ART
Always Artist-Centered: Jamal Cyrus and César A. Martínez Honored by Art League Houston’s Annual Awards Program
Seventy-eight years ago, 16 women artists wanted to create a place where they could make, exhibit, and talk...
The Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas highlight fresh talent in their new MFA Showcase
The Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas highlight fresh talent in their new MFA Showcase.
Before the Partition: Yoshitaka Amano’s Unbroken Line at Asia Society Texas Center
I am not swiping through digital images or peering into a paperback book; I am standing—as the first viewer to see Yoshitaka Amano: Big Bang at Asia Society Texas Center fully installed, where it runs through Feb. 7, 2027—in the quiet, pristine light of Yoshio Taniguchi’s architecture, confronted by raw scale, chemical reaction, and the unyielding physical friction of human labor on a gallery wall.
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MUSIC
A FRESH TAKE: DACAMERA’S SEASON EXPLORES NEW WAYS OF LOOKING AT OLD THINGS
As Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg pulled together the repertoire and artists for DACAMERA of Houston’s 2026-27 season, she came across composer Gabriella Smith’s notes on her work for string quartet Carrot Revolution, in which she envisioned the piece as a celebration of the spirit of fresh observation and of “new ways of looking at old things.”
Time for Tranquility: Apollo Chambers Players Offer a Contemplative New Season
The Apollo Chamber Players were taking part in a festival in Seattle when violinist Matthew Detrick, the group’s founder and artistic director, slipped away for a hike in nearby mountains.
The Finale and Future: Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Peter Bay Passes the Baton
ACTX spoke with Austin Symphony Orchestra’s lead conductor and musical director, Peter Bay, about his decision to “pass the baton” at the 2026-2027 season’s conclusion.
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DANCE
A tribute to the legacy: KDH Dance Company performs honestly original new work
This upcoming season KDH Dance Company honors its legacy through presenting original abstract modern dances. At the same time, the company is exploring new territory—literally—by dancing outdoors on a basketball court in East Austin. Performances of Magic Hour will run from Nov. 5 - 7 at Alamo Pocket Park. (Rain dates are Nov. 12-14.)
Room to Dream Big: Melissa M. Young Leads Bruce Wood Dance Dallas into the Future
Change is afoot for Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in its 17th season, as Melissa M. Young steps into the role of artistic director and Joy Bollinger transitions to resident choreographer and répétiteur.
Bats, Swans & Bon Bons: Avant Chamber Ballet’s 15th season positions classical dance for modern audiences
Since its founding in 2012, Dallas’s Avant Chamber Ballet has commissioned more than 50 world-premiere ballets, including four full-length works, all from female or minority choreographers. Its 2026-27 season continues that tradition with world premieres from founding artistic director Katie Puder and former New York City ballet principal Jock Soto, but audiences can also expect plenty of classical ballet’s greatest hits, including The Nutcracker and the second act of Swan Lake. The season also features the most performance dates in the company’s 15-year history, all occurring at Moody Performance Hall.
THEATER
Building a Theatrical Village: Austin’s Rude Mechs at 30
Reminiscing with Austin’s theater collective, The Rude Mechs, as they celebrate their 30th anniversary of making theater together feels a bit like talking to a 90s alternative rock band that’s somehow still together. When I caught up with Thomas Graves, Lana Lesley, Kirk Lynn, Alexandra Bassiakou Shaw, and Shawn Sides, five of the six active co-producing artistic directors—with only Madge Darlington missing—there was a lot of good natured interrupting and correcting of memories, especially when recalling which of their conceived shows they performed over the years in which off Broadway theater or international festival.
Fearless & Fabulous at 25: Uptown Players Celebrates Community While Honoring Its Legacy
Since 2001, Uptown Players has been unafraid to take chances.
The Drama Map: Trends, Patterns and Premieres on Texas Stages
For several years as Arts and Culture’s resident theater cartographer, I’ve been mapping the big Broadway and West End touring shows as they tour across Texas.
