Upcoming shows at the Majestic Theatre include ‘Hamilton’ and “Weird Al” Yankovic. Photo: Majestic Theatre
These shows were just announced this month. Tickets are now on sale at the Majestic and Empire Theatres. For full calendar and listing of events, please visit the Majestic Theatre online. (Majestic Theatre, 2021)
LUPITA D’ALESSIO Y MARÍA JOŚE: TOUR USA 2022 Majestic Theatre February 24, 2022 at 8p.m.
RON WHITE: FOR MATURE AUDIENCES Majestic Theatre February 26, 2022 at 10p.m.
ANGELA AGUILAR – MEXICAN ENAMORADA Majestic Theatre April 2, 2022 at 8p.m.
SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL Majestic Theatre April 19-24, 2022
FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME Empire Theatre May 18-22, 2022 Tickets go on sale January 21, 2022 at 10a.m.
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE WERQ THE WORLD TOUR 2022 Majestic Theatre July 17, 2022 at 7:30p.m.
TRIXIE AND KATYA LIVE! Majestic Theatre August 31, 2022 at 7:30p.m.
“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC Special Guest: Emo Philips Majestic Theatre October 4, 2022 at 7:30p.m.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AT MAJESTIC & EMPIRE THEATRES Hamilton || Majestic Theatre || January 5 – 16, 2022 Diana Krall || Majestic Theatre || February 5, 2022 Sebastian Maniscalco || Majestic Theatre || February 18, 2022 – 9:30p.m. SHOW ADDED Me, Myself & Shirley || Empire Theatre || February 25-26, 2022 Willie Nelson & Family || Majestic Theatre || March 21-22, 2022 Il Volo || Majestic Theatre || April 15, 2022 Chelsea Handler || Majestic Theatre || May 14, 2022 Freestyle Love Supreme || Empire Theatre || May 18 – 22, 2022 – JUST ANNOUNCED
Tickets for four new shows are now on sale, including two nights of Willie Nelson & Family. Photo: Majestic Theatre
Tickets are now on sale for four new shows at the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. For full calendar and listing of events, visit the Majestic Theatre online. (Majestic Theatre, 2021)
Sebastian Maniscalco: Nobody Does This Tour – Majestic Theatre Friday February 18 at 7p.m.
“The hottest comic in America,” as touted by The New York Times, is making a stop on the Majestic Theatre stage Friday, February 18, 2022. Currently on the road for his new Nobody Does This Tour, the man Vulture has “built a tremendous fan base the old-fashioned way: one joke at a time, one audience at the time.” With so many new experiences to draw from this last year, Maniscalco is sharing his unique comedic perspective with the masses with this brand-new show.
“I’ve been unable to share my comedy for over a year,” Maniscalco shared exclusively with Billboard earlier this year. “I’m busting at the seams to get back out on the road and share my observations about life and family on this brand-new tour!”
During the last year, the comic NBC’s Nightly News dubbed, “comedy’s new superstar,” found new ways to connect with fans and flex his comedic muscles including hosting several virtual dinners with friend and chef, Dominick DiBartolomeo. Billed as “Sebastian’s Sunday Supper” the events have offered the ultimate virtual dinner party, filled with amazing food and packed with special guests including Jerry Seinfeld, Lester Holt, J.J. Watt, Christopher Lloyd and Rick Caruso.
The comedian also still managed to notched several career firsts in 2020 including a two-night run guest-hosting ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” In addition to adding late night host to his growing list of hyphenates, Maniscalco also add executive producer with the release of Sebastian Maniscalco presents Pat McGann: When’s Mom Gonna Be Home?
Me, Myself & Shirley – Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Friday February 25 at 7p.m. Saturday February 26 at 2p.m. Saturday February 26 at 7p.m.
Cindy Williams will take the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre stage in a one-woman show, Me, Myself & Shirley for a limited three-show engagement February 25 – 26, 2022. Tickets start at $39.50.
The legendary star of the iconic comedy series, Laverne & Shirley will share memories of her career and hilarious backstage tales from her lifetime in entertainment. Although best known for her role as Shirley Feeney, Cindy Williams is a versatile actress and comedienne who overcame a challenging childhood to pursue her love of acting and found stardom.
During Me, Myself & Shirley, Williams will chronicle the stories, the secrets, the embarrassing moments, and the highs and lows of her life in Hollywood. Her career includes working with Academy Award-winning directors Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, George Cukor, Roger Corman and Jack Nicholson and in several films including two nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: American Graffiti and The Conversation. Her friends and co-stars include Penny Marshall, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Henry Winkler, Richard Dreyfus, Gene Hackman, Dame Maggie Smith, Gene Kelly, Andy Kaufman and Robert Duval.
Among her favorite honors are her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, her TV Land award for Fan Favorite as well as winning Best Actress at the L.A. Comedy Film Festival for the Indy film Stealing Roses. Cindy also garnered a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) nomination for best supporting actress in American Graffiti. Unfortunately, she was beat out by Ingrid Bergman. Cindy still wonders how all that happened.
Willie Nelson & Family – Majestic Theatre Special guest: Kimberly Kelly March 21 and 22 at 7:30p.m.
The Majestic Theatre is proud to welcome the return of Willie Nelson & Family with guest, Kimberly Kelly for two very special nights. With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force.
In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10New York Times’ bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, been honored by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie’s Reserve and Willie’s Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In July 2020, Willie released his album First Rose of Spring – an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully-written songs and poignant performances. September 2020 brought a memoir with his sister and pianist Bobbie Nelson titled, “Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of The Family Band.”
For 2021, he released a new studio album in February —That’s Life, Willie’s second album of standards and classics made famous by Frank Sinatra (his first, 2018’s My Way, earned Willie the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Solo Album). The two legends were friends, musical colleagues, and mutual admirers of each other’s work. In June 2021, a collection of his thoughts on America, family, faith and music hits shelves as a new book titled “Willie Nelson’s Letters to America.” These creative endeavors as well as new songs and performances that add to his classic catalog, find Willie Nelson rolling at an artistic peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road.
Chelsea Handler: Vaccinated and Horny Tour – Majestic Theatre Saturday May 14 at 8p.m.
Chelsea Handler is bringing her Vaccinated and Horny Tour to San Antonio for one night this spring, Saturday, May 14, 2022. Handler is a comedian, television host, best-selling author and advocate whose humor and candor have established her as one of the most celebrated voices in entertainment and pop culture. After a strong seven-year run as the host of E!’s top-rated Chelsea Lately, a tenure in which Handler was the only female late-night talk show host on-air, she launched her documentary series Chelsea Does and her talk show Chelsea on Netflix in 2016. She has penned six best-selling books, five of which have reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, including 2019’s “Life Will Be the Death of Me.” Most recently, she released her first stand-up special in over 6 years, the critically acclaimed Chelsea Handler: Evolution on HBO Max, and launched her iHeart Radio advice podcast, Dear Chelsea. In 2021, Chelsea embarked on the Vaccinated and Horny Tour, bringing her sensational stand-up set to 40+ cities across the nation.
‘Spamilton’ is playing at the Empire Theatre through Sunday January 26. Photo: Google
Now playing at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre is ‘Spamilton: An American Parody.’ The tour launched in December 2018 and has been playing several multi-week engagements, hip-hopping around the country. Created by Gerard Alessandrini, the comic mastermind behind the long-running hit ‘Forbidden Broadway’ and performed by a versatile cast of seven, ‘Spamilton’ is a side-splitting new musical parody. It is playing through Sunday January 26 with upcoming performances: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30p.m., Friday at 8p.m., Saturday at 2p.m. and 8p.m., and Sunday at 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. Tickets start at $69 and are available online, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-982-2787, or by visiting the Majestic Box Office.
‘Spamilton: An American Parody’ is a musical parody of the Broadway show ‘Hamilton.’ It also parodies several other musicals including ‘Chicago,’ ‘The King and I,’ ‘The Book of Mormon’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’ and personalities like Barbara Streisand, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing and Liza Minelli. Cast includes Jared Alexander, Marissa Hecker, Brandon Kinley, T.J. Newton, Datus Puryear and Matthew Hougland (Musical Director as well as King George III.) It begins as “Barack and Michelle Obama” are getting ready for bed and they set up their copy of the ‘Hamilton’ Broadway Cast Album to play before they fall asleep. From there the story develops into a fictionalized account about ‘Hamilton’ and how Lin-Manuel Miranda’s dream came true. Woven in between are mashups of musicals and parodies of the real songs. Highlights include “Straight is Back” by King George III and “The Film When It Happens.”
At only an hour and 15 minutes, ‘Spamilton’ is packed with everything that made ‘Hamilton’ a Broadway hit: similar cast costumes and songs that sound similar but hilariously re-written to fit the scene. Is it necessary to have seen the original to enjoy ‘Spamilton?’ No, but it helps, as does having a knowledge of the different musicals in general because there are so many Easter Eggs it is hard to pick up on all of them. Everyone does a fabulous performance but Marissa Hecker’s impersonations are spot on, especially her Barbara Streisand and Liza Minelli. ‘Spamilton’ is a non-stop singing and dancing spectacular and the laughs come early on and stick around for the entire show. There is no intermission and the smaller venue at the Empire Theatre gives it a more intimate feel. It is a definite must-see.
Camp Broadway is set for Monday July 29 through Friday August 2. Photo: Las Casas Foundation, used with permission.
Broadway’s original summer camp will shine its spotlight at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Monday, July 29 through Friday, August 2. Camp Broadway, in partnership with Las Casas Foundation is the only dramatic camp in San Antonio that immerses young aspiring artists in a week of theatrical training and rehearsals with professional actors from Los Angeles and New York. (Las Casas Foundation, 2019)
Open to all skill levels, Camp Broadway is a five-day summer camp from 9a.m. to 5p.m., designed to immerse children ages 10 to 17 in an authentic Broadway rehearsal process. No previous theatre experience is necessary to enroll in the camp. After a week of training, the program culminates in a special on-stage performance for family and friends with professional actors at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.
For $600, Camp Broadway enables theater-loving children to develop their confidence, character, and presentation skills through ensemble performance.
Mainstage package includes 5 days (40 hours) of instruction and activities including:
Intensives in singing, acting and dancing taught by Broadway professionals
A memorable lunch on stage of the Majestic Theatre and talk back with industry professionals
Camp Broadway swag – including official t-shirt, labeled bag and pencil
A collectible Mainstage program patch
Professional ‘Cast of Characters’ head shot
Healthy lunches, snacks and water
Mainstagers and their families also receive:
Access to the ‘Call Board’ with exclusive sneak peeks and all the need-to-know details to get ready for Broadway
End-of-day information to prepare for the next day’s activities
A keepsake playbill from the Mainstage Finale performance
Complimentary admission to the Family Finale show at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Registration for this camp is available online. Camp Broadway San Antonio features a sibling discount for families with multiple children who want to enjoy a turn in the spotlight. A special discount for military families is also available.
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
226 N. St. Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700
The uproaringly funny ‘Late Nite Catechism’ returned to the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre this month for four unconventional but hilarious catechism classes. ‘Late Nite Catechism’ is an interactive play about a fictitious Catholic nun where the nun is the only person on stage and the audience becomes the class. She takes the audience back to their youth as the irrepressible Sister teaches an adult catechism class. Proceeds went to benefit the Archdiocese San Antonio Chapter of the Retired Fund for the Religious which provides medication and nursing care to elderly sisters, brothers and priests.
Written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, ‘Late Nite Catechism’ is a one woman show and opens as the Sister (Kimberly Richards) welcomes her “students” for another round of catechism class. The first ones to feel her ire were the late comers. She singled them out individually and shamed them for having the gall to be late and fined them $1 each, funds which she said would go to a late-night dinner after the show. One of the female students was wearing a low-cut blouse so naturally, the Sister gave her a plastic bib to cover up during the entire show. Once class began, the topics covered were the saints whose sainthood was being reconsidered and the four different types of afterlife. She rewarded the students for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries, mini saint statues and laminated saint cards, which she said are laminated so they do not get soaked with the students’ tears. There were question and answer moments where the students shared their past experiences in Catholic school. On their way out, the audience was encouraged to drop a donation in the collection buckets.
On opening night, the audience was overwhelmingly former Catholic school students who no doubt related to most of what was being discussed. They got to relive, sometimes not too fondly, their school experience while the rest got a glimpse of the ups and downs of Catholic school. The show has the feel of an improv routine because since each audience is different, they give the Sister some of the interactive material for the night and is bound to vary with each show. With a classroom setting that includes a collage of U.S. Presidents that had Obama’s picture as the biggest one and in the middle, there was one tense moment when one of the students questioned why that was, to which the Sister plainly responded “because he is a President”…obviously. Overall, the atmosphere was relaxed but some students had already had too much to drink and were slightly belligerent but Ms. Richards held her composure. Sometimes she would just crack up laughing at her own jokes. ‘Late Nite Catechism’ is bound to strike a resonant chord with anyone who survived Catholic school with nuns as teachers and those who did not will just enjoy the fun moments while being glad they were spared.
Registration is now open for Camp Broadway coming up in August. Photo: Las Casas Foundation, used with permission.
Broadway’s original summer camp will shine its spotlight at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9. Camp Broadway, in partnership with Las Casas Foundation is the only dramatic camp in San Antonio that immerses young aspiring artists in a week of theatrical training and rehearsals with professional actors from Los Angeles and New York. (Las Casas Foundation, 2019)
Open to all skill levels, Camp Broadway is a five-day summer camp from 9a.m. to 5p.m., designed to immerse children ages 10 to 17 in an authentic Broadway rehearsal process. No previous theatre experience is necessary to enroll in the camp. After a week of training, the program culminates in a special on-stage performance for family and friends with professional actors at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.
For $600, Camp Broadway enables theatre-loving children to develop their confidence, character, and presentation skills through ensemble performance.
Mainstage package includes 5 days (40 hours) of instruction and activities including:
• Intensives in singing, acting and dancing taught by Broadway professionals
• A memorable lunch on stage of the Majestic Theatre and talkback with industry professionals
• Camp Broadway swag – including official t-shirt, labeled bag and pencil
• A collectible Mainstage program patch
• Professional ‘Cast of Characters’ headshot
• Healthy lunches, snacks and water
Mainstagers and their families also receive:
• Access to the ‘Call Board’ – with exclusive sneak peeks and all the need-to-know details to get ready for Broadway
• End-of-day info to prepare for the next day’s activities
• A keepsake playbill from the Mainstage Finale performance
• Complimentary admission to the Family Finale show at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Registration is limited and available online. Camp Broadway San Antonio features a sibling discount for families with multiple children who want to enjoy a turn in the spotlight. A special discount for military families is also available.
Las Casas Foundation is dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education and scholarships, as well as the restoration and preservation of historic theatres. Las Casas Foundation offers a variety of educational initiatives to nurture and grow the performing arts, including an annual scholarship program, awarding $100,000 in scholarship funds each year, as well as additional educational and training opportunities.
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
226 N. St. Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700
Tickets for ‘Late Nite Catechism’ are now on sale for performances in April at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
‘Late Nite Catechism’ returns to the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre for four performances from Friday April 5 through Sunday April 7, 2019. to benefit the Archdiocese San Antonio Chapter of the Retired Fund for the Religious which provides medication and nursing care to elderly sisters, brothers and priests. Performance times are 8p.m. on Friday; 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $39.50 and go on sale Friday, February 1 at 10a.m. in person at the Majestic Theatre Box Office, online through Ticketmaster or by phone at 800-745-3000. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling (210) 226-5967. All tickets subject to applicable service charges and fees. (Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 2019)
Written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, ‘Late Nite Catechism’ made its debut May 28, 1993 at the Live Bait Theatre in Chicago, Illinois and since has grossed over $100 million in box office receipts. It has been presented in more than 410 cities around the world and has played six countries with attendance exceeding 3.5 million people. There have been more than 100 “Sisters” presenting the eight shows now in the series which has raised in excess of $4 million for retired Sisters and Catholic Organizations.
‘Late Nite Catechism’ is an uproarious piece of theater that takes audience members back – sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully to the children they once were. The irrepressible Sister teaches an adult catechism class to a roomful of “students,” the audience. Throughout the play, Sister goes from benevolent instructor, rewarding the “students” for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and laminated saint cards, to authoritative drill sergeant. These abrupt mood swings are bound to strike a resonant chord with anyone who survived the ups and downs of going to school, with an omniscient authoritarian at the helm. It was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award in New York and won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Performance for Maripat Donovan.
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
226 N. St. Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
Camp Broadway takes place from July 30 through August 3. Photo: Las Casas Foundation, used with permission.
Camp Broadway, in partnership with Las Casas Foundation is the only dramatic camp in San Antonio that immerses young aspiring artists in a week of theatrical training, rehearsals and fun with professional actors from Los Angeles and New York. Broadway’s original summer camp will shine its spotlight at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre from Monday July 30 through Friday August 3. This is a last call for young aspiring artists to register for Camp Broadway. (Las Casas Foundation, 2018)
Camp Broadway is a five-day summer camp open to all skill levels and held daily from 9a.m. to 5p.m. and designed to immerse children ages 10 to 17 in an authentic Broadway rehearsal process. No previous theatre experience is necessary to enroll in the camp. After a week of training, the program ends in a special on-stage performance for family and friends with professional actors at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.
For $600, Camp Broadway enables theatre-loving children to develop their confidence, character and presentation skills through ensemble performance. The week-long program includes:
Five days of instruction in singing, acting and dancing by trained Broadway professionals
Master classes with Broadway artists
Q&A sessions with industry professionals
Backstage seminar with a production crew
Official Camp Broadway T-shirts
Official Cast of Characters headshot
Healthy lunches, snacks and water
Complimentary admission to the Family Finale
Registration for this can’t-miss camp is available online. Camp Broadway San Antonio features a sibling discount for families with multiple children who want to enjoy a turn in the spotlight. A special discount for military families is also available.
Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
226 N. Saint Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700
The uproaringly funny ‘Late Nite Catechism’ returned to the 
SA Examiner 