Sir Tom Stoppard’s last play, LEOPOLDSTADT, is his most personal. He wrote a narrative loosely based on his own family, changed the location to Austria, and finally wrote a Jewish script. The show debuted in London in 2020 and ran on Broadway from 2022 to 2023. It garnered the Tony for best play that year, and this Main Street Theater production represents its Regional debut.
Main Street Theater has extended the run of its regional premiere of Leopoldstadt by Tom Stoppard. There have been only two U.S. productions of Leopoldstadt since its world premiere in London in 2020.
But could director Jon Harvey be purposefully lightening his ELECTRA for this era? Does he want a more pop-friendly approach? Do we need that now? These are all questions that only he can answer, but the show itself has a nice pace and energy.
Shannon Emerick, a celebrated Houston stage actress and two-time Houston Press Best Actress winner, takes on one of Greek tragedy’s most formidable figures in Classical Theatre Company’s production of Electra. As Clytaemnestra, the queen, mother, and murderer whose actions set a family and a city on a path of grief and revenge, Emerick brings a deeply human perspective to a character often seen as purely villainous. In this interview, she discusses how she approached the role, the personal and emotional connections that shaped her performance, and what drew her to embody one of theatre’s most iconic and challenging women.
Main Street Theater will be producing the regional premiere of Heidi Schreck’s play What the Constitution Means to Me at our Rice Village location, 2540 Times., 77005. Opening night is Saturday, September 16. See photos from the production.
Main Street Theater will be producing the regional premiere of Heidi Schreck’s play What the Constitution Means to Me at our Rice Village location, 2540 Times., 77005. Opening night is Sat., Sept. 16.
In preparation for its upcoming regional premiere of The Oldest Boy: A Play in Three Ceremonies by Sarah Ruhl, Main Street Theater (MST) has been meeting with Gala Tulku Rinpoche of the Drepung Loseling Institute of Texas: Tibetan Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center in Houston.
Main Street Theater (MST) is presenting Thomas Gibbons' riveting play, Permanent Collection. Inspired by events at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, one of the world's greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist & modern art, the play explores the impact of race and racial equity on society, through the lens of visual art.
You would think a story with its title character would be the main focus of a play. For example, Beetljuice the Musical’s title character almost never leaves the stage and has a character arc, or in The Music Man, the literal Music Man, Harold Hill, remains the center of attention for most of its play. Unfortunately, Miss Maude at AD Players, a play that draws inspiration from a selfless black nurse from the 1950s, fails to provide its title character anything more than a plot point for its white male protagonist. This ultimately leads to a Pre-Broadway World Premiere that with some tweaking could see a fully successful commercial run in both New York and other theaters. While I did not personally enjoy some aspects of the story, Martin Casella has the beginnings of what could be a great play.
Shannon Emerick’s portrayal of Isabelle Arc is the performance on which MOTHER OF THE MAID hinges, and she manifests a miracle consisting of fully-realized characterization and range. Rarely will you see an actress wholly embody a role so fully and disappear completely into another person.
Main Street Theater is offering a riveting new play to Houston audiences: Mother of the Maid by Jane Anderson. The production opens Saturday night, February 5 at 7:30pm and runs through February 27 at MST – Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd.
In an effort to stay connected through the current COVID 19 crisis, Main Street Theater is launching a new online program, Art Together with Main Street Theater.
The Houston Equity Festival is a collection of local professional actors, all members of the union Actors' Equity Association, each of whom is mounting her/his own show during the summer and fall of 2019. Actor Dain Geist spearheaded the creation of the Festival "While we may be individual artists," says Geist, "Together we help to build a community."
The Houston Equity Festival is a collection of local professional actors, all members of the union Actors' Equity Association, each of whom is mounting her/his own show during the summer and fall of 2019. Actor Dain Geist spearheaded the creation of the Festival "While we may be individual artists," says Geist, "Together we help to build a community."
On Saturday night, September 22, Main Street Theater (MST) opened its 43rd Season with the Regional Premiere of Lauren Gunderson's The Book of Will. This compelling play tells the tale of how Shakespeare's First Folio came into existence thanks to the loyalty and love of his dear friends, particularly John Heminges and Henry Condell.
Main Street Theater is participating in a national initiative led by playwright Lauren Gunderson to campaign against gun violence. She has made her brand new one-woman show Natural Shocks available to theaters and artists free of royalties for readings across the nation on April 20. That specific date marks the 19th anniversary of Columbine and the day of the National School Walkout.
Main Street Theater is participating in a national initiative led by playwright Lauren Gunderson to campaign against gun violence. She has made her brand new one-woman show Natural Shocks available to theaters and artists free of royalties for readings across the nation on April 20. That specific date marks the 19th anniversary of Columbine and the day of the National School Walkout.
Main Street Theater continues its 42nd Season with Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus - and it's played by all women. Men on Boats tells the story of Major John Wesley Powell's actual expedition of the Grand Canyon in 1869. The play depicts the amazing journey of these 10 explorers with all its humor and wonder and danger and excitement. It's an extraordinary adventure.
Main Street Theater continues its 42nd Season with MEN ON BOATS by Jaclyn Backhaus - and it's played by all women. MEN ON BOATS tells the story of Major John Wesley Powell's actual expedition of the Grand Canyon in 1869. The play depicts the amazing journey of these 10 explorers with all its humor and wonder and danger and excitement. It's an extraordinary adventure.
Main Street Theater continues its 42nd Season with Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus - and it's played by all women. Men on Boats tells the story of Major John Wesley Powell's actual expedition of the Grand Canyon in 1869. The play depicts the amazing journey of these 10 explorers with all its humor and wonder and danger and excitement. It's an extraordinary adventure.
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