In 1978, in the damp basement of a downtown brewery, Stages burst onto the Houston theatre scene, daring audiences to see the newest, most audacious works written for the stage. Now entering its 30th season and comfortably settled in the former Star Engraving building on Allen Parkway, Stages is a professional Equity theatre that produces new work, interprets established work in new ways, and nurtures talent for the performing arts field. Characterized by courage, generosity, ingenuity and intimacy, Stages remains and integral part of the Houston arts community. Stages has garnered national recognition for its work, including coverage in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, Vogue and American Theatre magazine. Stages’ MainStage season includes a varied repertoire of world and regional premieres, innovative treatments of dramatic and literary classics, and pioneering, risk-taking productions that are not likely to be seen anywhere else in town. Each production is brought to life by an exceptional team of artists, performers and craftspeople largely from the Houston area, but also with guest artists from around the world. With the same professional standards and spirit of adventure, Stages’ EarlyStages series introduces young audiences to the power and magic of live theatre. Each year thousands of area children experience dramatic interpretations of classic folktales, stories from diverse world cultures, and plays and musicals commissioned especially for EarlyStages. In addition to its MainStage and EarlyStages plays, Stages offer a range of additional programs that encourage conversation about important ideas and issues, provide insight into other cultures and viewpoints, and help develop each new generation of citizens, artists and audiences.