This fall, indulge yourself with a trip to the theater. Lively dance numbers, vivid sets and first-rate acting always make it time well spent.
The School of Theatre and Dance has prepared a diverse season with an array of shows, performers and up-and-coming talent. Bridges, the first show of the season, recounts the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina based on oral histories collected from survivors stranded on an Interstate 10 overpass. Bridges will make its world premiere Oct. 3 and will finish its run Oct. 12.
Houston premieres also include Holes and Metamorphoses. The School of Theatre and Dance plans to unveil its program for young audiences with its production of Holes. The popular children’s book by Louis Sachar has been given a number of prestigious awards and a film was released in 2003. The show runs Oct. 13-24.
The Hobby Center, which hosts productions by Theatre Under the Stars and Broadway Across America, will open its season with Oprah Winfrey’s highly anticipated production of The Color Purple. In a search for self, Celie, the main character, survives a dogged life of physical, emotional and verbal abuse only to triumph in the end. The production will run Sept. 16-28.
Broadway Across America will follow with Frost/Nixon. Running late October through early November, Frost/Nixon examines a vulnerable President Nixon in a rare television moment years after Watergate. For more information about either show, visit www.hobbycenter.org or call (713) 315-2525.
For audiences interested in something a little edgier, visit The Alley Theatre, well known for its daring productions and commitment to quality. This season’s lineup includes throwback shows as well as contemporary productions.
Cyrano de Bergerac, A Heroic Comedy will enjoy a month long stint beginning Oct. 3 and ending Nov. 2. It tells the story of an aspiring poet who falls for a lovely maiden, but shies away from social encounters with her because of his oversized nose.
Secret Order deals in subject matter far removed from the beaten path. Grounded in science and scandal, this is definitely not a sappy love story with upbeat tunes and precision choreography. The production runs Oct. 29- Nov. 23.
The Santaland Diaries, another atypical production, will excite audiences in the same way cult classics like A Christmas Story and Bad Santa do. Adapted from one man’s real life encounters as Crumpet the Elf in a holiday display, the production promises to leave audiences in stitches. For ticket information visit www.alleytheatre.com or call (713) 220-5700.
The Society for the Performing Arts takes a universal approach to live entertainment this season. Compa’ntilde;ia Flamenco Jose Porcel, The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa and Fiesta Navidad Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano are all scheduled to perform. Their global fame has earned these performers center-stage spots.
The season will also include concerts by Laurie Anderson, Bossa Nova and Chava Alberstein. Scheduled Oct. 10, Anderson’s Homeland blends music and poetry to explore the current political climate. The show includes violinists, electric sound and Tuvan throat singers. Nova, who was first made famous in the U.S. with his hit "Girl from Ipanema," will return to the stage with a stellar line up of musicians Nov. 1.
Alberstien, a popular Israeli singer with 54 recordings to her credit, will grace the stage Nov. 20. The singer performs folk songs in Hebrew, Yiddish and English. For more information visit www.spahouston.org or call (713) 227-4SPA.
All of the theaters mentioned offer subscriptions and/or memberships. The perks typically include multiple shows of your choosing for a reasonable price, complete with an informative newsletter, so get your friends together and go see something.
