Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Brave Little Company Presents GRANDPA'S GARDEN

Performances will take place at Garza Studios, Houston Botanic Garden, MECA, The DeLUXE Theater, and Bayou Bend (MFAH).

Brave Little Company Presents GRANDPA'S GARDEN

In observance of Black History Month, Brave Little Company will partner with 5 venues to present Grandpa's Garden, an original musical. This immersive and interactive piece for kids aged 5-12 and their families explores Black history through an encounter with the fictional Hollis family, and their traditions of gardening and making music. Performances will take place at Garza Studios, Houston Botanic Garden, MECA, The DeLUXE Theater, and Bayou Bend (MFAH) between Feb. 4 - Mar. 19, 2023.

The show was originally created by Brittny Bush, Rodrick Randall, Troy Scheid, and the students of Mitchell Elementary, with original music composed by and played live by Rodrick Randall. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish starting at $10, but space is limited. More information, a detailed schedule, and tickets can be found at www.brave-little.com.

Directed by Brave Little Company's Consulting Creative Director, Brittny Bush, Grandpa's Garden introduces audiences to the Hollis family. Mr. Hollis, a world champion gardener, arrives with his granddaughter Bebe to teach the audience about the value of planting your own fruits and vegetables. Bebe can't stop wondering what's hidden inside Grandpa's mysterious garden shed - and with the help of the audience, her curiosity brings the audience along on a journey into the past, through song, senses, and stories.

The sharing of stories of Black history does not need to be approached with fear, and it can feature regular families in addition to celebrated heroes. "There's a depth and a richness to Grandpa's Garden because Bebe and her grandfather are Black people whose legacy was touched by slavery," said director Brittny Bush. "They're able to have that undercurrent of a painful past, but still bring the audience into something that's very joyful. We can be present together in the moment, building, creating something together, and I think it's so healing."

Many of Brave Little Company's productions take place on an intimate scale, where audience interaction drives the plot. Grandpa's Garden is no exception, with attendance limited to 25 kids and their grown-ups for each performance. Participants are encouraged to sing along to the live music, interact with the characters, and get their hands dirty as they plant their own seeds to take home. Using the senses of sight, hearing, smell, sensation, and imagination, participants will explore not just the practicalities of gardening, but memory and tradition as well.

The creation of Grandpa's Garden was originally funded in part by a Founder's Project Development Grant from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America in 2017 - 2018. With the 2023 production, Brave Little Company returns to live, public performances in addition to its recent offerings of touring productions and alternative format theatre.



JANE EYRE, PICTURES FROM HOME, and More Are Part of the Alley Theatres 2023-24 Season Photo
The Alley Theatre has announced its 2023-24 season which includes classic works, world premiere plays, one world premiere musical, a murder mystery, and lots of laughter. Learn more about the full lineup here!

Review: COWBOY BOB takes her last stand at the Alley until March 26th! Photo
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 that feels authentic. Like the real life Peggy Tallas, it’s a brave piece that moves in bold directions.

The Catastrophic Theatre to Present Regional Premiere of CLEANSED By Sarah Kane Photo
In a former university, society's “undesirables” are subjected to a series of tortures designed to test the limits of human love on the battlefield of the human body. Explosively aching, hauntingly poetic, and disarmingly tender, CLEANSED is a fever-dream fable of unimaginable brutality and miraculous beauty. CLEANSED is about how love survives the most extreme circumstances. Violence is merely the obstacle. The story is one of righteous need and unrelenting hope. 

Houston Early Music Presents CROSSING TO THE NEW WORLD: Early And Traditional Music In The Photo
When European settlers arrived on the shores of North America in the early 1600s, they brought a wealth of musical traditions with them, music that evolved and remains with us today.


More Hot Stories For You


JANE EYRE, PICTURES FROM HOME, and More Are Part of the Alley Theatre's 2023-24 SeasonJANE EYRE, PICTURES FROM HOME, and More Are Part of the Alley Theatre's 2023-24 Season
March 22, 2023

The Alley Theatre has announced its 2023-24 season which includes classic works, world premiere plays, one world premiere musical, a murder mystery, and lots of laughter. Learn more about the full lineup here!

The Catastrophic Theatre to Present Regional Premiere of CLEANSED By Sarah KaneThe Catastrophic Theatre to Present Regional Premiere of CLEANSED By Sarah Kane
March 18, 2023

In a former university, society's “undesirables” are subjected to a series of tortures designed to test the limits of human love on the battlefield of the human body. Explosively aching, hauntingly poetic, and disarmingly tender, CLEANSED is a fever-dream fable of unimaginable brutality and miraculous beauty. CLEANSED is about how love survives the most extreme circumstances. Violence is merely the obstacle. The story is one of righteous need and unrelenting hope. 

The Garden Theatre Presents STEEL MAGNOLIASThe Garden Theatre Presents STEEL MAGNOLIAS
March 16, 2023

The Garden Theatre, one of Houston's newest theatre companies, has announced its plans to bring Robert Harling's beloved play, Steel Magnolias, to life at MATCH. Featuring the well-known story of family and resilience, the production will run April 21-30, 2023 at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (3400 Main St.) in the heart of midtown.

JooYoung Choi Solo Show Comes to The Moody in MayJooYoung Choi Solo Show Comes to The Moody in May
March 15, 2023

Opening on May 25, 2023, the Moody Center for the Arts will host the first institutional solo exhibition in Houston for multidisciplinary artist JooYoung Choi.

Alley Theatre Play Makers Summer Camp Registration Now OpenAlley Theatre Play Makers Summer Camp Registration Now Open
March 14, 2023

The Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre has announced registration for Alley Play Makers Summer Camp is now open. Alley Play Makers offers children a container of creativity to explore their awesome selves to be their own artists.