University Spotlight

A haunting new take on Peter Pan that explores the danger of refusing to grow up. The familiar characters and story remain, but they’re infused with deeper shadows buried inside J.M. Barrie’s original story.

Join us at the University of Houston-Downtown’s historic O’Kane Theatre for Qui Nguyen’s wildly entertaining She Kills Monsters — a hilarious, action-packed, and deeply moving dramatic comedy that blends high school reality with epic Dungeons & Dragons fantasy.

After the sudden death of her teenage sister Tilly, buttoned-up Agnes Evans discovers a Dungeons & Dragons module that Tilly secretly created. Determined to understand the sister she barely knew, Agnes dives into the fantastical realm of New Landia — a world filled with fire-breathing dragons, deadly beholders, homicidal fairies, ogres, and epic quests. As she learns to fight alongside a ragtag party of adventurers, Agnes confronts not only literal monsters but also the very real high school bullies, hidden identities, and family secrets that defined Tilly’s life.

Blending laugh-out-loud humor, thrilling stage combat, 90s pop culture nostalgia, and heartfelt emotion, She Kills Monsters is a high-energy adventure about grief, sisterhood, courage, and embracing your inner hero. Funny, fierce, and full of heart, this award-winning play celebrates geek culture, found family, and the power of imagination.

Perfect for D&D players, gamers, fans of Stranger Things, and anyone who’s ever wanted to roll the dice and slay a few monsters of their own

Moores Opera Center and Ars Lyrica deliver a bold cinematic twist on Handel’s Oreste, fusing tradition with modern edge. With Kathleen Belcher and Matthew Dirst at the helm, this charged production burns with suspense, emotion, and artistry—guaranteed to leave audiences breathless.

Inspired by Euripides's Iphegeneia in Tauris, Handel's 1734 opera Oreste is a family drama of arbitrary cruelty and hard-won justice. It is filled with some of the composer’s favorite arias, many of which he adapted from his previous Italian operas. An all-student cast is accompanied by the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, augmented by key players from Ars Lyrica Houston

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock musical tells the final days of Jesus Christ through the perspective of Judas Iscariot, exploring faith, fame, betrayal, and political pressure.

Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel follows confident matchmaker Emma Woodhouse as her attempts to arrange the romantic lives of those around her lead to unexpected complications. Directed by Sharon Ott in a co-production with A.D. Players.

The opera season concludes on April 24 with Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes, presented as a special benefit concert performance. Widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's greatest operas, Peter Grimes tells the powerful story of an outsider struggling against suspicion, prejudice and social isolation. This unforgettable performance will feature three-time GRAMMY Award-winning Houston native soprano Latonia Moore alongside the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, UH Choirs and student soloists, bringing Britten's extraordinary score and gripping drama to life.

A photojournalist and her partner return home after covering war overseas and struggle to adjust to ordinary life. Donald Margulies’ drama examines relationships, responsibility, ambition, and the ethics of witnessing suffering.

Five very different women, all named Betty, collide in Jen Silverman’s bold comedy about anger, identity, desire, friendship, and finding a voice.

Winner of six Tony Awards, Dear Evan Hansen is a contemporary musical about loneliness, family, grief, and the need to be seen. Intimate and emotionally powerful, it tells a deeply personal story about connection, truth, and the stories we tell to survive.