Dates
Jan 26 - Jan 29, 2027
Event Type
ExxonMobil Discovery Series
Ticket Price
This is a non-ticketed event provided free of charge to local school districts.
Registrations managed by partner school districts' Fine Arts Department.
Duration
One hour
ExxonMobil Discovery Series
Fine Arts, ELAR, Health, SPED
TEKS: §110.7: 5.6(A); §117.119: 5.3(A); §115.7: 5.3(A,B), 5.5(D); §113.16: 5.21(B)
A high-stakes test turns a 5th-grade classroom into a whirlwind of anxiety, self-doubt, and support. William “Willy” T. Bear, an imaginative but anxious student, escapes into the Willyverse—a world where his emotions take shape. Struggling with friendships and past bullying, he leans on his twin sister, Jen, while facing pressure from perfectionist classmate Penelope. With a diverse group of classmates—each facing challenges like autism, dyslexia, and grief—Willy must learn to manage his emotions. Guided by their lively teacher, Miss Bovine Longhorn, and the wise Pokey Toes Turtle III, the students discover coping strategies, friendship, and self-acceptance. Through music and storytelling, Don’t Worry Willy explores social-emotional learning, neurodiversity, and self-expression—reminding young audiences that it’s okay to feel, struggle, and be themselves.
Learn More about the Hobby Center’s educational programming and future opportunities for Houston school districts.
This project is supported in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 2026 BIG grant.
Performance Schedule
- Audio Description
- Open Captions
- ASL
Swipe to see more details
- Tue Jan 26, 2027 at 9:45 am
- Tue Jan 26, 2027 at 11:45 am
- Wed Jan 27, 2027 at 9:45 am
- Wed Jan 27, 2027 at 11:45 am
- Thu Jan 28, 2027 at 9:45 am
- Thu Jan 28, 2027 at 11:45 am
- Fri Jan 29, 2027 at 9:45 am
- Fri Jan 29, 2027 at 11:45 am
About The Ensemble Theatre
About The Ensemble TheatreInfluenced by the African American Theatre movement of the 1960s & 70s, George Hawkins founded The Ensemble Theatre in 1976 in Houston, TX. Today, The Ensemble Theatre benefits a multicultural audience that is diverse in age, income, ethnicity and culture. The mainstage season consists of six productions, ranging from classic to contemporary works. The Celebrating the Creative Journey series offers an expanded repertoire of artistic programing and projects. Serving more than 30,000 youth throughout Houston, The Ensemble Theatre’s Touring Education Department provides educational workshops, artist-in-residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the theatre.