Category: OUT at the Theater

By Randall Jobe

Disney’s Aladdin comes courtesy of Broadway at the Hobby Center, promising to have you discover “a whole new world.†The hit Broadway musical tells the story of Aladdin in a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, music, comedy, and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite. See why critics and audiences agree, Aladdin is “exactly what you wished for†(NBC-TV). Through July 14. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby Street. Tickets: Houston.Broadway.com or 713-315-2400.

Ensemble Theatre Houston presents Josephine Tonight, a regional premiere with book and lyrics by Sherman Yellen and music by Wally Harper. A musical biography of showbiz legend Josephine Baker, Josephine Tonight draws on the early life of the internationally known singer, actress, and nightclub sensation who wowed audiences in America and Europe in the first quarter of the 20th century, and reveals the relationship of the young Josephine and her laundress mother who steers her towards success and guides her to remember her roots. Through July 28. 3535 Main Street. Tickets: EnsembleHouston.com or 713-520-0055.

Main Street Theatre presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, celebrating the comic strip, Peanuts. The family musical celebrates the gang’s escapades with kites, school, and unrequited love. Through July 28.

Later this summer, Main Street Theatre presents Noel Coward’s Private Lives, one of the most sophisticated and entertaining comedies ever written. Elyot and Amanda, one married and now divorced, meet again while honeymooning with new spouses at the same hotel and discover the old flame still burns hotly. Within days of being reunited once again their fiery romance alternates between passionate fits of love and anger. Of course, the new spouses are none too pleased about all the chaos. July 20 through August 11. Main Street Theater, 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets: 713-524-3622.

The Music Box Theater presents Feelin’ Groovy 5, a new production of favorite tunes and greatest hits from the ’60’s and ’70s. Presented by the resident cast of excellent performers, this show features Rebekah Dahl, Brad Scarborough, Luke Wrobel, Kristina Sullivan, and Cay Taylor. Enjoy this cabaret-style show in a relaxed atmosphere with snacks and beverages. Through August 31. 2623 Colquitt. Tickets: TheMusicBoxTheater.com or 713-522-7722.

A.D. Players presents West Side Story, with book by Arthur Laurents, featuring the original Leonard Bernstein score, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and Jerome Robbins’ iconic choreography. “Say it loud and there’s music playing. Say it soft and it’s almost like praying.†There is no more recognizable love tragedy than Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story takes that tale and sets it in the upper west side of Manhattan in the mid 1950s. In the middle of two rival gangs from different sides of the tracks, we find Tony and Maria falling in love. June 28 through July 28. The George Theater, 5420 Westheimer Road. Tickets: ADPlayers.org or 713-526-2721.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents The Doyle and Debbie Show. After failed marriages and tabloid scandals, Doyle Mayfield recruits a new singing partner, also his third Debbie, in an attempt to regain his former stardom. But when Debbie’s star starts to rise, the comeback becomes a setback for this has been legend. Featuring original songs: “When You’re Screwing Other Women (Think of Me)â€, “Barefoot and Pregnantâ€, and “ABC’s of Loveâ€, this brilliant parody is a hysterical tribute to country music and its beloved iconic duos. July 12 through September 8. 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets: StagesTheatre.com or 713-527-0123.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents Seussical, a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Based on the children’s stories of Dr. Seuss, with most of the plot based on Horton Hears a Who!, the musical’s name is a portmanteau of “Seuss†and “musical.†Now one of the most performed musicals in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza and a Tony Award-winner. July 16 through 21. Free. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. Info: TUTS.com. The Alley Theatre moves full steam ahead this summer with the classic thriller, Murder on the Orient Express. This plot-twist masterpiece has captivated mystery lovers from television, radio, and film, and now audiences have the chance to experience this lush mystery live onstage. Playwright Ken Ludwig (The Three Musketeers) adapts the classic thriller that features renowned detective Hercule Poirot and a cast of characters sure to have the audience guessing just who did it. Don’t miss your chance at being at the scene of this masterpiece crime featured in ExxonMobil’s Summer Chills series. Suitable for ages 12 and up. July 19 through August 25. 615 Texas Avenue. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org or 713-558-8887.

By Randall Jobe

Final weekend! Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company presents The Hunchback of Seville by Charise Castro Smith. Set at the turn of the century, after Christopher Columbus’ return from the New World, the play is a re-telling of Spanish history and the evils of colonialism. As Queen Isabella is dying, her brilliant and disfigured adopted sister, Maxima Terrible Segunda, is called from her forced seclusion to run the country Maxima then works her way through politics, religion and prejudice to save her country without sacrificing herself in the process. Through April 6. Alley Theatre Neuhaus Theatre, 615 Texas Avenue. Tickets: Artful.ly/store/events/15510.

The Ensemble Theatre presents the regional premiere of Joyce Sylvester’s Freeda Peeples. The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; there is none righteous, not even one (Romans 3:32). Therefore, the church is the perfect place for spiritual growth. Freeda Peeples deals with the relationships among the deacon, trustees, and the new pastor, and how no one is who they really seem to be. This comedy/drama will have you rolling in the aisles. Through April 14. 3535 Main Street. Tickets: EnsembleTheatre.com or 713-520-0055.

Queensbury Theatre presents Side Show. Based on the true story of Violet and Daisy Hilton during the Depression, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. Told almost entirely in song, the show follows their progression from England to America, around the vaudeville circuit and to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 movie Freaks. With the implementation of the twin’s relationship with Harry Houdini and of a proposed separation surgery, the new book fleshes out characters and situations that endow the songs with more sophistication and truth. Through April 14. 12777 Queensbury Place. Tickets: QueensburyTheatre.org or 713-467-4497.

The Music Box Theater salutes Broadway in Best of Broadway. The talented resident cast promises to provide non-stop entertainment while performing songs from Tony award winning musicals from across the decades. This troupe’s music-filled and hilarious cabaret features such favorites as the classic “Luck Be A Lady Tonight†from Guys and Dolls, “Memories†from Cats, “Age of Aquarius†from Hair, “I Dreamed a Dream†from Les Miserables and many more. For the seventh year in a row, the talented singers and formidable band members have created a new show entirely dedicated to Broadway. Through April 20. 2623 Colquitt Avenue. Tickets: TheMusicBoxTheater.com or 713-522-7722.

The Trojan War Projectis the epic undertaking by Main Street Theater to present three productions: Shakespeare, Euripides and Homer’s unique perspectives of The Trojan War. For centuries, the triumphs and the struggles of Helen, Achilles, Hecuba, Ulysses, and the heroes and heroines of the Bronze Age have inspired, shocked and warned of the horrors of war and the consequences of destructive human behavior. Troilus and Cressida and Hecuba and The Trojan Woman play in repertory. This collaboration with Prague Shakespeare Company is co-directed by Guy Roberts and Rebecca Greene Udden with music composed by Patrick Neil Doyle. Through April 20. 2540 Times Boulevard. Tickets: MainStreetTheater.com or 713-524-6706.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents the smash hit musical that has devoured the hearts of theatregoers for over 30 years: Little Shop of Horrors. A nerdy flower shop clerk named Seymour stumbles across a new breed of plant that he affectionately names after his secret crush, Audrey. The exotic bloom offers the promise of fame and fortune, but Seymour soon discovers that the mysterious “Audrey II†also has a taste for blood, ominous origins and an insatiable appetite for power! Directed and choreographed by Mitchell Greco, with musical direction by Steven Jones. Through April 28. 3201 Allen Parkway. 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets: StagesTheatre.com or 713-527-0123.

A.D. Players celebrates founder Jeanette Cliff George with the Black Box Legacy Series. A prolific playwright, Mrs. George left a powerful legacy in the hundreds of scripts she wrote. This week allows the privilege of sharing some favorites. The George stage converts to a black box theater to honor special shows in this limited engagement. April 4 through 14. 5420 Westheimer Road. Tickets: ADPlayers.org or 713-526-2721.

The Alley Theatre presents Crimes of the Heart,Beth Henley’s 1981 Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Circle Awards winner. The author’s first play brings you to the Mississippi home of the Magrath sisters. Babe has just shot her husband because she didn’t like his looks. This brings middle sister Meg back to town from Los Angeles, where she is unsuccessfully pursuing a music career. And poor Lenny, everyone has forgotten her birthday! Warmhearted, irreverent and imaginative, Crimes of the Heart teems with humanity as the sisters forgive the past, face the present, and embrace the future. Renowned director Theresa Rebeck returns to the Alley to direct. Suitable for high school-aged audiences and up. April 12 through May 5.615 Texas Avenue. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org or 713-220-5700.

Theatre Under The Stars continues its 50^th anniversary season with Ragtimewithbook by Terrance McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Based on E.L. Doctorow’s powerful novel about immigrants and the fight for the American soul in the early 1920s, Ragtime is a deeply moving musical featuring a Tony Award-winning score and book set at a time when cultures are colliding on issues of race, gender identity, and politics. This ensemble piece takes a look at the past; in it, we see our present. April 16 through 28. Hobby Center, 801 Bagby Street. Tickets: TUTS.com or 713-558-8887.

By Randall Jobe

4^th Wall Theatre Company presents Gina Gionfriddo’s Pulitzer Prize-winning finalist Rapture, Blister, Burn which could not be more relevant today. After grad school Catherine and Gwen chose opposite paths. Catherine built a career as a rock star academic, while Gwen built a home with her husband and children. A number of years later, unfulfilled in polar opposite ways, each woman covets the other’s life, commencing a dangerous game of musical chairs — the prize being Gwen’s husband. With searing insight and trademark wit, this comedy is an unflinching look at gender politics in the wake of 20^th century ideals. “Intensely smart, immensely funny with sharp-witted dialogue about the particularities of women’s experience….†proclaims The New York Times. Through March 23. 1824 Spring Street, Studio 101. Tickets: Vendini.com.

The Alley Theatrepresents The Humans by Stephen Karam, directed by Brandon Weinbrenner. Hopeful, heartbreaking and at times “blisteringly funny†(The New York Times), The Humans takes place on Thanksgiving as three generations of the Blake family gather at the youngest daughter and her new boyfriend’s new apartment in Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown. As darkness falls outside and around the pre-war duplex, tensions rise and secrets are divulged. The hopes and fears of each generation, and the American middle class, are revealed in this Tony Award-winning Best Play.

Suitable for ages 18 and up. Through March 24.615 Texas Avenue. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org or 713-220-5700.

The Music Box Theater salutes Broadway in Best of Broadway. The talented resident cast promises to provide non-stop entertainment while performing songs from Tony award winning musicals from across the decades. This troupe’s music-filled and hilarious cabaret features such favorites as the classic “Luck Be A Lady Tonight†from Guys and Dolls, “Memories†from Cats, “Age of Aquarius†from Hair, “I Dreamed a Dream†from Les Miserables and many more. For the seventh year in a row, the talented singers and formidable band members have created a new show entirely dedicated to Broadway. Through April 20. 2623 Colquitt Avenue. Tickets: TheMusicBoxTheater.com or 713-522-7722.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents the smash hit musical that has devoured the hearts of theatregoers for over 30 years: Little Shop of Horrors. A nerdy flower shop clerk named Seymour stumbles across a new breed of plant that he affectionately names after his secret crush, Audrey. The exotic bloom offers the promise of fame and fortune, but Seymour soon discovers that the mysterious “Audrey II†also has a taste for blood, ominous origins and an insatiable appetite for power! Directed and choreographed by Mitchell Greco, with musical direction by Steven Jones. Through April 28. 3201 Allen Parkway. 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets: StagesTheatre.com or 713-527-0123.

The Ensemble Theatre presents the regional premiere of Joyce Sylvester’s Freeda Peeples. The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, there is none righteous not even one (Romans 3:32). Therefore, the church is the perfect place for spiritual growth. Freeda Peeples deals with the relationships between the deacon, trustees, and the new pastor and how no one is who they really seem to be. This comedy/drama will have you rolling in the aisles. March 16 through April 14.

3535 Main Street. Tickets: EnsembleTheatre.com or 713-520-0055.

The Trojan War Projectis the epic undertaking by Main Street Theater to present three productions: Shakespeare, Euripides and Homer’s unique perspectives of The Trojan War. For centuries, the triumphs and the struggles of Helen, Achilles, Hecuba, Ulysses, and the heroes and heroines of the Bronze Age have inspired, shocked and warned of the horrors of war and the consequences of destructive human behavior. Troilus and Cressida and Hecuba and The Trojan Woman play in repertory. This collaboration with Prague Shakespeare Company is co-directed by Guy Roberts and Rebecca Greene Udden with music composed by Patrick Neil Doyle. March 22 through April 20. 2540 Times Boulevard. Tickets: MainStreetTheater.com or 713-524-6706.

Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company presents The Hunchback of Sevilleby Charise Castro Smith.Set at the turn of the century, after Christopher Columbus’ return from the New World, the play is a re-telling of Spanish history and the evils of colonialism. As Queen Isabella is dying, her brilliant and disfigured adopted sister, Maxima Terrible Segunda, is called from her forced seclusion to run the country Maxima then works her way through politics, religion and prejudice to save her country without sacrificing herself in the process. March 28 through April 6. Alley Theatre Neuhaus Theatre, 615 Texas Avenue. Tickets: Artful.ly/store/events/15510.

Queensbury Theatre presents Side Show. Based on the true story of Violet and Daisy Hilton during the Depression, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. Told almost entirely in song, the show follows their progression from England to America, around the vaudeville circuit and to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 movie Freaks. With the implementation of the twin’s relationship with Harry Houdini and of a proposed separation surgery, the new book fleshes out characters and situations that endow the songs with more sophistication and truth.March 28 through April 14. 12777 Queensbury Place. Tickets: QueensburyTheatre.org or 713-467-4497.

A.D. Players celebrates founder Jeanette Cliff George with the Black Box Legacy Series.

A prolific playwright, Mrs. George left a powerful legacy in the hundreds of scripts she wrote. This week allows the privilege of sharing some favorites. The George stage converts to a black box theater to honor special shows in this limited engagement. April 4 through 14, 2019. 5420 Westheimer Road. Tickets: The George.org or 713-526-2721.

By Colby Etherton

Tuesdays with Morrie is a play that strikes us to the very core. It’s about dealing with loss, coping with death and learning what it means to truly live. It’s a stark reminder that the time that we have is short, so we should live and love boldly every single day. To live instead of merely exist. A.D. Players’ take, directed by Jennifer Dean, and delivered those messages beautifully — with charm and a biting wit. 

Originally written as a memoir by Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie chronicles Albom’s visits with his old college professor, Morrie Schwartz. Upon learning from a friend that Schwartz is dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Albom feels guilty that the two of them have fallen out of touch; it had been sixteen years since they’d last spoken. Albom goes to visit Schwartz, and their reunion leads to Albom visiting his old professor every Tuesday, commuting from Michigan to Massachusetts. The memoir was later adapted into a two-man stage play on November 19, 2002, opening Off Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre.

While other characters are acknowledged or implied to be in the same location as Morrie and Mitch, we never see or hear them (aside from a brief recording at the end of the production), and that’s quite apt, as what matters is the relationship between two old friends and how one person can make a monumental difference in someone’s life.

Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom are played by Kevin Cooney and Jake Speck, respectively, and the chemistry between the two is, simply put, endearing. Cooney in particular doesn’t miss a beat with his timing and creates a warm character that you can’t help but fall in love with. From Morrie’s dancing to his seemingly infinite wisdom (and a snark that he teases Mitch with through-out the show), he has likeability for days. Speck creates a character that is all too familiar; it’s as if Mitch is meant to be a mirror of ourselves, particularly in today’s fast-paced society. Mitch is perpetually stressed and without time for much, perhaps even creating excuses or barriers within himself when time is already there. As that rapidly sheds upon reuniting with Morrie, we’re inspired to follow his lead and cherish life and our loved ones for they (and we) won’t always be around.

Tuesdays with Morrie is an interesting play. We know how it’s going to end rather early on, so instead of us as the audience waiting for some type of climactic shift, the effect is one of introspection: we see the rekindling of Morrie and Mitch’s relationship and the limited time they have, and get to ask ourselves questions as we see the two of them reconnect. Are we at peace with ourselves? Have we lived our lives to the fullest? Morrie’s outlook is moving as is Mitch’s newfound perspective. The play strikes a fine balance between somber and charming, and simply put, A.D. Players puts on a strong production that accomplished what they set out to do: encouraging us to live and love fiercely. 

With simplistic staging by Kevin Rigdon, most often taking place in a living room, the focus is always where it needs to be — between Morrie and Mitch. Seeing them make memories and impact one another is a joy.

This is a great production, and certainly meets the quality of theatre we’ve come to expect from A.D. Players.

The A.D. Players’ production of Tuesdays with Morrie runs through February 10. Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $31 to $70. The A.D. Players is located at The George Theater on 5420 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056. Info: ADPlayers.org or 713-526-2721.

By Colby Etherton

You know you’ve experienced great art when twenty-four hours after viewing a play, you’re still thinking about it. It still resonates inside you. Ensemble Theatre’s production of Too Heavy for Your Pocket did just that; I can say with zero hesitation that it’s one of the best plays that I’ve seen in a long time. I struggle to think of a play that fired on all cylinders quite like this one did. 

Written by Jiréh Breon Holder, Too Heavy for Your Pocket takes place in the tumultuous 1960s at the height of the civil rights movement. Bowzie Brandon (Kendrick “KayB†Brown) has just received a scholarship to Fisk University, however, his future is thrown into question when he decides to join the Freedom Riders civil rights activists who rode interstate buses across the south.

While the Supreme Court had already ruled that segregated public buses were unconstitutional, that ruling nonetheless had failed to be implemented at the local level in the segregated south. Activists were often beaten, arrested, or terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan and often, law enforcement wouldn’t do anything to protect them. This creates a large source of the conflict in Holder’s play as Bowzie’s wife Evelyn (Lakeisha Randle) is vehemently opposed to him putting his education on hold to put his life on the line. 

Too Heavy for Your Pocket is an intimate production that relies on just four characters. Much of the play takes place in Sally-Mae (Yunina Barbour-Payne) and Tony’s (Kedrick Brown) home, and all four characters are remarkably fleshed out. Each has their own unique, complex relationship with each of the other three, and each of the cast members is remarkably talented. It’s a testament to the strength of their performances that together, they incite a range of laughs and heart wrenching moments with the audience. Each character struggles with something different within themselves and with each other, and it’s perhaps the multiple plates being juggled effectively that make this such an impressive show: So many things are going on at once within these characters and the setting’s the overarching historical significance. 

At the core of Too Heavy for Your Pocket is sacrifice, and Bowzie’s struggle between seeking justice and leaving those most dear to him was gripping to watch unfold. Ultimately, we witness how the fight for civil rights affects these characters on an individual level, and how it impacted their relationships with each other. 

With the amount that there is to unpack in this play, some things could get lost without strong direction at the helm. Eileen J Morris did a remarkable job in guiding the show; her direction showed and was prevalent throughout. I can’t stress enough how strongly I recommend seeing this play. If The Ensemble Theatre continues making art of the same caliber as Too Heavy for Your Pocket, they’re going to have one hell of a year. 

The Ensemble Theatre’s production of Too Heavy for Your Pocket runs through February 24. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, 3 p.m.

By Randall Jobe

Queensbury Theatre presents Breaking Out of Sunset Place. Billed as a geriatric “Thelma and Louise plus one†comedy, it is the story of two best friends, Maudie and Emmy who decide to take back their independence, commandeer a car and escape Sunset Place. But when Emmy’s dreaded roommate Olivia learns of their plans, they are forced to take her with them or she will tell. Each woman has her own reasons for the breakout. You’ll root for, laugh and cry with theses feisty ladies on their cross-country romp from Texas to Louisiana to Georgia, heading for Florida. There is something for everyone in this fall-off-your-chair funny and heartfelt story. Written by Texas playwright Patricia Barry Rumble. Through February 10. 12777 Queensbury Place. Tickets: QueensburyTheatre.org or 713-467-4497.

The Alley Theatre presents the world premier of The Carpenter, a new comedy of mistaken identities and family secrets. Dan is a self-made man from blue collar Houston, while his fiancé is from Dallas—Highland Park, to be exact. As they arrive at her father’s palatial mansion for her wedding, Dan starts to get cold feet. His college buddies are trying to get him drunk, his future father-in-law keeps shooting his rifle into the ceiling, and his sassy sister can’t put the pill bottle down. When the carpenter shows up to build the wedding gazebo, looking suspiciously like Dan, all hell breaks loose. Accidental partner swaps and so many laughs.Suitable for ages 18 and up. Through February 10.

The Alley Theatrealso presents the captivatingly titled Quack, by Eliza Clark. Developed during 2018 Alley All-New Festival, Irving Baer is America’s doctor. His daytime health and wellness show is watched by millions of women. When enterprising young blogger River Thumbolt publishes an article implicating Dr. Baer in a national health crisis, America begins to turn on him. But Dr. Baer adores being adored. With his career suddenly hanging in the balance, his marriage on the rocks, and his carefully maintained public personae in peril, one thing becomes clear: If Irving Baer is going to fall from grace, he’s bringing River Thumbolt with him. Quack is a play about what happens when good people forget their best intentions. Suitable for ages 18 and up. February 8 through March 19.615 Texas Avenue. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org or 713-220-5700.

Touting itself as an offbeat, absurdist comedy about safety, survival and guns in a world that’s up in arms, The Secretary is Main Street Theater’s first production of 2019. Ruby runs a small-town gun company that aims to protect women by helping them protect themselves. With products like The Bridesmaid, The Babysitter and The Mallwalker, each of the company’s guns is named after a woman who used a gun and saved a life — more often than not, her own. So when Shirley, the secretary at the local high school confronts a threat in her office with six bullets, Ruby responds by naming her latest gun after the reluctant hero: The Secretary. But as production begins, guns start going off all around town — and no one’s pulling the trigger. Written by Kyle John Schmidt and directed by Julia Traber. Through February 10. 2540 Times Boulevard.

Also from Main Street Theater and performing at the Midtown Arts Center for only three performances is Jackie and Me. Young Joey Stoshack has the special power to travel through time, so when he’s given an assignment to write a paper about a famous African-American, he chooses Jackie Robinson and heads back to 1947 to meet the man himself. Through his adventures. Joey experiences what it’s like to be African-American during a time of segregation and witnesses first-hand Jackie smashing the color barrier, even when people on his own team are against him. A powerful tale of bravery and integrity. Sundays, February 10 and 17, 2:30 p.m.3400 Main Street. Tickets:MainStreetTheater.com or 713-524-6706.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents The River Bride by Marisela Trevino Orta. Two sisters in a Brazilian fishing village struggle to find their own happily-ever-after while bound to family honor and tradition. Helena is in love with her sister’s betrothed; meanwhile, Belmira only wants to escape the Amazonian river life for an exciting adventure in the city. Days before the wedding, a mysterious stranger is pulled from the river, offering a tantalizing future that may change both their lives. Brazilian folklore and lyrical storytelling combine to weave a magical tale of love, fate and transformation. Through February 10.3201 Allen Parkway.Tickets: StagesTheatre.com or 713-527-0123.

A.D. Players presents Tuesdays with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom from the best-selling book of the same name. With little time on his hands, sports journalist Mitch Albom makes an obligatory visit to a college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is now dying from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The impromptu meeting changes everything. One lunch becomes weekly interviews in a race against the clock. Based on real life events. Through February 10. 5420 Westheimer Road. Tickets: ADPlayers.org or 713-526-2721.

Houston’s premiere music cabaret venue, The Music Box Theater, salutes Broadway in “Best of Broadwayâ€.  The talented resident cast promises to provide non-stop entertainment while performing songs from Tony award winning musicals from across the decades. This troupe’s music-filled and hilarious cabaret features such favorites as the classic “Luck Be A Lady Tonight†from Guys and Dolls, “Memories†from Cats, “Age of Aquarius†from Hair, “I Dreamed a Dream†from Les Miserables and many more. For the seventh year in a row, the talented singers and formidable band members have created a new show entirely dedicated to Broadway. February 16 through April 20. 2623 Colquitt Avenue. Tickets: TheMusicBoxTheater.com or 713-522-7722.

Theatre Under The Starscontinues its 50^th anniversary season with the ultimate feel-good show, the hit musical Mamma Mia! With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, book by Catherine Johnson and originally conceived by Judy Craymer, this fun-filled production features ABBA’S timeless songs propelling an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. The sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they visited 20 years ago. February 19 through March 3. 800 Bagby Street. Tickets: TUTS.com or 713-558-8887.