A NOTE FROM BOARD CHAIR JOHN TOBOLA
Growing up here in Houston, some of my fondest childhood memories are attending performances at TUTS with my family. Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver!, The King and I – those and many other shows left a mark on me, and I’ve carried that with me ever since. To now serve as Board Chair is not only an honor – it’s a full-circle moment I don’t take for granted. The productions are dazzling, sure, but what I value most is how this theatre brings people together and creates a shared experience that lasts a lifetime.
TUTS remains committed to enriching Houston through excellent musical theatre. The community is the driving force behind every one of our Broadway-quality productions and the cornerstone of the world-class training through TUTS Education.
And we understand the power of family in this mission. For many like me, TUTS performances are a cherished tradition – a favorite night out shared across generations. For our TUTS Education families, the classrooms are a home away from home, where parents, students and faculty build friendships and experience the arts together. These shared passions – for our city, for excellence, and for community – reaffirm my trust in TUTS time and again.
TUTS is standing strong here in Houston. We’re not just putting on shows – we’re growing local talent, creating new works, and giving the next generation a stage to dream on. As Houston’s non-profit home for musical theatre, TUTS continues to deliver on its promise to entertain audiences, cultivate new artists, and create lifelong memories. That’s only possible because of your support, and that’s worth celebrating.
With gratitude,
John Tobola Board Chair
On Cover: Tony®Award-Nominated Performer, Jeremy Jordan, singing “Once and For All” with TUTS Academy Company during TUTS Lights Up Gala at the Post Oak at Uptown Houston. Photo Credit: Priscilla Dickson.
CELEBRATING SNOW WITH MITCHELL GRECO
Dear friends,
As I settle into my new role as Associate Artistic Director here at Theatre Under the Stars, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a theatre more than just a stage and seats. For me, it’s the people – the artists who pour their hearts into the work, the audiences who gather to watch and listen, and supporters like you who make it all possible. Together, we create something far more meaningful than a building. We create a home.
This holiday season, I had the joy of directing Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and I can’t imagine a more fitting story to launch this new chapter. The show brought warmth, heart, and even a little “snow” to Houston – despite record highs on Christmas Day. I’ll always associate TUTS, in part, to the holidays: my first exposure to TUTS was as an actor in the 2007 holiday production of A Wonderful Life, and I’ve been hooked ever since. In another full-circle moment, it was during that production that I first met the legendary (and famously kind) Kevin Cooney - who graced the stage again in December as General Waverly in White Christmas. At its core, White Christmas is about finding family in unexpected places, about showing up for one another, and about the deep sense of belonging that comes when we gather to share music, joy, and magic.
Musical theatre has this remarkable way of bringing us together. It takes our stories – our hopes, our heartbreaks, our dreams – and lifts them into song. It reminds us of who we are and who we can be when we come together. And when the lights dim and the music swells, we’re reminded that home isn’t always a place – sometimes it’s a feeling we build, side by side, in spaces like this one.
I’m deeply grateful to you for helping build that feeling here. Your belief in Theatre Under the Stars, your support of Houston artists and stories, is the reason we can welcome audiences into a space where joy, connection, and wonder thrive in celebration of musical theatre.
I can’t wait to share the rest of our season with you...to fill the theatre with stories and laughter. Most of all, I can’t wait to welcome you home. And if White Christmas taught us anything, it’s that together we can make the miracle of snow appear — even in Houston.
With gratitude and excitement,
Mitchell Greco Associate Artistic Director Theatre Under the Stars
DONOR SPOTLIGHT:
PAT
DOLAN AND JOE GUIGNON
We’ve always loved musical theatre, and when our grandchildren were old enough, we started taking them to shows. At TUTS 2014 production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the girls dressed up as Ariel. When someone complimented their costumes, one of the six-year-olds proudly said, “Thank you, but we’re not actually in the show.” That little girl, Alana, grew up to be a true theatre kid.
Alana has taken many classes at TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. For the last two summers, she joined the intensive camps and performed in Pippin in 2024 and Matilda in 2025. It was thrilling for us to see her on a professional stage. This year, she was also part of the New Works program, where she learned how a show goes from words on a page to a full production. She hopes to work in theatre one day and is applying to colleges that offer degrees in the field.
It’s important for every community to have access to the arts, and TUTS makes that possible for Houston. That includes not only amazing productions but also learning opportunities for students. The River is a true source of pride for our city - though not everyone knows about it (they should!). By making accessible classes available to individuals with disabilities, TUTS welcomes all families to the arts, no matter their background.
All of this takes money, and ticket sales alone can’t cover everything TUTS does. We cannot all make huge contributions but we all can help. What’s most important is to give consistently, year after year - it sets a wonderful example for the next generation of supporters.
Pat & Joe with granddaughter, Alana.
TUTS PARTNERS WITH DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP TO BRING MUSICAL THEATRE TO HOUSTON SCHOOLS
Theatre Under The Stars is proud to announce a new partnership with Disney Theatrical Group to launch Disney Musicals in Schools, an initiative that helps local elementary schools build sustainable musical theatre programs - free of charge.
This spring, students from Roderick Paige Elementary (Houston ISD), James Ross Elementary (Clear Creek ISD), Cimarron Elementary (Galena Park ISD), and Savannah Lakes Elementary (Alvin ISD) will begin their journey into musical theatre – learning to sing, dance, and tell stories together for their communities.
The program’s goal is simple but powerful: to make musical theatre a vibrant part of every participating school’s culture. By providing educators with professional training, tools, and resources, Disney Musicals in Schools empowers teachers to produce student performances that strengthen confidence, creativity, and community.
Each participating school receives the license to a Disney KIDS musical of their choice, along with a ShowKit that includes scripts, director’s guides, and other production materials. TUTS teaching artists will work directly with teachers and students during the Spring, guiding them through every step of the process. After the first year, successful schools are invited to continue for an additional year of professional development. In the third year, schools stage their own productions - Disney or otherwise - using the knowledge and tools gained from the program.
Through this collaboration, TUTS and Disney Theatrical Group continue their shared mission: inspiring young people through the joy of musical theatre and ensuring that the magic of storytelling through song and dance remains accessible to all.
The Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share will be Monday, May 18 at 11:30 A.M. in Sarofim Hall of The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts. Contact education@tuts.org to RSVP for this event.
Adavion Wayne, TUTS Director of Education, with TUTS teaching artists and administrators and educators from Disney Musicals In Schools participating schools at Steinway Pianos Selection Center for the official launch event on January 15, 2026.
HOUSTON’S HOME FOR MUSICAL THEATRE’S MIGHTY TEAM
Cast meet-and-greets are a special moment on the first day of rehearsals for each TUTS self-produced show. Staff, creatives, stage managers, dressers, and musicians wave hello to old friends, meet new members of the community, and enjoy a delicious spread from Phoenicia before TUTS Executive Director Hillary Hart says her trademark, “Welcome Home.”
It takes hundreds of people months, sometimes years, to bring a musical to the TUTS stage. The actors sparkle, the music swells, and the tickets sell. Meanwhile, who negotiates with the unions, processes payroll, and keeps the laptops from crashing?
“What you see is only a portion of the small army that is TUTS,” Hillary says at the cast meet-and-greets. Last season alone, TUTS employed 563 local artists and crew members, plus 70 full- and part-time staff members and 95 performers and artists from beyond Houston. For each show, dozens of people contribute behind the scenes – for instance, 29 contracted workers helped create The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
TUTS also has 34 teaching artists inspiring and training the next generation of theatre-lovers and theatre-makers in The River and HSMT. One quarter of The River staff first met TUTS through The River Open Enrollment.
This remarkable local team of administrators, union representatives, craftspeople, creatives, artists and teachers ensures that TUTS remains truly theatre made for Houston and by Houston.
Accompanist, Rolethial Mckelvey with TUTS Academy
TUTS performers Sarah Sachi, Courtney Markowitz, and Mark Ivy.
TUTS Choreographer, Kristyn Pope, with cast of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at TUTS 2025 production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Will Burke, TUTS Artistic Associate, Hunter Foster, Director, Mitchell Greco, TUTS Associate Artistic Director, and Hillary Hart, TUTS Executive Director, at Opening Night for Million Dollar Quartet.
Technical Team for TUTS 2025 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
DONORS SPARK CONNECTION THIS FALL
In Fall 2025, TUTS supporters gathered for many lively events. On September 17, Social Hour Under The Stars brought together patrons and local performers to toast the magic of musical theatre.
On September 25, More Than Song & Dance featured a dynamic conversation between Spelling Bee director - and original Broadway choreographer - Dan Knechtges and Paul Hope at SheSpace – a TUTS sponsor. Our Tech Talk and Invited Dress Rehearsal of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas was on December 7 - with a special Inclusive Arts Society conversation with director, Mitchell Greco.
Finally, our Leading Lady volunteer group enjoyed a lively holiday party with Prosecco and pajamas on December 10.
MAHJ FOR MUSICALS: TILES FOR TUTS EVENT RAISES $40,000 FOR THE
TOMMY TUNE AWARDS
The festive Mahj for Musicals: Tiles for TUTS event at The Forest Club on Feb. 5 raised more than $40,000 in support the Tommy Tune Awards, TUTS’ signature education program celebrating excellence in high school musical theatre. Each year, the program brings together thousands of students from across the Houston area to celebrate the creativity, dedication, and talent found in school theatre programs.
This year, more than 6,000 students from 65 Houston-area schools are participating in the Tommy Tune Awards program, culminating in a dazzling ceremony on May 8 when more than 600 young performers will take the Hobby Center stage. For graduating seniors, the program also represents something even more meaningful — scholarship support that helps them take the next step toward professional training and artistic careers.
TUTS is grateful to the incredible Mahj for Musicals co-chairs Elaine Balagia, Meredith Philipp-Tcholakian, and Megan Hotze, as well as the many generous supporters whose participation made the event such a success. Their commitment helps ensure that the next generation of artists can pursue their dreams through education and opportunity.
Supporters are already looking ahead to the next gathering of this popular event. Mahj for Musicals will return on Thursday, Feb. 4 at The Forest Club.
Co-chair Meredith Philipp-Tcholakian, Executive Director Hillary Hart, and Co-chair Elaine Balagia at Mahj for Musicals 2026. Photo Credit: Natasha Gorel.
Guests enjoying Mahj for Musicals 2026. Photo Credit: Natasha Gorel.
TUTS 2025 LIGHTS UP GALA
On November 7, 2025, Theatre Under The Stars Lights Up Gala transported guests through time with an unforgettable celebration of musical theatre excellence and education. Inspired by Back to the Future: The Musical, the evening shimmered with electric energy as guests arrived in everything from sleek futuristic attire to teased 1980s hair and classic 1950s poodle skirts. Chaired by April and Wells McGee, the gala welcomed more than 400 of Houston’s most dedicated arts supporters, raising over $750,000 to fuel TUTS community and education programs. The night’s highlight came when Tony® and GRAMMY® Award nominee, Jeremy Jordan (The Great Gatsby, Newsies, Smash), captivated the audience with a dynamic performance, culminating in a powerful rendition of “Once and For All” alongside TUTS Academy and Performance Troupes. Guests capped off the evening by dancing the night away at the vibrant After-Party with tunes from DJ Druw.
TUTS Board Chairperson, John Tobola, and Dolores Cavatore with Tony®Award-Nominated Performer, Jeremy Jordan, at TUTS 2025 Lights Up Gala.
After Party with DJ Druw brought guests to the dance floor at TUTS 2025 Lights Up Gala. Photo Credits: Priscilla Dickson.
TUTS Artistic Director, Dan Knechtges, Executive Director, Hillary Hart, and TUTS 2025 Lights Up Gala Chairs, April and Wells McGee.
THANK YOU TO OUR LIGHTS UP SUPPORTERS!
$25,000+
Margaret Alkek Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Ames
Dolores Cavatore & John Tobola
Demetra & Franklin D.R. Jones, Jr./ Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Chau Nguyen and Jay Sears
Amy and Rob Pierce
$15,000-$24,999
Baker Botts
ConocoPhillips
Jack Dermer & Sara Perry
Freeport LNG
Reggie & KrisTina Hedgebeth
Jay Landa and Patrice Baumann
McKinney
Joh L. Nau, III
$10,000 - $14,999
The Burkett, Dalton, and Kellogg Families
Damon & Rebekka Chargois
Patricia & Sig Cornelius
Don & Deni Dennis
Ernst & Young
Fidelity Charitable
Mark & Jordan Gibennus
April & Nick Hiemstra
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
April & Wells McGee
Memorial Hermann
Anne E. Neeson
Suzanne Reyes & Robert Scheinerman
Aerin & Quentin Smith
Leticia & Steve Trauber
Vinson & Elkins LLP
$5,000-$9,999
Ginger & Nabil Arwadi
Elaine Balagia Croucher & Brant Croucher
Mary Daniel Gensler
David Gow
Paul & Shawnie McBride
Joan & Phil Morabito
Sara and Bret Oliver, PwC
Danielle Peters Gillespie
Mrs. Sarah Pope and Mr. Adam Cryer
Julie & Joel Schweers
Carolyn & Adam Smith
Aimee & Wynne Snoots
Jennifer and Mark Stringer
Marsha & David Taylor
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Mrs. Lynda Underwood
Other Gifts
Jeffrey Andrien
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Arribas
Ms. Jennifer Bauer-Conley
Mr. Charles Berg
Ms. Dawn Blitz
Ms. Jennifer Block
Mrs. Jenée Jongebloed Bobbora & Mr. Bill Bobbora
Brandon Bourque
Kristen J. Cannon
Lister Carbon
Breana Carrier
Zane and Brady Carruth
Jackie Cervantes
Roxann Chargois
Nancy Chavez
Mr. and Mrs. Preston Cody
Kim & Lewis Coleman
Jason Cunningham
Diana Starr Dalton Moreira and Pepe Moreiras
Joe and Kadisha Davidson
Michael Day
Mr. Jack Dermer
Ms. Caitlin Doonan
Amanda Dunn
Ms. and Pastor Sheri England
Mrs. Laura Escalona
Judith Farrell
Mr. and Mrs. Gianluca Forcella
Brian Gerwig
Jennifer Glass
Marris & Rob Goldberg
Ms. Cynthia Hansen
Susan Hawes
Emily & Aaron Hecraman
Sharon & Jim Hickey
Stephanie Hill-Franco
Ms. Kimberly Humlicek
William Irby
Gilliane Isabelle
Alison & Robert Jefferies
Mr. Paul Kilday
Paula & Philip Kochman
Christy Lee
Cheryl & Herb Listen
Shawn and Katie Little
Dr. Michael Zum Mallen and Dr. Lynn Frostman
Alice Mao
Alexandra & James Marshall
Jenna Marston
Becky & Bart McAndrews
Amy McClellen
Kathryn and Christian McMurray
Ms. Jordan McPhail
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mithoff
Lori and Russ Montgomery
Morgan Stanley Gift
Paul and Rita Morico
Mr. Fundi Mwamba
Dawn Neal
Nicole Norton
Patrick O’Malley
David Peck
Lauren Pera
Phillip & Lara Mason
Mr. and Mrs. Dirk Rasmussen
Tricia & Alan Ratliff
Ms. Stephanie Reed
Rebekah Reneau
Roberto Ruiperez-Vara
Salvador & Laura Escalona
Kristopher Sava
Laura and Travis Shearer
Michelle Shwarzman
Monica and Michael Sigmon
Jeff and Jessika Smith
Victoria Spurgeon
Michelle Stair
Deborah & Monte Stavis
Jeanna Stone
Karen Sumner
Ms. Joyce Terk
Stacey Thompson
Elaine & Jim Turner
Vicki & Adam Valentine
Stephanie Weber & Paul Muri
Wes & Heather Orton
Theo Whalen
Paul Williams
Ms. and Mr. Williams
John and Gina Williamson
Mr. & Mrs. Tedd J. Winter
Renaldo Works
Addison Wright
AUCTION AND IN-KIND SUPPORT
Amy’s Ice Creams
Asia Society Texas
Avenida Brazil Steakhouse
Axelrad
BB’s Tex-Orleans
Bernhardt Winery
Berg Hospitality Group
Camp Aspen
Cheesecake Factory
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
DACAMERA Society of Texas
Jazz & Chamber Music
David Peck
Dirt Dogs Theatre
Fairytale Photography Studio
Fleet Feet Houston
Four Seasons
Fourth Wall
Free Range Concepts
Frock Shop
George W. Bush Presidential Center
Geronimo Adventure Park
GLAMSQUAD
Gorjana
Christina Greene
Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen Guard and Grace
Hai Hospitality
Harris County Precinct 3 Park
Holocaust Museum Houston
Houston Auto Show
Houston Ballet
Houston Rockets
Houston Symphony
Houston Toy Museum
Houston Zoo
Jeremy Jordan
Kendra Scott
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Rebecca Lankford
Laura Mayer
Las Terrazas Resort
Margaritaville Resort
Lake Conroe
Memorial DanceSport Ballroom
Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Messina Hof
Michael’s Cookie Jar
milk+honey
Milton’s
Morgan’s Wonderland
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Nice Winery
Ninfa’s
Park Hill Fine Art Portraits
Pearl River Resort
Perry’s Restaurants
Pickleball Social TX
Amy and Rob Pierce
Rich’s Car Wash
Robin Jackson Photography
Rooftop Cinema Club
San Antonio Zoo
Sea Island
SeaWorld San Antonio
Sloomoo Institute
Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ
Steak 48
Steinway
Taft McWhorter
Taste of Texas
Texas Rangers
Texas Stars Foundation
The Alley Theatre
The Candle Bar at Forth and Nomad
The Garden Theatre
The Gents Place
The Leaning Pear
The Post Oak Hotel
The Museum of Broadway
Threshold Vineyards
Top Golf
Total Wine & More
Uplifted Concepts
Valobra
Vanguard Wine Bar
White Oak Music Hall
William Chris Wine Company
Windsor Court Hotel
Woodstock Inn & Resort
Ms. Leslie Kiefer Amann
Ms. Megan Annecharico
Anonymous
Laura Beard
Kellie Bell
Mr. Robert Betancourt
Mrs. Teresa C. Bright
Ms. Anne Bryant
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Cain
Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell
Ms. Jaclyn Cheslock
Mr. Steve Clark
David Clements
Ms. Rhonda Cobb
Janine Morris & Kerry Comeaux
Dr. MaryAlice L. Cowan
Ms. Elaine Danelutti
Mr. and Mrs. Wes. DeBord
Mary K. Dowling
Ms. Sueann Duarte
Ramsay M. Elder
Ms. Margaret Etheridge
Ms. Deborah Faubion
Mr. James Fieser
Mr. Sam Jamison
Alicia Flarity
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fordyce
Ms. Shelley Gann
Mr. Gregory Gehrt
Gertrude and Edward Swartz
Charitable Trust
Ms. Joyce Giley
Linda M. Gonzales
Betsy Gordon
Carolyn & David Gough
Dianne Gross
Paul D. Grossbard
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Hargrave
Ms. Kat Hastings
Amy Hazlewood
Peggy and Richard Heil
Hope Hernandez
Ms. Mary A. Hill
Ms. Janiece Horn
Catha and Kim Ivy
Ms. Ann Kivney
Dr. & Mrs. Dudley Koy
Marilyn & Bill Ladd
Ms. Linda Leggio
Ms. Linda Licarione
Mai & David Loan
Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. MacLean
Mr. James McCormick
Mr. Zachary R. McKenzie
Ms. Jennifer Morgan
Karol & Daniel Musher
Angela and Michael Narvaez
Brad Nyberg & Anne Loo
Allie O’Connor
Ms. Marty S. Olson
Ms. Kate Ostrow-Yadan
Mr. & Mrs. Donald N. Peterson
Ms. Cassandra Poulos
Julie & Tom Pradel
Mrs. Cathy Ransom
Ms. Kristi Reigle
Janice & Alan Rendl
Joshua Richter
Brian Roberts
Mr. Bryan Scrivner
Angela and Doug Seaworth
Ms. Barbara Sebek
Ms. Irene Sheytman
Cheryl & Keith Sobolik
Ms. Beth Speck
Beth and David Speck
Ms. Susana Stern
Karen Sumner
Mr. Richard Swartz
Mr. Marshall Titus
Laurie and Paul Tyler
Mr. Rondal Walker
Ms. Sharron Wall
Mr. Richard D. Walton
John & Wendy Welch
Ms. Barbara Woeste
Linda Yandell
Patricia Yarbrough
Syma Zerkow
SAVE THE DATE
UPCOMING DONOR BENEFIT EVENTS
Thursday, March 19
More Than Song & Dance (invitations available to Annual Fund members at the Sol level and above)
Saturday, May 16
Invited Dress Rehearsal and Tech Talk
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (invitations available to Annual Fund members at the Sol level and above)
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Friday, April 10 at Tony’s
Leading Ladies Luncheon
Honoring Helen Shaffer as the Shirley Stein Outstanding Champion in the Arts and Education, Chaired by June Deadrick
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
March 31 – April 5
Back To The Future: The Musical
April 15 – 26
Monty Python’s Spamalot
May 8
Tommy Tune Awards
May 19 – 31
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
