Epic Concert and Soloist for Houston Symphony at Pavilion
Houston Symphony Orchestra at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell PavilionPHOTO: Ted Washington Pavilion entrance sculpture by J. Hester honoring Pavilion founder, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Entrance...
View ArticleCrighton Strikes Gold with “ON GOLDEN POND”
Marilyn Moore as Ethel & Don Hampton as Norman in “On Golden Pond”PHOTO: Michael Pittman Images [ Editor’s Note: Click any photo to enlarge ] There was a special kind of warmth and intimacy coming...
View ArticleA Fond Good-Bye to BYE BYE BIRDIE at the Owen Theatre
[Click any photo to enlarge ] Cast of “Bye Bye Birdie”PHOTO: Brad Meyer As I put pen to paper for this review, I am reminded of that wise old expression: “Better late than never.” As a critic, I have...
View ArticleMCPAS Offers a Whirling Good Time from THE SPINNERS
Last Saturday it was Opening Night for the 37th season of the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society, and the five dazzling stars of the evening comprise the rhythm & blues singing group, THE...
View ArticlePIPPIN Charms Houston with Mystery and Magic
PIPPIN National TourPHOTO: Terry Shapiro Until the current BROADWAY at the Hobby Center offering, I had somehow never managed to actually see a production of the longtime hit musical, PIPPIN. I recall...
View ArticleCYT’S “PINOCCHIO” BRIGHTENS A RAINY WEEKEND IN TEXAS
The CYT Cast of MY SON PINOCCHIO Jr. It was arguably the most dismal, rainy and dreary weekend in recent Montgomery County memory, but on the stage of the Crighton Theater in Conroe, Texas, the angelic...
View ArticleCheerful ALICE is a Mixed Bag at Texas Rep
(l to r) Claudia Dyle, Crystal Rae, Rhianna Gallow, Maryann Williams, Katie Harrison, Amy Garner-Buchanan, Aggie B., and Regina McCormack in the Texas Repertory Theatre Co. production of A, MY NAME IS...
View ArticleHouston Symphony’s SINATRA CENTENNIAL a Spectacular Success
Tony DeSarePHOTO BY Vincent Soyez The Houston Symphony certainly started off this month of November with a sensational concert in Jones Hall. Titled, SINATRA’S CENTENNIAL, the program was a wonderful...
View ArticleTalent Overcomes Audio Problems in Class Act’s FIDDLER
The consistent excellence of musical performances from Class Act Productions are well known here in Montgomery County and The Woodlands, Texas. Over at the Nancy Bock Center for the Performing Arts...
View ArticleIntimacy and Steve Lippia Triumph in MCPAS Celebration of SINATRA
STEVE LIPPIACourtesy Photo I had a wonderful surprise last Saturday night at Conroe’s elegant Crighton Theatre. It had been just exactly one week since my reviewing a sensational Sinatra Centennial...
View ArticleA Talented “CINDERELLA” Anchors John Cooper Production
Natalie Holley as CINDERELLA and Jack Whitney as the PrinceCOURTESY PHOTO [ Click any photo to enlarge. ] As much as I enjoy my work reviewing professional performing arts productions of all kinds,...
View ArticleTHE PRODUCERS Explodes Across the Crighton Stage
[Click any photo to enlarge. All photos by Michael Pittman] By DAVID DOW BENTLEY III www.ThePeoplesCritic.com Old timers will remember early television’s Ed Sullivan and his long-running variety...
View ArticleA MERMAID of Pure Theatrical Joy
Jenny Gee as “The Little Mermaid”PHOTO: Leonard Bates [Click any photo to enlarge] It is always a pleasure when a fine pit orchestra sets the tone for a delightful musical even before the curtain...
View ArticleMagic Prevails in Houston Ballet’s SLEEPING BEAUTY
Sara Webb as Princess Aurora & Jared Matthews as Prince Florimund in Houston Ballet’s “The SLEEPING BEAUTY”Photo: Amitava Sarkar [Click any photo to enlarge] A glorious evening would begin on a...
View ArticleA “CABARET” Miracle for Houston
Randy Harrison as the Emcee and the 2016 National Touring cast of Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET.Photo by Joan Marcus. The Kit Kat Band All photos by Joan Marcus from the 2016 National Touring...
View ArticleFine Voices Highlight TUTS “OLIVER!”
The Cast of OLIVER! [All Photos by Christian Brown – Click any photo to enlarge] Christopher Wolff as Oliver There is a pivotal moment in the Charles Dickens classic tale, “Oliver Twist,” when the...
View Article“RUMORS” Leaves Farce Fans Laughing at Crighton
Cast of RUMORSBack (L-R) David Herman, Joey Hancock, Jonathan Rozas, Robert Faber, Allen Dorris, Stella LelandFront (L-R) Sherry Rozas, Melody Montez, Amy Sowers, Jen Watson [Photos by David...
View ArticleHouston “…roads take me home…” to the Music Box
PHOTO: Courtesy of Music box Theater(L-R) Brad Scarborough, Rebekah Dahl, Kristina Sullivan, Luke Wrobel Yes, John Denver’s old country classic, “Country Roads,” is still buzzing around in my brain...
View ArticleMerry Mayhem from a “GENTLEMAN” at the Hobby Center
(L-R) Kristen Beth Williams as Sibella, Kevin Massey as Monty and Adrienne Eller as Phoebe.PHOTO: Joan Marcus. [Click any photo to enlarge] My recent trip to Houston’s Hobby Center to view the current...
View ArticleMusic and Youthful Enthusiasm Take Flight on Crighton Stage
Victor Vasquez performing with the Lone Star College-Montgomery JAZZ ENSEMBLE at Crighton TheatrePHOTO: Brad Meyer On a pleasant Conroe Saturday night last weekend a parade of young area talent was...
View Article