THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
THE OBSERVATORY
ISSUE 15
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Dear Friends, Looking back on the past season, I am reminded of what makes this community so remarkable: people who believe in the power of musical theater in bringing us together, inspiring communities, and creating lasting impact both on and off the stage.
Photo Credit: Prisilla Dickson.
In this issue, we look back at the 2025–26 mainstage season and celebrate the artists throughout and the impact of programs like our Inclusive Arts Showcase, which helps ensure the arts are accessible, welcoming, and transformative for all. We are proud to recognize the artists, participants, and families who make Theatre Under The Stars such a unique and dynamic institution.
This summer also brought new energy to TUTS. Throughout these pages, you’ll meet several new members of our team and learn more about the talented individuals helping advance our mission in Houston and beyond. You’ll also read about Luminaries, our newest giving program celebrating the cumulative support of our most generous donors. Plus, you’ll find a preview of our upcoming Lights Up Gala, honoring Demetra and Frank Jones, with Broadway star Megan Hilty headlining. As we step into the 2026/27 season, there is a palpable sense of excitement, momentum, and gratitude across Theatre Under The Stars as we prepare to bring beloved productions like Disney’s The Little Mermaid to the stage. These iconic musicals capture the joy, imagination, and storytelling that make live theater so magical, and we look forward to sharing these unforgettable performances with audiences throughout Houston in the coming weeks. As you review the season of donor events, I encourage you to mark your calendars and explore opportunities to deepen your involvement with TUTS. Many of our events and behind-the-scenes experiences are exclusive, offering unique ways to get closer to the art and artists. If you’ve been considering increasing your support, this season is the perfect time to take that next step. On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, artists, and volunteers, thank you for your continued partnership. Cheers to the 2026/27 season! With gratitude,
Hillary J Hart Executive Director Theatre Under The Stars On Cover: TUTS 2026 production of Million Dollar Quartet. Photo credit: Melissa Taylor.
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CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
On July 31, TUTS celebrated the 10th Anniversary Inclusive Arts Showcase at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. The annual event featured 25 performers with students of all abilities, including students from The River Inclusive School, participants from The Humphreys School, and teaching assistants who came together to share their talents on stage. Centered around the theme of Wonder-full, this year’s Showcase reflected both The River’s 30th Anniversary and a decade of the Inclusive Arts Showcase. Highlights included energetic ensemble numbers, memorable vignettes, and accompaniment by a live orchestra. For the first time in IAS history, the production featured live captioning, further expanding accessibility for audience members, and reinforcing TUTS’ commitment to making the arts welcoming for all. Attended by over 100 audience members, the Showcase stands as one of Theatre Under The Stars’ signature institution-wide events, bringing together staff across departments to support a production that exemplifies our commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and collaboration. The evening concluded on a bittersweet note as we honored Eileen Edmonds and her nearly 20 years of service to The River and Theatre Under The Stars. Throughout her career, Eileen championed inclusive arts education and helped create transformative opportunities for performers of all abilities. Her vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of hundreds of students and families across our community. In recognition of her extraordinary impact, the newly established Eileen Edmonds Scholarship will help ensure that future generations of performers have access to the same opportunities she worked so passionately to create. We are profoundly grateful for her countless contributions and wish her much success in her next chapter. The Inclusive Arts Showcase continues to be made possible through the generous support of dedicated donors and sponsors, including funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. If you would like to support programming like this, please consider joining the Inclusive Arts Society, a community of donors who make it possible for individuals of all abilities to learn, perform, and experience the transformative power of the arts. Your gift of any size makes you a member of this dedicated community and helps ensure that TUTS remains a place where everyone belongs. Visit TUTS.ORG/IAS or email development@tuts.org to get involved.
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CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF TUTS LUMINARIES On August 25, Theatre Under The Stars proudly celebrated the launch of TUTS Luminaries, recognizing donors whose annual comprehensive support of $10,000 or more helps sustain exceptional artistic, education, and community engagement programs. The special evening welcomed guests for cocktails, light bites, and music by pianist Jonathan Craft in celebration of this exciting new chapter for TUTS. Executive Director Hillary Hart and Artistic Director Dan Knechtges shared remarks highlighting the transformative impact of our donors’ investment and the vision for the upcoming season and beyond. Special thanks to The Stavis Family for their generous support in making this event possible.
The event recognized the dedicated donors whose generosity makes the magic of TUTS possible while building community among some of the organization’s most passionate advocates. Together, attendees celebrated the launch of a new giving program and the shared commitment to ensuring that world-class musical theatre and arts education remain accessible to our Houston community. We are deeply grateful to the nearly 50 Luminaries members, as well as Nova donors, whose leadership and support continue to illuminate the future of Theatre Under The Stars for generations to come. Learn more about Luminary benefits and how to join, visit TUTS.org/luminaries or email luminaries@tuts.org.
Friday, November 6, 2026
THE POST OAK HOTEL AT UPTOWN HOUSTON HONORING DEMETRA AND FRANKLIN D.R. JONES, JR. Headlining Entertainment by
This year’s gala will honor Demetra and Franklin Jones for their extraordinary commitment to the arts and their steadfast support of TUTS. Guests will also enjoy a special performance by acclaimed Broadway and television star Megan Hilty, best known for her performances in Smash, Death Becomes Her, and numerous acclaimed stage productions. Proceeds support our world-class mainstage productions, industryleading education programs, inclusive arts initiatives, and community engagement efforts, helping ensure that musical theatre remains accessible to audiences and students throughout our community. We invite you to be part of this remarkable evening of entertainment, philanthropy, and celebration.
TABLES AND TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TUTS.ORG/LIGHTSUP AFTER-PARTY TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT:
ASHLEY & PAUL KILDAY Tell us a little about yourselves. What do each of you do professionally, and how do you enjoy spending your time together outside of work? Paul is an Executive Director at Moelis & Company in the firm’s Global Energy Group, and Ashley is a Realtor with Compass. When we are not working, we love traveling, spending time at the beach, catching a Houston sports event or going out for a great dinner. Goode Company Cantina is a longtime favorite and somewhere you can find us pretty often. Do either of you have a background in the arts? If not, what sparked your shared passion for the performing arts? Neither of us has a formal arts background, but music has always played an important role in our lives. Paul was part of the drumline in his high school marching band, and we’ve always loved live music and performances. There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere and energy of a live show. When did you first discover TUTS, and what drew you to the organization? TUTS has been part of our lives for a long time, particularly through attending performances during the holiday season with our families growing up. We became more involved with TUTS and its community through our good friends Steve and Leticia Trauber. Paul has since had the opportunity to serve on the TUTS Board, which has given us an even greater appreciation for the organization and its impact on the Houston community. What has been your favorite TUTS experience together so far? We’ve had many memorable experiences over the years, but our favorite experience may be one that hasn’t happened yet. This fall, we’re looking forward to taking our daughter Cali to see The Little Mermaid for her first TUTS performance. We just welcomed our second daughter, Olivia, this summer, so we’re also looking forward to the day we can bring her to her first show.
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Why is supporting the arts important to you as a family? For us, it’s about making sure experiences like the ones we grew up with are still here for the next generation. The arts give people a reason to come together, try something new and experience something they may not otherwise be exposed to. We love that supporting TUTS lets us play a small part in keeping that going in Houston. How has your involvement with TUTS enriched your lives or strengthened your connection to the Houston community? One of the best parts has been the people we’ve met through our involvement in the organization. TUTS brings together so many people who genuinely care about Houston and want to contribute to the city in a positive way. We’ve made friendships through TUTS that go far beyond seeing a show or attending an event, and that sense of community has probably been the most rewarding part for us. In your opinion, why should the people of Houston support TUTS and the arts in general? The arts are a huge part of what makes Houston such a great city. We have an incredible arts and cultural scene, but keeping it that way takes people showing up and supporting it. What we especially love about TUTS is that it’s not only about what happens on stage – it gives young people the chance to find something they love, be part of a team, work toward something together and then show it off to our city!
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BEHIND THE CURTAIN:
MEET THE NEW FACES AT TUTS We are happy to introduce some new additions to the team at Theatre Under The Stars. They look forward to meeting you at upcoming shows and events!
ANDREA RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ Andrea Rodriguez Gonzalez joins Theatre Under The Stars from Mexico where she worked as the Booking Manager at La Gran Audiencia Entretenimiento S.C. A former theatre kid, Andrea performed in several shows, most notably, in the children’s chorus of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in her hometown, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political analysis from the University of Monterrey and studied abroad at the University of Hong Kong for a semester. She moved to Houston and joined TUTS in August in Education as the Strategy & Operations Manager. In her free time, she enjoys going to coffee shops, reading, and watching cooking shows.
JOSH LOERA A Baytown-native, Human Resources Coordinator Josh Loera comes to TUTS from The Rose, a nonprofit health organization, where he served as a Human Resources Assistant. Josh has a background in classical music, having played the french horn for over ten years and competed at the state level in high school. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston – Clear Lake, where he studied human resources management. When he’s not at work, Josh loves to spend time with his pets, play video games, and explore Houston with his girlfriend.
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MEGAN MOTTU Philanthropy Officer Megan Mottu joined Theatre Under The Stars in May after serving as an Annual Giving Officer at the Houston Symphony. Megan has extensive experience in the Houston arts scene, working previously at the Alley Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, and Stages to name a few. She is a Houston-native and graduated from G.W. Carver High School for the Visual and Performing Arts, where her love for musical theatre flourished. When she’s not at work, she enjoys roller skating, shopping for Snoopy merchandise, listening to showtunes, and attending shows across the Houston Theatre District.
PAIGE “PJ” EBY PJ joins TUTS from Wilmington, North Carolina, and will serve as the Production Administrator for the Education Department beginning in September, after working part time with the Education team since January. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Theatre Studies and Communication Sciences from Texas Christian University and previously interned with Casa Mañana in Dallas. PJ’s passion for theatre began when she was five years old, and she also danced ballet competitively for several years. Outside of work, PJ enjoys reading, baking, scuba diving in various countries, and spending time with her cat, Goose.
VIVIAN GONZALEZ Rio Grande Valley-native Vivian Gonzalez worked as an Annual Giving Officer at the Houston Symphony before joining TUTS as the Prospect & Stewardship Manager in June. Before moving to Houston, she worked and interned for organizations like the Guthrie Theatre, Americans for the Arts, and Texas Performing Arts. She double majored in Theatre Performance and Communications with a minor in Arts Administration at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her bachelor’s degrees in 2021. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her cat and planning her upcoming October wedding.
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THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE:
HOW TUTS TURNED DATA INTO REVENUE AND RESULTS Over the past several seasons, Theatre Under The Stars noticed that audience members weren’t always choosing seats in the way the organization expected. Some sections filled up quickly while other desirable seats remained open, creating gaps throughout the theatre and requiring staff to spend considerable time manually adjusting seating areas and ticket prices. In the summer 2025, TUTS partnered with consulting firm JCA to review three years of ticketing and attendance data. Together, they studied audience preferences, purchasing trends, and seating patterns across productions. Using these insights, TUTS redesigned its seating map and pricing approach for the 2025-26 season to better match how patrons actually select seats and purchase tickets.
WHAT IS BI-DIRECTIONAL PRICING? Bi-directional pricing is a tool that allows ticket prices to respond to audience demand. This approach helps ensure that seats remain available at a variety of price points while allowing TUTS to respond more effectively to changing demand throughout a show’s run.
TUTS 2025 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Photo Credit: Melissa Taylor.
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As a result of this study, the updated seating and pricing strategies helped TUTS welcome more audience members, with tickets sold per performance increasing by more than 9%. Revenue generated through dynamic pricing also grew substantially, strengthening the organization’s ability to invest in future productions and audience experiences. The changes improved more than just ticket sales. By reducing the need for frequent manual adjustments to seating zones and pricing, staff were able to spend more time focused on customer service, audience engagement, and long-term planning. While these improvements strengthened TUTS’ financial health, ticket sales alone cannot sustain a nonprofit theatre. Like most performing arts organizations, TUTS relies on the combined support of subscribers, donors, corporate partners, foundations, and grantmakers to bring exceptional musical theatre to Houston. This initiative demonstrates how thoughtful use of data can help TUTS better understand its audiences, operate more efficiently, and build a stronger foundation for the future, ensuring that world-class musical theatre remains accessible to the Houston community for years to come.
TUTS 2026 production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo Credit: Melissa Taylor.
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SAVE THE DATE
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DONOR BENEFIT EVENTS Costume Shop Tour November 2026 Exclusive to Principal donors and above Dress Rehearsal - Disney’s The Little Mermaid Sunday, December 6, 2026 Exclusive to Supporter donors and above More Than Song and Dance Thursday, March 16, 2027 Exclusive to Partner donors and above
FUNDRAISING EVENTS Lights Up Gala Honoring Demetra and Frank Jones, featuring Megan Hilty Friday, November 6, 2026 Mahj For Musicals Thursday, February 4, 2027 Leading Ladies Luncheon Spring 2027
Theatre Under The Stars Luminaries honors donors whose annual investment supports our exceptional live performances and renowned education and community engagement programs.
VISIONARY CIRCLE ($100,000+)
Dolores Cavatore & John Tobola Leticia & Stephen M. Trauber BRAVO CIRCLE ($50,000+) Demetra & Franklin Jones, Jr. Amy & Rob Pierce CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($25,000+) Patricia & Sig Cornelius Don Dennis Jr. Shawnie & Paul McBride Gail & Gerald O'Neill
Suzanne Reyes & Robert Scheinerman Terry & Yogi Sheth The Stein Family Stephanie & Frank Tsuru
ENCORE CIRCLE ($15,000+) Vanessa & Chuck Ames Stephanie & Stephen Crain Connie & Dr. Cal Dalton Mr. & Mrs. Jack Dermer Mark & Jordan Gibennus Linda Lloyd Hart KrisTina & Reggie Hedgebeth Peter & Andi Holt LuAnn & Morton L. Katz Jay Landa & Daniel Turner
Cheryl & Herb Listen April & Wells McGee Sara & Bret Oliver Tricia & Alan Ratliff Helen & Jim Shaffer Carolyn & Adam Smith Kristina & Paul Somerville Marsha & David Taylor Julie & Cliff Thompson Sara & Rick Watts
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ($10,000+) Robert & Ellie Brown Hon. Theresa & Dr. Peter Chang Rebekka & Damon Chargois Monica Fulton Betsy & Bill Gordon
Gwen & Dan Kellogg Ashley & Paul Kilday Patrice Baumann McKinney & Pete McKinney Julie & Joel Schweers Dr. Frances Smith Jessika & Jeff Smith
Jennifer & Mark Stringer Lauren & Pat Sullivan Meredith & Raffi Tcholakian Lynda Underwood Wilson Van Tine Carrie & Ronald Woliver
To learn more about Luminary benefits and how to join, visit TUTS.org/luminaries or email luminaries@tuts.org
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FRIENDS OF TUTS $5,000+
Margaret Alkek Williams Anonymous Brad Blume † Dr. Michael & Mrs. Aimee Bornstein Rebecca & Thomas Brandt Michelle Buchanan Heather & John Burgess Margaret C. Lombardo & Steven L. Burkett Richard Bush Zane & Brady Carruth Sarah & Ken Chang Elaine Balagia Croucher & Brant Croucher June Deadrick Dr. Myron Diftler & Dr. Trevor Power David Gow The Haavik Family Ms. Cynthia Higgins Heather G. Hrap Mary & David R. Klein Philip & Paula Kochman Shaun & Janet Leone Ana Llovera & Gabriel Gonzalez Jana & Bert Lohse Penny & Paul Loyd Jr. Dr. Lynn Frostman & Dr. Michael Zum Mallen Alexandra & James Marshall Chelsea Martin † Trinidad Mendenhall Bob Middleton Joan & Phil Morabito Angela & Michael Narvaez John L. Nau, III Chau Nguyen & Jay Sears Beverly & Staman Ogilvie Pam & Randall Onstead Dr. Robert Parke Elaine & Johnny Pickle Robert Pilegge Sarah Pope & Adam Cryer Dena Rafte & Bob Brown Susan & Dirk Rasmussen Cheryl & Joshua Samuels Jeremy & Suzan Samuels Dennis & Nataliya Scheib Patricia & Jeffrey Sheets Aimee & Wynne Snoots Debbie & Gene Straka Andrea & Trent Tellepsen Carol & Vincenzo Terracina Bridget & Tom Tomlinson Vicki & Adam Valentine Barbara & Andrew F. Veres Kim & John Watson Shirley Whitmore & Norman
Daniel Whitmore Jr. Kate & Brook Wiggins Gina & John Williamson
$2,500-$4,999
Diane & Donald Armijo David E. Auer, M.D. Ann Bayless & Al Brende Toni Blankman & Bob Weiner Jenée Jongebloed Bobbora & Bill Bobbora Jean & Bo Brackendorff Kate & Mike Brem Rick Chern Kay & Mark Clavenna Rhonda Cobb Brent and Ezy Dampman Elaine Danelutti Hon. Dedra Davis Priscilla & Chad Dickson Maurissa D. Rogers Susie Duarte Dr. Constance Faro & Dr. Patrick Duffy Judy & Tom Farrell Debbie Fralix The Gary-Firth Family Dianne Gross April & Nick Hiemstra Δ Angela Lutz & Posey Saenz Dr. Matt McCarley and Mr. Brian Crumby Shelly, Jerome, Allie, Abbie, & Cameron Mulanax Anne E. Neeson Robbie Pape Bryan Polk Julie & Tom Pradel Katie & Ryan Pryor Maria & Robert Ragazzo Stephanie Reed Mr. James D. Rollins, III Laura & Travis Shearer Cheryl & Keith Sobolik Emily & John Sunew Lynn & Bob Vacek Paul Williams Rev. Francene Young
$1,250-$2,499
Meredith Alexander & Juan Salcedo Anonymous (3) Diane Bauknight Alice Bergo & Donald Hang Barbara & Thomas Blocher Linda & Hal Bozeman Bob Burress and Tom Seymour Lister Carbon Δ
Kiki & Jeffrey Carroll Tess Casbeer Robin & Angela Chen Steve Clark Shirley & Brian Colona Eileen Brewer & Joseph Corriere Mr. and Mrs. Wes. DeBord Jo Ann Dittert Katherine & William Edwards Jenny Elkins Christina & Craig Epperson Claudia & Mark Fenske Cheryl & Toby Fullmer Pam Gallagher James Kent Gilliam Suzy Godwin Marris & Rob Goldberg Kelly Harred Kirsten & RB Herrscher Sharon & Jim Hickey Jayla Henry Minnie & Leo Hung Greg Ingram Kirk Jordan Katie & Shawn Little Patti Massaro Crystal Maxwell Paige & Ron May Dawn Neal Brandon & Lee Ann Ned Wendy & Greg Norman Anne Loo & Brad Nyberg Joseph D. Ortiz-Luis Heather & Wes Orton Beth Otillar Catherine Pickard John Redmon Dolores & John Richards Sue & James Robertson Quentin & Aerin Smith Deborah & Monte Stavis Mr. and Mrs. William O. Strange Richard Swartz Linda Towle Elaine & Jim Turner Julia & Bruce Vincent Corey & Kelli Walter Kimberly Tuthill White Jeanne & John Willis Genny & Tedd Winter Syma Zerkow
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$500-$1,249
Mr. Thomas Arcidiacono Mr. Tom Atkinson Mr. and Mrs. Don Baker Mr. and Mrs. James Balow Mrs. Heidi Walker-Beale Mrs. Patricia Biggio Ms. Tammi Blevins Ms. Jennifer Block James Brooks Ms. Anne Bryant Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell Ms. Carolyn Carlson Amanda K. Carter David Clements Ms. Alicia Cooley Mrs. Beverly Davis Mr. and Mrs. Wes. DeBord Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Dellinger Ms. Lisa Dobey Mr. Ronnie Finkelman and Mrs. Bertha Jamison Carla Gibson Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Goetz Mr. and Mrs. Michael Goodman Ms. Susan Graham Mr. Doug Greenhill Philip and Dana Grosman Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harrell Ms. Annette Hasbrook Peggy and Richard Heil Mrs. Vivian Henry Ms. Mary Hill Dr. Jenna Hunter Mark and Jill Johnson Jillian Jopling Mrs. Geraldine Karkowsky Mr. and Mrs. Barry Katz Ms. Ann Kivney Steven and Jamison Kovach Ms. Marjorie Leventon Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lucksinger Ms. Laura Mafrige Mrs. Katy Manck Mr. Steve McCrary Mr. Craig McPhie Mr. and Mrs. Geron Meeks Jr. Ms. Jenifer Miller Mr. Michael Morgan Mr. Scott Moster Mr. Michael Muna Rashmi Murthy
† Scholarship Giving
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Ms. Wendy Nugent and Ms. Laura Knizner Dr. and Dr. John Olson Ms. Marty Olson Ms. Kindra Ota Bernard Owens Lena Paul Dr. and Mrs. Donald Peterson Tony Phongsy Ms. Linda Pierce Elizabeth Price Mr. and Mrs. Guiton Ragsdale Mr. and Mrs. David Regenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schmitt Ms. Barbara Sebek Beth and David Speck Mr. Michael Sterner Ms. Debbie Swaim Kevin R. Therault Marjorie Therrell David Vanderweide John Vasquez Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wahrlich Dr. Kirk Wilhelmus Ms.Wendy Willett Coco Williard Ms. Linda Yandell Ms. Deborah Yocham
Δ Leading Lady
§ Inclusive Arts Society Member
This recognition reflects cumulative giving to the TUTS Annual Fund through membership, scholarship, sponsorship, and event donations between June 1, 2025 to September 1, 2026. Recognition listed here is not necessarily correlated to donor benefits.
800 Bagby Street, Suite 200 Houston TX 77002 TUTS 2026 production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo Credit: Melissa Taylor.