theatre Under The Stars has a storied history in the Houston theatre scene. One of the cornerstones of their theatre community is long-time actor Paul Hope. Hope has the distinction of performing professionally for several decades, in more than 40 productions at Theatre Under the Stars alone. His membership in to the Actors Equity Union begun with the 1980 production of Rodger's and Hammerstein's classic, SOUTH PACIFIC.

Co-Directors Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade's production of Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE as staged by the Houston Grand Opera is brilliant and astounding. From the incredible set and projection design to its clever staging and superb acting—this production is one that even a 'non-opera-goer' should attend. While the production is primarily in German, this is one of the most accessible operas for anyone and everyone. As far as it's concerned to this reviewer, you must make every attempt to attend this production.

NO ONE OWNS ME by Chris Cragin-Day and Pia Wilson running at AD Players is one of the most exciting productions occurring this winter in Houston. The play involves the daily lives and conversations of two Houston women. Sex trafficking advocate and counselor, Carla, and recent victim, Macey, discuss sex trafficking—both past and present—and what it means for both of their futures.

When one thinks of a production, usually there is a script, with a director, creative team and the actors have a bevy of time in order to put on the best performances of their life. However, the newly formed Garden Theatre has chosen to do the exact opposite in a smart, clever, and brilliant production of Nassim Soleimanpour's WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT.

Within the realm of fantasy roleplaying games such as Dungeons and Dragons, players have the ability to choose between moral alignments. One of these is the notion of chaotic good and this phrase is the perfect summation of 4th Wall Theatre Co.'s production of THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT. In short, this production not only asks important questions about the validity of facts but does so in a brilliant way.

I recently sat down with Hadestown the Musical ensemble member, Will Mann, whom I have been a big fan of since his recent turn in the Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Hadestown the Musical is not the first time he has been to Houston and we talked about coming to the Energy City and what it's like being on tour at the moment.

The annual tradition of STAGES THEATRE's Christmas PANTO comes roaring back with a jolly great time in Shawanna Renee Rivon's and Elizabeth A.M. Keel's PANTO LITTLE MERMAID. Set in the beach town of Galveston, TX, the story is a great time for all as audience members are integral parts of the production.

A 3D Quidditch Match, a Live Dragon, and an interesting take on Dobby the House Elf greets the young and young at heart at Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. This Harry Potter experience is a 75-minute hilarious summary of all seven Harry Potter Books. Writers, Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, create a sensational and hilarious spin on the Boy Wizards adventures and the entire performance is a romp you don't want to miss.

A hospital bed, chairs, and a large screen greet audiences as Catastrophic Theatre returns with a heartbreaking production of 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane. British playwright, Sarah Kane, is semi-autobiographical as the work deals with mental illness and a young person's descent into finally committing the ultimate self-harm. This play is Kane's last work, as many deem the play as Kane writing about their eventual suicide. Catastrophic's production reveals the many challenges of mental illness and provides a honest and beautiful production of Kane's work.

Payton Reilly sat down to answer a few questions to reflect on the return of live theatre and touring. Reilly plays Sandy in the National Tour of Tootsie A New Comedy Musical. The musical by David Yazbeck and Robert Horn tours the United States and made a recent stop in Houston, TX.

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C. Fantastic is defined in the dictionary as 'extraordinarily good' Simply put, and to use in a sentence, 'The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at STAGES Theatre is simply a FANTASTIC production that should and needs to be seen by all.' Not only is the show brilliant, but it has easily become the best fall musical in the Houston theatre scene.

When Henrik Ibsen's character of Nora left her family in his famous work A Doll's House, western theater was thrust in to the modern era. Now in the 21st century, Nora returns in in Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House Part 2, and the audiences gets answers to the many questions one could have on what happened to Ibsen's feminist protagonist. The audience hears a knock on the door and the doting maid, Anne Marie (Sally Edmundson) opens the door to find the famous Nora standing where she once left.

Theatre Under The Stars bursts with Rock n Roll energy as they reopen at the Hobby Center after a 19-month intermission with Rock of Ages. On October 7th, Chris D'Arienzo's rock party opened to great applause as a nostalgic night out greeted Houstonians becoming a much-needed break from the turbulent world. As one walks into the Hobby Center, one can feel a sense of normalcy of a pre-pandemic life as patrons can feel the buzzing of excitement they are about to witness.

As the promise of live theater is slowly making its way back to the theatres of Houston, one upcoming exciting endeavor is the 4th Wall Theatre's SUMMER SHAKES program. SUMMER SHAKES is 4th Wall's new conservatory program where they will house ten high school students, teach them modern Shakespearean acting styles, and learn behaviors that will help them in professional settings.

In a world where the Black Lives Matter movement is a focal point, and many organizations are changing their views on diversity, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill at STAGES Theatre in Montrose provides a glimpse of why equality is important. The title character's nickname of Lady Day, otherwise known as Billie Holiday, takes the audience on her life journey. While the origin story of her nickname is different, it brings to light a ton of trauma that women of color during her lifetime experienced. Played by the brilliant Dequina Moore, Moore brings Billie Holliday to life most playfully and tragically. As Moore dances, grooves, and moves about the stage, we see the character sip slowly into a stupor. In the beginning, we experience a bright and bubbly personality, and then the slow descent into a drunken stupor prevails, leaving the audience in an emotional daze. Moore provides a beautiful slow burn embodying Billie Holliday in her own uniquely passionate way.