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October 2008
October has arrived, and along with it, cooler temperatures!
There is no end to fun things to do this
month - You won’t want to miss Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo, the haunted mansion
at the Houston’s Children’s Museum or Scream on the Green in downtown Houston –
just a few of many exciting Halloween events scheduled this month.
The Toyota Center hosts Neil Diamond, Janet Jackson and the New Kids on
the Block this month. Bayou City Art
Festival, the Italian Festival and the International Quilt Show all take place
this month. Body Worlds 2 is drawing crowds at the Houston Museum of Natural
Science and the ever popular Texas Renaissance festival begins. Finally, you
won’t want to miss Ballunar Liftoff, Wings over Houston or the 2008 Komen Race
for the Cure. No matter what your interests, there is something for everyone
this month in Houston.
Holidays
October 9th:
Yom Kippur
October 13th:
Columbus Day
October 13th:
Navy Day
October 16th:
Bosses’ Day
Dance/Music/Theatre
Alley Theatre
(615 Texas Avenue)
October 8th – 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.
October 29th – 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
November 22nd – December 28th:
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas - Houston’s seasonal
favorite that the Houston Press said, “…..has spectacular
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
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
October 1st – 5th:
Unbeatable: A Bold New Musical –
Tracy Boyd is a high-powered, type-A workaholic, whose speed and efficiency
give her superhero status – until she ignores a lump in her breast for almost a
year. In the trial of her life,
Tracy finally confronts her greatest fear: living.
Based on the journals of a real-life breast cancer survivor, Unbeatable
celebrates hope, laughter and the courage to live every moment.
October 4th & 5th:
Always . . . Patsy Cline - This
production, put on by Stages, is being presented at Hobby Center, due to damage
sustained by the Stages facility during Hurricane Ike.
In honor of our 30th
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.
October 13th:
The Voice of Mozart – Join the
Houston Chamber Symphony for its joyous season opening concert.
In collaboration with Divas World Productions, the genius of Mozart’s
operatic music comes to life with arias from the opera The Marriage of Figaro
and “ch’io mi scordi di te” inventively composed for soprano, piano and
orchestra. The wispy overture to the
comic opera Bastien und Bastienne, the Rondo for Violin in C Major and the great
Sinfonia Concertante K.279b for winds, brass and orchestra are music-lover’s
delights.
October 16th – 18th:
Titus Andronicus – This
production by the Dominic Walsh Dance Theater offers a chilling abstract take on
Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy set to an original score composed and performed
live by Two Star Symphony with set and costume design by artist Frederique de
Montblanc.
October 21st
- 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
October 3rd – 5th:
Dvorak's New World Symphony
- The New World Symphony was conceived during the Dvorák’s two-year visit to
America. Out of the composer’s new-found love for the sounds of Native American
music and spirituals, Dvorák produced one of his most widely popular symphonic
works. It’ll take you through an emotional journey from serenity to excitement
and suspense, then from passion to stillness.
Fueled by love for his wife Clara, Robert Schumann became extremely
productive during the months that surrounded his wedding. He composed a “Fantasy
in A minor” for piano and orchestra in a little less than a week. Later,
Schumann decided to turn it in to a piano concerto by producing two additional
movements. You’ll be captivated by this masterpiece.
October 10th – 12th:
Wayne Brady
- Join this Emmy-award winning singer, dancer and star of the hit TV show, Whose
Line Is It Anyway?, as he takes the stage with the Houston Symphony. Wayne Brady
will perform a night of song tributes to his inspirations Sammy Davis, Jr. and
Sam Cooke, such as “Twistin the Night Away,” “Mr. Bojangles” and “Chain Gang.”
You’ll laugh out loud as Brady also entertains with his trademark
improvisational humor with audience participation.
October 11th:
Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs & Ham -
You will like it in a box. You will like it with a
fox! Join Sam-I-Am and the Houston Symphony for a musical telling of one of Dr.
Seuss’ most treasured stories, Green Eggs and Ham. Remember Bugs Bunny, Daffy
Duck and Elmer Fudd with music from Looney Tunes and enjoy Rossini’s Overture to
The Barber of Seville.
October 16th – 19th:
Beethoven 2 & Tchaikovsky's Rococo -
Prelude, sponsored by Fluor, begins 50 minutes
before each concert. Delve into the impressionistic textures of Debussy’s La Mer
with
October 17th:
Frankie Valli
- A true American pop music icon, Frankie Valli possesses one of the most
distinctive voices in all of Rock and Roll.
His incredible career both as a solo artist and with the Four Seasons has
produced 19 top ten hits and sold over 100 million records world wide.
Hear Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons together with the Houston
Symphony as they perform favorites like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk
Like a Man" and "Oh, What a Night."
October 31st – 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
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
October 2nd:
Patti LaBelle -
The incomparable, Grammy Award winning
Patti LaBelle headlines and kicks off SPA’s 2008-2009 season with her
spectacular blend of funk and soul. Revered for her versatility in belting out
classic R&B renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets, Ms. LaBelle will
entertain and wow with her distinctive, high-octave vocal range and her high
energy, passionate stage presence! The program will include Ms. LaBelle’s
classic hits, gospel and new songs.
October 4th:
Compañia Flamenco José Porcel -
Direct from Spain, the stunning José Porcel and his company of
drop-dead gorgeous dancers represent the best in classic, traditional flamenco
while flawlessly melding contemporary styles and moves. Prepare for an evening
of fiery footwork, beautiful costumes, sensual choreography and brilliant
musicianship from the on-stage ensemble of guitarists and vocalists.
October 10th:
Homeland - Laurie Anderson -
One of the seminal artists of our time,
Laurie Anderson takes our thoughts beyond the boundaries of the expected with
her newest work, Homeland. Today’s most celebrated performance artist returns to
SPA with a tour de force of spoken word and music that creates a poetic and
political portrait of contemporary American culture. Homeland explores the
current climate of fear and the obsessions with information and security.
Performed with a trio of musicians, the music features many of
October 21st:
David Sedaris -
One of America’s pre-eminent humor
writers, David Sedaris (alongside his trademark, sardonic wit!) was such a hit
on last year’s line-up that SPA could not resist inviting him back! This June,
Mr. Sedaris released his newest book When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Die-hard
fans and Sedaris-newbies will not want to miss this evening! By special
arrangement with Society for the Performing Arts, the Mukuru "Arts for AIDS"
Series of AIDS Foundation Houston is offering premium seating to SPA's
presentation of David Sedaris before tickets are available to the general
public.
October 30th:
Portrait of Rachmaninov - The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center -
While criticized by his contemporaries,
Rachmaninov’s unmistakable voice – grandly romantic, lushly colored,
continuously fascinating – has found its way through to join the chorus of 20th
century masters. This program, a survey of the composer’s output spanning almost
50 years, provides insight into Rachmaninov’s sonic world: the brooding
two-piano Suite No. 2; his late masterpiece, Symphonic Dances, in its original
version for two pianos; and his moving Trio élégiaque in D minor.
Internationally acclaimed pianists Gilbert Kalish, Gilles Vonsattel, Inon
Barnatan; violinist Ida Kavafian; and cellist Gary Hoffman of The Chamber Music
Society of Lincoln Center will perform.
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
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
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
October 6th:
How Sweet The Sound
7:30 p.m.
October 10th:
2008 World Tour of Gymnastics Superstars
7:30 p.m.
October 12th:
Luis Miguel 8:00 p.m.
October 14th:
Neil Diamond 8:00 p.m.
October 16th:
New Kids On The Block
8:00 p.m.
October 21st:
Janet Jackson 7:30 p.m.
October 22nd:
The Cheetah Girls 7:00
p.m.
October 26th:
Vicente Fernández 7:00 p.m.
October 27th:
Tina Turner 7:30 p.m.
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
October 17th – 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.
October 30th – 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
October 4th:
Mozart in Vienna -
In his adopted
city of Vienna, Mozart composed some of the greatest chamber music of all time.
Da Camera welcomes Mozart specialist Krista Bennion Feeney, concertmaster of
October 18th:
Chopin in Paris: Epigraph for a
Condemned Book -
A unique
tapestry of sight and sound, Sarah Rothenberg’s Epigraph for a Condemned Book
reveals the daring genius of Chopin’s piano works. In this original performance
collage, fragments of Delacroix’s intense paintings, early photography and the
provocative writings of Baudelaire interweave with Chopin’s music to magically
evoke 19th-century
October 21st:
Keller Quartet -
Hungary’s leading string quartet makes
its Houston debut on the way to Carnegie Hall, with a program including works by
the great Hungarian composer György Kurtág. This highly-anticipated event
follows violinist András Keller’s brilliant performance on the Da Camera series
last season.
October 25th:
The Kenny Barron Trio -
Kenny Barron’s unmatched ability to
mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious
rhythms have inspired The Los Angeles Times to name him “one of the topjazz
pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly to call him “The most lyrical piano
player of our time.” Kenny Barron's own recordings for Verve have earned him
nine Grammy nominations beginning in 1993 with the Brazilian influenced
recording Sambao and most recently for Canta Brasil. Barron consistently wins
the jazz critics and reader’s polls, including Down Beat, JazzTimes and Jazziz
magazines. He has been named Best Pianist by the Jazz Journalists Association
every year for the past four years and was as a finalist in the prestigious 2001
Jazz Par International Jazz Award.
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
(
Located on nearly eight acres in the heart of
Thru October 3rd: Strega Nona - Opera to Go!
presents the beloved story
inspired by the Caldecott-honored book by Tomie dePaola.
Strega Nona hires Big Anthony to watch the “magical pasta pot.”
Will he be able to resist temptation?
The story book characters come to life in this musical adaptation created
specifically for students. Produced
by Houston Grand Opera. 11:00 a.m.
October 2nd – 4th:
29th Annual Festival Chicano – The festival features some
of the most accomplished performers in the Chicano music scene, from Tejano to
Mariachi. Specific line-up of
artists to be announced prior to the event.
7:00 p.m.
October 5th:
1000 Lights for Peace – As the
grand finale to Mahatma Ghandi Week, the program will feature a multi-cultural,
international dance and music show by children and conclude with a candle
lighting for peace. 5:00 p.m.
October 7th & 29th:
Danceology 101 – An energetic presentation of the history of popular
dance, from the 1920s Charleston to today’s hip hop.
11:00 a.m.
October 10th – 11th:
Splendid China III – Discovering China – A showcase of the cultural
riches China has to offer in history, dance and music, featuring Dance of Asian
America and special guest artists from the Shanghai Dance Company.
8:00 p.m.
October 17th & 18th:
U Theatre of Taiwan – This stunning company has been described as a
synthesis of theatre, percussion, martial arts and meditation.
This premiere Houston performance will be one of only three U.S.
engagements this year. 8:00 p.m.
October 23rd & 24th:
African Footprint – The most successful show ever produced in South
Africa, this explosion of music and dance explores the multi-cultural influences
on the country in an exciting, highly theatrical style.
October 31st:
Beauty & the Beast – A musical
adaptation of the timeless tale of love and loyalty, set this time in Mexico, a
land steeped in folklore and magic.
11:00 a.m.
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.
for more information, see
www.milleroutdoortheatre.org
A.D. Players
(2710
Thru October 18th:
Miss Nelson is Missing – Children’s Theater – Sweet teacher Miss Nelson
can’t control her class. After one
particularly awful day, Miss Nelson goes missing and horrible Viola Swamp is the
substitute. Soon the children are
inundated with homework and have their story time taken away.
If the kids in Room 207 learn their lessons, literally, will Miss Nelson
return?
Thru October 19th: All
I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten- Remember when things were simple?
They still are – according to the collection of narrative writings of Robert
Fulghum in this charming musical adaptation of his popular books.
It’s a funny and heartwarming look at episodes from our everyday lives –
our loves and losses, hopes and fears, and dreams and memories.
for more information,
see
www.adplayers.org
Main Street Theatre
(2540 Times Blvd.)
Thru October 31st:
If You Give a Pig a Party - If
you give a Pig a party, she’s going to ask for some balloons. When you
give her the balloons, she’ll want to decorate the house. Then she’ll want to
invite all her friends to a party, and then they will want to have a sleepover,
with pillows and PJ’s and….! All of Laura Numeroff’s beloved characters –
the Mouse, the Moose, the Pig and even her latest character, the Cat -- are
on-hand for this delightful and rollicking musical.
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
(
Thru October 11th:
Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini -
A clash of cultures in an exotic locale is the backdrop for this story of the
gentle geisha and the American naval officer. Everyone will feel the sorrow of
“Poor Butterfly,” betrayed and abandoned to some of the most heartfelt music
ever written.
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, call (713) 861-5303 or see
www.operaintheheights.org
Playhouse 1960
(
October 3rd – October 25th:
To Kill a Mockingbird -
Scout, a young girl in a quiet southern town, is about to experience the
dramatic events that will affect the rest of her life. She and brother Jem are
being raised by their widower father Atticus and by a strong-minded housekeeper
Calpurnia. Wide-eyed Scout is fascinated with the sensitively revealed people of
her small town but, from the start, there's a rumble of thunder just under the
calm surface of the life here. The black people of the community have a special
feeling about Scout's father and she doesn't know why. A few of her white
friends are inexplicably hostile and Scout doesn't understand this either.
Unpleasant things are shouted and the bewildered girl turns to her father.
October 4th – October 26th:
Cinderella’s Glass Slipper -
This delightful large cast musical will charm
audiences of all ages. Cinderella works hard in the home of her cruel
stepmother. Her silly stepsisters, Brunhilda and Cleopatra, see themselves as
beautiful and think the prince will marry them. Of course, the handsome prince
spends most of the evening at a palace ball trying to escape from them! The
story is age old, but you'll meet playful new characters in this fresh
adaptation: a brave mouse, a hesitant cat and the amazing Pumpkinhead, who
changes into a coach! Our Fairy Godmother has her hands full tutoring an
apprentice but still makes time for Cinderella. Amazing (yet simple!) stage
magic sends our heroine off to the palace ball. As we know, she loses her glass
slipper as she tries to run out before the clock strikes
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? |