CALENDAR MARCH 2002

Weekly (Tue., Wed., Thu.)

HIV Testing. The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing every Tuesday at The Club Houston (2205 Fannin), 8 pm—midnight; every Wednesday at Mary's (1022 Westheimer), 4—8 pm, and at the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center (803 Hawthorne), 6—9 pm; and every Thursday at Toyz Disco (5322 Glenmont), 10 pm—1 am. Call 713/830-3070 for other testing locations. LIVE IN OR NEAR CONROE?: Free & confidential HIV/AIDS testing is also available from 2—5 pm on the 13th & 27th in Conroe at Northwoods AIDS Coalition, 1414 South Frazier, Ste. 106. More info: 936/441-1614.

3 & 16 (Sun. & Sat.)

Wellness and Psychic Expos. Explore alternative healthcare medicine & products, including vitamins & magnets. Try aromatherapy, acupressure, reflexology. Consult top Houston psychics. 1—5 pm @ CenterPoint, 1920 Hollister. Entry $1. (Classes starting Mar. 4 at CenterPoint: yoga, t’ai chi, feng shui, & meditation.) Expo/classes info: 713/932-7224 or www.centerpointhouston.com.

6 (Wed.)

From PMS to Menopause. Want to be heard, informed, & empowered to make choices about your health? Concerned about risks with synthetic hormones? Want to know more about natural hormone therapy? In this seminar by Nellie Grose, M.D., learn that hot flashes are not a symptom of estrogen deficiency, PMS is not a symptom of Prozac deficiency, what you can do naturally, & much more. 5:30 pm—9 pm @ Fitness and Therapy Center at the Woman’s Hospital of Texas, 7400 Fannin, Ste. 600, 713/799-6125. Cost is $40. Info: Linda at 713/660-6620.

8 & 9 (Fri. & Sat.)

Accessing the God Within: Mystical Paths to Wholeness (an experiential conference with Andrew Harvey and J. Pittman McGehee). Andrew Harvey, who is openly gay, is a Christian mystic whose spiritual path led him to explore Eastern traditions, translate and immerse himself in the study of the Islamic poet Rumi, and break with his Indian guru Mother Meera and the "Master system" of spiritual direction. He has taught at many universities and has written more than 30 books (one of which is entitled The Essential Gay Mystics). He is currently opening a Center for the Divine Feminine in California. He is passionate about one’s responsibility to put love in action. • J. Pittman McGehee is an Episcopal priest and a diplomate Jungian analyst. Ordained in 1969, he served as a parish priest for 22 years, including 11 years as dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston. He is in private practice, lectures, and teaches at the University of Houston. His main avocations are poetry, sports, and fishing. In his backpack of vocabulary, his favorite word is "authentic." • "Mystical Paths to Wholeness: Accessing the God Within" is designed to explore the mystery of God within ourselves, so it is hoped that participants will go to it full of wonder and with the desire to question and strengthen their spirituality. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on the creative arts and spirituality, so the conference will be enriched with artistic explorations. • The Center at the Cathedral is an ecumenical organization at Christ Church Cathedral that is passionate about increasing dialogue among people of differing religious backgrounds through classes and conferences such as this one. • Brigid’s Place is also housed at Christ Church Cathedral and is a nonprofit, ecumenical organization that supports the spiritual development of women. It offers classes and much more where people can ask questions relating to their spiritual journeys, address their doubts, and become empowered to meet the challenges of life. • Mystical Paths to Wholeness takes place @ Christ Church Cathedral on March 8 & 9. Cost is $75 (includes 2 meals on Saturday). For more info, call 713/590-3333 or visit www,brigidsplace@christchurchcathedral.org

8—10 (Fri.—Sun.)

Swing! Conductor Michael Krajewski invites you to relive the swinging era of big bands, the jitterbug, & the Lindy Hop, as the Houston Symphony performs the greatest hits of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, & Tommy Dorsey. Friday & Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 7:30 pm @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($25—$80) are available at all Ticketmaster outlets; by calling 713/224-7575; or online at www.houstonsymphony.com.

8—10 (Fri.—Sun.)

Stomp is composed of young performers who make a rhythm out of anything they can get their hands on that makes a sound. Stiff-bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra, Zippo lighters flip open and closed to create a fiery figure, while wooden poles thump & clack in a rhythmic explosion. In fact, Stomp uses everything but conventional percussion instruments–such as trash cans, tea chests, plastic bags, plungers, boots, & hubcaps–to fill the stage with compelling & infectious rhythms. 8 pm on Friday, 5 & 9 on Saturday @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets ($16.50—$65) are available by calling 409/765-1894 or by visiting www.thegrand.com.

9 (Sat.)

Chasing Paint. Da Camera of Houston presents Chasing Paint: The Jane Ira Bloom Quartet Performs Jackson Pollock. Jazz saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom performs the world premiere of this new composition inspired by Jackson Pollock. 8 pm @ the Museum of Fine Arts (Car-oline Wiess Law Building). Tickets ($30, students/seniors half price) are available by contacting Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, 713/524-5050.

9 & 10 (Sat. & Sun.)

The Bob Marley Festival features performances by the next generation of reggae & world beat music superstars. A core group of 25 acts is selected to be part of this tour each year. In each city on the tour, local bands are also selected to provide a unique local character to the festival. Dance troupes, jugglers, & poets provide offstage entertainment. As in previous years, the tour features Caribbean, African, & Third World arts & crafts along with some of the best foods from these regions. Many of these vendors travel from city to city with the tour. Noon—10 pm both days @ Eleanor Tinsley Park (Buffalo Bayou Park). For more info: 713/688-3773 or www.bobmarley-festival.com.

10 (Sun.)

The 13th Annual AIDS Walk Houston is a 3.5-mile walk event to increase awareness & knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Last year’s walk raised more than $35,000 with the help of over 4,000 participants. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, and it is infecting/affecting all communities, race/ethnicities, sexes, & ages. Currently, it is estimated that one in 90 Houstonians is HIV-positive. According to the Houston Department of Health & Human Services, as of December 31, 2001, in Harris County alone, 10,628 reported individuals are living with HIV/AIDS. Beneficiaries this year are AIDS Foundation Houston and five local HIV/AIDS service organizations. The walk begins with registration at 8 am, warm-up activities at 8:30, and starting time at 9 @ Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby. For more info: Gwen Johnson at 713/623-6796, ext. 252, or online at www.aidshelp.org.

10 (Sun.)

Watercolor Art Society Houston (WASH) presents a demonstration by acclaimed watercolor artist Cheng-Khee Chee, an artist in demand as a workshop instructor, author, & painter. A weeklong workshop to be held at WASH has been filled; however, the public is invited to view the demonstration beginning at 1:30 pm in the Brown Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts. Admission: $5 at the door. Info: 713/942-9966.

14 (Thu.)

Cantoni, Inc., one of the leading contemporary furniture, accessory, and design studio retailers, brings fashion-forward designs to life during its upcoming Spring Preview parties in Houston & Dallas. Proceeds from the Houston event will be donated to the Montrose Clinic, and proceeds from the Dallas event will be donated to the AIDS Resource Center of Dallas. The parties will showcase a new line of home furnishings for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, home offices, & more. A special highlight of the evening will be a glimpse of the newest fashions from various clothing boutiques in Houston & Dallas. The evening will include fine foods, music, & a selection of beverages. One hundred percent of the $10 cover charge per person will benefit the selected AIDS-related charities. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a giveaway drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree from Cantoni. 7-9:30 pm at 9889 Westheimer, one block west of Gessner. The Dallas party will take place on Mar. 21 from 7-9:30 pm at Cantoni’s flagship store. RSVP is required by calling 713/787-9494 one week prior to the event (972/934-9191 in Dallas).

15 (Fri.)

Christopher Parkening. With dramatic virtuosity, eloquent muscianship, & a uniquely captivating sound, Parkening is the Pavarotti of the classical guitar. He has performed with the world’s leading orchestras. In this special program, he performs masterworks of the 20th century, including favorite works by Aaron Copland, Joaquin Rodrigo, Heitor Villa-Lobos, & more. 8 pm @ Jones Hall. Tickets ($15—$47) available at all Ticketmaster locations or online at www.spa houston.org; charge by phone at 713/629-3700.

15 (Fri.)

Danilo Perez returns to Houston with The Motherland Project, a heartfelt homage to the music of the Americas incorporating the roots of Panamanian music as well as American, European, African, & Native Indian heritages. Presented by Da Camera of Houston at 8 pm @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater. Tickets are $25—$40 (students/seniors half price) and can be purchased by calling Da Camera of Houston at 713/524-5050 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

15 (Fri.)

ComedySportz, an improvisational comedy show, presents "Luck o’ the Irish" matches in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. So take the whole clan to see two teams of leprechauns, also known as ComedySportz "act-letes," compete in a battle of wits. 7:30 & 10 pm @ Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. at 17th St. Admission is $10. Info/reservations: 713/868-1444.

16 (Sat.)

OrchestraX presents "ChamberX," in which principal players from the string section of OrchestraX perform musical selections from an upcoming concert, Confrontations with the Unconscious. This free concert starts at 2 pm @ Pascal/Robinson Gallery, 2307 W. Alabama. More info: 713/225-6729. (See the "Planning Ahead" section of Calendar for info on OrchestraX’s Confrontations with the Unconscious.)

16 (Sat.)

The Merry Widow is a light-hearted tale of political & amorous intrigue that unfolds amidst the gaiety of Parisian high society full of beautiful, Viennese-style waltzes, romantic, lyric melodies, & impassioned choruses. It’s a story about a widow who loves a playboy who loves the widow, and the only thing standing in their way is 40 million francs. 8 pm @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets ($37—$85) are available by calling 409/765-1894 or by visiting www.thegrand.com.

18 (Mon.)

Listen Up. The Margarett Root Brown Houston Reading Series presents Patricia Hampl & Li-Young Lee. Hampl, considered the creator of the contemporary memoir, is the author of A Romantic Education, Virgin Time, & a book about memoir, I Could Tell You Stories, as well as two books of poetry. Lee, of Chinese descent, is the award-winning author of three collections of poetry, Rose, The City in Which I Love You, and Book of My Nights, and the memoir The Winged Seed. 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:45) @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets are $5 (students/seniors free) and are available only at the door on the evening of the reading. For more info: 713/521-2026 or www.inprint-inc.org.

19, 22, & 23 (Fri. & Sat.)

Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston presents its spring concert, "Sophistication," which features the Houston premiere of selections from NakedMan. Composer Robert Seely & librettist Philip Littell relate the gay experience in a way that everyone can share, as drawn from stories of the members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Rounding out the program are songs of elegance, class, & no class! The camp, costumes, & laughs start with a performance on the 19th to benefit Montrose Clinic, Montrose Counseling Center, and Bering-Omega Community Services. The pre-show reception will start at 7 pm, followed by the concert at 8. Ticket prices are $35 (concert reserved seating and pre-show reception), $15 (concert only, advanced sales), and $18 (concert only, night of, if any remain). Other performances are at 8 pm on Friday, with two performances on Saturday at 3 & 8 pm, @ Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold. Tickets are available online at www.gmch.org/tickets or through Box Office Tickets at 800/494-8497 or TDD 888/833-8497.

22 (Fri.)

Kate Clinton. She’s worth the trip to Austin, where the uproarious Madame President of Comedy will perform for one night only. Spend an evening with one of America’s brightest political comedians, Kate Clinton. This humorist/monologist’s agenda includes political material as fresh as the daily news, savvy send-ups of modern family relationships, & illuminating perspectives on life as a gay American. FYI: Clinton served as a writer on The Rosie O’Donnell Show in 1996, during its rollout period. 8 pm @ the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress, Austin, Texas. Tickets ($20—$29) are available by calling 512/469-SHOW (7469).

22 & 23 (Fri. & Sat.)

Paul Anka presents a treasure trove of his biggest hits, such as "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Puppy Love," "She’s a Lady," "Lonely Boy," and "My Way." 8 pm @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets ($37—$85) are available by calling 409/765-1894 or by visiting www.thegrand.com.

22—24 (Fri.—Sun.)

Bayou City Arts Festival. You can expect to see 300 artists from around the country selling their original artwork. This juried festival includes painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, glass, furniture, photography, wood, fiber art, and leather works. The featured artist is Kathy Womack from Austin, Texas, with her Women and Wine series. There will be music by Levi Chen, Watson & Co., Pat Surface, & more. There will be a wine café, beer tavern, & restaurants, including Hellenic Foods, Jalapenos, Kim Son, Little German Kitchen, Pierre’s French Cuisine, and Marble Slab Creamery. Also: The Creative Zone, an interactive art area for kids. Admission: $7 adults, children under 12 free. Among the beneficiaries: DiverseWorks, MECA (MultiEducation & Counseling through the Arts), Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Art League of Houston, Steven’s House, & Bering Omega Community Foundation.10 am—6 pm in Memorial Park.

23 (Sat.)

Opera Scenes in Style is an introduction to opera’s greatest overtures & arias set to the collections of today’s hottest fashion designers, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Galleria II. Info: OrchestraX at 713/225-6729.

23 (Sat.)

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. From corsets & kilts to khakis & black tie, these spirited dancers move from ballet to jazz to modern with grace, sensuality, & show biz pizzaz. 8 pm @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($15—$45) available at all Ticketmaster locations or online at www.spa houston.org; charge by phone at 713/629-3700.

23 & 24 (Sat. & Sun.)

Camera Show & Sale. Over 200 worldwide dealers bring you usable & collectible cameras, accessories, darkroom equipment, photographic literature & images, and much more. Take your cameras, browse, buy, sell, and/or trade. Admission only $5. See what develops from 10 am—5 pm on Saturday, and 10 am—4 pm on Sunday @ the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Hobby Airport, 9100 Gulf Freeway. For more info: 713/868-9606.

24 (Sun.)

Anthony Kearns, who is perhaps best known as one-third of the Irish Tenors group, will take center stage at 7 pm @ Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets ($16.50—$57) are available by calling 409/765-1894 or by visiting www.thegrand.com.

28—30 (Thu.—Sat.)

Dance Salad Days. Dance Salad celebrates its 10th year of presenting the works of internationally renowned contemporary choreographers and dancers. Just a few of this year’s companies: Rambert Dance Company, England; The Norwegian National Ballet, Norway; Battleworks, New York. Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater. Tickets ($15—$35) are available by calling 713/227-2787 or at the ticket window at 550 Prairie in downtown Houston. For more info, visit www.dancesalad.org.

28—31 (Thu.—Sun.)

It’s Dinah Time! Pack your bags, grab your shades, & join your friends at the world’s greatest gathering of women–the Dinah Shore Weekend 2002 in Palm Springs, California. VIP weekend passes (includes entry to all seven events) are $125. Visit www.clubskirts.com or www.girlbar.com for information and to order online. Call the Dinah hotline at 888/44-DINAH to also get event details or to charge by phone.

29 (Fri.)

The Mercury Baroque Ensemble focuses on authentically performing 17th- and 18th-century music, playing on period instruments in order to recapture the intimacy & nuance of Baroque music. Tonight’s concert is "Stabat Mater." At press time, the location had not been confirmed. Tickets are $20 (students/seniors $10). For more info: 713/498-4853 or visit www.MercuryBaroqueEnsemble.org.

29 (Fri.)

Outfest 2002. As one of the world’s largest gay & lesbian film festivals celebrates its landmark 20th anniversary, Outfest 2002 is now calling for submissions for completed feature, animated, & short films, videos, and documentaries. To be held in Los Angeles July 11—22, 2002, filmmakers from across the country and around the globe are invited to submit their work and join in the celebration of the gay & lesbian community’s vision & artistry. Applications, rules, & regulations are available from the Outfest website at www.outfest.org. Submission deadline is March 29, and final decisions will be announced May 31.

30 (Sat.)

Kindred Spirits Reunion. To commemorate this landmark club, a fundraising dance and celebration are scheduled for March 30, with proceeds benefiting Bering Memorial United Methodist Church’s HIV Medical Services. Come re-experience Kindred Spirits at the Kindred Spirits Reunion, sponsored by A Christmas Songfest. 8 p.m.—1 a.m. @ Hornberger Center, with a DJ and plenty of room for dancing. Keys West has graciously donated their staff for the event. Proceeds will be donated to BMUMC/HIV Medical Services. Tickets $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Acadian Bakers, Basic Brothers, Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, Keys West, Meteor, and House of Coleman (713/523-2521). (For more on the Kindred Spirits reunion, click here.)

30 & 31 (Sat. & Sun.)

Funny Girl. Barbra Streisand won an Oscar in her screen debut as show-business legend Fanny Bryce, who rose from New York’s Lower East Side to become a star of the Ziegfeld Follies. Co-starring Omar Sharif, this lavishly restored print directed by William Wyler features great songs, including People and Don’t Rain on My Parade on the digitally remastered soundtrack. Sat. & Sun. at 1 & 5 pm in the Brown Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts. General admission $5 (members/seniors/students $4). More info: 713/639-7515 or www.mfah.org.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR APRIL AND BEYOND

April 1 & 13 (Mon. & Sat.)

The 13th Annual GLAAD Media Awards will take place in three ceremonies to be held in New York City on April 1 at the New York Marriott Marquis; in Los Angeles on April 13 at the Kodak Theater at Hollywood & Highland; and in San Francisco on June 1 at Westin St. Francis. Among the nominees: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Ellen Show, Queer as Folk, Six Feet Under, ER, USA Today, Newsweek, and many more. Info/tickets: 888/655-6529 or 310/201-5033. General event & ticket info can also be found online at GLAAD’s website www.glaad.org.

April 3 (Wed.)

A Little Day Music. Da Camera of Houston’s free lunchtime performance series features the Sam Dinkins III Trio and poet Lorenzo Thomas in a program titled "Jazz and Poetry: A Fusion." The series also features drawings for tickets to Da Camera’s upcoming events. You are encouraged to bring & enjoy your lunch while listening to the music at noon in the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Theater Center, 500 Texas at Smith. More info: 713/524-7601, ext. 15.

April 3 (Wed.)

HIV and Uncertainty. The Bering Omega Care Center is a licensed adult day-care facility operated by Bering Omega Community Services for people with HIV disease. This past February, they began offering "First Wednesdays," a lecture series on HIV-related topics for social services & nursing professionals. Tonight’s topic is "HIV and Uncertainty." Lectures are free of charge, and certificates of attendance are available for obtaining continuing education units. Speakers are Michael Eckenfels, RN, LSMW, and Andrew McPhaul, LPC. A complimentary light supper will be served. Although there is no fee for participation, space is limited and reservations are required. Social services & nursing professionals: 713/520-7070, ext. 141, for reservations. The next topic, "Responding to the Needs of MH/MR People with HIV," will be covered on May 1.

April 3 & 4 (Wed. & Thu.)

Confrontations with the Unconscious. In collaboration with the Jung Center, OrchestraX incorporates readings from Jung’s autobiography Memories, Dreams and Reflections. The multi-media event starts at 8 pm at Rice University, Stude Concert Hall. For tickets/more info: 713/225-6729.

April 5 (Fri.)

Murder in the Rue Dauphine is Greg Herren’s first novel. He will be signing and discussing his mystery novel at 5:30 pm @ Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet, 713/524-8597. (For more on Herren, click here.)

April 8 (Fri.)

Baudelaire and Chopin. Da Camera of Houston presents a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process. Discussions, readings, & performance intermingle in this preview event for the Houston premiere of Epigraph for a Condemned Book, the newest work in Sarah Rothenberg’s award-winning Music and the Literary Imagination series. 7:30 pm @ The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. Tickets ($30, students/seniors half price) are available by contacting Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, 713/524-5050.

November 2—9 (Sat.—Sat.)

2002 Sydney Gay Games. The Houston Montrose Athletic Association with Mark Hoyer of American Express Travel will be the resource contact for the Houston contingent that will be going to the games. Hoyer has worked out a travel package that includes discounted hotel & flight rates. Visit the 2002 Sydney Gay Games website at www.sydney2002.org.au for more info about the events & registration. For reservations, call Mark at 713/365-6266 (reservation cost $210).

PERFORMING ARTS

We’re All in This Together

Local playwright’s new drama premieres

Few theaters have the courage to present new works these days. Most seem to rely on the old warhorses or other proven vehicles; after all, they’re safer bets than new plays by unknown writers. But along comes Unhinged Productions, Houston’s nonprofit theater dedicated to staging works that present honest (read "positive") images of gays and lesbians.

Earlier this season, it entertained us with a double bill of one-act plays that included Houstonian Patti A. Aldredge’s comedy about lesbians mourning one of their own.

This time it’s Houstonian Fernando Dovalina’s The Man in the Trunk, a new, two-act, fully drawn drama that promises to make us cringe at the white-heat exchanges generated by a feuding straight couple and laugh at their foibles and those of their friends, a very grounded gay man who’s newly in love, a divorcee who’s just tossed out her abusive husband, and a very inebriated Hispanic copy editor enthralled with the parts of speech.

Dovalina spent 31 years at the Houston Chronicle, the last of those as an assistant magaging editor in charge of the news copy desk and the international desk, which won two Pulitzer Prize finalist citations while he was at the helm. He served as a Pulitzer juror four times.

He was one of the founders of the Houston affiliate of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was active in the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. "That made it NLGJA," says Dovalina, "but it didn’t stop us from referring to it as ‘negligee.’ "

Two years ago, he took early retirement and left the newsroom behind. At Rice University, he studied under Sam Havens, the head of the drama department at St. Thomas University. And at the University of Houston, he studied under Edward Albee, the three-time Pulitzer Prize—winning playwright. "I’m realizing a dream," says Dovalina. "I’ve retired, but I’m still working, doing some teaching, some consulting, some studying, and writing plays. Not too many people get to do what I’m doing. I pick the jobs I want to do; I decide on the hours. And I’m having fun."

Dr. Bill Gilmer, on the Unhinged board of directors, read Dovalina’s play, loved it, then took it to Chris Jimmerson, Unhinged’s artistic director. After two staged readings, a decision was made to mount a full production. "The readings were invaluable," Dovalina says. "I could see what worked and what didn’t, what made sense and what didn’t, what my characters were saying, and what I was cramming down their throats and forcing them to say."

In The Man in the Trunk, the five characters, all of them Texans, are in San Francisco celebrating the Mitchells’ wedding anniversary at the home of Randy Wilson, a gay man who is Frank Mitchell’s best friend. "Randy Wilson is, in part, based on someone I know," says Dovalina. "Randy lives in San Francisco, though he grew up in Texas City, and my friend lives in San Francisco, though he grew up in Oklahoma. They are both well grounded, intelligent, loving, and funny, and they love words and hate confrontations. They are peacemakers, or at least they try to be. They would never knowingly try to hurt anybody. Randy Wilson is the reason that Unhinged became interested in The Man in the Trunk."

"Here is an otherwise Anglo heterosexual play, but one character is gay and another is Mexican-American," Dovalina continues. "Without knowing that I was doing it, I’ve mainstreamed them. That’s the way life is. We don’t live in our own exclusive world. Gays and lesbians and straights and bisexuals, Anglos, blacks and Hispanics, everybody–we live together, in each other’s world. We better get used to it. My play is about a lot of things, and that idea, that we’re in this together, is just one of them."

The Man in the Trunk plays at 8 p.m., Thursdays—Saturdays, through March 30 @ Unhinged Productions, 3304 LaBranch. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students. For more info or for reservations, call 713/524-8707.

• Come Up and Slay Me Sometime and Marriage Can Be Murder are presented by Mystery Café, home of Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. • In their new original production Come Up and Slay Me Sometime, the troupe runs roughshod over Texas history of the 1920s, as a national radio broadcast takes place at a floating speakeasy. In attendance: flappers, gangsters, historical figures, Mae West, & Abraham Lincoln. With a combination like that, somebody’s going to wind up dead. • Marriage Can Be Murder takes place at a disastrous wedding ceremony and can serve as either a warning to lovebirds or a soothing balm to those who have already posted bans, as they can say, "Well, at least our wedding wasn’t that bad!" • Come Up and Slay Me runs Saturday nights at 8 pm in repertory with Marriage Can Be Murder, which runs Friday nights at 8 pm. Both shows are presented at the Prima Pasta Restaurant, 2710 Richmond Ave. Info: 713/944-2583 or www.mysterycafehouston.com.

• Crumbs from the Table of Joy. In some way, we’re all looking for answers to life’s questions and "crumbs from the table of joy." This is a moving yet poignantly humorous story of a young woman’s coming of age in Brooklyn, amidst the influences of her aunt who parties in Harlem and preaches revolution, and her father, a devout follower of Father Divine. Sparks of emotion & magical moments fly when Ernestine’s vibrant Aunt Lily shows up one day with suitcase in hand to give the family a crash course in politics & civil rights, and days later, her father shows up with a new wife, a post-war German refugee. Mar. 21—Apr. 14 (previews Mar. 16 & 17) @ the Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St. More info/reservations: 713/520-0055.

• Forever Hold Your Peace! Join the festivities as the tiny town of Dumpster, Texas, throws a wedding in this original Fertle Family comedy. Thursdays & Fridays at 8:30 pm, Saturdays at 8 & 10:30 pm, through May 12 @ Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt. Desserts, munchies, champagnes, wines, beers, cappuccino, & soft drinks are available for purchase throughout the show. Admission is $16, reservations are required, & tickets must be purchased in advance at the theater or by calling the box office at 713/522-7722.

• Houston Ballet. It’s the world premiere of Peter Pan, a spectacular new full-length version of James M. Barrie’s classic tale of the boy who refuses to grow up, created by openly gay choreographer Trey McIntyre. (Read more about McIntyre by clicking here.) Peter Pan leads Wendy, John, & Michael Darling from their sheltered home to fantastic adventures in Neverland, where they join the tribe of Lost Boys and do battle with the villainous Captain Hook. Mar. 14—24 @ Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater, Texas at Smith streets. Tickets ($11.50—$101.50) are available by calling 713/227-ARTS (2787) or in person at the Wortham Ticket Center in the Wortham Theater Center. For more information: www.houstonballet.org. (Cleopatra continues through Mar. 10.)

• Houston Grand Opera presents The Abduction from the Seraglio, one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s best-known comedic masterpieces. Mozart composed the opera in 1782 at one of the happiest times in his short life, while he was engaged to marry his love Konstanze, for whom Mozart named Abduction’s heroine. Mozart married Konstanze three weeks after the opera’s premiere. Mar. 8—24 @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, Texas at Smith. Tickets ($25—$77) are available by phone at 713/227-ARTS (2787), in person at Wortham Ticket Center in the lobby of the Wortham Theater Center, or on the website at www. houstongrandopera.org.

• The Laramie Project. If you missed the production in Houston, you might consider taking the short trip to Austin to see this incredible play based on the events surrounding the Matthew Shepard story, as told through the eyes of the Wyoming townspeople who served as both witnesses & participants. Greater Tuna’s Jaston Williams stars. Through Apr. 7 @ Zach’s Kleberg Stage, 1421 West Riverside Dr. at S. Lamar. Tickets are $26—$31. Charge by phone at 512/476-0541, ext. 1, or online at www.zachscott.com. (Can’t make it to Austin? See The Laramie Project on HBO premiering at 7 pm, Sunday, Mar. 9, with repeat airings throughout the month. Related TV show: The Matthew Shepard Story at 8 pm on Sunday, Mar. 16, on NBC.)

• Lobster Alice. In 1946 Hollywood, animator John Finch is busy creating the fanciful world of Wonderland–and falling in love with his secretary, Alice. When he’s assigned to supervise the work of Salvador Dali, Finch’s predictable life is turned upside down as he & Alice are drawn through Dali’s looking glass into the glittering world of the bizarre. Through Mar. 24 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets ($32—$42) are available at the Stages box office or by calling 713/527-0123 or at www.stagestheatre.com.

• The Misanthrope. Alceste is a man disgusted with mankind–and with womankind, for that matter. Alceste’s friends are insincere, his girlfriend pays too much attention to trivial people, and the worlds of law & literature alike are full of sycophants & power-mongers. Even Celimene, his true love, enjoys baiting men with her affection & then pitting them against one another. As he exposes the fraud & superficiality around him, his own intolerance & obdurance are revealed, and he finds himself increasingly alone. Mar. 21—Apr. 21 @ Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets are $20—$30. More info: 713/524-6706 or www.mainstreettheater.com.

• The Mousetrap by Dame Agatha Christie. This quintessential "whodunit" has it all–unsuspecting lodgers snowed in at a new bed and breakfast, an unexpected guest, and a dead body. Tickets $10 (students/seniors $9; matinees $8). Through Mar. 23 @ Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd St., 713/682-3525, www.theatresuburbia.com.

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Counterculture icon Ken Kesey’s thrilling 1962 satire of mental health institutions, government institutions, & all institutions questions the distinctions made by society between sanity & insanity, freedom & responsibility. Through Mar. 23 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets are $35—$50. For more info: 713/228-8421 or www.alleytheatre.org.

• The Perfect Party. Tony, a professor of American literature, quits his job in order to host the perfect party. He invites a critic from the New York Times in hopes that his perfect party gets its justly deserved perfect review. His wife & his best friends are there to ensure everything goes perfectly. A perfectly hilarious play about life’s imperfections. Tickets are $12 (students/seniors $10). Mar. 29—May 4, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1216. Reservations recommended.

• Swing! A celebration of the music & dance that swept the nation in the ’30s & ’40s, Swing! opened on Broadway last season to powerful praise for its music, dance, & style. So much more than a dance revue, Swing! crosses ethnic & cultural barriers, highlighting an eclectic mix of Jive, Latin Swing, West Coast Swing, Hip-Hop, & Country Western Swing. Featuring a mix of new & classic songs and over 30 tour de force dance numbers, it also boasts spectacular vocal performance, while the entire show is driven by the dynamic sound of a hot neo-Swing band. Included: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Harlem Nocturne," "It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing," "Sing, Sing, Sing," and many more. Mar. 26—31 @ Jones Hall, 615 Lousiana. Tickets ($31—$57) are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 713/629-3700. For more info, visit www.Broad wayAcrossAmerica.com.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• Grand Kids Festival. Color on the sidewalk, create your own music on the Kids Kitchen Band, blow bubbles on the wind, or just spend a day enriching your artistic senses. On Saturday, April 6 (yes, this gives your parents a chance to plan ahead for next month), The Grand 1894 Opera House will host this 7th annual festival–a celebration of families & folk arts–from 10 am—5 pm in historic downtown Galveston, on three blocks of Postoffice Street between 20th & 23rd streets. You could even be a star at the festival and perform in Missoula Children’s Theatre’s productions of Treasure Island (auditions take place on Monday, April 1). Tickets are $3 for adults, $2 for children under 12 (children under 5 are admitted free of charge). More info: 409/765-1894 or www.thegrand.com.

• Miss Nelson Is Back. A new classroom will be subjected to the notorious substitute who dresses in black when Miss Viola Swamp returns to Room 207. Miss Nelson has to get her tonsils removed, & Principal Humleker decides to take over her class. When the children realize how boring his lessons are, they devise a plan to get the day off to go eat ice cream & go to the movies. But what happens to them on their way back to school? And how did Miss Viola Swamp find out they still needed a substitute? Join the antics of Room 207 as they learn a hard lesson in appreciation. Recommended for pre-kindergarten—4th grades. Tickets: $10 adults; $8 children/students/seniors. Main Street Theater at Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd. For info on family performances (Mar. 23—Apr. 6): 713/524-6706. Info on school bookings (Mar. 5—Apr. 5): 713/524-7998.

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Beautiful Snow White, the handsome prince, the evil witch, & seven kind, hardworking little people make this fairy tale a story to charm most people. Tickets $6. Saturdays at 11 am & 1:30 pm, Mar. 16—Apr. 27 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury, 713/726-1216.

• Thief of Sherwood Forest is presented by Mystery Café on Saturdays at 11:30 am @ the Prima Pasta Restaurant, 2710 Richmond Ave. Info: 713/944-CLUE (2583) or www.mysterycafehouston.com.

RADIO

• After Hours. Saturdays, midnight to 3 am. Featuring the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. KPFT 90.1 FM, 713/526-5738.

• Queer Voices. Mondays, 8-10 pm. Features, news, music, interviews, reviews, and commentary. KPFT 90.1 FM, 713/526-4000.

ART/PHOTOGRAPHY

• Katharine Cobey: Fiber Sculpture. Cobey takes the process of knitting to new levels of art in her new exhibition. Her knitted sculptures include a range of media such as hand-spun wool, plastic garbage bags, & metal wire, all demonstrating her skill & creativity. Through April 7 @ Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main St., 713/529-4848.

• Rex Kare‘s powerful & exciting new works include figurative oil paintings, sketches, & portraits. Through Mar. 15 @ Betz Gallery, 1208 West Gray, 713/523-3765.

• Agnes Martin. The Menil Collection honors Agnes Martin, a legend in American 20th-century art, in her 90th year, presenting some 30 canvases made in the decade since her 1993 retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Through May 26 @ the Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross, 713/525-9404.