Best Dance Company 2008

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Best Dance Company

Hope Stone

Most Houston arts companies would say that they want people of every color, size, age, gender, ethnicity and ability in their audience. Hope Stone goes one better and puts people of every color, size, age, gender, ethnicity and ability onstage, too. Choreographer/artistic director/resident janitor Jane Weiner (hey, that's her joke, not ours) is the driving force behind the dance company and school, and it's her "everybody's welcome" philosophy that guides the group. Hope Stone most recently premiered Weiner's ballet SEE ME at Wortham Center with a cast that included a child, a blind man, a pregnant woman and a prima ballerina. It was a highlight of the Houston arts season.

1210 W. Clay St., Houston, 77019 Map
713-526-1907
www.hopestoneinc.org

Best Theater Company

Stages Repertory Theatre

Producing Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin proved himself over and over at Stages Repertory Theatre last season. The season of powerful scripts moved easily from money-making musicals like Altar Boyz to thoughtful social commentaries such as The Unseen and Black Pearl Sings. Rich with political heft, hilarious jokes and emotional power, the season was most impressive for its commitment to exploring what it means to be human in a difficult and complicated world. Add in the fact that most every production was beautifully cast and wonderfully directed, with designs from folks like Jon Gow and Kirk Markley that captured the strange beauty of the world, and you've got a season to remember.

3201 Allen Parkway, Houston, 77019 Map
713-527-0123
www.stagestheatre.com

Best Of Houston^®

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Best Dance Company

Hope Stone

Best Theater Company

Stages Repertory ­Theatre

Best Of Houston®

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Best Jukebox

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Best Lighting

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Stages Repertory Theatre

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