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MARCH
• Daily Calendar for March
• Planning Ahead for April & May
• Performing Arts
• Theater for Young People
• Radio
• Art/Photography
Daily
Calendar for March
2
(Thu.) HIV in the 21st Century: What the Future Holds.
Nationally known AIDS treatment activist and Project
Inform founding director Martin Delaney will talk about
the current state of HIV/AIDS treatment & research and
what the future holds in a community forum sponsored
by The Center for AIDS. 7:30 pm in the McGovern Auditorium
of the Museum of Health & Medical Science, 1515 Hermann
Dr. For more info: 713/527-8219.
4
(Sat.) Girls With Guitars. A live performance
by this acoustic duo starts at 6 pm @ Hickory Hollow,
101 Heights Blvd. and winds down at 9 pm. For more info:
713/869-6300. (Also, see APRIL 6)
5
(Sun.) Rev. Ken Martin will discuss "The Soulforce
Journey" at Houston PFLAG's monthly meeting. During
the past 25 years, Martin has pastored MCC churches
in Chicago, Los Angeles, & Austin, and has been a frequent
speaker throughout the rest of the U.S. as well as Canada,
Mexico, & Australia. He has worked closely with Dr.
Mel White, founder of Soulforce, for the past 15 years,
and was present for the meeting with Jerry Falwell in
Lynchburg and the Jimmy Creech trial in Nebraska. Small
sharing groups follow the program. 2 pm @ Christ Church
Cathedral, 1117 Texas. For more info: PFLAG helpline
at 713/867-9020.
6
& 22 (Mon. & Wed.) Free Mammograms
for women over the age of 50 who have an income of less
than $15,780 per year. The goal of this program is to
help women get necessary screening for early detection
of breast cancer. Women can call 713/522-3976 to schedule
an appointment. Mammography is provided by M.D. Anderson
LifeCheq Cancer Prevention Program at Planned Parenthood,
3601 Fannin (between Holman & Alabama).
8
(Wed.) Women's Network. "On Being a 'Fat Dyke.'
Where Does Fat Fit?" is presented by Deborah Bell of
the Lesbian Health Education Project. This is an evening
for fat women & their friends to gather for a better
understanding of themselves & each other. A donation
of $3-$5 is requested, but any woman is welcome regardless
of her ability to pay. 7-9 pm @ Montrose Counseling
Center, 701 Richmond. Info: 713/529-0037.
9
(Thu.) Wanna Do It With Other Artists? Dancers,
singers, actors, musicians, performance artists, poets,
writers, & video/filmmakers ... want to break through
the isolation of working alone and explore your work
within a supportive group? Several Dancers Core and
The Center for Choreography in the School of Theatre
at University of Houston, in conjunction with The Field,
a New York-based artist service organization, present
the Winter/Spring 2000 Fieldwork Workshop, which consists
of 10 weekly sessions of facilitated performing and
viewing works-in-progress with artist feedback. In the
Fieldwork format, artists present their works-in-progress
to their peers and get feedback and support as their
work develops. Fieldwork sets a concrete and structured
timeframe within which artists can create and shape
their work. Each group is mediated by a staff facilitator
and is governed by an established set of ground rules.
Artists can gauge audience response before performing
for the public and heighten their ability to perceive,
critique, and appreciate their work. Each 10-week session
culminates in a performance of the work developed by
the group. The workshop series, facilitated by Houston
choreographer and dancer Sara Draper, will be held weekly
beginning Thursday, March 9, from 7-9 p.m. at the Dance
Studio in Melcher Gymnasium, Room 230, on the campus
of University of Houston. The Field Showcase for this
session will take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 7,
at DiverseWorks. Cost is $35 per 10-week session. More
info/reservations: Several Dancers Core at 713/862-5530.
10
(Fri.) Shirley Horn Trio. Da Camera Jazz presents
an evening with vocalist & pianist Shirley Horn & her
trio. Originally scheduled for Jan. 21, this concert
was postponed because Horn was ill. Horn has steadily
performed & recorded since the early '60s. She has had
critical acclaim (The New York Times says, "Songs are
lucky when Shirley Horn chooses to sing them."), commercial
success, & six consecutive Grammy nominations. 8 pm
@ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas. Tickets
are $27-$37 (half-price for students/seniors with valid
ID) and are available by callling Da Camera Music Center
at 713/524-5050, online at www.culturefinder.com, or
through Ticketmaster at 713/629-3700.
11
& 12 (Sat. & Sun.) Bob Marley Festival
Tour. Starting in Houston, this tour travels to
approximately 20 cities each year spreading Bob Marley's
message of peace, unity, & one love. "Exodus," the theme
of this year's tour, was taken from the album of the
same name. It reflects Marley's belief in an "exodus"
toward the promise of a new way of life. During the
coming year, as we move toward a new millennium, we
find Marley's music reaching a new generation, calling
them away from self-destruction & cynicism to higher
cultural & spiritual levels. This year's tour will also
pay a special tribute to women's achievements in life
and on-stage. The tour features performances by the
next generation of reggae & world beat music superstars;
in addition, local bands are recruited to perform. Also:
Caribbean, African, & Third World arts & crafts, along
with some of the best foods from these regions. Noon-10
pm @ Eleanor Tinsley Park (Buffalo Bayou Park). Tickets
$5 in cash (or $8 in nonperishable food from noon-3
pm). For more info: 713/688-3773 or www.bobmarley-festival.com.
14
(Tue.) Music and Poetry. Da Camera of Houston
presents Music and Poetry: Shadows and Fragments, Time
and Memory. In this solo recital, her first in Houston
since becoming artistic director of Da Camera, pianist
Sarah Rothenberg explores the ways in which the past
& present are experienced in music & poetry. Rothenberg
performs 19th- & 20th-century works by Brahms, Chopin,
Schoenberg, Bach, American composer Bruce Adolphe, Dutch
composer Peter Schaat, & Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya.
Film fragments featuring readings of the work of poets
Anna Akhmatova & Charles Baudelaire will be incorporated
into the performance. Before the concert, poet Adam
Zagajewski will read from his work. 7 pm: poetry reading;
7:30 pm: concert @ The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross.
Tickets are $25 (half-price for students & seniors with
valid ID) and are available by calling Da Camera Music
15
(Wed.) HIV Testing. The Montrose Clinic is offering
free confidential HIV testing and counseling, 6-9 pm
@ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne.
The center: 713/524-3818. The clinic: 713/830-3000.
Center (1427 Branard) at 713/524-5050 or www.culturefinder.com.
15
(Wed.) Spectres of the Spectrum is a film by
Craig Baldwin, who will be in attendance at this showing.
It's the latest energetic collage-allegory from the
maker of Sonic Outlaws and Tribulation 99. A wildly
paranoid blend of science fiction & science fact, Spectres
of the Spectrum tells the tale of a telepathic father/daughter
team who lead a group of media outlaws in resistance
against a "New Electronic Order." 8 pm @ Aurora Picture
Show, 800 Aurora Street. Suggested donation $5 or pay
what you can. For more info: 713/868-2101 or visit www.aurorapictureshow.org.
16
(Thu.) Dining Out for Life is a unique fund-raising
event involving local restaurants which benefits the
Body Positive Houston Wellness
Center. Restaurants donate a portion of the day's
proceeds to to the wellness center and people join the
fight by patronizing participating restaurants. Last
year was the first year for the event, which raised
over $8,000 for the center, a facility dedicated to
helping those living with HIV and AIDS live more productive
lives through proper nutrition, exercise, and health
care. For more info on the event, call the center at
713/524-2374.
17
(Fri.) "Weird Al" Yankovic. The curly-haired
master of parody brings his "weirdness" to Houston.
Ever wondered if he's gay? Wonder no more: On his website
in the FAQ section is the question, "Is Al married?"
The answer is, "Al is currently single. He has never
been married, he has no children, and yes, he is heterosexual."
8 pm @ Aerial Theater. Tickets ($25-$29): Aerial's box
office, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at
713/629-3700.
17-19
(Fri.-Sun.) Galveston Home & Garden Show. Almost
200 exhibits showcasing everything from fine crafts,
gourmet foods, tropical & blooming plants & flowers,
to home remodeling accessories & services. One-day consumer-trade
show, health expo, & antique appraisals on Sunday. Admission
$5 adults; $4 seniors. 6-8 pm on Friday includes a cocktail
reception & silent auction; 9 am-6 pm on Sat.; and 9
am-4 pm on Sun. @ Galveston Island Convention Center
at Moody Gardens, One Hope Blvd. More info: 409/943-5906
or 409/744-7848.
18
(Sat.) Maya Angelou & Georgia
Ragsdale are part of Houston Human Rights Campaign's
(HRC) Millennium Gala, "Our Legacy, Our Future." Angelou
is the featured speaker, with openly gay comic Georgia
Ragsdale entertaining with her sharp wit. HRC, the largest
national lesbian & gay political organization, envisions
an America where lesbian & gay people are ensured of
their basic equal rights—and can be open, honest,
& safe at home, at work, & in the community. HRC has
more than 300,000 members, both gay & nongay—all
committed to making this vision a reality. Tickets ($175
& $300) are available by calling 1-800-494-TICS (8497);
table sale arranged through Mike Holliman at 713/522-1115
(call this number also for more info); all credit cards
accepted.
18,
19, & 22 (Sat., Sun., & Wed.) New Perceptions
of the Old West. Contemporary film- and videomakers
recycle the oldest American film genre, the Western.
"Lovers, Fighters and Wild Bull Riders" showcases narrative,
documentary, & experimental makers who borrow & pervert
common Western themes. Including Vanalyne Greene's Saddle
Sores and Bjørn Melhus' Silver City Ist Weit Weg (Silver
City Is Far Away). Programmed by Andrea Grover for Fotofest
2000. 7 & 9 pm on Sat., 3 pm on Sun., and 7 pm on Wed.
@ Aurora Picture Show, 800 Aurora Street. Suggested
donation $5 or pay what you can. For more info: 713/868-2101
or visit www.aurorapictureshow.org.
18
& 19 (Sat. & Sun.) Winedale Spring Festival
includes Texas craft, music, dancing, & food. The festival
has spent the last several decades celebrating the best
work of contemporary Texas artisans‹those passionate
souls who work in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber, &
most other malleable materials, fashioning by hand their
graceful works of functional & not-so-functional art.
The festival featurs 40 or so of the state's finest
regional craftspeople—potters, weavers, furniture
makers, jewelers, glass blowers, & others. Completing
Winedale's unique personality in the world of art festivals
is the event's historic setting and its focus on the
practical arts, music, architecture, & domestic craft
of Texas from 100 years earlier. The week-long event
takes place amid the pastoral splendors of Winedale—an
historic & picturesque enclave near Round Top, Texas.
The quaint village is about an hour and a half from
Houston. The Texas Crafts Exhibition is from 10 am-8
pm on Sat. and 10 am-4 pm on Sun. Admission is $5 adults,
$2 students/children. For more information (including
info on B&Bs, camping, and motels), call Winedale at
409/278-3530 from 8 am-5 pm, or e-mail at g.jaster@mail.utexas.edu.
22
(Wed.) Womenss Network. "'I'm Not a Lesbian;
I Just Love Thelma': Lesbian Disavowels in Modern Literature,"
presented by Colleen Lamos, Ph.D., associate professor
of English at Rice University, will examine the reasons
why prominent women writers of the first half of the
20th century denied being lesbians. A donation of $3-$5
is requested, but any woman is welcome regardless of
her ability to pay. 7-9 pm @ Montrose Counseling Center,
701 Richmond. Info: 713/529-0037.
23
(Thu.) Choosing Foods by Blood Type is a seminar
presented by Steve Shapiro, president & founder of The
International Foundation for Blood Type Living. The
seminar will address these questions: Why am I eating
less & weighing more? Can I eat a low-fat, low-cholestorol
diet & still develop heart disease? Why do I get hungry
soon after I eat? Why do I have frequent digestive problems?
Why do I have allergies? Why am I tired all the time?
Is arthritis an inevitable consequence of aging? General
admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Advance
tickets available at most independent health & natural
foods stores. 7:30 pm @ Hilton SW Hotel, Southwest Frwy
at Hillcroft. Individual blood typing is available at
the seminar; if you wish to have your blood typed, please
arrive by 6:30. A limited number of seats are available
to persons who are living with chronic illness & are
unable to afford admission. For more info: 713/781-3077.
24
(Fri.) Better Than Chocolate. March is Women's
Month on the campus of the University of Houston-Downtown,
and Alpha Lambda, the university's gay and lesbian student
organization, is happy to participate in the many activities
occurring throughout the month. This year they are promoting
the organization and celebrating lesbian life with a
FREE showing of the Anne Wheeler-directed film,
Better Than Chocolate. € In this delightful movie, Maggie
has just dropped out of school and met the woman of
her dreams. She invites her new love Kim to share a
sub-rented loft with her. At the same time, her slightly
ditzy mother and curious brother move out of their own
house and in with Maggie, whose family is unaware of
her sexuality and is in for a very surprising experience.
The "Miss Ellen" episode of Comedy Central's South Park
will open for the film. € Alpha Lambda is a student
organization that addresses social and political issues
as they relate both to the University of Houston-Downtown
gay and lesbian community and the greater Houston community.
Some of their activities include working with Houston's
Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, as well as community-related
projects such as AIDS education seminars, guest speakers,
fund-raisers, and support of Omega House. 7 pm @ UofH-Downtown,
One Main Street, Room A-436 (parking entrance is on
Travis St. before I-45 North entrance). More info: alphalambda99@hotmail.com
or 713/221-8482.
24
(Fri.) Ahmad Jamal. Da Camera of Houston presents
an evening with the Ahmad Jamal Trio. Pianist Ahmad
Jamal has been called "a master of whimsical improvisation"
by the Los Angeles Times. One of the elder statesman
of jazz, he is an original and influential stylist.
Known for his playful approach to tempo, rhythm, & mood,
Jamal is able to make a piano trio sound like a larger
ensemble in his dynamic treatments of standards and
his own compositions. 8 pm at Wortham Center's Cullen
Theater, 500 Texas. Tickets are $27-$37 (half-price
for students & seniors with valid ID) and are available
by calling Da Camera Music Center (1427 Branard) at
713/524-5050 or www.culturefinder.com.
24-26
(Fri.-Sun.) Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park.
You can expect: 300 artists from around the country
selling their original artwork; music; food & beverage;
and The Creative Zone, which offers an interactive art
area. This juried festival includes painting, sculpture,
jewelry, ceramics, glass, furniture, photography, wood,
fiber art, & leather works. 10 am-6 pm in Memorial Park.
$7 adults (children under 12 free). Beneficiaries include
AIDS Foundation Houston, Art League of Houston, Steven's
House, and Bering Omega Community Service Foundation,
among others. The featured artist is Mark
Coyle, who is also featured in OutSmart's March
issue. Free Metro shuttles from area parking; free parking
at Northwest Mall and West Loop Park & Ride; $3 parking
fee at Theatre Center Parking downtown. For more info:
713/521-0133 or visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.
25
(Sat.) Oleta Adams sings at a benefit for a foundation
that provides services for HIV-positive persons. The
Brentwood Community Foundation (BCF) has maintained
a quiet, but vital watch over HIV-infected persons in
Harris County. Under the leadership of Dr. Joe Samuel
Ratliff and Ms. Alva McNeal, Brentwood Baptist Church
and the BCF have seized the opportunity to make a difference.
The foun-dation has become a powerful symbol of co-existence
serving the HIV-positive residents living in BCF's transitional
housing and meeting health-care needs of persons in
Harris County. However, good research isn't all that
is needed to cure HIV and provide health and medical
care. BCF give the community an opportunity to participate
by attending their benefit concert entitled "An Evening
in the Arts, featuring Oleta Adams." Recognizing BCF's
efforts and already on board with their support is AIDS
Foundation Houston, KMJQ-FM (Majic 102) and the Houston
Defender. € Since the success of her 1990 debut album
Circle of One and the impassioned hit single "Get Here,"
Oleta Adams has inspired a growing legion of fans in
the U.S. and Europe with songs that draw deeply from
her roots in gospel, while crossing effortlessly into
the realms of soul, R&B, urban and popular music. Her
success, nurtured by world-wide tours with Tears for
Fears, Michael Bolton, and Luther Vandross, has been
solidified by three Grammy nominations and a seemingly
bottomless well of creative energy. Adams, who remains
anchored by her upbringing in the Pacific Northwest,
has found a safe haven from the tempestuous glare of
the entertainment industry in her native Kansas City.
€ Proceeds from this concert benefit the Brentwood Community
Foundation and are tax deductible. 7:30 pm @ Wortham
Theater, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets: $200 (VIP), $125 (loge),
$75 (balcony). Info: 713/852-1452.
25
(Sat.) Progressive Hosts in Support of Progressive
Women. Seventeen progressive men & women will support
lesbian women by opening their homes for a progressive
dinner party. Attendees will enjoy appetizers, soup
& salad, entree, and dessert in four different homes,
including Frank Staggs' "Church House in the Heights."
Beneficiaries are AssistHers Care Team Program and An
Uncommon Legacy Foundation. For tickets ($50 and $100),
contact AssistHers at 713/522-6713. At press time, tickets
were selling fast!
25
& 26 (Sat. & Sun.) Family Values. The
Gay Men's Chorus of Houston (GMCH) continues its 21st
season with "Family Values,² a concert devoted
to exploring the myriad facets of what makes up a "family²
to our members & community. Although the phrase has
been bandied about in political circles for the past
two decades, GMCH seeks to define "family values²
in its own terms. Since "family² can mean so many
things to so many people, GMCH is presenting a collection
of musical pieces which represents the joys & sorrows,
the serious and frivolous sides of the issue. Many of
the songs speak directly to the issue, particularly
"Hear Me in Your Heart,² a new work written by
GMCH member Philip Smith in memory of his mother. As
always with a GMCH concert, you'll hear something that
will not only make you glad you went but leave you anticipating
the next show (in this case, "Broadway Babies²
in June). 8 pm on Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday @ the
Kaplan Theater of the Jewish Community Center's I.W.
Marks Theater Center, 5601 S. Braeswood. Tickets ($18)
may be obtained by Box Office Tickets at 1-800-494-TIXS
(TDD 1-877-TDD-TIXS), through any chorus member, or
at the door the day of the performance. Info: www.gmch.org.
25
& 26 (Sat. & Sun.) Springfest includes
wine-tasting booths, art galleries, food booths, free
entertainment, over 150 shops, the Spring Historical
Museum, the Civil War Museum, restaurants & eateries,
and other unique items. Local artists & sculptors will
be present to discuss their work & demonstrate their
techniques; seminars will be offered on a variety of
art & wine topics; lectures & cooking demonstrations
will focus on combining food, wine, art, & regional
Texas cuisine; and too much more to list. 10 am-6 pm
on Sat., noon-6 pm on Sun. in Old Town Spring (20 miles
north of Houston). More info: 1-800-OLD-TOWN.
25
& 26 (Sat. & Sun.) The Target Shoots First.
In 1993, director Christopher Wilcha (who will be
in attendance at this showing), a recent college graduate,
took a job as a marketing assistant at Columbia House,
the grandaddy of record clubs. Through some bizarre
lapse of logic, Chris was permitted to videotape his
entire tenure there; the result is a video journal that
paints a revealing & often unflattering portrait of
corporate America. 7 & 9 pm on Sat., and 3 pm on Sun.
@ Aurora Picture Show, 800 Aurora Street. Suggested
donation $5 or pay what you can. Info: 713/868-2101
or visit www.aurorapic tureshow.org.
26
(Sun.) Academy Awards at Houston's River Oaks Theatre.
See the movies' biggest night of the year on the
big screen and help support Houston's Gay & Lesbian
Film Festival at the same time! • Annette Bening,
Janet McTeer, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank,
Russell Crowe, Richard Farnsworth, Sean Penn, Kevin
Spacey, Denzel Washington ... when they win the Oscar
for Best Actress and Actor, see two of these nominees
scream, cry, and/or make complete idiots of themselves
on the big screen. The Oscars will be telecast live
on ABC (KTRK, Channel 13) starting at 7 p.m.; the
doors to the River Oaks Theatre will open for the viewing
party at 6 p.m. Quick-witted comic Nancy Ford will
emcee the event again this year. € Tickets will be $10/person,
which is quite appropriate considering that $10 was
charged for the first Academy Awards ceremony (May 16,
1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel). You can get
in free if you dress in a tux or evening gown. Advance
tickets may be purchased at the River Oaks Theatre.
€ There will be complimentary appetizers, and door prizes
will be given out throughout the night as winners of
various contests are chosen. You may enter the "Pick
the Academy Awards Winners² contest at either Houston
Landmark theater (Greenway or River Oaks) beforehand
or that night before the awards presentation begins.
Attendees will be given an entry form the night of the
party which must be turned in before the awards ceremony
begins in order to be eligible. € A portion of the proceeds
will go to benefit Houston's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Sarah Gish, city manager of Landmark Theatres, is one
of the founders of the festival and served as its publicity
person for the last two years. Additionally, a list
of the films playing in the 2000 Gay and Lesbian Film
Festival will be released April 1, 2000.
26
(Sun.) Houston Humane Society's SpokesPet Contest.
Is your cat or dog celebrity material? Want everyone
in Houston to know it? Your pet could be crowned SpokesPet
at the 19th Annual Houston Humane Society IAMS Y2K-9
Fun Run in Sam Houston Park. Start collecting pledges
now and enter your cat or dog in Houston's most prestigious
pet contest. Proceeds benefit homeless and abused animals.
For more info: 713/434-5535.
Planning
Ahead for APRIL
April
1
(Sat.) April Fools is the theme for DiverseWorks'
annual fund-raising gala. The evening begins at 7 pm
with a cocktail reception and preview of artist-designed
centerpieces. A silent auction continues throughout
the evening, including unique travel opportunities &
an assortment of goods & services. The four-course menu
will include contributions from Houston's top restaurants;
dancing follows the seated dinner. The gala will be
held @ The Americas, 2345 Navigation. Individual tickets
are available at the following levels: Friend, $150;
Sponsor, $250; Benefactor, $500; and Underwriter, $1,000.
All proceeds benefit DiverseWorks Artspace and will
match a challenge grant awarded by the Louisa Stude
Sarofim Foundation. For reservation info: Lisa Haymes,
associated director of development, at 713/223-8346.
April
1
(Sat.) Diabolique. An ex-mistress and the wife
of a cruel schoolmaster conspire to murder the man they
both detest. After the two women carry out their plan,
they begin to wonder if they have covered their tracks
effectively. According to film critic Roger Ebert, "There
is the possibility, just hinted at, that Nicole [Simone
Signoret, the ex-mistress] may have lesbian designs
on Christina [Vera Clouzot, the wife].² The 1955 French
film is subtitled. 7:30 p.m. @ the Museum of Fine Arts,
Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet. Tickets are $5 (MFA
members, seniors, & students with I.D. $4). For more
info: 713/639-7531.
April
2
(Sun.) PFLAG. The Houston chapter of the national
organization of Parents, Familiesand Friends of Lesbians
And Gays welcomes Dr. Cheryl Weill, who will give a
presentation on the biological basis of human sexuality.
She has a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University
of Berkeley, a PhD in chemistry from the University
of California, and has done post doctoral work at both
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
and Harvard Medical School. Small sharing groups follow
the program. 2 pm @ Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas.
April
6
(Thurs.) Girls With Guitars are Kelly Wallin
& Ferryn Martin, a local duo who is increasingly establishing
a more national presence. Taylor Guitars (California)
writes of the two, "This singer-songwriter acoustic
duo from Houston has a knack for lush, spirited vocals
that resemble the Indigo Girls in the way their distinctive
timbres harmonize. And it's not only the union of their
voices, but the graceful way their vocals ride their
guitar rhythms, that make their music so inviting.²
This promises to be a special evening showcasing not
only the GWG's music & energetic chemistry with their
audience, but also a taste of something new as the GWG's
introduce their special guests, Small Potatoes, to Houston
audiences. Jacquie Manning & Rich Prezioso regularly
spellbind audiences from coast-to-coast with skillful
instrumentation, tight harmonies, great songs, & an
electric repertoire. Tickets $8. Help pack the house
at this smoke-free dinnner show at 8:30 pm @ McGonigel's
Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 713/528-5999.
April
7 (Fri.)
American Cowboy. Director Kyle Henry, a Rice
& UT graduate, will introduce his 1997 film American
Cowboy during two screenings. This 52-minute film is
a personal portrait of Gene Mikulenka, a gay professional
rodeo cowboy. As Mikulenka recovers from a broken leg,
his three-month journey to the 1996 International Gay
Rodeo Association finals parallels personal & professional
challenges. 7:30 & 8:45 p.m. @ the Museum of Fine Arts,
Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet. Tickets are $5 (MFA
members, seniors, & students with I.D. $4). More info:
713/639-7531.
April
7-9
(Fri.-Sun.) Historic Heights Home & Garden Tour.
Kicking off this year's tour will be the annual Candlelight
Tour and Dinner on Friday. From 6-8 pm guests can enjoy
a self-guided preview of the six homes. Then round out
the evening with dinner, dancing, & a silent auction
downtown in the Great Hall of what was originally the
First National Bank Building (now the Franklin Lofts
Building) located at 210 Main Street. Six expressive
homes in one of Houston's hottest residential & historic
areas will be on display during the tour on Saturday
& Sunday. The tour offers examples of diverse architectural
styles ranging from Queen Annes & Craftsman Bungalows
to an Italian Revival home. The homes, representing
the exciting restoration & new construction efforts
taking place within this turn-of-the-previous-century
community, will be open each day from noon-6 pm. Metro
trolleys will be available to carry those on the tour
from house to house. Tickets are available at Harold's
in the Heights (350 W. 19th), Yale Street Gift and Grill
(2100 Yale), and Buchanan's Native Plants (11th St.
at Oxford). Tickets can be purchased at each of the
homes on the days of the tour. Advance tickets are $13
for all six homes; day-of-tour tickets are $15. Single
home tickets are $4. Ticket prices include Metro trolley
transportation. More info: 713/861-4002, ext. 3, or
visit www.houstonheights.org.
April
10
(Mon.) Luis Miguel is one of the most established
Latin performers on the scene today. He has sold over
35 million albums worldwide and has been awarded four
Grammy Awards, the first when he was only 15 years old.
He has released more than 15 albums since debuting in
1982 at the age of 12. Miguel has sold out five consecutive
dates at Radio City Music Hall and was the first Latin
artist to sell out Madison Square Garden. Now he is
coming to Houston's Compaq Center for an evening of
old favorites and new. Tickets ($45-$100): Ticketmaster
outlets (Kroger, Fiesta, & Foley's) or charge by phone
at 713/629-3700.
April
14 & 15
(Fri. & Sat.) Relay for Life. Walkers & runners
will go around the clock in the battle against cancer
during the American Cancer Society's 24-hour Relay for
Life. Teams & individuals participate by soliciting
a flat donation prior to the event and can win prizes
for their efforts. Teams of 10-15 participants set up
campsites, enjoy live music, games, contests, & great
food while cheering on their teammates. A special lap
will be held for cancer survivors. A luminary ceremony
takes place honoring cancer survivors and remembering
those who lost the fight against cancer. The event will
be held at Rice University West Stadium Lot. Other dates/sites
include Mar. 24-25: Humble/Kingwood (Humble Arena);
and Mar. 31-Apr. 1: Pasadena/SE Harris (San Jacinto
College); Conroe (Montgomery College); and Katy (Katy
VFW Park). More info: 713/266-2877.
April
23
(Sun.) Bunnies on the Bayou. From the simple
beginnings of a last-minute Easter party at an apartment
complex with 40 guests, Bunnies has grown into a nationally
recognized event with thousands of guests. In the past
three years, over $100,000 has been given to local gay-related
charities. Dan Meador returns as DJ. Recommended donation
is $20. 2-7 pm, Wortham Plaza, 600 Texas Ave. More info:
www.bunnies.org.
April
29
(Sat.) Millennium Medical Marijuana March 2000
(in Washington, D.C.). Noon: rally at Lafayette Park;
3 pm: MMMM 2000 march (patients & activists); 4-8 pm:
Medical Rights Rally and Concert at Henry Bacon Ball
Field (speakers & entertainment TBA). Info: 310/453-2700
or www.santamonica215.com.
April
29 & 30
(Sat. & Sun.) The Equality Rocks Concert and the
Millennium March on Washington. Join Garth Brooks,
Melissa Etheridge, Ellen DeGeneres, Anne Heche, Kristen
Johnston, Nathan Lane, kd lang, and the Pet Shop Boys
on Saturday at the Equality Rocks concert for the new
century celebrating equal rights for all @ Robert F.
Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C. For tickets, call
800/551-SEAT; tickets also available at all Ticketmaster
locations or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Also, visit
www.melissaetheridge.com for more info. Then on Sunday,
join the same celebrities with thousands of LGBT people,
our friends, & our families for the Millennium March
on Washington at The National Mall, Washington, D.C.
For more info, visit the Millennium March on Washington's
website at www.planetout.com.
Planning
Ahead for MAY
May
6, 7, 13, 14
(Sats. & Suns.) Calling All Queens and Fairies!
Have you ever wished you could escape back in time 500
years to a 15th-century village for a few weeks? The
Texas Renaissance Festival will be holding auditions
for its 26th annual living history event at the festival
grounds in Plantersville, Texas. The festival is looking
for street characters, jugglers, female pirates, peasant
farmers, barbarians, rakes, fops, fools, fairies, and
ladies in waiting, among other period characters. Special
emphasis will be given to applicants with Spanish-speaking
ablilities to fill the Spanish court, including the
role of the Spanish Queen Catherine of Aragaon. Auditions
are by appointment only by calling Jeff Baldwin at 800/458-3435
to set up a time. For a free audition brochure or more
info: www.texrenfest.com and click on jobs@trf.
May
26-29
(Fri.-Sun.) The 2000 AALA Roundup is a Los Angeles
AA conference with Al Anon participation organized by
lesbian & gay members of both fellowships. Participants
will enjoy a four-day celebration of dignity, unity,
& recovery. The annual event features marathon meetings,
workshops on specific aspects of recovery & spirituality,
speaker meetings, dances, an AA banquet & show, and
an Al Anon brunch & show. The 2000 convention, held
over the U.S.-observed Memorial Day weekend, offers
participants not only a unique experience in 12-step
program recovery but also convenient access to the most
popular tourist attractions in L.A. The cost (at the
door) is $40. (A discount is available for advance registration:
if postmarked by May 1, 2000, the cost is $30.) No one
will be turned away for lack of funds. Interested participants
may obtain registration info by writing to AALA Roundup,
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., #824, Los Angeles, CA 90069;
by calling 213/896-1490; or by
visiting www.aa-la.org.
Performing
Arts
Ain't
Misbehavin' is the bright, sassy "Fats" Waller musical
revue. Along with Louis Armstrong, Waller was one of
the first authentic black superstars. Recreating the
atmosphere of a sultry, smoky, 1930s Harlem nightclub,
this play fills the air with great music. The wailing,
stompin' five-piece band and the three females & two
males singin' & dancin' bring to life Waller's famous
songs. Ongoing @ The Great Caruso Dinner Theater,
10001 Westheimer near Gessner. Dinner & show: $29.95
(Wed., Thurs., & Sun.); $34.95 (Fri. & Sat.). For reservations:
713/780-4900.
The
Blair Fell Project. Commissioned by Theater LaB
Houston comes a world premiere camp comedy by Blair
Fell (the playwright of the LaB's 1997 hit camp comedy
The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun) with
the working title The Blair Fell Project. Blair has
written many off-Broadway hits including the recent
Naked Will, From the Hip, and the long-running cult
favorite Burning Habits. Blair is an established playwright,
director, & actor, who recently completed a screen adaptation
of The Singing Nun, and his most recent play Naked Will
(scheduled for productions in Chicago & Los Angeles
this year) is in development as a movie. Through
March 26 @ Theater LaB Houston, 1706 Alamo. Tickets
($20-$22) available by calling the box office at 713/868-7516.
Damn
Yankees is the most successful musical ever based
on a sports story. In this fun-filled homage to baseball,
Joe Boyd, a middle-aged fan, sells his soul to Mr. Applegate,
"a devil in red socks," in order to become Joe Hardy,
an all-star pitcher & hitter for his favorite team.
But there are complications, and the devil has to enlist
the services fo the sultry seductress Lola, who tries
every trick in the book to seduce Joe. The rousing score
includes the hit songs "You've Got to Have Heart" and
"Whatever Lola Wants." March 21-April 2 @ the Arena
Theatre, 7326 Southwest Freeway at Fondren. For
more info: 713/558-TUTS (8887).
Fame--The Musical. Set in the 1980s, this musical
focuses on the hopes, dreams, & aspirations of a group
of students attending New York's High School of Performing
Arts. It chronicles their four-year odyssey from audition
to graduation at the school whose unofficial motto is,
"Fame costs, and this is where you start paying." The
mix of strongly motivated students--impoverished & privileged,
black & white--gives the story its passion & dramatic
tension. March 21-26 @ Wortham Center's Brown Theatre.
Info: 713/629-3700.
Hay
Fever. The audience is invited to spend a weekend
in the country with the self-absorbed Bliss family in
this play by Noël Coward. On this particular holiday
each family member has invited an unsuspecting romatic
prospect without informing the others, and when the
rain traps the family and their guests indoors, the
situation cannot remain unchaotic. Through March
25 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets ($32-$49)
are available at the Alley box office or by calling
713/228-8421. See Noël Coward article on page 26.
Houston
Ballet presents the world premiere of Cleopatra.
The legendary Queen of the Nile takes center stage when
Ben Stevenson creates a spectacular new two-act production.
The title role calls for a dancer of exceptional theatrical
& technical skills to bring one of history's most memorable
figures vividly to life. Lauren Anderson, Barbara Bears,
& Dawn Scannell dance the title role. In the ballet,
the tempestuous love story of Cleopatra & her two Roman
admirers, Julius Caesar & Mark Antony, is played out
against a background of political intrigue, as warring
factions struggle to the death for control of one of
the world's great empires. March 9-19 @ Wortham Center's
Brown Theater, Texas at Smith. Tickets ($11.50-
$98.50): 713/227-ARTS or at the Wortham Ticket Center.
The
Importance of Being Earnest. This masterpiece by
Oscar Wilde may be the most famous of all comedies.
In the playwright's own words, "The first act is ingenious,
the second beautiful, and the third abominably clever."
8 pm, March 3-April 8 @ The Company Onstage,
536 Westbury Square. Tickets $10 (seniors/students $8).
Info/reservations: 713/726-1219.
Killer
Karaoke or Twenty Hundred and One: A Space Oddity.
Enter the glittering & cutthroat arena of the professional
karaoke singer in Mystery Cafe Houston's world premiere
show! Someone is stalking the contestants of the Gulf
Coast Regional Semi-Final Three Steps Before National
Silver Microphone Karaoke Competition, and it's up to
you to find out who. Even if you feel that there is
enough pain & suffering in the world without karaoke,
Killer Karaoke provides enough fun, thrills, & sing-along-able
songs to keep you laughing & humming long after the
evening's over! Every Friday & Saturday night,
7:30 pm (8 pm curtain) @ Prima Pasta & Seafood, 2710
Richmond ('tween Kirby & Buffalo Spdwy). Tickets are
$38.95 and include salad, choice of entree, dessert,
coffee, tea, milk, gratuity for dinner service & tax,
plus the show. Tickets: 713/944-CLUE (2583).
Refuge.
Surrogate mother by default, tough older sister Amy
is left to care for her sarcastic, sickly brother and
techno-freak sister since Mom & Dad split to Florida
... for good. Life assumes a routine of sorts, until
Amy meets Sam, a drifter, and catches his attention.
He wants in. She seems to want out. Maybe their refuge
lies somewhere in between. New York playwright Jessica
Goldberg received the 1999 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
for Refuge. Through March 19 @ Stages Repertory Theatre,
3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets ($26-$37) available at the
box office or call 713/52-STAGE.
Spirit
North. In an exploration of the complex issue of
race loyalty, a lawyer defends a young man accused of
murder. The lawyer's conscience is challenged when his
wife expresses outrage at her husband for playing the
"race card" in defending a "thug." March 30-April
30 @ The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. Info/reservations:
713/520-0055.
Triptych.
Cary & Bernard are breaking up. Cary decides to see
how the other half lives and stretches his heterosexual
legs with Rosemary, a woman he meets at a publishing
lecture. Meanwhile, gym brat Bernard falls hard for
Dennis, who whisks him off to the suburbs to become
his "wife" (think June Cleaver played by Joan Crawford
with a martini cart). Transvestism, bisexuality, runaway
mothers, erotic strangulation, & the art of repotting
house plants are just a few of the specimens under inspection
in this hilarious & thought-provoking comedy. Tickets
$12-$15. March 17-April 8 (Fridays, Saturdays,
& Mondays at 8 pm) @ The Little Room Downstairs Theater,
2326 Bissonnet (between Greenbriar & Kirby), 713/523-0791.
Walking the Dead. Veronica was just a sweet little
girl in a pretty dress until she grew up to become a
lesbian called Ronnie. Then Ronnie became a man named
Homer, forever altering the course of her/his life as
well as the lives of her lover, mother, & gay boyfriends.
Unhinged Productions presents this Houston premier of
Veronica/Ronnie/Homer's story. Filled with scathing
but hilarious dark comedy, the play promises to challenge
the way we think about gender identity and what it means
to be lesbian or gay. Unhinged Productions is a nonprofit
501(c)3 theatrical production company dedicated to producing
plays addressing lesbian/gay themes. Fridays and Saturdays
at 8 pm through March 18 @ The Atomic Café, 1320
Nance. Tickets/info: 713/398-7577.
Theater
for Young People
The
Firebird: A Russian Fairy Tale. The magical firebird
lends his magic to a young squire whose adventures include
a mysterious river, life-sized lobsters, a powerful
white horse, & a beautiful princess. The rich Russian
culture will be reflected in the authentic costumes,
music, & dance. March 17-April 22 @ Stages Repertory
Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets are $8 and
can be purchased at the box office or by calling 713/52-STAGE.
All seats are reserved.
Winnie
the Pooh. Join the fun with Pooh's forest friends
Eyore, Kanga & Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and his very dear (even
if he is human) friend Christopher Robin. Through
April 8 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square.
Saturdays at 11 am & 1:30 pm. Tickets are $5. Reservations
strongly recommended. For info/reservations: 713/726-1219.
Radio
After
Hours (Radio) Saturdays, midnight to 3 am. Featuring
the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. KPFT 90.1
FM.
Lesbian
& Gay Voices (Radio) Mondays, 8-9 pm. Features,
news, music, interviews, reviews, and commentary. KPFT
90.1 FM, 713/526-4000.
Art/Photography
Art
Classes for People With HIV:
The Art League of Houston is offering free art
classes for people with HIV. The ongoing course meets
every Thursday & Friday from 1-4 pm at the Art League,
1953 Montrose. Mixed media projects for the artist and
non-artist. Constructive art-making in a relaxed atmosphere.
Focus is on the healing power of art. More info: 713/523-9530.
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is offering free
art classes for those with HIV/AIDS. Patrick Palmer
begins his 9th year offering art instruction. Abstract
painting, linoleum-cut greeting cards, & ceramics are
some of the media offerings for the fall semester. Class
is limited to 16. Everything is free, even lunch! The
classes meet at the Glassell School of Art every Friday,
1-4 pm, 5101 Montrose Blvd., room 202. For more info:
713/639-7500 or 713/526-1118.
Cycles
of the Sun. In the blink of an eye, visitors can
be worlds away, immersed in ancient cultures, as the
Museum of Natural Science presents Cycles of the Sun:
Festivals of Northern Mexico by award-winning photographer
George O. Jackson Jr. These 50 photographs provide valuable
insight into the Mexican people's relationship with
nature, showing their creative abilities through festival
art. Through August 13 @ Houston Museum of Natural
Science (in the Albert & Ethel Herzstein Gallery
of Special Exhibitions on the Second Floor), One Hermann
Circle Dr. For more info: 713/639-4629 or www.hmns.org.
Entres
Fronteras: Photographs by Diana Molina is a collection
of photographs portraying Hispanic and indigenous cultures
of Mexico, focusing on the Sierra Tarahumara in Chihuahua,
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, the Yucatan Peninsula,
and several Charros in Texas. Images depict borders
crossed, not only by division of territory, but also
by the influence of ideologies, customs, commercialism,
styles, economics, and views of life. Presenting a cultural
and sociological representation of various aspects of
Mexican life, the exhibit reveals images of traditional
festivals, ceremony, and daily lifestyle along with
the environment in which the people exist. Through
March 12 @ the Houston Museum of Natural Science
in the John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas Temporary
Gallery on the 3rd floor, in Hermann Park across from
Miller Outdoor Theater. Admission is $4 adults, $3 children
3-11 (free to members). More info: 713/639-4629. For
info in Spanish: 713/639-4603.
FotoFest 2000. FotoFest's Eighth International
Month of Photography will once again transform Houston
into a citywide gallery of photography from around the
world. One of the pre-eminent photography events in
the U.S., FotoFest 2000 will showcase artists from Asia,
Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. FotoFest creates
a citywide collaboration of over 50 museums, universities,
community-based art organizations, galleries, schools,
& corporate art spaces in Houston in which exhibits
are displayed. Exhibits are accompanied throughout
the month of March by artist talks, architecture
tours, & special events. Almost all events are free
and open to the public. Info: write FotoFest, 1113 Vine
St., #101, Houston 77002; call 713/223-5522; fax 713/223-4411;
e-mail info@fotofest.org; visit www.fotofest.org.
Having
Spring Next Door is a showing of brilliant & colorful
mixed media by Sandra Sherrod. Through March 26 @
Archway Gallery, 2013 W. Gray, 713/522-2409.
Kim
Coffman, Houston's social photographer, will be
exhibiting his Favorite Roll of 1999, a series of photos
that capture life, one frame at a time. After more than
a decade of documenting Houston society at charity balls,
galas, & restaurant openings as a part-time endeavor,
Coffman put away his mortgage banking badge for his
camera‹full-time. Coffman's photos have captured the
comings & goings, antics & shenanigans of Houston's
most fashionable & powerful residents, and have appeared
in Houston Lifestyle, Inside Houston, My Table, Town
& Country, and Polo magazines, as well as The Houston
Chronicle. March 30-May 30 @ Rojas Gallery, 610
W. Alabama (at Audubon Place). A reception with the
photographer will take place at the gallery from 6-8
pm on March 30. Proceeds from the exhibit will benefit
the Houston Food Bank and H.A.T.C.H. (Houston Area Teen
Coalition of Homosexuals). More info: 713/334-1786.
Richie
Vegas: A Psycho Memoir is a selection of drawings
from Austin artist Richard Alexander's copious series
that explores the psychological intricacies of schizophrenia.
This exhibit will continue through three separate rotations
of the artist's distinctive works in hopes of making
available as many images as possible from the narrative
collection that Alexander hopes one day to publish in
book form. This exhibition affords the Houston public
a rare and private look at the most mysterious & unpredictable
manifestations of human psychology in the conscious
creations of visual art. Through April 15 @ Lawndale
Art Center's new Micro Gallery, 4912 Main Street,
713/528-5858.
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