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2022 Lights Up Gala
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Paul Hope
Like all art forms, musical theatre has a rich history. The always delightful Paul Hope will entertain you with stories, videos, and background on our upcoming TUTS productions including Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins and Chicago. Hope has the distinction of being cast in the most productions in TUTS history – more than 40! You won’t want to miss his personal anecdotes mixed in with his amusing and engaging storytelling! More Than Song and Dance promises to be the most fun you’ll ever have at a luncheon!
TUTS: More Than Song and Dance has been such a successful donor event for TUTS. What are you most excited about for your MTSaD programming this season?
Hope: Chicago is one of my top five favorite musicals and has a very interesting production history. Getting to talk about Gwen Verdon, Bob Fosse, and Chita Rivera is always exciting. I liked the score of Legally Blonde and loved the story so much that it led me to see the source films for the first time. So glad that the show has had such a vibrant regional life after being somewhat dismissed in NYC. RENT is a brilliant adaptation of Puccini’s La Boheme. As an opera lover, it made me appreciate Jonathan Larson’s creativity in transferring the story to New York City during the AIDS crisis. The lyrics are brilliant, so hopefully the TUTS production will have great sound mixing and crystal-clear diction from our cast.
production of Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins! Can you tell us a little about your roles in the show and what it means to be a 40+ year “veteran” of the TUTS family?
Hope: I will be playing Admiral Boom and the Bank President in Mary Poppins. Boom is mostly neighborhood atmosphere, but the Bank President has a great surprise in Act 2. TUTS has been the theatre that got me my Equity card, connected me with Broadway and LA performers, and cemented local professional friendships that continue to this day. These people are my family.
TUTS: What do you most enjoy about sharing the history of musical theater with your audience?
Hope: Musical theatre is such a rich and exciting art form, and most audience members only know a fraction of its varied, funny surprising history. I love telling stories of the stars and writers that created shows we love, and introducing my audiences to shows they might not have been aware of before.
TUTS: Why do you think it’s important to foster special programming like MTSaD for regional theatres like TUTS? What do you hope your audience walks away with at the end of a program? Hope: It is important to educate our audiences in the legacy of musical theatre, creating awareness of the repertoire beyond what was filmed by Hollywood. Look at Encores in New York. They perform wonderful pieces which have been on the shelf largely because they weren’t filmed. The more shows our audiences come to know and love, the more adventurous our programming can be and the hungrier they are to see new work or the simply unfamiliar.
12THE FUTURE OF THEATRE
TUTS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR A CAREER IN THE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH HIGH-CALIBER PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
Bring It On!: Our summer production of Bring It On! blew audiences away, making for an amazing conclusion to our 2022 summer programs! 90 students performed in 4 sold out shows in Zilkha Hall, making for an unforgettable experience for students and thousands of audience members alike.
TUTS Lights Up Gala: The HSMT Troupe, River Troupe, and Pre-Professional Company performed at the TUTS Lights Up Gala, entertaining guests and celebrating 50 years of the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. The night concluded
with a combined performance of “This Is Me” with celebrity headliner Alex Newell, as well as a heartfelt group rendition of “I Have A Dream” from Mamma Mia!.
Houston SPCA: The HSMT Performance Troupe wowed guests at the Houston SPCA’s annual Howl-O-Ween Ball, performing selections from the cult-classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Troupe was proud to return to this annual event, which benefits the organization and their mission to promote commitment to and respect for all animals and free them from suffering, abuse and exploitation.
TUTS Board Kickoff: The inaugural season of the TUTS Pre-Professional Company is off to a great start! After a rigorous weekend of callbacks and bootcamp, the newly formed company performed for board members and TUTS staff at the annual board kickoff event hosted on the Zilkha Hall stage.
Masterclasses: In addition to weekly musical theatre training, technique building, and industry preparation, students have had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals through masterclasses. Jenni Barber and Jason Schmidt, who have worked extensively in TV, film, and Broadway, shared their expertise on performing monologues and acting through song with our preprofessional company members. They also participated in a college BFA/BA panel with current students at the top musical theatre performance school in the country to ask questions and learn about the audition process and college experience.
Mainstage: In collaboration with TUTS Artistic and Production staff, 6 HSMT students were cast in The Secret of My Success, and 19 have been cast in Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins. This integration provides our students with a vital professional performance experience as they work towards entering the industry as professional artists.
2022 Company of Bring It On!
2022 Lights Up Gala TUTS Education Performers
