JUNE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• 3—28 (Sun., Mon., Wed., & Thu.)

Well, Bowl Me Over! It’s time to think cool, so get ready for five different summer bowling leagues. On Sundays, it’s the Sunday Inner Loop league for men & women (4-person teams) at 7 pm @ Palace Lanes, 4191 Bellaire. Mondays bring two leagues, one for men, one for women: Monday Night Men (4-men teams) at 9 pm @ Palace Lanes; and Monday Night Women (4-women teams) at 6:45 at Dynamic Lanes, 6121 Tarness. On Wednesdays, it’s Wednesday Night Mixers (5-person teams) at 6:30 @ Palace Lanes. And finally, on Thursdays, it’s I Luv Luci Duos (2-person teams) at 9 pm @ Dynamic Lanes. For info on the Monday Night Women’s league: Pat at 281/437-6218. All other league info: Tom @ 713/861-1187 or 713/228-9341, ext. 331.

• 6, 13, 20, 27 (Wed.)

HIV Testing. The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing and counseling every Wednesday, 6-9 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. Center: 713/524-3818. Clinic: 713/830-3000. Please note: Free & confidential HIV/AIDS testing is also available from 1—3 pm on the 13th & 27th in Conroe at Northwoods AIDS Coalition, 1414 South Frazier, Ste. 106. More info: 936/441-1614.

• 6 (Wed.)

A Little Day Music. Da Camera’s free lunchtime performance series ends with a performance by the Horace Alexander Young Trio. Noon in the Grand Foyer of Wortham Theater Center, Texas at Smith. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring & enjoy their lunches while listening to the music. Info: 713/524-7601, ext. 15.

• 6 & 13 (Wed.)

Politics Not as Usual. The Houston Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, the oldest glbt civil rights organization in the South, now holds general meetings on the first Wednesday, and the board meets on the second Wednesday, both at 7:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/521-1000 (the caucus).

• 6 & 23 (Wed. & Sat.)

Confidence & Power. Two different classes: Develop Confidence & Self-Esteem Through Personal Boundaries & Effective Confrontation takes place on Wednesday from 7—9 pm; Overcoming the Power Struggle in Relationships is on Saturday from 10 am—noon. $25 per class. Registration: 713/529-4414. Info: Denise O’Doherty at 713/524-9525.

• 8 (Fri.)

She’s Got Game. You’re a gal who enjoys playing board games, card games, dominoes, chess. You’re ready for some friendly competition. Then show up on the second Friday of the month for Women’s Game Night. 7 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 9 (Sat.)

Jocks in Dresses is a hilarious amateur charity drag variety show sponsored by the Montrose Softball League where jocks "dress up" to raise money for community charities. This year’s charity is the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston who will earmark the funds raised by the league from this event and other efforts for mental health-related issues in the gay and lesbian community. Great door prizes including airline tickets on Continental Airlines. 7—10 pm @ Rich’s, 2401 San Jancinto. More info/updates: montrosesoftballleague.com.

• 10 (Sun.)

Calling All Kids. This month, the GLBT Interest Group of the Texas Library Association hosts Family Story Time, a delightful afternoon event of stories featuring children from non-traditional families. Think Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy’s Roommate, which still get the right wing in a twist. Everyone is invited to this story hour, and particularly youngsters with glbt parents or other adults in their lives. 2 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/466-4438 (Victor) or e-mail vschill@hcpl.net.

• 11 (Mon.)

Speak to Power. Show your pride by participating in the monthly public forum with Janine Brunjes, Mayor Lee Brown’s liaison to the glbt community. With the looming referendum on nondiscrimination, we need to keep our elected officials aware of our interests. 5-6:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818. A moderated on-line chat session with Brunjes follows on Wednesday the 13th, 9:30-10:30 pm, at TalkCity.com in the HoustonGLBTForum room.

• 11 & 25 (Mon.)

The Write Wing. The new fiction writers’ group DreamWeavers concentrates on Pride-inspired work for June. Don Ammer, a published writer of erotica and other fiction and a produced playwright, leads the DreamWeaver sessions every other Monday. $5 donation requested. 6:30-8:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 13 (Wed.)

Free Lunchtime Concert. The Montrose Branch Library & K-Arts Classical Radio present Brian Kyle on classical guitar. Business employees, students, & families can bring their lunches to the library anytime between noon & 1 pm in the large meeting room on the 1st floor of the library. Liquid refreshments will be provided. Suitable for adults and children aged 12 & older (children must be accompanied by an adult). More info: 713/284-1958 or www.hpl.lib.tx.us/hpl/branches/mon_home.html.

• 15 (Fri.)

EuPHONEia. Don’t think music and phones go together? Think again. The Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Houston is holding an acoustic/folk mu-sic benefit. The concert, an official Pride 2001 event, will feature three up-and-coming singer/songwriters: Chelsea Beauchamp, Kristi Rae, and Joel Stein. • Beauchamp is a soulful vocalist and guitarist who has been playing in Texas for over three years. Her original compositions reflect her passion for music and for "sharing truths to set each other free." She is a certified hypnotherapist and is currently studying music in her native Houston. • Rae has been writing songs for about seven years. She focuses on more than her immediate surroundings; her lyrics express ideology that is both radical and thought-provoking. Factor with that an energy on the guitar that is at times too uncommon in folk music.• Stein recently released Marionette, his third CD, which has received accolades from the likes of the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Press, among others. He was featured in Time magazine last year and recently starred in the Alley Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which he also wrote original music. Visit his website at www.joelstein.com. • While you’re enjoying the music, you can also enjoy the tastes of mouth-watering food and drinks from Bocado’s Restaurant and Bar, 1312 W. Alabama, where this benefit takes place. $10 donation requested at the door. 8:30—11 pm. • EuPHONEia aims to increase awareness of the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Houston, recruit new volunteers, and increase the switchboard’s base of community support. Throughout the evening, guests will be able to pick up literature about the switchboard and its services, chat with the volunteer manager or board members, and find out about other organizations and groups in the GLBT community. • The switchboard (713/529-3211) is dedicated to providing information, nonjudgmental support, and anonymous counseling to all members of the community. • For more information, call Rebecca Wells, volunteer manager of the switchboard, at the Montrose Counseling Center at 713/529-0037 (rather than listening to the menu, simply press 4) or e-mail at voluntr@neosoft.com.

• 15 (Fri.)

Pride Potluck. Lesbians United in Coalition anticipates Pride Week with a potluck supper. They will provide the hot dogs and soda. 7 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 15 (Fri.)

Mighty Men. Respected Houston psychotherapist Miles D. Glaspy, LMSW-ACP, joins the Hawthorne Men’s Club for the summer months as facilitator. Harold Kooden’s book Golden Men: The Power of Gay Midlife inspired the formation of the club. On the third Friday of each month, participants discuss the book and other topics, some critical, others simply entertaining. 7:30 pm @ Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 15 (Fri.)

ComedySportz, an improvisational comedy troupe, presents two special matches in honor of Father’s Day. If you have a father, grandfather, father-in-law, or any other form of fatherhood recognized in the state of Texas, you can enjoy the improvisational comedic & therapeutic services of Comedy-Sportz alongside your childhood hero, and we’ll let your fatherly advisor in for free. 7:30 & 10 pm @ Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. Admission is $10. Reservations/more info: 713/868-1444.

• 16 (Sat.)

Lesbian 101. Not sure what to do next? Deb Murphy, the driving force behind a weekly lesbian coming-out group, leads the all-day Lesbian Coming-Out Workshop, co-sponsored by the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center and the Center for Creativity, Knowledge, and Change (CCKC). $20 in advance, $25 at the door includes lunch; some proceeds support center programming. 9 am—5 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/592-5262 (CCKC).

• 17 (Sun.)

Family Dinner. The monthly community potluck supper kicks off Pride Week. Bring your favorite dish, then nosh and dish with your friends while enjoying some live dinner music. 6 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 18 (Mon.)

Proud History. The Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center presents our city’s most celebrated activist/playwright/raconteur in the world premiere of his latest performance piece, A Stroll Through GLBT History with Ray Hill. Few people have remained fighting on the front lines as long as Ray. He also puts on a damn fine show. A portion of the $10 admission supports center programming. Limited seating is available. 7:30 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 19 (Tue.)

Scout’s Honor. The United States Supreme Court ruling that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) may exclude openly gay members has created a chain reaction of responses in communities across America. Many uphold and celebrate the BSA’s right to select its own membership; others deplore the exclusion of those who have demonstrated a respect for, and long association with, the traditions of Scouting. • One of the most remarkable reactions–that of 12-year-old Boy Scout Steven Cozza and a 70-year-old Scoutmaster named David Rice, neither of whom is gay–is the subject of the award-winning film Scout’s Honor, in which Rice and Cozza reveal the motivations behind the creation of "Scouting for All," an organization dedicated to overturning the BSA’s antigay policy. • Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary and the Freedom of Expression Award at Sundance 2001, Tom Shepard’s Scout’s Honor uncovers not only the history and politics of the BSA’s antigay policies in light of its own stated ideals, but the social faultline over gay rights that cuts across one small California town. Petaluma, home to Boy Scout Troop 74, is in fact not as small or rural as it once was. But it clings to small-town traditions of Founders’ Day parades, church camps, family-filled summers, and devoted Scouting. • Septuagenarian David Rice for one has a lifetime of warm Scouting memories, first as a Scout and then as a leader. But when the BSA declares homosexuality "inconsistent with the goals of scouting" and expels openly gay members, Rice begins wrestling with his conscience. Moral qualms turn to action when he joins 12-year-old Scout Steven Cozza in forming "Scouting for All" to fight BSA’s discrimination against gays. • In many ways, Scout’s Honor is the story of the remarkable Steven Cozza, for whom the issue has a very human dimension–the idea that Scouting would exclude his gay church-camp counselor, a man he respects, violates his basic sense of justice. It is Cozza’s story that most cogently and movingly raises the question of just what constitutes a Scout’s "honor." • Scout’s Honor also traces the history of the public and legal battle surrounding the Boy Scouts’ policies. Tim Curran, the Eagle Scout who acknowledges he was "the first to find out you couldn’t be gay in Scouting," has campaigned against BSA policies ever since. James Dale, another expelled Eagle Scout, took the BSA to court and won in the state of New Jersey. Although this was the first legal victory against Boy Scouts, the decision was then overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court by a five-to-four vote. • Included in Scout’s Honor are interviews with people, in and out of the gay rights movement, who have been touched by Cozza’s open-hearted advocacy of tolerance. Although the BSA would not speak to the filmmakers, some of those in Scouting who believe the Scouts have both the right, and good cause, to exclude homosexuals explain why. • Ultimately, David Rice, Steven Cozza, and even Cozza’s supportive family all pay a price for their stand–they are ostracized, even threatened, by neighbors, peers, and members of the community. But Cozza persists within his own troop to earn his Eagle rank–certain that he is keeping faith with his Scouting ideals. • Scout’s Honor airs on PBS, Channel 8, at 9 pm. For more info: www.pbs.org/pov.

• 21, 23 & 24 (Thu., Sat. & Sun.)

The Father/Daughter Project. DiverseWorks, the Jewish Community Center, & internationally known choreographer Victoria Marks seek to support the building of interfaith communities in Houston through the creation of a performance focusing on the relationships between fathers & daughters from diverse Houston communities of faith. Though a charged subject within some cultural frames, "The Father/Daughter Project" honors fathers & daughters, and celebrates the time they spend together. Each father/daughter pair has worked with Marks to create a movement/theater piece that speaks to their special relationship. Tickets $20 (students/seniors $10; DiverseWorks members $15). 8 pm on Thursday & Saturday, 2 pm on Sunday @ the Kaplan Theater in the Jewish Community Center, 5601 Braes-wood. For 24-hour reservations: 713/335-3445; or the Jewish Community Center box office: 713/551-7255.

• 22 (Fri.)

Parade Eve. ’Twas the night before Pride Parade.... The Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center hosts a wine-and-snacks reception for float builders, marchers, and watchers. Lesbian Film Night’s screening of the 1996 film Stonewall follows. 7 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

• 22 & 23 (Fri. & Sat.)

National Lesbian Health Conference is set in San Francisco. Among the subjects that will be investigated are cancer & tobacco use, substance abuse, mental health, wellness & nutrition, disability, impairment, immune disorders, family issues, access to care, and the problems faced by underserved populations. The conference is set to take place in the Laurel Heights Conference Center @ the University of California, San Francisco. The conference will also feature a benefit concert by Holly Near. Info: 415/255-4547 or www.glma.org.

• 26 (Tue.)

Woman to Woman. Tired of the bars, the potlucks, the hardware stores? Try Lesbian Power Dating, an innovative, entertaining way to meet women. Participants sit in facing rows and at the sound of a bell chat for a designated time with the women opposite. At the next bell, women move over a chair and talk to the next woman. At the end of the evening, participants may leave the names of those they might like to meet with the facilitator, who alerts women who indicate an interest in the other. The women concerned may contact one another if they wish. $5 admission supports Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center programming. 7:30 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/524-3818.

• 28 (Thu.)

Key West. Theatre New West, the folks who brought you the hits Dirty Little Show Tunes and Beds, Boys and Beyond, hosts a benefit performance of its new production, Key West, for the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center. This is the Southwest premiere of the comedy by Jack Heifner, the acclaimed author of such enduring shows as Vanities and Patio/Porch. Director Joe Watts discloses that this is his first production with nudity, so warn Aunt Helen before you bring her. Limited seating is available. The $25 admission supports the center. 8 pm @ Theatre New West at Sonoma (1415 California). Tickets: 713/524-3818 (the center).

• 30 (Sat.)

Harlan Coben. The Edgar Award-winning author is straight, but his new thriller, Tell No One, features a strong lesbian heroine. His other mystery series (latest is Darkest Fear) also stars a lesbian couple portrayed in a positive & non-stereotypical fashion. Coben will be signing his new book, 4:30 pm @ Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet, 713/524-8597.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR JULY, AUGUST, & SEPTEMBER

• July 5... (Thu.)

John Waters. If you don’t have the Sundance Channel, you might want to subscribe or get a friend to tape this conversation with the openly gay director. 7:30 pm on the Sundance Channel (to be repeated throughout the month). Also in July: Waters’ recent Cecil B. Demented makes its premiere on Sundance.

• July 7 (Sat.)

Linda Eder. If you weren’t one of the lucky people to see her at New York’s Carnegie Hall in February 2000 (she received six standing ovations at the sold-out performance), or if you missed her September 2000 concert in Houston, you’ve got a second chance to hear her incredible voice. 8 pm @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in the Woodlands. Tickets ($15—$75) are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 713/629-3700. For more info: 281/363-3300.

• July 8 (Sun.)

Blendorama. DIFFA/Houston, Houston’s largest source of private dollars for HIV/AIDS care, presents Blendorama, an afternoon of icy concoctions & groovy music guaranteed to give Houstonians some reprieve from the punishing summer temperatures. The festive frozen drink party, benefiting DIFFA/Houston, will be held from 3—7 pm @ Garden in the Heights, 3926 Feagan St. Ticket price is $25. More info: 713/840-0555.

• August 7—12 (Tue.—Sun.)

Michigan Womyn’s Festival. Enjoy a women-loving extravaganza of 40 performances, hundreds of workshops, a film festival, & crafts fair. The festival attracts over 6,000 women of every preference & persuasion to 650 lushly wooded acres each August. A complex system of services rises from the ferns: children’s programs, delicious meals, hot showers, disability access. This year’s performer lineup includes the Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray returning "stag" with the Butchies, along with indie faves Jill Sobule, Dar Williams, Melissa Ferrick, & Laura Love. Also: Evelyn Harris, Nedra Johnson, Stefone & Rites of Passage, Kathleen Hanna, Half Looking, Bitch & Animal, Lucie Blue Tremblay, Chris Williamson, Zrazy, Velvet Janes, Topp Twins, Ubaka Hill, Ibu Ayan, Isle of Klesbos, Alix Olson, Sister Spit, Urban Bush Women, LAVA, and a full afternoon of comedy. A complete list of artists & intensive workshops, along with registration info: www.michfest.org. No access to web or need more info? Call 231/757-4766.

• August 23—26 (Thu.—Sun.)

Gay Men’s Health Summit in Georgia. The Southeast Regional Gay Men’s Health Summit will draw together gay & bisexual men of all backgrounds who share a common interest in promoting better physical, spiritual, & mental health, wellness, celebration, nurturing, & community-building of gay men living in the southeast United States. The four-day summit will invite frank & creative diaglogue between gay men working in health promotion/disease prevention and men who have a personal interest in advancing the health of their community. The summit will include plenary sessions, workshops, & social activities designed to increase health awareness & a greater sense of community. A wide range of health issues will be addressed: HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, nutrition, spirituality, homophobia, substance use, mental health, political activism, & physical fitness. The registration fee of $115 ($150 after July 23) includes access to all sessions, a reception on Thursday evening, & Saturday evening banquet. Alimited number of scholarships are available. Persons living on disability, social security, public assistance, and/or other fixed means are encouraged to apply. Inquire via e-mail to summit@aidatlanta.org or in writing to: Summit/AID Atlanta, Inc., 1438 West Peachtree St., NW, Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30309-2955. Takes place on Jekyll Island, Georgia, just over the Florida border. For more summit info, including abstract submission, registration, & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.aidatlanta.org/summit, e-mail to summit@aidatlanta.org, or call 404/870-7822.

• September 29—October 1 (Sat.—Mon.)

Medical Conference in New Orleans. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) will hold its 19th annual conference for GLBT physicians, medical students, researchers, & allied health-care professionals. The conference is a blend of social interaction & continuing medical education on health issues relevant to the GLBT community. "Commitment, Caring, and Advocacy: 20 Years of GLMA" will provide a mix of plenary sessions & lectures as well as panel & group discussions. Lesbian health, mental health, primary care, HIV/AIDS–seen in the varied perspectives of age, ethnicity, race, & culture–will play pivotal roles in a comprehensive program devoted to quality health-care for everyone. It will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans. More info: www.glma.org or 415/255-4547.

PERFORMING ARTS

• Agatha Christie Does Dallas. This multi-cultural mystery comedy tells the convoluted story of Dame Agatha’s visit to the Big D to research a Texas-localed novel, and the murderous events that ensue. June 8—23 (no performance June 9) @ the Black Box Theater at Country Playhouse, Town & Country Mall. Tickets $10. More info: 713/467-4497.

• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is based on a Playboy article by Texas author Larry L. King about the closing of The Chicken Ranch, a brothel that had operated just outside La Grange, Texas, for 130 years until Houston television crusader Marvin Zindler focused his TV news camera on the Ranch’s madam, her girls, & the county’s sympathetic sheriff. Theater veteran (and star of WKRP in Cincinnati) Gary Sandy takes the role of the sheriff in this brand-new, multi-million-dollar production featuring new music written for Ann-Margret, and lavish new costumes designed by Bob Mackie. June 19—24 @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($36—$55) can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations & online at Ticketmaster.com. Charge by phone: 713/629-3700.

• The Carpetbagger’s Children, by Horton Foote, is a lyrically woven tapestry of one family’s rich past. As told by the three daughters of a Union soldier who came to Texas during the Civil War, liked what he saw, and moved there after the war, The Carpetbagger’s Children is a powerful story about family loyalty, rivalry, & unity. The playwright’s daughter Hallie Foote plays Sissie, the youngest daughter; Roberta Maxwell, who has two Obie Awards to her credit, plays the practical Cornelia; and Jean Stapleton, who has won numerous awards (including three Emmys & three Golden Globes for her role as the indomitable Edith Bunker on All in the Family), will play the rebellious Grace Anne. June 1—July 1 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets to preview performances (through June 5) are $23; tickets to performances on or after the June 6 opening range from $37—$42. Tickets can be purchased at the Alley box office or by calling 713/228-8421.

• Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. As a cruise boat travels up the Nile, the eccentric passengers find themselves embroiled in the mystery of a young bride who turns up dead. Classic Christie, this suspenseful story keeps you guessing from start to finish. June 29—July 15 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, at the Alley box office, or by phone at 713/228-8421 or 713/629-3700.

• Deathtrap, a thriller by Ira Levin, was a hugely popular stage & screen success with gasp-inducing thrills & spontaneous laughter. Tickets $12 (seniors/students $10). Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, through June 23 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219.

• The Devil’s Disciple, George Bernard Shaw’s adventure story, is set during the American Revolution. When the advancing British Army decides to make an example of Anthony Anderson, the town’s minister, by hanging him, they find the raucous Dick Dudgeon in his stead. Suddenly finding themselves on the same side, the rabble-rouser and man of the cloth must devise a plan to save the small New Hampshire community. Through June 17 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets ($32—$49) can be purchased at the box office or by calling 713/228-8421.

• Fear of Ducks. Houston’s most planned "planned community" is about to be changed forever when hip hop artist A.C. Adapter comes to town to perform at the Margaret Mueller Mitchell Pavilion. A first amendment battle ensues, led by local televangelist Jiffy Dillard, and this once-peaceful suburb suddenly becomes the focus of the national media. Champagnes, wines, beers, cappuccino, & munchies are available throughout the show. Admission is $16. Thursdays—Saturdays, through September 1 @ Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt, 713/522-7722.

• Houston Grand Opera (HGO). Carmen’s back! Bizet’s fiery gypsy Carmen ignites the summer in a powerhouse production that had audiences & critics cheering when it was first unveiled in 1998. HGO’s revolutionary Multimedia Modular Stage–with its giant "live" video screens, hydraulic platforms, & hundreds of rotating, colored lights–takes the incredible energy onstage and transports it to the farthest reaches of the outdoor venue with a visceral impact equal to that of a rock concert. June 8—10 @ Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. Free of charge. Tickets for covered, reserved seats are available on the day of the performance between 11:30 am & 1 pm at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office, 100 Concert Drive. For more info: 713/284-8350.

• Houston Symphony. 5 free concerts! Friday & Saturday, June 22 & 23; Friday & Saturday, June 29 & 30; and Wednesday, July 4. All concerts take place at 8:30 pm @ Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. Admission is free. Tickets for seats in the covered area are available at the Miller Outdoor box office between 11:30 am & 1 pm on the day of the performance. More info: Miller Outdoor Theatre at 713/284-8350.

• Mr. Bundy. Life seems pretty hopeful for a middle-class couple who, with their eight-year-old daughter, are putting their family back together again until a crazed couple arrives on their doorstep and informs them that their neighbor, Mr. Bundy, is a convicted child molester. The problem is that Mr. Bundy is a good friend and sometime babysitter for them. Tickets $14 (students/seniors $10). Through June 23 @ Actors Theatre of Houston, 2506 South Blvd., 713/529-6606.

• Night and Day. This scintillating drama, set in a fictional post-Colonial African country on the eve of a revolution, examines the relationship between politics, journalism, & revolution–with a nod to the quiet role business plays in all three. Tickets $20 & $25. June 7—30 @ Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Reservations/more info: 713/524-6706.

• Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery is the story of a young girl’s coming of age in the South in the ‘60s. It is a loving tribute to several older black women who "fed, read, loved, and raised" the character Daughter in Georgia public-housing projects. Through June 26 @ The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. Ticket prices/more info: 713/520-0055.

• Twigs. Trivia question: What’s the name of the show that features the only song for which Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and not the lyrics? The answer is Twigs, the 1971 comedy that’s still a hoot. The affectionate comedy about three sisters & their feisty mother plays Fridays—Mondays at 8 pm through June 30 @ the Little Room Downstairs Theater, 2332 Bissonnet (between Greenbriar & Kirby), 713/522-LRDS (5737). Tickets are $10—$15 (students/seniors $10).

• The Vagina Monologues. Linda Ellerbee, outspoken journalist, award-winning television producer, & best-selling author, takes center stage in this frank & funny play about women’s sexuality & empowerment. She starred in the play this past winter at the Paramount Theatre in Austin and New York’s Westside Theatre, where the production has been running off-Broadway since 1999. June 19—24 @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, 500 Prairie at Texas. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 713/629-3700.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• Charlotte’s Web. A young girl teams up with a spider & a rat to save an irresistible young pig from the butcher. Tickets $6. Saturdays at 11 am & 1:30 pm, through June 30 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219.

• Cinderella. It’s a Broadway-style musical with the fantasy & romance of the fairy tale. For pre-kindergarten & up. Tickets $8. June 9—July 14 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway at Waugh, 713/52-STAGE.

• Sounds Like Fun! It’s fun, it’s free, & it’s the 15th anniversary of the Houston Symphony’s Sound Like Fun! summer concert series. It offers children an entertaining first encounter with classical music and lays the groundwork for further classical music experiences. Free of charge. 10:30 am, Saturday, June 16 @ Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park.

RADIO

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

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

ART/PHOTOGRAPHY

• Art Classes for People With HIV: The Art League of Houston is offering free art classes for people with HIV. The ongoing course meets every Thursday & Friday from 1-4 pm at the Art League, 1953 Montrose. Mixed media projects for the artist and non-artist. Constructive art-making in a relaxed atmosphere. Focus is on the healing power of art. More info: 713/523-9530. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is offering free art classes for those with HIV/AIDS. Patrick Palmer begins his 9th year offering art instruction. Abstract painting, linoleum-cut greeting cards, & ceramics are some of the media offerings for the fall semester. Class is limited to 16. Everything is free, even lunch! The classes meet at the Glassell School of Art every Friday, 1—4 pm, 5101 Montrose Blvd., room 202. For more info: 713/639-7500 or 713/526-1118.

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

• Between Darkness and Light features the work of two contemporary artists who use intense darkness & illumination to explore the rescue efforts of the Danes & Bulgarians during the Holocaust. Judith Ellis Glickman’s photographs and Karen Gunderson’s paintings & drawings not only pay tribute to the moral courage exhibited by the people of Denmark & Bulgaria, but also challenge each of us to take a stand against prejudice, hatred, & violence. Through July 31 @ Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline. For more info: 713/942-8000.

• Big as Texas, an exhibition including 15 artists from across the state with attitudes & ideas as big as Texas, tells the tales of Texas with themes both subtle & flamboyant, clever & high-flying. Through June 30 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.

• Homos’ Phobia is a project where organizations from Houston’s gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT) community will be working with local artists to create original posters addressing forms of discrimination within the community. Historically, the GLBT community has been one of the most vilified minority groups. In spite of having to constantly deal with discrimination from outside, we practice a great many forms of discrimination within our own community, including racism, ageism, sexism, & a wide range of other phobias. Over a dozen respected organizations including H.A.T.C.H. (Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals), PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Montrose Counseling Center, LOAF (Lesbians Over Age Fifty), Resurrection MCC (Metropolitan Community Church), Lambda Center, Positive Art Workshops, and Bi-Net Houston will be participating in the show. Through June 23 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.

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

• To the Trade is a trade show for the art industry. The exhibition doubles as an actual trade fair oriented toward providing services & enabling the viewers to commission the services offered. Artists will be on hand for demonstrations, presentations, panel discussions, & workshops all open to the public. Through June 16 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.

• Waterborne is a new body of work by ceramic artist Gary Kosmas, featuring forms inspired & affected by water, its plant life, & environs. The bowls, vases, & vessels are in honor of earth and mankind’s most essential compound. Through June 16 @ Archway Gallery, 2013 W. Gray, 713/522-2409.