Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company

“A cause and no curve, a cause and loud enough, a cause and extra a loud clash and an extra wagon, a sign of extra, a sac a small sac and an established color and cunning, a slender grey and no ribbon, this means a loss a great loss a restitution.”

-- Mildred’s Umbrella by Gertrude Stein

MISSION

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company seeks to challenge audiences and theatre artists by creating and performing bold, innovative and fresh theatrical works grounded in the best traditions of the dramatic arts. With a strong feminine presence in our artistic vision, we strive to feature the work of female playwrights, actors and directors, which promotes the empowerment of women through the performing arts.



HISTORY

Mildred’s Umbrella began when local actress, Jennifer Decker, and playwright, John Harvey, brought together a group of artists and actors to create a collaborative theatrical piece written by Harvey and directed by Decker. The production received positive press attention and attracted many other local artists who wanted to collaborate in the exciting work produced by the company. The group gained 501(c)3 status in 2004.

Over the course of several years, Mildred's Umbrella has expanded to also staging Houston premieres of work from other playwrights and to searching out opportunities for creative collaborations with other local theater groups and artists. The company has produced dozens of mainstage plays, as well as performances in conjunction with lectures at University of Houston, several Fringe Festival pieces, annual showcases with a short play festival created by the company in 2008 (titled “Museum of Dysfunction”), performances at the Houston Center for Photography and University of Houston, and a children’s after school workshop series at the Houston Public Library.

The company has received numerous Houston Press ‘Best Of’ awards, including “Best Original Play” (Rot in 2007, which went on a Texas Tour that year), “Best Theatre Company” (2006), and “Best Theatre Company on a Shoestring Budget” (2008). Mildred’s has also received numerous positive reviews for their bold and original shows in The Houston Press, the Houston Chronicle, Arts Houston, Culturemap and American Theater Magazine, among others.

Mildred’s Umbrella’s recent seasons have been highly successful, with sold out shows for three regional premieres, one world premiere, and three original pieces presented by the company, earning quotes from the press, such as ‘fitfully fascinating’ (Houston Chronicle - The Flu Season), ‘kicky, clever and utterly unpredictable’ (The Houston Chronicle - Margo Veil), ‘strangely compelling and funny...glorious, absurd contours’ (Houston Arts Week - Night of the Giant).

Mildred’s Umbrella loves collaboration, and has worked with Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre, University of Houston Honors College, Houston Community College, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Houston Public Library to further enrich the city’s artistic scene through education and artistic growth. We have hosted 4 workshops to allow local actors a chance to take a usually expensive workshop at a discount price, as we are very concerned with the growth of the theatre community in our city. We recently joined with Stark Naked Theatre and Classical Theatre Company to lease a space at Spring Street Studios. Our new home is called Studio 101.



WHAT THE PRESS HAS SAID ABOUT MILDRED’S UMBRELLA:

"Haunting and Beautiful." (Houston Chronicle on One Flea Spare)

"Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company cast... explores Wallace's surreal view with an almost visual clarity. With its hypnotic and grotesque strangeness, Flea is unlike any other play in recent memory." (Houston Press on One Flea Spare)

"Think Tom Stoppard on Methamphetimines." (Houston Press on Things Being at the Worst)

"...exudes enough despair to make the average Samuel Beckett outing look like 'Annie.'" (Houston Chronicle on Rot)

"...a smart, wildly literary piece of experimental theatre the likes of which no Houstonian will see anywhere else this season." (Houston Press on Rot).

"Full of promise for something new and different, Mildred’s Umbrella seems to be on the road to someplace exciting." (Houston Press);

"...the amazing enemble cast...throws itself into the creepy goings-on with panache and conviction... a tasty bit of theatre you won't soon forget." (Houston Press on Mac Wellman’s Dracula)