Top 17 Theater & Arts Performances in Houston: November 2021

Performers take to the Acro Poles in "Alegría" | Photo: M-A Lemire; Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

Catch virtual and live performances all month long with our roundup of theater and performing arts productions happening online and in-person in November 2021.

Theater, opera and the performing arts are back in full swing this month, with so many of the city’s arts institutions back up and running with exciting productions that are not to be missed if you’ve been missing the stage.

Check out our highlights for the city’s performing arts events this month:

Top 17 Performing Arts Events in Houston: November 2021

  • 4th Wall Theatre presents A Doll’s House Part 2 at Studio 101 | Ends Saturday, November 6 – This Tony-nominated play continues where the classic A Doll’s House left off and audiences will find its commentary on gender roles, love and responsibility are just as sharp and insightful as in Ibsen’s groundbreaking original story. Tickets start at $17. Friday and Saturday 7:30pm.
  • The Revolutionists at MATCH | Ends Saturday, November 6 – What happens when a radical writer, an assassin, a vilified queen and a Haitian rebel get together, plot a murder and battle extremism during the French Revolution? Something pretty much like this girl-power play from Dirt Dogs Theatre Company that showcases women claiming their place and working to change the world. Tickets are $25. Friday and Saturday 8pm.
  • Houston Grand Opera presents Carmen at Wortham Center | Ends Sunday, November 7 – One of the most enduring operas of all time, Bizet’s Carmen is the story of obsessive love and a jealousy that will ultimately destroy it. Tickets start at $20. Friday and Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 2pm.
  • 72 Miles to Go at Alley Theatre | Ends Sunday, November 14 – A family drama that explores the real-life implications of immigration policy, this affecting play follows one family across a decade as they contend with what happens when a mother is deported, leaving her husband and children on the other side of the border, only 72 miles away. Tickets start at $55. Times vary.
  • TUTS presents Sister Act at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts | Ends Sunday, November 14 – Get ready for a wild, comedic romp with a lot a heart as a disco diva named Delores Van Cartier finds herself in protective custody in a convent after she witnesses a murder. Completely at odds with the nuns’ restrictive lifestyle, Delores stirs up trouble, reinventing the convent and the community, only to put it all in peril. Tickets start at $40. Times vary.
  • Stages presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Gordy | Ends Sunday, November 14 – This heartwarming musical explores the lives and competitive instincts of an eclectic bunch of middle schoolers, all hoping to take home a championship trophy. As much about words as belonging, it’s a show that will have you cheering these characters on. Tickets start at $25. Times vary.
  • The Woman in the Mirror at MATCH | Ends Sunday, November 14 – Radio Hall of Famer Dayna Steele stars in this play, based on her book Surviving Alzheimer’s With Friends, Facebook and a Really Big Glass of Wine, which chronicles her mothers descent into the disease. Laced with wit and honesty, its central message is that we are not alone. Tickets are $35. Times vary.
  • 13th Annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival at Multiple Venues | Thursday, November 11 to Sunday, November 21 | Virtual Option – The annual film festival will showcase 40+ documentary and narrative films, short film blocks, Q&As, dance performances, DJ sets, and workshops around the 2021 theme “The Third Coast”. In-person events are offered from Thursday, November 11 through Wednesday, November 17, 2021, but virtual streaming is available through Monday, November 22, 2021. Times, prices and locations vary.
  • Mildred’s Umbrella presents El Huracán at the DeLuxe Theater | Thursday, November 11 to Sunday, November 21 – This story of four generations of Cuban women begins in the calm before a storm. Featuring an all-Latinx cast and crew, the play is an examination of family, rebuilding and hope. The regional premiere kicks off Mildred’s Umbrella’s 20th anniversary season. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Wednesday to Saturday 8pm; Sunday 2:30pm.
  • Society for the Performing Arts presents Houston Artist Commissioning Project at Jones Hall | Friday, November 12 & Saturday, November 13 – Featuring the work of Houston artists, this is a must-see for anyone who wants a glimpse at hometown talent doing great things. The evening includes South Asian ensemble Riyaaz Qawwali, choreographer and storyteller Harrison Guy, and accomplished playwright and Poet Laureate Emeritus, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton. Tickets are $25. 7:30pm.
  • ROCO presents A Stitch in Time at the Church of St. John the Divine | Saturday, November 13 | Virtual Option – The evening features the Texas premiere of acclaimed composer Mark Adamo’s Last Year, with each movement showcasing a different season. The concert also features Jonathan Peters’ Arthropod Suite, which features images from the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major and Henry Purrington’s Threshold. Tickets are pay-what-you-will, with a suggested price of $35. This concert will also be livestreamed. 5pm.
  • Opera in the Heights presents Il Trovatore at Lambert Hall | Saturday, November 13 to Sunday, November 21 – A towering Verdi masterpiece, this enduring opera is a story of love, dark secrets and an obsession for vengeance. Tickets start at $74.50. Times vary.
  • Cirque du Soleil presents Allegría at Sam Houston Race Park | Saturday, November 13 to Sunday, December 12 – The dazzling acrobatics and imaginative storytelling that are hallmarks of Cirque du Soleil are on display in full force in this classic performance, completely reimagined for a new generation. Follow Fleur as he leads you through an evening of wonder, encountering Old Bird, fairies, nymphs and more. Tickets start at $50, with VIP and Family Packages available. Times vary.
  • Broadway Across America presents Tootsie at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts | Tuesday, November 16 to Sunday, November 21 – Based on the movie comedy, this musical follows a struggling actor who masquerades as a woman to land a part. It leads to stardom, which throws his whole life upside down. The Hollywood Reporter called it “the most uproarious show in years.” Tickets start at $35. Times vary.
  • Catastrophic Theatre presents 4.48 Psychosis at MATCH | Friday, November 19 to Sunday, December 12 – Poet and performance artist T. Lavois Thiebaud heads this show that explores identity, depression, dysphoria and the body/soul dilemma. A play that invites multiple interpretations, this is exactly what audiences have come to expect from Catastrophic. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with suggested price of $35. Times vary.
  • Apollo Chamber Players present Piazzolla Centennial at MATCH | Saturday, November 20 – In their second live concert of the season, the quartet will welcome Latin Grammy-winning tango composer and bandoneon performer Hector del Curto to the Bayou City for a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla. In honor of his 80th birthday, Apollo will also showcase the world premiere of a new commission by award-winning composer Adolphus Hailstork. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door; $10 for students with valid ID. 7:30pm.
  • Houston Symphony presents Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty | Friday, November 26 to Sunday, November 28 | Virtual Option – Guest conductor Fabien Gabel leads the orchestra as it performs this beloved fairy tale. Violinist Simone Lamsma will perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Tickets start at $34; livestream tickets are $20 for the Saturday performance. Friday and Saturday 8pm; Sunday 2:30pm.

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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.