HOUSTON: The Catastrophic Theatre has announced its 2018-19 season, which will be the company’s 12th. It will include two world premieres, the next installment of the theatre’s series of classic avant-garde productions, and a partnership with Hyde Park Theatre in Austin and the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance.
The season will open with Curse of the Starving Class (Sept. 28-Oct. 21) by Sam Shepard, a tragicomedy about the struggles of a rural, working-class family. Jeff Miller will direct.
Next will be the world premiere of First Suburb (Nov. 16-Dec. 19) by Chana Porter, about five preteens in a suburban planned community in the ’90s. Kyle Surdivant will direct.
Following will be the Houston premiere of Bootycandy (Feb. 15-March 10, 2019) by Robert O’Hara, about the journeys of a young gay black man named Sutter. Vance Johnson will direct.
Next will be the world premiere of Toast (April 12-May 5) by Brian Jucha in collaboration with Catastrophic Theatre company members, based on Dante’s “Nine Circles of Hell.” Brian Jucha will direct.
The season will close with a new summer musical that will be announced at a later date.
Catastrophic will also present a special off-season addition, the Houston premiere of Wakey Wakey (Jan. 24-Feb. 3, 2019) by Will Eno, about a dying man named Guy. Originally created by Hyde Park Theatre, the staging will be a co-production with the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance and will play the university’s José Quintero Theatre. HPT’s artistic director, Ken Webster, will helm the production and play the part of Guy. Rebecca Robinson will co-star.
The Catastrophic Theatre was founded in 2007 and describes itself as Houston’s premier theatre company for new, innovative works.
