BROOKLYN, a modern-day fairytale, is the story of an orphaned Parisian girl in search of her father who can finish the 'Unfinished Lullaby' that her mother sang to her as a small child. Determined to find the one man able to complete her song, she travels to America in search of her father and lands in the city that bears her name, Brooklyn. Using her gift of song, Brooklyn performs on the greatest stages of New York City in hopes that her father will hear the'Unfinished Lullaby.' Utilizing incredible trash-to-treasure design and stagecraft, a band of homeless singers and storytellers transform a street corner at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge into their stage. Using only their surroundings and a whole lot of soul, they will tell you the story of Brooklyn. Or as they like to call it, their 'sidewalk fairytale.'
Bayou City Theatrics presents TARZAN® - live on stage! BCT introduces their new 'GROWING STAGES' program - theater for young audiences - with TARZAN the stage musical based on the Disney film. Bring the kids to this jungle adventure and experience the story of Tarzan like never before! Featuring breathtaking storytelling through dance and song, thecast of professional actors and singers brings Edgar Rice Burroughs? classic tale to life, starringLuke Hamilton/Colton Berry in the role of Tarzan, Tori Shoemaker as Jane, Liz Tinder/Nicole Vazquez and Taylor McWhorter/Hal St.Louis-Farrelly as his ape parents Kala and Kerchek (respectively), and Derrien Kellum/LaKiaya Evans as Tarzan?s best friend Terk. The cast is rounded out by Jake Frank as Clayton, Kyle Ezer as Porter, and featured dancers Ashley Carfine, Storey Hinojosa, and Christian.
BROOKLYN, a modern-day fairytale, is the story of an orphaned Parisian girl in search of her father who can finish the "Unfinished Lullaby" that her mother sang to her as a small child. Determined to find the one man able to complete her song, she travels to America in search of her father and lands in the city that bears her name, Brooklyn. Using her gift of song, Brooklyn performs on the greatest stages of New York City in hopes that her father will hear the"Unfinished Lullaby." Utilizing incredible trash-to-treasure design and stagecraft, a band of homeless singers and storytellers transform a street corner at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge into their stage. Using only their surroundings and a whole lot of soul, they will tell you the story of Brooklyn. Or as they like to call it, their "sidewalk fairytale."
After being gone for far too long Bayou City Theatrics returned to the Houston Theater Scene with a lovely new venue and a fun production of the Off-Broadway musical comedy BAT BOY. Still renovating their new space, the performance I attended was rough around the edges. However, it is clear that Colton Berry, Jane Volke, and team are back and ready to take the Houston theatre scene by storm.
Living in Houston and covering Houston's illustrious theatre scene thoroughly spoils us. However, we are always more than happy to share the wealth and talk about what is happening all over town. This summer, we are thrilled that Houston's theatre community is embracing women and giving Houston audiences the chance to see a plethora of shows featuring strong female characters and fascinating female leads.
Ripped straight from tabloid headlines, BAT BOY: The Musical is a classic love story with a wicked bite! Based on a story published in the 'Weekly World News' in 1992, BAT BOY: The Musical is a comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. For lack of a better solution, the local sheriff (Brian Chambers) brings the Bat Boy (Colton Berry) to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker (Kyle Ezer). Eventually, Bat Boy is accepted as a member of the Parker family, and taught to act like a 'normal' boy by the veterinarian's wife, Meredith (Crystyl Swanson), and their teenage daughter, Shelley (Tori Shoemaker). Madness ensues as the townsfolk (Jake Frank, Luke Hamilton, Derrien Kellum, Nicole Norton and Megan Vaughn) investigate a mysterious cow-killing plague and its suspicious connection to the Bat Boy BAT BOY: The Musical takes a comic book blast at horror movies and is set to an infectious pop-rock score.
It's that time of year again. You know the one where we break out the fishnets and take that oh so familiar step to the left followed by a jump to the right. Halloween and Richard O'Brien's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW may as well be synonyms. Luckily for Houston audiences, Bayou City Theatrics is producing the beloved show as a one night only fundraiser on Halloween. I recently spoke with Colton Berry and Tye Blue to get the scoop on why this year's floorshow is too good to miss.
Victor Hugo's epic novel Les Miserables has become one of the world's most successful and beloved musicals. Alain Boublil first got the idea to adapt the novel to stage while watching a production of OLIVER! In London. He pitched the idea to French composer Claude-Michel Schonberg. LES MISERABLES was first staged in 1980, and over 500,000 people saw it across its 100 performances. The first production in English, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened in 1985 in London. This production instantly became a phenomenon, and is still running (with revisions and alterations to the book and staging). LES MISERABLES first opened on Broadway in 1987 and ran through 2003. It was revived in 2006 and will be revived on Broadway again in 2014. Currently, Bayou City Theatrics is presenting a pared down LES MISERABLES that is also the first all-Houston talent production of the musical.
After a critically acclaimed and highly successful inaugural season, Bayou City Theatrics will open their second season with a reinvented production of the world-famous musical, Les Miserables. Following the success of the 2012 Academy Award winning film adaptation, (starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway) Music Theatre International released the performance rights for the musical to be licensed to companies nationwide. BCT's Artistic Director, Colton Berry, jumped at the chance.
It is generally agreed upon that the best theatre challenges audiences, and after they experience the piece they are altered. Bayou City Theatrics' production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY vastly excels in this domain. If you're unfamiliar with the show, rest assured that Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY exists in the periphery of the theatre consciousness. Most of those who are aware of it are fans of Andrew Lippa or know a handful of numbers because they follow the Broadway stars Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Brian D'Arcy James, and/or Julia Murney. Bayou City Theatrics took a big risk with producing the musical, but the lascivious, violent, alcohol-drenched production had a profound and strangely enchanting affect on those lucky enough to attend last night's opening night performance. From what we experienced, I am sure that its allure and effect will only get stronger as the run progresses.
Bayou City Theatrics' STEPHEN SCHWARTZ SPECTACULAR is set for tonight, July 12, 2013 at 8:00 pm. Celebrate the musical genius of Stephen Schwartz in a sensational concert and fun-filled carnival atmosphere!
Bayou City Theatrics' STEPHEN SCHWARTZ SPECTACULAR is set for July 12, 2013 at 8:00 pm. Celebrate the musical genius of Stephen Schwartz in a sensational concert and fun-filled carnival atmosphere!
Set in the gin-doused Roaring Twenties, ANDREW LIPPA'S WILD PARTY transports you to New York City and into the lives of Vaudeville's sexiest dancer and twisted clown, Queenie (Danica Johnston) and Burrs (Colton Berry). After what seems like a lifetime of numerous unsuccessful lusts and loves, the pair finds each other through the hazy backdrop of jazz and hangovers. They soon come to experience their own hangover, in the form of redundant normalcy. Determined to add some heat to their stagnant lives, Queenie decides to throw the party of the century. As their tiny loft begins to buzz and spin with all seven of the deadliest sins, the party hosts fall victim to their own iniquity. Scroll down for a first look at Bayou City Theatrics' production!
Bayou City Theatrics is continuing their inaugural season with Houston's first locally produced professional staging of Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA. The musical, with a book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, was originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions, and ran on there from March 23, 2000 to September 5, 2004 for a total of 1,852 performances. The successes of the Broadway production lead to two national tours. The 2002-2003 equity tour served as a duplicate of the Broadway staging; however, David Henry Hwang revised the book for the 2006-2007 non-equity second national tour, creating a show that was a bit darker by removing some of the campy comedy from the character of Amneris. Having seen both tours, it seems that the version licensed by Music Theatre International is the same book used by the Broadway version.
Houston had better watch out! Bayou City Theatrics is ensuring that audiences will feel the sturm und drang in the air with their production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, which opens tonight at the Frenetic Theatre at 5102 Navigation Boulevard. Last night, I was invited to attend their final dress rehearsal to get an early sneak peak at their magnificent production, which I found to be wholly entertaining and utterly spellbinding. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is possibly my absolute favorite musical of all time. I have really high expectations and standards for every production of this show, and from what I saw last night Bayou City Theatrics is delivering everything our sickly, greasy hearts could desire!
After numerous productions and tours across the world, including a vibrant Broadway production in 2003, Little Shop of Horrors gets a brand new life and re-envisioning by Bayou City Theatrics, here in Houston.
After numerous productions and tours across the world, including a vibrant Broadway production in 2003, Little Shop of Horrors gets a brand new life and re-envisioning by Bayou City Theatrics, here in Houston.
What happens when artists reclaim prominent fairy tale figures from Disney's sparkling and sanitzied translations? Well, for one, INTO THE WOODS is born. The show, with a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, presents fairy tale characters that are closer to their origins. They are bawdy, sarcastic, humorous, and ultimately tangibly real in their own ways. The varnish is removed and their valuable lessons are given to light again. Whether you love or hate Stephen Sondheim's work, there is no denying that the man is brilliant and INTO THE WOODS, as produced by Colton Berry's Bayou City Theatrics, magnificently illustrates this.
Get ready for another roundup of regional theater news with today's 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'. Click below for the most-read theater stories for the week of December 31!
