Houston performing arts roundup for September 14-20 features musicals, dance, and drama
This week's performing arts guide for Houston covers openings from September 14 to 20, including TUTS's 'The Music Man' at the Hobby Center and a cabaret on Cy Coleman's early work. Other events include a dance performance with community ties, an absurdist play at Catastrophic Theatre, and a song cycle about South Asian Houstonians. The roundup also notes a production at Mildred's Umbrella that closes this Saturday.
The week's lineup spans genres and venues, from TUTS' family-friendly "The Music Man" at the Hobby Center to Paul Hope's cabaret tracing Cy Coleman's early jazz-inflected Broadway hits. Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater pairs performances with a Houston Food Bank benefit, while Mighty Acorn Productions adapts the Oscar-winning Danish film "Babette's Feast," a story about generosity transforming a pious community.
The Rec Room opens its tenth anniversary season with "Amadeus," Peter Shaffer's Tony-winning drama of Salieri's jealousy toward Mozart. Stages presents "Come From Away," a musical about stranded passengers in Newfoundland. Mildred's Umbrella's "Collective Rage" closes Saturday, praised as funny, queer, and big-hearted. A song cycle highlights South Asian Houstonians' experiences, and Catastrophic Theatre offers an absurdist classic.
This diverse slate could strengthen Houston's cultural fabric by offering multiple entry points—from the familiar "Music Man" to community-benefit dance and productions spotlighting South Asian and queer perspectives. Such programming may foster broader representation and dialogue across audiences. The food bank benefit demonstrates how arts can serve social causes. However, ticket prices ranging from $20 to $47 may limit access for some residents, potentially reinforcing economic barriers to cultural participation.