Cole Ryden News

Voting is now underway for Houston! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Houston! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Bayou City Concert Musicals (BCCM) is kicking off their series of neglected 50s musicals with THE PAJAMA GAME, featuring Music and Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross and a Book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. The beloved romantic comedy is based on Richard Bissell's novel 7½ Cents. In the show, the factory workers at Sleep-Tite Pajamas are fighting for a 7½ cent per hour raise. In the midst of this, Babe Williams, the grievance committee head, and Sid, the handsome new factory superintendent, fall in love. THE PAJAMA GAME took New York City by storm when it premiered in 1954 and ran for 1,063 performances in its original run. It spawned a successful film adaption in 1957, had a failed Broadway revival in 1973, and found success again with a 2006 Broadway revival. Additionally, the BCCM production is the first professional production of the beloved musical in Houston in about 40 years.

Bayou City Concert Musicals will present the classic musical comedy, The Pajama Game, for five performances at the Heinen Theatre, 3517 Austin, September 12-15, 2013. The Thursday performance (9-12) will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the Friday (9-13) and Saturday (9-14) performances beginning at 8:00 p.m. There will be two performances on Sunday (9-15), a matinee at 2:00 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m.

Bayou City Concert Musicals kicks off its 2013-14 season with a fully-staged concert version of the classic musical, The Pajama Game, for five performances at the Heinen Theatre, 3517 Austin, September 12-15, 2013. 'It's fitting,' says BCCM Artistic Director Paul Hope, 'that BCCM will begin a series of shows from the 1950s with the quintessential American musical comedy.'

The Spanish Inquisition was a harrowing and dark time in history. It has been the fodder for countless novels, plays, and books. Yet, I never had much faith that a musical would be a good medium to explore that horrific era. I figured I wouldn't enjoy the 1965 musical adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote. Certainly some of the classics appeal to me, but the darker, rawer, more edgy musicals are the ones that I really love. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think upon seeing MAN OF LA MANCHA for the first time that it would find a place in the Parthenon of my favorite musicals. However, Theatre Under the Stars' (TUTS) marvelous production has ensured that this gem of a show will forever have a safe and warm spot in my heart.

Bayou City Concert Musicals has a track record of enjoyable and wholly entertaining performances. They burst onto the Houston Theatre scene with a concert production of FOLLIES. Since FOLLIES, Paul Hope has astounded audiences with productions of FALSETTOS, SHE LOVES ME, 70, GIRLS, 70, ASSASSINS, FIORELLO!, THE SECRET GARDEN, PAL JOEY, ON THE TOWN, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, FINNAN'S RAINBOW, and ONE TOUCH OF VENUS. Each of these shows was a sensational hit in its own time, but has been notoriously neglected as time merrily rolls along. Each of these concerts has been accompanied by a live orchestra, which only increases the price tag for producing the fabulous productions. To help keep ticket prices affordable, Paul Hope utilizes showcase cabarets as fundraisers. Like his concert productions, the cabarets are jam packed with the best of the best of Houston's musical theatre talent who only aim to captivate and enthrall. The latest cabaret, JEROME KERN IN HOLLYWOOD, is no exception.

Despite being completely busy preparing for the concert staging of A TOUCH OF VENUS, Paul Hope, Artistic Director and Founder of Bayou City Concert Musicals, took a break from his busy schedule to talk to me about his innovative and charitable organization. Since it's inception, Bayou City Concert Musicals has been providing Houston audiences with well-produced and lauded performances of often-neglected musicals. Continuing to grow an ever-increasing loyal audience and fan following, I asked Paul Hope to tell me more about Bayou City Concert Musicals and the shows they choose to produce.

The Stages Rep presents the Southern classic STEEL MAGNOLIAS, opening this week, and the regional premiere of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM continues through September 2.

Stages Repertory theatre will present two shows this summer, 2012, including Life Could Be a Dream, written and created by Roger Bean, and Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. See full details below.

Stages Repertory theatre will present two shows this summer, 2012, including Life Could Be a Dream, written and created by Roger Bean, and Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. See full details below.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is delighted to announce the cast selected to lead the award-winning production and TUTS debut of the Broadway smash hit, Hairspray, scheduled to play October 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is delighted to announce the cast selected to lead the award-winning production and TUTS debut of the Broadway smash hit, Hairspray, scheduled to play October 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is delighted to announce the cast selected to lead the award-winning production and TUTS debut of the Broadway smash hit, Hairspray, scheduled to play October 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.