Theatre Under The Stars Announces Artistic Collaboration With Houston Ballet On OKLAHOMA!

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced today that their upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, which kicks off the theatre company's 50th Anniversary Season in September, will be an artistic collaboration with Houston Ballet.

"This historic collaboration between Theatre Under The Stars and Houston Ballet harkens back to the beginnings of musical theatre itself - the collaboration of all art forms including dance. To honor our 50th Anniversary season, and the 75th Anniversary of Oklahoma!, perhaps the most important show in the musical theatre canon," said Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director of Theatre Under the Stars. "We wanted to make this show the most special it could be by collaborating with one of the top-rated ballet companies in the country, Houston Ballet."

When Oklahoma! premiered in 1943, it was the Broadway choreographic debut of Agnes DeMille who created rousing, funny, and beautiful dances including a show stopping dream ballet that lifted the show into new territory. Theatre Under The Stars' production of Oklahoma! will be choreographed by Stanton Welch AM, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet.

"Mr. Welch is one of the world's leading ballet choreographers and whose work I've longed to be able to promote. He will create new dances for this anniversary production which will give the show a modern sensibility. Houston Ballet is one of the top dance companies in the country and we wanted their dancers' artistry and athleticism to be a part of this rousing show. Truly a celebration of the greatest talent within the Houston community and beyond!" said Knechtges.

In addition to Welch's choreography, the production will be incorporating dancers from Houston Ballet with a cast of professional actors from Broadway, Houston, and across the country.

"Houston Ballet is thrilled to work with Theater Under The Stars on this exciting production. The worlds of Broadway and ballet have long inspired one another, so to be able to collaborate right here in Houston is a treat for me as a choreographer and for our dancers," said Welch.

Kevin Moriarty, Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center, will direct Oklahoma! Broadway conductor, Kimberly Grigsby will be conducting the show. Joining Welch and Moriarty on the production are Andrew Harper, as Sound Designer, and Karen Perry as Costume Designer.

This will be the first collaboration between Theatre Under The Stars and Houston Ballet since TUTS' very first show at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 1968.

Performances of Oklahoma! will run Sept. 11 through 23 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday, July 16 at 10 a.m. Season tickets are now available at tuts.com/subscriptions.

Oklahoma! is made possible thanks to the generous support of our production sponsor, ConocoPhillips. Theatre Under The Stars is grateful for our 50th Anniversary Season Sponsors: United Airlines, Phoenicia Specialty Foods, and the Four Seasons Hotel Houston. TUTS is supported in part by the City of Houston through the Theater District.

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS ("TUTS") - (Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director; Hillary J Hart, Executive Director) - was founded by Frank M. Young in 1968 and is Houston's leading musical theatre company for performance, arts education and professional theatrical training; ranging from the classics to new work development. As a 501c3 performing arts organization, TUTS is dedicated to breaking down barriers to access by focusing on inclusivity, education, and community engagement through a commitment to artistic excellence, programs in the community, technique-based curriculum at the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, and explorative, creative life-skills at The River Performing and Visual Arts Center. For more information, visit www.tuts.com.

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