Alley Theatre Hosts Young Actor Auditions for A Christmas Carol
Calling all young actors ages 5 to 13 to be considered for Rob Melrose’s magical new adaptation of the heart-warming holiday classic
Alley Theatre is holding auditions for children between the ages of 5 and 13 to be considered for roles in Alley Theatre’s 2022 production of A Christmas Carol. Those wishing to audition must be available for rehearsals and performances October 4 through December 30, 2022. REQUIREMENTS: Children must be between the ages of 5 and 13; and may not be members of AEA or SAG-AFTRA. Children auditioning should be prepared to sing one verse a cappella from a traditional holiday song such as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” or “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Children should also prepare an age-appropriate short monologue, story or joke. Total material prepared should not exceed two minutes.
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2022 by appointment only at the Alley Theatre on 615 Texas Avenue.
Beginning August 1, parents may schedule their child by emailing contact information (name, phone number, the child’s name and child’s age) to auditions@alleytheatre.org.
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO SEASON & AN EXCITING NEW SHOW
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced changes to its upcoming 2022/23 Season including the addition of a brand new show. 
TUTS previously announced the full season back in March, which included a co-production of a new show, The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation. However, the new show unexpectedly will not be traveling to Houston after all.
“We heard from the show’s producers that due to the rising costs of materials among other things, The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation will not be touring to Houston,” said Dan Knechtges, Theatre Under The Stars Artistic Director. “The road to bringing a new musical to life always has some unexpected twists and turns, and that’s what is happening with the show.”
However, in yet another unexpected turn of events, TUTS will be producing the regional premiere of The Secret of My Success. Based on the hit 1980s film that starred Michael J. Fox.
“We are all so excited to jump back into the world of this show. And at TUTS with Dan Knechtges, in particular!” said Gordon Greenberg, who along with Steve Rosen, wrote the book for the musical.
TUTS is partnering with Universal Theatrical Group (Wicked, Mean Girls) to create a brand-new production of the musical that has only performed in one other place, Chicago, where it was met with rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.
Tickets for Theatre Under The Stars 2022/23 Season are currently available by subscription. Season ticket holders enjoy a variety of perks including first access to seats, complimentary ticket exchanges, and savings on additional seats. Subscriptions for all or part of the six-show season are available now. Tickets for individual shows will be on sale starting July 11th. Visit TUTS.com/subscribe or call 713.558.8887 to learn more.
Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir announces 2022-2023 season, “A Heart for the Choral Art”
Season subscriptions now on sale for 28th season
The Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir, under the direction of Founder and Artistic Director Robert Simpson, announces its new 2022-2023 season, “A Heart for the Choral Art,” with season subscriptions now on sale to the public at houstonchamberchoir.org. Single tickets for all concerts go on sale on Aug. 5.
“The diversity and scope of our upcoming season highlights, once again, the Houston Chamber Choir’s musical range and endless curiosity,” says Simpson. “Each concert has a unique focus taking us from choral classics by Vaughan Williams to underappreciated gems by Black composers and the heartfelt Indie Folk music of Iron and Wine. Yet, at the core of each performance will be one unifying element, our heart for the choral art.” 
The 28th season opens in September with a festival concert in tribute to English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams celebrating his 150th birthday, followed by a return to Miller Outdoor Theatre in October for This Land is Your Land, focusing on our nation’s great folk songs. This concert is free to the public.
In November, the Houston Chamber Choir presents Desert Island Playlist, a program of all-time favorites, while December brings Christmas at the Villa with a return to Villa de Matel for four concerts the weekend of Dec. 10 – 11. The event has been a favorite holiday tradition for Houstonians for many years. 
Hear the Future returns in January with performances by three stellar choirs from area schools – elementary, middle and high school. February brings Mass for the Endangered by American composer Sara Kirkland-Snider, with special guest ensemble Loop38.
In March, Dr. Anthony Trecek-King serves as guest conductor for Ancestors’ Dreams, exploring works by Black composers, including spirituals. The season finale in May features singer-songwriter Sam Beam, known as Iron & Wine, in his first performance with a choral ensemble.
Season subscriptions start at $50 for students up to $201 for the six-concert option. For information about ticketing and subscriptions, visit the Houston Chamber Choir website at https://houstonchamberchoir.org/2022-2023-season. This Land is Your Land and Hear the Future are free and open to the public.
The Houston Chamber Choir continues its successful podcast series With One Accord, described as a “one-stop shop for choral joy.” Season 3 starts in September 2022 stay tuned for more information. Previous seasons are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, Anchor and YouTube.
For more information on the Houston Chamber Choir go to HoustonChamberchoir.org or call 713-224-5566.
Photos courtesy of Houston Chamber Choir
Houston Grand Opera Appoints Jennifer Bowman as Director of Community and Learning
2022-23 season brings exciting and enriching experiences to the Houston community
After an extensive search, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is proud to announce Jennifer Bowman as the company’s new Director of Community and Learning (formerly HGOco).
Jennifer Bowman, a native Houstonian, joins HGO after five years as the Director of Music Education at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. She was a standout among a large pool of candidates because of her demonstrated success collaborating with communities, fostering diversity in the arts, and supporting the development of vibrant, relevant new works.
“When we embarked on this search, we knew we wanted a leader that shared our passion for great art and our belief that everyone should be able to experience its power. Throughout her impactful career, Jennifer has shown a remarkable commitment to producing work that speaks to her entire community while building new audiences. A thought leader in our field, she is a true inspiration, and we are so excited to bring her back to Houston and hit the ground running with her,” says HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor.
As the Kennedy Center’s Director of Music Education, Bowman developed performance programming and educational initiatives in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Washington National Opera (WNO), and the Center’s hip hop, jazz, and chamber music programs. Among her notable achievements, she served as the Center’s lead representative for the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative for young BIPOC artists wishing to pursue advanced study in music; spearheaded WNO’s 18-month community engagement project in support of Blue, an opera about a Harlem family’s experience with police brutality; revamped the Center’s training programs for young musicians; commissioned new works that reflect the population of the region served by the Center; and introduced youth and family audiences to diverse artists making their Center debuts.
Bowman’s career began at the Kennedy Center, where she coordinated professional development programs for chief executives and staff for over 600 arts and cultural organizations in the U.S. and abroad. In 2020, she co-led Music Academy of the West’s transition to an online summer festival in response to the pandemic; she remains a member of the organization’s Innovation & Education Committee. In addition, Bowman is a member of the third cohort of Sphinx LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts & Diversity). She assumes her new position with HGO on June 6, 2022.
“My first foray into the operatic world took place at Houston Grand Opera. It was an experience I will never forget. I am honored to bring my career full circle and return to my hometown in this exciting role,” states Bowman. “HGO has a rich and well-deserved reputation for providing world-class art both in and outside of the theater. The organization’s Community and Learning initiative has set the standard in the industry, and it is truly thrilling to have the opportunity to build upon its many successes. I cannot wait to get to work!”
HGO Community and Learning, previously HGOco, underwent a name change after the appointment of Dastoor as General Director and CEO in 2021. Under Dastoor’s leadership, the company felt it important to showcase this extraordinary initiative with a name that reflects the deep commitment of the entire organization, and the ownership of this important work across the company. A selection of upcoming programming for Community and Learning includes:
- Another City: In March 2023, HGO will present Another City, the newest opera in the company’s award-winning Song of Houston series, which supports the development of new works based on stories that define the unique character of Houston. Composer Jeremy Howard Beck and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann explore an often-unseen side of the city with an opera centered around our homeless community that reflects upon what it means to be home, to have a home, and to share the home that we call Houston.
- Seeking the Human Spirit: HGO’s six-year artistic and collaborative community initiative culminates in 2023 with a set of six chamber-scale commissions, each of which responds to one of the program’s six annual themes, all grounded in opera’s universality. Together six composer/librettist teams will premiere new works centering around sacrifice, transformation, identity, faith, character, and spirit.
- Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers: Starting in fall 2022, Kamala Sankaram and David Johnston’s HGO-commissioned original opera will begin touring schools, libraries, and community spaces across Houston as part of the company’s popular Opera to Go! program. Drawing on Bollywood, opera, and Ethiopian jazz and inspired by monkey stories from India, China, and West Africa, the work shares the tale of a pair of siblings who must outwit a crocodile. Other initiatives for students include the Storybook Opera program and student performances of La traviata in fall 2022.
- The Big Swim: This new family-friendly chamber opera from composer Meilina Tsui and librettist Melisa Tien, currently in development by HGO in partnership with the Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC), shares the story of the Jade Emperor and the Great Race. The work will premiere at ASTC in February 2024 as part of its Lunar New Year festivities.
“By creating connections with our dynamic, diverse community, whether at the Wortham or at other spaces throughout our city, HGO has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Houstonians, allowing them to find common ground and share in the transformational power of the human voice,” says Dastoor. “This is at the core of everything we do, and the reason why it has been so important to us to recruit a strong leader for our new Director of Community and Learning. I am happy to say that with Jennifer Bowman on board, the future is shining bright.”
To learn more about HGO’s Community and Learning initiatives, visit HGO.org/Community.
K-POP STAGE-BREAKERS SEVENTEEN ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN DATES + VENUES FOR ‘[BE THE SUN]’ TOUR
SEE THEM at the TOYOTA CENTER – HOUSTON, TX on SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2022
General Public On Sale Starting Friday, June 3 at 3 PM on Ticketmaster.com

To ensure tickets get into the hands of fans, the tour has partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform. Official Fan Club Members and general verified fans can register now through Thursday, May 26th at 7PM PT/ 9 PM CT / 10P M ET for the Verified Fan presale HERE. Verified fans who receive a code will have access to purchase tickets before the general public on Wednesday, June 1st at 3 PM through 10 PM. Only fans that have received a unique code will have the chance to purchase tickets for performances on a first come, first served basis. All tickets will be made available during the Verified Fan presales and any remainings will be sold at the General Public Onsale on Friday, June 3rd at 3 PM.
SEVENTEEN will release their 4th studio album Face the Sun at midnight (ET) on May 27. The nine-track album with the lead single “HOT” has already racked up over 1.74 million pre-order sales in its first week, reaching an all-time high for the band.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with Memorial Hermann’s Broadway at The Hobby Center
Performances will run through May 1st, 2022
Tony®-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific, The King and I and 2017 Tony-winning Best Play Oslo, bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.  
The original production won ten Tony Awards, including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time.
You’ll be there when the sun rises on this new production, with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family.
For tickets, go to https://houston.broadway.com/shows/fiddler-on-the-roof-2022/.
Photos by Joan Marcus
Alley Theatre’s Award-winning DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE to play at Hubbard Theatre through May 8th
Written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Brandon Weinbrenner, Dead Man’s Cell Phone plays in the Hubbard Theatre at the Alley Theatre now through May 8, 2022. 
The play was awarded a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play.
Tickets may be purchased to watch the digital distribution of a live taping, available from May 9 through May 22, 2022.
For more information or tickets, go to www.alleytheatre.org or 713-220-5700.
Photo: Lynn Lane
Rediscovered Diego Rivera Painting Acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston La Bordadora had been in the collection of one family for nearly a century until its purchase by the MFAH
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a major, rediscovered painting by the great Mexican muralist Diego Rivera (1886-1957). The 1928 painting, La Bordadora (The Embroiderer) had been in the collection of a New Orleans family since they acquired it, shortly after the work was completed. It has not previously been on public view. 
Commented Gary Tinterow, Director, Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, of the MFAH. “I am thrilled to announce the acquisition of this remarkable painting. La Bordadora relates thematically and stylistically to a beautiful Rivera cartoon already in the MFAH collection, from his iconic mural cycle at the Ministry of Education in Mexico City. Both La Bordadora and the ministry murals herald a fundamental theme of Rivera’s life’s work, to capture the dignity of the everyday. With this acquisition, we will be able to build on the foundations of our extraordinary holdings of 20th-century Latin American art to tell the story of modernism from its earliest chapters.”
Rivera had gone to the region of Tehuantepec, near Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1923, and there discovered the vibrant, indigenous culture of Mexico, with its traditions passed down by women through generations. He created drawings as well as a few paintings of weavers and artisans. La Bordadora depicts two women in an abstracted interior at a table, with the woman in the foreground working on an embroidery panel.
The painting was acquired in 1928 or 1929 by James Kern Feibleman, a New Orleans businessman and later, professor, who had been involved in literary and artistic circles in the city, ones that overlapped and interconnected with those in Mexico. A photograph of the painting taken by Tina Modotti was published in 1930 in the Paris journal Art Vivant, but its location remained unknown until recently.
THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE AND THEATRE UNDER THE STARS ANNOUNCE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF GRISWOLDS’ BROADWAY VACATION
Load up the family car! Producer Ken Davenport today announced that The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation, The Musical will make its debut this fall at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre from September 10 – October 1, followed by an engagement at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars from October 25 – November 6 prior to its arrival on Broadway (date and theatre to be announced). 
Ken Davenport said, “I couldn’t think of a better place for the Griswolds to start their journey to Broadway than Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater, and taking a cue from this adventurous crew, continuing the developmental journey at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars. Can’t wait to throw our bags in the family truckster and head out!”
The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation, The Musical was formerly known by a working title, Broadway Vacation.
The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation, The Musical features a book, music, and lyrics by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen; direction and choreography by Donna Feore; scenic design by Jason Sherwood, costume design by Tina McCartney; lighting design by Jeff Croiter; sound design by Kai Harada, music supervision and additional arrangements by Greg Anthony Rassen; and music arrangements by Glen Kelly.
The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation, The Musical is based on the characters from the Warner Bros. Vacation franchise.
The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation, The Musical marks the 26th new musical to be produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre. “The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation is joyful and heartwarming, I can’t think of a family better than the Griswolds to tag along with as they embark on this brand-new Broadway adventure. We could not be more thrilled for this wildly fun production to kick off our 2022/23 Season,” said The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry.
“We’re so excited to be part of the team that is bringing this new musical to life and to share it with our audiences before sending it off to Broadway!” said Theatre Under the Stars Artistic Director Dan Knechtges.
For more information, go to www.broadwayvacationthemusical.com.
Alley Theatre Announces the Cast & Creative Team of Kate Hamill’s Sense and Sensibility
Based on Jane Austen’s Classic Romance Novel
The Tony Award®-winning Alley Theatre announces the cast and creative team of Kate Hamill’s romance Sense and Sensibility. The play is based on Jane Austen’s beloved novel and directed by Adriana Baer and runs March 4 – March 27, 2022 in the Hubbard Theatre.
A playful new adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters—sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne—after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. Set in gossipy late 18th-century England, with a fresh female voice, the play is full of humor, emotional depth, and bold theatricality. Sense and Sensibility examines our reactions, both reasonable and ridiculous, to societal pressures. 
The cast of Sense and Sensibility includes Alley’s Resident Acting Company members Elizabeth Bunch as Elinor Dashwood, Dylan Godwin as John Willoughby/Ensemble, Chris Hutchison as Colonel Brandon/Mrs. Ferrars/Ensemble, Melissa Molano as Lucy Steele/Ensemble, Melissa Pritchett as Marianne Dashwood, David Rainey as Sir John Middleton/Doctor/Ensemble, Christopher Salazar as Edward Ferrars/Robert Ferrars/Ensemble, and Todd Waite as John Dashwood/Lady Middleton/Ensemble.
Rounding out the cast are Michelle Elaine (Sweat) as Fanny Dashwood/Mrs. Jennings/Ensemble, Christine Friale (A Christmas Carol) as Mrs. Dashwood/Ensemble/Marianne Dashwood Understudy, and Laura Kaldis (Main Street Theatre’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberly) as Margaret Dashwood/Anne Steele/Ensemble/Elinor Dashwood Understudy.
The creative team of Sense and Sensibility includes Scenic Designer Michael Locher, Costume Designer Hunter Kaczorowski, Lighting Designer Kevin Rigdon, Sound Designer Sharath Parel, Stage Manager Kristen Larson, and Assistant Stage Manager Rachel Dooley-Harris.
“Wisdom and Hope” opens January 21 at The Collective
The Community Artists’ Collective welcomes the new year with “Wisdom and Hope,” the creative offerings of local artists Hardy Allen, Daniel Tesfai, and Zymora Eikner. 
The exhibition opens January 21, and a reception will be held Saturday, January 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Collective, 4101 San Jacinto, Suite 116. The exhibition continues through February 26.
Many of Eikner’s paintings reflect her fond memories of spending time on her grandpa’s tobacco farm in Virginia and scenes of wheat fields with mountains in the background. The retired public school teacher plans to paint even more memories when she gets settled in her new home in a local senior facility.
“A 4” Christmas poinsettia in an 8” pot that I nurtured for four years grew into a plant as high as my house,” she said.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t survive the freeze last year,” she lamented, “but I have a photograph that I can use to paint it.”
Allen’s highly detailed art, rendered in charcoal and graphite, recalls significant scenes from his boyhood and family.
Allen, also retired, studied under John Biggers at Texas Southern University for one year and is grateful for what he learned. Biggers encouraged him to pay attention to details and to invest the time in creating his piece.
“Biggers said that we could all paint the same picture, but each would be different. It means to me that no other artist can do what I do,” Allen explained.
The youngest of the trio, Tesfai, a lifelong artist, studied art at TSU. His acrylic on canvas paintings speak to the gentrification of cultures that don’t easily survive our western civilization.
“Some cultures are being swallowed,” he said, “and we dismiss them because we don’t understand them.
“Art is a medium which gives those cultures a voice and the hope to live on.”
For more information about the exhibit contact The Collective at 713-523-1616 or visit www.thecollective.org.
Broadway at the Hobby Center reschedules Houston engagement of Hadestown
Statement from Broadway at the Hobby Center on behalf of Hadestown: “Following the recent postponement of Hadestown set to play the Hobby Center January 4-9, 2022, we are pleased to announce Hadestown has been rescheduled for October 4-9, 2022. Patrons do not need to take any action at this time as their seats remain secure. Tickets for the January dates will be honored for the new performance dates. Details will be sent to ticketholders via email. Patrons who have transferred or resold tickets for Hadestown bear the responsibility to share the information with the ticketholder attending the show.”
Society for the Performing Arts presents An Evening with Chris Thile
Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) will present An Evening with Chris Thile, the multi-Grammy Award-winning mandolin virtuoso, on Saturday, February 5, 2022, 7:30 PM, at the Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater. 
ABOUT THE ARTIST
MacArthur Fellow and Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter Chris Thile, who the Guardian calls “that rare being: an all-round musician who can settle into any style, from bluegrass to classical,” and NPR calls a “genre-defying musical genius,” is a founding member of the critically acclaimed bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek. For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion). With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike, giving the listener “one joyous arc, with the linear melody and vertical harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times).
Most recently, Chris recorded Laysongs, out June 4, 2021 on Nonesuch. The album is his first truly solo album: just Thile, his voice, and his mandolin, on new recordings of six original songs and three covers, all of which contextualize and banter with his ideas about spirituality. Recorded in a converted upstate New York church during the pandemic, Laysongs‘ centerpiece is the three-part “Salt (in the Wounds) of the Earth,” which was inspired by C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. The album also features a song Thile wrote about Dionysus; a performance of the fourth movement of Béla Bartók’s Sonata for Solo Violin; “God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot” based on Buffy Sainte-Marie’s adaptation of a Leonard Cohen poem; a cover of bluegrass legend Hazel Dickens’ “Won’t You Come and Sing for Me,” and “Ecclesiastes 2:24,” original instrumental loosely modeled after the Prelude from J.S. Bach’s Partita for Solo Violin in E Major.
More at spahouston.org/.
Tony Award®– nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof returns to Houston April 26-May 1, 2022
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 AT 10 AM
Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center is proud to present the Houston engagement of the Tony Award®-nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof at the Hobby Center from April 26-May 1, 2022. Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 17 at 10 a.m. 
A beloved theatrical classic from Tony-winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, this critically acclaimed production is directed by Tony Award®-winner Bartlett Sher (To Kill a Mockingbird, South Pacific, The King and I) and choreographed by the acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter.
Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. This classic musical is rich with Broadway hits, including “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition.”
The cast features Israeli theatre and film star Yehezkel Lazarov as Tevye joined by Maite Uzal as Golde, Andrew Hendrick as Lazar Wolf, Brooke Wetterhahn as Yente, Kelly Gabrielle Murphy as Tzeitel, Ruthy Froch as Hodel, Noa Luz Barenblat as Chava, Daniel Kushner as Motel, Solomon Reynolds as Perchik, Jack O’Brien as Fyedka and Jason Thomas Sofge as Constable.
The ensemble includes Danny Arnold, Nick Berke, Andrea Marie Bush, Morgan Cohen, David Scott Curtis, Eddieomar Gonzalez-Castillo, Ansley Grace Hamilton, Jenna Harwood, Jonathan Hashmonay, Elliot Lazar, Randa Meierhenry, Carlye Messman, Ali Arian Molaei, Jacob Nahor, Max O’Connell, Honza Pelichovsky, Carly Post, Lauren Blair Smith, Alex Stone, Rosie Webber, and Scott Willits.
The original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, which opened in 1964, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical in addition to eight other Tony Awards that year. This acclaimed revival proudly introduces a new generation to the iconic musical adored across the globe.
For more information, go to www.Fiddlermusical.com.
MEGAN THEE STALLION SET TO PERFORM SPECIAL HOMETOWN CONCERT TO CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF 713 MUSIC HALL, HOUSTON’S NEWEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Live Nation announced that three-time Grammy award-winner and Houston native Megan Thee Stallion will perform a special hometown grand opening show to celebrate the city’s newest live music venue, 713 Music Hall, on Friday, December 3rd, 2021, presented by 97.9 The Box.
Tickets are now on sale.. Megan Thee Stallion said, “It’s always special to come back home and perform in front of my OG hotties. I can’t wait to take the stage and celebrate the grand opening of 713 Music Hall — it’s going to be unforgettable!”
The 5,000-capacity concert venue honors the city’s heritage through its beloved area code and is managed by Venue Nation. The brand new venue is housed in the city’s latest major downtown development project POST Houston and will be a key anchor in transforming the historic Barbara Jordan Post Office into a hub for culture, food, shopping and recreation with an expected 100 events annually.
For more information about 713 Music Hall, please visit 713MusicHall.com.
About Megan Thee Stallion: Hailing from Houston, Megan Thee Stallion is a three time GRAMMY winner, philanthropist and ever-evolving cultural icon. From the release of her critically acclaimed and Gold certified debut album, Good News, to earning two global record breaking Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits with the “Savage Remix” featuring Beyoncé, and “WAP” with Cardi B, Megan has proven unstoppable. Megan has been recognized for her musical achievements with three GRAMMY wins, including Best New Artist and nine BET Awards.
Megan was also honored as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. In October 2020, following a powerful and politically charged performance on Saturday Night Live that demanded justice for Breonna Taylor, Megan published her monumental “Why I Speak Up For Black Women” op-ed and accompanying visual with The New York Times.
Call for Artists: Applications Open for Spring 2022 Bayou City Art Festival
Bayou City Art Festival, produced by the Art Colony Association Inc. (ACA) and benefitting Houston nonprofits, is inviting artists to apply for the opportunity to showcase and sell their art at the nation’s premier spring outdoor art festival in the U.S. scheduled for Friday-Sunday, March 25-27, 2022. The artist application deadline for the spring 2022 Bayou City Art Festival is Sunday, December 5, 2021, at midnight CST.
“Artists are the backbone of Bayou City Art Festival and the festival is brought to life with their unique mesmerizing artwork,” said Kelly Batterson, Executive Director of ACA. “We invite new and returning artists to apply and be part of the outdoor art event that kicks off the spring Texas art festival circuit.”
ACA produces a Bayou City Art Festival in the spring and in the fall. Celebrating 50 years in 2022, ACA has provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. Patrons have the opportunity to personally meet the artists, view original works, and purchase world-class art. The festival benefits local nonprofits and features live music, food, beverages, entertainment, an Active Imagination Zone and much more.
More than 1,000 qualified applicants from 19 different disciplines submit their applications to be reviewed by ACA jurors. The festival receives applicants from around the world including Canada, Mexico, South America, and Israel. For artists who have participated in two or fewer juried art festivals, Bayou City Art Festival invites them to apply for its “Emerge: Artists on the Rise” program. Selected “Artists on the Rise” will receive a booth in a dedicated area alongside other exhibiting artists and can submit a fifth image of their work in lieu of a booth image.
For each festival, a new juror panel is invited and consists of artists, collectors, educators, curators, and industry professionals. To build a jury that is experienced in all forms of art, professionals from the performing and literary arts industry are also invited to participate. The panel of five to seven jurors are selected based on their specific interests, professional knowledge, and expertise in the arts.
Only 300 artists will be selected to exhibit at Bayou City Art Festival. Cash prizes are awarded for “Best in Show,” second and third place, as selected by on-site judges at the festival. Ribbons are awarded for “Best Booth” and all winners receive jury exempt status for two years as well as priority booth placement.
Artists are required to submit five images and an application fee of $45 by the deadline. All artists selected to participate in the spring 2022 Bayou City Art Festival will be notified by December 17, 2021. For more information or to submit an artist application for Bayou City Art Festival, please click here.
BILLY JOEL IN CONCERT on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 at MINUTE MAID PARK
First Performance at Minute Maid Park—Only Texas Show in 2022
Legendary musician and songwriter Billy Joel is coming to Houston, TX, to make his Minute Maid Park debut on Friday, September 23, 2022, at 8 p.m.
“Billy Joel is one of the biggest concert draws in the world, selling out arenas and stadiums across the globe,” said Stephanie Stegall, Vice President, Event Sales & Operations, Houston Astros. “We’re thrilled he will be making his first-ever appearance at our ballpark, Minute Maid Park, on September 23. This will be a show for the ages and one of the biggest nights ever at Minute Maid Park.”
“Billy Joel has performed many incredible nights in Houston throughout his career,” said Anthony Nicolaidis, President, Live Nation Dallas. “We’re excited to bring Billy back to Houston for his first show ever at Minute Maid Park. It will be an inside the park home run!”
New York’s quintessential son, Billy Joel, is one of the greatest musicians of our time. Joel ranks as one of the most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history. The singer, songwriter, and composer is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time and the third best-selling solo artist. Joel’s songs have acted as personal and cultural touchstones for millions of people across five decades.
Joel’s biggest hits include “Uptown Girl,” “Just The Way You Are,” “The Longest Time,” and “Vienna,” among others. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic, and artistic significance.”
Joel is also the recipient of six Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has received the RIAA’s Diamond Award twice for “Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II” and “The Stranger.” Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has received numerous industry awards, including a Tony Award for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on Joel’s music.
Joel has also performed alongside other music greats at two of Madison Square Garden’s most extraordinary benefit concerts – “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” which raised awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy and “The Concert for New York City,” which was held to help aid 9/11 victims and heroes.
CINDY WILLIAMS TO STAR IN ONE-WOMAN SHOW, ME, MYSELF & SHIRLEY
NATIONAL TOUR KICKS-OFF JANUARY 20TH IN PALM SPRINGS, CA
Cindy Williams will take the national stage starring in Me, Myself & Shirley, a one-woman show, for a limited US tour across nineteen cities beginning in January 2022. Tickets are on sale now in various markets, and more information is available at MeMyselfandShirley.com.
Produced by Duggan & Zucker Entertainment, the legendary star of the iconic comedy series, Laverne & Shirley will share memories of her career and hilarious backstage tales from her lifetime in entertainment. Although best known for her role as Shirley Feeney, Cindy Williams is a versatile actress and comedienne who overcame a challenging childhood to pursue her love of acting and found stardom.
During Me, Myself & Shirley, Williams will chronicle the stories, the secrets, the embarrassing moments, and the highs and lows of her life in Hollywood. Her career includes working with Academy Award-winning directors Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, George Cukor, Roger Corman and Jack Nicholson and in several films including two nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: American Graffiti and The Conversation. Her friends and co-stars include Penny Marshall, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Henry Winkler, Richard Dreyfus, Gene Hackman, Dame Maggie Smith, Gene Kelly, Andy Kaufman and Robert Duval.
Me, Myself & Shirley creative team includes lighting design by Jose Santiago, video logistics by Josieu Jean, video designs by Declan Duggan & Zak Hudson, Justin Duggan as production associate, and production supervision by Charles H. Duggan.
Me, Myself & Shirley 2022 National Tour Dates include Houston on February 18-19 at Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall.
Connect with Me, Myself & Shirley: MeMyselfandShirley.com
4th Wall Theatre Company returns with the Houston premiere of 8-time Tony Nominated Play, “A Doll’s House, Part 2”
4th Wall Theatre Company, Houston’s home for extraordinary performances up close, is proud to open their 2021-2022 Season with the Houston Premiere of Lucas Hnath’s eight-time Tony-nominated A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2. 
Heralded as a “smart, funny and utterly engrossing play” by the New York Times, A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 is both a lively sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 masterpiece as well as a stand-alone work of modern feminist drama. Alanna Dorsett will direct a quartet of local actors including Houston favorites Kim Tobin-Lehl and Philip Lehl as the iconic Helmers, with Sally Edmundson and Judith Igwilo making their 4th Wall debuts as Anne Marie and Emmy, respectively. 
We last saw Ibsen’s Nora Helmer literally and figuratively slamming the door on her life. When Hnath imagines Nora’s return 15 years later in PART 2, the same burning questions that Ibsen left unresolved in the 19th century are reignited. A modern perspective reminds us that Nora’s arguments about freedom, love, responsibility, and gender equality are just as controversial and relevant now as ever. Jeremy Gerard for Deadline.com writes, “Hnath’s inspired writing, which endows each character with an arsenal of fastballs, curveballs and spitballs, keep[s] us disarmingly off-balance. He’s an uncommonly gifted parodist. For all its seriousness, A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 is suffused with a contagious bemusement.”
The design team for this deliciously modern production will include some of Houston’s top theatre talent featuring Lighting Design by Christina Giannelli, Set Design by Ryan McGettigan, Sound Design by Yezminne Zepeda, and Costume Design by Cherie Acosta.
For the latest information about 4th Wall Theatre Company’s upcoming season and to purchase subscriptions or single tickets, please visit the theater’s website at 4thwalltheatreco.com or follow @4thwallhouston on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
LIL TECCA ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN TECCA LOVES YOU TOUR 2022
NEW ALBUM WE LOVE YOU TECCA 2 CRASHES TOP 10 ON BILLBOARD TOP 200
Save the date: March 23, 2022 at House of Blues – Houston
For the first time in three years, multi-platinum rapper Lil Tecca returns to the road in 2022 on the “Tecca Loves You” Tour across North America. Fittingly, the Live Nation produced tour kicks off on February 14—Valentine’s Day 2022—in Boston, MA at House of Blues of Boston, visits major markets throughout the country for eight weeks, and concludes in his hometown at Terminal 5 in New York, NY on April 8. He’s bringing along a stacked lineup of support acts, including BabySantana, Bktherula, and yvngxchris.
Posting up over 8 billion streams and claiming multiple platinum certifications, Lil Tecca has quietly cemented himself as one of rap’s most vital rising superstars. In 2020, his full-length debut album, Virgo World, bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 and yielded two Hot 100 entries—namely “Dolly” with Lil Uzi Vert and “When You Down” feat. Lil Durk with Polo G. HotNewHipHop praised it as “a great starting point for the 18-year-old.” Teccafirst exploded with his platinum-certified mixtape, We Love You Tecca, and his breakout quadruple-platinum single “Ransom” in 2019. He reeled in acclaim from New York Times, Billboard, HYPEBEAST, Complex, and many others in addition to selling out shows on his first headline run, the We Love You TeccaWorld Tour. He launches into his next chapter with his second album We Love You Tecca 2.
Tickets at www.tecca.co/tour.
SAVE THE DATE!
Bayou City Art Festival Returns to Downtown Houston in the Fall
The Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), the producer of Bayou City Art Festival, will welcome artists, patrons and supporters back for Houston’s signature art event. The in-person festival, Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, will be held in Downtown Houston, along Allen Parkway and Sam Houston Park, on Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10, 2021, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Online early bird tickets will soon be available at www.bayoucityartfestival.com for $15 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; and children five and under are free. Adult tickets purchased after September 24, 2021 are $18. Online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival. Tickets will not be sold at the gate and can only be purchased online.
Six photographers focus on life in Third Ward Exhibit at The Collective opens August 11
Visit Houston’s iconic Third Ward neighborhood through the lenses of six photographers with deep roots in the area at the Community Artists’ Collective’s August exhibit. 
“Third Ward Special,” opening August 11, features the works of Marc Furi, Flash Gordon Parks, Rabéa Ballin, Risky Cereal, Brian Ellison and Derrell Boson.
The art is inspired by the many facets of the cultural, historic epicenter and is curated by Miles Payne and Marc Newsome.
The Third Ward, one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods, is a historically Black community with a neighborhood park originally purchased by former slaves. It is home to Texas Southern University, a historically Black college. The community is considered by some to be the cradle to the city’s civil rights movement. Many Black artists, activists, judges and politicians grew up in the area.
An opening reception will be held Saturday, August 14, from 5 to 7 p.m., the exhibit continues through September 25. The Collective, 4101 San Jacinto, Suite 116, is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 12 noon until 5 p.m. and by appointment.
For more information about the exhibit contact The Collective at 713-523-1616 or visit www.thecollective.org.
ISHIDA DANCE COMPANY ANNOUNCES FARAWAY, SO CLOSE WORLD PREMIERE IN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR HOUSTON and AUSTIN ON SALE JULY 12
ISHIDA Dance Company presents Faraway, So Close, an evening of thought-provoking world premieres in contemporary dance: new works based on original poetic narratives that invite existential questions choreographed by ISHIDA Artistic Director Brett Ishida, a new work by former Batsheva dancer and USC Professor Bret Easterling, a work by Australian native Danielle Rowe, a former principal with Houston Ballet and Netherlands Dans Theater who has choreographed on San Francisco Ballet and Royal New Zealand Ballet, and a new creation by European award-winning choreographer Kristian Lever. Kristian returns to Texas having premiered “Unravel” with Royal Danish Ballet in Houston at Dance Salad in 2019. Tickets are on sale now for Houston and will go on sale for Austin on July 12. To purchase tickets go to Ishidadance.org. 
AUSTIN, TX – August 13-14, 2021: Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm
Dell Fine Arts Center at St. Andrew’s, 5901 Southwest Pkwy, Austin, TX 78735
Tickets: $25-$60/VIP $100
HOUSTON, TX – August 19-21, 2021: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm
MATCH – Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston, 3400 Main Street, Houston TX 77002
Tickets: $30-$70/VIP $110
The 80 minute program will feature an introduction by the choreographer and personal insights into each piece.
About ISHIDA Dance Company: ISHIDA is a new world-class contemporary dance company based in Austin, Texas, featuring venerated dancers from many of the top companies in the world (Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet BC, Netherlands Dance Theater, Kidd Pivot, Hubbard Street). ISHIDA blends contemporary dance with theatrical elements while retaining the physicality and beauty of the human form from traditional ballet. ISHIDA presents unique narratives relevant to a modern audience that explore archetypal themes and invite existential questions: Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? Such works enable audiences to gather meaning and emotional connection. ISHIDA’s poetic narratives intuitively prompt introspection to lead to greater kindness towards oneself and otherness.
Photo courtesy of ISHIDA.
Khori Dastoor Joins Houston Grand Opera as the Company’s New General Director and CEO
Dastoor brings her unique, forward-thinking strategic vision and innovative approach to Houston
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is proud to announce the appointment of Khori Dastoor as the company’s new General Director and CEO, and holder of the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair. She will assume her new role with HGO full-time as of January 2022.
Dastoor began her operatic career performing in the U.S. and internationally as a lyric soprano before pursuing a trailblazing career in arts administration, joining Opera San José (OSJ) as Artistic Advisor in 2013 and as General Director 2019. During her time in San Jose, Dastoor became known for her hands-on, entrepreneurial artistic and administrative leadership. Through her strategic vision, Dastoor turned Opera San José into a profitable institution by providing exceptional fiscal stewardship while broadening the company’s classic repertoire and focusing on the next generation of artists and operagoers. This success and her combination of creativity and leadership signal the beginning of many milestone firsts in her impressive career. Previous to her role at OSJ, she served as Associate Director of the Packard Humanities Institute, responsible for initiatives encompassing arts, music, and archaeology. 
“Houston Grand Opera has long led the way in developing new operatic works that speak to the American experience, as well as to the dynamism and vibrancy of Houston, Texas. I have long admired this storied institution, whose legacy is rich with new commissions, world premieres, acclaimed artists, and stunning, world-class productions,” says Khori Dastoor, HGO’s incoming General Director and CEO. “HGO will continue to propel opera forward by developing diverse offerings, evolving known stories to reflect our current world, and celebrating the incredible artists, musicians, and creatives who make this artform possible.”
Dastoor joins HGO as the company begins its bold next act. “If this past year has taught us anything, it’s the essential role that the arts play in our lives,” she shares. “Opera has endured centuries due to the tireless work of incredible artists and musicians, who continue to propel our artform forward. I’m thrilled to be joining Houston Grand Opera, a company which leads the industry in developing new talent and creating new works and look forward to joining you this Fall for our triumphant return to in-person performances.”
To learn more, visit HGO.org/Khori. Photo credit: Lynn Lane
Main Street Theater is back!
Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School is playing for families this summer
Summer Location ONLY: MECA at TBH, 333 S. Jensen St., Houston, 77003
Main Street Theater (MST) is back! The Theater for Youth will open first with Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School this summer at MECA at TBH. The MainStage will open in late September at MST’s Rice Village location. 
“We are so excited to be back in the theater creating with our incredible artists and preparing for the excitement of our younger patrons.” shared Vivienne M. St. John, MST Theater for Youth Artistic Director. “Junie’s spunkiness and energy make this perfect show for our re-opening!” Junie B. Jones is a much-beloved character from children’s literature – and on MST’s stage over the years. Performances will be held at MECA at TBH, 333 S. Jensen Dr., Houston, TX 77003:
SATURDAYS: June 26 and July 10 & 24, 2021 at 7:00pm
SATURDAY: July 17 at 10:30am & 1:30pm
SUNDAYS: June 20 & 27 and July 11 & 25 and August 1, 2021 at 3:30pm.
Recommended for Kindergarten and older. All tickets are on sale via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at MainStreetTheater.com. Tickets are $20 – $28. Group rates are available. No children under 3 are admitted in the theater (including sleeping babies). (Performances are also available for summer camp groups and homeschools). Call 713.524.9196 ext 1 or visit the website.)
Main Street Theater also offers Accommodations Performances. There is a Sensory-Friendly/Relaxed performance July 17 at 10:30am.
About Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School
“Hello! It’s me . . . Junie B. Jones! I have been going to school for over one and a half entire years now. And I have learned a jillion things that will help you survive at that place.” The sequel to, Junie B. Jones the Musical, this is the wisecracking first grader’s newest adventure — writing her own survival guide with tips and tricks on surviving an entire day at school!
Recommended for Kindergarten and up. Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School is adapted from the JUNIE B. JONES series of books by Barbara Park. Book and Lyrics are by Marcy Heisler. Music is by Zina Goldrich.
Main Street Theater’s Production of The Book of Magdalene Selected for The Theatre Times 2021 International Online Theatre Festival
Main Street Theater (MST)’s recent premiere production of The Book of Magdalene by Obie-award winning playwright Caridad Svich has been selected as part of The Theatre Times 2021 International Online Theatre Festival. MST’s production garnered rave reviews locally and nationally, including acclaim from the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. 
The Festival runs online May 20 – June 4, 2021, and includes 33 productions from across the globe.
All productions are free for streaming online at https://thetheatretimes.com/iotf2021/.
Archway Gallery presents Exploring Paint, featuring new paintings by Shirl Riccetti and donna e perkins, on view through June 3, 2021
Virtual Opening and Artist Talks will be posted to the gallery website, Facebook, and You Tube
When friends Shirl Riccetti & donna e perkins decided to have a show together, they could never have anticipated such a tumultuous year as 2020. Perkins, an abstract painter working in acrylics, and Riccetti, a more traditional painter working in pen and watercolor, decided to confront the challenges of 2020 by continuing to do what they have been doing for most of their lives, Exploring Paint. 
Shirl Riccetti is an avid traveler. She has documented her trips to Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal (just to name a few) in pen and watercolor. Her sketchbooks hold narratives from her journeys, with notes of the smells and sounds, as well as her reactions and feelings of the moment. Riccetti feels that historic buildings hold memories of their past, and that people reflect their own journeys and stories.
The memories evoked from her sketches and notes empower Riccetti’s pen to create lines that might be thick, thin, wobbly, uneven, or precise. She develops each painting differently, putting herself back into that time, and the moments that ‘grabbed’ her attention. Each drawing brings a memory into focus…. The giggling Chinese girls taking her photo in Sorrento as she was sketching, watching a family cow saunter down the mountain following a Slovak shepherd, the horrific sight of WWII bullet holes in a wall in Budapest, a family’s garden wall in Italy…. Shirl Riccetti captures moments of peoples’ lives and honors these encounters by documenting them with her pen and brush, with the drama of line and color.
In contrast, the paintings in this exhibition by donna e perkins are abstract and reflect her physical relationship with her materials. Perkins delights in the tactile dance of her body, her arm, her fingers; a solo dance of meditation. She loves the slight bounce of the canvas resisting the pressure of her brush. She loves how liquid paint drips, runs, flows, and how one color morphs into another. She loves how paint squashes making micro mountain landscapes when the squashes are pulled apart and how light flirts with the iridescent and metallic then bounces off the miniscule ridges of strokes of paint. “My work is process driven,” says perkins. “While there is always a back story, there is never a narrative.”
The studio in which an artist works has an influence on that work. Some of this influence is physical and practical, but some is emotional. Perkins’ paintings were created in three different studios and represent three different relocations, all of which were stressful both physically and emotionally. Some of her paintings are somber, some bright, some shiney. Instead of a cohesive body of work, perkins presents the turmoil of the past two years, three hard moves, and an injured body in a COVID haze. “In many ways, this has been such a stressful time for me that I struggled just to keep my hand moving,” perkins recounts. “This work is very experimental.”
UPCOMING ONLINE & OUTDOOR EVENTS AT THE MENIL
Film Screening: Roberto Rossellini’s Paisan Friday, April 9, 8–10 p.m., front lawnAn Evening of Specters of Noon Saturday, April 17, 4–9 p.m., front lawn and bookstore Including live music with Will Cruz and Quattro, a book launch for the exhibition catalogue, and a screening of Allora & Calzadilla films
Morgan-Menil Biennial Lecture: Charlotte Healy Wednesday, April 21, at 1 p.m., online
Outdoor Screening: Sun of the Soil Friday, April 23, at 8 p.m., front lawn
Film Discussion: Sun of the Soil Tuesday, April 27, at 1 p.m., online
Sounds to Live By with Jamal Cyrus, Peter Lucas, and DJ Flash Gordon Parks Saturday, May 1, 3–6 p.m., south lawn
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As a reminder, all past online programs and in-person lectures are available on the Menil’s YouTube channel.
Want to see more from the Menil Collection? Follow on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
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Houston Grand Opera’s Star-Cross’d Watch Party
The creative teams invite you to join them for a special Star-Cross’d watch party on February 26, 2021.
On February 26th, 2021 at 6:45pm, join the creators of HGOco’s award-winning series Star-Cross’d for a look back at the creation of this innovative project. Composers Avner Dorman and Kamala Sankaram, alongside librettists Stephanie Fleischmann and John Grimmett will talk about writing for this fusion art form with Houston Grand Opera’s dramaturg Jeremy Johnson. Stay for a watch party of all 3 episodes, including an intermission discussion facilitated by HGOco Director Carleen Graham with film directors John Grimmett and Misha Penton, and Series Producer Emily Wells.
6:45 PM Meet the Creative Teams
7:30 PM Episode 1 “Boundless”
7:50 PM Meet the Film Makers
:10 PM Episode 2 “Now”
8:25 PM Episode 3 “A Rose”
8:40 PM Event End
Themed on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, HGO’s Star-Cross’d creates operatic short films inspired by true stories of love in the face of conflict. In each episode, Bard aficionados will be able to catch a line direct from Shakespeare’s text.
Join the watch party on Houston Grand Opera’s social channels, Facebook and YouTube.
Bayou City Art Festival Scheduled to Return in Fall 2021 The Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), the producer of Bayou City Art Festival, announced the return of Houston’s signature in-person art event, Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, in October 2021 in accordance with current health and safety protocols mandated by the City of Houston.
“We look forward to welcoming our artists, sponsors, guests and nonprofit partners back to an in-person festival in the fall when we anticipate the City of Houston will allow large in-person gatherings,” said Kelly Batterson, Executive Director of the Art Colony Association. “For now, we remain committed to our mission of supporting artists, celebrating performing arts, giving back to local nonprofits and inspiring young artists who rely on art organizations for inspiration and support in this unprecedented time.”
With the current threat of the pandemic and ongoing health and safety protocols impacting event planning during COVID-19, ACA will host unique alternative virtual and smaller in-person events for the Houston community in lieu of the annual spring event, Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park.
Bayou City Art Festival has celebrated and supported artists, local nonprofits, and promoted the powerful impact that art has on the Houston community for almost 50 years. The “Save Our Art” campaign launched in 2020 in partnership with the City of Houston, continues to help Bayou City Art Festival keep the arts alive by supporting the arts and local nonprofits through various virtual events and collaborations. To donate, visit www.bayoucityartfesitval.com or text “SAVEOURART” to 243725.
For the most recent updates, follow the official event hashtags #SaveOurArt #HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
“2020” exhibition recalls the social upheaval of the past year Ricardo Osmondo Francis show opens January 28 at The Collective
Ricardo Osmondo Francis’ exhibition “2020” opens Thursday, January 28, with a 5 to 8 p.m. virtual reception at the Community Artists’ Collective, 4101 San Jacinto, Suite 116.
The solo show of new original paintings by the Houston native, New York City based artist and curator is an allegorical reflection of mankind’s response and reality to the unprecedented COVID-19/Coronavirus worldwide pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020.
This series is deeply inspired by the Roman writer Ovid, and his collection of myths called “The Metamorphoses.” In this exhibition, Francis reimagines our current year through a series of dreamy yet provocative images that in essence is a spiritually aspirational reflection of our collective reality. Francis’ often illustrative fairy tale like imagery takes on a bolder socially conscious tone in this new body of work– all while representing the possibility of human involvement, progression and continuation despite the many obstacles and uncertainty that this virus has evoked worldwide.
Inspired by Classical art, multi-ethnic antiquity, and present-day advertisement imagery Francis’ vivid pictorial works present a torrent of imagery culled from every possible corner of the visual culture. His lush, elaborately graphic surrealistic paintings and drawings often depict the social constructs of humanity and the complexity of our existence through striking introspective, portraiture, still life and abstract compositions. This current series further explores the artist’s fascination with the possibility of narrative in portraiture.
Francis is a native of Houston, Texas, and a graduate of Houston’s (now Kinder) High School of Performing and Visual Arts. He is currently the Gallery Director of LeonidesArts NY, an artist run multimedia visual arts organization dedicated to presenting contemporary art exhibitions and public art projects that reflect a variety of distinct themes, disciplines and cultural experiences outside of the conventional art gallery tenet.
The exhibition, which runs through March 27, is curated by The Collective’s Miles Payne.
For more information about the exhibit contact The Collective at 713-523-1616 or visit http://www.thecollective.org.
DACAMERA continues its fall series of virtual programming with pianist Conrad Tao in recital
The multi-talented pianist will present a recital including Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata, along with a number of shorter 20th- and 21st-century works including Felipe Lara’s Injust Intonations, a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and All I Had Forgotten or Tried To, an original composition by Conrad Tao himself. Performed at Tanglewood, the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony, the free concert will be available for streaming beginning Tuesday, November 10, at 7 p.m. Click here for more information and photos.
On Tuesday, November 17, DACAMERA presents the next installment of Hearing Color, Seeing Time: DACAMERA at the Menil Collection with Music and Time: Feldman in the Ancient Galleries. In this new series, DACAMERA Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg brings viewers inside the galleries of Houston’s Menil Collection for performances and discussions about music and art. In this installment, Rothenberg will perform American composer Morton Feldman’s last piano work, Palais de Mari (1986), surrounded by objects from the same era that inspired Feldman’s composition. Click here for more information.
DACAMERA presents clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Gloria Chien in recital, available beginning Saturday, November 21, 2020, at 7 p.m. Filmed at Mechanics Hall in Massachusetts, the duo will perform three works for clarinet and piano: Johannes Brahms’ Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, Nos. 1 and 2, along with Carl Maria von Weber’s Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 48. McGill will host a pre-performance reception for DACAMERA members. Click here for more information and photos.
On Saturday, November 28 at 7 p.m., HEB presents Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, produced by DACAMERA and presented by Miller Outdoor Theatre. Viewers can tune in for a performance by Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles and his band as they filter reggae, Calypso and Afro-Caribbean music into a modern jazz conception, live from the Miller Outdoor Theater stage. Click here to register to watch from Miller Outdoor Theatre’s website, YouTube Channel or Facebook Page.
DACAMERA Announces Fall 2020 Season of Virtual Program
DACAMERA has announced its fall 2020 season of virtual programming, including livestreamed concerts, a new series with the Menil Collection, premiere broadcast streams of archival DACAMERA concerts with new introductions and more. With the exception of the new Hearing Color, Seeing Time: DACAMERA at the Menil, virtual content will be available to the general public for one week and to DACAMERA members for two weeks.
All virtual concerts are free with registration at dacamera.com.
DACAMERA will continue to present new concerts this season with a series of virtual performances filmed from venues throughout the country, with pre-concert virtual artist receptions available for DACAMERA patrons. On October 16 at 7 p.m., viewers can tune in to a performance by alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón with pianist Luis Perdomo from The Jazz Gallery in New York.
DACAMERA will kick off its new series with the Menil Collection, Hearing Color, Seeing Time, on October 20 with “Hybrid Vigor: Frankenthaler and Ravel.” The installment will consist of a live performance from artistic director Sarah Rothenberg of Maurice Ravel’s Une barque sur l’ocean, paired with a viewing and discussion of a major painting by Helen Frankenthaler. A premiere broadcast stream Steve Reich’s Different Trains, originally performed by St. Lawrence String Quartet for DACAMERA audiences in April 2018, will be available for viewing on DACAMERA’’s website on Friday, October 30.
Houston Grand Opera Studio Collaborates with Opera Companies Nationwide in Search of Opera’s Next Stars
Partnership creates streamlined virtual auditions process for young artist programs
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is proud to announce its partnership with companies nationwide to offer coordinated auditions for the Houston Grand Opera Studio’s 2021-22 season.
Through this collaborative effort, aspiring singers and pianists can track applications to all participating young artist programs through YAP Tracker website. This streamlined process allows opera companies to efficiently review remote auditions and provides consistency to artists as they move through the audition process.
“We are proud to be a part of this consortium and hope this new audition process will ease the burden for artists applying to multiple young artist programs across the country,” said HGO Studio Director Brian Speck. “The search for new young talent is rigorous, but incredibly rewarding. We are eager to begin the search for the 2021-22 season and look forward to providing enrichment to selected artists through the HGO Studio program.”
Beginning August 15, artists can submit applications to individual young artist programs through the YAP Tracker. Each company will retain its own application and will require video submissions for the first round. In early November, artists will receive notification if they have been asked back for round two of auditions. Repertoire requests will be coordinated so that a single video can be produced for all programs requesting a second video audition. In some cases, companies may invite a select group of finalists to audition in-person in early 2021.
“We understand that a recorded audition cannot replicate a live experience. However, the safety of all artists remains our number one priority. This new virtual audition process offers us the ability to continue building our young artist program amidst the current health pandemic in a format that is safe and fair,” added Speck.
For more information on HGO Studio’s 2021-2022 audition process, visit HGO.org/Studio. Applicants can monitor YAP Tracker and each company’s website and social media channels for further updates and information.
Houston Chamber Choir enhances popular podcast, “With One Accord,” with new episodes and hosts
The Choir brings beautiful choral music to the public twice a week
The GRAMMY® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir continues to air its popular podcast, “With One Accord,” which brings beautiful choral music to the public as people still navigate the “new normal” of the COVID-19 pandemic. Begun in March, the podcast, which the Choir considers a “one-stop show for choral joy,” now airs weekly at noon CDT on Monday and Friday.
Join Houston Chamber Choir for new content with Music Mondays with Artistic Director Robert Simpson as he presents favorite moments from past choral performances, get a glimpse into the personalities of the Houston Chamber Choir on Behind the Music with St. John Flynn, and take a look at the choral world’s rising stars on Education Spotlight with Operations Manager April Harris. 
Music Mondays: Presented by Simpson, Music Mondays started off with the most iconic Houston Chamber Choir performances to date and will pivot to feature musical selections performed by the company’s choral ensemble friends. Starting the second week of August, Music Mondays will showcase an outstanding American choir, whether professional, volunteer, youth or symphony chorus. After an introduction by the ensemble’s artistic director, listeners will hear the choir sing one of its favorite pieces.
“Having started as a response to our isolation and anxiety during the first days of the COVID crisis, it is my dream that this time each Monday will give us all a chance to enjoy great music while drawing the global choral community closer.” – Robert Simpson
Behind the Music: Each Friday on Behind the Music, arts and culture expert Flynn will offer a glimpse into the personalities and outside musical influences of the choral musicians and collaborators who have worked with the Houston Chamber Choir. Enjoy the audio podcast or the video version.
“As host, my job is to ask the questions whose answers will offer greater insight into the person behind the professional exterior we see on stage. It’s a real pleasure for me to delve into the influences and experiences that have shaped the people who have contributed to the Houston Chamber Choir.” – St. John Flynn
Education Spotlight: On the last Friday of each month, “With One Accord” illuminates the rising stars of the choral community with an Education Spotlight. Join arts education enthusiast Harris on an uplifting scholastic journey as she highlights the very best in choral music excellence and innovation.
“It’s such a privilege to be able to connect with and learn from so many impressive music educators and professionals in the greater Houston area and beyond. I am so delighted to explore all the new, exciting ways choral music is progressing as an art form, celebrate the artistic talent and ingenuity of our youth, and reimagine new ways of sharing Houston Chamber Choir’s mission and values with the world.” – April Harris
“We have been overwhelmed by the incredible positive response to ‘With One Accord’ during these last three months,” says Mariam Khalili, Managing Director. “Although we initially planned to do it for a few weeks, the demand has been so great that we are committed to presenting these works indefinitely. It is quite gratifying to bring such artistic joy to so many people in Houston and far beyond, as many have learned about us through word of mouth.”
Some of the music recently released includes:
- Episode 1: Earth Song – Frank Tichelli (b. 1958). “Earth Song” was performed by the Houston Chamber Choir at their 2018-2019 season’s “This is Why I Sing.” https://anchor.fm/houston-chamber-choir/episodes/Earth-Song-ebjce2.
- Episode 2: Swimming Over London – Bob Chilcott (b. 1955). “Swimming Over London” was performed by tenor Jack Byrom and the Houston Chamber Choir at their 2018-2019 season’s “This Is Why I Sing.” https://anchor.fm/houston-chamber-choir/episodes/Swimming-Over-London-ebkcs7.
- Episode 8: Unclouded Day – “Unclouded Day” was performed by the Houston Chamber Choir at their 2017-2018 season’s “This American Voice.” https://anchor.fm/houston-chamber-choir/episodes/Unclouded-Day-ebrr4c.
- Episode 42: Education Spotlight – Benjamin O. Davis High School Choir. Education enthusiast April Harris speaks with Davis High School Choral Directors Daryle Freeman and La’Netha Jefferson, our 2017-2018 season’s Hear the Future Choral Invitational participants, on their choirs’ recent successes. https://youtu.be/cmaY_r5AY3c.
- Episode 44: Behind the Music – Jamie Bernstein. Arts and culture expert St. John Flynn talks with Jamie Bernstein, an author, narrator and filmmaker. The Choir welcomed Bernstein as a guest collaborator with the Houston Chamber Choir in its 2017-2018 season’s “Tonight, Tonight, Won’t Be Just Any Night” concert. https://youtu.be/yzLomozUmrg.
Khalili notes that this has been a challenging time for the Houston Chamber Choir, as it has with other performing arts groups. “The cancellations of our spring concerts and our trip to Auckland, New Zealand for the World Symposium on Choral Music in July were especially difficult,” says Khalili. “Our Choir members thrive on live performances. We are hopeful that we can all gather again in person in the coming months to share beautiful, inspirational choral music.”
For more information go to https://houstonchamberchoir.org/podcast-with-one-accord. The podcast is also available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts and YouTube.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive news about the latest episode: https://houstonchamberchoir.secure.force.com/signup/?cfid=a054A00002t7xYAQAY.
SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS LAUNCHES COMMISSIONING PROJECT FOR HOUSTON ARTISTS
Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) announces a new commissioning project for Houston artists, SPA Houston Artist Commissioning Project (HACP). SPA’s goal is to promote and sustain Houston’s working artists and artist communities by supporting the creation of new works across all performing arts disciplines. In this pilot year, the project will progress through two phases: an initial period of virtual commissions, followed by larger-scale live performance commissions presented in Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. By supporting local artists directly, awarding financial resources for newly created works, SPA Houston Artist Commissioning Project will give our city’s performing artists an opportunity, and funding, to move their creativity forward.
“Artists are essential to social, cultural and economic growth,” says Meg Booth, SPA’s CEO. “Although the pandemic has decimated artists’ livelihoods, creativity is sustainable and will thrive if supported. Our goal is to support local artists, fuel the creative pipeline and create opportunity for local performing artists to be presented in Houston’s Theater District.”
SPA believes the artist’s voice can lead to greater understanding of ourselves and each other, challenging us, inspiring dialogue, and suggesting new possibilities. Through the lens of current events, making a path for creative expression and experimentation is essential.
Houston is the most culturally diverse city in the nation. In celebrating artists’ voices here at home, we promote more connected and thriving communities. SPA believes Black artists, Indigenous artists, artists of color, artists in the LGBTQ+ community, artists with disabilities, and woman artists must be centered through this project. To that end, we strongly encourage applications from artists with these identities or members of other marginalized communities.
SPA Houston Artist Commissioning Project Award Details In the inaugural pilot year, two types of commissions will be offered:
Virtual Commissions Six awards will be given to working performing artists or groups within the Greater Houston Metro Area to create a new 3-5 minute virtual work. These new works will premiere on SPA’s social and digital platforms in fall 2020.
Virtual Commissions include:
- $800 Artist Award
- One virtual SPA Creative Chat about their project, moderated by SPA’s Director of Education, to be shared on SPA social media channels prior to premiere of the new work
Applications for virtual awards are due August 21, 2020, with winners announced September 14, 2020.
Live Performance Commissions Three awards will be given to working performing artists or groups within the Greater Houston Metro Area, to create a new 15-25 minute work to premiere in festival format on the Jones Hall stage in summer 2021. Participants in virtual commissions will not be excluded from consideration for live performance awards.
Live Commissions include:
- $5,000 Artist Award
- Technical support prior to the performance to assist in development of lighting, sound, and/or set concepts for the new work
- On-stage performance presentation at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts with other live performance awardees
- On-stage rehearsal time prior to the performance
Additionally, live performance commissions will include SPA-hosted opportunities to engage with the public:
- One virtual SPA Creative Chat moderated by SPA’s Director of Education about the artists involved in the project and the concept of the work to be created, to be shared on SPA social media channels during spring 2021
- One SPA Behind the Curtain conversation moderated by SPA’s CEO about the creation process, in-person and/or shared on SPA social media channels during spring 2021.
- One preview/talk-back with students from a Houston-area school, in-person or online, during spring 2021
Applications for the Live Performance awards due December 18, 2020. Winners will be announced January 29, 2021. Awardees will have through Summer 2021 for creative development. Live performance dates to be announced.
How to Apply: Applications available at spahouston.org/hacp or by contacting us at commissions@spahouston.org
BROADWAY AT THE HOBBY CENTER ANNOUNCES 2020-2021 SEASON SCHEDULING UPDATE
Broadway at the Hobby Center continues to work diligently with partners to navigate the challenges of scheduling touring Broadway shows during this unprecedented time. Two of the 2020-2021 Season shows planned for this fall have been rescheduled to 2021. MY FAIR LADY, previously scheduled for September 29- October 4, 2020, has been rescheduled for September 14-19, 2021. BLUE MAN GROUP, previously scheduled for November 17-22, 2020, has been rescheduled for April 20-25, 2021.
Broadway at the Hobby Center 2020-2021 Season
TOOTSIE |
January 5-10, 2021 |
BEAUTIFUL (Season Option) |
January 22-24, 2021 |
TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD |
February 23-28, 2021 |
MEAN GIRLS |
March 16-21, 2021 |
BLUE MAN GROUP |
April 20-25, 2021 |
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR |
May 11-16, 2021 |
HADESTOWN |
June 8-13, 2021 |
WICKED (Season Option) |
June 23- August 1, 2021 |
MY FAIR LADY |
September 14-19, 2021 |
Season ticket 2020-2021 subscribers will keep the same subscription seats for MY FAIR LADY and BLUE MAN GROUP, and will receive all tickets later this fall. While there may be additional unforeseen scheduling changes in the season, please know if any performances on the series are cancelled, subscribers will have the option to receive a credit, refund, or the ability to donate the value of their tickets. Individual show ticket sales will be announced at later dates.
Archway Gallery Now Open Weekends
Last Call for Fusion 2 Featuring New Works in Wood, Metal, and Glass by Robert L. Straight
Archway Gallery is now open weekends from 1 – 5 p.m. just in time for Houstonians to see Fusion 2 in person, featuring new works in wood, metal, and glass by Robert L. Straight. The show closes July 1 at 12 noon.
Many of the pieces featured in Fusion 2 were inspired by Straight’s recent trip to Africa. The bright yellows, reds, and blues are an homage to Africa. And, the celestial theme seen in several of the pieces was fostered by the incredible African night sky.

This exhibition from Robert L. Straight showcases his proficiency in many media, including glass, wood, and different metal processes such as welding, forging, and casting. Some works may include as many as four different materials and processes.
“I am a process-led artist,” Straight explains. He usually begins with a mental image of a piece; once the piece takes shape in his mind, he begins the “fusion” process, combining glass, wood, and metal. “The process frequently drives the development of the piece. Sometimes I begin by just putting different elements and materials together, and an idea will arise from that process. ”
Straight’s unique voice has evolved over many years and experiences.
“Because I made foundry patterns for many years, I learned to think in 3D,” he says. “The images in my mind’s eye are like blueprints that I use to make sculptures from the materials I find in my studio.”
While working at the foundry, Straight began taking art and jewelry-making classes with Bill Steffy at the Museum of Fine Arts School of Art, now known as the Glassell School. This led to his creating custom jewelry and opening his own studio. As an avid scuba diver and instructor, Straight incorporated his love of the sea into his jewelry designs; his “Sea Symbols” have been collected by scuba divers around the world.
Robert L. Straight has had a studio in the Hobby area for over 50 years. Passionate about the creation process, Straight spends 4 – 5 hours every day fusing glass, metal, and wood objects into 3D sculptures. He has been represented by Archway Gallery since 2019 and is an enthusiastic guide for his show.
Archway Gallery is now open weekends for in person visits from 1 – 5 p.m. If interested in seeing the exhibition in person during the week, please contact the gallery in advance to arrange a private tour with the artist. Groups of only fewer than 10 people will be allowed in the gallery out of an abundance of caution. Email the gallery at info@archwaygallery.com for details.

BROADWAY AT THE HOBBY CENTER POSTPONES HAMILTON ENGAGEMENT
As live events continue to navigate widespread suspension during this global health crisis, it is clear that for the health and safety of the community, the HAMILTON engagement, originally scheduled to play June 30 – August 9, 2020, will not proceed as planned and has been postponed.
The Hobby Center is working with producers to reschedule the upcoming performances of HAMILTON and is actively looking for replacement dates before the end of the year. Ticket holders will be notified as soon as possible regarding the status of this show via email. Updates will also be posted at www.BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com. If we are unable to find new dates for HAMILTON and must cancel this engagement, ticket holders will be notified and offered their choice of credits and/or refunds.
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is operated by the Hobby Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to expand Houston’s reputation as a world-class cultural center by providing a premier performing arts facility, fostering accessibility to the performing arts and promoting arts education, with an emphasis on musical theater. The complex houses two performance chambers, an on-site restaurant, Diana American Grill, and an 800 car capacity on- premise parking garage. Please visit TheHobbyCenter.org.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF AND CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY CANCELLING ALL PERFORMANCES IN HOUSTON
Message from The Hobby Center: For the safety of our audience members, employees and performers, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF AND CHARLIE and CHOCOLATE FACTORY will not be performing as scheduled at the Hobby Center.
If you purchased tickets to either of these performances online or by phone through Ticketmaster, you will receive an email from Ticketmaster instructing you on how to receive a refund. If you are a season ticket holder or a Broadway at the Hobby Center eCLUB buyer, you will be contacted directly about credit and refund opportunities. If you purchased tickets at the Hobby Center Box Office with a credit card, you will automatically receive a refund. If you purchased tickets with cash, the Hobby Center Box Office will process a check request for your refund once it has reopened. Finally, if you purchased tickets through a third party reseller such as Vivid or Stubhub, you should contact those resellers directly to discuss their refund policies for cancellations.
In uncertain times, it is art that we turn to for escapism, joy, and comfort. We are looking forward to welcoming you back soon. When that day arrives, and this intermission comes to an end, the thrill that live theater brings will feel more special than ever before.
SPA 19/20 SEASON UPDATES: PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS POSTPONED OR CANCELLED THROUGH MID-MAY
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