Houston Ballet Brings PECOS BILL for Fall Season Opener in September 2026
This Mixed Repertory Set to Deliver Frontier Spirit and Texan Charm to Houston Ballet on September 11 – 20, 2026
Pecos Bill, a mixed repertory program running from September 11 through 20 at the Wortham Theater Center, is set to open the Houston Ballet 2026-2027 season. The can’t-miss performance brings together three works that observe American identity from different angles, including one that hits especially close to home for Houston audiences.
Anchoring the evening is Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM’s Pecos Bill, a vibrant theatrical revival inspired by the tall tale of the legendary cowboy and his ill-fated romance with Sluefoot Sue.
Playful, larger-than-life, and unmistakably Texan, the piece was chosen as a celebratory work for America’s 250th anniversary. Houston Ballet’s production leans into that homegrown charm, capturing the spirit of the frontier as familiar tunes like “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and “Happy Trails to You” are woven into a poignant original score by Matthew Pierce.
“There’s something fitting about celebrating America’s 250th with a story that’s as much ours as it is the country’s,” said Welch. “We last performed this piece 16 years ago, and this felt like a natural time to reprise the story. Pecos Bill gives us a chance to have fun while still saying something real about who we are.”
The program also includes the Houston Ballet debut of Lar Lubovitch’s Meadow. Lubovitch is known for choreography that bridges modern dance and ballet with a high degree of musicality. His work in Meadow has been described as both lush and lyrical.
Rounding out the production is George Balanchine’s Symphonie Concertante, also a first for the company. The neoclassical work pairs Mozart’s stately score with Balanchine’s classical precision.
Performance Details: Pecos Bill, September 11 – 20, 2026 Mixed Repertory Program Schedule
7:00 p.m. on September 11
7:30 p.m. on September 12 & 18
1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on September 19
2:00 p.m. on September 13 and 20, 2026
Tickets available here.
Photos courtesy of the Houston Ballet