Calendar

• Women’s Lives on Film (throughout March)
• Academy Awards Party at River Oaks Theatre (March 25)
• March Daily Calendar
• Planning Ahead for April
• Performing Arts
• Performing Arts for Young People
• Radio
• Art/Photography

Women’s Lives on Film. March is Women’s History Month. In collaboration with the Houston Area Women’s Center and the University of Houston Women’s Studies Program, three nights of films examine historical and contemporary issues affecting women’s lives. Each program at the Museum of Fine Arts features a local guest speaker or panel discussing the film’s relevance to women’s experiences in Houston.

• Aimée and Jaguar is based on a true story of the wartime lesbian relationship in Berlin between Lilly Wust and Felice Schragen-heim as recounted by Wust in a 1994 book by Erica Fischer. Although Schragenheim is believed to have died in a forced march from a Nazi camp, Wust is 86 and still lives in Berlin. Peter Brunette of Film.com says the film is "like no Holocaust film you’ve ever seen" and that "its series of quiet but moving realizations of the utter ubiquity of the Nazi horror in every single aspect of life, even something as hidden as a sexual subculture, is powerful indeed." Set in Berlin during World War II, Aimée & Jaguar details the passionate and risky love affair between Wust (Juliane Köhler), a housewife and exemplar of Nazi motherhood, and Schragenheim (Maria Schrader), a member of the Jewish underground. The film is one of the most commercially successful German films of recent years. Aimée & Jaguar opened the 1999 Berlin International Film Festival, where it won two Silver Bears. Directed by Max Färberböck. (Germany, 1999, 125 min., subtitled.) Friday, March 2 & 9, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 3 & 10, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 4 & 11, 7 p.m.

• Girls Around the World portrays five 17-year-old girls from across the globe. Each focuses on one girl–her hopes and dreams, her world, and her world view. Directed by local women in Peru, Pakistan, Benin, Germany, and Finland, a mosaic emerges that not only depicts the great diversity in the lives of the girls, but also showcases an international roster of contemporary women filmmakers. Directed by Maria Barea, Jaija Jurikkala, Monique Mbeka Phoba, Pascale Schmidt, and Sabiha Sumar. (Various countries, 1999, 104 min.) Sunday, March 18, 7 p.m. Panel discussion follows.

• Daring to Resist: Three Women Face the Holocaust. Three Jewish women explain why they chose resistance rather than submission during Hitler’s occupation of Holland, Hungary, and Poland. Defying her family’s wishes, each girl found an unexpected way of fighting back camps (directed by Martha Lubell and Barbara Attie, USA, 1999, 57 min.). ALSO: The Walnut Tree (directed by Elida Schogt, Canada, 2000, 11 min.) is an examination of Holocaust memory, the family, and the role of photography in history. AND: Zyklon Portrait (directed by Elida Schogt, Canada, 1999, 13 min.) is an eloquent eulogy to the filmmaker’s family, many of whom died in Nazi death. Sunday, March 25, 7 p.m. Speaker in attendance.

• Step by Step: Building a Feminist Movement 19410-1977. Set against a backdrop of decades of war, prosperity, and reform, this inspiring documentary follows the lives of the Wisconsin women who founded the National Organization of Women (NOW). Their stories illustrate the continuity and diversity of 20th-century feminism, as they describe the labor, civil rights, and political movements of the 1940s and 1950s that led them to take independent action for women. Directed by Joyce Follet. (USA, 1998, 56 min.) Sunday, April 1, 7 p.m. Panel discussion follows.

Ticket Information: General admission is $5. Matinee admission (show times before 5 p.m.) is $4. MFAH members, seniors (55+), & students with ID receive a $1 discount. Discount passes (10 admissions) are $40 for nonmembers, $35 for members. Children 12 & under are free.

Screenings: Films are screened in Brown Auditorium in the museum’s Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet. Use the Main Street entrance. Free parking is available. Tickets go on sale at the auditorium box office 30 minutes before show time.

25 (Sun.)

Academy Awards Party at River Oaks Theatre. Joan Allen, Javier Bardem, Juliette Binoche, Ellen Burstyn, Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Julia Roberts, Geoffrey Rush ... 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 for the third year in a row; and this year she will be assisted by Channel 8’s Ernie Manouse. • 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). To encourage black-tie attire, a free pass to a future film will be "awarded" to those who "dress to the nines." • 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 Winners" contest at either Houston Landmark theater (River Oaks or Greenway) 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. Landmark’s Greenway Theatre is host to the opening night of the festival, which is scheduled for May 25; the festival will run through June 7. For more information, call 713/528-4608. –Blase DiStefano

CALENDAR MARCH

7, 14, 21, 28 (Wed.)

HIV Testing. The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing and counseling every Wednesday, 6-9 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. Center: 713/524-3818. Clinic: 713/830-3000. Please note: Free & confidential HIV/AIDS testing is also available from 1—3 pm on the 14th & 28th in Conroe at Northwoods AIDS Coalition, 1414 South Frazier, Ste. 106. More info: 936/441-1614.

8 (Thu.)

Adoption. Family to Family Adoption Services, a licensed nonprofit adoption agency, is dedicated to find loving homes for thousands of orphans in many countries as well as domestic infants. It is sponsoring a free workshop for prospective adoptive parents seeking more information about adopting children from the U.S., China, Russia, & India. Single men, women, & couples from 25—65 years old are eligible to adopt. A free info packet will be given to each person. 6:30—8:30 pm in the board room @ Bellaire Hospital, 5314 Dashwood. More info: 713/249-5941.

9 (Fri.)

The Spirit of Africa: Randy Weston and African Rhythms. Pianist Randy Weston is a veteran explorer who has discovered the roots of jazz in the soil of Africa. The Master Gnawa Musicians of Morocco join Weston in this performance with his band & saxophonist & Houston native Billy Harper. 8 pm @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets ($27—$37) are available by calling Da Camera Music Center at 713/524-5050 or by visiting www.culturefinder.com.

10 (Sat.)

Lesbian Health Fair. The Lesbian Health Initiative of Houston, Inc. (LHI) will be offering health screenings at NO COST. This includes mammograms, pap smears/pelvic exams, HIV/STD testing, to name a few. The M.D. Anderson Mammogram Mobile Van will be on site. The Health Fair, as always, will be staffed by lesbian-friendly healthcare practitioners. 8 am—4 pm @ the Montrose Clinic, 215 Westheimer. For mammograms and pap smears, you must schedule an appointment with LHI outreach worker, Barbara Walker, at 713/830-3075.

10 (Sat.)

Pilobolus. Acclaimed for a startling mix of humor & invention, Pilobolus adds Klezmer music to the mix in a new co-commission by Society for the Performing Arts. The wondrous, sculptural forces of Pilobolus meet the ecstatic sounds of the Klezmatics, performing live, in this premiere, plus three more works from the repertory. 8 pm @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($15-$38) available by calling 713/227-4SPA (4772) or at Ticketmaster outlets.

10 & 11 (Sat. & Sun.)

Art & Opera in Galveston. On Saturday evening, you can stroll the Galveston Artwalk, which is held every six weeks. This is an evening of the visual arts in historic downtown Galveston and is free and open to the public. The trolley provides free transportation during opening. Info: 409/763-2403. • On Sunday, you can attend the phenomenon known as John McDermott. Since his debut in 1993, this Irish tenor has skyrocketed to international stardom. He’ll have you wiping away a sentimental tear at his heart-stirring rendition of Mary of Argyle one minute, and have you laughing at one of his many jokes the next. Showings at 2 & 8 pm @ the Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Info: 800/821-1894 or www.thegrand.com.

14 (Wed.)

Charlotte Church. The 14-year-old international soprano star sings with the Houston Symphony. The little girl with the outstanding voice has sung for the pope, the president of the U.S., the queen of England, and at the Super Bowl. Her U.S. tour will include only three appearances, one of which is her Houston debut. 8 pm @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($35—$85): at Jones Hall or call 713/224-7575.

16 (Fri.)

Carmen, which has been said to be "the most shocking, seductive opera to ever hit the stage," will be presented by the prestigious London City Opera at 8 pm @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets range from $37—$85. More info: 800/821-1894 or www.thegrand.com.

16 & 17 (Fri. & Sat.)

Brett Butler. The funny lady was the star & executive producer of the TV series Grace Under Fire, for which she won a People’s Choice Award. She has been performing stand-up for the past 18 years and will now perform her stand-up at The Laff Stop, 1952-A W. Gray. For ticket prices/info: 713/524-2333.

17 (Sat.)

Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with Asians & Friends Houston’s St. Patrick’s Day Potluck Party at 7:30 pm. For location/more info: 713/626-6300 or www.AsiansAndFriendsHouston.com.

17 & 18 (Sat. & Sun.)

Night in Black Leather 2001. It’s a night of fantasies, live entertainment, a silent auction, & more. The cast of Dirty Little Showtunes will open & close the event with songs from the musical. Colt 45’s has been chosen as the beneficiary for Night in Black Leather because of the over-nine-years of never-ending flow of charitable work this organization does. Monetary donation requested. Night in Black Leather starts at 7 pm on Saturday @ Rich’s, 2401 San Jacinto. The after-party, which includes lots of food and a live DJ, starts at 1 pm on Sunday @ Mary’s, 1022 Westheimer..

17—19 (Sat.—Mon.)

Harrell & Tchaikovsky. American conductor Alan Gilbert will wow audiences with Tchaikovsky’s irresistible Symphony No. 5. Lynn Harrell, a giant of the cello, offers the first Houston performance of Dutilleux’s impressionistic Cello Concerto and Fauré’s lovely Elégy. 8 pm on Saturday & Monday, 2:30 pm on Sunday @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($17—$71) are available at Jones Hall or by calling 713/224-7575.

18 & 19 (Sun. & Mon.)

March Against Hate. On Sunday, show support for the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act as well as other GLBT-related legislation by joining LGRL’s (Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas) March on Austin’s "March Against Hate." March up South Congress Ave. to rally at the steps of the Capitol. Also, if Monday is open for you, it’s LGRL’s Lobby Day. Take some time to tell your representative & senator to support pro-GLBT legislation like the Hate Crimes bill and oppose anti-GLBT bills like antigay adoption bills. LGRL will lead you through the process. Call your legislator to make an appointment, and LGRL will arrange for others to go with you. For more info on the march or lobby day: Julie Hollar at 512/474-5475.

20 (Tue.)

The Goldberg Variations. On the eve of Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday, harpsichordist John Gibbons performs the composer’s Goldberg Variations. Commissioned by Baron von Keyserling in 1724 and named after his court harpsichordist, this set of 30 variations on a theme is one of the supreme achievements of the Baroque. 7:30 pm @ the Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. Tickets ($25) are available by visiting www.culturefinder.com or by calling Da Camera Music Center at 713/524-5050.

20 (Tue.)

Houston Symphony Chamber Players. Lynn Harrell is one of the great cello virtuosi of his generation; he performs with Alan Gilbert on viola. 8 pm (pre-concert lecture at 7:30) @ Stude Concert Hall, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University. Tickets ($15 & $25). Info: 713/224-4240.

20—25 (Tue.—Sun.)

Stomp is back, and tickets are hotter than ever for this smashing, banging, bashing, kicking sensation. This percussive whirlwind crashes into town, creating incredible sounds from everyday objects. Matinee & evening performances, presented by Society for the Performing Arts @ Wortham Center’s Brown Theater. Tickets ($15—$45) are available by calling 713/227-4SPA, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or at ticketmaster.com.

23 & 24 (Fri. & Sat.)

State of Heads. With its breathtaking opening, State of Heads explodes with waiting: waiting for a hero, waiting to see what happens, waiting to see what the 21st century has to offer. Heads is an exciting blend of contrasts–high energy, frenetic movement & detailed precision, serious contemplation & slapstick. THe evening leaves you breathless with its beautiful movement & endearingly odd characters. DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. Info: 713/335-3445.

23 & 24 (Fri. & Sat.)

Dance Salad is an artistically rich evening of contemporary dance, harmoniously blending a diverse program that presents some of the world’s most compelling dancers and choreographers. This ninth annual evening is a mixed repertoire including contemporary ballet works performed by the well-known European company the Dutch (Het) National Ballet from Amsterdam in their first appearance in Houston; the sensational Chinese dancer Xing Liang; RhythMEK, a new company comprised of three former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principals; soloist Jan-Erik Wikström, a Royal Court and principal dancer of the Royal Swedish Ballet; Terese Capucilli, a former star of the Martha Graham Dance Company; and the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. 7:30 p.m., Mar. 23 and 24 @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater. Tickets range from $15 to $35 and are available at the Wortham Ticket Center box office by calling 713/227-ARTS (2787), or they can be purchased at the ticket window at 550 Prairie. For more info, visit the Dance Salad website at www.dancesalad.org.

23—25 (Fri.—Sun.)

Texas Lesbian Conference. The 14th conference takes place at San Antonio’s AmeriSuites Riverwalk and features Luz Guerra, social activist & trainer; Kelli Herd, director of It’s in the Water; and Laura Jimenez, a comedian from the California bay area. Workshop topics include coming out, dating, maintaining relationships, women’s health issues, political activism for busy people, computer communications, & other ways to meet people. For more information: e-mail to TLCSanAntonio@aol.com or visit the website at www.hometown.aol.com/tlcsanantonio/myhomepage/index.html.

24

Unity Banquet 2001. It’s the Houston transgender community’s 9th annual banquet. Who goes to this banquet? Absolutely any supportive person who is interested in a great time and a good cause; in essence, anyone who is interested in helping the transgendered community grow and serve its members. Just go and be the gender you are! 7 pm @ the Westchase Hilton Hotel. Tickets ($35) can be purchased in person at Jewell’s, 2404 Taft; by mail by sending a money order (no checks) to HGTA, 239 A Westheimer, Houston, TX 77006 (you can pick up the tickets at the door); online at these addresses: staceyhou@aol.com (Stacey with Tau-Chi); brenda@brendat.com (Brenda with HTGA); thanatos@cityscope.net (Melanie with TATS); gypsyrose1972@yahoo.com (Cris with Unity Committee); shalomsarah13@aol.com (Sarah Jane with CATS); jackiethorne@juno.com (Jackie Thorne with GCTC). For credit card sales: Melanie Rudd at 281/347-6878 or melpeg@pmpub.com.

24 & 25

HOG Garage Sale. The Houston Outdoor Group is looking forward to another suc¡cessful garage sale to raise funds for activities such as the Pride Parade in June. 8 am—4 pm both days. To donate items or for more info: 713/KAMP-OUT.

24 & 25 (Sat. & Sun.)

All That Jazz. The Rob Landes Trio joins the Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston (GMCH) for this jazz-in-the-movies performance, which showcases both groups together & separately with selections from this most American of musical idioms. A highlight of the show will be the joint performance of a newly-commissioned work which GMCH won at GALA Choruses Festival 2000 in San Jose last July. 8 pm on Saturday, 3 pm on Sunday @ Resurrection MCC, 2025 West 11th at T.C. Jester. Tickets are $25 ($15 for those under 20 and those over 60) and can be purchased at the door before any performance or in advance at www.boxofficetickets.com or by calling 800/494-8497 (TDD: 877/833-8497).

24 & 25 (Sat. & Sun.)

Winedale Spring Festival. Forty of Texas’ best potters, jewelers, glassblowers, weavers, & sundry other stellar regional artisans pack up their latest creations and travel to the charming, flower-strewn countryside of central Texas for a 2-day idyll called the Winedale Spring Festival. Coming from studios in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, East Texas, & the Gulf Coast, they are among the crème de la crème of the state’s finest craft artisans. Besides the great art, there’s also tasty food and live music. 10 am—6 pm on Saturday, followed by dancing & BBQ, 6—8 pm; 10 am—4 pm on Sunday. Admission is $5 daily ($3 students/children). Winedale and the festival grounds are 5 minutes from Round Top, Texas, and approximately 90 minutes by car from Houston & Austin. Info: g.jaster@mail.utexas.edu or 979/278-3580.

24—26 (Sat.—Mon.)

Frankly Dvorák. Recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize, Pamela Frank is sure to intoxicate in Dvorák’s beautiful Violin Concerto. Young Brazilian conductor Roberto Minczuk makes his Houston Symphony debut. 8 pm on Saturday & Monday, 2:30 pm on Sunday @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($17—$71) are available at Jones Hall or by calling 713/224-7575.

28 (Wed.)

Power Struggle. Isn’t it amazing how the things we loved about our partners in the beginning are the same things that drive us crazy months later? Or how we try & make them more like us when we really fell in love with them for being them? Opposites may attract, but to stay together, we need the skill & ability to realize & work through our differences. Knowing how to deal with the differences can reduce the stress that prevents couples from getting out of the power struggle and going to reality love. This class focuses on how to keep the spark alive through communication skills & techniques that honor differences and enhance intimacy, love, & respect. 7—9 pm. $25. To register, call 713/529-4414. More info: Denise O’Doherty at 713/524-9525.

30 (Fri.)

Regina Carter Quartet. Regina Carter is one of the most significant, versatile, & innovative violinists to emerge in decades, an original who integrates jazz, funk, African, Brazilian, & soul music with an adventurous rhythmic sensibility. 8 pm @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets ($27—$37) are available by calling Da Camera Music Center at 713/524-5050 or by visiting www.culturefinder.com.

30—Apr. 1 (Fri.—Sun.)

Campout. The Houston Outdoor Group’s (HOG) annual Lake Somerville Campout includes camping with hiking trails. The campsite overlooks the lake and has water-only facilities. Saturday night there will be a trip into town to a favorite restaurant for dinner. More info/directions on Lake Somerville: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/lakesome/lakesome.htm. For details and/or for info on the pre-camp meeting on March 26, contact HOG at 713/KAMP-OUT.

30—Apr. 1 (Fri.—Sun.)

Chicago. Murder! Greed! Adultery! In a pulse-racing plot that could be ripped from today’s tabloids, Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart, the gun-toting murderess who manipulates the media to become the star. 8 pm on Friday, 2 & 8 pm on Saturday, 2 pm on Sunday @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets range from $16.50—$65. More info: 800/821-1894 or www.thegrand.com.

31 & Apr. 1 (Sat. & Sun.)

Come See What Develops at the 4th semi-annual Houston Camera Show & Sale. Usable & collectible cameras, accessories, darkroom equipment, photographic literature & images, and much more–free, easy access parking; door prizes twice a day; free appraisals; complimentary camera & shutter checkups. All this for only $5 each day. For more info about the show or table reservations, call 713/868-9606..

31—Apr. 2 (Sat.—Mon.)

All Beethoven. Join conductor Andreas Delfs, music director of the Milwaukee Symphony, for an all-Beethoven extravaganza. Saturday & Monday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($17—$71) are available at Jones Hall or call 713/224-7575 or visit www.houstonsymphony.org.

PLANNING AHEAD APRIL

Apr. 1 (Sun.)

Garden Oaks Annual Home and Garden Tour showcases a unique combination of seven homes and three gardens. Garden Oaks, just north of the 610 Loop between Ella and Yale, is nestled among towering pines and grand magnolias. From quaint cottages and charming bungalows to plantation, ranch, and traditional style homes, Garden Oaks supports diverse updates while maintaining its charm and sense of history. Because of its excellent location, mass appeal, oversized lots, and booming property values, Garden Oaks is often compared to West University and Bellaire. The tour takes place from noon—6 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the tour. For locations to buy advance tickets: 713/267-7800. On the day of the tour, tickets will be available at the Command Center/Trolley Station in the Garden Oaks Shopping Center in the 3800 block of N. Shepherd. All advance sale tickets must be redeemed at the Command Center/Trolley station. From there, complimentary trolleys will take patrons to all 10 tour stops. While you are touring the homes, let your children (2 years and older and potty-trained) experience their own free "tour." To ensure adequate staffing levels, parents must call the Garden Oaks Home and Garden Tour Hotline at 713/267-7800 and leave a message indicating the number of children that will participate.

Apr. 4 (Wed.)

A Little Day Music. Da Camera’s free lunchtime performance series features Astoria, the guitar & bandoneón of Edward Grigassy & Janusz Grebowicz. Da Camera encourages concertgoers to bring & enjoy their lunches while listening to the music. Noon in the Grand Foyer of Wortham Theater Center, Texas at Smith. Info: 713/524-7601, ext. 15.

Apr. 7 (Sat.)

Socially New. The Southeast Area Gays and Lesbians (SEAG&LS) is a new social group for the GLBT community from the southeastern part of Houston & surrounding localities. Throughout every month, there will be activities such as movie nights, dinners out, brunches, day trips, plays, or whatever members may want to do in a group setting. For details of today’s event or upcoming socials: Del at 281/998-7319 or e-mail at SEAGLS@PRODIGY.NET.

Apr. 7 & 8 (Sat. & Sun.)

Bernadette Peters. When Broadway’s greatest diva launches into song, it’s an invitation to walk straight (or gaily) into her heart. With her oversized little-girl voice & her riveting stage presence, the quintessential queen of Broadway is nothing less than a musical meltdown. Tickets range from $37—$85. Don’t miss Broadway’s greatest diva on Saturday at 9 pm and Sunday at 2 pm @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 800/821-1894 or www.thegrand.com.

Apr. 7 & 8 (Sat. & Sun.)

How to Watch a Song. How do mediamakers respond to the form of the music video? Why do we make videos about songs? Can mediamakers use music & video without self-consciously invoking the commercial music video? "How to Watch a Song" offers some possibilities into the non-commercial formation of the music video or the "video with music." $5. Saturday at 9 pm, Sunday at 3 pm @ Aurora Picture Show, 800 Aurora (which crosses the 6500 block of N. Main), 713/868-2101 or www.aurorapictureshow.org.

Apr. 22 (Sun.)

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is a gala afternoon of wine & food tastings from Houston’s best restaurants, caterers, & chefs. Seventy percent of funds raised go to agencies located in Houston (The End Hunger Network & The Houston Food Bank). Ten percent goes to rural area agencies within Texas. Three percent go to national and 17 percent to international hunger relief agencies. One hundred percent of the revenue from all ticket & table sales is distributed to hunger relief agencies. $65 per person, $100 Host Committee ticket. Tables are $1,250, $2,500, & $5,000. Sponsorships begin at $5,000. The event takes place from 4—7 pm on the Meadow at The Houstonian Hotel Club & Spa, 111 N. Post Oak Lane. Tickets/info: 713/547-8624.

PERFORMING ARTS

) Action and Chicago. Infernal Bridegroom Productions (IBP), one of Houston’s coolest theater companies, presents the regional premieres of Action and Chicago. Don’t let the titles fool you. Action follows four late-twentysomethings holed up in a slacker shack after what may or may not have been a nuclear war. Chicago presents a strange man ranting & raving & splashing around in his bathtub as his wife & her friends plan a fishing trip. And it’s got nothing to do with Chicago–the city or the musical. Both plays were written by Sam Shepard back when–for a short, almost forgotten period in theater history–Shepard was the king of the underground, rock-and-roll theater scene. And the plays he wrote then are among the funniest, strangest, most poetic plays of that revolutionary era. Tamarie Cooper stars. Through Mar. 17 @ Atomic Café, 1320 Nance St. Tickets are $10. For tickets/more info, call IBP at 713/522-8443.

) All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a play with music based on the book by Robert Fulgham. Six actors play numerous young & old characters in a series of charming vignettes. It is a gentle, funny, & joyous play about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Mar. 23—Apr. 28 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square. Tickets $12. Info: 713/726-1219.

) The Baltimore Waltz centers around Anna, an unmarried schoolteacher diagnosed with ATD (Acquired Toilet Disease), a fatal new malady with a high-risk factor for elementary schoolteachers. Tickets $14 (students/seniors $10). Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, Mar. 16—Apr. 28 @ Actors Theatre of Houston, 2506 South Boulevard, 713/529-6606.

) Breaking the Code tells the life story of Alan Turing, the primary designer of the Turing Machine, an early computer used to solve the German Enigma code during World War II, a solution many believe was instrumental in the Allied victory. The title refers to both the solution of the Enigma code and Turing's open admission to his homosexuality, which at the time violated not only the codes of polite society but British law. Thursdays—Saturdays at 8 pm through Mar. 31 @ the new Unhinged Theatre, 3304 LaBranch, just south of Elgin. For more info/tickets, call 713/524-8707. There are special half-price performances on Monday, Mar. 5 at 8 pm and Sunday, Apr. 1 at 6 pm.

) Cabaret is the award-winning musical that takes you on a journey to the Kit Kat Club, Berlin, 1930, where "in here, life is beautiful!" Mar. 9—25 @ Galveston’s Strand Theatre, 2317 Ships Mechanic Row. More info: www.galveston.com/strandtheatre or 877/787-2639.

) Carpool. Five men, one car, & a daily commute from the suburbs are the elements that ignite Carpool. The effects of a workplace plagued by downsizing, layoffs, & fear are traced over a six-month period in the conversations of these men, each dealing with crises not only in their careers, but in their personal lives as well. Tickets $19—$42. Mar. 14—Apr. 8 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713/52-STAGE.

) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In a plantation house, the members of a Mississippi Delta family gather to celebrate the 65th birthday of Big Daddy. Here is a dying patriarch who doesn’t know he’s terminal but who is aware of the bitter family struggle for the prize money & land he shall leave behind. There are love & strong bonds among the members, but these affections are buried under years of resentment, avarice, envy, & self-pity. Mar. 16—Apr. 4 @ the Country Playhouse, 12802 Queensbury. Ticket prices/info: 713/467-4497.

) The Cover of Life. This Houston premiere of R.T. Robinson’s off-Broadway bittersweet comedy tells the story of three war brides whose privacy is invaded by a Life magazine photo-journalist in 1943 rural Louisiana. The situation explodes with humor & emotion when the big-city scribe enters the picture. Through Mar. 17 @ Theater Southwest, 8944-A Clarkcrest. Tickets $10—$12. More info: 713/661-9505.

) Dirty Little Showtunes. Due to popular demand, this satirical revue has been held over. Showtunes uses new lyrics to Broadway show tunes to spoof the industry and does so with a gay context. It’s got a cast of six males and is directed by Joe Watts. Tickets are $20. Fridays & Saturdays, 8 pm @ Theatre New West, 1415 California St., on the ground floor of Sonoma Restaurant Building. Reservations 713/394-0464; more info 713/522-2204.

) Disparate Ingredients. Against the backdrop of the culture wars, this world premiere musical focuses on the divisive events surrounding a big city mayoral election, his closeted spin-doctor, & his illegitimate son. $20 Friday & Saturday, $15 Sunday. Mar. 23—Apr. 28 @ The Little Room Downstairs Theater Studio, 2328 Bissonnet, 713/522-LRDS (5737).

) A Flea in Her Ear. One of the Alley’s most popular plays in the last decade, A Flea in Her Ear is a chaotic comedy in which Raymonde Chandebise assumes her husband Victor-Emmanuel must be having an affair, as he has recently been unable to fulfill his conjugal duties. When she asks a friend to request a rendezvous with her husband, and he in turn asks a friend to replace him at the rendezvous, a chain reaction of frenzied mistaken identities & misplaced jealousies begin. Through Mar. 24 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets are $32—$49 and can be purchased at the box office or by calling 713/228-8421.

) Full Bloom is a sweet, touching drama of a 16-year-old girl’s coming of age in a culture obsessed with beauty. $20 & $25. Mar. 8—Apr. 7 (previews Mar. 3, 4, & 7) @ Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Reservations/more info: 713/524-6706.

) Home. Samm-Art Williams, the creator of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Frank’s Place, once again masters the art of winning an audience with laughter & tears. This simple & endearing story affirms that home is both a place & a state of being. Many will identify with the central character’s search for fulfillment, acceptance, & love, only to discover that and more in the South, when he returns "home." Mar. 23—Apr. 24 @ The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. Ticket prices/more info: 713/520-0055.

) Houston Grand Opera (HGO). After a 25-year absence, Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea returns to HGO in a new production. In this collaboration with Toronto’s baroque specialist company Opera Atelier, Poppea fuses the exquisite music, dance, period costumes, & stylized dramatics of 17th-century theater into a seamless whole. The first opera to be based on actual historical figures, Poppea tells the story of the glamorous courtesan Poppea who captures the heart of the Roman emperor Nerone (Nero), causing him to renounce this wife and make Poppea his empress. Mar. 2—18 @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, Texas at Smith. Tickets ($38—$77) are available by phone at 713/227-ARTS, in person at the Wortham Ticket Center (in the Wortham lobby), or online at www.houstongrandopera.org. General info: 713/546-0200. Disabled access/TDD: 713/546-0246.

) Lady in the Dark is the story of Liza Elliott, a successful fashion editor at the top of her profession, whose mysterious lack of fulfillment frightens her into psychoanalysis. $20 & $25. Mar. 1—11 @ Main Street Theater in Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd. Reservations/more info: 713/524-6706.

) Lou Tells a Big One is another original comedy featuring the "Single Fertle Family" from Dumpster, Texas. Uncle Al is opening a new Honky Tonk, Bridgette Fertle is about to reaveal the actual father of her baby, someone in town has won $85 million in the lottery, & Lou has lied his way into a mess that just might cost him everything. Through May 5 @ Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt. Admission is $15, and reservations are required. 713/522-7722.

) The Mauist. Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theater’s new work is a full-length puppet play. The story involves a small native community on a fictional South Pacific island. The plot consists of the trickster god Maui, a volcano, a radical American splinter of the Protestant Church, and the vast confidence that is Western colonialism. Mar. 25—May 6 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. 24-hour ticket line: 713/355-3445.

) Miss Saigon. Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) becomes the first company in America to secure the rights to produce Miss Saigon, the award-winning musical that opens TUTS’ 2001 season. Inspired by Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon recounts the moving story of a young Vietamese woman who falls in love with a U.S. Marine. TUTS’ production of this worldwide hit trails the closing of the Broadway production, which grossed more than $1.3 billion internationally and was the 6th-longest-running show in Broadway history. Miss Saigon was the winner of three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, & four Drama Desk Awards. Mar. 20—Apr. 1 @ the Arena Theatre, 7326 Southwest Freeway. Tickets ($18—$57) are available online at www.tuts.com; by phone at 800/678-5440; or in person at the TUTS box office, 2600 Southwest Freeway, or the Arena box office on the day of the performance.

) Runt of the Litter, by Bo Eason, is his new one-man play loosely based on the former Houston Oilers star’s own experiences playing professional football. Tickets $19—$42. Through Mar. 18 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713/52-STAGE.

) The Standing Wave. This world premiere comedy is a hip and sexy play about young lovers bouncing from bed to bed to bed. Sasha has been with his male lover for years and all has been bliss for them until Sasha meets and falls in love with two women. As he hops from the women back to his lover and back again, he learns a lot about both love and sex. This play contains brief nudity and adult situations. March 2—31 @ Ashland St. Theatre Co., 2610 Ashland St. in the Heights. Single ticket prices are $15, with discounts for both students & seniors. For subscriptions, reservations, info: 713/426-3019.

) Visiting Mr. Green. The elderly retired Mr. Green wanders into traffic and is almost hit by a 29-year-old coporate executive. The young man is charged with reckless driving and given a community-service sentence of helping Mr. Green once a week for six months. What starts out as a comedy about two men who do not want to be in the same room together turns into a gripping and moving drama as they get to know each other, come to care about each other, and open old wounds they’ve been nursing for years. $20 Friday & Saturday, $15 Sunday. Held over through Mar. 17 @ The Little Room Downstairs Theater, 2326 Bissonnet, 713/522-5737.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

) The Clown That Ran Away. Take a magical journey with Dodo, the runaway clown, as he searches for new experiences. He finds them at Frumpkin’s Doll Shop, which has the world’s finest & wackiest dolls loved by both girls & boys. Saturdays at 11 am & 1:30 pm, March 17—April 28 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square. Tickets $6. Info: 713/726-1219.

) Noonie’s Masterpiece in Purple. A little girl learns the value of her own creativity when the painters Picasso, van Gogh, & O’Keefe encourage her to trust her talent and participate in a school art contest. For kindergarten—6th grade. Tickets $8. Through Mar. 24—Apr. 21 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, Allen Parkway at Waugh Drive, 713/52-STAGE.

) The Wave. What if history repeated itself and the principles of Nazism were before your children? It’s not just a question–it’s fact. The Wave is based on real-life events in a Palo Alto, California, high school in 1969 and the fascist movement that disrupted an entire community. The Wave begins on March 20 for school audiences and March 23 for family performances (which run through the 25th and March 30—April 1) @ Main Street Theater’s Chelsea Market location, 4617 Montrose. Recommended for 6th—12th grades & their families. Tickets are $9.50 (adults) & $7.50 (children, students, seniors). Reservations/info: 713/524-6706.

RADIO

) After Hours Saturdays, midnight to 3 am. Featuring the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. KPFT 90.1 FM.

) Lesbian & Gay Voices Mondays, 8-10 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.

) Art-o-mat. DiverseWorks joins a network of sites throughout the U.S. serving as hosts for a national project known as Art-o-mat. Artists T. Clark Whittington and George Doles III, residents of the tobacco town of Winston-Salem, founded the Art-o-mat project in 1997. Their mission was to create an outlet where artists can expose their names & works to people who would otherwise not see it. They worked under the premise that art should be progressive, yet personal & approachable. What better way to do this than with a heavy cold steel machine? Whittington has refurbished an old cigarette vending machine specifically for DiverseWorks. The group Artists In Cellophane, as well as Houston-based artists, have filled the machine with original works of art that can be yours to keep for a mere $3—$5. The machine will be refilled with new art monthly. DiverseWorks will keep it filled to meet your demand. Through June 2001 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.

) Donald Lipski: A Brief History of Twine. This mid-career survey of Lipski includes more than 30 works of art, ranging from the early Building Steam #351 (1985) to the most recent Exquisite Copse No. 17 (2000), and features several large-scale installations, such as The Starry Night (1994)–a room-sized project comprised of thousands of razor blades sliced into the wall. Through Mar. 18 @ Blaffer Gallery, the Art Musem of UofH, entrance #16 off Cullen Blvd., 713/743-9530.

) Drawings in Space. New York-based Sharon Louden is paired with Chicago-based Kathleen McCarthy in an exhibition sure to heighten the senses. Both artists create three-dimensional installations, doubling as spatial line drawings that shift & change in compelling ways. Louden’s concentration on gesture & form places figures within a frame or specific space. McCarthy deconstructs space in ways that are at once highly intricate & pristinely minimal. Mar. 9—Apr. 21 @ Diverse-Works, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.

) Oil Paintings by John Slaby. These new paintings of the figure are given a little twist to make you think. Through Mar. 24 @ Archway Gallery, 2013 W. Gray, 713/522-2409, www.archwaygallery.com.

) Postive Art. The photographs in this exhibition were taken by participants in the Positive Art Workshops of the Glassell School of Art. The workshops target adults who are HIV positive. Participants were encouraged to make images and keep journal entries that revolved around issues of self or that described a sense of place. The resulting work is a fascinating insight into the lives, feelings, thoughts, & poetry of people who have been afflicted by HIV. The exhibition is scheduled to hang around till the spring at the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.