The Houston Ballet will inaugurate its 2026-2027 season with a very special show that brings us closer to a story of romance, humor, and cowboys.
It is “Pecos Bill,” a mixed-repertoire program that will be presented from September 11 to 20 at the Wortham Theater Center, and tickets are already on sale.
This performance brings together three works that explore American identity from very diverse perspectives, including one that resonates especially with Houston audiences.
The centerpiece of the evening is “Pecos Bill”, by artistic director Stanton Welch AM; a vibrant theatrical revival inspired by the legend of the eponymous cowboy and his ill-fated romance with “Sluefoot Sue.”
Eric Best, principal dancer of the Houston Ballet, portrayed as the lead character in “Pecos Hill.”
Photo Alana Campbell/Courtesy of Houston Ballet.
Playful, grandiose, and unmistakably Texan, the work was selected to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The Houston Ballet production highlights that local charm and captures the frontier spirit, integrating familiar melodies such as “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and “Happy Trails to You” into an evocative original score composed by Matthew Pierce.
“It is very fitting to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States with a story that belongs to us as much as to the country,” Welch stated. “The last time we performed this work was 16 years ago, and we felt it was the perfect moment to revive it. ‘Pecos Bill’ gives us the opportunity to have fun and, at the same time, convey something authentic about who we are.”
According to this artistic institution, stories like “Pecos Bill” transform ordinary people into legends. It is the same impulse behind the virality and the fame earned by merit in today’s pop culture.
The Houston Ballet’s revival channels that longing: turning tenacity into something extraordinary and grand.
The program also includes the Houston Ballet premiere of “Meadow,” by Lar Lubovitch. Lubovitch is renowned for choreographies that bridge modern dance and ballet, notable for their great musicality. His work in “Meadow” has been described as exuberant and lyrical. The piece holds personal significance for the company: artistic director Julie Kent was part of the original cast of “Meadow” when it premiered with the American Ballet Theatre.
Completes the production “Symphonie Concertante,” by George Balanchine, a work also being staged for the first time with the company. This neoclassical piece combines Mozart’s majestic score with Balanchine’s characteristic classical precision.
After emigrating to the United States, Balanchine transformed classical ballet into something new, forging an American approach to this artistic discipline that would influence generations of choreographers and companies. “Symphonie Concertante” brings that legacy to the Wortham stage this fall. For all information about the Houston Ballet’s new season and tickets, visit www.houstonballet.org.
