The Backstage Bulletin- December 2025 Edition

This Month at COS

A Hilarious Holiday Hit You Won’t Want to Miss!

Kick off your holiday season with a fast-paced, side-splitting celebration of everything festive! In this wildly inventive comedy, three actors set aside Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and instead launch into an unforgettable whirlwind tour of every Christmas story ever told, including holiday traditions from around the globe, iconic characters from history and pop culture, and more carols than you can count. It’s joyful, irreverent, and absolutely guaranteed to get you laughing.

Performances:
December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 at 8:00 p.m.
Matinee: December 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Dylan Smail

Bring your friends, bring your family, and bring your holiday spirit—this madcap romp sells quickly each season, so secure your seats now!

Buy Tickets

 

A Festive Family Adventure Takes the Stage!

This holiday season, join us for a charming, laugh-filled twist on the classic poem you know by heart. When Santa accidentally skips a house, a determined little girl, a resourceful elf, and one very animated mouse set off on a high-spirited mission to save Christmas. Packed with heart, humor, and holiday cheer, this delightful production is perfect for families and young audiences alike.

Performances:
Saturdays, December 6, 13 & 20 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Matinee: Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Jennifer Brown

It’s a joyful celebration of Christmas magic, so bring the whole family and make it part of your holiday tradition!

Buy Tickets

 

Help Us Share Some Holiday Magic

This season, The Company OnStage is proud to support the Houston Fire Department’s Annual Toy Drive by hosting a collection box in our lobby throughout Opening Weekend of our holiday shows. When you join us for Ken Ludwig’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas or Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), we invite you to bring a gift and help brighten the holidays for a child in need. As a thank-you, every donor will receive a festive goody bag!

When to Donate:
Bring your unwrapped gift to any performance during the first weekend of December:

• Dec 5: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) at 8 p.m.
• Dec 6: ’Twas the Night Before Christmas at 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) at 8 p.m.
• Dec 7: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) at 2 p.m.

Can’t attend a show? You can still drop off donations Sunday, December 7 from 4–7 p.m.

Suggested Donations:
Unwrapped, age-neutral, and gender-neutral gifts such as tech accessories, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, board games, books, and puzzles. (No stuffed animals or used toys; bikes must be unassembled in original packaging.)

Join us in spreading joy and ensuring every child gets to experience the excitement of unwrapping a present this holiday season!

Learn More

 

Opening Night Celebration!

Raise a glass as we continue our 2025–2026 Season at The Company OnStage! Curtains & Cabernet returns as our season-long opening-night tradition for our Evening Series, and we’re thrilled to host its second event of the year before the opening performance of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) on December 5th.

Enjoy complimentary wine and cheese with the purchase of your show ticket, and join us in celebrating another joyful production in our holiday lineup.

Arrive by 7:30 p.m. to enjoy the festivities before the curtain rises at 8:00 p.m.

Reserve your seats, bring a friend, and help us toast to a season filled with laughter, community, and memorable theatre at COS!

Buy Tickets

Steps OnStage: Step 1—Auditions & Monologues

Ready to strengthen your audition skills? We’re kicking off Steps OnStage, a new workshop series designed for adults looking to sharpen their craft in a supportive community theatre setting.

Led by Artistic Director Mak Secrest, this hands-on session will help you refine your monologue delivery, understand audition best practices, and gain confidence through small-group coaching and a friendly mock audition.

What to Bring: Two contrasting monologues: one dramatic and one comedic (memorized if possible). Need help choosing pieces? Mak is happy to guide you after registration.

Pricing:
• $20 – Workshop only
• $30 – Workshop + a ticket to Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)
All participants receive a certificate of completion.

Space is limited, so take your next step OnStage and reserve your spot today!

Reserve Your Spot

 

Spotlight on Giving: Help Keep the Magic Alive

During this season of giving, The Company OnStage is proud to launch our Spotlight on Giving campaign to celebrate the generosity that keeps our 100% volunteer-driven community theater thriving.

Since 1978, our mission has been simple: keep the arts accessible and affordable for everyone. But ticket sales, even in a sold-out season, cannot fully cover what it takes to operate our theater. That’s why your support matters.

Your gift helps us:

• Keep ticket prices affordable for all
• Offer free “Library Day” performances for families who couldn’t otherwise attend
• Ensure the arts remain a shared treasure—not a luxury

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re asking our community to stand with us. Whether you give $10, $120, or become a monthly Sustainer, your generosity keeps our stage shining.

This season, generosity takes center stage.
Please consider donating today and help up keep the magic alive!

Give Today

COS Receives Five BroadwayWorld Houston Nominations!

We’re excited to share that The Company OnStage has been nominated for five BroadwayWorld Houston Awards, including Best Direction (Ricky Rojas – The Shadow Box), Best Performer in a Play (James West III – N), Best Scenic Design (Andrew Trott – The Shadow Box), Best Theatre for Young Audiences Production (Tomás and the Library Lady), and Favorite Local Theatre.

Voting is now open through December 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

Cast your vote and help celebrate the incredible talent within our community.
Thank you for your continued support of local theatre!

VOTE

 

Join Us for Library Days at The Company OnStage!

Celebrate the magic of stories, both onstage and on the page, at our upcoming Library Days event, held alongside the morning performance of Ken Ludwig’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. This joyful, family-friendly morning is the perfect way to connect with theatre, creativity, and your local library community.

Event Details:
Saturday, December 13, 2025
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Arrive by 10:30 a.m. for the craft activity)

Enjoy a fun and engaging lineup suitable for all ages:

• A festive live performance of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
• A free DIY craft station where kids can make their own reindeer antlers
• On-site sign-ups for a Houston Public Library card
• Opportunities to explore creativity, storytelling, and community together

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome, just reserve your spot and join us! Bring your family, your imagination, and your love for books and theatre as we celebrate a morning full of holiday cheer and the joy of reading.

Reserve Your Tickets Today

Play Club: Other Desert Cities

The Company OnStage invites you to join Play Club, a welcoming and engaging way to experience theatre from a new perspective.

Each month, we gather to read a selected play aloud as a group. Participants are welcome to take turns reading roles or simply listen and enjoy the performances. Following the reading, we’ll share first impressions and discuss whether the play might be a good fit for a future Company OnStage production.

Event Details
Play: Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz
Date: Saturday, December 28th
Time: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Artistic Director Mak Secrest
Admission: Free

What to Bring
Please bring a device (tablet, laptop, or phone) to read from. Scripts will be provided electronically upon arrival.

Join us to discover new stories, connect with fellow theatre lovers, and take part in shaping the future of our stage.

Learn More

 

Keep Live Theatre Affordable Ticket sales cover only part of what it takes to produce high-quality, accessible theatre. Your support helps COS continue our mission in Southwest Houston. (Donate)

Want to Work Behind the Scenes? It takes over 100 volunteers each season to support COS onstage and behind the scenes. From hospitality to production, there’s a role for everyone. (Sign Up)

 

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