Houston theater will get set to ring within the holidays with some conventional favorites and roaring new works. However for these vacation Scrooges in the home, performing arts firms additionally unwrap some intriguing and theatrical dance, new and intimate visions for traditional drama, and one heavenly world premiere. Plus, Broadway on the Pastime Middle makes some noise presenting two smash productions this month.
A Stunning Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical offered by Broadway on the Pastime Middle (November 4-9)
When Broadway on the Pastime Middle first introduced its 25-26 season, this manufacturing appeared poised to be the sleeper hit of the yr. And a recently-added and uncommon Thursday matinee proves Houston theater lovers will “Come Working” for this have a look at the life and songs of Neil Diamond. Within the custom of jukebox musicals like Jersey Boys and Tina, this newest Broadway biography places the Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame inductee at heart stage.
Created in collaboration with Diamond himself, the present chronicles his beginnings as a poor child from Brooklyn to grew to become a chart-busting, American showman with 120 million albums offered. That includes a number of the largest songs of Diamond’s catalogue, together with “Candy Caroline,” “Love on the Rocks,” and “Kentucky Lady,” Stunning Noise attracts connections between the songs’ highly effective lyrics and vital moments in Diamond’s life.
Dada Gert from Open Dance Challenge (November 7-22)
Houston’s supply for actually immersive dance continues to have fun its twentieth anniversary by bringing again a few of its most modern works. Debuting in Houston again in 2018, the multidisciplinary Dada Gert transported audiences again into Weimar-era Berlin and into to the life and dances of pioneering Jewish dancer/efficiency artist/movie star, Valeska Gert. The unique manufacturing wowed critics, modern dance lovers, and people merely immersive-curious.
The present invitations audiences to wander via cabaret and avenue scenes amid set items, video projections, and the dancers themselves who depict a number of the Gert-created personas and characters. Resembling a number of the huge immersive efficiency artwork firms in New York or London, ODP encourages audiences to discover the story as intently as they need inside an area that surrounds them with dramatic dance and beautiful units.
Angels in America at Rec Room (November 8-December 20)
One of many smallest theater areas on the town has all the time carried out issues a little bit bit otherwise, like organizing its seasons by the calendar yr. It wraps up its 2025 season with what could be essentially the most bold manufacturing of this fall, Tony Kushner’s masterpiece of late twentieth century American theater, Angels in America. Rec Room will produce each half one, Millennium Approaches, and two, Perestroika, on alternating evenings in repertory.
Successful just about each award attainable, together with a Pulitzer and a number of Tonys, Angels depicts the AIDS disaster on each a private and cosmic scale, whereas additionally holding up a celestial mirror to America on the finish of the twentieth century. Search for a number of particular dates that pack each exhibits into sooner or later and embody dinner.
Take the Soul Practice to Christmas at Ensemble Theatre (November 14-December 21)
Ensemble all the time presents heartfelt vacation musicals. This one takes audiences on board a Soul Practice for a joyous, household celebration. The present tells the story of three college students assigned some winter break homework, a analysis paper chronicling how African Individuals have celebrated Christmas all through historical past. Fortunately their granddad possesses time touring powers and summons the magical Soul Practice for a area journey into the previous. The present options the sounds of African drumming, Harlem Renaissance jazz, the beats of the Civil Rights Motion, disco celebration jams, hip-hop, and conventional vacation tunes.
Of the message of the musical, director and choreographer, Aisha Ussery, says, “Christmas is a time once we search for hope regardless of our circumstances. This piece is a whimsical and joyous journey via numerous eras whereby African Individuals make magic from mud.”
A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre (November 16-December 28)
The Alley premiered this charming manufacturing of the traditional story, as tailored by Alley creative director Rob Melrose, in 2022, and it’s already a Houston vacation theater custom. Melrose went again to the unique Charles Dickens novella for inspiration, making a Carol from the center. David Rainey is again as Scrooge with the remainder of the resident performing firm and Alley regulars enjoying all of the time-traveling ghosts and human characters.
The Alley artistic crew weaves its personal vacation magic alongside the actors on this manufacturing to create a music-filled Victorian wonderland with floating homes, intricate and typically spooky costumes, stunning puppetry, and wondrous stage illusions. We would even forecast a little bit of magical gentle theatrical snow for each efficiency.
The Outsiders offered by Broadway on the Pastime Middle (November 18-23)
Winner of the 2024 Tony Award for Greatest Musical, this present is predicated on the traditional younger grownup novel by S. E. Hinton, in addition to Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 movie adaptation. Set in Nineteen Sixties Oklahoma, The Outsiders tells the story of orphan Ponyboy Curtis, his brothers, his greatest good friend Johnny Cade, and their Greaser household of ‘outsiders.’ At all times in battle with the upper-class Socs, the Greasers stay in a world of violence the place “nothing gold can keep” however they dream of a greater life crammed with love and acceptance. In the long run, hope would possibly stay within the act of storytelling. Individuals who noticed the present in New York are nonetheless speaking concerning the choreography and theatrical results of the “rumble scene” — anticipate it to be simply as extraordinary on the highway because it was on Broadway.
Narnia the Musical at A.D. Gamers (November 19-December 23)
A.D. Gamers celebrates the vacations with this magical musical primarily based on C.S. Lewis’s most cherished novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Narnia tells the story of the 4 siblings — Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — who come across a mysterious wardrobe that leads them into the enchanted land of Narnia. However all will not be nicely on this wintery world. The evil White Witch has solid a spell, trapping Narnia in everlasting snow and ice. With the assistance of speaking animals, courageous warriors, and the mighty lion Aslan, the youngsters should discover the braveness to battle for Narnia’s freedom. This one will certainly be a present for the entire household.
Birdy offered by Performing Arts Houston (November 21-22)
Taiwan’s Hung Dance has garnered worldwide popularity of its lyrical precision and religious depth that melds the meditative move of Tai Chi and the expressive pressure of up to date dance. At present on their first U.S. tour, choreographer and firm founder Lai Hung-chung explores themes of untamed creativity solid by constraints and a burning want to fly free. PAH says that the dance is ready to an evocative mix of digital and Chinese language classical music and turns into a dialogue between custom and modernity, the place stillness and movement, battle and hope, transfer as one.
Stunning Princess Dysfunction from Catastrophic Theatre (November 21-December 13)
Whereas Catastrophic Theatre could be one of many extra experimental theater firms on the town, it does have some steadfast traditions beloved by Cat followers. Each November or December, Houstonians head on right down to the MATCH for no matter weirdly great or avant garde present the corporate will reward us as vacation counter-programming with not an elf, sugarplum, or cute Victorian avenue urchin in sight. This yr, they’re performing a world premiere work by rising playwright Kathy Ng.
The present follows Triangle Particular person, a being with a human physique and triangle head, on TP’s many adventures residing in Heaven’s car parking zone hanging out with Mom Teresa. Whereas that premise solely provides extra thriller to the premiere, the title’s acronym, BPD, would possibly give some psychological hints. Ng has described the work as an invite to a celebration in her thoughts, and that is one wild, non-holiday blowout we don’t need to miss.
Our City at 4th Wall Theatre (November 21-December 20)
Whereas not essentially a vacation play, Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece makes for a contemplative drama about a few of these concepts and beliefs we maintain so dearly this time of the yr, like household, love, and reminiscence. With minimal props and an all-knowing stage supervisor as narrator, this nice American play tells the story of small city life within the early twentieth century.
The Stage Supervisor introduces us to Grover’s Corners and the Webb and Gibbs households. The audiences watches their kids develop up, marry, and have kids of their very own. In Our City, the seemly easiest of relationships and tales maintain marvel of lives well-lived, whether or not lengthy or reduce quick. 4th Wall’s intimate area will possible add much more common connections between audiences and these gamers, particularly with a powerful solid of Houston favorites, together with firm co-founder Philip Lehl because the Stage Supervisor.
Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley at Essential Road Theater (November 22-December 21)
After a break final yr, MST journeys again in time to Regency England and the beloved world of Jane Austin’s Pleasure and Prejudice. Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s trio of Christmas sequels to the traditional novel — informed with a persuasive twenty first century sense and sensibility — have change into a brand new vacation custom amongst regional theaters throughout the nation.
This time Mr. Darcy’s proficient pianist sister, Georgiana, and her greatest good friend, the youthful, spunky, and often forgotten Bennet sister, Kitty, have their probability in to change into heroes of their very own tales. When surprising visitors arrive for the annual Christmas celebration on the Pemberley property, new love and new music could be within the air. Whereas staying near the themes of household, love, and sisterhood of the sooner performs within the trilogy, Georgiana and Kitty, expands the story past Pemberley, exploring what ladies can obtain with bravery and willpower even admit societal restrictions and a few nicely which means brotherly disproval.
