James West News

The opening of The Ensemble’s 49th season is a H-I-T!

Written by playwright Melda Beaty and directed by The Ensemble Theatre’s Artistic Director Eileen J. Morris, this slice-of-life play shines a spotlight on the narrative of five older men, figures who are often background characters in the stories we tell.

It’s a word that has divided people for generations, so much so that I won’t even write it in this review. Rising Houston actor Cardero Berryman thoughtfully directs N; surprisingly, this is his first time at the helm of a play. He has a wonderful cast, great technical support, and the appropriately intimate Company OnStage theater space to produce the piece in.

The Royal Players will present THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, a gripping musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of 'Blood Brothers' as GHOSTLIGHT PLAYERS presents this mesmerizing musical. Experience the power and emotion of this beloved show as talented performers bring the story to life on stage. Don't miss out on this unforgettable performance at GHOSTLIGHT PLAYERS.

It fuses music, fashion shows, and simply fun lively scenes that turn THE HOUSE OF PATRICK into a … well… house party! The energy is high, and the show is a ton of fun.

The Pearl Theater will present awarding winning drama Driving Miss Daisy written by Alfred Uhry to the Houston area.

February is always a time for celebrating African American icons past and present.  In the play 'From Africa to the White House', award-winning theater company Vincent Victoria Presents will highlight 47 Black heroes.

Portland Opera continues the 22/23 season with Thumbprint, an opera inspired by the true story of Mukhtar Mai—a trailblazing Pakistani activist. The libretto, written by Susan Yankowitz, originates from a series of interviews with Mai, paired with a score by Kamala Sankaram that is a dynamic collision of Hindustani and European opera influences.

Currently playing a long-awaited pre-Broadway engagement in Toronto, & Juliet will transfer directly to Broadway, with previews beginning October 28, 2022 ahead of a November 17, 2022 opening at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Tickets are available now!

It is safe to say this is a great festival, and well worth your time over the weekend.  Happy ten years to FADE TO BLACK!  Here’s hoping for many more decades to come.  

Ghostlight Players continues its 2022 season with Aaron Sorkin's searing courtroom drama A Few Good Men.  Directed by Joseph Daly, A Few Good Men will be presented two weekends June 9 through 18 at Hemsley Hall (4 Arthur Kill Road) the Parish House for the Church of St. Andrew. 

These historic writings are coupled with the company’s signature lively staging and passion. The two present fascinating portraits of the Black community’s experience a hundred years ago, and the surprise is how little has changed.

Award winning theater company Vincent Victoria Presents will be mounting for the first time in Houston, during Mother's Day Weekend, two rarely produced plays by Harlem Renaissance playwright, author, and anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston. The two one act plays, 'Color Struck', and 'Meet the Mamma', were written in the mid 1920's but have seldom been seen onstage and were thought to have been lost until the 1990's.

There has never been a lack of extraordinary talent at United Solo. Year by year, audiences have witnessed some of the most amazing solo artists from all over the world share their talents and stories. Some of these artists have made a particularly incredible mark on the audience's hearts through their performances on the United Solo stage at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in Manhattan. Therefore, during the first two weeks of the 10th anniversary season of United Solo, nearly thirty award-winning performers will be gracing the stage once again in THE BEST OF category.

Ghostlight Productions, presents Reginald Rose's jury room drama Twelve Angry Men, directed by Gary Bradley, with performances May 9-11 at Richmond Town's County Courthouse.

Vincent Victoria Presents, the small theater organization in Houston, Texas that prides itself on doing good work on a small budget and dedicated to recreating forgotten historical moments from African American History onstage, recently took matters into their own hands because of the unfortunate shortage of theater reviewers in the city, and asked audience members to submit their own thoughts and reviews of the World Premiere period drama 'Mr Booker T. at the Door'. The idea is similar to what travelers do on Trip Advisor when reviewing a Hotel and restaurant diners do on on YELP

THE RED PASHMINA is an intriguing story of a psychiatrist and two of his patients that takes us on an unforgettable journey. As the patients undergo regression therapy, we see their memories come alive on stage and experience different eras in India's picturesque past - from a quaint fishing village to an opulent palace, merchant caravans in the desert to a typical imperial officer's club, a dark, dank dungeon to a magnificent ancient temple! Complete with live music, dance and drama, The Red Pashmina tells the story of serendipity through the ages... or is it destiny?

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas with partner The thinkIndia Foundation will present the intriguing THE RED PASHMINA, running September 22-29, 2018, at the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062). All evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets range from $25-50 and are on sale now at the Irving Arts Center Box Office (972.252.2787/ www.irvingartscenter.com). Ticket discounts are available for seniors and students.

One of the nation's most innovative opera companies, Odyssey Opera, continues Trial by Fire: Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years' War, a season-long exploration of operatic works inspired by martyr, saint, and military leader Joan of Arc (1412-1431).