Long before she was a Disney Princess and cavorted with the likes of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel the Mermaid and Snow White, the young character at the center of Mulan: The Warrior Princess was inspiring young girls to live their dreams. The original sixth-century poem (The Ballad of Mulan) tells the story of a devoted daughter who disguises herself as a man to serve in the army in her aging father’s place. The Express Children’s Theatre, which was founded in 1991, brings the heroic tale to life with a script written by former Houstonian Alvaro Saar Rios.

11 a.m. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive. For information, call 281-373-3386 or visit milleroutdoortheatre.com Free.

Wed., Oct. 8, 11 a.m., 2014

Bob Ruggiero has been writing about music, books, visual arts and entertainment for the Houston Press since 1997, with an emphasis on Classic Rock. He used to have an incredible and luxurious mullet in...