Houston Theater Reviews

Review: THE CHER SHOW at THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
by Brett Cullum - April 18, 2024

I am unsure if I know of any other music diva who needs three different actresses to play her, but Cher seems to have required that. We have not one, not two, but three Chers in this show. And do they trot on, do their part of life, and leave? Heck no! They all talk to each other, advise each other,...

Review: CLEANSED at CATASTROPHIC THEATRE
by Brett Cullum - April 16, 2024

Should you avoid seeing the show? For God’s sake, no. You will miss what is surely going to be one of the most talked about pieces of work in Houston’s theatrical history. Go see it, and make your own call whether you love or hate it. But don’t let them brainwash you into thinking this is only about...

Review: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW at CLASSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
by Brett Cullum - April 15, 2024

I don’t think you are going to find a funnier TAMING OF THE SHREW easily. Director Dana Bowman has lucked out to get the cast and crew that could pull this off, and she had extreme insight into how to handle the problems the show represents to women today. You will laugh, and you will find it a deli...

Review: STAGOLEE AND THE FUNERAL OF A DANGEROUS WORD at MAIN STREET THEATER
by Brett Cullum - April 08, 2024

STAGOLEE AND THE FUNERAL OF A DANGEROUS WORD is a wonderful meditation on the power of words, folklore, and the human condition. It soars and becomes electric any time actors TiMOThY ERiC and Seth Carter Ramsey confront each other. It has a power and heft you do not see in most theater. It goes to a...

Review: THE OUTSIDER Charms at the MATCH from MIGHTY ACORN And WCO PRODUCTIONS
by Brett Cullum - April 04, 2024

Part of the genius of THE OUTSIDER is it is pure farce. Characters and plots are played larger than life, and doors constantly swing open with new surprises behind them. We’re not in the sturm and drang of THE WEST WING, but rather the territory of a silly sitcom like VEEP. Physical comedy, verbal b...

Review: PATTI LUPONE: A LIFE IN NOTES at BEYOND BROADWAY at the Hobby Center
by Brett Cullum - March 23, 2024

Patti Lupone has always known how to merge pop culture with her theatrical training, and she can craft a story around any song she chooses. And that is why we come, to hear the storyteller tell her tale....

Review: THE DIVAS BALL at Vincent Victoria Presents
by Brett Cullum - March 18, 2024

It’s fun, a bit quirky, and has a Fellini-sized cast that should make your head spin in all the right ways. Apparently, it takes an army to make a diva, but then again, is that a surprise?...

Review: THE PILLOWMAN at DIRT DOGS THEATRE COMPANY
by Brett Cullum - March 10, 2024

Malinda L. Beckham has always been a master of directing testosterone-fueled plays where men fight and abuse each other. She and her cast bravely take on Martin McDonagh’s script and make wise decisions. The pace is breakneck, never allowing the viewer to wallow much in the muck. She brings out the ...

Review: THE NERD Waxes Nostalgic at ALLEY THEATRE
by Brett Cullum - March 06, 2024

THE NERD is frankly still THE NERD, and the director, Brandon Weinbrenner, doesn’t reinvent much of anything. There’s nothing new or fresh, and the script is presented almost as if it would have run back in 1981. There is no discernable reason to remount this show save for the idea that it was fun b...

Review: Alexis Scheer's LAUGHS IN SPANISH Delivers in Hilarity and Heart at Stages
by Armando Urdiales - March 06, 2024

Explore the insightful play Laughs in Spanish at STAGES, a captivating blend of humor and cultural exploration. The play offers a fresh perspective on the human experience, highlighting the joys and challenges of navigating the world through the lens of language....

Review: Rec Rooms Slams Dunk with KING JAMES
by Armando Urdiales - March 06, 2024

Sports. The word with various meanings, but always seems to perpetuate a game, a sparring of two teams or two people. This battle is well done on-stage with Rec Room Arts, King James. Rajiv Joseph’s expert play book ends the friendship of two male Cavaliers fans at the start of Lebron James career w...

Review: Denise Fennell-Pasqualone Once Again Strikes Comedy Gold with World Premiere of SISTER'S IRISH CATECHISM: SAINTS, SNAKES, AND GREEN MILKSHAKES
by Miranda Keating - March 01, 2024

For the “Late Nite Catechism” series of shows, actors dress up as a character named “Sister” and lead their audiences through a “class” full of audience interaction. Denise Fennell-Pasqualone has been performing as 'Sister' for many years now, but–for this specific show–she preaches about St. Patric...

Review: IT IS MAGIC at Catastrophic Theatre
by Brett Cullum - February 16, 2024

IT IS MAGIC is far from false advertising because this play, this cast, and this team make some pretty strong magic from Mickle Maher’s latest play. Just sit back, relax, and let it all wash over you is my advice. It’s funny, it’s quirky, and it is unlike anything else you are likely to see anytime ...

Review: NORA HAHN CRAFTFULLY BRINGS ANN RICHARDS TO LIFE IN GARDEN THEATRE'S PRODUCTION OF ANN
by Miranda Keating - February 09, 2024

The Garden Theatre is currently presenting ANN, a one-woman show highlighting the life of the prolific Texas governor, Ann Richards. Nora Hahn stars as Ann, and with her ability to play to the audience in such an intimate way yet still have the gravitas of a bold politician, Hahn was clearly the rig...

Review: ON YOUR FEET! at Theatre Under the Stars
by Brett Cullum - January 31, 2024

This is a beautifully cast show full of authentic Latin performers. They have all had input into the choreography for this production, which Luis Salgado headed up. The director has amped up the dancing from the original Broadway version and made the final journey after Gloria’s accident far more sp...

Review: O: A RHAPSODY IN DIVORCE at MILDRED'S UMBRELLA
by Brett Cullum - January 22, 2024

O: A RHAPSODY IN DIVORCE does what any good play sets out to do; it makes you feel. Your heart breaks for the lead character; her struggle and journey are effective and moving. There is a lot here to savor, and it maintains the prestige of what this company routinely produces....

Review: TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Rolls into Broadway at The Hobbby Center
by Brett Cullum - January 04, 2024

The show is a jukebox musical that tells the story of Tina’s career and incorporates some of her biggest hits to do so. It was created under the executive production of Tina Turner herself and her second husband, Erwin Bach. Tina Turner passed away last year, so this show is a fitting celebration o...

Review: 8 STEPS TO HEAVEN Gets Funky At Vincent Victoria Presents
by Brett Cullum - December 11, 2023

Yet in the end, EIGHT NOTES TO HEAVEN is just a joyous ride. I love the idea of Prince and Rick James battling it out over who had more funk and who had more soul. In truth, they were both icons who did revolutionary things...

Review: CINDERELLA at THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
by Brett Cullum - December 09, 2023

What I admire most about TUTS is their willingness to cast local Houston talent of all levels, and allowing them to work on a show with musical theater professionals from around the country. They are the soul of Houston theater in many ways, and it is lovely to see them honor that legacy with their ...

Review: SENSE & SENSIBILITY at 4TH WALL THEATRE COMPANY
by Brett Cullum - December 06, 2023

What did our critic think of SENSE & SENSIBILITY at 4TH WALL THEATRE COMPANY? I have a feeling the creators of Netflix’s BRIDGERTON saw Kate Hamill’s musical update of SENSE & SENSIBILITY in 2014 and understood what they had to do to make Regency era romance work for a new generation....

Review: MJ - Yet Another Bio-Jukebox Musical, but A Dazzling Performance Nonetheless
by Miranda Keating - November 27, 2023

'MJ' was a slick production with an extremely talented cast who executed some elite singing and dancing, and I know that the show is a crowd-favorite currently with numerous Tony Awards under its belt. Still, it did not strike me as significantly better or even different than any of the other bio-ju...

Review: THE TURN OF THE SCREW messes with the truth at CATASTROPHIC THEATRE
by Brett Cullum - November 22, 2023

But one thing I promise you, you have never seen it done like this before. And you probably won’t ever get another chance to see something quite this inventive in any given year of Houston theater. This is a thrill to witness, and unlike anything out there. It manages to be THE BLAIR WITCH of stage ...

Review: GEORGIANA AND KITTY: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLY at MAIN STREET THEATER
by Brett Cullum - November 21, 2023

There is a distinct charm to GEORGIANA AND KITTY that makes the audience feel like they are invited for Christmas at Pemberly. You get a true sense these actors are welcoming you to their world, and it’s a place that is joyously cozy for the holidays....

Review: SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at TUTS
by Christian Gill - October 24, 2023

Of the many things I could compliment about TUTS’ production of Sweeney Todd (the songs, the costumes, the lighting) perhaps the most important is that it’s authentic. This is as close to the original Angela Lansbury/Len Cariou (later played by George Hearn) production as we can reasonably hope....

Review: SWITZERLAND at STAGES HOUSTON
by Brett Cullum - October 13, 2023

I was expecting a thriller along the lines of MISERY, but in the end the psychological aspects of SWITZERLAND are such that make it a chiller instead. Kenn McLaughlin, Sally Edmundson, and Ian James make a great team to bring it to life....