Joey Watkins

As a young boy scout from San Antonio, one of the annual trips I always looked forward to was visiting NASA'S Johnson Space Center. Partially, my move to Space City USA was because of Houston's long history and fascination with outer space. AD Players' production of their world premiere production of Jayme McGhan's APOLLO 8 reignites this childhood passion. This stunningly visual play is a tremendous documentary play on the politics, humanity, and faith of the first space mission that led us eventually to walk on the moon.

The year is 1967, the place is San Francisco, and the conflict? A young and optimistic mixed-race couple has just announced their upcoming plans of marriage to unsuspecting parents. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner extracts the nuances and subtleties of prejudice and plops them center stage, both literally and figuratively, in the living room of the liberal, upper-class Drayton family.

Is it possible to be released from the bondage of suffering, while still in the midst of it? How often does sufferinga?'past or presenta?'grasp hold of our entire being, making it near impossible to believe in the goodness around us? The World Premiere Adaption of THE HIDING PLACE asks us these questions, while simultaneously being an answer to them. Additionally, A.D. Players holds strong ties to the telling of this story. Founder Jeannette Clift George starred as Corrie ten Boom in the critically acclaimed film adaptation after working alongside Corrie to bring her to life on the screen. This heart-wrenching and enlightening play sets the tone for A.D. Players' 53rd Seasona?'A Season of Hope.

As the biggest musical A.D. Players has produced in their 52 years, I believe that this production of WEST SIDE STORY has distinguished A.D. Players as an enormously capable participant in our city's musical theatre scene. In the show program, A.D. Players Executive Director Jake Speck and Artistic Director Kevin Dean discuss choosing their season for this past year, which WEST SIDE STORY was not originally a part of. Both individuals recount that though they were pleased with the season's selections, none of the titles scared them. In their mission to continue to set the bar higher, WEST SIDE STORY earned its place in the season. Pay attention, Houston. They're doing big things over at the George Theater, and you've got one more week to catch it!

The year is 1872, the setting is London, and the bet was made at exactly 8:55pm for 20,000 pounds. Or, at least that's how our practical, punctual main character Phileas Fogg would describe the scene. Fogg, a logical and calculated gentleman is willing to bet his entire fortune on the latest claim that with the developments of railways and steam engines, one is able to go around the world in 80 days (I bet you can guess the title of this little play now, huh?). Fogg is so convinced, that he intends to complete the trip himself, with his newly hired servant Passepartout (Braden Hunt), and a few others that get strung into the chaotic voyage along the way.

A.D. Players at The George, one of Houston's largest resident theatre companies, announced show times and dates for its featured show for the month of June, "David, the Best Slinger in the West," a recounting of the story of David and Goliath, Wild West-style. The show will run from Tuesday, June 5 - Saturday, June 23.

A.D. Players, one of Houston's oldest and largest resident theater companies, is pleased to announce their upcoming lineup of family-friendly Christmas entertainment at the Jeannette and L.M. George Theater.

The Board of Directors and Artistic Director, David E. Leidholdt, are thrilled to present the groundbreaking musical memoir, FUN HOME opening on the Ryan Main Stage Friday, July 28, 2017.

BWW Review: GODSPELL is goose-bumps-on-your-arms invigorating and filled with excellent performances in a provocative setting.

A.D. Players, one of Houston's oldest and largest resident theater companies, presents 'Godspell,' its final mainstage show for the 2017 season. Based on the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, this re-imagined, updated version of Stephen Schwartz's Broadway classic takes place in an untraditional setting, and includes the show's parade of beloved musical classics, including 'Day by Day,' 'Learn Your Lessons Well,' 'All for the Best,' 'All Good Gifts,' 'By My Side' and 'Beautiful City.' The show runs July 21 - August 13, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A.D. Players, one of Houston's oldest and largest resident theater companies, presents 'Godspell,' its final mainstage show for the 2017 season. Based on the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, this re-imagined, updated version of Stephen Schwartz's Broadway classic takes place in an untraditional setting, and includes the show's parade of beloved musical classics, including 'Day by Day,' 'Learn Your Lessons Well,' 'All for the Best,' 'All Good Gifts,' 'By My Side' and 'Beautiful City.' The show runs July 21 - August 13, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Houston winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL is quite the curiosity -- a musical that isn't particularly enhanced or defined by its music. But though the music may be mostly forgettable, the voices in the A.D. Players' production are not. Neither are the performances. It is the cast that ultimately elevates this admittedly simplistic but feel-good show to one of the must-sees of the summer.

A.D. Players has taken their one act A CHRISTMAS OF MANY PARTS, and extended it to a more formal two act structure for the holiday season. It's a great deal of fun, and theater goers should find a lot to love here

BWW Reviews: A.D. Players' MASS APPEAL is Highly Appealing

A. D. Players announces that Mass Appeal will open tonight, October 22nd and run through November 16, 2014 on their Grace Theater stage, as the second show of the company's 2014-2015 season.

A. D. Players announces that Mass Appeal will open October 22nd and run through November 16, 2014 on their Grace Theater stage, as the second show of the company's 2014-2015 season.

BWW Reviews: A.D. Players' GODSPELL: A Must See

A. D. Players announces that Godspell will open July 9th and run through August 24, 2014 on their Grace Theater stage, concluding the company's 2013-2014 season.

Joseph Kesselring wrote ARSENIC AND OLD LACE in 1939, and the darkly comic play premiered on Broadway on January 10, 1941 at the Fulton Theatre, now named the Helen Hayes Theatre. Brooks Atkinson, theatre critic for The New York Times, famously stated that the play was "so funny that none of us will ever forget it." Eventually, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE moved to the Hudson Theatre, and closed on June 17, 1944, after having played 1,444 performances. The zany, madcap comedy is considered to be Joseph Kesselring's most successful play and is one that still manages to captivate audiences today. A.D. Player's current production of the classic, well directed by Joey Watkins to pop with delightful enthusiasm and energy, proves that the roughly 74-year-old play is as funny as ever.