'Lyrics from Lockdown,' Grammy winners, new comedy series highlight upcoming Bayou Theater season
The Bayou Theater at University of Houston-Clear Lake will open its 2023-24 season with 21 performances highlighting artists representing a wide range of musical styles, including classical, blues, country western, jazz, and hip hop, but is also expanding into brand-new areas to interest an even wider audience.
Among the new season’s highlights is “Lyrics from Lockdown,” a theatrical hip-hop and multimedia production written and performed by renowned artist and social justice activist Bryonn Bain and will feature a post-show discussion with Emmy award-winning actor and film maker Rob Reiner.
“This gives us the opportunity to showcase UH-Clear Lake’s Transforming Lives by Degrees program, which offers classes at Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities, and highlight the need for prison reform on a national level,” said Cultural Arts Director Eric Despard. “A companion art exhibit will be shown in UHCL’s Art Gallery with a timeline of the university’s nearly 50-year history of having a prison education program in its smaller gallery.”
Despard said that for the first time, the Bayou Theater lineup includes a comedy series. “Everyone loves to laugh,” he said. “With the help of Comedy Zone Worldwide, we’re producing a series of three up-and-coming, family-friendly comedians. Kevin Bozeman, Derrick Stroup, and Andy Woodhull have appeared on Comedy Central, HBO and late-night shows, including ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
Three Grammy-winning artists are also among the new season’s performers: Latin Grammy winner Hector Del Curto will perform Piazzolla with the Apollo Chamber Players, bluegrass Grammy winner Michael Cleveland, and jazz Grammy winners Ranky Tanky.
Despard said the 2023-24 Art Gallery season featured six exhibitions, including the Sustainable Stories Film Fest, the UHCL Art and Design Faculty Exhibition, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition.
For performance dates, ticket reservations, and more information about the Bayou Theater, visit https://uhcl.universitytickets.com/. For dates and information about opening receptions for Art Gallery exhibitions, visit www.uhcl.edu/art-gallery/