Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks - Houston!

I've been writing about Houston's extremely varied theater scene for a little over a year now. One thing I quickly learned is that there is never a dearth of quality productions to look forward to in this city. As summer is finally beginning to take hold of Houston, I can't help but anticipate the many happenings this season brings. In order of opening nights, I have listed the six productions I am most excited to experience.

MACBETH - The Stark Naked Theatre Company is making their first foray into the arena of Shakespearean theater with their presentation of MACBETH. They purposely chose to produce this creepy classic by the Bard because of its unflinching exploration into the psychology of ambition. Co-Founders of Stark Naked Theatre Company, Philip Lehl and Kim Tobin will play the Macbeths, with direction by Kevin Holden. Their take on the violent and gruesome MACBETH runs in intimate Studio 101 at the Spring Street Studios from June 6 - 22, 2013. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.starknakedtheatre.com or call (832) 866 - 6514.

PETER PAN - Summer is a great time to enjoy a theatrical outing with the family. Answering this call, Houston Ballet is presenting Trey McIntyre's PETER PAN at The Wortham Center's Brown Theater from June 13 - 23, 2013. The ballet is set to music by Edward Elgar, in an arrangement by Neil Deponte. Audiences are invited to join Wendy, John, and Michael Darling as they adventure with Peter Pan into Neverland. The swashbuckling ballet promises to entertain audiences with plentiful doses of magic, fairies, and swordfights. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.houstonballet.org or call (713) 227 - 2787.

THE HOLLOW - The Alley Theatre's Summer Chills production is a cherished staple in Houston. This summer Gregory Boyd is directing Agatha Christie's THE HOLLOW, which takes place at the family estate of Lady Lucy and Sir Henry Angkatell. Murder rocks the estate when the family's physician, John Cristow, is found dead by gunshot. Pretty much everyone in the play is a suspect, including his doltish, but loyal wife, his current mistress, and his ex-mistress, who lives on a neighboring estate. THE HOLLOW starts previews on July 5, 2013 and runs from July 7 - August 4, 2013 on the Alley Theatre's Hubbard Stage. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.alleytheatre.org or call (713) 220 - 5700.

MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: CAPS AND GOWNS - Rachael Logue as Cindy Lou, Chelsea Ryan McCurdy as Missy, Christina Stroup as Betty Jean, and Holland Vavra Peters as Suzy are returning as the Marvelous Wonderettes for the third installment in Roger Beans' frilly, jukebox musical series at Stages Repertory Theatre. These four women have previously charmed and dazzled Houston audiences in Roger Beans' MARVELOUS WONDERETTES and WINTER WONDERETTES, and I know the fans of those shows can't wait to see this group reunite onstage and shower audiences with pitch perfect harmonies on such classic tunes as "River Deep, Mountain High," "(What a) Wonderful World," "Dancin' in the Street," and "You Keep Me Hangin' On." MAREVLOUS WONDERETTES: CAPS AND GOWNS starts previews on July 10 and runs from July 12 - August 04, 2013 in Stages' Arena Theatre. For tickets and more information, please visit http://stagestheatre.com or call (713) 527 - 0123.

OLD AS HELL! - Another treasured tradition for summer in Houston is the world premiere of another uproarious musical revue by Tamarie Cooper. This year's offering is OLD AS HELL!, where the Theatre Police threaten to close Tamarie Cooper's production for being in violation of the Ingénue Code. This law decrees that all actresses over 40 are relegated to the character roles of nosy neighbor, crazy aunt, and dotty maid. The role of Tamarie is recast with a younger actress, and Tamarie Cooper endeavors to bond with today's youth in order to prove that she can play the role of herself. OLD AS HELL! Runs from July 12 - August 24, 2013 at The Catastrophic Theatre. For tickets and more information, please visit http://catastrophictheatre.com or call (713) 522 - 2723.

A CHORUS LINE - You know it's summer in Houston when Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) presents their annual free musical at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Herman Park. This summer the company is producing A CHORUS LINE, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. 17 dancers audition on a bare Broadway stage for the chance of a lifetime, a chance to dance in a Broadway production. The lauded and celebrated musical won 9 Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1976 and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances and is currently the 6th longest-running Broadway show ever. TUTS' presentation runs from July 16 -21, 2013 at the Miller Outdoor Theatre. Tickets in the covered reserved seating are available at the Miller Theatre Box Office between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm on the day of the performance. Any remaining tickets will be given out one hour before curtain. Additionally, For each $50 tax-deductible donation to TUTS, the organization will set aside two reserved tickets under the covered pavilion. For reserved tickets, contact Mary Beth Mosley at (713) 558 - 2651 or email her at MaryBeth@TUTS.com. For more information, please visit http://www.tuts.com.

Please do not let this list fool you. It is truly the most minuscule tip of the iceberg. I'd suggest that Houston audiences also consider checking into Broadway Across America's presentation of WICKED's 2nd National Tour at The Hobby Center for Performing Arts (http://houston.broadway.com/) and what other local companies like Bayou City Theatrics (http://www.bayoucitytheatrics.com/), Standing Room Only Productions (http://www.sro-productions.com/), Bayou City Concert Musicals (http://www.bayoucityconcertmusicals.org/), Bit of a Stretch Theatre Company (http://www.bitofastretch.org/), and others are producing this summer.