Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks - Houston!

The Houston Theatre District is varied and diverse, and it seems like there is always something worth making the trip into the city to enjoy. In order of opening nights, I have listed what I feel will be the five best theatrical experiences happening in Houston this summer.

Next to Normal – This celebrated and lauded rock musical gets its regional premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre from May 16, 2012 to June 24, 2012. Through an inspiring and hopeful story, the show tackles what it means to be normal while examining how mental illness affects the individual and family. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.stagestheatre.com/ or call (713) 527 – 0123.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – The musical sensation inspired by the notorious “Chicken Ranch” returns home to Houston, TX for a limited engagement at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts’ Sarofim Hall from June 5, 2012 to June 17, 2012. This delightful musical tells the story of Miss Mona, her racy girls, and a local sheriff’s attempts to keep a local, century-old brothel open after a television reporter (based on Houston’s own Marvin Zindler) decides to call attention to and make an issue about the illegal activities that happen there. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.tuts.com/ or call (713) 315 – 2525. 

Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee – This chilling mystery is sure to help Houston fight off the heat of summer, running from July 7, 2012 to August 5, 2012 at the Alley Theatre’s Hubbard Stage. The show is Agatha Christie’s first play and tells the story of Hercule Poirot (one of her fan’s favorite detectives) as he solves the murder of Sir Claude Amory, an inventor working on a novel weapons formula. As always with their annual Summer Chills series, The Alley promises to deliver “colorful, suspicious characters” and “a plot with fiendishly clever twists.” For tickets and information, please visit http://www.alleytheatre.org/ or call (713) 220 – 5700.

The Lion King – This stunning and all together impressive Broadway blockbuster and spectacle will play at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts’ Sarofim Hall from July 10, 2012 to August 12, 2012. Using costuming and choreography inspired by African tribal traditions, the musical tells the story of Simba, a young prince, who must learn who he really is before he can avenge his father’s death. For tickets and information, please visit http://houston.broadway.com/ or call (713) 315 – 2525. PLEASE NOTE: The Theatre Development Fund has teamed up with The Hobby Center to present an Autism-Friendly performance on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 2:00pm. For more information about the Autism-Friendly performance or to purchase tickets to this performance, please visit the box office in person or call them at (713) 315 – 2525. Phone orders for more than six tickets should call (713) 315 – 2580.