The North American Tour of Come From Away Photo Credit Matthew Murphy
By Harrison Lorenzen
As writer Elie Wiesel once said, “Even in darkness it is possible to create light.” There is no better story to prove this than what occurred in Gander, Newfoundland, in the week following September 11th, 2001. Opening Tuesday at the Hobby Center, Come From Away presents how the townspeople of Gander came together when 7,000 travelers were stranded by the closure of the American airspace. While addressing such subject matter can be depressing, Come From Away focuses on the relationships formed and the countless selfless acts performed throughout the week.
The Company of the North American Tour of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. Photo by Joan Marcus. 2019
By: Harrison Lorenzen
The North American tour of Once On This Island drifted into Houston this week, as part of the Theater Under the Stars’ 2019-2020 season. The 2018 Tony-Award Winner for Best Revival, this show brings rushes of emotions throughout, such as both joy and sorrow, love and loss. Providing something for everyone, wrapped up as beautifully performed Caribbean-style storytelling, Once On This Island is a must-see while it is in Houston through March 1st.
Water by the Spoonful, by Quiara Alegría Hudes, tells a story about making connections and forming relationships, whether its family or friends, both near and far. The show follows Elliot, a marine who struggles with his own drug addiction, attempting to reconnect with his mother, a former heroin addict who runs an addiction support chat room. In addition, the other users on the site are forming connections, both digitally and physically, and breaking down emotional walls in order to connect through their shared experiences. Water by the Spoonful is being produced by Stages at The Gordy, open through February 23rd.
Stages’ brings a storybook quality to TheFantasticks, its first production inside their new theater complex, The Gordy. As has become a coincidental tradition for Stages, this is their third time producing The Fantasticks during their first season in a new venue. Presenting a story about love, family, and friendship, this show leaves many lessons for the audience to take with them. On-stage through March 15th at The Gordy, everyone should make time to attend The Fantasticks.
The Fantasticks follows the story of two young “forbidden” lovers, whose clever fathers have erected a wall to keep them apart. While the kids fall in love, thinking their fathers forbid it, the fathers, secretly friends, must devise a ploy to revise their faux conflicts so the lovers can marry. The mysterious El Gallo arrives with his services to assist the fathers, and, in effect, corrupt the innocence of the children. Complete with a has-been Shakespearean acting duo, the show keeps audiences engaged on the edge of their seats, while also laughing hysterically throughout.
Houston has numerous wonderful musicals being performed this spring. From Broadway national tours to a world premiere, there is something for everyone. For those of you looking to start planning spring shows or others who did not get the theater tickets they hoped for this holiday season, maybe this list can help steer you in the right direction.
Quinn Vantantwerp in "Elf" at TUTS. Photo by Melissa Taylor 2019.
By: Harrison Lorenzen
Theater Under the Stars wows audiences again with this year’s holiday production of “Elf – The Musical”. As is tradition for most theater companies, their productions of family-favorite holiday shows always bring in full audiences of all ages and TUTS’ “Elf” is no different. On-stage through December 22nd, this show is a must-see. The crowd was buzzing from the moment the doors opened, and people continued to hum along to the songs on the way back to their cars.
Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan’s book sticks very close to the original “Elf” Movie, with many of the same jokes as Will Ferrell’s Buddy. Along with the dialogue, Quinn Vanantwerp plays Buddy with the same youthful, aloof innocence as Will Ferrell originated. Vanantwerp joyously bounded across the stage, exuding more happiness and energy than the children on stage at many times. He made the audience cringe with his oblivious attitude towards everything going on around him yet tug at their heartstrings as he yearns for the love of his father.
TUTS filled the ensemble and elves roles with students from their two youth acting programs, The River and Humphreys School of Musical Theater, of which the former is specifically for students with disabilities and their siblings. It was great to see children of all sizes and ages getting to take part in this main stage production, being featured in various scenes throughout the production.
With memorable songs and Christmas magic, the cast kept the audience engaged for the duration of the performance. Each twist and turn in Buddy’s story keeps the audience on the edge of their seat, anxiously awaiting the ending to see how he fixes everything he’s caused. As usual, with a bit of Christmas magic, Buddy can wrap up every loose end and then some to delight every member of the audience.
Don’t miss your chance to see this wonderful production of “Elf – The Musical”, on-stage at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts through December 22nd. For more information visit TUTS.com.
Stephen Christopher Anthony as 'Evan Hansen' and the North American touring company of DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Photo by Matthew Murphy, 2019.
By: Harrison Lorenzen
It is not often you can find such an elegant balance between comedy, love, and a heart-wrenching story of a community grieving in the aftermath of suicide. Dear Evan Hansen, stopping in Houston along its 50-city national tour, opened Tuesday to a sold-out house at the Hobby Center. The cast, working with quite intense subject matter, brought such emotion to the stage that they held the attention of the entire audience throughout the performance. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote beautiful songs to accentuate the emotions of the characters throughout, and the book by Steven Levenson helped to alleviate the sadness with expertly placed comedy. The actors delivered this constantly shifting material with ease and flair. The set is minimal, with a variety of pieces being brought on and off to create the spaces, but the possibilities are endless with the assortment of projections and screens utilized throughout. (more…)
The North American Tour Company of CATS. Photo by Matthew Murphy. 2019
By Harrison Lorenzen
One of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best-known musicals, CATS, returns to Houston for one week only, wowing audiences with its elaborate dancing, stunning lighting, and most of all, its cats. Opening last night to a nearly full house, featuring patrons of all ages dressed in cheetah print and/or cat ears, CATS had audience members captivated throughout the show. Creeping in and out of oversized junk like ovens and tires while dressed in colorful, striped (or tabby) leotards, the cast led an excellent portrayal of the feline lifestyle. Opting to be at the theater instead of watching the Astros game, guests were not let down with this ensemble’s performance.
Wonza Johnson as “Melchior” and the Cast of the Theatre Under The Stars production of Spring Awakening. Photo by Melissa Taylor.
By Harrison Lorenzen
Duncan Sheik combined forces with Steven Sater to take a late 19th-century play about teen angst and sexual frustration turn it on its head. Combining rock music with an 1891 play by German author Frank Wedekind, Spring Awakening has crowds humming along to the beautiful music before realizing the dark natures of the songs they’re hearing and characters they are watching.
On stage now at the Hobby Center for the Arts, Theater Under the Stars Houston brings audiences an incredibly well-crafted performance of Spring Awakening. Striking a great balance between new and old, with an industrial backdrop and rock lighting contrasting period-style costumes and set pieces, TUTS has once again brought their best to the Houston theater scene. With some of the best talent from near and far, the cast is phenomenal both vocally and dramatically. From the heart-racing rock songs to the heart-wrenching ballads, there is not a weak point throughout the entire performance. Every member of the cast is incredibly talented and almost every character, both major and minor, gets a chance to showcase their vocal ability with a solo. The voices layer into beautifully haunting melodies and carry home the messages presented by Sater. The design of the show is precise and integrated. The set consists of an industrial scaffolding backdrop featuring the band on one side and various cast members scattered on the second story catwalk throughout the show, as well as a wood-paneled office suspended high above the right side of the stage. The contrasting steel and wood marks the sharp contrast between the modern music and the historic, conservative story. The lights further progress this contrast by lighting each scene with traditional amber washes, but switching to flashy, neon effects during the musical numbers. In all aspects, TUTS production of Spring Awakening is phenomenal and a must-see. Spring Awakening is on stage at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts through October 20th. For more information visit TUTS.org.
For more Broadway show updates tune into ktru’s Showstoppers, weekly on Mondays from 11-Noon CST on air and online at ktru.org.
Overall very good production. The technical delay pulled the audience out of the action, but the talent, staging, and effects made up for it. Major Attaway as the Genie is hilarious and the costumes are breathtaking.
From colorful market dances to starlit magic carpet rides, Aladdin at the Hobby Center has something to appeal every member of your family. This production reimagines Walt Disney’s animated classic bringing all the magic you remember from the original and more. Featuring jokes fit for every age, countless food puns, and nonstop pop culture references, playgoers of all ages are bound to enjoy it. Barring a 5-minute technical delay, the show moves along quite fast, fitting in all the hit songs from the movie with a few new ones added in. While the sets are intricate and shimmering, as are the fireworks, the costumes are by far the best technical attribute. Featuring over 2 million Swarovski crystals hand sewn amongst the beading, the costumes glisten throughout every scene. On the acting side, Clinton Greenspan (Aladdin) effectively embodies the “diamond in the rough” trying to steal the heart of Princess Jasmine, played by the talented Kaena Kekoa, however, Major Attaway steals the show from the overture through the finale as the Genie. Leading a fabulous cast of dancers and singers, Attaway draws in the audience in a way that only the Genie can. Throwing in some Houston specific humor along the way, the Genie spends the whole show appealing to the audience more than he does appealing to Aladdin, his “Genie Master”. Leading the incredible dancers through “Friend Like Me”, the Genie performs just as much magic as he does in the movie, captivating the audience in awe. But above all else, the most mystical scene is when Aladdin takes Jasmine on a magic carpet ride in “A Whole New World”. Soaring far above the Earth on a star-filled stage, the magic carpet will amaze everyone. With something to appeal to fans young and old, Aladdin is a must-see while its in town. Aladdin is playing at the Hobby Center now through July 14th. Tickets are available at houston.broadway.com or at thehobbycenter.org.
For more Broadway show updates tune into ktru’s Showstoppers, returning this fall on air and online at ktru.org.
As writer Elie Wiesel once said, “Even in darkness it is possible to create light.” There is no better story to prove this than what occurred in Gander, Newfoundland, in the week following September 11th, 2001. Opening Tuesday at the Hobby Center, Come From Away presents how the townspeople of Gander came together when 7,000 travelers were stranded by the closure of the American airspace. While addressing such subject matter can be depressing, Come From Away focuses on the relationships formed and the countless selfless acts performed throughout the week.
Water by the Spoonful, by Quiara Alegría Hudes, tells a story about making connections and forming relationships, whether its family or friends, both near and far. The show follows Elliot, a marine who struggles with his own drug addiction, attempting to reconnect with his mother, a former heroin addict who runs an addiction support chat room. In addition, the other users on the site are forming connections, both digitally and physically, and breaking down emotional walls in order to connect through their shared experiences. Water by the Spoonful is being produced by Stages at The Gordy, open through February 23rd.
Stages’ brings a storybook quality to The Fantasticks, its first production inside their new theater complex, The Gordy. As has become a coincidental tradition for Stages, this is their third time producing The Fantasticks during their first season in a new venue. Presenting a story about love, family, and friendship, this show leaves many lessons for the audience to take with them. On-stage through March 15th at The Gordy, everyone should make time to attend The Fantasticks.
Overall very good production. The technical delay pulled the audience out of the action, but the talent, staging, and effects made up for it. Major Attaway as the Genie is hilarious and the costumes are breathtaking.