See the latest performing arts productions and theater happenings opening across Houston from Monday, May 13 to Sunday, May 19, 2024.
Music from a galaxy far, far away and back-to-back nights of a Houston Grand Opera classic highlight performing arts happenings this week.
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: May 13 to 19, 2024
- ECHOrchestra presents Peter & the Wolf at St. John Vianny Catholic Church | Thursday, May 16 – Prokofiev’s orchestrations bring to life this musical fable, told with narration by Outspoken Bean. The concert also includes Carmen Suite No. 1, La Vida Breve and others. $25. 7:30pm.
- Kinetic Dance Ensemble presents At Play at MATCH | Thursday, May 16 – Kinetic Ensemble closes its season by exploring the role of “play” within the ensemble. This program explores the interplay between music and dance, culminating in a celebration of optimism and togetherness. $30. 7:30pm.
- On the Verge Theatre presents Love, Loss & What I Wore at the Alta Arts | Thursday, May 16 | Ongoing – By turn hilarious and poignant, this comedy by Nora and Delia Ephron, based on the book by Ilene Beckerman explores the importance of clothing in women’s lives. This production runs through Sunday, June 9. $20 and up. Showtimes vary.
- Houston Grand Opera presents Madame Butterfly at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, May 17 & Saturday, May 18 | FREE – HGO adapts its stunning production of the classic Puccini opera for the Hermann Hill stage. Hear the story of Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese woman called Butterfly who enters an arranged marriage with the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton, and the heartbreaking tragedy that ensues. 8pm.
- Houston Symphony presents The Music of Star Wars at Jones Hall | Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 – Conductor Steven Reineke leads the orchestra in a concert of favorites from the Star Wars universe. Audiences will be transported to a galaxy far, far away with pieces from all nine films, including selections like “Rey’s Theme,” “The Imperial March” and more, presented in chronological order. $54.88 and up. Times vary.
- Operativo presents Gypsy at MATCH | Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 – The company closes its 2023-24 season with this classic musical that tells the story of Mama Rose and her two daughters, as she tries to steer them into living the dream she never could. $25. Showtimes vary.
- Treble Choir of Houston Spring Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church | Saturday, May 18 | FREE – Come hear the award-winning choir sing selections from its 2023-24 repertoire. This is an excellent opportunity to see some of Houston’s finest young singers. 2pm.
- Mercury presents Brahms Fourth at Wortham Center | Saturday, May 18 – The orchestra performs one of classical music’s greatest masterpieces, with all its stirring passion. The program begins with Schumann’s Symphony No. 1. $25 and up. 8pm.
- Uptown Dance Company presents An African Adventure at Hobby Center | Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19 – Students from the age of three to pre-professional showcase their talent in this extraordinary celebration of Africa in all its majesty. From playful penguins in Cape Town all the way to a tribal village, rhythmic beats and local dance styles rule the stage. $21.50 and up. Saturday at 7pm; Sunday at noon and 4pm.
- Taking Steps at Main Street Theater | Saturday, May 18 | Ongoing – In this British farce, a solicitor has bitten off more than he can chew, overseeing the sale of a crumbling, possibly haunted house that used to be a brothel. Two couples, the solicitor and a realtor get caught up in chaos in this Alan Aykbourn play. This production runs through Sunday, June 16. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
- The Play That Goes Wrong at Baytown Little Theater | Sunday, May 19 – Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter. Set in the 1920s, the whodunit is a play-within-a-play where a group of college thespians battle against all odds to get from the show’s opening to the curtain call. $20. 2:30pm.
Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!
Subscribe to our free Weekend Guide newsletter and receive a round-up of great things to do every weekend in Houston, hitting your inbox on Thursday.
Don’t want to miss anything? Opt in for our Daily Updates to discover new things happening in Houston and receive special updates and offers, every weekday.
