Arts & Culture in Houston

The Rumfolo family's blood seems to have mixed with oil somewhere in the past. It probably happened in the 1950s, when Walter Rumfolo founded the first incarnation of The Showboat Drive-in—a restaurant where his children worked throughout their teenage years. His children must have carried it with them, because today his grandchildren, Johnny and Chris, operate a drive-in movie theater by the same name. They've preserved the original venue's neighborly vibe and kept the family’s blood intertwined with car engines by employing Johnny's sons to sell tickets and run the projector. Today, the small-town ambiance has a much larger area to cover, and each of the theater's two jumbo screens steps up to the task by accommodating 400 cars full of spectators.

Guests park at dusk for a night at the movies—a full night, with double features painting the sky silver for hours. Audiences access the films' sound through their FM radios so that they don’t have to swipe a copy of the script and have their children read the parts. Together, families and dates can sit on lawn chairs, blankets, or inside the car as they lose themselves in the plot and munch concessions that range from burgers to candy and popcorn. The staff caters to viewers at any point during the films or intermission, providing a playground for restless youngsters and jumping cars if their batteries fizzle.

Cinematic drama, action, and romance soar across 131 all-digital screens at Movie Tavern's 16 locations in seven states. With the latest first-run releases and triweekly showings of Retro Cinema classics, its theaters entertain with the chases and hijinks churned out by Hollywood’s dream factories. Viewers can pair their flicks with frothy brews, a choice of wines, or items from a menu stocked not just with staples like popcorn and candies, but also with grill-seared burgers, homemade pizzas, and chef-inspired appetizers. All sweet and savory selections can be delivered to a tabled seat inside the theater after placing an order at the concession stand.

Movie Tavern shakes up the traditional theater experience with more than its food, varied beverage selection, and table service. Its Breakfast & a Flick treats early weekend risers to films and food inspired by classics with dishes such as the French Connection Toast. Its group outings help businesses captivate employees at holiday parties without having to project a slideshow of their personal emails. The Movie Tavern membership awards a free birthday movie tickets and popcorn to members when they sign up, and sends out invites to special events and screenings.

Today’s Groupon offers an upgrade from your biography audio books. For $20, you’ll experience legendary lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s candid confessions at The Society for the Performing Arts on Sunday, October 25, a $42 value. New York Times columnist and former chief drama critic Frank Rich will prompt the esteemed composer to reflect on his career, collaborations, and creative process during the 7:30 p.m. performance at Jones Hall. Gypsies: “Boy, I was pretty sure I was going to get sued for this one. To make the lawyers happy, I added a scene where giant robots fight each other and changed that song to ‘Everything’s Coming Up Robots’.” A Different West Side Story: “You can’t copyright a part of town! The story is basically the same as the regular West Side Story, but some of the characters in mine are giant robots who have forbidden love.” Sweeney Ted: “I didn’t change much in this case because the original seems to also be about robots. A huge hit!”

Stages Repertory Theatre stages innovative performances of new plays and classic works in an intimate setting. Revel in the riotous hilarity of Auntie Mame, as the 12-actor cast weaves in and out of more than 45 characters (runs September 15–October 10). Or delight in a modern take on a literature classic with Panto Pinocchio, which shares the hilarious story of a robot boy looking for love (runs November 23, 2010–January 9, 2011). Consult the full season schedule to find a show of interest, and let Stages Repertory Theatre light you up with the luster of live theater. Free parking is available for ticket holders.