James Belcher News

POLLYWOG is heavy stuff. Not for the faint of heart. But I suspect, once you work through the uncomfortable challenging moments, it is, as POLLYWOG author Keian McKee attests, transformative.

Help celebrate Studio 101 Theatre Companies, Stark Nakes Theatre's and Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company's 2014-2015 exciting new seasons at Spring Street Studio's Throwback Thursday Event today, July 24th, 2014 from 5pm to 9pm!

Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company presents the world premiere of POLLYWOG by Keian McKee, July 31-August 16, 2014 at Studio 101, 1824 Spring Street, Houston, TX 77007.

Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company proudly presents the world premiere of POLLYWOG by Keian McKee, July 31-August 16, 2014 at Studio 101, 1824 Spring Street, Houston, TX 77007. The Show will be directed by Matt Huff and will feature well-known Houston actors, James Belcher, Celeste Roberts, Courtney Lomelo, Jason Duga and Autumn Clack.

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company has a successful history of presenting Houston audiences with bold and innovative theatre, offering patrons an altogether edgy theatre-going experience. In addition to their 2014-2015 mainstage season, Mildred's Umbrella has just kicked-off their four play series entitled The Women's Project with CASSANDRA by Katharine Sherman. The Women's Project will feature plays that are written by a female playwright, or contain thematic elements that explore the feminine perspective. Furthermore, a portion of proceeds from each of the productions in The Women's Project series will be donated to local charities dedicated to women's issues. Taking time out of her schedule, Artistic Director and Co-Founder Jennifer Decker, met with us to fill us in on what Houston Audiences can expect from Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company's 2014-2015 Season.

The name Sidney Berger brings a smile to many people's faces. He tirelessly built UH's once small drama department into a world-class school ... and in the process entertained Houstonians of all ages.

Boldly re-envisioning classical drama is the mission of Classical Theatre Company, and their production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS, written by Christopher Marlowe and adapted by Timothy N. Evers, is theatrical magic that Houston audiences can savor. The company is breathing vibrant life into the playwright's fascinating tale about the dangers of hubris and presenting Houston's first-ever professional premiere of the 420-year-old work.

The Classical Theatre Company's (CTC) winter production of their 2013-2014 Main Stage Season will be Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. The production runs three weeks from today, January 29th-February 16th, 2014 at The Barn.

The Classical Theatre Company's (CTC) winter production of their 2013-2014 Main Stage Season will be Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. The production runs three weeks from January 29th-February 16th, 2014 at The Barn.

While Thanksgiving is right around the corner, holiday festivities are commencing in full force. For many Houston theater goers, the highlight of the holiday season is the Alley Theatre's infamous production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS. Michael Wilson's imaginative stage adaptation of the Charles Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, is celebrating its 24th year and continues to be a spectacle that is hauntingly delightful and heartwarming. With family-friendly thrills, chills, and a hearty dose of laughter, this festive production remains a holiday favorite.

Houston's seasonal favorite A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns to light up the Holiday Season downtown on the Hubbard Stage November 15 to December 26.

Ira Levin is best known for his suspenseful and creepy novels The Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby, both of which have been adapted into successful films. His 1978 play DEATHTRAP holds the record for the longest running comedy-thriller in Broadway history, playing almost 1800 performances across a four-year run. Despite positive reviews and a healthy run, his 1973 play VERONICA'S ROOM just didn't capture audiences the way his other works did. Thrills, chills, and horror are hard to make affective in a staged play; however, Stages Repertory Theatre's production of VERONICA'S ROOM delivers these aspects in abundance.

Alley Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Suicide Club' and featuring beloved characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jeffrey Hatcher (Mrs. Mannerly, 2010) crafts a smart new Sherlock Holmes mystery. Having played Sherlock Holmes in The Crucifer of Blood (2009) and Sherlock Holmes (2003), Alley Theatre Company Artist Todd Waite will again play the iconic and illustrious detective in a spectacular, lavish production. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Suicide Club" and featuring beloved characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jeffrey Hatcher (Mrs. Mannerly, 2010) crafts a smart new Sherlock Holmes mystery. Having played Sherlock Holmes in The Crucifer of Blood (2009) and Sherlock Holmes (2003), Alley Theatre Company Artist Todd Waite will again play the iconic and illustrious detective in a spectacular, lavish production.

Last night, The Alley Theatre hosted the press opening night of Bernard Pomerance's well-known 1977 tragic drama THE ELEPHANT MAN. The nearly 100-minute one act production is a fascinating look at the life of Joseph 'John' Carey Merrick, who began developing severe bone and skin abnormalities by age two. The play takes place from 1884 to 1890, focusing primarily on the parts of Joseph Merrick's life when he was acquainted with and studied by Dr. Frederick Treves, a surgeon in London. Throughout Joseph Merrick's life these abnormalities worsened, significantly increasing the physical strain these deformities subjected his body to. Joseph Merrick passed on April 11, 1890, at the age of 27. The official cause of death is asphyxia.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Bernard Pomerance's The Elephant Man, a story about the strength of the human spirit, compassion and humanity. Called 'enthralling and luminous' by The New York Times, The Elephant Man, directed by Gregory Boyd, runs April 12 through May 5, 2013 on the Hubbard Stage.

Presenting their second out of three productions for this year's 'Get Talking' series, Stages Repertory Theatre is producing Julia Cho's THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE. The deliciously existential and fairy tale-esque drama won the 2010 Susan Smith Blackburn award, a prize given to plays written by women in the English language. The somewhat simplistic and formulaic plot introduces audiences to a linguist, George, who is the curator of a language library that preserves the last remaining strands of dead and dying languages. Despite his love for languages, he is inept in communication, which estranges him from his wife, Mary. George and his assistant, Emma, fly in a couple from a devastated Eastern European country to record their native language, the romantic and beautiful Elloway. However, the couple is bickering, so they have cast off Elloway and are using the 'hateful' language of English to fight.

Sally Edmundson directs The Language Archive by award-winning playwright Julia Cho, having its regional premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in February and March.

Houston's seasonal favorite A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns to light up the Holiday Season downtown on the Hubbard Stage November 16 to December 24. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!