Romancing in Houston

As we approach February… ’tis the month of love and romance, and if you are looking for romantic outing ideas, do consider Theater Under the Stars (TUTS). Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is now Houston’s acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company. Since its founding by Frank M. Young, the organization has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres.

My absolute recent favorite was the grandeur of one of literature’s greatest love stories CAMELOT, a theatrical masterpiece, a tale set in a land where honor and chivalry reign. The love story CAMELOT follows the love triangle of King Arthur, his Queen Guenevere and the young Lancelot. The show opens with King Arthur nervously preparing to meet his new Queen, Guenevere.

With excellent stage direction and love songs the show managed a successful run from January 22 and will be going on till February 3, 2013. Despite the length, Camelot was very well received by audiences and as a result it went on to play 873 performances on Broadway. The musical also won Tony Awards for best actor, conductor and musical director, scenic designer and costume designer. The production also won The Outer Critics Circle Award for Set Design.

The actors dialogue delivery was excellent with indulgent romantic love poems and spurts of humor. A scrumptious tale delivered in the most intense emotional manner, yet simple in many ways. The story opens pre-dawn on a battlefield in France where King Arthur is sitting outside awaiting a battle against his best and trusted knight pondering the events that led to this moment and wonders what went wrong. The scene immediately transports to Camelot eight years earlier. The rest is left mystery for my readers.

A highly recommended musical for a date night. What better way to kick start the love month of February or wrap up January as the show ends on Feb 3, 2013. For tickets and other programs and information on TUTS you can visit tuts.com.

Photos by Bruce Bennett