Theater District Houston hosts Houston Strong: A Theater District Benefit Honoring Local Heroes on Weds., Sept. 27

Free event at Miller Outdoor Theatre includes performances by the Theater District’s resident companies

Evening honors local heroes and benefits the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund

photo by Todd Rosenberg

Theater District Houston presents Houston Strong: A Theater District Benefit Honoring Local Heroes on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, beginning at 8 p.m. at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

photo by Amitava Sarkar

The evening will include free performances by seven of the Theater District’s resident companies: Alley Theatre, Da Camera of Houston, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Society for the Performing Arts and Theatre Under The Stars.

The benefit will be emceed by Emmy Award-winning television personalities Deborah Duncan, host of KHOU 11’s “Great Day Houston,” and Khambrel Marshall, KPRC Local 2 meteorologist and host of “Houston Newsmakers.”

“Not a single theater in Houston’s Theater District was untouched by Harvey’s floodwaters,” said Kathryn McNiel, CEO of Theater District Houston. “In the face of this adversity, the resident companies are coming together to celebrate the resilience of the city and its performing arts scene, and to honor community heroes that emerged in the storm.”

The benefit’s wide-ranging program includes:

  • “La Patenera” from Torroba’s La Marchenera, featuring soloist Ana María Martínez (Houston Grand Opera)
  • George Balanchine’s Symphony in C (Houston Ballet)
  • “Brindisi” from Verdi’s La traviata (Houston Grand Opera)
  • Schumann’s Piano Quintet in Eflat Major, performed by Sarah Rothenberg, piano with the Harlem Quartet (Da Camera)
  • Stanton Welch’s Powder (Houston Ballet)
  • “Hero,” featuring Vonzell Solomon with students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (Theatre Under The Stars)
  • Copland’s A Lincoln Portrait, featuring Josie de Guzman (Houston Symphony)
  • Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man (Houston Symphony with the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera)
  • Takedame, I Wanna Be Ready and Wade in the Water, performed by Ailey II (Society for the Performing Arts)
  • “Hold On” from The Secret Garden, featuring Charlotte Maltby and students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (Theatre Under the Stars)
  • Monologue from August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, featuring Michelle Elaine (Alley Theatre)
  • Jazz with Jason Moran (Da Camera)
  • Selection from Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons (Houston Symphony)
  • “Make Our Garden Grow” from Bernstein’s Candide (Houston Grand Opera)

Donations to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund will be accepted on-site during the event, online at www.ghcf.org or by texting HARVEY2017 to 91999. Contributions are tax-deductible and will go toward relief for victims affected by the recent floods.

Featured Photo credit: Kennon Evett