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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

The Garden Theatre

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

By Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield

Three people, one dead playwright, and 37 plays, all in just 90 minutes. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) takes you on a wild romp through all of Shakespeare's classics including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Taming of The Shrew, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Prior knowledge of Shakespeare's work is not required, but someone close by to call 911 in the event you pass out from laughing is. 

Warning! This show is a high-speed roller-coaster type condensation of all of Shakespeare’s plays, and is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders, outer-ear disorders, Shakespearean scholars, degrees in Elizabethan history and/or people inclined to motion sickness. The Garden Theatre cannot be held responsible for expectant mothers!Read more

The Turn of the Screw

The Catastrophic Theatre

The Turn of the Screw

WORLD PREMIERE: Conceived and directed by Afsaneh Aayani & Adam Thompson; Adapted by Bradley Michalakis

The Turn of the Screw is a new environmental and multimedia theatrical adaptation of the celebrated Gothic ghost story of the same name by Henry James. In Victorian England, a young governess journeys to the isolated country estate of Bly to caretake two orphaned children. In time, she begins to witness mysterious apparitions of human figures on the estate grounds and startling and troubling changes in the behaviors of her young charges.

The Turn of the Screw combines environmental staging, toy theatre, puppetry, live cinema, and a haunting soundscape into a meditation on the tipping point between the innocence of imagination and a nefarious refutation of reality.

Conceived and co-directed by Catastrophic core artist Afsaneh Aayani and New York City-based creative director and multimedia designer Adam J. Thompson, with book by dramatist and dramaturg Bradley Michalakis, this new The Turn of the Screw is an invitation to pull up a pub seat and share a drink as performers and guests collaborate to manifest one of the world's most celebrated and hotly contested ghost stories.

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Vincent

Kevo

Vincent

his life, death, and art

Vincent is a powerful and moving play about the life of one of the most famous artists of all time. Starring world-renowned artist Kevo, this production brings Van Gogh's story to life in a way that is both intimate and epic. With a diverse cast of artistic inclusion, Vincent is a must-see for anyone who has ever been inspired by Van Gogh's art! World premier: Houston, Tx Christmas Eve.Read more

Ann

The Garden Theatre

Ann

By Holland Taylor; Starring Nora Hahn

Ann is a no-holds-barred portrait of Ann Richards, the legendary governor of Texas. This inspiring and hilarious play brings us face to face with a complex, colorful and captivating character bigger than the state from which she hailed. Written by Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor, Ann takes a revealing look at the impassioned woman who enriched the lives of her followers, friends and family.

After playing throughout Texas to sold-out audiences, Ann went on to win critical acclaim in Chicago, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and on Broadway at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater. The Garden Theatre is honored to bring this new production to Houston starring Nora Hahn. Ms. Hahn has been seen on stages across Houston such as The Garden Theatre, Stageworks, Theatre Southwest, and Country Playhouse. Most recently, Ms. Hahn was seen onstage as the first female governor of Texas, Ma Ferguson, in The Garden Theatre's production of Bonnie & Clyde, and received critical acclaim in the role of Clairee Belcher in The Garden Theatre's production of Steel Magnolias.Read more

It is Magic

The Catastrophic Theatre

It is Magic

by Mickle Maher; directed by Jeff Miller

Deb and Sandy are auditioning Tim for the role of the Wolf in a production of The Three Little Pigs, but there’s a mysterious haze in the basement of the Mortier Civic Playhouse and that, in addition to interruptions from the director of ‘the Scottish play’ that’s having its opening night upstairs, is making things difficult. Then, the mysterious Liz shows up throwing the room into utter chaos, revealing the deep, ancient evil at the heart of the community theater audition process.

It Is Magic is the latest play by Mickle Maher, writer of such Catastrophic favorites as There Is a Happiness That Morning Is, The Hunchback Variations, Song About Himself, the world premiere of Small Ball, co-produced by former Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey, and others.

Directed by core artist Jeff Miller, whose past directing credits include Catastrophic hits Buried Child, Curse of the Starving Class, Baby Screams Miracle, and The Book of Grace.Read more

The Pillowman

Dirt Dogs Theatre Co.

The Pillowman

Written by Martin McDonagh, Directed by Malinda L. Beckham

In a dark and dingy interrogation room in an unnamed totalitarian state, Katurian is questioned when the gruesome content of his short stories begins to resemble a series of bizarre murders occurring in his town. When the police also take his mentally impaired brother into custody, Katurian must decide how best to protect himself, his brother, and his stories. With echoes of Stoppard, Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm, this dark and provocative tale explores the very nature of nurture. Read more

The Outsider

In the midst of a political scandal, Ned Newley is unexpectedly thrust into the position of Governor. A complete unknown, with no political instincts, Ned seems destined to fail. But his political consultants see things a little differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office—unless that is exactly what the public is looking for! At once a razor-sharp satire and an inspirational tribute to democracy, The Outsider is a timely and hilarious send-up of modern American politics.Read more

Cleansed

The Catastrophic Theatre

Cleansed

by Sarah Kane, Directed by Jason Nodler & T Lavois Thiebaud

In a former university, society’s ‘undesirables’ are imprisoned and subjected to a series of tortures designed to test the limits of human love on the battlefield of the human body. Graham has died. His sister Grace arrives to collect his remains. Little does but there are his clothes. There is cruelty and violence. There is also love. And there is grace. 

In her brief, boundary breaking career Sarah Kane’s work prompted the term “a theatre of extremes,” yet Cleansed comes soaked through with hope. Explosively aching, hauntingly poetic, and disarmingly tender, Kane delivers a fever-dream fable of unimaginable brutality and miraculous beauty.

Given our country’s immediate threat to the bodies and lives of those of us who look, live, or love beyond the confines of conservative ‘norms,’ 26 years after it was written, Cleansed feels nightmarishly prescient. More than a play, in 2024’s America, Cleansed feels like a cause. 

 

The regional premiere of Cleansed is co-directed by core artist T Lavois Thiebaud and founding artistic director Jason Nodler with production design by core artists Afsaneh Aayani and James Templeton, reuniting the creative team behind Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis which The Houston Press called “an imaginary bulldozer of a production.”Read more

TBA

The Garden Theatre

TBA

Directed by Chris Patton

We have to wait just a little longer to tell you the official title of this SMOKING musical. But what we can tell you is that this is a HIGH energy show, and it's no coincidence that we are performing on 4/20. Our spring musical will mark the return to Houston theatre for local favorite director Chris Patton, who recently returned from a stint in LA!Read more

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