Top Performing Arts & Live Theater This Week: November 13 to 19, 2023

A performer in 'MJ' dancing, wearing a white hat and white jacket
The Broadway production of 'MJ' comes to Houston for one week at Hobby Center | Photo: Matthew Murphy; courtesy of Hobby Center

See the latest performing arts productions and theater happenings opening across Houston from Monday, November 13 to Sunday, November 19, 2023.

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.

Dig deeper for more ongoing performances happening on stages across Houston by checking out the 365 Houston Calendar.

Here’s our list of must-see openings:

Top Performing Arts Openings This Week: November 13 to 19, 2023

  • DaCamera presents JIJI & Danbi Um at Menil Collection | Monday, November 13 & Tuesday, November 14 – This genre-defying duo presents an eclectic concert of works by Albeníz, Amy Beach, Correlli, de Falla, Francisco Tárrega, Mauro Giuliani, Paganini and Astor Piazzolla. JIJI is an adventurous guitarist, known for her virtuosity and command of diverse repertoire. Violinist Danbi Um captivates audiences with her virtuosity, individual sound and interpretive sensitivity. $60. 7:30pm.
  • Chamber Music Houston presents Quatuor Modigliani with Roman Rabinovich at Stude Concert Hall | Tuesday, November 14 – The Parisian quartet, known for their lush playing and evocative interpretations, are joined by pianist Roman Rabinovich for a program that includes Beethoven’s Quartet No. 7 in F major op.59/1 and Stravinsky’s “Three Pieces for String Quartet.” $20 and up. 7:30pm.
  • Broadway Across America presents MJ at Hobby Center | Tuesday, November 14 to Sunday, November 19 – This multi-Tony Award–winning musical follows the creation of Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Featuring more than 25 of the iconic performer’s hits, including “Beat It,” “Bad,” “Man in the Mirror” and more, it traces Jackson’s career and explores what made him a legend. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
  • Dorian Band presents A Night of Persian Music at MATCH | Friday, Novemebr 17 – This Houston-based Iranian sextet presents a concert blending traditional Persian instruments like the taar and tonbak with piano, flute and violin. Fifteen evocative compositions are designed to showcase how boundaries fade and inclusivity is created. $30 and up. 7:30pm.
  • Symphonic Dances Festival: Valčuha Conducts Ravel’s “La Valse” at Jones Hall | Friday, November 17 to Sunday, November 19 – Audience favorite Jean-Yves Thibaudet applies his poetic touch to Ravel’s blues-tinged Piano Concerto in G in a concert that also includes Bartók’s “Dance Suite,” Ravel’s “La Valse” and the Houston premiere of the Houston’s Symphony’s co-commission of J. Wolfe’s “Pretty.” $30 and up. Times vary.
  • Catastrophic Theatre presents Turn of the Screw at MATCH | Friday, November 17 | Ongoing – This classic ghost story by Henry James about a governess in Victorian England gets a new environmental and multimedia production. Look for a haunting soundscape, toy theatre, puppetry, and for performers and guests to collaborate in creating a new take on one of the world’s most celebrated ghost stories. This production runs through Saturday, December 9. Pay-what-you-can. Showtimes vary.
  • Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley at Main Street Theater | Saturday, November 18 | Ongoing – The final chapter in the beloved Christmas at Pemberley series explores the friendship between Mr. Darcy’s younger sister Georgiana and the youngest Bennet sister Kitty. As the family gatherers at Pemberley for Christmas, the two young women eagerly await the arrival of Georgiana’s secret correspondent, Henry Grey. When he arrives to a chilly welcome from Mr. Darcy, Georgiana fears her chance for love is lost. This production runs through Sunday, December 17. $39 and up. Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 3pm.
  • A Motown Christmas at Ensemble Theatre | Saturday, November 18 | Ongoing – This family-friendly holiday revue blends traditional carols with that distinctive Motown sound, with hits made famous by the Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye and more. This production runs through Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24. $34 and up. Showtimes vary.
  • A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre | Saturday, November 18 | Ongoing – The beloved Charles Dickens holiday classic returns to the stage, telling the story of the miserly Scrooge and, with a series of visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, how he learns the true meaning of the holiday season. This production runs through Saturday, December 30. $29 and up. Showtimes vary.
  • Annie at the Grand 1894 Opera House | Sunday, November 19 – The beloved musical about the eternally optimistic orphan comes to Galveston. Set during the Great Depression, the musical follows the irrepressible Annie and grumpy billionaire Oliver Warbucks as the two learn something about hope and the meaning of family. $34.20 and up. 2pm and 7pm.

Final Performances This Week

Theatre Southwest brings Return Engagements to a close on Saturday, November 18.


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Holly Beretto
Holly Beretto writes about food and wine, the arts and interesting people for a variety of local and regional publications. In addition to 365 Things to Do in Houston, her work has appeared in the Arizona State University Alumni Magazine, Arts + Culture Texas, Bayou City Magazine, Downtown, Galveston Monthly and Houston Woman. She is also a regular contributor to Eater.com's Houston site. She earned her B.A. in mass communication with a minor in professional writing from Franklin Pierce College (now Franklin Pierce University) and her M.A. in communication studies with an emphasis in journalism from St. Louis University. She has worked in television news production, public relations and marketing in Rhode Island, Maine, New York and Texas. A native Rhode Islander, she has lived in Texas since 1997. She is the author of Christ as the Cornerstone: Fifty Years of Worship at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, published by Bright Sky Press.