JULY

At press time, because of Allison, many events may have to have been rescheduled or moved to other locations, possibly even cancelled. Please call venue to confirm all information.

July Is Melissa’s Month: New Album, New Book, New Profiles

Need a Melissa Etheridge fix? Don’t let anybody tell you it’s downhill af-ter 40. Etheridge, who turned 40 on May 29, is one busy lesbian, and July is her month. • She continues to host Lifetime Television’s series Beyond Chance, a show devoted to the supernatural & spiritual moments of everyday life. • On July 10, Etheridge’s new album Skin will be released. For more on Skin, click here for OutSmart’s GrooveOut column; you can also visit www.islandrecords.com. • Also on July 10, a new book (written with Laura Morton), The Truth Is ... My Life in Love and Music, will debut! For more info, visit www.villard.com. • Exactly one week later, she is the subject of Oxygen Custom Concert: Melissa Etheridge, which will simulcast on Oxygen TV and oxygen.com on July 17 at 7 p.m. • And the next evening on July 18 at 9 p.m. brings Melissa Etheridge: Celebrity Profile on E! Entertainment Television (www.eonline.com); the one-hour show features a new interview with Etheridge as well as interviews with Elton John, David & Jan Crosby, Laura Dern, and Kathy Najimy. Whew! –Blase DiStefano

The Wicked Stepmother Is a Man: Actor Everett Quinton dons drag for Cinderella

Everett Quinton, who won the Drama Desk and Obie awards for his starring role in The Mystery of Irma Vep, puts on dresses again, this time for his portrayal of the wicked stepmother in Cinderella. The openly gay actor, who was a member of New York’s Ridiculous Theatrical Company and its artistic director from 1987 to 1997, told Alex Saville of the Princeton Packet, "I grew up frightened. But then I got into this company where everything was being thrown upside down. Men could play women. Women could play men. You could play whatever you wanted to play." And so he does. • Cinderella plays from July 24—29 at Wortham Center’s Brown Theater. Tickets ($33.25—$56.25) are available at all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 713/629-3700. For more information, visit www.broadwayseries.com/houston. • Cinderella also stars Eartha Kitt as the fairy godmother (click here for an interview with the seductive songtress/actress/author) and Deborah (no longer little Debbie) Gibson in the title role. –BD

4, 11, 18, 25 (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 11th & 25th in Conroe at Northwoods AIDS Coalition, 1414 South Frazier, Ste. 106. More info: 936/441-1614.

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 yet another 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. Info: 281/363-3300.

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. For more info: 713/840-0555.

11 (Wed.)

Free Lunchtime Concert. The Mon-trose Branch Library & K-Arts Classical Radio present the Horace Grigsby Duo (jazz vocals & piano). 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.

12 (Thu.)

Adopting a Child. Family to Family Adoption, a nonprofit licensed agency, will offer a free seminar on adopting a child in less than a year. Currently they have programs in the U.S., China, Vietnam, Russia, Bulgaria, Guatemala, & other countries. Everyone in attendance will be given a free information package. 6:30—8:30 pm in the board room @ Bellaire Medical Center, 5314 Dashwood. For more info: 713/249-5941.

12 (Thu.)

Art Garfunkel. The "59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)," "The Boxer," "Bridge Over Troubled Water"–any of these songs sound familiar? Garfunkel blends his trademark vocals with the strains of the Houston Symphony. 8 pm @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in the Woodlands. Tickets ($10—$40) are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 713/629-3700. Info: 281/363-3300.

14 (Sat.)

ArtHouston. The Summer Event of ArtHouston 2001, encompassing exhibitions at some 30 galleries introducing new artists and celebrating established ones, is a day-long event. A wide range of work will be on display, from realist to abstract paintings, sculpture to mixed media constructions, drawings & works on paper, collage & photography. Featured artists will include emerging regional talents & established artists from around the world. For more info or to receive a copy of the brochure: Rebecca O’Brien at 713/522-9116 or 713/520-7767, or visit www.arthouston.com.

14 (Sat.)

Grassroots Women. Meg McKain Grier, author of Grassroots Women: A Memoir of the Texas Republican Party, will be signing her book at 4 pm @ Borders Books and Music, 9633 Westheimer.

14 & 15 (Sat. & Sun.)

ComedySportz, an improvisational comedy troupe, presents a weekend at the Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. 4 & 8 pm on Saturday, 3 pm on Sunday. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for students. Reservations/more info: www.woodsac.org or 281/363-7919.

14 & 28 (Sat.)

Rock This House. The Texas Association for Transsexual Support (TATS) hosts GenderJam, an acoustic instrumental performance session twice a month. Sessions either precede or follow TATS meetings and are open to everyone ("We all have gender," quips TATS president Melanie Black). 6 pm the 2nd Saturday and 4 pm the 4th Saturday @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center. Interested musicians should first contact Melanie at thanatos@cityscope.net.

16 (Mon.)

United Front. The Unity Committee, the group made up of the leaders of transgender and transgender-inclusive organizations in the area, meets on the third Monday of the month. 7:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 281/424-6080 (Judy), 713/727-1475 (Sara), or e-mail triess@prodigy.net.

21 (Sat.)

Soccer Skills Clinic for Women is hosted by the Houston Women’s Soccer Association. All abilities welcome. $5/person includes balls & refreshments. 9:30—11 am @ Alief Soccer Complex in George Bush Park. More info: 713/523-2089 or www.hwsa.org.

21 (Sat.)

Hot Summer Verse. Well, it is July in Houston after all. The GLBT Interest Group of the Texas Library Association host this poetry night, featuring original work by local writers as well as readers performing their favorite poems. 7:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. Individual donations encouraged to help support the center. More info: 713/524-3818 or www.hlgcc.org.

21 (Sat.)

Confidence Class. "Develop Confidence & Self-Esteem Through Personal Boundaries & Effective Confrontation" takes place from 10 am—noon. $25. Registration: 713/529-4414. Info: Denise O’Doherty at 713/524-9525.

21 & 22 (Sat. & Sun.)

Old Notes, New Notes, Borrowed Notes, Blue Notes. The seven twisted guys of On Q begin with songs that are or should have been from the early 1900s ("Saint Louis Leatherman Blues," "Mary’s a Grand Old Name," "Pour Me a Man"), then stoop to "Charlie Manson’s Angels" and "The ABCs of Your Rejectees," with a few nice songs as well. Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 7 pm @ Ashland Street Theatre, 2610 Ashland. $15. Reservations/info: 713-426-3019.

28 (Sat.)

Good News. The Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center and the Pride Committee of Houston co-host this free media-training session presented by professionals from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination. Any GLBT individuals or organizations that need advice or guidance on media issues are invited. Topics will include developing a media message, setting publicity goals, contacting the press and pitching stories, writing media releases, and refining interview skills. 1-4 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne. For more info: 713/524-3818 or www.hlgcc.org.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR AUGUST

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 11 (Sat.)

John Leguizamo. Remember Miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar? Well, the guy who got all dolled up as Miss Chi-Chi and acted the other guys off the map is gonna be in Houston for one night only with his one-man show, Live. Leguizamo, pictured right in his 1993 HBO special Spic-o-rama, comes to Houston for an 8 pm show @ Aerial Theatre, 520 Texas Ave. For more info: 713/230-1600. (See next month’s OutSmart for an interview with Leguizamo, who talks about being short, fat, and ugly, and what it’s like to work long hours wearing a pair of pumps.)

August 14—18 (Tue.—Sat.)

Gay Softball World Series 25th Anniversary. The games will be played at Twin Creeks Sports Complex in Sunnyvale, California (approximately 20 miles outside of San Francisco). There will be approximately 150 teams (men & women) from across the U.S. & Canada. Opening ceremonies on Tuesday will take place at Yerba Buena Gardens (corner of Mission & 4th streets) in San Francisco. More info: www.sfgsl.org/worldseries.

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 dialogue 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. A limited 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.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR SEPTEMBER

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

• 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), plays the rebellious Grace Anne. Through July 8 @ Stages Arena Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets range from $37—$42. Tickets can be purchased at the Stages box office or by calling 713/527-0220.

• 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. Through 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.

• Elizabeth I. This Punch-&-Judy-style comedy celebrates the reign of the Virgin Queen. Tickets $14 (students/seniors $10); tickets for the opening on July 13 are $25 and include a champagne toast & reception following the show. July 13—Aug. 18 @ Actors Theatre of Houston, 2506 South Blvd., 713/529-6606.

• 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.

• Funny Girl. "Hello, Gorgeous!" Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) presents Funny Girl, which chronicles the life & loves of stage & screen’s ultimate comedienne, Fanny Brice, and features such songs as "People," "Don’t Rain on My Parade," and "I’m the Greatest Star." July 10—22 @ the Wortham Center, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets ($19—$76) can be purchased by calling 800-678-5440. Tickets are also available at TUTS Tix, 2600 Southwest Frwy, at the Wortham box office, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets can also be bought and printed online using TUTS’ E-Ticket System at www.tuts.com.

• Heart of a Woman. A determined west-Texas nail technician sets out in search of the man who received her dead husband Duane’s transplanted heart in this quirky comedy that runs the gamut from trailer parks to true love. Jerry, the heart’s recipient, soon begins to bear an uncanny resemblance to dear departed Duane. July 11—Aug. 5 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway at Waugh. Tickets to previews (July 11 & 12) are $19—$23; tickets from July 13—Aug. 5 are $32—$42. More info: 713/527-8243 or www.stagestheatre.com.

• Higher Ground is set in 1964 and takes place on "Sweet Auburn Avenue," a mecca for black entrepreneurship, entertainment, & social life. Against the backdrop of actual events of the Civil Rights Movement, it portrays a family with two generations of dreamers, Jesse Hartman, a Sweet Auburn small-business owner and former manager for entertainer Sam Cooke, and his two daughters. The plot revolves around his plan to produce a desegregated concert in order to raise money to save his bar on Sweet Auburn. July 13—Aug. 14 @ The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. Ticket prices/more info: 713/520-0055.

• The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives. Written by Mo Gaffney & Kathy Najimy, this off-Broadway hit returns for a summer getaway to laughter & fun. This hilarious & biting comedy explores the plight of women & men and the pandemonium that ensues when the two sexes try to get together for more than a drink. The return cast of Michelle Britton & Leslie Maness will play women & men struggling through the common rituals of modern life. Tickets $18. Fridays & Saturdays, July 13—Aug. 4 @ Theater LaB Houston, 1706 Alamo, 713/868-7516.

• No Mother to Guide Her is a comic "mellerdrammer" in three acts. Cheer the manly hero, console the downtrodden heroine, boo & hiss the dastardly villain as you pelt him with popcorn! Tickets $9 adults, $8 students/seniors, $7 matinees (all seats). July 20—Aug. 25 @ Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd. For more info: 713/682-3525.

• The Pirates of Penzance (or The Slave of Duty) is presented by The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston. Penzance is the classic English comic opera from the clever pens of W.S. Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan, who brought us The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore. July 20—29 @ Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, 500 Prairie at Texas. Tickets: $16, $31, & $36. For more info: 713/627-3570 or visit www.gilbertandsullivan.net.

• Pump Boys and Dinettes, a Tony-nominated musical which spent two years on Broadway, is virtually all music with outstanding musicians posing as service station attendants & waitresses. This Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) production is TUTS’ free summer show playing July 18—21 and July 23—28 @ the Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr. For more info: www.tuts.com.

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.

• 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.

• Robert Frank: A Retrospective from the Collection. This exhibition includes 47 photographs that span Frank’s career from his journeys to South America in the late 1940s, to images from Europe in the early 1950s, to his searing views of America in the mid-1950s, to the late Polaroid prints of his family and homes in New York and Nova Scotia. July 14—Oct. 14 @ the Museum of Fine Art, 1001 Bissonnet, 713/639-7300.