2023 Season Catalogue

Rec Room Arts Jan-Dec

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Play Catalogue

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You make beauty and it disappears, I love that.

Caryl Churchill

2023 Season

A Number Wolf Play Heroes of the Fourth Turning Peter Pan

But stories need conflict, and fighters are sexy and boy, do wolves know how to fight.

Hansol Jung

Contents A Number 10 Wolf Play 12 Heroes of the Fourth Turning 14 Peter Pan 16 Dates 20 Subscribe 21 Forum Nights 22 Supper Club 24 Writers Group 26 Ticket Prices 28 Package Options 29 Accessible Theatre 30 General Info 32 Partners 33

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A Number

by Caryl Churchill

FEBRUARY 2 - 25, 2023 DIRECTOR James Black WITH Shawn Hamilton Philip Kershaw PRODUCTION DESIGN Stefan Azizi SOUND DESIGN Robert Meek

Every parent makes mistakes. But what if you could fix them? Redo the moment? Would you? A psychological thriller that blends scientific speculation with a stunning portrait of the relationship between fathers and sons.

Caryl Churchill’s A Number is a powerful, unpredictable and devastating play that delves into the morality of genetic experiments, the essence of paternal love and the debate of nature versus nurture.

Over multiple meetings Salter reconnects with his sons, grappling over the lies and truths of their shared and uncanny past.

Keywords: Science; Psychology; Fathers and Sons; Parenting; Family; Identity; Thriller

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A Number reveals layers of a complex mystery about individuality and whether it’s really possible to atone for the sins of the past.

How much of a role does your genetic makeup play in defining who you are?

What is a bigger influence: nature or nurture?

Is there any circumstance in which human cloning might be acceptable?

“No matter how hard I shouted there was no one there.”

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Wolf Play

by Hansol Jung

APRIL 6 - 29, 2023 DIRECTOR Lily Wolff PRODUCTION DESIGN Stefan Azizi SOUND DESIGN Robert Meek

Robin wants a kid. But she’s not doing it the old-fashioned way. She’s found him online.

And now he’s here. In this theatre. And her wife is not on-board. The impacts of Robin’s decision ripple through her newly-formed family creating consequences animal in nature.

Caught in the middle, the child launches himself on a lone wolf’s journey to find a pack he can call his own.

In this wildly theatrical tale about the families we choose and unchoose, Hansol Jung’s Wolf Play hunts for familial connection in the wilds of 21st century America.

Keywords: Parenting; Family; Adoption; Identity; LGBTQ+; Sports

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Wolf Play is a messy, funny, disturbing theatrical experience grappling with a wolf, a puppet, and the very prickly problem of “What is a family, and what do we need from families today? Is it very different from what humans have needed from families before?”

“What if I said I am not what you think you see?”

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Heroes of the Fourth Turning

by Will Arbery

OCTOBER 5 - 28, 2023 DIRECTOR Sophia Watt PRODUCTION DESIGN Stefan Azizi SOUND DESIGN Robert Meek

On the edge of the wilderness, four friends gather at a backyard party to honor their mentor and the newly inaugurated president of a conservative Catholic university. It has been years since they last met and as the celebration runs deep into the night, their reunion spirals into spiritual chaos and a vicious fight to be understood.

Will Arbery’s haunting play offers grace and disarming clarity, speaking to the heart of a country at war with itself, and a generation facing the demons of the modern American experience.

Keywords: Christianity; Conservatism; Friendship; Politics; Education

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Finalist: 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Drama Winner! 2020 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play Winner! 2020 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play Winner! 2020 Whiting Award for Drama

“Everything is going to be okay and I love you all I love you, I love you, I love you, I really do.”

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Peter Pan adapted from J.M. Barrie

DECEMBER 7 - 30, 2023 DIRECTOR Matt Hune

You will not live forever. At 12 years old what do you do with this knowledge?

PRODUCTION DESIGN Stefan Azizi

A festival of disobedience, magic, and makebelieve pulled from J.M. Barrie’s original story about a strange boy who comes through the window of an ordinary family and takes the children on an adventure. Set in a London Victorian flat in 1980, before the loss of imaginative play at the onset of the internet.

An enchanted production about bedtime and storytime, of defiance and humility, of prudent girls, lost boys, pirates, ticking crocs, going home, mothers, fathers, dogs, dreams, and the infamously horrendous grown-up Captain Hook.

SOUND DESIGN Robert Meek

Keywords: Imagination; Magic; Family; Lost Boys; Pirates; London; Holiday Production

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A nearly impossible piece to stage at Rec Room, which is why the creative team has jumped at the chance to dream up an inventive and wild adaptation of the beloved classic.

Parents, bring your children. Children, bring your parents. Grandparents, bring everyone!

“To live will be an awfully big adventure.”

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HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING

PETER PAN

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Additional matinee performances may be added at a later date.

Key:

Preview

Opening Night

Wed Fiver

DECEMBER 2023

Regular

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Subscribe Become a Subscriber Today and Save Big By becoming a Rec Room 2023 subscriber you’ll experience some of Houston’s most exciting and innovative theatre and be entitled to a range of benefits including: Discounted Tickets As a 2023 Subscriber you can save up to 45% off the single ticket price. The more shows you see the more money you’ll save!

No Service Fees Subscribers do not pay any ticket service fees.

Free Ticket Exchanges We get it, life’s busy and plans change.

We’re happy to exchange your tickets for another performance of the same play at no extra cost.

Guaranteed Seats As a 2023 Subscriber you are guaranteed the best available seats to every show.

Cheap Drinks!

Subscribers and receive 10% off drinks at the Green Room Bar. Exclusive Rewards Subscribers are invited to have free champagne and appetizers at the after parties with the cast and creative team.

Package Options: 2023 Season Subscription | $140

Book dates and reserve your seats now. Season tickets to the 4 mainstage productions in the 2023 season. Available for any performance throughout the run of each production (Wednesdays - Saturdays). Save money by booking in advance. PLUS receive subscriber perks!

Week Night Subscription | $99

Season tickets to Wednesday and Thursday performances to the 4 mainstage productions in the 2023 season. Our best deal! Save the most money by attending weeknight performances. Book dates and reserve your seats now. PLUS receive subscriber perks!

2023 Flex Pass | $110

Get flexibility, savings and peace of mind with a Rec Room Flex Pass. Four flexible tickets that revolve around your schedule, plus all the same perks of subscribers.

Forum Nights Perspective, the story behind the show, insight into what the play means beyond our stage, the who’s who and what’s what Forum Nights is a new offering that bridges our plays with the work of thought leaders across our community. There will be one Forum Night for every production in 2023.

Join us in the Green Room Bar just after the performance for an informal panel of special guests - creatives, artists, and professionals in various fields - who will discuss the show and how it fits into our world at large.

Each Forum Night will have its own theme and focus inspired by the play. If you are interested in topics such as genetic cloning, psychology, adoption trauma, and the science behind imagination, then be sure to book your tickets on a Forum Night.

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Forum Nights are also opportunities to further contribute to Rec Room’s mission of building community through theatre. It is your chance to stay late, get to know fellow patrons and artists, and explore the metaphoric nature of existence.

The lineup of special guests will be announced as the season unfolds.

So join us, have a listen, throw in some questions, and continue the conversation at the bar after the show.

Forum Nights are free for 2023 Subscribers.

A Number

Friday February 17, 2023

Wolf Play

Friday April 21, 2023

Heroes of the Fourth Turning Friday October 20, 2023

Peter Pan

Friday December 22, 2023

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Rec Room Supper Club We recognize the special commitment demonstrated by our Subscribers and Donors. Throughout the year, Rec Room leadership hosts various casual dinners for current Subscribers and Donors who give over $250. Menus are created and prepared

by Sophia Watt, Stefan Azizi, and Matt Hune who each share an additional passion for cooking.

Taking place through rotation at the homes of Sophia, Stefan, and Matt, the Supper Club is a chance to socialize with the lifeblood of Rec Room through great food.

As a thank you, Rec Room’s Supper Club is an invitation only complementary service for all Subscribers and/or Donors who give $250 or more in 2023.

More information at: recroomarts.org/supper-club

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Writers Group a professional long-term writers group for Houston playwrights to develop and workshop new plays.

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The Rec Room Writers Group provides essential support to emerging writers including; space, time, mentorship, and community in order to foster the future of American theatre. Meeting bi-weekly for 8 to 9 months, the playwrights gather at Rec Room, reading and offering critical supportive responses to each other’s work. The group culminates in a collection of public readings.

Writers are selected yearly, and after the first year of residency members have continued access to advocacy and resources for the creation of new work in Houston and beyond.

Rec Room Writers Group has directly nurtured Texas playwrights by facilitating multiple commissions, productions, prestigious fellowships, and grants.

playwrights

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2023 Ticket Prices Single Ticket Prices: Adult $10

Senior $10

Under 30 $10

Student $10

Opening Night Performances (includes champagne & snacks) Standard Performances

$50

$30

$20

$15

$40

$30

$20

$15

Wednesday Fiver (first Wed of each production)

$5

$5

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Preview Performances

*All single tickets are subjected to a $5 service fee. **Service fees can be avoided with Season Subscriptions and Flex Passes. ***Single ticket prices are subject to change depending on demand.

Subscription Prices: Week Night Subscription

Price $99

Season Subscription

$140

Flex Pass

$110

*2023 Subscribers and Flex Pass holders receive a “I Love Houston Theatre” Loyalty Card that provides a 10% discount at the bar.

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Package Options WEEK NIGHT SUBSCRIPTION Wednesday & Thursday performances only.

Season tickets to Wednesday and Thursday performances to the 4 mainstage productions in the 2023 season.

STANDARD SEASON SUBSCRIPTION Book dates and reserve your seats now. Season tickets to the 4 mainstage productions in the 2023 season. Available for any performance throughout the run of each production (Wednesdays Saturdays).

FLEX PASS Get flexibility, savings and peace of mind with a Rec Room Flex Pass. Four flexible tickets that revolve around your schedule, plus all the same perks of subscribers.

How to Subscribe Book online - recroomarts.org Questions? - boxoffice@recroomarts.org | 713-588-9403 Choose Your Package Choose between a Standard Subscription, Week Night Subscription, or Flex Pass.

Choose Your Dates If you are purchasing a Standard or Week Night Subscription, reserve your seats and dates for the season. No need to pick dates at the time of purchase with a Flex Pass.

Planning a Year Ahead is Difficult Remember that as a Subscriber you get unlimited ticket exchanges.

Special Assistance If you have any special seating or accessibility requests, send us an email after you purchase your subscription (info@recroomhtx.com).

Can You Help?

The price you pay covers only 40% of the true cost of your seat. An optional tax-deductible donation can be made when purchasing your subscription.

Your support will help us continue to offer Houston a unique and important cultural experience.

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Accessible Theatre Since our inception, one of our primary goals has been to make theatre a shared pastime in Houston.

Therefore, we offer a range of affordable options so that the price of a ticket is not a deterrent to experiencing great theatre.

Wednesday Fiver

Under 30 Tickets

Join us for the first Wednesday Are you under 30 years of age? of each production for $5 tickets. You can save on theatre tickets.

You heard us right. Every first Wednesday of each production all tickets are $5! This is made possible by our generous individual donors like yourself. Our Wednesday Fiver program is the cheapest professional theatre ticket in town and a direct effort to fulfill our mission: to generate a new generation for theatre performance through accessible productions.

Wednesday Fiver tickets are first come, first served and open to the general public when individuals tickets are released for each production. Wednesday Fiver tickets are not available as a subscription.

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All individual tickets for folks under 30 years of age to our regular season performances are priced at $20.

Additionally, Preview performances are always just $10.

Preview tickets are open to people of all ages.

Under 30 tickets are only availible to individuals under 30 years of age. You may purchase an Under 30 ticket online using the honor system. You may be asked to provide proof of age at the box office when you arrive at Will-Call.

Under 30 tickets are subject to a service fee.

Senior Tickets

Student Tickets

Are you over 60 years of age?

You can save too!

Students can save the most.

All individual tickets for those who consider themselves “senior citizens” (over 60 years of age) are able to access individual tickets at $30. Additionally, Preview performances are always just $10. Preview tickets are open to people of all ages.

We get it, school is tough and expensive. We also hope that our plays can contribute to both your overall learning and entertainment. All individual tickets for students of all ages are priced at $15. Additionally, Preview performances are always just $10. Preview tickets are open to people of all ages.

Senior tickets are only availible to individuals over 60 years of age. You may purchase a Senior ticket online using the honor system. You may be asked to provide proof of age at the box office when you arrive at Will-Call.

Senior tickets are subject to a service fee.

Student tickets are only availible to individuals who are currently enrolled in school (grade school to Ph.D). You may purchase a Student ticket online using the honor system. You may be asked to provide student ID at the box office when you arrive at Will-Call. Student tickets are subject to a service fee.

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General Info Rec Room 100 Jackson Street, 130C Houston, TX 77002

Box Office | 713-588-9403 boxoffice@recroomarts.org info@recroomhtx.com www.recroomarts.org BOX OFFICE HOURS Box office opens one hour before showtime on performance days. Non-show days, please email boxoffice@recroomarts. org ACCOMMODATIONS Rec Room provides a range of accommodations to ensure the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of our events and facilities for all audience members. If you have specific questions, please contact our Administrative Offices at info@recroomhtx.com or call our box office at 713-588-9403.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING Accessible seating is available in the front two rows of the Main Stage Theater. If you need additional assistance or would like to reserve an accessible seat, email boxoffice@ recroomarts.org.

WHEELCHAIR STORAGE For guests who wish to transfer to a seat from their wheelchair, we will store your wheelchair in our lobby during the performance. The House Manager will make arrangements to return the wheelchair to you at the end of the performance or any other time of your choosing.

PARKING Street parking after 6:00 pm is free. There are paid lots surrounding our building and are open to the public for a fee. Rates vary between lots. Please allow extra time to park during Astros home games.

TRANSPORTATION Lyft, Uber, and taxis are always good choices if you plan to drink.

METRORail lines are reasonably close.

RED LINE (12 min walk / 0.6 mile): Use the Preston stop.

Walk northeast on Main St. towards Congress Ave. Turn right onto Congress Ave. Turn left (NE) onto Jackson St. Rec Room will be on your left at Franklin St. 32

CYCLING You may lock your bike on the gate outside Rec Room’s front doors at your own risk. You may also bring your bike inside and a staff member will store your bike indoors depending on availability.

EATING AND DRINKING There is a bar located in the Rec Room lobby that serves a selection of local beer and wine. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and stay after the performances to take advantage of the bar. Drinks are allowed into the theater.

Food is allowed in the bar and lobby. No food is allowed inside the theater space. There are a range of restaurants in the downtown area for you to choose.

Here are some Rec Room favorites: NANCY’S HUSTLE | $$

MKT BAR | $$

TINY CHAMPIONS | $$

NINFA’S | $$

LA FISHERIA| $$

OSSO KRISTALLA | $$

IRMA’S ORIGINAL | $$

TOUT SUITE | $$

FRANKS PIZZA | $

XOCHI | $$$

2704 Polk Street A 346-571-7931

2617 McKinney Street 713-485-5329

213 Milam Street 713-802-1712

22 N Chenevert Street 713-222-0767

417 Travis Street 713-225-5656

1001 Austin Street 832-360-2222

2704 Navigation Blvd 713-228-1175

1515 Texas Avenue 713-221-6666

2379, 2001 Commerce St 713-227-8688

1777 Walker Street 713-400-3330

GREEN ROOM BAR HOURS The lounge is open for your enjoyment on performance days 6:30pm -midnight.

CONTENT ADVISORY We do not offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact info@recroomhtx.com.

Thanks to our Partners

Dedicated to removing the stigma of mental illness through art, education and community engagement.

The City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Would you like an adventure now, or would like to have your tea first?

J.M. Barrie

Rec Room Arts 100 Jackson Street, 130C, Houston, TX 77002 Email info@recroomhtx.com Web recroomarts.org Box Office boxoffice@recroomarts.org Tel 713-588-9403