Houston Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 5

Review: AD Players Brings Hope In EVERY BRILLIANT THING
by Armando Urdiales - March 03, 2023

Every Brilliant Thing at AD Players, a one-man show that finished at the George Theater, can only be summed up in one phrase, freaking brilliant. Orlando Arriaga, one of Houston's very own master actors, proves his extraordinary acting prowess in this play and does so with equal parts joy and humili...

Review: MOULIN ROUGE!: THE MUSICAL Makes Audiences Roar with Delight Night After Night at The Hobby Center
by Miranda Keating - March 03, 2023

I made sure that I managed my expectations when attending MOULIN ROUGE!: THE MUSICAL because the stage production could not be as visually exciting as the original film, right? Wrong. As soon as the show began, I was instantly transported into the beautiful world of the Moulin Rouge. The spectacle l...

Review: ROMEO AND JULIET STUNS AUDIENCES WITH ITS CLASSIC STORY AND BEAUTIFUL DESIGN at Houston Ballet
by Miranda Keating - March 02, 2023

ROMEO AND JULIET…the classic love story of star-crossed lovers. To say that our culture is saturated with this tale is a fact that no one can deny. However, knowing the talent of the Houston Ballet, I was intrigued to see this legend translated to dance. As I watched the production, I quickly realiz...

Review: CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC DAZZLES AUDIENCES WITH A SHOW LIKE NO OTHER at The Hobby Center
by Miranda Keating - February 17, 2023

I could only imagine what a magic show would consist of... perhaps a few white rabbits, a deck of cards, and a fabulous dancer that gets cut in half. I went to the show with all these images in my mind, but due to a lack of experience, I ultimately had no expectations. To say that CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC...

Review: THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL STUNS AND DELIGHTS AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES at MATCH
by Miranda Keating - February 21, 2023

I remember the day when I first saw the cover for “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan. I would soon consume that book in a matter of days. When I heard that THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL was being produced in Houston, I knew I had to go, and the show proved to be everything that l...

Review: The Very Trippy EDDIE GOES TO POETRY CITY At Catastrophic Theatre
by Brett Cullum - February 14, 2023

You won’t find a more technically stunning or well acted show in Houston right now. There is a lot to recommend EDDIE GOES TO POETRY CITY, but with one caveat. It will seem presentational and all stylistic performance rather than anything linear or narrative. If you love abstract or absurd theater y...

Review: CHICAGO is Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary at Theatre Under the Stars with New, Rousing Energy
by Miranda Keating - February 08, 2023

Show after show, CHICAGO makes the crowd roar and come to their feet, energizing all with its storytelling, dancing, and glamor. There is no wonder why CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations over the years, and the show is still rousing audiences ...

Review: The Garden Theatre's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Presents Shakespeare with Modern Sass and New Energy
by Miranda Keating - January 27, 2023

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is arguably the most well-known comedic play in the world. Every production I have seen has had its own charm, but they all followed the story traditionally, making the same jokes and all trying to reach mimesis. Going to The Garden Theatre's production, I expected no dif...

Review: Classical Theatre Company's THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL Presents Classical Theatre in An Innovative, Groovy Way at The Deluxe Theater
by Miranda Keating - January 20, 2023

THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL is presented with new life! The play reflects a comedy of errors that occurs after a false rumor is purposely spread. In a typical Restoration Comedy, you may expect wigs and quill pens, but this production uses minimal wooden set pieces, modern costumes, and a cast of 6 to te...

Review: STIRS UP STILL THINGS at Ishida Dance Company
by Brett Cullum - January 06, 2023

If true art is the ability to tell a story through a medium, then what this group has achieved is a remarkable level of marrying movement with narrative. Rarely have I witnessed dance where emotions and poetry are so clear, and performed with such passion....

Review: The Traditional A CHRISTMAS CAROL Enraptures Audiences With Its Exciting, New Telling at The Alley Theatre
by Miranda Keating - December 19, 2022

Many already know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. However, despite the many productions and movies I have seen of this timeless story, I truly believe that the Alley Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL was the most exciting telling that I have experienced. Live music, active puppets, and daring spectacle kep...

Review: THE COLORED FOLKS GOOD TIME HOUR at Vincent Victoria Presents
by Brett Cullum - December 15, 2022

After seeing this film, I can’t get Cherry Cola Pitts out of my mind. He haunts me in the best of ways. Vincent embodies the character so well, and there are moments where you can see a sadness emerge from behind the otherwise leering prankster....

Review: MARY POPPINS Delights All With Its Timeless Tunes and Stunning Spectacle at Theatre Under The Stars
by Miranda Keating - December 14, 2022

When one thinks of the holiday season, many imagine 'The Nutcracker' or 'A Christmas Carol'. These productions are traditional for many reasons, but MARY POPPINS and the Christmas spirit pair very well together! With beautiful stage pictures, technical spectacle, stunning talent, and heart-warming t...

Review: Houston Ballet's THE NUTCRACKER Dazzles Audiences with Spectacle and Holiday Cheer at the Wortham Theater Center
by Miranda Keating - December 06, 2022

With more than 70,000 patrons seeing it every year, Houston Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER is one of the most celebrated traditions of the holidays, and rightfully so! Being performed for over 35 years, the production is full of incredible orchestrations, wonderful imagery, and a magical story to boot. Do ...

Review: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Gets Reimagined at Classical Theatre Company
by Christian Gill - November 25, 2022

'That's a lot of laughs in there,' one kind audience member said to me during one of the intermissions. 'A lot of witticisms.' There's something special about seeing a piece of work from almost two hundred and fifty years ago manage to play to a modern audience....

Review: THEY DO NOT MOVE Enthralls Audiences at The Catastrophic Theatre
by Miranda Keating - November 23, 2022

The Catastrophic Theatre is now presenting the world premiere of THEY DO NOT MOVE by Brian Jucha with the Catastrophic ensemble. There is joy to be found in this show because it brings its audience in, has them constantly take stock of new situations, causes them to reflect on the state of the world...

Review: CRUEL INTENTIONS - THE 90S MUSICAL at The Garden Theatre
by Brett Cullum - November 19, 2022

It’s a rock musical featuring all of the naughty behavior of the original film and marries it to the “hits of the day” that were hot when it came out. Innuendos about “booty sex” merge with Backstreet Boys hits in a jukebox musical that revels in the absurdity of the original concept....

Review: Six the Musical Packs a Powerful Punch at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
by Armando Urdiales - November 11, 2022

The story goes that Toby Marlow and Lucy moss after meeting in their years at university, made a decision to write a musical about the six wives of Henry VIII. Their inspiration, a tiny poem that goes “Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived” has become the basis of a megahit musical ...

Review: 4th Wall Theatre Company Strikes a Spooky Chord in Lucas Hnath's THE THIN PLACE
by Armando Urdiales - November 02, 2022

Two chairs, a side table, and a lone actress on stage begins 4th Wall Theatre’s production of Lucas Hnath’s The Thin Place. These four elements are the creation of a spooky and eerie story of what lies between the mortal and ghostly worlds. Ultimately, 4th Wall’s The Thin Place features top-tier per...

Review: COYOTE ON A FENCE at Dirt Dogs Theatre
by Brett Cullum - October 31, 2022

This is a morally complex piece of theater, and luckily the cast is up to the challenge of bringing these people to life without judgment or any trace of hesitation. The language, the situations, the truths, are all difficult matters that have to be handled directly and confidently....

Review: THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS Energizes and Brings Its Audience to Its Feet!
by Miranda Keating - October 31, 2022

When I walked out of the theater after watching THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS, I had a big ol' smile on my face. I feel that all could enjoy this show since it has everything you could ever want in a production! It is truly special that this show, which has a future across the U.S. if not on Broadway som...

Review: KINKY BOOTS Struts Its Stuff and Dazzles Audiences at The Deluxe Theatre!
by Miranda Keating - October 25, 2022

If you are looking for a fun night out this weekend, KINKY BOOTS is the show for you! With catchy music created by Cyndi Lauper, flashy costumes, amazing dance moves, and a feel-good story, this musical is not one to miss. Through the show’s entertaining numbers, audience members are reminded that i...

Review: HADESTOWN Dazzles at Broadway at the Hobby Center
by Brett Cullum - October 05, 2022

What did our critic think of HADESTOWN at BROADWAY AT THE HOBBY CENTER? The HADESTOWN national tour finally arrives in Houston after a significant pandemic pause, and it appears the wait was worth holding our breath for. ...

Review: MISS MAUDE Gains Potential at AD Players
by Armando Urdiales - October 03, 2022

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 pl...

Review: Tensions Rise in Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress at Main Street Theater
by Armando Urdiales - October 03, 2022

Tension. Defined in the dictionary as mental or emotional strain. This simple seven letter word sums up the production of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress currently playing at Main Street Theater. Don't be confused though, this tension that discusses race, politics, and other contemporary issues i...