CALENDAR APRIL 2004

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; O, 710 Pacific, 9 pm–1 am. Tuesday: The 611, 611 Hyde Park, 4–8 pm; Club Houston, 2205 Fannin, 8 pm–midnite. Wednesday: Mary's, 1100 Westheimer, 4–8 pm; Ripcord, 715 Fairview, 9 pm–1 am; EJ’s, 2517 Ralph, 10 pm–1 am; Midtowne Spa, 3100 Fannin, 10 pm–1 am. Thursday: All-Star News, 3415 Katy Frwy, 4–8 pm; BRB, 2400 Brazos, 8 pm–midnite; Cousins, 817 Fairview, 8 pm–midnite. Friday: EJ’s, 2517 Ralph, 10 pm–1 am; Midtowne Spa, 3100 Fannin, 10 pm–1 am; The Meatrack, 2915 San Jacinto, 10 pm–2 am; Rich’s, 2401 San Jacinto, 10 pm–1 am. The clinic offers classes for those newly diagnosed with HIV or Hepatitis C. For more info: 713/830-3000.

8–10 (Thu.–Sat.)
So Fein. Michael Feinstein captures the essence of timeless musical icons Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. Experience his velvety voice set to some of the most romantic compositions in the English language. Thursday, 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday, 8 pm at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. More info: 713/224-7575 or www.houstonsymphony.org.

8–10 (Thu.–Sat.)
Dance Salad. Houston’s premiere dance festival celebrates its 12th year with performances from the greatest dancers, choreographers, and companies from around the globe. North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia are represented. Students of dance (and multiculturism) will find the program’s master classes and lectures of interest. At Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater. Info/tickets: www.dancesalad.org, 713/629-3700, or www.ticketmaster.com.

8–11 (Thu.–Sun.)
Jungle XII. Thursday, April 8: Kickoff party, Meteor, 2306 Genesee @ Fairview, 9 pm–2 am (no cover). Friday, April 9: Welcome party, Rich’s, 2401 San Jacinto, 9 pm–4 am, $15. Saturday, April 10: Main party, Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas Ave. @ Bayou Place, 10 pm–4 am, $45 advance, $55 door (cash bar). Sunday, April 11: After-hours party, Boaka Bar & Mercury Room, 1008 Prairie @ Main St., 3:30–10 am, $25. Sunday, April 11: Closing party, South Beach, 810 Pacific, 9 pm–4 am, $10. Bayou City Boys Club, Inc. (BCBC) will produce the Jungle XII annual fundraising event on April 10. Advance tickets are available online at www.circuitticket .com or from M2M Fashions, JR’s Bar & Grill, and Houston Buyers Club. 100% of proceeds from the main event plus donations from all other events benefit AIDS Foundation, Houston’s Stone Soup Food Pantry, Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos, Montrose Clinic, and The Assistance Fund. Weekend VIP passes, sponsorship opportunities, more info: www.bcbc.info.

10 (Sat.)
The Ringmaster’s Music. Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts an early matinee of music made famous by the circus big-top experience. Compositions like Entrance of the Gladiators and Dance of the Tumblers come alive on this special night. $6.75–$14. 10 & 11:30 am at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. Tickets/info: 713/224-7575 or www.houstonsymphony.org.

14 (Wed.)
Never too Soon to Croon. Grammy Award-winning song-man Tony Bennett performs courtesy of Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) at the Hobby Center. The grand evening begins with a cocktail reception and ends with a post-performance dinner and dancing in the Hobby Center Grand Lobby. For tickets: 713/315-2400 (Hobby Center), 713/558-2600 (TUTS), or www.tuts.com.

14–18 (Wed.–Sun.)
Film Dig. Media Archeology is a festival of 16mm film collectors’ fave finds. Each collector brings her/his own particular specialty to the table. Old educational reels? Vintage ads? Bizarre science films? Found home movies? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and more. Too wild to be contained within one day and locale, the festival spans several days and several venues. $25 for all shows, $5–$7 for individual tickets. Wednesday, 7-10 pm at Aurora Picture Show (800 Aurora, 713/868-2101); Thursday, 7 and 9:30 pm at Alamo Drafthouse (1000 West Oaks Mall, 281/556-0204); Friday, 7 and 9:30 pm at Museum of Fine Arts (1001 Bissonnet, 713/639-7515); Saturday, 7 and 9:30 pm at Aurora Picture Show; Sunday, 4 and 7 pm at Rice Media Center (Rice University entrance #8, 713/348-3138) For information: 713/868-2101 or www.aurorapictureshow.org.

15–17 (Thu.–Sat.)
Lengua de Mama. Mother Tongue, Leslie Scates’ avant-dance, incorporates heartfelt movement and unique sound to explore the daily dramas of desires that are met or left behind. Her choreography creates a setting where our innermost thoughts are mercilessly shoved into the forefront. $15. 8 pm at DiverseWorks, 1117 East Fwy off Main at Naylor. For information: 713/223-8346 or www.diverseworks.org.

15–17 (Thu.–Sat.)
The 4th Biennial Conference of People of African Descent at Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) fills two days with worship, workshops, praise, and friendship. Workshops and seminars are led by leaders of local community organizations, professionals, educators, clergy, and lay people, with keynote speaker Dr. Dwight Hopkins, professor of theology, University of Chicago Divinity School. Workshops for people of non-African descent are planned as well. At 2025 W. 11th St. More info: Anita Jones at ajones117@ houston.rr.com or Reverend Bernie Barbour at 713/861-9149, x 109.

16 (Fri.)
Death, taxes, and laughter. In honor of humorless tax time, ComedySportz presents its Red Tape Match, a competitive improvisational comedy (read Whose Line Is It Anyway?) show pitting two teams against each in a tax-deferred game of hilarity. This troupe is known for their clean shows. No auditing for foul language here. $12. 8 pm at Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. at 17th St. in the Heights. For reservations: 713/868-1444.

18, 20, & 21 (Thu., Sat., & Sun.)
Get the Point. CenterPoint offers the following events. April 18: Lose Weight thru Breath. Proven techniques change breathing patterns and improve oxygenation of the blood. Master Hong teaches. $10. 7:30–9:30 pm. April 20: Psychic & Health Fair. Consult with Houston’s top psychics. Check your aura and try the latest techniques with magnets, spray vitamins, chiropractic, healing, acupressure, and more. 11 am–5 pm. April 21: Learn Tibetan Meditation. Master Phil instructs on simple and profound techniques taught to the High Lamas of Tibet. Fee: $15 prepaid, $25 at door. 2:30–4:30pm. At CenterPoint, 1920 Hollister. For information: 713/932-7224.

17–19 (Sat.–Mon.)
How Big? Hoebig. Cellist Desmond Hoebig (with conductor Peter Oundjian) performs Haydn, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. Saturday and Monday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm at Jones hall, 615 Louisiana St. Tickets/ info: 713/224-7575 or www.houstonsymphony.org.

19 (Mon.)
Story Time. The Inprint Brown Reading Series presents novelists Julia Glass and Ann Patchett to read from their work. Glass’s first novel, Three Junes, won the National Book Award for fiction among other awards and recognition. Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto is currently being adapted into a feature film. $5, free to students/seniors. 7:30 pm at the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. More info: 713/521-2026 or www.inprint-inc.org.

23 (Fri.)
Fighting AIDS With a Fork. DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) and Elle Décor’s Dining by Design (presented by Champagne Taittinger) bring this extravagant dining experience to the gourmets and gourmands with big hearts and bigger wallets. Designers from town and around the country transform 11 square-foot spaces into majestic dining environments, with meals served by Melange. Those who wish to support the cause on a lower budget can attend the viewing party, where they may splendor in the unmitigated luxury of the designs, then eat at home later. Viewing party $25, 12:30–2:30 pm; Dining by Design at 7:30 pm, $250 per seat or $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000 per table (seating for 10). At the Hornberger Center. Reservations/more info: 713/528-0505.

23 (Fri.)
The Birth of the Cool, a landmark Miles Davis recording, is the featured music performed by the Joe Lovano Nonet at these shows presented by DaCamera. Saxophonist Lovano has been named “Musician of the Year” by Downbeat Magazine and has won numerous Grammies. $25–$40. 7:30 and 9:30 pm at Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby. Tickets: 713/524-5050 or www.dacamera.com.

24 & 25 (Sat. & Sun.)
Have a Heart, Girl. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston presents this artists’ awareness-raising tribute to women’s heart health. In addition to an exhibit of visual art, the original play, A Woman’s HeART, raises issues about coronary health and disease. The show is sanctioned by the Galveston chapter of the American Heart Association. Free. Saturday at 6:30 pm with performance at 7:30 pm; Sunday at 2 pm with performance at 2:30 at The Strand Theatre, 2317 Ship’s Mechanic Row, Galveston. Reservations: 409/772-2376.

25 (Sun.)
For the Birds. Binoculars aren’t just for spying on the neighbors. They’re great for birdwatching, too. Make some aviary-enthusiastic new friends through the Houston Outdoor Group (HOG) at High Island and see tanagers, grosbeaks, hummingbirds, and other species make their way across the Gulf from South and Central America. This event attracts bird lovers from around the globe. $5. For more info, call 713/KAMP-OUT or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/houstonoutdoorgroup/.

25 (Sun.)
Fugue You. What is a fugue? Let harpsichordist John Gibbons and pianist Sarah Rothenberg tell you. Da Camera’s continuing series, Illuminations: Music and Talk, examines this Baroque musical expression with compositions from Bach and 20th-century master Dmitri Shastakovitch. Free. 3 pm at The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross St. For more information: 713/524-5050 or www.dacamera.com.

26 (Mon.)
Fugue Off. Harpsichordist John Gibbons and pianist Sarah Rothenberg perform a series preludes and fugues from Bach and 20th-century master Dmitri Shastakovitch. Compositions include Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier and Shastakovitch’s 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87. $30. 7:30 pm at The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross St. For more information: 713/524-5050 or www.dacamera.com.

28 (Wed.)
Let’s Get Seussical. Guest conductor Mark Mandarano and the Houston Symphony celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Dr. Seuss, with a unique setting for Sam-I-Am in a musical adaptation the beloved children’s story, Green Eggs and Ham. 7:30 pm at Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion. For tickets: 713/629-3700 or www.ticketmaster.com.

30 (Fri.)
So Glad We Had This Time Together. Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, the hysterical duo made famous on The Carol Burnett Show, make their way to the Gulf for one night only. Together Again reunites these two clown princes for two shows. $39–$93. 6 and 8:30 pm at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice Tickets: 409/765-1894or www.thegrand.com.

30 (Fri.)
You’re Gold, Baby. The Houston Grand Opera celebrates its 50th anniversary with its Golden Jubilee Gala. Sir Elton John, Renee Fleming, and a slew of guests from around the globe provide entertainment for the evening. At the Wortham Center. Tickets/info: 713/228-6737 or www.houstongrandopera.org.

30 & May 1 (Fri. & Sat.)
Tall and Tan and Young and Lovely. Find your very own girl (or guy) from Ipanema, as a prayer partner. The Communications Department of Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) visits Rio de Janeiro for a two-day conference in one of its fastest-growing communities. Praise like you’ve never praised before in a worship service with Rev. Troy Perry, attend all-day workshops and events, tour the city, sing along with Brazilian and U.S. musicians during the first-ever MCC concert in Rio, set your spirit free at a mini-Carnivale celebration. For more information: e-mail Marcos Gladstone at prgladstone@icmbrasil.com.br.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR MAY

May 1 (Sat.)
Direct from Dance Theater Workshop. The roster of talent that has emerged from the Dance Theater Workshop (DTW) holds names such as Mark Morris, Bill Irwin, and Whoopi Goldberg. Artists from DTW visiting town in May include the comedic Headlong Dance Theater and the lyrical Donna Uchizono Company. 8 pm at Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, 500 Texas. Info: 713/227-4SPA or www.spahouston.org.

May 1 (Sat.)
2nd Annual Resurrection MCC Golf Classic. Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church of Houston celebrates its 31st anniversary in part with this 4-person Florida Scramble. An auction and special prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin, and holes-in-one will go to lucky putters. $75 per person, $300 per foursome (tax deductible). 7 am at the Hermann Park Golf Course. For information: Tammi Warford at 713/894-4321 or twarford@rice.edu or Penny Nolan at 713/952-2617 or pennyn@hotmail.com.

May 1 & 2 (Sat. & Sun.)
Silver Lining. VocalEase, Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston’s small ensemble, performs tunes for the season from the soothing “Summertime” to the haunting “Bring Him Home.” $34. 8 pm Saturday, 3 pm Sunday at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold St. For tickets: 713/521-7464, tickets@gmch.org, or www.gmch.org/tickets.

May 1 & 2 (Sat. & Sun.)
Glen Campbell sings his greatest hits, from “Rhinestone Cowboy” to “Gentle on my Mind” to “Galveston,” which will surely receive cheers considering the setting. His daughter Debby Campbell joins him, bringing new life to a career that spans over four decades. $39–$93. 8 pm Saturday and 3 pm Sunday at the Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. For tickets: 800/821-1894, or www.thegrand.com.

May 1 & 8 (Sat.)
Misty Valdez’s Pre-Benefit Shows: May 1 at 8 pm at Galveston’s Balinese Room, 21st & Seawall (tickets $10—409/766-1270); May 8 at 9 pm at Galveston’s Sportsman’s Palace, 2517 Postoffice. Misty Valdez’s 17th Annual AIDS Benefit takes place at 10:30 pm on June 5 at Garza’s Kon Tiki, 315 23rd (Tremont). All proceeds go to AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas.

May 4–9 (Tue.–Sun.)
STOMP. They’re at it again. Those noisy kids with their clangitty-clang and their swish-boom-click return to Houston to create engaging music and unforgettable rhythms with anything but conventional musical insruments. Brooms, trashcan lids, Zippo lighters, and of course their famous stompin’ boots provide all the percussive tunesmithing you could want in an evening. $27–$57. 8 pm, Tuesday–Saturday; 7 pm, Sunday; 2 pm matinees Saturday and Sunday at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets: 713/227-4SPA or www.spahouston.org.

May 5 (Wed.)
A Little Day Music. Trommel: A Percussion One Ensemble has received accolades in the U.S. and abroad for its mastery of the percussive arts. Grab a lunch and enjoy an afternoon show, then return to work with a song in your heart. Free. Noon in the Grand Foyer at The Wortham Center. For more information: 713/524-5050 or www.dacamera.org.

May 8 (Sat.)
Strip Symphony. Houston’s youthful, frisky symphony, OrchestraX is at it again. This time, they’re stripping down, the music that is, to solos and strings. Composers include Mozart, Haydn, and Schnittke. $30 ($10 for seniors and students). 7:30 pm at The Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby @ Rusk. For tickets and information: 713/225-6729 or www.orchestrax.org.

May 8 (Sat.)
This is Not a Love Song. Several Dancers Core presents—thanks to a grant from the Heartland Arts Fund—Berlin’s Tanzcompagnie RUBATO’s “This is Not a Love Song.” Set to Wolfgang Bley-Borkowski’s radical arrangement of Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue in B-minor, this intimate duet choreography examines the relationship between a man and a woman as individuals and as two people together. Free. 8 pm at Miller Outdoor Theater. For information: 713/862-5530 or www.severaldancerscore.org.

May 8 (Sat.)
The St. Lawrence String Quartet and Sarah Rothenberg perform Da Camera’s season finale, featuring three mighty pieces of chamber music by Haydn, Shostakovich, and Beethoven. The St. Lawrence String Quartet is recognized as a world-class chamber orchestra of this generation. $20-$35. 8 pm at The Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, 500 Texas St. For tickets: 713/524-5050 or www.dacamera.com.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR JULY

July 23–25 (Fri.–Sun.)
DiverseWorks Retreat & Creative Capital Professional Development Workshop for Visual and Performing Artists. If you’re a fledgling visual artist or a struggling performing artist or a struggling fledgling visual and performing artist, this is the workshop for you. Learn how to market your work as a creative individual, how to handle public relations, how to raise funds to realize your vision, how to plan strategies, strengthen professional ties, and—bottom line—quit that crappy job making espresso for bourgeois-boho ingrates and support yourself as a friggin’ artist for a change. Free. Applications must be received by 5 pm, Friday, April 30. Applications available at DiverseWorks’ office at 1117 East Fwy off Main at Naylor, or by calling 713/223-8346, e-mailing Rachel@diverseworks.org, or at www.diverseworks.org.

PERFORMING ARTS

• Always . . . Patsy Cline. This is a first for Stages, an open-ended run, but audience demand has been overwhelming. The story centers on Cline (Julia Kay Laskowski) and Louise Seger (Susan O. Koozin), a Houston housewife and devoted fan. Seger meets her idol after one of Cline’s shows in Houston. The two become friends until Cline’s death in ’63. Another bonus is the casting of steel guitar legend Herb Remmington, who played with country icon/prototype Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Always includes over 20 of Cline’s songs performed live and retells—through Cline’s letters and Seger’s commentary—the joys, pains, and mutual respect these two women shared. $25. Stages, 3201 Allen Pkwy. For tickets: 713/527-0123 or www.stagestheatre.com.

• Birthday from Hell. The uproariously funny Fertle family faces more travails. About to turn 40, Bridgette Fertle finds herself stuck in midlife crisis. To make things worse, none of the Fertles seem to remember her birthday. To make things spooky, Mama Fertle believes she’s been visited by her late husband, Ned. On a brighter note, the Fertle family simp, Earl,
is inducted into The High Order of Little Baby Owls. The amazing thing is that all these characters, and countless more, are played—seamlessly—by a cast of three. $18. Through May 15. Thursday and Friday at 8:30 pm; Saturday at 8 and 10:30 pm at Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt (off Richmond & Kirby). Tickets/ more info: 713/522-7722.

• Cooking with Elvis. Academy Award-winning screenwriter Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) is the naughty scamp responsible for this rude and risqué British comedy. A sex-starved mom, a chatty wannabe gourmet daughter, and a paralyzed former Elvis impersonator dad share a home. Add a hapless baker from a local cake factory and you’ve got mayhem. Small lives with big dreams produce even bigger laughs. For adult audiences only. $23. 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 Sundays. Through April 10 at Theater LaB Houston, 1706 Alamo. Tickets: 713/868-7516 or www.theaterlabhouston.com.

• The Foreigner. Joe Sears and Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna fame have yet another tickler for us. In The Foreigner, the helplessly shy Charlie arrives in Georgia and asks his friend Froggy to help him avoid social anxiety. The plan: Tell people he’s foreign and unable to understand English. As a result, people spill all sorts of beans, assured the foreigner can’t understand a word. April 6–14 at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. $11–$48. More info: 800/821-1894 or www.thegrand.com.

• Dirty Story. In this regional premiere of Oscar-winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley’s play, a graduate student meets her idol, a sexy novelist named Brutus. Brutus is blocked, but that’s the least of the problems here when global conflict takes over. $25. Through April 11 at Stages, 3201 Allen Pkwy. For tickets: 713/527-0123 or www.stagestheatre.com.

• The Hotel Play. Wallace Shawn’s insane play features a cast of 70 and a malicious hotel clerk who abuses a series of fiercely strange guests. Who could make a better candidate to produce a play once described as a “mad theatrical stunt” than Infernal Bridegroom Productions? $5.99 opening weekend, $10 Thursdays, $12 Fridays, $15 Saturdays. April 29–May 22 at The Axiom, 2524 McKinney. For tickets: 713/522-8443 or www.infernalbridegroom.com.

• Jekyll & Hyde. The musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella tells the tale of young Dr. Henry Jekyll, a brilliant doctor and research scientist who, tormented by his father’s mental illness, attempts to isolate the elements of good and evil which constantly battle over the forefront of the human psyche. The results of the experimentation are infamous. Possibly the first widely-published parable of drug abuse, the story remains as strong as ever. $25–$68. April 22–May 9 at the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby at Walker. For tickets: 713/558-887 or www.tuts.com.

• Life x 3. Even the best-laid plans sometimes go astray. Take Henry and Sonia. They’ve planned their dinner party down to the most meticulous detail to impress Henry’s boss, Hubert. One problem, the night before, just as Henry and Sonia have put their difficult son to bed, Hubert and his wife show up thinking the party is one day earlier than planned. The story is told three times, with the headstrong child, lack of food, and several bottles of wine all contributing to the narrative. Through April 18 at the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas. Tickets: 713/228-9341 or www.alleytheatre.org.

• Our Lady of 121st Street, by Stephen Adly Guirgis, centers on a group of former schoolmates. Reunited after 15 years, the kids gather for the funeral of the beloved Sister Rose, only to learn her body has been stolen. In their search for answers, these vivid characters revisit the past and rekindle friendships. This dark comedy comes from the same author who has penned episodes of The Sopranos and NYPD Blue. Through April 18 at the Alley Theatre. Tickets: 713/228-9341 or www.alleytheatre.org.

• Pink! The Musical. Pink Ribbons Project, Dancers in Motion Against Breast Cancer hosts a gala musical of innovative and talented artists performing their favorite Broadway musical selections. All moneys from the performance will be used to help the Rose Diagnostic Center’s mammography screening program for the medically underserved women of Houston and the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations. May 6 at Cullen Theater, Wortham Center. $50 & $100. More info: 713/526-1907, ext. 2 or www.pinkribbons.org.

• TEXAS: The Big Picture. Anyone who’s Texas-proud and is looking to convert a few unbelievers will find this Texaccentric film handy. Narrated by native Texan Colby Donaldson (of Survivor: The Australian Outback) who grew up on a ranch in the small town of Christoval in West Texas, TEXAS portrays the Lone Star State in all its cinematic beauty, from her rugged mountains to her serene plains to her majestic city skylines and all her diverse inhabitants therein. Through June 7 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For information: 713/639-4629 or www.hmns.org.

• Urinetown, the Musical. It’s difficult to stave off the curiosity piqued by a title like Urinetown, the Musical. A phantasmagoric city is torn apart by ecological disaster. A severe water shortage has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets, transforming the ability to make wee-wee into a costly privilege. Amidst all this bladder-torturing Hell, love is still in the air. What’s more, a number of players in the cast and crew of this Mad-Max, Beyond-the-Toilet-Bowl-of-a-musical are openly gay. Among them are Richard Ruiz (Officer Barrel), Jim Corti (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), Christopher Youngsman (Tiny Tom), Greg Schanuel (asst. stage manager/dance captain), and Tony- and Drama Desk-nominee Tom Hewitt (in one of the lead roles as Officer Lockstock). Through April 11at Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. $23–$64. Info: 713/629-3700, www.ticketmaster.com, or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• Masked Marvels and Wondertales. The final performance for the Grand 1894 Opera House’s Serious Fun kids’ series, Marvels and Wondertales by Michael Cooper is a one-man extravaganza. Cooper presents mime, stilt-dancing, exqusite costumes (especially his critically acclaimed masks), and hysterical and thought-provoking storytelling. $6, $5 for children under 12. April 29, 7 pm, at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. For tickets: 800/821-1894, or www.thegrand.com.

• Pinocchio 3.5. Updated for our topsy-turvy modern world, Eric Coble’s modern version of Carlo Collodi’s classic looks at the trials of being human in a society riddled with peer pressure and consumerism. Designed to support the TEKS objectives of the Texas Education Agency, curriculum guides are available to those who want to supplement the theater-going experience with educational fortification. $8, $6 for groups of 10 or more. Through April 30 at Stages, 3201 Allen Pkwy at Waugh. For tickets: 713/527-0123 or www.stagestheatre.com.

• Rapunzel & the Frog Prince. Princess Rapunzel has been locked away by that mean ol’ forest witch, Gruesomella! An offbeat group of princes try to save her without success. Who can save her? In this play based on two beloved Brothers Grimm tales, sometimes the least likely candidate is the most likely frog for the job. Through May 1 at the Company OnStage, 536 Westbury Square,713/726-1219.

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

• The 27th Annual International Show at the Watercolor Art Society-Houston (WAS-H) features world-class water media artists and their work in a juried exhibit, with award monies totaling $7,000. The juror for the exhibit is acclaimed watercolor artist Stephen Quiller, signature member of numerous watercolor organizations. Reception (open to the public) on Thursday, April 15, 6–8 pm. April 12–May 7 at Continental Airlines Center, 1600 Smith. For more information, call 713/942-9966 or log on to www .watercolorhouston.org.

• The 2004 Houston International Festival. Thai me up, Thai me down. The 2004 Houston International Festival focuses on exotic Thailand and boasts trained Asian elephants and lots more parking. $9 in advance, $12 at the gate. April 17–18, 24–25 (Saturday–Sunday), 11 am–8 pm at Festival Plaza at Reliant Park, 8909 Main St. For tickets and information: 713/654-8808, www.ifest.org, or www.ticketmaster.com.

• Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective of Drawings. Widely considered the most critical link between European Surrealists and American Abstract Expressionists, Arshile Gorky’s linear, organic imagery influenced a generation of important painters, including Pollock and Menil fave Rothko. This is the first comprehensive overview of Gorky’s works on paper, looking at how they relate to his paintings. Through May 9 at the Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. Info: 713/525-9414 or www.menil.org.

• The Banality of Terror. Lori Nix gets a little exposure through FotoFest with this exhibit. Her exquisitely executed photographs of miniature model depictions of fabricated disasters give the viewer a glimpse of an uncertain moment. Has tragedy just stricken or is it about to strike? The notion communicated has obvious relevance in a post-911 environment. Free. Through May 1 at DiverseWorks, 1117 East Fwy, off Main at Naylor. For more info: 713/223-8346 or www.diverseworks.org.

• Chocolate: The Exhibit. Chocolate. This universal treat is made from the seeds of the cacao tree whose scientific name Theobroma means “food of the gods.” Complimentary weekend tastings (beginning at 1 pm) offer samples from some of Houston’s finest boutique retailers. Wear a floppy khaki hat, speak in an Aussie accent, and insist you’re the Chocodile Hunter. Crikey! Through May 19 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Drive. For tickets and information: 713/639-4629 or www.hmns.org.

• Evelyn and Herbert Frensley Hall of African Wildlife. Did you know the Houston Museum of Natural Science is the fourth most heavily attended museum in the nation? (The pride is back.) Visitors to the new African Hall can see in eight seconds what a safari explorer might see in eight weeks, if she/he is lucky. And no series of vaccinations, either. Displays that set this exhibit apart from most include the Congo Basin, primate coexistence of the West African Tropical Forest, and predator-prey dynamics of the Serengeti Grassland. At the Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Drive. For tickets and information: 713/639-4629 or www.hmns.org.

• Luis Barragán: An Unbuilt House for the Menil. He only produced a dozen structures in 60 years. But what he did was otherworldy. Luis Barragán utilized natural materials and brilliant color and light, creating metaphysical landscapes. Moved by his work, Dominique de Menil commissioned Barragán to build an intimate space between the Menil collection and the Rothko Chapel. It never happened. For the first time, the completed model, blueprints, presentation boards, correspondence, and other materials have been moved from the archives to public display. At the Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. For more info: 713/525-9414 or www.menil.org.

• Five-Man Show. The Watercolor Art Society-Houston (WAS-H) keeps its walls current with a variety of juried shows. This month’s show exhibits the works of five artists, with water-media ranging from abstract to realistic. April 10–30, Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am–3 pm at the WAS-H Gallery, 1601 W. Alabama. Info: 713/942-9966 or www.watercolorhouston.org.

• The Orange Show at a Glance. The eclectic, eccentric Fresh Arts Coalition member known as The Orange Show has a lot in store for the next couple of months, namely events built around the Art Car Parade. Saturday, April 10, noon–3 pm: Kids decorate a cardboard art car at the Galleria IV, street level. Easter Sunday, April 11: Easter Orange Hunt, noon–2 pm at The Orange Show with an orange hunt, bunnies, African storytelling from Alaafia Giadi of D.R.U.M., and the first Art Car Trophy-making workshop of the Art Car season. Wednesday, April 14, Eyeopener Special Tour—Ultra-Exclusive Art Experience: Tour the private art collection of Houston’s own uber-financier and arts patron, Fayez Sarofim & Co. $50. Limited availability. April 21, Wed. 9 am–9 pm, Whole Foods 5 percent day, Kirby & Wilcrest stores: Buy your sundries on the 21st and 5% of the proceeds go to the Ev1.net Art Car Weekend! April 24, noon–5 pm, Third Ward Bike Center/Art Car Trophy Workshop: Third Ward Community Bike Center at 2320 Elgin (www.thirdwardbikes.org/) joins the April 24 Art Car Trophy workshop to create 5 art bikes and some artistic trophies for this year’s parade. Free. May 7–9, Art Car Weekend: This is it, the big weekend when the art cars shine. May 7, 9:30 am–2 pm, Main Street Drag: Eighty-plus art cars take the Art Car Parade in five convoys to visit those who may not otherwise get to see them, stopping at children’s hospitals, schools, and community centers. Begins at the Children’s Museum, 1500 Binz, and ends at Treebeard’s on Market Square. May 7, Main Squeeze: Downtown art car block party with scavenger hunt. May 8, Everyones Art Car Parade: More than 250 art cars strut their stuff down Allen Parkway in the oldest and biggest Art Car Parade in the world. Noon: VIPit Party at the Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby. Parade begins Allen Parkway and Taft and ends Eleanor Tinsley Park on Allen Parkway. May 9, Surreal Brunch/Awards Ceremony at The Orange Show: The eagerly awaited judges’ and audience awards are announced! The epicurean CarBQ art car lights up to fry some eggs, Fruitmobile artist Jackie Harris cooks, and mimosas abound. Art cars arrive at 10 am; brunch from 11 am–3 pm; parade rebroadcast on Channel 2 at 11 am; awards ceremony, noon. The Orange Show is located at 2402 Munger St. Info/other events: 713/926-6368 or www.orangeshow.org.

• Perspectives 141: Aaron Parazette. Three new groups of work from native Houstonian and modern artist Aaron Parazette explore his use of arcs and loops, the sport of surfing as a means to examine landscape using waves and other oceanic qualities, and “word paintings” that focus on surf lingo. If only Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello could be there. April 16–June 20 at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose. Info: 713/284-8250 or www.camh.org.

• PG-13/Male Adolescent Identity in the Age of Video Culture. There’s nothing easy about adolescence. Video artists Janet Biggs and Barbara Pollack look at how gender is constructed and enacted by pre-adolescent boys mimicking and embodying the paradigms of masculinity set by sports, video games, and music videos. Through May 1 at DiverseWorks, 1117 East Fwy off Main at Naylor. For information: 713/223-8346 or www.diverseworks.org.

• Video Art Now looks at video as a recently accepted artistic medium. Some of the most captivating video art from around the globe examines what we watch on video and how we watch it, experimenting with projection spaces. April 4–July 4 at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd. For information: 713/284-8250 or www.camh.org.

• Yale Street Arts & Flower Market, which opened March 6, is a new Heights market created for local artists to display and sell their original works of art. Fresh-cut flowers are also available. Entertainment is provided by local musicians and is a highlight throughout the day. “The Houston Heights has the largest concentration of artists in Texas,” says Mitch Cohen, the organizer of the new market. “Artists have been exhibiting their work in Heights 1st Saturday members’ businesses for the past six months and we wanted to give them a central place to display each month as well, so they are easy to find and there will be fun and momentum provided by the new market situation. It’s great to have a new exhibit venue in the Heights.” The market is free & open to the public from 9 am–5 pm and continues the first Saturday of each month, coinciding with the Heights 1st Saturday events. The market is located behind Kaplan’s Ben-Hur at 210 West 21st Street just off Yale. Free parking is available in the Kaplan’s parking lot. For more info or booth rental, call Mitch Cohen at 713/802-1213 or visit www.YaleStreetMarket.com.

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