HOUSTON -- “The show may have chosen me, but my heart chose the show,” said Kristy Cates, who plays Tracy Boyd in Unbeatable: A Bold New Musical.

Laura Durant

Unbeatable: A Bold New Musical is playing at Houston's Stages Theatre until September 28.

Cate’s character, Tracy Boyd, is a type-A workaholic who spends her life booking appointments, planning events, and doing errands.  She’s a woman who gets things done, and her last actual minute of ‘free time’ was back in Kindergarten.

But if the clock was ticking before, once Boyd is diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, time takes on a whole new meaning.

“When I read the scenes for this show, it was as if my heart told me I had to do it,” said Cates.

Cates, who played Elphaba (the green girl) in the original Broadway cast of Wicked, said she likes to be a part of shows that change people’s lives. She said people left the theater thinking differently after they saw Wicked, and Unbeatable does the same.

Laura Durant

Shown in this photo is John Ashley Brown, who plays Brad in the musical Unbeatable, and Kristy Cates, who plays Tracy.

“I do what I do because it’s important to me,” said Cates. ”My best friend and her grandmother are breast cancer survivors.  And my aunt had breast cancer and passed away.”

Bringing a mix of laughter, tears, and inspiration to Houston’s Stages Repertory Theatre, the musical is based on a true story that deals with the serious topic of breast cancer in a surprisingly upbeat way.  The songs are catchy and the 10 member cast has synergy on the stage.

“It’s the highlight of my night to look in everyone’s eyes and know that we are in this together,” said Cates.  “I trust them and know they [the cast] will never let me fall or drop.”

The musical was written by Eric Coble, and is based on the journal co-creator and breast cancer survivor Laurie Frey kept during her one year treatment.  The journal included medical information, as well as personal incidents that happened along the way, such as the time she was so hungry for chocolate she ate an entire bowl of brownie mix.  

But even though the musical will leave the audience laughing, it does have is a serious side. Before Thursday night's preview performance, Producing Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin asked if anyone had, knew or lost someone to the disease.  Every hand in the theater went up.  In fact, a few of the people who attended the performance were survivors.

“I’ve been cancer free for seven years,” said Sharron Zaisman, breast cancer survivor.  “Hope and faith got me through.  But you really have to keep your sense of humor. That’s the most important thing.”

Beverly Schaffer, a friend of Zaisman, was less lucky.

“I’ve been cancer free since 2001, but they just discovered that the cancer has come back,” said Schaffer.  “But I’m going to beat it again with a new procedure.”

Hearing the survivors talk about the ordeal with such power and conviction is part of what makes Unbeatable such an inspirational musical.  But the message in the musical isn’t about breast cancer.  It’s about living life, rather than scheduling it.

“I want people to leave the show saying that they are going to be a better person than they were when they first sat down in their seat,” said Cates.

The audience couldn’t agree more. 

“I’m going take more time to enjoy life,” said one attendee.  “It helped put things in perspective about what’s important.”

Unbeatable is co-produced by Stages, the Pink Ribbons Project and Arizona’s Phoenix Theatre.  It premiered in Phoenix in August and opens in Houston on September 5.  It will be at the Stages Theatre until September 28.  It is then scheduled to go to an off-Broadway stage in New York City in March 2009.