New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project
March 6-7, 2025
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
Duration: 115 minutes, including two 20-minute intermissions
PROGRAM
New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project was launched in 2020 with the goal to promote and sustain Houston’s working artists and artist communities by supporting the creation of new works across all performing arts disciplines. Each year the project awards 3-4 artists with commission funding to present original work in the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center as part of Performing Arts Houston’s mainstage season.
MY POSSE’S ON BROADWAY BY YUNGCHRIS
-INTERMISSION-
LAST DAY, COUNTY FAIR BY BEN CHAVEZ
-INTERMISSION-
ON DIFFERENT PATHS BY MARLON SIMON
My Posse’s on Broadway by YUNGCHRIS
Director YUNGCHRIS
Narrator MARLON LIZAMA
Dancers .......................................................................... ISAAC HERRERA / ADOLFO PAZ GUZMAN / SHAYLA “LASHAY” MARTIN DE’WAYNE “PRINCEWAYNE” MARTIN JR. / JALON TURNER / ANDREA MINOTTI CEDRIC “CEDDY B” HICKS / YUNGCHRIS
Producer/DJ ICHIKARA VALDEZ
Graffiti Artist ......................................................................................................................................................................................... CLEAR ONER
Special Appearances by 2024 OLYMPIC BREAKING JUDGE MOY RIVAS “BBOY MOY”/
Last Day, County Fair by Ben Chavez
Piano/Lead Vocals/Hartley Jackson BEN CHAVEZ
Voice 1/JJ J. ANDREW SPEAS
Voice 2 TERESA ZIMMERMANN
Voice 3 YOPHI ADIA BOST
Guitar ........................................................................................................................................................................................
ALFRED WILLIFORD
Bass STEPHEN MARTIN
Drums TRAVIS HENTHORN
Director J. ANDREW SPEAS
Choreographer ...................................................................................................................................................... TAYLOR MACKENZIE SMITH
Additional Lyrics by ZACH BENCAL
Additional Text by J. ANDREW SPEAS
Artistic Consultant/Costume Design WALKER G. CHANCEY
With special thanks to Maria Barrows
On Different Paths by Marlon Simon
Musical Director/Drums
Congas and Percussion
MARLON SIMON
ROBERTO QUINTERO
Piano JOSE MIGUEL YAMAL
Upright Bass .....................................................................................................................................................................................
Tenor Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
BORIS KOZLOV
ERNESTO VEGA
DAVID CACERES
On Different Paths is dedicated to the memory of Marlon Simon’s parents, Hadsy Simon and Daisy Morillo.
Be the Next New/Now Artist!
Performing Arts Houston welcomes artists across all performing arts disciplines to apply to New/Now for the chance to showcase groundbreaking work.
Selected artists will be part of our 25/26 season, receiving commissions valued at $40,000, including professional promotional materials, technical assistance, among other resources to bring your creative vision to life.
Applications open April 15 – June 15. Winners will be notified in July. For more information, reach us at commissions@performingartshouston.org