Rachel Landon News

A young black man leaves his California home to find his art and what is real in Europe.

Stageworks Theatre presents its fourth production of the season, The Odd Couple by Neil Simon, running Jan. 27 - Feb. 19, 2017.

Theater in association with SRO Productions will stage the Tony and Drama Desk Award winning Broadway musical PASSING STRANGE for 14 performances at Theater - Feb 9 though March 4. Written by Stew and with music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, PASSING STRANGE is a comedy-drama rock musical about a young black man's journey of self-discovery about family, cultures, spirituality, love, drugs, sex and music.

Stageworks Theatre presents its fourth production of the season, THE ODD COUPLE by Neil Simon, running January 27 through February 19.

Award-winning Obsidian Theater, known for producing bold, diverse plays, will merge with SRO Productions, an award-winning producer of fearless musicals.

Iconotheatrix presents CARRIE: THE MUSICAL from October 20 to 23 at The MATCH. In this revamped, contemporary version of the famous (and infamous) 1988 production, we follow Carrie White (Courtlin Parisher), a young woman with telekinetic powers. An outcast at school, where she is bullied viciously for her differences, Carrie is also lost at home, with a fervently religious mother, Margaret White (guest artist, Rachel Landon). Pushed to the brink, Carrie's powers threaten to overwhelm her, and devour everyone around her in flame.

Iconotheatrix presents Carrie: The Musical October 20-23, 2016 at The MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theatre Center Houston). In this revamped, contemporary version of the famous (and infamous) 1988 production, Carrie: The Musical follows a young woman, Carrie White (Courtlin Parisher) with telekinetic powers. An outcast at school, where she is bullied viciously for her differences, Carrie is also lost at home, with a fervently religious mother, Margaret White (guest artist, Rachel Landon) whose love traps her in its maw. When PE teacher, Miss Gardner (guest artist Morgan Kaupert), kind classmate Sue Snell (Jackie Cortina), and boyfriend Tommy Ross (Brendan Morrow) reach out to try and help Carrie, it seems that for once, Carrie might have a shot at being accepted. But Chris Hargensen (Cassidy D'Agostino), the class's most vicious bully, and Billy Nolan (Alex Kerry), her not-so-bright boyfriend, have other ideas. Pushed to the brink, Carrie's powers threaten to overwhelm her, and devour everyone around her in flame.

From the bodily fluid throwing Miggs to the naked and tucked Buffalo Bill, expect to see everything you witnessed in the movie recreated live onstage by a company who at times don Lambchop hand puppets to narrate the action. It's fast, furious, and like being blasted by hits of nitrous oxide constantly without the pain of dental work.

SILENCE! The Musical (lyrics & music by Jon Kaplan & Al Kaplan and book by Hunter Bell) is being produced by Standing Room Only Productions at Obsidian Theater (www.obsidiantheater.org). With direction by Chris Patton, music direction by Eduardo Guzman, choreography by Eric Dano and assistant direction and stage management by Lauren Hainley, the production begins today, June 9, and continues through June 25, 2016.

I got the opportunity to speak with actors Chris Gibson and Rachel Landon, Stage Manager Lauren Hainley, and Choreographer Eric Dano about SRO's upcoming production of SILENCE! THE MUSICAL. The musical is a parody of the 1991 Academy Award winning film, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. The show is directed by Chris Patton and stars Chris Gibson, Rachel Landon,Bryan Kaplun, Chaney Moore, Tom Stell, Kiefer Slaton, Maryann Williams, Taelon J. Stonecipher, and Heather Buzonas. SILENCE! THE MUSICAL will make its Houston premiere and run from June 9 - June 25, 2016 at Obsidian Theater.

INTO THE WOODS is an ambitious undertaking for a community theater. The music is complex and the costumes and set are anything but minimalistic. HFAC's ambition is realized through this production directed by Sam Brown, and you can clearly see his heart and soul in a musical that rivals some professional productions around town.