Miller Outdoor Theatre Pivots to Virtual and Streaming Performances for Free Updated October Schedule
Please Note that live audiences are not permitted at Miller, these performances can only be viewed online at www.MillerOutdoorTheatre.com
“Since 1923, Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park has been one of Houston’s most beloved cultural treasures, a gathering place for the community and the site of thousands of memorable free performances,” stated Miller Outdoor Theatre Managing Director, Cissy Segall Davis.
Miller is unique in the United States, it is the largest “always free” program of its kind in the country and attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around the world each season. Then in mid-March, a few days before the 2020 season began, Covid struck.
“We never imagined that there wouldn’t be live performances at Miller for an entire season. But, the unimaginable happened. Unable to accommodate a live audience at Miller because of restrictions, we have had to pivot to live-streamed performances online. We have missed our audiences, those who sit in the covered seated area and those up on the hill. We can’t wait to see them again soon. Until then, we will do all we can do to bring quality entertainment to their homes,” Davis said.
The Miller stage is quiet for now….an extended intermission. Miller will be back with more outstanding performances in 2021. “We can’t wait to hear the applause, the cheers, and the roar of the crowd again,” she said.
Miller Outdoor Theatre Virtual Series in October
In The Studio With Zeshan B
October 23 at 7:30 p.m. CST
Livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube, And MillerOutdoorTheatre.com
A live audience is not permitted
From his home studio in New York, Zeshan Bagewadi, Zeshan B, joins the Asia Society Texas Center and Miller Outdoor Theatre for an intimate digital performance of his Indo-Pakistani soul music. Tapping into the power of song as a tool of communication, Zeshan has created his own sound, mixing the musical traditions he grew up listening to and backed by a strong message of change.
Through an intimate conversation with Kam Franklin, lead singer of The Suffers, Zeshan will perform and share insights into the songs from his latest album, Melismatic.
A virtuoso vocalist, Zeshan, is widely recognized as one of the most unique singers to come out of Chicago. Blending the hard-driving rhythms and horn-heavy sounds of the ’60s and 70’s soul with the angsty scats and vocal styling of early Indo-Pakistani film and folk music, he has created an entirely new genre that is his very own.
His breakout album, Vetted, was released in 2017 to commercial and critical acclaim – receiving rave reviews from Rolling Stone, NPR, ABC, NBC, PBS, Salon Magazine, and more. Zeshan’s hit single Cryin In The Streets – his reinterpretation of George Perkins’ 1970 classic civil rights anthem – has garnered praise for its musical finesse as well as its relevance in America’s current socio-political climate.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Zeshan appeared with his wife Dr. Alexandra Roybal on MSNBC Morning Joe to shed light on COVID’s impact on minorities and musicians. This was followed by the May 2020 release of his newest album, Melismatic.
Produced by Asia Society Texas Center
Aperio Presents Music By Copland, Piazzolla, D’Rivera, & Bragato
October 24 at 7:30 p.m. CST
Livestreamed from backstage, behind the curtain the Miller Outdoor Theatre on Facebook, YouTube, And MillerOutdoorTheatre.com
A live audience is not permitted
Aperio Presents Music by Copland, Piazzolla, D’Rivera, & Bragato, a live-streamed event of musical styles spanning the Americas.
Marlon Chen, conductor
Daniel Saenz, cello
Ernesto Vega, clarinet
Program:
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 – Aria by Heitor Villa-Lobos (arr. Marlon Chen) for clarinet, trumpet, and orchestra
Aires Tropicales: Afro & Contradanza by Paquito D’Rivera for clarinet and string orchestra
Adios Nonino, by Astor Piazzolla (arr. José Bragato) for piano and string orchestra
Graciela y Buenos Aires by José Bragato for cello and string orchestra
Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland, chamber ensemble version
Aperio, Music of the Americas is a Houston-based ensemble dedicated to presenting unique chamber music in performances that showcase contemporary composers from the Americas.
Produced by Aperio, Music of The Americas
Houston Jazz Festival – Message From Bu
October 25 at 6 p.m. CST 6 p.m. CST
Livestreamed from backstage, behind the curtain at the Miller Outdoor Theatre on Facebook, YouTube, And MillerOutdoorTheatre.com
A live audience is not permitted
In celebration of Art Blakey’s 101st birthday, this year’s festival will feature Bu’s Jazz Messengers, brought to us in partnership with the Art Blakey Estate and starring past Blakey Music director Frank Lacy, Kansas native saxophonist Bobby Watson, Valerie Ponomarev, and Curtis Lundy, all of whom are alumni of what is affectionately known as the “University of Blakey.”
These seasoned Grammy-nominated and award-winning professionals have all served under Blakey as Music Directors of the Jazz Messengers, a pedigree that uniquely positions them to bring this group of fire breathing hard bop master musicians to Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Houston native, TSU alumni, and four-time Grammy winner Frank Lacy is a consummate jazz artist, perennial poll winner in several disciplines, a multi-instrumentalist, and award-winning vocalist. While he plays several instruments, he is best known as a master trombonist and his ability to straddle the lines between free-jazz and mainstream.
Bobby Watson, whose credits are as long as your arm, is featured on more than a dozen Jazz Messenger recordings, the most of any of the Messenger ensembles.
The first major Russian jazz musician to make an impression in the United States, trumpet master Valery Ponomarev has always had an attractive tone, a swinging style, and a strong interest in keeping the hard bop legacy of Clifford Brown alive. A Messenger from 1977-1980; he recorded nine albums with Blakey, and has since freelanced, usually leading his own quintets and recording extensively for Reservoir.
This year’s Jazz Fest opening performance will be The Houston Jazz Collective’s own Shelly Carrol, who has assembled a supergroup of contemporary jazz greats including Grammy Winner and Funk Master Bobby Sparks on keys, Mark Simmons on drums, and Jazz bassist extraordinaire Jay McK.
The set design features the sculptures, drawings, collages and paintings of critically acclaimed visual artist Jesse Lott. Known for his wild, frenetic lines in both his sculpture and drawings, predominantly from found material. The movement and energy in his works pairs perfectly with the ever-changing fluidity of the music on stage. His work is in the permanent collections of and has been exhibited in major museums and universities in Texas and throughout the South as well as in the private collection or prominent collectors.
Produced by The Houston Jazz Collective
Calavera con Calavera – A Virtual Perforance Presented by FLAS
October 30 at 7:30 p.m. CST
Note: This is a virtual performance. No audience will be in attendance.
on Facebook, YouTube, And MillerOutdoorTheatre.com
A live audience is not permitted
FLAS joins Grupo de Teatro Índigo (Indigo Theater Group) to present their annual Day of the Dead play, “Calavera con Calavera” (Skulls); an original piece written by co-founder, Eddie Gonzalez. This performance at Miller Outdoor Theater will make history being the first local theater group with Latino immigrant members to present an all-Spanish play (With English subtitles).
It is Day of the Dead, and the Burgos Family is getting ready to celebrate this important date. It is a yearly tradition in Hacienda Calvario where they get together to celebrate. As they share how this celebration has been of great value in their lives, they also explain the meaning of every element presented; why altars are made, what objects can decorate them, the food that is eaten, why it is important to have candles, the traditional “calaveritas” (verses that rhyme). La Catrina (Death) roams around, reminding us that life is beautiful, and we need to take advantage of it.
Where do we go after we die? That is the main question each character asks. It’s a story between life and death where the ending will surprise the audience.
Every year Grupo de Teatro Índigo adds new elements to the production to keep surprising their returning audience, even though the story remains the same. This year won’t be different!
This performance is filled with musical numbers of traditional Mexican songs and dances, accompanied by UH-D mariachi and Danza Chikawa.
In 2019 Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner presented a proclamation making November 3rd Calavera con Calavera Day in our city. The Government of Mexico recognized it by making it part of the Semana Global (World Wide Week) to represent Houston, along with other Day of the Dead events around the world, and the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston gave full support, due to the highly cultural content representing Mexico.
The Honorable Consul General of Mexico in Houston, Alicia Kerber, has also made Calavera con Calvera 2020 part of the events to represent their 100 hundred anniversary of the Mexican Consulate in Houston.
Fundacion Latino Americana de Accion Social (FLAS) mission is to create a healthier environment for members of the Latino Community. FLAS has become the voice of the Latino Community by dedicating and educating others regarding AIDS and other preventable diseases that have become a serious public health issue. The key to their success has been working closely with other non-profits, local, state, and federal government agencies; and with the following Consulates: México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Perú, and Colombia
Produced by FLAS
All performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.