The best plays, musical performances, and exhibits in Texas are enjoyed by record-breaking crowds, according to our cultural arts arbiter Leanne Raesener, who shares our favorite recommendations for what to enjoy this fall across the state.
AUSTIN
TANTALIZINGLY TAME
Shakespeare’s comedic tale of marital mismatch is given new life with breathtaking costumes and modern, dynamic choreography in Ballet Austin’s lighthearted and lovely recreation of The Taming of the Shrew. September 16 ̶ 18. At BalletAustin.org.
ON IMAGE: Courtesy of Ballet Austin
VIEWING A WRITER
The new exhibit at the University of Texas Harry Ransom Center, The Writers: Portraits by Laura Wilson, highlights photographic portraits of some of the most influential writers of our time including Louise Erdrich, Gabriel García Márquez, Zadie Smith, and Tom Stoppard. Inspiration from the exhibit is drawn from images in Wilson’s upcoming book where she immersed herself in the personal setting of each writer along with details that have inspired their literary triumphs. Through January 1, 2023. At HRC.UTexas.org.
ON IMAGE: Zadie Smith, New York, N.Y., Photographed November 2013 © Laura Wilson
A SONG IN YOUR HEART
Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 TONY® Awards, is a love story for the ages inviting audiences on a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that will linger long after you leave. September 24 ̶ 25. At TexasPerformingArts.org.
ON IMAGE: Kimberely Marable and company in Hadestown. Photo by T. Charles Erickson
DALLAS / FORT WORTH
THE BOY KING
Immersive King Tut: Magic Journey to the Light features the most famous of the Egyptian rulers, the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The show commemorates the 100th anniversary of archeologist Howard Carter’s discovery of the legendary “boy king’s” tomb. September 23 ̶ November 13. At Immersive-KingTut.com/Dallas.
ON IMAGE: Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Immersive
I SEE, I SPY
The special exhibition Murillo: From Heaven to Earth celebrates the genre paintings of one of the most celebrated painters of the Spanish Golden age: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). Known for his religious and secular themes, he also portrayed the ordinary people of his time. September 18–January 29, 2023. At KimbellArt.org.
ON IMAGE: Two Women at a Window, c. 1655/1666 by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Photo courtesy of The Kimbell Art Museum
THINK & R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Broadway diva Capathia Jenkins and the three-time GRAMMY® nominee Ryan Shaw light up the stage in Aretha: A Tribute with your favorite Aretha Franklin hits. Led by GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor John McLaughlin Williams, this high-energy, glittering tribute is not to be missed. October 14 ̶ 16. At DallasSymphony.org.
ON IMAGE: Courtesy of John Such Artists’ Management
HOUSTON
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG IMPRESSIONS
The new exhibition, Urban Impression: Experiencing the Global Contemporary Metropolis at Rice Universtiy’s Moody Arts Center, focuses on urban life’s overarching and shared aspects. Presenting international and Houston-based artists, the show highlights alternate modes of perception. September 16 ̶ December 17. At Moody.Rice.edu.
ON IMAGE: Back Door #2, 2003. Michael Wolf© 2022, Courtesy of the artist and Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York
LET’S MISBEHAVE
Theatre Under The Stars’ hot new production, the TONY® Award-winning musical fave, Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical, celebrates the music of Fats Waller and the Black artists of the Harlem Renaissance…one of the most innovative periods in American music. September 21–October 2. At AlleyTheatre.org.
ON IMAGE: Courtesy of the Alley Theatre
ITALIAN GLORY
Verdi’s opera La Traviata is one of the world’s most performed and beloved operas. When the glamorous courtesan Violetta falls in love with the young Alfredo, it’s as if nothing can tear them apart. But as tragedy unfolds, their true love is shaken to its core. October 21 ̶ November 6. At HoustonGrandOpera.org.
ON IMAGE: Pre-production image of La Traviata courtesy of Houston Grand Opera
SAN ANTONIO
FAMILIA ES TODO
American Mariachi, written by Latine writer, José Cruz González, is the first play or musical depicting Mexican American culture to premiere at The Public Theater since its founding in the early 1900s. Enjoy an evening of muy especial songs performed by San Antonio’s premiere Mariachis. September 9 ̶ October 2. At ThePublicSA.org.
ON IMAGE: American Mariachi by Jordan Fraker
A TIME TO REFLECT
The McNay exhibition, Reflecting Selves: Asian American Artists in Texas, presents five artists who challenge preconceived notions about Asian Americans. Particularly ones that ignore the challenges Asian Americans face in their adopted homeland. The artworks depict diverse Asian American experiences in the U.S. due to discrimination. Through October 9. At McNay.org.
ON IMAGE: Antonius-Tín Bui, Remodel Minority, 2019. Courtesy of the artist, McNay Art Museum
TEMPT YOUR IMAGINATION
Ain’t Too Proud–The Life and Times of The Temptations, nominated for 12 Tony® Awards and the winner of the 2019 Tony® Award for Best Choreography, tells the unforgettable story of this legendary quintet, tracing their extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. October 11 ̶ October 16. At MajesticEmpire.com.
ON IMAGE: Courtesy of the National Touring Company of Ain’t Too Proud. By Emilio Madrid.