Top Performing Arts & Live Theater This Week: April 15 to 21, 2024

See the latest performing arts productions and theater happenings opening across Houston from Monday, April 15 to Sunday, April 21, 2024.

This week sees the timeless hits of Cher hit the stage for a Broadway spectacular, a cautionary tale about reefer at MATCH, chamber orchestras, ballet and more.

Looking for ways to keep the theater calendar straight? We have you covered with this weekly roundup series tracking openings at theaters and performing arts institutions across the city of Houston.

Here’s our list of must-see openings:

Top Performing Arts Openings This Week: April 15 to 21, 2024

• Prelude Music Foundation presents My First Orchestra Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Tuesday, April 16 & Wednesday, April 17 | FREE – Perfect for young children, this live performance helps little ones discover the joy of classical music. This interactive 45-minute concert features musicians from some of Houston’s leading performing arts organizations, including the Houston Symphony, Apollo Chamber Players and Mercury Chamber Orchestra. 11am.
• TUTS presents The Cher Show at Hobby Center | Tuesday, April 16 | Ongoing – Called “slyly fabulous” by the Hollywood Reporter, this show examines the life of the incomparable Cher, who’s dominated music, movies and more across her six-decade career. Bonus: every one of those iconic Bob Mackie outfits are recreated for the stage. This production runs through Sunday, April 28. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
• A.D. Players presents Driving Miss Daisy at the George Theater | Wednesday, April 17 | Ongoing – The story of Daisy Werthan and her chauffeur, Hoke is an examination of our interconnectedness as people. Daisy is reluctant to have Hoke drive her car because he is Black. But over the course of their 25-year relationship, they discover pathways to respect. This production runs through Sunday, May 12. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Houston Symphony presents Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles at Jones Hall | Thursday, April 18 & Friday, April 19 – Hear more than two dozen of the Beatles’ greatest hits, transcribed note-for-note and performed as originally recorded, with four musicians who look and sound just like the original Fab Four. Expect “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section, “Yesterday” with acoustic guitar and string quartet, and more. $55 and up. 7:30pm.
• Mercury presents Boleros: Songs from Latin America at Multiple Locations | Thursday, April 18 to Sunday, April 21 – Part of the ConocoPhillips Neighborhood Series, the ensemble heads to locations across Houston with a program that features singer Cecilia Duarte performing Latin American romantic songs from the 20th century. Stops include MATCH on Thursday, MFAH on Saturday, and Dosey Doe in the Woodlands on Sunday. $20 and up. Times vary.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Don Giovanni at Wortham Center | Friday, April 19 & Sunday, April 21 | Ongoing – Mozart’s epic story of an arrogant Spanish womanizer and his descent into hell comes to life on the Wortham Center stage, with charismatic Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, an international superstar, in the title role. This production runs through Friday, May 3. $25 and up. Friday 7:30pm; Sunday 2pm.

• The Garden Theatre presents Reefer Madness at MATCH | Friday, April 19 | Ongoing – With lyrics by Kevin Murphy and music by Dan Studney, this musical is based on the 1936 exploitation film, originally titled Tell Your Children. It follows the exploits of a high school drama group telling the story of Jimmy, a fine and upstanding All-American boy whose life fell apart because of the evil reefer. Expect satire and hilarity. And yes, of course, there are performances on 4/20. $28. Showtimes vary.
• Indo American Dance Association presents Satrangi re at Wortham Center | Saturday, April 20 – Experience the poetry of love in motion as Kathak dancers weave tales through the seven shades of affection set in enchanting candlelight. Deepa Devasena, artistic director and choreographer, performs with the Kathak Dance Collective. $33.75 and up. 7pm.
• Houston Contemporary Dance Company presents Electrostatic Attraction at Hobby Center | Saturday, April 20 – The mixed repertory performance features favorites from the company’s last four seasons, including Intersections and Let My Hair Down, along with a world premiere and new work. $21.50 and up. 7:30pm.
• DACAMERA and Shepherd School of Music presents Music for New Bodies at Brockman Hall for Opera | Saturday April 20 – This world premiere concert is a 360-degree portrait of the moment we are living in, a piece that brings together questions of environmental responsibility, scientific progress, and the ethics of humanity’s questionable quest to surpass the human. There’s a discussion with the creative team following the concert. $41 and up. 8pm.
• Performing Arts Houston presents World Ballet Series: Swan Lake at Wortham Center | Sunday, April 21 – One of ballet’s most beloved pieces, this production features exquisite dancing, hand-painted sets and richly designed costumes, making it a feast for the eyes. World Ballet Series is a unique project that attracts many international artists and is composed of renowned professional dancers representing more than 10 countries. $45 and up. 2pm and 6pm.
• ROCO presents Addio at Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Sunday, April 21 – Say goodbye to the old and in with the (relatively) new in this concert celebrating musical innovation via the string quartet, featuring genre-defining works like Lombardini Sirmen’s Quartet, Verdi’s sole chamber work, and Richard Danielpour’s Addio. Pay-what-you-wish; suggested $45. 6:30pm.

Final Performances This Week

Last curtains fall on The Taming of the Shrew at DeLuxe Theater on Saturday, April 20; plus Ruthless! The Musical bows out at Art Factory and Stagolee and the Funeral of a Dangerous Word closes at Main Street Theater, both on Sunday, April 21.

Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!