Theatre Under the Stars launches 50th Anniversary Season with OKLAHOMA and Houston Ballet Artistic Collaboration

Theatre Under the Stars’ 50th Anniversary Season opens with timeless classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

Landmark production will be an artistic collaboration with Houston Ballet

The show will be presented September 11-23rd at the Hobby Center.

“This historic collaboration between TUTS and Houston Ballet harkens back to the beginnings of musical theatre itself – the collaboration of all art forms including dance. To honor our 50th Anniversary season, and the 75th Anniversary of Oklahoma!, perhaps the most important show in the musical theatre canon,” said Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director of Theatre Under the Stars.

When Oklahoma! premiered in 1943, it was the Broadway choreographic debut of Agnes DeMille who created rousing, funny, and beautiful dances including a show stopping dream ballet that lifted the show into new territory. TUTS’ production of Oklahoma! will be choreographed by Stanton Welch AM, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet.

“Mr. Welch is one of the world’s leading ballet choreographers and whose work I’ve longed to be able to promote. He will create new dances for this anniversary production which will give the show a modern sensibility. Houston Ballet is one of the top dance companies in the country and we wanted their dancers’ artistry and athleticism to be a part of this rousing show. Truly a celebration of the greatest talent within the Houston community and beyond!” said Knechtges.

In addition to Welch’s choreography, the production will be incorporating dancers from Houston Ballet with a cast of professional actors from Broadway, Houston, and across the country.

“Houston Ballet is thrilled to work with TUTS on this exciting production. The worlds of Broadway and ballet have long inspired one another, so to be able to collaborate right here in Houston is a treat for me as a choreographer and for our dancers,” said Welch.

Kevin Moriarty, Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center, will direct Oklahoma!. Broadway conductor, Kimberly Grigsby will be conducting Oklahoma!. Joining Welch and Moriarty on the production are Andrew Harper, as Sound Designer, and Karen Perry as Costume Designer.

This will be the first collaboration between Theatre Under The Stars and Houston Ballet since TUTS’ very first show at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 1968.  For tickets, go to https://my.tuts.com/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=12.

ABOUT TUTS 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

TUTS 50th Anniversary Season will celebrate Houston’s love for musical theatre and  has spent the past 50 years serving the Houston community from their first performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre to the more than 300 productions. These have been staged at Miller, The Music Hall, and now at the Hobby Center.

“Our 50th Anniversary Season is not only going to be a year-long salute to the best musical theatre in Houston and beyond, we will also be launching new works, community projects and expanding our reach into classrooms across the greater Houston region. We are so excited to share this celebratory Season with you!” said Knechtges.

Also included in this season are The Wiz, Mamma Mia, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Ragtime, and one show TBA.

NEW THIS YEAR:  During the 50th Anniversary Season, TUTS will also be expanding their accessibility program, No Boundaries, as part of their continued mission to make theatre accessible for everyone. The No Boundaries program provides Open Captioning and Audio Described performances for each production, as well as Touch Tours and specialized workshops. This season, for the first time, TUTS will be offering an American Sign Language Interpreted (ASLI) performance for each production throughout the Season.

For more information, go to www.tuts.com.