Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company seeks to challenge audiences and theatre artists by creating and performing bold, innovative, and fresh theatrical works grounded in the best traditions of the dramatic arts.

With a strong feminine presence in our artistic vision, we strive to feature the work of female playwrights, actors, and directors, which promotes the empowerment of women through the performing arts.

Mildred's Umbrella began in 2001 when local actress Jennifer Decker and playwright John Harvey brought together a group of artists and actors to create a collaborative theatrical piece written by Harvey and directed by Decker. Since then, the company has grown into a fixture of Houston's performing arts community. Known for bringing edgy, new work to Houston and pushing the envelope of theatre, Mildred's Umbrella uses the art form to explore our world and present audiences with thought-provoking works. Now in its thirteenth full season, the company has produced a variety of pieces including mainstage, full-length plays, theatrical works in conjunction with lectures at the University of Houston, Fringe Festival pieces, and Museum of Dysfunction, a popular festival showcase of short originals currently in its ninth iteration. Mildred's Umbrella's recent seasons have been highly successful, with sold-out shows for three regional premieres, one world premiere, and three original pieces presented by the company, earning quotes from the press, such as "fitfully fascinating" (Houston Chronicle - The Flu Season), "kicky, clever and utterly unpredictable" (The Houston Chronicle - Margo Veil), "strangely compelling and funny…glorious, absurd contours" (Houston Arts Week - Night of the Giant).