Arts & Culture in Houston

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.

For $25, today's side deal scores you a ticket to see the Masquerade Theatre's production of Camelot at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (an up to $56 value). Seating will be in the orchestra section.

From its first days as a converted parking garage to its time as a host for Quentin Tarantino's five-day movie marathons, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has ushered film-lovers of all breeds into its atypical auditoriums. The theaters subvert the industry standard by offering locally brewed beer and fine wines, a rotating menu of handcrafted snacks and desserts, and an advertisement-free experience. A long table stretches in front of every row of seats, enabling waiters to unobtrusively pick up written food orders throughout the night.

Both first-run blockbusters and classics are projected onto the silver screen in crisp 35-millimeter or digital format. Meanwhile, surround sound submerges audiences in the cinematic landscape, whether they're seated in one of the intimate theaters reserved for indie screenings or the more expansive spaces afforded to Hollywood epics.

The staff and an enormous shepherd's crook enforce a strict no-talking, no-texting policy—with a few notable exceptions. For example, fan-centric Quote-Along and Sing-Along nights encourage guests to shout their favorite lines, and appearances by actors, directors, and other film celebrities append in-depth discussions onto the show. These exclusive events have helped build Alamo Drafthouse's reputation among cinephiles across the country, leading to nods from Entertainment Weekly, which called it “one of America's most fanatically unique moviegoing experiences,” and Wired, which opined that it "might just be the coolest movie theater in the world."