November 2008

Fall has arrived and with it, a flurry of festivals and as scary as it my be, the Christmas decorations are up before we even make it to Thanksgiving.  Of course, we have Election Day in only a few days - celebrate our freedom and exercise your right to vote!  We also have Thanksgiving holidays  this month - a perfect time to appreciate not only the blessings of family and friends, but also the many wonderful opportunities afforded all of us lucky people who live in the greater Houston area.  You won't want to miss the famous Nutcracker Market this month or the chance to see the new House of Blues in downtown Houston.  You can do yoga or enjoy a concert at Discovery Green, or see Disney on Ice.  The Houston Grand Opera features Beatrice & Benedict through the end of the month and Frost/Nixon is on stage at Hobby Center.  As we near the end of the month, there will be the annual Wortham Center and Uptown Park Tree Lighting ceremonies.  No matter what your interests, there is something for everyone this month in Houston.

Holidays

November 4th:            Election Day

November 10th:          Marine Corps Day

November 11th:          Veteran’s Day

November 27th:          Thanksgiving Day

Dance/Music/Theatre

Alley Theatre   (615 Texas Avenue)

Thru November 2nd:  Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy - The soulful poet/philosopher and dazzling swordsman Cyrano, falls for the lovely Roxane, but ashamed of his large nose, Cyrano is unable to woo her. Instead, when he learns that Roxane loves the handsome but inarticulate Christian, Cyrano writes love letters to Roxane on Christian's behalf. She falls deeply in love with the author of the letters, unaware that Cyrano penned them. The swashbuckling adventure/romance is one of the greatest plays of world theatre.

Thru November 23rd:   Secret Order - Fueled by pharmaceutical money, personal ambition and media frenzy, Bob Clyman’s provocative Secret Order will have special appeal for anyone with a secret love of science. A brilliant young research biologist working in an obscure university lab discovers a possible cure for cancer. When the dynamic director of New York's leading cancer institute becomes his mentor and champion, he is set on a path of acclaim and prestige that could lead directly to the Nobel Prize. But the halls of science twist and turn in surprising ways, and the young Doctor is suddenly thrust into the high-stakes world of medicine, money and power. Recommended for mature audiences.

November 22nd – December 28th:  A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas - Houston’s seasonal favorite that the Houston Press said, “…..has spectacular London sets … the inimitable Dickens tale -- spiced with the usual fog and an unusual twist on the ghosts past present and future.” A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns this year with a re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic story that follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghosts that visit him on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season. The dazzling production is created by Tony Award winning scenic designer Tony Straiges (Alley's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), costumes by Alejo Vietti (Alley's The Scene,Tryst, Orson’s Shadow), lighting by Rui Rita (Alley's To Kill a Mockingbird, Bad Dates), and original music by John Gromada (Alley's Subject to Fits, The Pillowman).

December 5th – December 28th:  The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris - Based on the outlandish, and true, chronicles of David Sedaris’ experience as Crumpet the Elf in Macy’s Santaland display, this hilarious cult classic features comic encounters during the height of the holiday crunch. NPR humorist and best-selling author of When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. Recommended for mature audiences.

January 9th – March 1st:  Mrs. Warren’s Profession – Shaw’s ultimate test of a mother-daughter relationship is one of his most enduring and best-loved plays.  Kitty Warren has worked hard to provide the comfortable upbringing she never had for her daughter, Vivie.  Now that Vivie is about to embark on her own career, her mother decides that it is time for the feminist daughter to finally learn the truth about her mother’s profession.  Recommended for mature audiences.

January 30th – March 1st:  Eurydice – Author of the Alley’s outstanding success The Clean House, Sarah Ruhl creates a tale based on the Greek myth of Orpheus that is “exhilarating” as “we enter a surreal world, as lush and limpid as a dream” (The New Yorker).  On the day Eurydice is to marry her true love Orpheus, a misstep sends her to the surreal depths of the Underworld, where she has a surprising reunion and ultimately must decide whether to follow Orpheus back to the land of the living.  The New York Times describe Eurydice as “a magical play with gripping emotional potency . . . a love letter to the world”.  Recommended for mature audiences.

February 20th – March 22nd:  The Man Who Came to Dinner – In this hilarious romp, Sheridan Whiteside, theatric critic, lecturer and radio personality, who, arriving to dine at the home of the prominent Stanley family in a small Midwestern town, slips on their doorstep and injures his hip.  A tumultuous six weeks of confinement follow, during which Whiteside monopolizes the living room and takes over the Stanley household.  Before it’s over, the outrageous has become commonplace.  This large cast comedy will feature Alley Company members playing a most extravagant array of eccentric characters.  Recommended for mature audiences.

April 10th – May 3rd:  Mauritius – Theresa Rebeck (author of The Scene and Bad Dates) returns with Mauritius, a “tightly woven and ever-surprising sinister comedy” (Playbill.com), “filled with stunning scenes of high humor and drama” (Variety).  The title, Mauritius, refers to an island off the coast of Africa from which a now highly collectible stamp, described as “the crown jewel of philately”, was issued in the age of Victoria.  Like the Maltese Falcon, the Mauritius stamp is the fraught object of desire for an assortment of shady characters with different and mysterious backgrounds and motives, who move through the twists of the pilot’s crosses and double-crosses.  Recommended for mature audiences.

for more information, see www.alleytheatre.org or call (713) 228-8421

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion  (The Woodlands)

Surrounded by a lush forest, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater that provides the Greater Houston region with an array of performing arts and contemporary entertainment in a setting of unparalleled beauty. 

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is closed for the remainder of the season due to damage received by Hurricane Ike.

for more information, see www.pavilion.woodlandscenter.org 

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts   (800 Bagby @ Walker)

Thru November 2nd:  Frost/Nixon – This production tackles the question: How did David Frost, a famous British talk-show host with a playboy reputation, elicit the apology that the rest of the world was waiting to hear from former President Richard Nixon?  Legendary stage and screen actor Stacy Keach stars as Nixon.  He leads a cast of 10 in this fast-paced Tony Award nominated new play which shows the termination, conviction and cunning of two men as they square off in one of the most monumental television interviews of all time.  Frost/Nixon is written by Peter Morgan, writer of The Queen, The Last King of Scotland and HBO’s “Longford”, and directed by Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage.

November 3rd:   Two Titans of the Twentieth Century – Experience two of the century’s most powerful and perhaps triumphant concertos.  Paul Hindemith’s viola concerto Der Schwanendreher based on old German folksongs that have enjoyed phenomenal popularity among musicians and audiences since its premiere in 1935.  Even though a complex work, it sustains a beautiful lyricism throughout.  Dimitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 dates from 1959.  From start to finish, this music evokes powerful emotions.  It is surely one of the most exciting concertos written for any instrument.  Join Wei Jiang, violist, Jeffrey Butler, cellist and the Houston Chamber Symphony for this truly powerful concert.

November 8th & 9th:  Mi Colombia – By popular demand, the USA’s Colombian Folkloric Ballet presents Mi Colombia, a powerful and vivid expression of the dance and music of the majestic country of Colombia, featuring the New York City’s Cumbiamba eNe Ye, the international renowned Colombian artists Jairo Lastre and Niko Andreas and the USA’s Colombian Folkloric Ballet.  The show, including live music, projects the unified theme of cultural diversity prevailing in Colombia and enhances the understanding and appreciation of Colombian folkloric ballet art.  Colombia’s history, diversely themed cultural regions, colorful native costumes, authentic music and rhythmic dances are theatrically woven together into one spectacular extravaganza.

November 11th - 16th:  Menopause: The Musical - Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black-lace bra and memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more! This joyful musical parody set to 25 classic baby-boomer songs from “Puff, My God I’m Draggin’” to the disco favorite “Stayin’ Awake, Stayin’ Awake” will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! It’s definitely not “The Silent Passage” anymore!

November 20th – 30th:  The Music Man – The Music Man follows the exploits of Harold Hill, fast-talking salesman extraordinaire, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into forming a youth band, despite the fact that he knows nothing about musical instruments.  The plan works and Hill is ready to skip town with all of the cash, but he is unexpectedly foiled when he falls for Marian Paroo, the town librarian.  Meredith Wilson’s score features many popular standards, including “Seventy-Six Trombones”, “Shipoopi” and “Till There Was You”.  Coupled with the show’s quirky characters and wonderful ensemble moments, The Music Man has become an American institution.  Put on by Masquerade Theatre.

for more information, see www.thehobbycenter.org or call (713) 315-2525

Houston Symphony  (Jones Hall – 615 Louisiana)

Thru November 2nd:  Rodgers & Hammerstein - Film and Music - Relive the great movie musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstein. See stunning remastered clips from the films you love, together with original vocals, while the Houston Symphony provides the live soundtrack. Feel the excitement of Oklahoma!, The King and I, South Pacific, Carousel and The Sound of Music. You’ll leave Jones Hall singing “Shall We Dance,” “My Favorite Things,” “If I Loved You” or “Some Enchanted Evening.”

November 7th – 9th:  Schubert’s Mass – Schubert wrote his final, glorious mass just months after bearing a torch at Beethoven’s funeral.  Your spirit will lighten at this concert of heavenly music.  Hans Graf conducting.

November 13th – 16th:  Tchaikovsky’s Second Plus Jon Kimura Parker – Tchaikovsky’s joyous Second Symphony develops enchanting Ukranian folk songs with energy and technical mastery – all to dazzling effect.  Opening the program is Shostakovich’s Tahiti Trot, a charmingly sophisticated arrangement of Vincent Youmans’ Tea for Two.  Hans Graf conducting.

November 28th – 30th:  Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto – Twenty-one year old pianist Yuja Wang bowled over Houston audiences two years ago with her granite technique.  In the Rachmaninoff Concerto, you’ll luxuriate in her ocean of sound as she plays its sumptuous melodies and harmonies.  Popular culture has drawn on the Rachmaninoff whenever passion is called for.  In the movie, The Seven Year Itch, Tom Ewell played a recording to woo Marilyn Monroe.  Alexander Mickelthwate conducting.

December 6th:  Polar Express – All aboard!  The Polar Express pulls into Jones Hall, carrying holiday warmth and cheer.  You’ll be swept into the story as the orchestra paints a picture of this magical train ride.

December 12th – 14th:  Very Merry Pops – Embrace your holiday memories with the pageantry and cheer of Very Merry Pops.  You and your family will delight in this joyous annual tradition of 200 musicians – Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski, the Houston Symphony, the Houston Symphony Chorus and a very special guest, Santa Claus.  You’ll carol like a child throughout the season.  Your family will treasure this festive heartwarming concert every year.

for more information, see www.houstonsymphony.com or call (713) 224-7575

Jones Hall   (615 Louisiana)

November 1st:  Bossa Nova: Celebrating the First 50 Years - H-E-B Performance Prelude by Brazilian Arts Foundation 7:30 pm Grand Foyer, Wortham Center.  Bossa Nova embodies the rhythms of hot Samba and harmonies of cool jazz. Oscar Castro-Neves, Antonio Carlos Jobin and Joao Gilberto, whose song “Girl from Ipanema” started the Bossa Nova craze in the U.S., created this irresistible sound 50 years ago. Now the legendary Castro-Neves leads an all-star ensemble in a one-night celebration of Brazil’s best-known export!

November 20th:  Chava Alberstein - SPA celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Israel with that nation’s most accomplished singer, Chava Alberstein, who has released over 54 recordings, many of them now gold or platinum. Singing folk songs in Hebrew, Yiddish and English, Alberstein is as much a singer of the world as a singer of her beloved country. “The sensual quality of her vocals creates the deepest impression. You don’t have to speak Hebrew to be affected,” says Jazziz Magazine. Presented in partnership with World Affairs Council of Houston.

November 22nd: The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa - Prepare for a mind-boggling experience that will bring you to your feet and leave you wanting to dance for hours! Under the direction of Bamba Dembele, this extraordinary group of musicians and dancers mesmerize with astonishing performances inspired by the traditions of Mali and infused with the personality of the ensemble. Traditional instruments such as the kora, n’goni, balaphon, djembé, doundouns, and flute accompany the excellent dancers whose muscles seem to be capable of any movement at any speed.

December 4th:  Fiesta Navidad – Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano – Well known for their collaborations on Linda Ronstadt’s albums Canciones de Mi Padre and Mas Canciones, the Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano will bring the most festive of Christmas traditions to Jones Hall.  Los Camperos is led by Natividad “Nati” Cano, a native of Jalisco, Mexico, who has both mirrored and shaped the history of mariachi music.  Don’t miss this vibrant holiday fiesta for the senses, complete with singing, vivid sets and dynamic choreography performed by exuberant dancers!

for more information, see www.spahouston.org  

Toyota Center  (1510 Polk Street)

November 13th:        9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards  (tickets not available)

November 18th:        Coldplay   7:30 p.m.

November 20th:        Metalica  7:00 p.m.

December 1st:          The Eagles  8:00 p.m.

December 12th:        Winter Wonder Slam  7:30 p.m.

December 14th:        AC/DC  8:00 p.m.

December 21st:        Playhouse Disney Live!   12:30 p.m.

December 28th:        Trans-Siberian Orchestra  3:00 & 7:30 p.m.

 for more information, visit www.houstontoyotacenter.com or call (866) 4HOUTIX

Wortham Center – Houston Ballet (Texas & Smith)

November 13th – 16th:  Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market – This annual event takes place at the Reliant Center – it is a shopping extravaganza!  Over 300 national and international merchants, offering unique items for the entire family – home décor, gourmet food, apparel, accessories, toys, garden items and much, much more.  The funds made on this event support the Houston Ballet Foundation, their academy and their scholarship programs.

November 28th – December 28th:  The Nutcracker - It's snowing, it's glowing, the beauty is showing. It's The Nutcracker, a dazzling spectacle of holiday glitter. With dancing dolls, flying cooks, giant rats and living snowflakes, The Nutcracker has something to delight everyone in your family. ‘Tis the season for magic, for family, for fun. Order your tickets now. It wouldn't be the holidays without The Nutcracker. This performance lasts approximately two hours.  There will be one intermission lasting twenty minutes.

December 5th:  Jubilee of Dance – Don’t miss this one time a year performance put on by the Houston Ballet.  See highlights of the company’s most requested productions.  Be there for what promises to be one very enchanted evening.

for more information, see www.houstonballet.org or call (713) 227-ARTS

Wortham Center – Houston Grand Opera   (Texas & Smith)

Thru November 1st:  Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci - Mascagni & Leoncavallo - Betrayal, jealousy and revenge—the perfect partners for an evening of irresistible theater. A powerhouse cast takes charge: Brandon Jovanovich makes his HGO debut as Cavalleria’s caddish Turiddù, with Dolora Zajick in her signature role as the spurned Santuzza. In Pagliacci, Vladimir Galouzine returns to HGO as the titular clown—the wronged husband whose jealousy escalates to insanity—with HGO Studio alums Ana María Martínez and Scott Hendricks as his unfaithful wife and her paramour. Oleg Caetani conducts in his HGO debut.

Thru November 14th:    Beatrice and Benedict – Berlioz - In Berlioz’s light-hearted opera—based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing— two stubborn people use verbal jousting to mask their true feelings for each other. HGO Studio alums Joyce DiDonato and Norman Reinhardt are the recalcitrant lovers in HGO’s first-ever staging of this comical and poignant work. Michael Hofstetter conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus in his HGO debut.

January 23rd – February 6th:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The king and queen of the fairies are feuding, two mortal couples break up and make up thanks (or no thanks!) to the juice of a magic flower, and the Duke of Athens is getting ready to wed the Queen of the Amazons – there’s a whole lot going on in the forest just outside Athens!  Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on Shakespeare’s play, is performed by a superb ensemble cast led by Houston favorite Laura Claycomb and Welsh countertenor Iestyn Davis in his company debut; Patrick Summers conducts.

January 30th – February 13th:  Chorus!  - This fully costumed and staged production, on the scale of the grand operas, stars the world-renowned Houston Grand Opera Chorus.  With the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Patrick Summers, Chorus! Is an unforgettable evening of music and spectacle.  See and hear some of opera’s most heart-stopping choruses (from Verdi’s Nabucco and Il Trovatore, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Bizet’s Carmen and more) performed alongside selections from operetta, oratorio and musical theater.

 for more information, see www.houstongrandopera.org or call (713) 228-6737

DaCamera of Houston   (Wortham Theatre Center – Texas @ Smith unless otherwise noted)

November 8th:  Damaged Romanticism – Some of the most powerful art created in recent years by composers and visual artists reveals a shift away from cool modernism towards a new aesthetic that “puts emotion front and center”.  Often these works are made in response to world events.  DaCamera brings together an all-star international group of musicians from Holland, France, New York and Houston to perform music from the U.S., Germany and Russia.  Projections of paintings and photographs create a compelling dialogue between music and visual art.

November 15th:  Miguel Zenon Quartet – No. 1 rising star saxophonist in the 2006 Down Beat Critics Poll, Miguel Zenon made a deep impression on DaCamera audiences in his recent appearance with SFJAZZ Collective.  “A strong force in both contemporary jazz and Latin music” - per the New York Newsday, zenon manages to blur the lines between the two without sacrificing the power of either.  

November 18th:  Hommage a Max Ernst: A Musical Collage – Sarah Rothenberg often creates unique concert events for Menil Collection.  An exhibition of works by German Dadaist and Surrealist painter and sculptor Max Ernst is the inspiration for this concert of music following the path of Ernst’s life and the evolution of the avant-garde.  The lobby of the Menil Collection will be transformed into an intimate concert venue for this unique music series.

December 9th:  Messiaen Centennial Concert: Visions de l’Amen – Olivier Messiaen’s great religious piano cycle was first performed by the composer and his student and future wife Yvone Loriod in a semi-secret art gallery concert in Nazi-occupied Paris.  Artist Director Sarah Rothenberg, who studied the music of Messiaen with Loriod in Paris is joined by Marilyn Nonken, the contemporary music virtuoso who made an outstanding DaCamera debut in 2007.  The Rothko Chapel will be transformed into an intimate concert venue for this performance.

December 12th:  A Cypress Chestnut Christmas – A jazz Christmas celebration with pianist Cyrus Chestnut, featuring Vanessa Rubin, vocals; Eric Alexander, saxophone and Brian Lynch, trumpet.  Swing the bells.  A prolific recording artist, Cyrus Chestnut paid tribute to cartoonist Charles Schulz and first jazz influence, Vince Guaraldi, in his interpretation of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas.  Other recordings include 2001’s Soul Food.  This acclaimed record was included in Down Beat’s list of the best records of 2001.  In 2005, Chestnut recorded You Are My Sunshine, still a hit with jazz and gospel lovers alike.  His most recent recording is Cyrus Plays Elvis, a pure jazz exploration of songs made famous by the rock and roll immortal, Elvis Presley.

for more information, see www.dacamera.com    

Miller Outdoor Theatre   (Hermann Park)

Located on nearly eight acres in the heart of Hermann Park, Miller Outdoor Theatre is the only free open-air theatre of its kind in the United States. It is a home away from home for some of Houston's most dynamic arts organizations such as HITS Unicorn Theater, Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Festival Chicano, Houston Symphony, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) and a host of other multi-cultural groups and theater companies. Every performance in our March to November season is free.

November 1st:  An Evening with Jerry Jeff Walker & The Flatlanders – Texas music is front and center in this concert of legendary singer/songwriters.  First up will be Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, who perform together with The Flatlanders.  Concluding the evening will be the great Jerry Jeff Walker and his band, who are guaranteed to serve up “Mr. Bojangles”, among other JJW classic songs.  7:30 p.m.

November 8th:  An Intimate Evening with Ann Hampton Callaway – The stage of Miller Outdoor Theatre will be transformed into an elegant New York style cabaret for this fundraiser to support free performances at Miller Outdoor Theater by national and international artists.  For details, call 713-533-3276.

November 9th:  Ann Hampton Callaway & The UH Jazz Orchestra - Whether smoothly interpreting the Great American Songbook or scatting with the abandon of Ella Fitzgerald, Ms. Callaway has staked her claim as one of the great jazz vocalists of today. Accompanied by the University of Houston Jazz Orchestra, she's guaranteed to heat up a cool fall evening. www.annhamptoncallaway.com

November 9th & 16th:  KPFT Fall Concert Series - KPFT-FM radio presents a series of Sunday afternoon concerts on the Miller Outdoor Theatre plaza. Details to be announced.  Presented by KPFT 90.1 PacificaFoundation

for more information, see www.milleroutdoortheatre.org  

A.D. Players  (2710 West Alabama)

November 21st – December 31st:  The Gifts of Christmas - An Evening of Two One-Act Plays - O. Henry's Gift of the Magi Adapted by Brainerd Duffield and The Foster Father By David W. Benedict

for more information, see www.adplayers.org   

Main Street Theatre  (2540 Times Blvd.)

Thru November 9th:  A World Premiere... and L.A. Is Burning - Set against the backdrop of the Rodney King trial and the subsequent L.A. riots, playwright Y York examines the terrain of the modern workplace, on which well-intentioned liberalism, racism, the news, reality itself, and the Cosby Show intersect.

November 11th – December 19th:  A Little House Christmas (based on Little House on the Prairie) – Join Mary and Laura Ingalis in this Holiday classic as they learn the true meaning of friendship and the Christmas spirit!

November 28th – December 28th:  But Not Goodbye – If Sam Griggs had known he was going to die today, he might have made an effort to clean up the family finances.  The spirit of the newly-deceased Sam wants to try to fix the mess he’s made, but the spirit of Benjamin, his father, who died at 36 in a tavern brawl, arrives to help him “move along”.  

January 3rd  - 25th:  The Light in the Piazza – Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara are on a tour through Italy in the summer of 1953.  Clara meets and falls in love with handsome young Fabrizzio Naccarelli.  Clara’s mother opposes the affair, but ultimately she must put her trust in the miracle of young love.

February 3rd – 27th:  Bud, Not Buddy – Using the clues his Momma left him, Bud runs away from an abusive foster family to look for the man who might be his father.  On his search, he finds more than he could have possibly imagined.

February 21st – March 22nd:  A World Premiere – The Pie Dialogues – This production follows Dawn and Sean through their lives as parents and individuals.  Through a series of eight scenes representing eight different junctures in their lives, the play traces Pie’s journey – and that of her parents – from toddlerhood to womanhood.

March 9th – April 3rd:  The Reluctant Dragon – Once upon a time, there lived a boy who befriended a lonely dragon who hated such dragonly things as fighting knights and breathing fire.

for more information, see www.mainstreettheater.com or call (713) 524-6706

Opera in the Heights  (1703 Heights Blvd)

November 6th – 22nd:  Two Faces of Donizetti by Gaetano Donizetti - Enjoy two helpings of Donizetti’s most delicious music tonight: both comedy and tragedy are served with the magic of melody as only a master of bel canto can.  Act I of Lucia di Lammermoor will be presented in concert form, and then Don Pasquale will be fully staged in its entirety.

for more information, see www.operaintheheights.org or call (713) 861-5303

Playhouse 1960  (6814 Grant Road)

November 21st – December 7th:  Beauty and the Beast - Beauty and the Beast is the story of a prince who is magically transformed into a hideous beast by an old witch. In order to break the spell, he must learn to love and be loved. Based on the classic film, this stage version of Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast includes several new songs by Alan Menken and Time Rice including “No Matter What”, “Me”, “Home”, “How Long Must This Go On?”, “If I Can’t Love Her”, “Maison des Lunes”, and “Transformation”.

for more information, see www.playhouse1960.com or call (281) 587-8243

Radio Music Theatre   (2623 Colquitt)

Thru November 15th:  Electile Dysfunction - What's so funny about a presidential election?  Come to RMT and find out as we take a zany look at national politics through the eyes of the residents of Precious Trees (Houston's most planned community).

for more information, see www.radiomusictheatre.com or call (713) 522-7722

Stages Repertory Theatre  (3201 Allen Parkway)

Thru November 9th:   Always . . . Patsy Cline – In honor of our 30^th birthday, we’re reviving the single most requested production in our history – Stages’ own beloved Always . . . Patsy Cline.  Penned by Stages’ Founding Artistic Director, Ted Swindley, this international hit musical had its world premiere at Stages in 1988 and has been winning hearts ever since.  Based on a true story, this tribute to the legendary country music singer and her friendship with devoted fan Louise Seger is rich with down-home country humor and includes 27 of Cline’s unforgettable hit songs.  Stages’ favorite, Susan Koozin returns in the role of Louise.  Please note that due to damage sustained during Hurricane Ike, all performances of Always . . . Patsy Cline are being performed on the Zilkha Hall stage at Hobby Center.

December 3rd - 28th: Panto Cinderella - An Outrageous Family Musical - Book and Lyrics by Kate Hawley    Music by Gregg Coffin - This holiday season Stages introduces Houston audiences to the beloved British tradition of Pantomime with this rousing new version of one of the world's favorite stories. The storytelling style that gave rise to American Vaudeville breathes new life into the familiar tale of humble Cinderella, her fairy godmother, her awkward prince, and her hideous (and hilarious!) stepsisters. Packed with sharp wit, wild fun and original music, this unusual twist on a magnificent classic is spectacular fun for grownups and kids alike!

for more information, see www.stagestheatre.com or call (713) 527-0123

Live Music Venues

House of Blues Houston  (1204 Caroline Street)

November 1st:          Willie Nelson   9:00 p.m.

November 4th:          Joe Satriani US Tour with Mountain, featuring Leslie West & Corky Laing   7:30 p.m.

November 7th:          Bow Wow   7:30 p.m.

November 8th:          Minus the Bear with Annuals & 27   9:00 p.m.

November 9th:          Cobra Starship: Sassy Back Tour with Forever The Sickest Kids & Sing It Loud   7:00 p.m.

November 19th:        Method Man & Redman   8:00 p.m.

November 20th:        The Black Crowes with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals   8:00 p.m.

November 21st:        B.B. King   8:30 p.m.

November 22nd:       B.B. King   8:30 p.m.

November 25th:        Dir en grey with The Human Abstract   8:00 p.m.

November 28th:        Randy Rogers   8:30 p.m.

November 29th:        The Arc Angels   9:00 p.m.

November 30th:        In Flames with All That Remains, Gojira & 36 Crazyfists   8:00 p.m.

December 5th:          Buddy Guy   8:00 p.m.

December 17th:        Raul Malo    8:00 p.m.

December 26th:        Bob Schneider   8:00 p.m.

December 27th:        Edwin McCain   8:00 p.m.

for more information, see www.livenation.com or call (713) 230-1600

Verizon Wireless Theatre  (520 Texas Avenue)

Verizon Wireless Theatre is the source in downtown Houston for the best in live entertainment. From rock to country, comedy to musicals, they offer everything you want in an entertainment venue.  Verizon Wireless Theater puts on over one hundred events every year.

November 6th:          Maxwell Live 08 Tour  8:00 p.m.

November 7th:          Maxwell Live 08  8:00 p.m.

November 8th:          Kathy Griffin   7:30 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.

November 9th:          Kathy Griffin  7:30 p.m.

November 21st:        Ron White   7:30 p.m.

November 22nd:      Ron White   7:30 & 10:30 p.m.

November 23rd:       Under Oath with Saosin & The Devil Wears Prada   7:00 p.m.

December 6th:         Sinbad   8:00 p.m.

December 21st:       Frank Caliendo   8:30 p.m.

for more information, see www.livenation.com or call (713) 230-1600

Warehouse Live   (813 St. Emanuel Street)

November 1st:          The Crystal Ball   9:00 p.m.

November 3rd:          Mudvayne   6:00 p.m.

November 5th:          The Legendary Pink Dots   7:00 p.m.

November 6th:          And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead   8:00 p.m.

November 7th:          Mickey Avalon   8:00 p.m.

November 8th:          Dirty Dozen Brass Band   8:00 p.m.

November 10th:       A Cursive Memory   6:30 p.m.

November 12th:       Of Montreal   8:00 p.m.

November 21st:       Q-Tip & the Cool Kids   8:00 p.m.

November 26th:       Devin the Dude   8:00 p.m.

November 27th:       2nd Thanksgiving Bash   7:00 p.m.

December 2nd:        3oh!3   8:00 p.m.

December 5th:          Gwar   8:00 p.m.

December 8th:          The Medic Droid   6:00 p.m.

December 12th:       Ohgr   8:00 p.m.

December 26th:       Hayes Carll   8:00 p.m.

for more information, see www.warehouselive.com 

Museums

Blaffer Gallery   (University of Houston campus, entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard)

Thru November 15th:   Damaged Romanticism: A Mirror of Modern Emotion - This exhibition surveys a strand of contemporary art that puts the emotions front and center without falling back on the do-or-die finality of classic Romanticism. Forming neither a style nor a school in the traditional sense, its works embody an attitude or outlook that shares a constellation of sentiments forged in often heartbreaking disappointment but never resigned to the social conditions that precipitated the pain and failure. Suffering, tragedy, and misunderstanding form the soil out of which the works in Damaged Romanticism spring, making a place, as they grow, for hope. This hope has nothing to do with the unattainable platitudes of idealism, but is, on the contrary, pragmatic, even pedestrian, in its groundedness in the gritty vicissitudes of the real world. Stubborn optimism takes the place of dreamy utopianism in Damaged Romanticism. In this sense it embodies an aftermath aesthetic. At the heart of these works is the recognition that virgin births are fantasies, that blank slates are not found but actually involve lots of often violent erasing, and that starting fresh is more like starting over, often with more psychological baggage than one would choose to begin with. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s claim that American lives have no second acts does not apply to the works in Damaged Romanticism, all of which are built on the knowledge that rebirth grows out of experiences of things gone horribly wrong.  Damaged Romanticism: A Mirror of Modern Emotion was organized for Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of the University of Houston, by Terrie Sultan, Director, The Parrish Art Museum (former Director of Blaffer Gallery); David Pagel, Assistant Professor of Art Theory and History at Claremont Graduate University; and Colin Gardner, Professor of Critical Theory and Integrative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The exhibition and publication are made possible, in part, by the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, the Cecil Amelia Blaffer von Furstenberg Endowment for Exhibitions and Programs, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, Ellen and Steve Susman, Continental Airlines, and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany.

for more information, see www.hfac.uh.edu/blaffer or call (713) 743-9530

Children’s Museum of Houston  (1500 Benz)

The Children’s Museum of Houston offers a wonderful array of ongoing exhibits, created to inspire children’s imaginations and help them to learn through curiosity and hands-on activities and experimentation.

November 1st – 5th:  Dia de los Muertos WonderWeek – Get your skeletons out of the closet as the museum pays homage to ancestors during Dia de los Muertos WonderWeek!  The Mexican holiday keeps the memory of loved ones alive by remembering their essence in a beautifully decorated “ofrenda”.  The offering, replete of bread, fruit and flowers, is believed to be enjoyed by the departed as they pay a holiday visit home!  The festival will be celebrated in the museum’s Yalalag, with authentic “ofrenda” paying tribute to the late Marvin Zindler, a local television celebrity, who recently passed away.

November 6th – 12th:  Dollars and Sense WonderWeek – Eeny, meeny, money, mo!  Where does money come from and why do people say “it doesn’t grow on trees?”  Make sense of it all and find the reason behind why people work as you explore how the world revolves around money during the museum’s Dollars and Sense WonderWeek!  Think beyond future and retirement an work hard for the money!

November 13th – 19th:  FlowWorks WonderWeek – Splish, Splash!  The museum will look at the many properties of water during Flow Works WonderWeek!  The museum’s newest exhibit is all about water flow and how important it is to our world today.  Stay dry and have an exciting time as you learn about water through the exhibit and all the special activities planned for the week.

November 20th – 25th:  Diwali WonderWeek – A festival of lights!  Diwali may be by far the most glamorous and important festival celebrated in India.  Diwali means an “Array of Lamps”, which is why it’s often called the “festival of lights”!  Come celebrate this exuberant holiday by creating delightful dipa lamps, Toran decorations and welcome paintings with traditional Indian designs during the museum’s Diwali WonderWeek!

November 26th:  Thanksgiving Celebration – The Grateful Gobble!!  Gobble, gobble for that wonderful time of the year again!  The time to reflect on your accomplishments and failures, the time to give thanks for what you have and the time to share joyful moments with your family and friends!  Warm up to this invigorating Thanksgiving celebration and energize your holiday spirit at the museum, where you will experience exhilarating activities that engage you in terrific Thanksgiving traditions!

November 28th - 30th:  Christmas in Norway – Learn the Scandinavian traditions and make decorations when the museum celebrates Christmas in Norway WonderWeek!  The Christmas in Norway celebration forms part of Seasons of Sharing, Houston’s only multi-cultural holiday exhibit for children, spotlighting seven cultural celebrations.  A different cultural holiday will be spotlighted each week, in which kids will learn about the culture through hands-on activities, live performances and games.

December 2nd – 10th:  Seasons of Sharing: Ramadan – Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims and a time to strengthen the family and community ties.  It’s also an opportunity to deepen one’s faith.  Light up your season decorating a gleaming lantern, designing a crescent moon and creating an inquisitive telescope to examine the moon phases, all while delving into Muslim traditions.  The museum’s celebration forms part of the Seasons of Sharing, Houston’s only multi-cultural holiday exhibit for children, spotlighting seven cultural celebrations.

December 11th – 17th:  Seasons of Sharing: Las Posadas – A celebration of the nativity.  Las Posadas commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of “posada” or refuge where Jesus could be born.  During the nine-day celebration, Mexican villagers set out luminaries and form a procession through the streets in their honor, ending with a nightly celebration!  The museum will celebrate the holiday by making poinsettias and colorful piñatas and through festive performances.

December 18th – 22nd:  Seasons of Sharing: Hanukkah – The miracle of light.  Hanukkah celebrates the miracle Jewish people experienced after reclaiming the Temple of Jerusalem, when a tiny amount of lamp oil lit up the Temple for eight days.  Today, Jews remember that miracle through the eight days of Hanukkah!  The museum’s celebration will include hands-on activities including making a menorah, star of David collage and a dreidel decoration.

December 23rd – 24th:  Seasons of Sharing: Christmas – Have yourself a merry little Christmas!  Christians throughout the world celebrate Christmas in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ.  At the museum, kids will celebrate this festive holiday through exciting and interactive activities.  Museum visitors will welcome Christmas by decorating their own festive paper Christmas tree ornament, making a reindeer antler hat and by creating a paper santon (little saint) doll.

December 26th – 30th:  Seasons of Sharing: Kwanzaa – Enjoy the fruits of the harvest.  Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the harvest”, is a time of reaffirming African American people of their ancestors and culture.  It’s celebrated with seven nights of candle lighting representing its Seven Guiding Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith, to honor the values of ancient African cultures and inspire African Americans who are working for progress.

Kid TV - The Adler-Sarofim KID-TV Studio Lights! Camera! Action! Think your child might be the next Matt Lauer or Barbara Walters? Let them show their stuff on camera in this exhibit, which teaches kids and parents what television is like behind the scenes.  KID-TV includes a dramatic backdrop of downtown Houston, video cameras, props and costumes, a teleprompter, a story board activity, a sound booth with a computer sound generator, director's board and cut-out figures of multi-cultural men and women who explain the different jobs in video production.  KID-TV is sponsored by Sarofim Trust Co. 

Think Tank - In this hands-on, minds-on exhibit, kids will get to explore different thought processes and learn how effective problem-solving can boost self-confidence.  After meeting the Think Tank Guides (Carlos, Felicia, Rosie and Isaac), you can jump right into solving the riddles...or you might want to put on custom-made thinking caps and lounge in the thinking chairs to get those brainstorming juices flowing. Either way, inventive, "outside the box" thinking is sure to occur!

Tot Spot - Tot Spot is the place to bring your newborn, toddler and two-year-old.  It’s where play is learning and learning is play for children from birth to thirty-six months.  The eye-catching bubble machine is a first stop, but not the last as tots crawl, cruise or walk throughout the exhibit which has four distinct areas.  These areas promote exploration, discovery, experimentation and wonder.

for more information, see www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138

Contemporary Arts Museum   (5216 Montrose)

Thru December 7th:  Perspectives 163: Every Sound You Can Imagine – Experimental musical scores are considered as works of visual art in this exhibition.  This group exhibition samples the wide array of notational strategies and explores the cross-fertilization between musicians and visual artists, revealing the vital connections between experimental sound art and cutting-edge visual art.  In the late 1940s, European music experienced a crisis of representation.  The system of staff notation that, since the Renaissance, had served to fix musical works and to uniquely determine their performance began to give way to new compositional strategies that dispensed with the musical staff and, instead, populated the page with idiosyncratic symbols, diagrams, and written instructions.  Such compositions were, in part, a response to electronic instruments that could record or produce not merely the twelve pitches of the European scale but what artist John Cage called “the entire field of sound”.  They also revealed the influence of jazz, a renewed interest in improvisation and the desire to dissolve the hierarchy between composer and performer.  In the process, the bond between the visual score and the sounding substance of music was loosened, and the score achieved the status of an independent visual art.  Every Sound You Can Imagine traces these developments, from the first wave of experimental notation in the 1950s through its resurgence in the late 1990s, when musical notation sprang off the page and into video, photography, sculpture and new media.  The exhibition is guest curated by Christoph Cox in association with Toby Kamps, senior curator at the CAMH and collector Robert Shimshak.

Thru January 4th:   Cinema Remixed & Reloaded: Black Women Artists and the Moving Image since 1970 - Collaborating with The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Cinema Remixed & Reloaded is the first exhibition to examine the critical contributions of black women film and video artists to the field of contemporary art. Featuring projections, installations, interactive CD-ROM projects, experimental film and video work the exhibition spans across generations and geographic boundaries to present work by more than 40 artists. Works by established artists who began working with the medium in the 1970s such as Adrian Piper, Carroll Parrott Blue, Senga Nengudi, Julie Dash, and Howardena Pindell, are presented along side of works created by mid-career and emerging artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson, Bernie Searle, Kara Walker, Marìa Magdelena Campos-Pons, Elizabeth Axtman, , Zoë Charlton, Jessica Ann Peavy, Tracey Rose, Lauren Kelley, Lauren Woods, and Xaviera Simmons. A significant catalogue co-published by The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, accompanies this exhibition and functions as an essential reader on the subject of black women artists and the moving image since 1970.

December 12th – February 22nd:  Perspectives 164: Stephanie Syjuco – In her first solo museum show, San Francisco-based artist Stephanie Syjuco uses bootlegging, counterfeiting and re-appropriation tactics in her photographs, videos and sculptures.  By confronting the limitations, proliferations and nuances of today’s global economy and digital technologies, Syjuco investigates, interrupts and reinvigorates sites of trans-cultural communication, international capitalism, and Modern aesthetics.  Perspectives 164: Stephanie Syjuco will feature the artist’s photographic series The Village (Small Encampments), in which Syjuco takes viewers on a journey through the Philippines and her apartment by inserting diorama-like cutout she constructed from tourist photos posted on the internet into her domestic space, as well as video and sculpture.

for more information, see www.camh.org or call (713) 284-8250

The Heritage Society   (1100 Bagby)

Thru January 4th:  What’s Cookin’?  Two Centuries of American Foodways – The English writer Samuel Johnson described man as a “Cooking Animal”.  For most of us, food is more than fuel for our bodies.  What we choose to eat depends upon our family traditions, ethnic heritage and regional customs.  Whom we choose to eat with defines our circle of family and friends.  This fascinating exhibit discusses these food-related issues.

December 12th – 13th:  Annual Candlelight Tour – Houston’s past comes alive as visitors stroll along paths lit by glowing candlelight and experience a long-standing Houston tradition for holiday gathering.  Guests can tour the interiors of Houston’s most historic structures, each decorated to portray an era in Houston’s history.  Visitors will also be able to enjoy staged performances inside the historic structures.  Along the way, carolers will lift their voices in joyful song and the sounds of music will usher in the holiday spirit.  Storytellers and crafters will take visitors back in time as they experience how holidays were celebrated in the past.  In the Gingerbread House of Santa’s Workshop, children can have their photo taken while visiting with St. Nicholas and engage in arts and crafts activities.  Children can also plan in the snow and build snowmen at this year’s new Snow Land.  Santa’s Workshop will also include a stage with various musical and theatrical scheduled performances.

for more information, visit www.heritagesociety.org

Holocaust Museum Houston   (5401 Caroline)

Permanent Exhibit:  The Permanent Exhibit is personalized with the testimony of Houston-area survivors who lived through a genocidal war that inflicted mass death on unprecedented numbers of innocent civilians. The exhibit begins by carrying visitors back to pre-war Europe and revealing the flourishing Jewish life and culture there. Authentic film footage, artifacts, photographs, and documents expose Nazi propaganda and the ever-tightening restrictions on Jews in the steady move toward the "Final Solution." Visitors learn of the horrific conditions within the Nazi-imposed ghettos, the special mobile killing units that murdered thousands, and the industrialization of death at complexes like Treblinka, Chelmno, and Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Thru February 1st:  Dr. Seuss Wants You! - "Dr. Seuss," whose real-life name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, is best known for his children’s books written under the “Dr. Seuss” pen name, but he was a life-long cartoonist and served as chief political cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM from 1941-1943, a period in which the Nazi regime prospered – prompting more than 400 editorial cartoons from Geisel. His work continues to inspire people of all backgrounds and ages to think and care about the fate of humanity.   

Thru February 8th:  A One-Man Army: The Art of Arthur Szyk - Arthur Szyk (1894-1951) was described by Eleanor Roosevelt as a "one-man army," using art as a weapon to garner support for the social and political issues in which he believed. Szyk believed his art could make a difference in the world and became one of the 20th century’s most important political propagandists. “A One-Man Army: The Art of Arthur Szyk” will highlight the private collection of Gregg and Michelle Philipson, and will include loans of important works from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the United States Naval Academy Museum.   

February 27th - August 9, 2009:  Never Let It Rest! An Art Project by Hans Molzberger - "Never Let It Rest!" is a documentary art project by contemporary German artist Hans Molzberger relating to the small town of Salzwedel in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany during the time of Nazi control.  

for more information, see www.hmh.org or call (713) 942-8000

 Houston Museum of Natural Science  (One Hermann Circle Drive)

Thru January 18th:  Echos in the Ice - Echoes in the Ice offers a unique look at the aspirations, motivations and experiences that have shaped heroic and sometimes eccentric Arctic and Antarctic explorers, from 16th century privateer Martin Frobisher to Captain Cook, Roald Amundsen, and Admiral Byrd.  It is particularly relevant exhibition given the great interest in global warming and its effect on the Polar Regions.  The history of these regions was created by the exploits of these intrepid explorers. Inspired by film montage and web design, visual artist and filmmaker Rik van Glintenkamp melds archival imagery, original writings and reproductions of personal memorabilia into mixed-media collages of polar explorations spanning almost four centuries.  The work is a dynamic visual experience that has informed and awed audiences throughout the United Kingdom, Germany, and North America.

Thru February 22nd:  Body Worlds 2 & The Brain – Our Three Pound Gem – by Gunther von Hagens - This is a new exhibition featuring more than 200 real human body specimens, including more than 20 whole bodies; healthy and unhealthy organs; and body parts and slices; all preserved through a remarkable process called Plastination. Subtitled “The Three Pound Gem,” the show features findings in neuroscience on brain development and function; brain disease and disorders; and brain performance and improvement.  Invented by physician and anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, Plastination is a method for extracting bodily fluids and soluble fat from specimens, and replacing them, through vacuum forced impregnation, with reactive resins and polymers. As a result of this process, visitors to Body Worlds will actually see inside the human body, learn how it works and how it can be affected by disease and lifestyle choices.

Thru March 1st:  Stones from the Sky – The science of geology chronicles Earth’s ongoing evolution.  As every geologist knows, landscapes can be both beautiful and baffling.  A view from the sky offers a broader perspective – canyons beyond granite peaks seamlessly stitched into wider valleys, oxbows left behind as rivers change course and land sculptured by glaciers.  A sense of time is the geologist’s best hand lens, the open window of a small airplane his ideal perch.  Michael Collier has been photographing from the air since 1975.  He has written and photographed books about various national parks, climate change, Alaskan glaciers, the downstream effects of dams and the San Andreas Fault.  Stones From The Sky is Michael Collier’s collection of 45 prints that highlight American geologic landscapes.

Thru March 15th:  Quest for High Bear: A Boy’s Odyssey Through Indian Country 1925-1939 – Gordon W. Smith assembled a large collection of Native American artifacts from 1925 – 1939, representing most of the Native American tribes that live in North America, including beadwork, basketry, ceramics, feather bonnets and more.  This exhibit features the story of Mr. Smith and the highlights from his important collection.

Thru September 2009: - Dinosaur Mummy CSI: Cretaceous Science Investigation - The Houston Museum of Natural Science, in association with the Judith River Foundation, will develop and tour a world premiere exhibition featuring Leonardo, the most perfectly fossilized plant-eating dinosaur ever discovered—with almost all of his skin still intact. Dinosaur Mummy CSI: Cretaceous Science Investigation opens Sept. 19, 2008.   “Leonardo’s discovery was groundbreaking for the world of paleontology because it provided extensive detail regarding what plant-eating dinosaurs actually ate – details that could only be theorized before,” said Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “We’re thrilled to present Leonardo to the public for the first time at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where they can get up close and personal with the real Leonardo, the best preserved, plant-eating dinosaur mummy fossil ever discovered.”  Following its premiere in Houston, the exhibition will tour nationally, with a replica of Leonardo; the real Leonardo will only be on display in Houston. The tour schedule will be announced at a later date.

Recent Addition to the Permanent Exhibit:  Lester & Sue Smith Gem Vault - Intensely hued jeweled masterpieces float wondrously in utter darkness, embodying the ultimate combination of natural perfection and flawless artistic execution.  Don't miss the chance to see this exciting new permanent exhibit.

Planetarium Showings:

The Body Code – Fly through the carotid artery; explore the eye, brain, ear and heart.  Then shrink into a cell to see its nucleus and DNA within.  Discover how DNA programs the body’s cells to form the circulatory and nervous systems.  Then watch from inside as we use lasers to fight disease at the cellular level.

Ice Worlds - Ice Worlds is a tour of the icy landscapes of our solar system – especially our home planet Earth. In Ice Worlds audiences explore the critical relationship between ice and life – a tale of friend and foe, enabling, challenging, supporting and adapting – that has developed over millions of years.  The Earth is a dynamic planet with a global climate that is always changing. One of the most dramatic changes occurs each year as ice turns to water and returns to ice once again. The amount of ice trapped over land in the polar regions also determines sea level and the amount of solar energy absorbed by the planet as bright reflective ice transforms into dark absorbing oceans. With funding from the National Science Foundation, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, in partnership with the University of New Hampshire and Evans & Sutherland Corporation, has developed Ice Worlds to showcase worlds sculpted and transformed by ice throughout the solar system, including our ice planet Earth. The interplay of life and ice on Earth – from microbes to humans – raises questions about the ice worlds of our solar system. Will they have microscopic life? Will they be suitable for humans to explore? Can they help us understand Earth’s changing polar habitats and protect their pristine beauty? For answers, Ice Worlds explores the two poles of Earth and the other ice worlds nearby. Ice Worlds opens during the 4th International Polar Year, when thousands of scientists from over 60 nations are exploring and researching the polar regions. The show is also designed to feature their latest discoveries.

Zula Patrol - From the far reaches of space, from the bright orange planet Zula, comes the Zula Patrol. When their weather-collecting pet Gorga runs away, the Zula Patrol chases him all the way to our solar system. Here they learn all about the weather on Earth and other planets while trying to save Gorga from the villain Dark Truder. This cartoon feature is perfect for pre-K through 2nd grader and their families.

Secrets of the Sun -  Secrets of the Sun is an intimate look at the Sun’s role in the life of our solar system. From nuclear forces churning at the heart of the Sun, to mass ejections of solar material into surrounding space, audiences experience the power of the Sun and its impact on the planets—and ultimately life on Earth. The full-dome full-movie traces the life cycle of the Sun, going back to its beginning and moving forward in time to its eventual death. “Secrets of the Sun is dramatic, beautiful, and very timely, as our understanding of the Sun empowers our energy future and challenges human exploration of the moon and planets,” said Dr. Carolyn Sumners, HMNS Curator of Astronomy.

Night of the Titanic - A great tragedy unfolds in the icy North Atlantic. Weather, ice, the sun, and human error all contribute to the sinking of this unsinkable ship. Experience the Titanic's last day to find out what went terribly wrong and discover how changing Arctic ice can prepare us for tomorrow.

Starry Night Express