An exciting new Lone Star College-CyFair and Stageworks Theatre partnership impacts students, actors and theatre-goers alike with the co-production of two high-quality, entertaining musicals.
“We are thrilled to be working with Stageworks Theatre on our inaugural co-production A Christmas Carol, The Musical - a classic Christmas story infused with astounding music
and lyrics that truly creates a Christmas spectacular,” said Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Kelly Gernhart.
The collaboration began with an established relationship through LSC-CyFair Theatre Technician Benjamin Mason’s set design work for a number of Stageworks Theatre productions. Then an inquiry last December to rent the college’s Main Stage Theatre evolved into discussions of teaming up to co-produce two shows a year at the college.
“The Stageworks' reputation for attention to detail and professional quality is amplified by the relationship with LSC-CyFair, and it creates a ‘community outreach super-power’ in northwest Harris County,” said Michael Montgomery, Stageworks Theatre’s Artistic Director. “Large musicals are extraordinarily challenging to continually produce - financially, logistically, and artistically, but combining resources allows us to keep at it, despite limited resources.”
Stageworks’ Garza Mainstage, on Grant near Jones Road in northwest Houston, was awarded "Best Gem of a Theatre" by the Houston Press. The theatre produces comedies, dramas and musicals reflective of high artistic quality and cultural diversity. LSC-CyFair’s theatre provides quality entertainment in a state-of-the-art venue in the Cy-Fair community, on Barker Cypress just three miles south of U.S. Highway 290.
“When you bring our caliber of talent (actors and production teams) from our Grant Road location to LSC-CyFair's Center for the Arts, we reach wider audiences,” Montgomery said. “Not only do our combined production teams learn from one another, but our audiences and actors benefit long-term from this incredibly powerful relationship.”
While Stageworks Theatre has become a respected stepping-stone into the professional Houston theatre scene for some actors, other young actors have gone on to work in New York City. In fact, one of their distinguished alumni joined the season two cast of the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
“Acting on stage with such high-caliber talent will not only enhance our theatre program, but including Stageworks Theatre in our students’ portfolios will be a quality addition to their resumes,” said Gernhart.
Rehearsals for the fall musical are under way with Montgomery directing the fall show on stage Nov. 23 - Dec. 16. Serving as producers are LSC-CyFair’s new drama faculty Brad Baker and Jeffrey Hirt, who teaches at LSC-CyFair and is a board of director at Stageworks Theatre. Tickets for the fall musical are available at stageworkstx.org/tickets.
“A Christmas Carol, The Musical is going to be a special holiday family event. I can't wait to launch it, and then get started on next summer's Mamma Mia!” said Montgomery.
For information on LSC-CyFair’s theatre program, go to LoneStar.edu/Cyfair. For more on Stageworks Theatre, go to stageworkstx.org.
