CALENDAR FOR MARCH 2003

Daily (Mon.-Fri.)

HIV Testing. HCHD Thomas Street Clinic is offering HIV testing free to the public, 9 am-1 pm. There is no need to establish eligibility ("gold-card"), no donation will be asked of the person seeking testing, and the test is free. Thomas Street Clinic, 2015 Thomas, 713/873-4157 or 713/873-4026.

Daily (Mon.-Sat.)

HIV Testing. The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing at these locations. Monday: Bricks, 617 Fairview, 4-8 pm; Keys West, 817 W. Dallas, 8 pm-midnite; Club Xcape, 2612 South Richey, 9 pm-midnite. Tuesday: The 611 Club, 611 Hyde Park, 4-8 pm; The Briar Patch, 2294 W. Holcombe, 8 pm-midnite; The Club Houston, 2205 Fannin, 8 pm-midnite. Wednesday: Mary's, 1022 Westheimer, 4-8 pm; Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 6-9 pm; Ripcord, 715 Fairview, 9 pm-midnite; EJ's, 2517 Ralph, 10 pm-1 am; Midtowne Spa, 3100 Fannin, 10 pm-1 am. Thursday: The Outpost, 1419 Richmond, 4-8 pm; Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos, 8 pm-midnite; Cousins, 817 Fairview, 8 pm-midnite; Toyz Disco, 5322 Glenmont, 10 pm-1 am. Friday: Club Escandalo, 2053 Wirt, 8-10 pm; Viviana's, 5219 Washington, 10 pm-midnite; Midtowne Spa, 3100 Fannin, 10 pm-1 am; Club Kalipso, 6806 Longpoint, midnite-2 am. Saturday: Club Inergy, 5750 Chimney Rock, 9 pm-midnite. The clinic offers classes for those newly diagnosed with HIV or Hepatitis C. For more info: 713/830-3000.

4-9 (Tue.-Sun.)

The Music Man marches into the Hobby Center as part of the Broadway in Houston series presented by Society for the Performing Arts. 8 pm, Tue.-Fri.; 2 & 8 pm, Sat.; 2 & 7:30 pm Sun @ Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby at Walker. Tickets available at the box office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or 713/629-3700. Wheelchair accessible.

7 & 8 (Fri. & Sat.)

Pippin. Once upon a time, the young prince Pippin longed to discover the secret of true happiness & fulfillment. He sought it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of love, & the intrigues of political power. In the end, he found it in the simple pleasures of home & family. Pippin not only finds it difficult being the son of a great man-Charlemagne-but also has a tough time finding his purpose in life. This hip, tongue-in-cheek, anachronistic fairy tale captivated Broadway audiences & continues to appeal to the young-at-heart everywhere. Tickets are $5. Starts at 7:30 pm both nights @ Underwood Theatre, Episcopal High School, 4560 Bissonnet, Bellaire.

11 & 17 (Tue. & Mon.)

Hypnosis. On the 11th: Weight Loss Using Hypnosis. Stop cravings, stop binges. Lose weight permanently, using the power of the mind, with Dr. Ed Martin. • On the 17th: Stop Smoking thru Hypnosis. Release the habit and compulsion with help from certified hypnotherapist, Dr. Tom Johnson. • Both at 7:30 pm @ CenterPoint, 1920 Hollister. Info: 713-932-7224 or www.centerpointhouston.com.

14 (Fri.)

The Art of the Fugue: Bach Now. Short new works inspired by Bach's The Art of the Fugue. A stylistically diverse "who's-who" of contemporary composers responds to Bach in compositions commissioned by the Brentano String Quartet. Presented by Da Camera of Houston at 8 pm @ the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas. Tickets ($20-$35) are available by contacting the Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, at 713/524-5050, or online at www.dacamera.com.

14-16 (Fri.-Sun.)

Galveston Home & Garden Show. This 15th annual show kicks off with an "Evening for the Animals" soiree. For $40 per person, guests can get a jump-start on the crowds with a sneak preview of the exhibits on Friday at 6 pm, plus complimentary food, beer, wine, and sodas. There will also be a silent auction and a chance to win a cruise for two or two tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies in the U.S. Tickets for the show, which starts at 10 am on Saturday, are $5 adults and $4 seniors/students. For more info: Cynthia at 409/763-0263.

15 (Sat.)

Kindred Spirits Reunion Dance. The party takes place from 8 pm-1 am @ the Edwin Hornberger Center, 2151 W. Holcombe at Shamrock Dr. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased from Acadian Bakers, Basic Brothers, Dacapo's, House of Coleman, Keys West, Meteor, the Montrose Clinic/Montrose Counseling Center, the Houston Buyers Club, and Lesbian Health Initiative.

15 (Sat.)

Wellness & Psychic Expo. Explore alternative healthcare medicine & products including vitamins & magnets; try aromatherapy, acupressure, reflexology, & more. Entry $2. CenterPoint, 1920 Hollister. Info: 713-932-7224 or www.centerpointhouston.com.

17 (Mon.)

Listen Up. Tomaz Salamun, the author of 30 books of poetry translated into almost every European language, is one of Europe's most popular & prolific poets and a leading figure in the Eastern European avant garde. His works in English include Feast (edited by Charles Simic). Simic has had published more than 60 books in the U.S. & abroad, among them the Pulitzer Prize-winning The World Doesn't End: Prose Poems. They are part of Inprint's 2003 Margarett Root Brown Houston Reading Series. 7:30 pm (no late seating) @ Alley Theatre, 615 Louisiana. Suggested donation is $5 (students/senior citizens free). Info: 713/521-2026 or www.inprint-inc.org.

20 (Thu.)

Mamma Mia Promotion Party. Join OutSmart for this special party. Reasons to join us: • Ticket giveaways • Mamma Mia merchandise giveaways • Hear your favorite ABBA songs one more time • Great excuse for a night out. 8 pm @ Meteor, 2306 Genesee.

21 (Fri.)

Spalding Gray. Join Gray for his always-funny, poignant, & insightful "Interviewing the Audience," in which he turns the spotlight onto audience members, who, prompted by Gray's empathetic questions & quips, reveal their innermost desires, fears, joys, & longings. A master of what the Washington Post has called "public psychotherapy," Gray creates a cathartic event for performer & audience. Presented by Society for the Performing Arts at 8 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas. Tickets: 713/227-4SPA or visit www.spahouston.org.

21-23 (Fri.-Sun.)

Bayou City Art Festival. Memorial Park provides the backdrop for this fine-art event showcasing 300 national & international artists. Take a walking tour into a landscape of creativity & imagination featuring 17 distinctive categories of original artwork exhibited in individual artists' booths. The festival offers a unique opportunity for the eminent collector or the neophyte to talk with the artists about their art styles, lifestyles, & inspirations. This one-on-one opportunity with the artist is one of the reasons the event attracts an impressive assemblage of designers & collectors. Guests can enjoy the sounds of eclectic music while relaxing at the wine cafés or beer taverns, enjoy the myriad of foods from Houston restaurants, & play in the Creative Zone for kids and those who still create like kids. 10 am-6 pm in Memorial Park. $7 (children 12 & under free). Free METRO shuttle service from area locations. See www.bayoucityartfestival.com for schedule.

22 (Sat.)

Festival of the Vernal Equinox. For more info on this Aurora Picture Show fundraiser, call the Aurora Picture Show (800 Aurora) at 713/868-2101 or visit them online at www.aurorapictureshow.org.

23 (Sun.)

The Journey to Taizé is a service in the style of Taizé, France. All are welcome. 6 pm @ Trinity Episcopal Church, 1015 Holman St. in Midtown Houston, 713/528-4100.

24 (Mon.)

Music and Poetry: Without End. Sarah Rothenberg & lyric poet Adam Zagajewski explore themes of memory, spirituality, & ecstatic joy in music & words. Zagajewski reads his poetry, which lends itself to an intimate dialogue with music. His readings in English & Polish are reflected musically in selected piano works. 7:30 pm @ the Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. Tickets ($30) are available by contacting the Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, at 713/524-5050, or online at www.dacamera.com.

26 (Wed.)

Women's Professional Soccer returns to Houston with Atlanta Beat/San Diego Spirit exhibition game. Sellout crowd at last October's WUSA exhibition game proves Houstonians love women's professional soccer. The San Diego Spirit team roster features 2002 Chevy Athlete of the Year Shannon MacMillan, U.S. national team captain Julie Foudy, 2003 #1 draft pick Aly Wagner, and Houstonians Amy Sauer & Susan Bush. The Atlanta Beat features World Cup goalkeeper Briana Scurry, Olympic gold medalist Cindy Parlow, Canada's leading scorer Charmaine Hooper, and Texas A&M grad Melanie Wilson. The pre-season exhibition game will kickoff at 7 pm with the Atlanta Beat playing the San Diego Spirit @ the Rice University Track/Soccer Stadium. Tickets available at www.hwsa.org, the Rice University ticket office, all Soccer 4 All stores in the greater Houston area, and Soccer Time in Pasadena.

28 (Fri.)

Dee Dee Bridgewater: Gettin' Weill'd. The celebrated vocalist returns to Houston to perform new arrangements of theater songs by Kurt Weill. Featured on Bridgewater's new Verve CD This Is New, the songs include "September Song" and "Lost in the Stars." 8 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets ($25-$40) are available by contacting the Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, at 713/524-5050, or online at www.dacamera.com.

28 (Fri.)

A Day in London, 1712. The Mercury Baroque Ensemble presents musical scenes from everyday life. For info/tickets: 713/498-4853, e-mail Mercury@houston. rr.com, or visit www.Mercury BaroqueEnsemble.org.

28 & 29 (Fri. & Sat.)

The End of Things and Melt. Acclaimed Australian choreographer Lucy Guerin comes to Houston with two provocative works: the stunning exploration of everyday minutiae in The End of Things and the physical exploration of psychological extremes in Melt. Tickets $20 (members $15; students/artists/seniors $10). DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. Reservations: 713/335-3445. More info: www.diverseworks.org.

28-30 (Fri.-Sun.)

Camp. No, not that kind of camp. If you're into the outdoors kind of camping, join HOG (Houston Outdoor Group) for a campsite in Martin Dies State Park. Located at the edge of the Big Thicket National Preserve, the park is in the heavily-forested area known as the "East Texas Pineywood." Five miles of hiking trails provide excellent opportunities to view wildlife. Three campsites have been reserved. Pets on leashes are welcome. To review the Martin Dies website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/martindi/martindi.htm#body. For more info: 713/KAMP-OUT (526-7688).

28-30 (Fri.-Sun.)

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has earned an international reputation as one of the most acclaimed ambassadors of American culture as they promote the uniqueness of black cultural expression & the preservation & enrichment of the American modern dance heritage. They grew from a now-fabled performance on March 1958 at the 92nd Street Young Men's Hebrew Association in New York. Led by founder Alvin Ailey, a group of young black modern dancers changed the perception of American dance forever. The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 19 million people in 48 states & in 68 countries on six continents, including two historic residencies in South Africa. Upon viewing these innovative performances, audiences will be unable to resist the spirit of revolution The Ailey embodies. Surprises in motion are common, as are surprises in line up. Ticketholders for the Fri. & Sat. performances will be treated to Following the Subtle Current Upstream, Prayers from the Edge, & Revelations. Sunday's matinee, currently for sale to groups of 15 or more, will be composed of The Winter in Lisbon, Love Songs, Serving Nia, and Revelations. Society for the Performing Arts presents the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on Fri. & Sat. at 8 pm & Sun. at 2 pm in Jones Hall. Tickets ($15-$50) can be purchased online at www. spahouston.org, by phone at 713/227-4SPA, or at the box office at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Info about Alvin Ailey Modern Dance Theater: www.alvinailey.org.

29 & 30 (Sat. & Sun.)

Camera Show. Come see what develops at the 53rd Semi-annual Camera Show and Sale. Usable & collectible cameras, accessories, darkroom equipment, photographic literature & images, and much more. Free appraisals & complimentary camera & shutter checkups. $5 each day. Sat., 10 am-5 pm, and Sun., 10 am-4 pm @ the Marriott Hotel (formerly Radisson)-Hobby Airport, 9100 Gulf Freeway at the Airport exit. For more info: 713/868-9606.

30 (Sun.)

Ancient Traditions: A Celebration of Classic Cultures. This eclectic performance conducted by John Axelrod features the world premiere of a commissioned work by Kaarim al-Zand, professor of composition at the Shepherd School of Music; Leonard Bernstein's "Serenade, after Plato's Symposium"; and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9-"Ode to Joy." Tickets $10-$28. Presented by OrchestraX in association with the Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League at 7:30 pm in Zilkha Hall @ the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby at Rusk. For more info: 713/225-6729 or www.orchestrax.com.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR APRIL

April 2 (Wed.)

A Little Day Music, Da Camera of Houston's free lunchtime performance series continues with "Lunch with the Russians" featuring the Marian Anderson String Quartet. Da Camera's lunchtime series features live music and drawings for tickets to Da Camera's upcoming events. Noon in the Grand Foyer, Wortham Center, 500 Texas. More info: www.dacamera.com or 713/524-7601, ext. 15.

April 4 (Fri.)

Russian Night: Moscow Soloists with Yuri Bashmet. Violist & conductor Yuri Bashmet & Moscow Soloists perform Bach, Britten, Takemitsu, & Tchaikovsky. Presented by Da Camera of Houston. 8 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas. Tickets ($20-$35; students/seniors half price) are available by contacting the Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, at 713/524-5050, or online at www.dacamera.com.

April 11 (Fri.)

Gay Signings. Dean James, gay store manager of Murder by the Book, will sign & discuss his 2nd novel, Faked to Death, which features gay American sleuth, Simon Kirby-Jones. Greg Herren, gay New Orleans crime novelist, will sign & discuss his new gay mystery, Bourbon Street. Both at 6 pm @ Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet, 713/524-8597.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR MAY

May 7-11 (Wed.-Sun.)

Gay Men's Health Summit. This 3rd summit-to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina-is part of a nationwide effort to create a strong, visible grassroots movement among diverse gay men focused on a wide range of sexual, mental, & community health concerns that need to be addressed. The 2003 summit will consist of over 100 sessions of activities, debates, workshops, & videos. The main focus of the summit will be on interactive workshops. This is no ordinary health conference. The program for this four-day event is built by the participants who contribute program proposals to a committee that reviews them & selects outstanding proposals that meet the objective of creating a strong & comprehensive program around gay, bisexual, & queer health. Concerns to be addressed include-but are not limited to-major illnesses like hepatitis, chronic fatigue syndrome & prostate cancer, as well as mental health issues, same-sex domestic violence, and the relationship between spirituality & health. For more info: www.GMHS2003.org.

PERFORMING ARTS

• Dirty Blonde. What makes a legend? What makes a romance? A healthy dose of obsession never hurts Š and actually helps Charlie, a film archivist, and Jo, an aspiring actress, to fulfill and embrace their destiny. These two loners meet at Mae West's grave in Queens. When Charlie reveals how he was befriended by West, he takes Jo on a wild reminiscence of 1930s Hollywood, sequined gowns, & the making of an icon. Mar. 19-Apr. 13 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets ($32-$42; preview performances $22-$25) are available by calling 713/527-0123 or by visiting www.stagestheatre.com.

• Einstein and the Polar Bear. A young woman is stranded in a snowstorm & seeks shelter in the home of a popular, highly regarded, reclusive writer. The writer's father once met Einstein, a polar bear is loose in the village, & the young lady is both attractive & mysterious. 8 pm, Fridays & Saturdays, Mar. 28-May 3, @ the Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square. Tickets are $12. Info/reservations: 713/726-1219.

• An Evening of One-Acts: two one-act plays by Rice University's playwright-in-residence Douglas Mitchell. His works were seen last winter at Theatre LaB Houston and included the comedies A Surplus of Charity & It's Hard to Say. Mitchell's plays explore internal confrontations, which we most often choose not to see ourselves. 8 pm, through Mar.15 @ Theatre LaB Houston, 1706 Alamo. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door. To reserve tickets: 713/868-7516. For more info: www.theaterlabhouston.com.

• Fruit Cocktail, a world premiere musical revue by the musically gifted Eric Lane Barnes (Fairy Tales), consists of mostly comedy numbers, and a few ballads, with a cast of six men who sing about the contemporary lifestyle. Fairy Tales, the inaugural production at Theatre New West, was a major success, both critically & at the box office. Fruit Cocktail is directed by Joe Watts, artistic director of Theatre New West. Musical director is Michael Harren. Through Mar. 8 @ Theatre New West, 1415 California. Tickets $20. Reservations/info: 713/522-2204.

• Harlem After Hours. This classy & entertaining world premiere musical transforms the stage into a vintage Harlem after-hours club, where a calvacade of singers & showstoppers razzle & dazzle us with their late-night jams & reveries of the heart. Mar. 15-Apr. 13 @ the Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St., 713/520-0055.

• Houston Ballet's Cinderella. A beautiful waif in cinders transformed into a princess, a handsome prince, and a glass slipper lost at the stroke of midnight Š it's Ben Stevenson's production of Cinderella. Mar. 13-23 @ Wortham Center's Brown Theater, Texas at Smith. Tickets available at the ballet box office at the Wortham, at the Houston Ballet at 1916 W. Gray, by phone at 713/227-ARTS, or online at www.houstonballet.org.

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's classic family musical and perennial favorite tells the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors entirely in song. Presented by the Houston-based Doin' What Matters Theatre Company, the diverse cast, selected during citywide auditions, showcases some of Houston's finest talent. A portion of ticket sales from this show will be donated to Spaulding for Children's foster care, adoption, and post-adoption programs. Fri., Mar. 7 at 7:30 pm; Sat., Mar. 8 at 2:30 & 7:30 pm; and Sun., Mar. 9 at 6 pm, @ the Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall. For tickets ($25-$30): the Hobby Center Box Office, 713/315-2525, or www.thehobbycenter.org. More info about the production or Doin' What Matters: 281/558-0857.

• Killer Karaoke and Come Up and Slay Me Sometime are presented by Mystery Café, home of Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. • Killer Karaoke: The Gulf Coast Regional Semi-Final Three Steps Before National Silver Microphone Karaoke Competition will continue, despite an "accidental" fire and a crazed karaoke serial killer stalking the contestants. Anybody who's actually listened to karaoke will probably side with the killer, if they can figure his or her identity. • Come Up and Slay Me Sometime: Bathtub gin isn't the only illegal thing going on in this 1920s floating speakeasy-there's a dead body lying around, and nobody can call the cops. Featuring special appearances by Mae West, Charles Lindbergh, and Abraham Lincoln. • Killer Karaoke plays Fridays; Come Up and Slay Me Sometime plays Saturdays. Both shows presented at 8 pm @ Marriott West Loop, 1750 West Loop South at San Felipe. Reservations required: 713/944-2583 or www.mysterycafe houston.com.

• Kiss Me Kate is derived from Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew. The show takes place backstage during an out-of-town tryout for a musical. An egotistical actor-producer & his ex-wife bicker & romance their way through this timeless story. Their hilarious antics take place in a play within a play, both on & off the stage. Mar. 20-Apr. 6 @ the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. Tickets ($25-$68) are available at 713/558-8887, at the box office, or at www.tuts.com.

• The Little Foxes is the story of three siblings who allow hatred & greed to destroy their family. Mar. 13-Apr. 13 @ Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets are $20-$30. For more info: www.mainstreet theater.com or 713/524-6706.

• The Music Man. Strike up the band! Traveling salesman & smooth-talking con-man Professor Harold Hill is headed our way in this all-new adaptation of the Broadway smash hit. Mar. 4-9 @ the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby at Walker. Tickets: 713/629-3700 or www. ticketmaster.com.

• The Stand-In is a biting satire of Hollywood closets. Lester Perry, famous soap opera hunk, is playing gay in a made-for-TV movie. Will he out himself in the process? Directed by Unhinged Productions' artistic director Chris Jimmerson, this laugh-filled play features 10 actors who play over 40 characters between them. Through Mar. 16 (Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 5 pm) @ Atomic Café, 1320 Nance. Tickets are $10-$15. Reservations/info: 713/547-0440. Be warned (or be glad): contains nudity.

• The Supporting Cast. Hilarity ensues amidst the Malibu summer fires & mudslides when a weekend gathering at the beach turns sour as the guests get the opportunity to read a soon-to-be-published "tell-all" novel about them. Tickets $10 (students/seniors $9; matinees $8). Fridays & Saturdays, 8:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm, through Mar. 22 @ Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd St., 713/682-3525, www.theatresuburbia.com.

• Where's My Dinner, Bitch? Theatergoers hungry for a change from the usual fare will enjoy a serving of Where's My Dinner, Bitch?, an original comedy by Houston-based playwright Bob Morgan. Where's My Dinner, Bitch? illustrates the power of female bonding as the husbands of abused trailer-park gals begin showing up dead across Jackson County. When the regional manager for Nova Cosmetics begins a torrid lesbian romance with the head of a woman's shelter to further her sales, the ladies of Jackson County simultaneously move from being hapless abuse-shelter residents to rising stars in the direct-marketing cosmetics field. This thoughtful, feminist play contains violence, strong language, and nudity and is not suitable for children.

Performance Information:

What: Where's My Dinner, Bitch?

When: Through Mar. 22 (Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m.; pay-what-you-want performances Mondays, Mar. 10 & 17)

Where: 411 Westheimer (upstairs at Helios)

Cost: $10 ($6 seniors & students)

Reservations: 713/201-0193.

• You Can't Take It with You. Alice Sycamore must introduce her fiancé's straitlaced family to her eccentric family of hobby-horse-loving, firework enthusiasts. Grandpa hunts snakes, throws darts, & ignores income tax payments, while other family members write plays, operate amateur printing presses, & play the xylophone. When the families meet, the worlds of the wealthy, uptight Kirbys and the slightly off-kilter Sycamores collide. Through Mar. 29 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets available at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley box office, or by calling 713/228-8421.

• Young and Fertle features the ever-popular Fertle Family of Dumpster, Texas. A class reunion has everybody flashing back to their favorite moments from the 1970s. Champagnes, wines, beers, cappuccino, & munchies are available throughout the show. Admission is $18. Through May 3 @ Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt. Reservations/info: 713/522-7722.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• Aladdin and the Magic Lamp. Imagine a cave full of gleaming treasure, a mysterious storyteller, an evil magician, a beautiful princess, an all-powerful genie, & a magic lamp. Follow Aladdin & his friend the camel on an exciting adventure. Saturdays, 11 am & 1:30 pm, Mar. 15-Apr. 26, @ the Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square. Tickets $6. Info: 713/726-1219.

• Junie B. Jones is a quirky, outrageous six-year-old with a penchant for trouble, which begins with her first ride on a school bus on the first day of kindergarten. Highlights of her year include the fire department rescuing her, meanie Jim's birthday party, monsters under the bed, her favorite aunt's wedding, but she finally graduates to first grade to everyone's relief. Mar. 4-Apr. 10 @ Main Street Theater in Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose. Public performances: Mar. 8, 15, 22, 29, Apr. 5; school performances: Mar. 4-Apr. 10. Tickets for public performances are $8 for children/students/seniors, $10 for adults; for school performance rates, call 713/524-7998 or e-mail vstjohn@mainstreet theater.com. For more info: 713/524-6706 or www. mainstreet theater.com.

• Main Street Theater Kids on Stage Summer Performing Arts Camp. Young performers will turn into shining stars as they experience the excitement of a summer filled with theatrical activities & dance. Under the direction of professional actors, dancers, & educators, campers will learn all aspects of theater production, including acting, movement, directing, costume & set design, and makeup. Dance classes will teach campers to let loose and have fun with creative movement as well as teaching popular dance styles such as jazz, modern, hip-hop, & swing. At the end of each session, campers in each age group will produce & rehearse an eye-popping, high-energy production including a play & a choreographed dance spectacular for family & friends. For ages 4-14, June 9-Aug. 8. Prices range from $215-$465. For more info: Angela Harris, director of education, 713/524-9196, or e-mail at aharris@mainstreettheater.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

• Flip Side is an exhibit based on the collaboration of artists & writers, presented by Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WIVLA). Through Mar. 14 @ Bank of America Center, 700 Louisiana. Hours are M-F, 6 am-6 pm. For more info: 281/293-0231.

• Jasper Johns: Drawings brings together some 35 objects selected from Johns's own holdings as well as private collections. The exhibition reviews the broad career of this singularly American artist through his works on paper, beginning with his early iconic images of targets, beer cans, flagstones, & flags-and continues into the present day with his more complex works that often find the artist quoting as much from the history of art as from his own oeuvre. Through May 4 @ the Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross, 713/525-9400, www.menil.org.

• Mind the Gap: Work from Houston High Schools. Dealing broadly with the theme of gaps, orifices, holes, or spaces, Mind the Gap includes over 40 works of art in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, collage, & a site-specific wall drawing created especially for the Contemporary Arts Museum, 5216 Montrose Blvd., 713/284-8250. Mind the Gap is on view through Mar. 23.

• Mads Gamdrup: Renunciation. Featuring 16 large-scale color photographs that focus on the desert landscapes of the U.S., Morocco, Egypt, & Iceland, the exhibition examines the intersection of the real & the imagined through the lens of landscape imagery. Through Mar. 16 @ Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of U of H, 120 Fine Arts Building, 713/743-9528, www.blaffergallery.org.

• No Boundaries features a collaboration with Houston sculptor Pat Moberley Moore, Florida painter Joan Blackmore Nixon, & Texas photographer Connie Moberley. Through Apr. 5 @ Archway Gallery, 2013 W. Gray, 713/522-2409, www.archwaygallery.com.

• Poetics of Clay: An International Perspective is an exhibition of selected ceramic works by world-renowned artists drawn from numerous private & public collections. Includes vessels, domestic ware, sculpture, & an architectural installation by artists from approximately 17 countries. Through May 3 @ Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main Street, 713/529-4848, www.crafthouston.org.

• A Sense of Place. Maidie Rutherford's oil on linen paintings reveal a unique style for landscapes & abstracts that captivate the mind with vibrant colors, forms, & shadows. Mar. 3-28 in the Main Gallery @ the Jung Center, 5200 Montrose. In the Side Gallery: Water-Impressionism-Claudette Goux's delicate patterns & infinite shifting colors in nature.

• Guo Shun. The first showing of the works of Chinese artist Guo Shun from Xiangtang, Hunan, China, includes oil paintings & pen sketches. His painting "Childhood Song" was selected into the Picture Album of Chinese Still Life Paintings in 1997; his "Emperor Qing Shihuang" painting won a bronze medal & was collected by the Chinese Art Museum. Opening reception: Mar. 6, 6-10pm; continuing exhibition: Mar. 7-11 @ Magnolia Gallery, 715 Franklin Street at Milam.

• The Sound We Make Together. Harrell Fletcher consistently derives inspiration for his community-based, conceptual art projects by observing & interacting with the communities in which his work is shown. Using this approach, Fletcher shapes relationships with strangers that develop into focal points for the work. The Sound We Make Together provides a portrait of the community of Houston & the nature of communities themselves-how we find, build, & maintain them. Mar. 7-Apr. 19 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/335-3445, www.diverseworks.org.

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