THEATRE + COMEDY

Tamarie is Back! The Catastrophic Theatre presents The United States of Tamarie. An All-American Revue (made in China). A tribute to this great country in which we live in - Tamarie is back this summer with an all-new wacky musical extravaganza. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Tamarie Cooper with music and vocal direction by Miriam Daly.  Book by Patrick Reynolds. Music and Lyrics by Tamarie Cooper, John Duboise, Joe Folladori, DeWitt Gravink, Patrick Reynolds. Opening night July 15.  Running Wednesday-Saturday, through August 20 at DiverseWorks ArtSpace.

For 13 consecutive summers, Tamarie Cooper wowed Houston audiences with an entirely original, full-scale, musical comedy extravaganza, filled to the brim with songs and gags and hi-jinx from some of Houston's funniest theatre artists. Without question, her original plays have been among the most wildly popular summer offerings. Tamarie's shows truly are a unique, and uniquely Houstonian phenomenon. And Houston audiences have loved her for it.

But last year was different. Tamarie took a time-out from this tremendous creative output to care for her newborn daughter, Rose. We can't blame her for her choices, but it was a long, hot, and sad sad summer without the respite of a new Tamarie Cooper musical.

But now she's back.

Over the years, Tamarie has taken on everything from love to camping, speakeasies, time travel, domesticity, neuroscience, and cocktail parties. This time she turns her comic attention on, well, us.

The United States of Tamarie is an unflinching look at the inherent absurdity of our modern national identity. Protest culture, patriotic machismo, education, international affairs, pop culture, religion, jazz, conspiracy theories, political deadlock, and american nostalgia are all skewered by Tamarie's signature zany wit.

Featuring Catastrophic company members Kyle Sturdivant, Walt Zipprian, Noel Bowers, Seán Patrick Judge and Karina Pal Montaño-Bowers joined by Christian Holmes, Richard Lyders, Elissa Levitt, Ivy Rush, Sara Jo Dunstan, Rebecca Randall, Dennis Draper, Abe Zapata, and Vinicia Smothers. Chris Bakos, Cathy Power, Kirk Suddreath, and Miriam Daly comprise the band.

And, of course, starring Tamarie Cooper.

This play is for mature audiences.