Jennifer Dean News

Stark Naked Theatre presents the classic, yet ever-relevant dark comedy Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf? by Edward Albee. 

SILENT SKY, the entrancing play by Lauren Gunderson, based on the real-life story of pioneering female astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, shows through December 6 on the Main Street Theater stage.

Main Street Theater (MST) is extending the run of SILENT SKY by Lauren Gunderson through December 6. This production marks the Houston premiere of any of Gunderson's works and the Texas premiere of this play. Scroll down for a look at the cast onstage!

A.D. Players bravely gives audiences a chance to see 12 ANGRY MEN presented without alteration or apology.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

BroadwayWorld Houston is giving you the chance to see THE GOD GAME for free! To enter the drawing for two free tickets to THE GOD GAME for the Friday, September 19th performance at 8:00 p.m., like the Broadway World Houston Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BroadwayWorldHouston by September 17 at 9 a.m.

BWW Reviews: THE GOD GAME, For Better, For Worse at Stark Naked Theatre Company

Following a critically-acclaimed third season, Stark Naked Theatre Company opens its fourth season this weekend with the southwest regional premiere of The God Game, written by award-winning playwright Suzanne Bradbeer. Stark Naked is proud to announce that Ms. Bradbeer is in Houston for the regional premiere, and she will be participating in two talk-backs taking place immediately after the September 4th preview performance, as well as after the Saturday, September 6th evening performance. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Following a critically-acclaimed third season, Stark Naked Theatre Company opens its fourth season on September 5th with the southwest regional premiere of The God Game, written by award-winning playwright Suzanne Bradbeer. Critics praised The God Game in its world premiere earlier this year, calling it "a superb new drama" and "the sort of new work that theatre fans long to see." And just in time for election season, Houston audiences will likewise be enthralled with Stark Naked's production of this exciting political drama. The God Game is a relevant and thought-provoking new play that deftly examines the role of faith on the national political stage. Running through September 20th at Stark Naked Theatre's STUDIO 101, The God Game is directed by Jennifer Dean and features perennial favorites Justin Doran, Philip Lehl, and Kim Tobin-Lehl in the lead roles.

The A. D. Players is in the middle of celebrating their 47th season of theatre. Notorious for providing Houston audiences with thought-provoking and inspirational pieces of theatre, they are kicking off 2014 in the same fashion with their deeply moving production of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett's award-winning play, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.

A. D. Players presents the award-winning play The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, now through March 9, and is partnering with Holocaust Museum Houston to present special events at the museum connected to the story of the play. The Diary of Anne Frank opens tonight, January 31, and runs through March 9.

A. D. Players will present the award-winning play The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, January 29 through March 9, and is partnering with Holocaust Museum Houston to present special events at the museum connected to the story of the play. The Diary of Anne Frank will preview January 29 and 30, open January 31, and run through March 9.

LOST Theatre Company presents its 29th One Act Festival. This annual event gives the UK's hottest new writing and directing talent the chance to air their work on the London Fringe. Over 6 nights we showcase a diverse and stimulating range of shows from some of the country's best young writers and directors.

LOST Theatre Company presents its 29th One Act Festival. This annual event gives the UK's hottest new writing and directing talent the chance to air their work on the London Fringe. Over 6 nights we showcase a diverse and stimulating range of shows from some of the country's best young writers and directors.

Stages Repertory Theatre is presenting a tense and taut production of Rebecca Gilman's DOLLHOUSE. The 2010 play is a modernized retelling of Henrik Ibsen's classic A DOLL'S HOUSE. DOLLHOUSE is set in Chicago, circa 2004. Scandals, like Enron, have rocked American society, and the financial stability of the country is starting to falter. Rebecca Gilman's narrative puts a wealthy couple at the center of the pressure-cooker drama, where Terry keeps close tabs on the families various accounts with hopes to pay off debts and Nora is a shopaholic with a spending addiction. Tension mounts while anxiety gives way to anger and shows for dominance, racing towards Henrik Ibsen's famous door slam. Yet, in DOLLHOUSE, Rebecca Gilman adds a modernizing twist to the classic ending that will give audiences plenty to talk about, but, in my opinion, only serves to solidify how disgusting and unlikeable the two main characters really are.

Direction by Jennifer Dean keeps this Texas style 'Beauty and the Beast' parable clipping brightly along during the first act, which is pleasantly bubbly and tender. In the second act, the writing and direction together slow the pace of the sprightly comedy. The writing, especially, becomes filled with redundant moments and removes every ounce of subtly from the themes and messages beautifully constructed and pristinely directed in the first act. While, as a whole, THE FIRST CHURCH OF TEXACO is pleasant, I couldn't help but feel that the second act could be pared down some to keep the momentum rocking forward.