Based on the smash hit Paramount film starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, Urban Cowboy: The Musical tells the story of Bud, a new breed of cowboy who's lookin' for love in the biggest honky-tonk in the world, and his rollercoaster romance with local cowgirl
July 14-19: Urban Cowboy: The Musical Saddles Up at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Theatre Under the Stars presents the Texas Premiere
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) will present Urban Cowboy: The Musical from July 14-19, 2011. This Houston-inspired, Tony-nominated story will mark TUTS’ 44th summer of free musicals at Miller Outdoor Theatre (6000 Hermann Park Drive). Based on the smash hit Paramount film starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, Urban Cowboy: The Musical tells the story of Bud, a new breed of cowboy who's lookin' for love in the biggest honky-tonk in the world, and his rollercoaster romance with local cowgirl Sissy. Their courtship plays out among a Texas-sized setting including oil fields, trailer parks and the infamous Pasadena bar and dance hall Gilley’s. Urban Cowboy: The Musical features romance, big country-dance breaks, a trademark mechanical bull and a song list people have been humming for decades in their pick-up trucks. The hootenanny score rocks a jukebox of country music tunesmiths including Clint Black and Charles Daniels. Dashed throughout the production are some of the most iconic country songs made popular by Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson and Sara Evans.
For more information on Urban Cowboy: The Musical, visit Theatre Under The Stars on the web at www.tuts.com or Miller Outdoor Theatre at www.milleroutdoortheatre.com. To contact TUTS by phone, call 713-558-TUTS(8887). Free tickets for the covered seats are available on the day of performance between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Miller Theatre Box Office. Free tickets are limited to four per person. Any tickets remaining will be given out one hour before curtain.
Don’t want to wait in line? For each $50 tax-deductible donation to TUTS, the organization will set aside two reserved tickets under the covered pavilion so you may enjoy the show and experience firsthand how your generosity makes the music happen. Contact Seth Malin at 713-558-2656 or Seth@TUTS.com to take advantage of this deal. No tickets? Bring a cozy blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show from the Miller Theatre lawn, the perfect place for a picnic and a show!
Museum/Attraction Free Days
When you’re ready for a weekend away – but not too far away – the fourth largest city in the United States is waiting just down the highway from the Brazos Valley. Museums, nightlife, restaurants, attractions and more await you. Be sure to note the FREE days for some of the world-renowned attractions that will make visiting Houston your best summer getaway ever.
July 9: ArtHouston 2011
Feel like the guest of honor as Houston Art galleries open their doors to you! The ArtHouston summer event encompasses exhibitions at 36 galleries featuring both emerging regional talents and established artists from around the world. A wide range of work will be on display, from realist to abstract paintings, sculpture to mixed media constructions, drawings and works on paper, collage and photography. This daylong event is expected to be the busiest day of the year with many galleries holding evening receptions. Participating galleries include those along Colquitt, in the Museum District, the Heights and other areas. The ArtHouston Summer event is always free and open to the public. Visit www.arthouston.com for more information; event times vary by gallery.
Second Saturday Boat Rides on Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou Partnership invites you to a 30-minute tour on the city's waterways aboard the pontoon boat, Spirit of the Bayou. A great way to spend the afternoon with your family, friends, and out of town guests, escape from the city and enjoy the cool breeze as you glide along the bayou's waters. Look for graceful herons, jumping fish, and turtles sunning on the bayou's banks. Go to www.arthouston.com for exact dates and times.
Children’s Museum of Houston
1500 Binz, Houston 77004
713-522-1138
Free Thursdays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
All new and now twice as big, the Children’s Museum of Houston is rated the No. 1 children's museum in the U.S. by Parents magazine. Packed with 90,000 square feet of innovative, interactive bilingual exhibits for kids, ages birth to 12 years, housed in a whimsical Robert Venturi-designed building. Regular hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 noon – 6 p.m.
Houston Zoo
1513 North MacGregor, Houston 77030
713-533-6500
Free the first Tuesday of the month after 2p.m.
Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Houston Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 900 species. The Houston Zoo was named one of the top 10 zoos in the U.S. by Parents magazine in 2009. The African Forest is now open.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston 77030
713-639-4629
Free Tuesdays after 2 p.m.
Visit one of the most heavily attended museums in the U.S., which features the Wortham IMAX Theatre, Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, permanent exhibit halls and traveling exhibitions. The Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is a stunning, living exhibit that showcases hundreds of live butterflies in a naturalistic rainforest setting. The central conservatory is a dramatic three-story glass cone filled with tropical plants and exotic butterflies. For a listing of all the permanent and traveling exhibits, visit www.hmns.org.
Museum of Fine Arts
1001 Bissonnet, Houston 77005
713-639-7300
Free Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Founded in 1900, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's collection numbers more than 56,000 works and embraces the art of antiquity to the present. Admission is free all day on Thursdays. MFAH Collections visitors should check in advance to see which collections are on view.
The Health Museum
1515 Hermann Drive, Houston 77004
713-942-7054
Free Thursdays 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Health Museum provides innovative and interactive health and science educational experiences to promote an understanding of the human body. The Jim Hickox Amazing Body Pavilion is a larger-than-life walking tour through the human body. Features include: 30 interactive video and audio kiosks; a 22-foot-long backbone with ribs descending from the ceiling to the floor; 27½-foot intestine; 10-foot-tall walk-through brain with memory games and more.
The John C. Freeman Weather Museum
5104 Caroline, Houston 77004
713-529-3076
The John C. Freeman Weather Museum is a place for people of all ages to learn about the weather, its history and public safety. The museum was established in 2006 by the Weather Research Center, a Texas-based education and research organization. Exhibits include: Weather Studio, Climates of the World and the Weather Wizard Corner where you can see experiments performed by meteorologists and museum staff demonstrating how Mother Nature works in this interactive section of the museum.
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
1834 Southmore, Houston 77004
(713) 942-8920
Free Mondays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to preserving the legacy and honor of the African-American soldier housing the largest repository of African-American military history in the world. The 10th cavalry, an all African-American Army unit, was nicknamed Buffalo Soldiers by Cheyenne warriors in 1867 out of respect for their fierce fighting ability. Over time, the term Buffalo Soldier was applied to all African-American soldiers. Visit on Mondays for free admission for up to 15 people. (Not valid on holidays).
Plan Your Visit!
For attractions, events and updates, discounts and travel planning:
Online: www.visithoustontexas.com
Call: 1.800.4.HOUSTON
Stop by: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, 901 Bagby / First Floor, Houston, TX 77002
