PROGRAMS

teen apprentice program 2024/25

(Open to Academy and Non-Academy Students)
Open to students interested in technical areas of the industry, this program will meet monthly for professional industry engagements in areas such as light design, scenic design, sound design, stage management, company management, casting, costume design, directing, and more. Additionally, each accepted student will have the opportunity for mentorship by an industry professional at TUTS.

Spotlight

Everyone is invited to this free event at the Ion! Experience live performances, test your knowledge with thrilling trivia, and join an engaging conversation with TUTS Artistic Director, Dan Knechtges and a panel of special guests. This is a night of fun, entertainment, and insider insights you won’t want to miss!

• Dear Evan Hansen: Thursday, August 22, 2024
• Little Shop of Horrors: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
• Disney’s Frozen: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
• Mean Girls: Thursday, January 9, 2025
• Waitress: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
• In the Heights: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

TOMMY TUNE AWARDS

The Tommy Tune Awards (TTA) Program celebrates the educational value, artistry and community of high school musical theatre in the Greater Houston Area.  
 
Education: No matter the role in the creative process, experiences in the arts cultivate confidence, spark creative thinking, and inspire life-long learning.  

Artistry: The arts are a safe haven for exploration, reflection, and innovation. TTA is as an opportunity for students and educators to share their creative accomplishments as individuals, collaborators and members of the greater Houston community.  

Community: We believe in the power of learning, collaborating, and growing together. As we celebrate shared experiences of this transformative artform, we as an artistic and educational community enhance the future of our students, our art, and our city.  

Houston area high schools produce a full-length musical that is adjudicated by a team of volunteer Mentors – professional Houston-based music/theatre artists. This adjudication process runs October through March with top scorers receiving nominations throughout the season. Top nominated students and schools are invited to a rigorous rehearsal period at The Hobby Center in preparation for the Tommy Tune Awards Ceremony on June 6, 2025. This ceremony celebrates the achievement of the high school musical theatre community throughout the Greater Houston Area.  For more information click here.  

cREATIVE pROGRAMMING

TUTS Teaching Artists work with participants from Houston-area non-profits to tailor programming that meets the needs of their communities, whether that’s teaching a movement class at a senior center or using music to help children engage in learning. Community partners include New Hope, Dress for Success, FLAS, Combined Arms, Children’s Memorial Hermann Foundation, University of Houston, and more. If your organization is interested in working with us, please reach out to Jacob Shideler.