Kristina Nungaray - Page 2

While Thanksgiving is right around the corner, holiday festivities are commencing in full force. For many Houston theater goers, the highlight of the holiday season is the Alley Theatre's infamous production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS. Michael Wilson's imaginative stage adaptation of the Charles Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, is celebrating its 24th year and continues to be a spectacle that is hauntingly delightful and heartwarming. With family-friendly thrills, chills, and a hearty dose of laughter, this festive production remains a holiday favorite.

Bryan-Keyth Wilson first made a bleep on my radar this past theatre season when I attended my first show produced by Eklektix Theatre Company. He is continually proving to be a force in the Houston area that is turning heads and doing a lot of big things. To list a few of his credentials, he is a writer, artistic director and founder of Eklektix Theatre Company, and the founder of The Wilson School of Acting & Musical Theatre. Bryan-Keyth Wilson took time out of his busy schedule to fill me in on his writing career, and to let me know what we can expect to see from The Wilson School and Eklektix Theatre Company in the near future.

Stark Naked Theatre Company, notorious for producing new and relevant work in the Houston area, is kicking off their 2013-2014 season with a Houston regional premier of ALL GIRLS by up-and-coming playwright Anna Greenfield. Any grown woman can recall the uncertainties and trauma of girlhood. Gender aside, anyone can recall pivotal moments of their adolescence, such as being teased or longing to belong. ALL GIRLS is a hilarious and moving play that centers on three teenage girls as they struggle through adolescence and with all of the complexities of female friendships.

Earlier this summer, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) surprised us with the announcement of their newest endeavor TUTS Underground. With that announcement came the promise of 'No revivals - No dead authors - No boundaries,' and ultimately a cutting edge brand of theatre for Houston audiences. Kicking off TUTS Underground's inaugural season, the Houston premiere of LIZZIE, a musical about the axe wielding double-murderess Lizzie Borden, proves to be the perfect opener for a season of bold theatre.

This past summer, Theatre Under the Stars finally gave us the news that many had eagerly been anticipating. In July, TUTS announced their newest endeavor and introduced us to TUTS Underground, a brand of theatre that is edgy and features innovative and modern works. Utilizing the intimate Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS Underground is unleashing an electric 2013-2014 season that is sure to be a new theatre experience for Houston audiences. Opening the inaugural season for TUTS Underground is LIZZIE, a rock musical about the infamous murderess Lizzie Borden. I was really excited when Carrie Manolakos, singer-songwriter and actress, generously agreed to take time out of her busy schedule to let me know about her experience playing the axe-wielding Lizzie Borden, and a little bit about what Houston audiences can expect from this TUTS Underground show.

The Houston Ballet is notorious for providing audiences with top-notch productions and a supremely talented company. Launching into their 2013-2014 season, Houston Ballet opens with FOUR PREMIERES. Consisting of one American premiere and three world premieres, FOUR PREMIERES is a wonderful evening of dance, with works choreographed by Chrisopher Bruce, Melissa Hough, Garrett Smith, and James Kudelka.

Houston, it is a new theatre season and Theatre Under the Stars is kicking off theirs with the fabulously fun PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL. This heartwarming musical follows a trio of friends as they embark on a life-changing journey to the Australian outback, and it incorporates genuine themes of self-acceptance, belonging, community, camaraderie, and family. Comprised of popular hit songs from the 60's to the 90's, PRISCILLA is one glitzy party from beginning to end with a little something for everyone. Playing Tick/Mitzi, Wade McCollum took time out of his busy schedule to talk PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL and to let Houston audiences know what they can expect when the party comes to town.

On Saturday night, August 25, I had the pleasure of attending Cone Man Running Productions' annual twenty-four hour play festival, SPONTANEOUS SMATTERING. Although this was my first official Smattering, Saturday night was Cone Man Running Productions' third inception, and it was clear that they had gathered an avid fan base over the past two productions. A couple of laughs into the first short play, I could see why it has become such a popular event. This annual twenty-four hour play festival showcases the creative talent of local playwrights, directors, and actors and provides Houston audiences with a night of theatre that is anything but mainstream.

Bit of a Stretch Theatre Company is running in full gear, preparing for the opening of their annual summertime production. Notorious for excelling at demanding and lesser known pieces, Bit of a Stretch Theatre Company provides Houston audiences unique musical experiences and challenges them to redefine their stereotypical notions of 'musical theater.' This summer Bit of a Stretch is presenting audiences with another piece of work from composer and lyricist Adam Guettel, MYTHS & HYMNS. I recently sat down with Emma Martinsen, Wiley DeWeese, and Erin Cressy to discuss their upcoming production.

A CHORUS LINE, inspired by the real stories of several Broadway dancers, first opened on Broadway on July 25, 1975. It ran for an unprecedented 6,137 performances and held the distinction of being the longest running Broadway musical until it was surpassed by Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS. It is currently the sixth longest running Broadway musical. In addition to taking New York by storm, the musical won the celebrated Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976. The musical has truly left an indelible mark in the history of musical theatre. With Theatre Under the Stars free performances of A CHORUS LINE at The Miller Outdoor Theatre this summer, they are giving the Houston community an unparalleled and enjoyable gift.

The A.D. Players is closing their 2012-2013 MainStage season with a beautiful and heartwarming production of Joseph Robinette's adaptation of L. M. Montgomery's ANNE OF AVONLEA. This delightful sequel to Anne of Green Gables focuses on the next chapter of the beloved protagonist, Anne Shirley's, life. ANNE OF AVONLEA invites viewers into the little town of Avonlea, where we see the exceptional red-head embark on a new adventure as a school teacher. The play centers on Anne and her endearing and oftentimes humorous interactions with all of the people who call Avonlea home.

To say that Houston has an exceptional theatre scene is an understatement. One of my favorite aspects is that there is always something new to see. Last night I had the pleasure of attending Scriptwriters/Houston's 23rd Annual 10X10 Showcase, a production that highlights original plays by local playwrights. Scriptwriters/Houston's annual 10X10 production, in association with Next Stage Press, features ten new plays, each lasting ten minutes in length. A welcome addition to this year's production is the inclusion of eight original monologues. This year's sampling of original works paints an intimate portrait of humanity and ultimately creates a nuanced and unforgettable evening of entertainment.

It is summertime in Houston and the perfect time to get outdoors and explore with family members and friends. What's a better place to visit than the Houston Zoo? This summer, in the first-ever collaboration between the Houston Zoo and Theatre Under the Stars, Houstonians have one more reason to visit the zoo-AVENUE ZOO. It's a good time for the whole family!

It has been one of the most anticipated productions of the summer, and the demon barber of Fleet Street has finally arrived in Houston. Generations, A Theatre Company is known for its outstanding summer musical productions, and with every production they continue set the bar higher for the year to come. This summer, their production of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET fully exceeds all expectations and blows us away with dazzling and beautiful performances. From start to finish, audiences are taken on a wild ride of revenge, love, and betrayal.

As summer rolls through Houston, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is ready to kick the heat up a notch with their free summer production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical A CHORUS LINE. Sure to be "one singular sensation," the production tells the story of seventeen dancers vying to make their dreams come true by earning a coveted spot on the chorus line of a Broadway show. TUTS is notorious for producing high quality entertainment, and this production of A CHORUS LINE will be no exception. TUTS is pulling out all of the stops, featuring a supremely talented cast that will be choreographed and directed by A CHORUS LINE alumna Mitzi Hamilton, making it one of the most anticipated shows this summer. Serving as the inspiration for the character Val Clark, Mitzi Hamilton has been involved with A CHORUS LINE since its inception. She has served as an actress and dancer in both the Original London Company and the New York Company. As a choreographer and director, she has played a fundamental role in keeping the iconic production alive by passing it on to future generations. Recently she took time out of her busy schedule to talk to me about what Houston audiences can expect from TUTS' production of A CHORUS LINE.

It is definitely summertime in the city and the perfect time to head to the Houston Zoo, where there is always something new to see and experience. This summer is no exception! For the first time ever, two of Houston's most prominent nonprofit organizations, The Houston Zoo and Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) have pulled their talents and resources together to bring patrons the best of both worlds in their production of AVENUE ZOO. Taking place at the Houston Zoo and utilizing Houston's local talent, AVENUE ZOO is an opportunity for zoo-goers and musical theatre lovers to see some top quality singing, dancing, and puppetry while learning about some different animals. To give us a deeper look, Chance Sanford, Houston Zoo's VP of Education took time out of his busy schedule to talk about the partnership between the Zoo and TUTS and what audience members can expect from AVENUE ZOO.

The Houston Ballet is known for its elaborate and beautiful productions. Every ticket purchased guarantees a performance filled with masterful dancing, brilliant choreography, remarkable sets, and music. Houston Ballet's much anticipated production of PETER PAN is no exception and nothing short of fantastic. Although many of us are familiar with the tale and have possibly seen it on film or stage, Houston Ballet makes it their own with whimsical choreography by Trey McIntyre and a dance company that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with every move. Set to the magical score by Sir Edward Elgar, arranged by Niel DePonte, PETER PAN draws the audience into the journey of Peter Pan and the Darling children as it creates a visual adventure that is ideal for both the young and the young at heart.