Assassins
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by John Weidman
October 11-27, 2024
At MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston)
Directed by Logan Vaden
Music Directed by Brandon Tanner
Choreographed by Courtney Chilton
A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins combines Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a panoramic story of our nation's culture of celebrity and the violent means some will use to obtain it, embodied by America's four successful and five would-be presidential assassins. Bold, original, disturbing and alarmingly funny, Assassins is perhaps the most controversial musical ever written.
Assassins lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States, in a one-act historical musical that explores the dark side of the American experience. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, writers, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, bend the rules of time and space, taking us on a nightmarish roller coaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.
Who's Holiday
By Matthew Lombardo
December 13-22, 2024
At MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston)
Starring Chaney Moore
Directed by Sloane Teagle
You saw her last when she was just two
Celebrate the holidays with Cindy Lou Who.
Pull up a seat and fill up your cup
‘Cause your favorite little Who is all grown up.
Who's Holiday! Is a wildly funny and heartfelt adults-only comedy that tells the story of Cindy Lou Who, now all grown up and residing in a beaten-down trailer in the snowy hills of Mount Crumpit, as she recalls (in between bong rips) that Christmas Eve she first met the Grinch and the twisted turn of events her life has now taken.
Starring in this hilarious one-woman show is Houston favorite, Chaney Moore. Chaney returns to The Garden Theatre stage after appearing in White Rabbit Red Rabbit. She has appeared on stages across Houston including Main Street Theater, Stages, The Catastrophic Theatre, and The Ensemble Theatre. Chaney is also a company member of Strangebird Immersive and has numerous film, TV, and voice over credits to her name.
Doubt, A Parable
By John Patrick Shanley
March 21-30, 2025
At MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston)
Set against the backdrop of a 1960s America in the midst of political and social change, Doubt is the story of when a progressive young priest’s conduct comes under question by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the school principal whose beliefs are deeply rooted in tradition. As the actions and motivations of each are scrutinized and suspicion mounts, the two are drawn into a battle of wills that threatens irrevocable consequences for all involved.
The Garden Theatre is honored to have Ann star, Nora Hahn, return to the stage as Sister Aloysius in this production. Ms. Hahn appeared in her star-making role of Governor Ann Richards in the one-woman show, Ann, produced by The Garden Theatre in February of 2024. Ms. Hahn also appeared on The Garden Theatre stage as Clairee in Steel Magnolias and Gov. Ferguson/Cumie Barrow in Bonnie & Clyde, and has appeared on stages across Houston such as Stageworks, Theatre Southwest, and The Country Playhouse.
While Childhood Slept
Book and Lyrics by Sharon Lands Sheppard
Music and Additional Lyrics by Jo Ellen Hubert
August 15-17, 2025
At MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston)
Directed by Logan Vaden
While Childhood Slept is a heart-wrenching original musical that follows the true story of the boys of Home Number One in the Nazi concentration camp, Terezin. The children create a secret republic within the camp, publishing their own magazine of art, poetry, and short stories called Vedem. A visit from The Red Cross presents the opportunity to disguise their magazine as a secret message and a means of escape. While Childhood Slept is a story of bravery, determination, and hope with a promise that we will never forget the past and will never allow history to repeat itself.
While Childhood Slept returns after The Garden Theatre's workshop production in 2022, which was produced in partnership with Holocaust Museum Houston, who will return once again as a partner for this production. While Childhood Slept premiered in 1999 in Houston, TX. From there it received an off-Broadway reading, and its finale number, We Will Not Forget, was featured in the documentary Paperclips. In 2005, a revised version with new songs was performed once again in Houston. The Garden Theatre's production in 2022 was the first time the piece had been performed since 2005.