From the Bard to the Brothers Grimm, theater-goers revel in classic tales brought to life by the University of Houston’s School of Theatre & Dance.
Each summer, UH entertains thousands of Houstonians during two of the city’s favorite festivals: the Children’s Theatre Festival and the Houston Shakespeare Festival.
Founded in 1978, the Children’s Theatre Festival presents original productions aimed at younger audiences and frequently features the talents of renowned theater stars including Tony Award-winning songwriter Jerry Bock (“Fiddler on the Roof”).
“Words cannot describe what Jerry brings to this festival,” says Sidney Berger, John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Theatre & Dance. “He treats each of these productions as if it was going to open on Broadway.”
Since 1975, The Houston Shakespeare Festival, co-sponsored by UH and the city of Houston, has presented classic works in Miller Outdoor Theater. The open-air, casual environment is very much like the original Globe Theater where the Bard saw his own works performed for the first time.
“The actors themselves perform with the same candor as the ones who originally played these roles hundreds of years ago,” Berger says. “This is the kind of atmosphere that should be present for Shakespeare’s plays.” Dr. Sidney Berger is the founder and producing director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival and co-founder and producer of the Children's Theatre Festival at UH.
