Susan Koozin News

An often over-looked subject in the musical genre is the hardworking, semi-rural blue-collar working class American, but that is exactly the focus of HANDS ON A HARDBODY. The Texas-centric musical, based on the 1997 documentary of the same title, is enjoying a phenomenal Texas Premiere.

TUTS Underground is cooking up a musical treat that is as Texan as Pecan Pie with their Texas Premiere of HANDS ON A HARDBODY, a musical based on the 1997 documentary by the same title. BroadwayWorld - Houston was invited to attend a rehearsal of HANDS ON A HARDBODY. We got to bring our camera along to snap some photos and give our readers a sneak peek at the exciting production.

TUTS Underground will stage the Texas Premiere of Hands On A Hardbody, June 12-22 at Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center. Click below to meet some of the characters, and stay tuned for more fun videos!

Stages Repertory Theatre's 37th season epitomizes both the spirit of adventure and innovation that launched the theatre and the extraordinary growth and expertise it has achieved in the years since. Highlights include four musical productions-a joyous world premiere production, an infectious international hit, and an obscure classic Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical-as well as three spectacular solo shows, an enchanting, timely comedy, and a searing modern take on a classic drama.

TUTS Underground will stage the Texas Premiere of Hands On A Hardbody, June 12-22 at Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center.

While Valentine's Day is just around the corner, Stages Repertory Theatre is getting Houston audiences in the spirit with the Regional Premiere of Michele Riml's romantic comedy, SEXY LAUNDRY. The play focuses on Alice and Henry, a middle-aged married couple who have hung their last lingering hopes of rejuvenating their marriage on a weekend getaway to a swanky hotel. With a copy of Sex for Dummies in hand, the husband and wife duo unsteadily embark on a night that could very well make or break their twenty-five year marriage. While SEXY LAUNDRY delivers plenty of laughs and is chock full of awkward moments, underneath it all is a touching and tender narrative that is sure to leave the audience with a smile on their face.

David Nehls and Betsy Kelso's 2005 Off-Broadway hit show THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL has been a favorite of theatre patrons and companies ever since it first premiered. This holiday season the duo's brand new madcap musical comedy THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL is making its World Premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston. Serving as a companion to the original show and not a direct sequel, the new musical serves up innumerous laughs to audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with the original romp.

In honor of the show's 25th anniversary, Stages is reviving one of the most requested productions in its history, Always...Patsy Cline. Penned by Stages' Founding Artistic Director Ted Swindley, this international hit musical had its world premiere at Stages in 1988 and has been winning hearts ever since. Based on a true story, this tribute to the legendary country music singer and her life-long friendship with devoted Houston fan Louise Seger is rich with down-home country humor and includes 27 of Cline's unforgettable hit songs. Susan Koozin and Melodie Smith return as Louise and Patsy.

In honor of the show's 25th anniversary, Stages is reviving one of the most requested productions in its history, Always...Patsy Cline. Penned by Stages' Founding Artistic Director Ted Swindley, this international hit musical had its world premiere at Stages in 1988 and has been winning hearts ever since. Based on a true story, this tribute to the legendary country music singer and her life-long friendship with devoted Houston fan Louise Seger is rich with down-home country humor and includes 27 of Cline's unforgettable hit songs. Susan Koozin and Melodie Smith return as Louise and Patsy.

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet, is excited to announce a new feature to its comprehensive regional coverage - the Featured Regional Theater of the Week! Each week, BWW will introduce its readers to a regional theater located in one of our (over 130!) coverage cities. By exploring these different venues, their history and showcasing the production seasons, BWW continues its commitment to expand our presence in communities and cities across the United States. This Week's Featured Regional Theater: Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston, Texas

Continuing its mission to boldly re-envision classical drama, Classical Theatre Company is presenting Alfred Jarry's UBU ROI. The 1896 play is a precursor of the Theatre of the Absurd and Surrealism, but certainly opened the doors for the development of those genres of theatre.

Everything old is new again, but some classic treasures just sparkle and shine brighter than others. After taking in a performance of Bayou City Concert Musicals' ONE TOUCH OF VENUS, I am surprised that this is its first performance in Houston. The show, which became a starring vehicle for the legendary Mary Martin, originally opened on Broadway on October 7, 1943 ran for 567 performances. Kurt Weill's score is infectious and poppy, and Ogden Nash's lyrics compliment the comedic plot with the right amounts of sap and zing to completely entertain and enthrall. ONE TOUCH OF VENUS is a delightful piece that is truly deserving of Bayou City Concert Musicals' splendid resurrection and concert staging. Houston owes great multitudes of thanks to Paul Hope and Bayou City Concert Musicals for programming this show, giving audiences an opportunity to see something that is old yet new and fresh to us all at the same time.

Living in the South, there is an undeniable general cultural familiarity with the iconic film adaptation of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. With the utterance of those two words, images of Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts spring to mind along with many of the movie's most quoted and loved lines. While others may be afraid to compete with the cultural memory, Stages Repertory Theatre, without trepidation and imitation, is housing a stellar, must see production of the beloved modern classic.

The Southern classic STEEL MAGNOLIAS opens this week at the Stages Rep and dates have been added to accommodate audiences!

Stages next produces Robert Harling's touching story based on the author's true life experience of losing his sister.

The Stages Rep presents the Southern classic STEEL MAGNOLIAS, opening this week, and the regional premiere of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM continues through September 2.

Stages Repertory theatre will present two shows this summer, 2012, including Life Could Be a Dream, written and created by Roger Bean, and Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. See full details below.

Stages Repertory theatre will present two shows this summer, 2012, including Life Could Be a Dream, written and created by Roger Bean, and Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. See full details below.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) just announced the cast of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, running June 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts. It's all big songs and big hair in this sassy, spirited musical about a real-life brothel in Texas. Based on the "Chicken Ranch", the infamous, long-running house of ill repute, this tongue-in-cheek story chronicles Miss Mona Stangley, a classy yet brassy madam with a heart of gold, as her "business" becomes the center of a media controversy. Thrusting the Chicken Ranch into the spotlight is Melvin P. Thorpe, a loud-mouthed reporter based on Houston's own late Marvin Zindler. Spicing up the story line is a hot-headed, trigger-happy town sheriff, the Texas A&M football team, and Miss Mona's risque girls. The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas will be a feisty, fun-filled treat that includes favorites such as "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" and "Hard Candy Christmas".