OCTOBER

4, 11, 18, 25 (Weds.)
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 2-4 pm on the 11th & 25th in Conroe at Northwoods AIDS Coalition, 1414 South Frazier, Ste. 106. More info: 936/441-1614.
5 (Thu.)
Zrazy, the internationally known duo from Dublin Ireland, performs at the Mucky Duck at 8:30 p.m. Combining jazz, pop and traditional Irish instruments, Carole Nelson and Maria Walsh make music that has been described as sensuous, soaring, smooth, electrifying and sublime. The duo was honored this year by the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards for best jazz song. They have been featured in the ADVOCATE, CURVE, GIRLFRIENDS and other national publications. For more information about Zrazy, access their website at http://www.iol.ie/~zrazy/. The Mucky Duck is located at 2425 Norfolk off Kirby Drive. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 713-528-5999.
5 (Thu.)
Loving a Transgendered Person. This provocative topic continues the series on lesbian sexuality & controversial issues in the lesbian community called "What Lesbians Do." Sessions are facilitated by Maria Minicucci, a psychologist, and director of the Center for Creativity, Knowledge and Change, and lesbian health educator Deborah Bell, founder/moderator of the Fem-Net online community. A $3 donation is welcomed, but not required. 7 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.
6 (Fri.)
On the Borders. The Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center hosts "Building Bridges With Borders," a reception at the new Borders Books. Activists, advocates, politicos, society types, & others are invited to attend for socializing & networking. Borders will serve refreshments. 7-9 pm @ Borders Books at Kirby Dr. & W. Alabama across from the new Whole Foods Market. For more info: 713/524-3818.
6 & 7 (Fri.-Sat.)
Snakebit by David Marshall Grant starts the first season of Ashland St. Theatre Co. In this comic & poignant exploration into the limits of modern friendship, a struggling married couple & their gay best friend re-examine their lives after the arrival of a young & unexpected stranger with a secret. 8 pm @ Ashland St. Theatre, 2610 Ashland. Tickets $15. Info: 713/426-3019. Also through Oct. 7 at Ashland St. Theatre Co. in the Cheap Shot Room is "September Alliance": Five Houston artists exhibit new paintings, drawings, photographs, mixed media, & digital works.
6-8 (Fri.-Sun.)
Deathtrap by Ira Levin is one of the great thrillers of the Broadway theater. It combines ingenious detective work with raucous laughter, and it doesn't hurt that it has a gay sub-plot. University of Houston School of Theatre directions: take the Cullen exit off I-45; go south on Cullen to entrance 16; free parking in lot 16B. For show time/ticket prices/more info: 713/743-2929.
7 (Sat.)
The Texas Women's Racquetball Club is hosting a one-day tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society. Call Kiki Hummel at 281/556-0703 or e-mail khummel@houston.rr.com for details & entry forms.
7 (Sat.)
Free Legal Advice at The People's Law School. This free program, designed to help make the law "user-friendly" to the lay person, will cover such subjects as consumer law, wills, family law, criminal law, business law, landlord/tenant law, credit & debt collection, health insurance, and how to work with an attorney. 9 am-noon at the University of Houston Law Center. Info: 713/743-2168 or visit www.peopleslawyer.com.
8 (Sun.)
Empower 2000. Earn, educate, enlighten, encourage, energize, enrich, entertain, envision, equalize, exercise, and evolve at Houston's nationally recognized business expo & trade show. Empower 2000 entertains everyone with an emporium of exhibits: business fair, job fair, health resources, performing & visual arts, sports & outdoors, food & drink, and special-interest seminars. Experience this one-day event and celebrate National Coming Out Day @ the George R. Brown Convention Center. Empower hotline: 713/523-7576.
11 (Wed.)
Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are October 11 is National Coming Out Day, as sponsored by the Human Resource Council's National Coming Out Project. Headed by Candace Gingrich, the Coming Out Project puts out a resource guide to coming out that includes a way to do it one step at a time, and an extensive list of organizations, books, hotlines, religious organizations, and on-line resources to help and support you as you contemplate this important step. For a free resource booklet or "Coming Out Kit," call 800-866-6263 or e-mail ncop@hrc.org. • To me, it was like being in a black-and-white movie that suddenly converted to color. -Andrew Sullivan • For me, [coming out] has been the most freeing experience because people can't hurt me anymore.-Ellen DeGeneres • Coming out was the best thing I ever did . . . it took all the fears away.-k.d. lang • Almost everyone I know has had a better experience coming out than they thought they would.-Barney Frank
11 (Wed.)
Bette Midler's new foray into sitcom TV is appropriately titled BETTE, because she plays a somewhat distorted version of herself. And, as usual, the endearing diva's got something gay going on: Openly gay actor James Dreyfus plays her gay accompanist. Scheduled to start October 11 (Coming Out Day!) on CBS.
11 (Wed.)
Family Outing. Sundance Channel celebrates Coming Out Day with two films that tackle the subject with candor, sensitivity, and humor. In his award-winning short FAMILY, Stephen Patrick Foery details his coming out experiences from age 18 to 22, from first discussing his sexuality on Philadelphia's public radio show "Gaydreams," to finding an influential gay mentor on the Internet, to finally coming out to his father in a tense interview. FAMILY airs on Oct. 11 at 9:45 p.m. Also airing is David Moreton's critically acclaimed EDGE OF 17, a sweet, funny, and knowing tale of an Ohio boy's coming out circa 1984, a giddy period when gender-bending pop stars like Boy George were making major inroads into mainstream culture. EDGE OF 17 airs on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. More info: www.sundancechannel.com.
12 (Thu.)
The Community Center Wants You. As the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center prospers & serves more glbt folks, the board of directors is seeking interested individuals to fill several board positions. To that end, the board is hosting the 2nd board recruitment reception for people who want to learn more. If you are a community-minded, fun-loving person with a desire to contribute your skills, abilities, & efforts to the center, the receptions is at 7 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne. Info: 713/669-6069 or 713/592-5262.
13 (Fri.)
Armistead Maupin. Get personal with the creator of the popular TALES OF THE CITY series. Openly gay Maupin will read from his new Night Listener and will answer all your gay questions! He's as comfortable on the stage as he is on the page. 8 pm @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice. Tickets range from $14.50-$55. For more info: 409/763-7173. (For an interview with Maupin, click here.)
13 (Fri.)
United We Party! Last year, the first Unity Party set attendance & fundraising records for the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center. For the 2000 event, the board & volunteers plan to bread those records while saluting the individuals & organizations that have helped sustain the center over the past year. The trio Smokin' Hair Day will perform. Beer, wine, & snacks will be served. $10 includes refreshments & entertainment. 7 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/524-3818.
13 & 14 (Fri. & Sat.)
Teatro Tinglado. Contemporary puppetry with a distinctive south-of-the-border sensibility, Teatro Tinglado creates a high-flying mix of puppetry & acting styles in their Texas premiere of THE REPUGNANT STORY OF CLOTARIO DEMONIAX. Demoniax is a psychopath who murders his best friend to possess a woman he doesn't truly love. It's a tale of circuitous plans, plots, & mysterious intrigues, told with a bite & impetuous glee. 8 pm @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. Tickets $20 ($10 students/seniors, $15 members). For more info: 713/335-3445.
14 (Sat.)
Meditation in Humble. This meditation workshop is open to everyone, and no experience is necessary. Several techniques that anyone can use to reduce stress, improve concentration, & bolster creative thought will be explored. Cost of $40 includes printed material. 1-5 pm @ The Yoga Place, 510 Second St., Humble. More info: 281/446-9642.
14 (Sat.)
Nowhere. The final installment in director Gregg Araki's "Teen Apocalypse Trilogy," NOWHERE finds itself in Whatever, California, where vapid teen zombies, following in the footsteps of hedonistic parents, seek out exotic physical pleasure with a frequency surpassed only by rabbits. Appearances in this 1997 film include Christina Applegate, Heather Graham, Denise Richards, Ryan Phillipe, Chiara Mastroianni, Debi Mazar, Mena Suvari, Shannen Doherty, Rose McGowan, John Ritter, & Traci Lords. 11:30 pm @ Rice Media Center, Rice campus, entrance #8. Cost: $5 ($4 students with valid ID/seniors over 65). Info: 713/348-4853 or www.rice.edu/~cinema.
14 & 15 (Sat. & Sun.)
Bayou City Art Festival Downtown. 300 artists from around the country selling their original artwork: juried festival, which includes painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, glass, furniture, photography, wood, fiber art, & leather works. There's also music, food & beverage, and a Creative Zone that offers an interactive art area. $7 adults; children under 12 free. 10 am-6 pm @ Hermann Square, downtown Houston at City Hall. Free parking on the streets, or $3 all day in the Theater District garages, or take trolley A. Entrances: Bagby @ Walker; Walker @ Louisiana; Smith @ Rusk; door E, Theatre District undergound parking.
14 & 27 (Sat. & Fri.)
The Neptones, who play mostly instrumental surf music, are ready to entertain you on the 14th @ Club Madrid, 1815 Washington, and on the 27th @ Maryjane's, 4216 Washington. According to one of the members of the fabulous foursome, the cost is "little to none," and they'll get started around "10ish." More info: 713/868-4179 or www.neptones.com.
19-22 (Thu.-Sun.)
Ride 'em, Cowboy/Cowgirl! It's the International Gay Rodeo Association's finals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rodeo hotline: 505/255-5045.
20 (Fri.)
Costume Sale. The University of Houston School of Theatre is holding a costume sale, which will include clothing, hats, shoes, coats, and suits, as well as a large selection of custom-built theatrical costumes. The UH School of Theatre's Costume Shop has one of the largest stocks of costumes in Texas and occasionally sorts through the inventory to make room for new items. Many pieces from the Houston Shakespeare Festival and Children's Theatre Festival (produced by the School of Theatre) will also be available. Cash, checks, and purchase orders accepted. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre, UH main campus, I-45 & Cullen, entrance # 16 off Cullen Blvd. More info: 713/743-2919, opt. 1.
20 (Fri.)
Focus on Human Sexuality is a capacity-building workshop of special interest to professionals who work with populations experiencing HIV. 8:30 -11:30 am @ Fifth Ward Multi Service Center, 4014 Market St. To register: fax name, agency, & contact numbers to 713/861-0009, or e-mail dpscott@sageways.com. More info: 713/861-6667 or visit www.sageways.com.
20 (Fri.)
Bad Blood. Symbolically referencing the age of AIDS, this 1986 cult phenomenon features Denis Lavant as a naive youngster who falls in with a gang of thugs who steal a serum for a virus that kills people who "make love without love." Also starring Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpe, & Michel Piccoli. French with English subtitles. 9:30 pm @ Rice Media Center, Rice campus, entrance #8. Cost: $5 ($4 students with valid ID/seniors over 65). Info: 713/348-4853 or www.rice.edu/~cinema.
20 (Fri.)
Da Camera presents pianist & composer Jason Moran & his quartet in a homecoming concert to kick off Da Camera's Jazz Series. 8 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets ($27-$37; students/seniors half-price): Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, 713/524-5050, or online at www.culturefinder.com.
20-22 (Fri.-Sun.)
Texas Home & Garden Show. The "ultimate living environment" brings thousands of home & garden products, services, and trends to life. From builders to major appliances, water gardens to aquariums, window & doors to financial consultants, home owners will discover what they need to improve their homes & gardens. Adults $7; children under 14 free. More info: 713/529-1616 or www.TexasHomeandGarden.com.
21 (Sat.)
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a 4.5-mile walk, with monies raised to support local breast cancer research, educational programs, & breast cancer patients in the Houston Metro market. 8 am @ the Superblock in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center. For more info, call 1-877-606-WALK or visit Strides_Houston@cancer.org.
21 (Sat.)
Container Herb Gardening. Mary Versfelt-a native Houstonian, a member of the Herb Society, & a North Harris County master garderner-will talk about which herbs can grow together best in containers and what types of containers work for herbs. For those living in apartments with small balconies, containers may be the best way to go. 1-3:30 pm @ Wabash Antique & Feed Store, 5701 Washington Ave., 713/863-8322.
21 (Sat.)
West Side Cabaret-Montrose Style is a millennium Montrose moment not to be missed! The Halloween Magic Players return this year to unveil this freewheeling satire, liberally mixing elements of the legendary Broadway musicals WEST SIDE STORY and CABARET with contemporary references straight from today's entertainment and news headlines. True to form, the performance will be dosed with liberal helpings of Broadway show tunes and disco favorites (re-written with special inner-loop lyrics), along with a healthy skewering of public figures, current events, and popular culture. • Of course, Halloween Magic's recurring heroines-Wanda June Smathers (the reigning debutante of Adalou, Texas), the Hispanic spitfire Venezuela, and the blonde bombshell Pleasure Nouveau-return in another sticky situation. When Venezuela wins one million beauty bucks to "Dame Edna's Institute of Charm, Etiquette and Higher Learning for Dames" from television's Who Wants to Look Like a Millionaire, the girls are off to a cabaret-like setting to redeem their winnings. • To everyone's surprise, Venezuela's long-lost Latin relative Mango runs into the threesome at "Dame Edna's." When government officials-especially one with a resemblance to Janet Reno-learn of Mango's entrance to the U.S. to pursue a career in choreography, efforts to send the boy back to Cuba begin. Will Mango's choreography dreams be shattered? How will Venezuela, Pleasure, and Wanda June protect him from being deported? • Find out at 6:30 p.m at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center, 2151 West Holcombe, Texas Medical Center. Tickets/tables info: 713/226-2342.
21 (Sat.)
See the Light Gala 2000. Planned Parenthood is off to a running start with plans for this 14th annual black-tie event, with live & silent auctions. Tickets $200/person. 7 pm (cocktails & silent auction); 8 pm (dinner, live auction, & dancing) @ Westin Galleria ballroom, 5060 W. Alabama. Info: 713/831-6516.
21 (Sat.)
Johnny Suede. A wonderfully offbeat tale of an aspiring pompadour-sporting pop star (portrayed by a then-unknown Brad Pitt) who dreams of stardom as a Rick Nelson-like crooner. Featuring cameos by Nick Cave and Tina Louise, with a knockout performance by Catherine Keener (BEING JOHM MALKOVICH) as Pitt's saucy girlfriend. 11:30 pm @ Rice Media Center, Rice campus, entrance #8. Cost: $5 ($4 students with valid ID/seniors over 65). For more info: 713/348-4853 or www.rice.edu/~cinema.
26-28 (Thu.-Sat.)
Shuffle A Long A Musical Extravaganza. The Texas Tap Ensemble's show opens at the reading of Momma Rose's will, which states: "If Dainty June and the Farmboys resurrect the show, they will each inherit a million dollars." The show is an entertaining look at the trials & tribulations that the cast faced on their journey bact to Vaudeville. The concert is free and open to the public. 8 pm @ Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park (between the Medical Center & downtown). Info: 713/284-8350.
26-29 (Thu.-Sun.)
Michele Balan. The New York-based comic is a nationally known, neurotic (her own description) talent in the gay and lesbian community. She has hosted major HRC events, entertained on gay and lesbian cruises, and helped emcee the mainstage at the Millennium March on Washington. Now Lavender Lounge is bringing her to Texas on a mini 4-city tour: Oct. 26 in Beaumont; Oct. 27 in Austin; Oct. 28 at Houston's River Cafe on Montrose; and Oct. 29 at Cafe Horizons in Galveston. More info: www.christyclaxton.com or 512/423-1770.
27 (Fri.)
Costume Cure. After you buy your costume from the UH School of Theatre Costume Sale (see Oct. 20), let ComedySportz put you through the paces. Just wear your get-up to one of their Friday, Oct. 27 matches, and you'll get a 50-percent discount on admission. And just think, after you work out all the kinks you discovered on Friday night, the actual Eve of all Hallows (Tuesday the 31st) will go so smoothly it'll scare you! Audience members in costume will also be able to enter a costume contest. 7:30 & 10 p.m. @ Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. at 17th St. Admission sans costume is $10; costumed patrons $5. More info: 713/868-1444.
27 & 28 (Fri. & Sat.)
Spirit of the Dance will hit the stage like a runaway express train as 25 pairs of shoes drum as one. Continuing the tradition of the original Riverdance, Spirit of the Dance invites you to experience the cultures of their world by celebrating traditions of dance, music, & passion. Tickets $16.50-$65. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 & 8 pm @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 409/765-1894.
27-29 (Fri.-Sun.)
The Creature From the Black Lagoon (3-D). Amazon scientists stumble upon the Gill-Man, a prehistoric humanoid fish monster who takes a fancy to a fetching coed (Julie Adams). This 3-D classic is one of the first films to feature underwater photography, and it remains one of the most entertaining monster movies ever made. You will be provided with 3-D glasses for this presentation! 7:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday, Oct. 27 & 28, and 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29. THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON plays in the Eleanor and Frank Freed Auditorium at the Glassell School of Art, 5101 Montrose. Cost: $5 ($4 members, students with valid ID, seniors over 55). Film information line is 713/639-7531; the website address is www.mfah.org.
28 (Sat.)
The 6th Annual Houston Women's Festival. Celebrate the achievements of established & emerging musicians, artists, poets, and artisans; stroll through the tree-lined marketplace; participate in fun activities; see old friends and make new ones. Some of the highlights of the Main Stage include Tina (of Tina and the B Sides), Tret Fure, Terri Hendrix, the Therapy Sisters, Tchiya Amet, and more. In the performing and visual art exhibit, the work of photographer Sharon Stewart, artist Charla Bruce, poet Donna Garrett, and others will be featured. In the community marketplace, a variety of goods, services, games, and activities can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The festival is open to all. 1 pm-midnight @ Garden in the Heights, 3926 Feagan. Tickets are $10 in advance at Lobo Bookshop and Tracy's Retreat, or $12 at the door. More info: www.hwfestival.org, or call 713-861-3316.
28 & 29 (Sat. & Sun.)
Three Horrors From Director Lucio Fulci THE BEYOND. A young woman (Catriona MacColl) inherits an old southern hotel, only to discover the realtor failed to mention it sits atop one of the seven gateways to Hell! Hailed as Fulci's masterpiece, this 1981 film is replete with grisly special effects, including the unforgettable band of blood-sucking tarantulas. 11:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28. • the gates of hell. In a small New England town, a priest commits suicide in a church cemetery, thereby unlocking the fiery gates of hell. Noted for its gruesome special effects, this 1980 film has acquired such a notorious reputation for violence that it is still banned in some countries. Starring Catriona MacColl and Janet Agren. 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, and 9 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29. • Zombie is the 1979 film that put Fulci on the map and insured the success of the "zombie/atomic-holocaust/gore film," a staple for almost a decade of low-budget Italian horror movies. Prompted by the mysterious disappearance of her father, a young woman travels to a remote Caribbean island only to discover it is inhabited by indestructible, flesh-eating zombies. "Grossing" over $30 million in its initial release, Zombie features Tisa Farrow, sister of Mia and daughter of Maureen O'Sullivan (the Jane in "Me Tarzan, you Jane"). 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, and 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29. • All films will play at Rice Media Center on the Rice University campus, University Blvd. @ Stockton, entrance #8. Cost: $5 ($4 students with valid ID/seniors over 65). Film information line is 713/348-4853; the website address is www.ruf.rice.edu/~cinema.
28 & 29 (Sat. & Sun.)
The 5th Annual Eastwood Historic Home Tour features six homes dating from 1916-1938. The homes range in styles from a recently-renovated 1916 raised craftsman cottage to a large 1920s high-craftsman bungalow to a 1938 two-story colonial with New England-inspired seasonal gardens. Eastwood's tree-lined streets are home to many gay & lesbian families. Tour tickets are $10. For more info/directions, call 713/926-6722 or e-mail at Easthc@aol.com.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR NOVEMBER,

Nov. 1 (Wed.)
Copland and Friends is Da Camera of Houston's free lunchtime performance from their series, "A Little Day Music," which is presented on the first Wednesday of every month from October through June. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring & enjoy their lunches while listening to the music. Noon in the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Theater Center, Texas @ Smith. More info: 713/524-7601, ext. 15.
Nov. 3 (Fri.)
Max Klinger and Brahms. Klinger, a young contemporary of Johannes Brahms, took his obsession with the composer and turned it into a new work of art, a cycle of Brahms songs that he assembled, illustrated, & entitled Brahms-Phantasie. The performance of this cycle, accompanied with projections of Klinger's prints, is the focus of the evening. 8 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets ($22-$33; students/seniors half-price with valid ID) are available at Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, at 713/524-5050, or online at www.culturefinder.com.
Nov. 4 (Sat.)
A Taste of Belgium. Cafe Montrose hosts a benefit luncheon for the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center. Diners can feast on a three-course Belgian meal & help raise funds for a good cause. $25, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the center. 1-3 pm @ Cafe Montrose, 1609 Westheimer. For more info, contact the center at 713/524-3818.
Nov. 4 (Sat.)
Dracula: the Music and Film. A chilling and eerie new score composed by Philip Glass for the Kronos Quartet rejuvenates the 1931 film classic starring Bela Lugosi. You'll see the movie in its entirety while Glass and the quartet perform a concert with one of the most intense and atmospheric scores ever written for film. Presented by Society for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m.@ Jones Hall. Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets or go to www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 713/227-4SPA or visit www.spahouston.org.
Nov. 4 & 5(Sat. & Sun.)
Stargazer 2000: Texas' Oldest & Largest Movie Memorabilia Show. This movie & autograph show features modern & vintage autographs, posters, stills, books, magazines, cartoon & comic art, old TV/movies on video, and more. The holidays are upon us, and this could be the place for getting those gifts ahead of time. The show is sponsored by Hollywood Frame Gallery, where you can have those gifts framed. Stargazer takes place on Saturday, 10 am-6 pm, and on Sunday, 10 am-4 pm, @ the Holiday Inn Hotel, 7787 Katy Freeway (near I-10 & Antoine). Admission is $5/day (children under 12 free). For more info, contact Robert at 713/365-0266.
Nov. 23 (Thu.)
Give Thanks. Don't have a family to spend Thanksgiving with? Can't bear spending the feast day with your family of origin? Stop by the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center for the traditional holiday dinner plus football on the big-screen set. Donations welcomed. Noon-6 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/524-3818.

PERFORMING ARTS

• A Bad Night's Sleep is all about the agony of suffering through a bad night's sleep. It's loaded with original music, bogus commercials, & several of Radio Music Theatre's most hilarious pieces from their nationally syndicated radio comedy...plus a one-act featuring "The Singing Fertle Family." $15 admission & reservations required; food & drink are available throughout the show. Thursdays-Saturdays @ Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt, 713/522-7722.
• Black Comedy. In this British play, the usual conditions of light & dark are reversed. When the stage lights are up, the characters are plunged into darkness, and when the stage lights are dim, the characters see light. How the characters behave under the cover of darkness when a light fuse blows and expected and unexpected visitors arrive makes for a very physical, fast-paced comedy. Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, through Oct. 28 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219. Tickets $12 (reservations strongly recommended).
• Closer. Hailed as one of the best new plays of the 1990s, Patrick Marber's Closer is a bitingly funny & severe tale of four strangers who become caught in a matrix of love, sex, & betrayal. Highly contemporary and written with brutal honesty, the play explores the four's entangled relationships & their common desire to be closer. Oct. 20-Nov. 19 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets to preview performances (Oct. 20-24) are $23; tickets to performances on or after the Oct. 25 opening range from $37-$42. Tickets can be purchased at the Alley Theatre box office or by calling 713/228-8421.
• Houston Ballet. Three exciting young choreographers take center stage in the Cullen Contemporary Series, designed to foster the creation & performance of new works. Australian dance maker Natalie Weir has created pieces for American Ballet Theatre, the Australian Ballet, & numerous contemporary troupes in Australia. Native Houstonian Timothy O'Keefe, who made his choreographic debut in 1999 with FASCINATING EVENING, will create his second work for the company. A third choreographer for the series had not been announced at press time. Oct. 26-29 @ the Wortham Center. Tickets $11.50-$51.50 can be purchased by calling 713/227-ARTS (2787).
• Houston Grand Opera opens its 46th season with a new production of Bizet's popular masterpiece CARMEN. Oct. 20-Nov. 11. • Also in October: KATYA KABANOVA. Trapped in the claustrophobic household of her tyrannical mother-in-law, Katya is torn between her marital & social duty and her need to love & be loved. Oct. 27-Nov. 12. • Both operas @ Wortham Center's Brown Theater, Texas Ave. at Smith St. Tickets ($22-$200) are available by calling 713/227-ARTS; at the Wortham Ticket Center in the lobby of the Wortham; or at www.houstongrandopera.com.
• Joined at the Head is a drama that explores the life of a writer as she and her friends & family deal with the discovery that she has cancer. Tickets $9 ($8 students/seniors); matinees $7. Through Oct. 14 @ Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd, 713/682-3525.
• MacBeth. Ambition gone amuck best describes this classic tale of the haunted killing machine & his power-hungry wife that spans time with a ferociousness found in no other Shakespearean play. Tickets $14 (students/seniors $10). Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, through Oct. 28 @ Actors Theatre of Houston, 2506 South Boulevard, 713/529-6606.
• A Midsummer Night's Dream. This new production of William Shakespeare's popular fantasy tale opens the Alley Theatre's new season. When lovers Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, & Helena follow one another into the woods, they discover a secret fairy kingdom where the magical trickster Puck administers a love potion that stirs up emotions among the moonstruck couples. Oct. 6-Nov. 4 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets to preview performances (Oct. 6-10) are $19-$35; tickets to performances on or after the Oct. 11 opening range from $32-$49. Tickets can be purchased at the Alley Theatre box office or by calling 713/228-8421.
• Misery. Just in time for Halloween, this new adaptation of the Stephen King novel takes a darkly comic look at the story of a best-selling romantic fiction writer and his "number-one fan." Oct. 13-Nov. 18 @ The Little Room Downstairs Studio, 2328 Bissonnet, 713/522-LRDS (5737).
• The Old Settler. In World War II Harlem, New York, 55-year-old spinster (or as they were called in those days, an old settler) Elizabeth , takes in a young male roomer. Also living with Elizabeth is her sister Quilly, 53. There is an ominous cloud of tension that hangs over the sisters' relationship, a tension further exacerbated when Elizabeth and the roomer take a liking to each other. Through Oct. 15 @ The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St., 713/520-0055.
• One Tit, a Dyke & Gin and The Bathtub. ONE TIT by Pennell Somsen is a warm-hearted comedy about a heterosexual woman who has had a mastectomy, is accidentally locked in her doctor's office, and is then found by a gay female security guard. They pass the time away by playing gin rummy as they cope with the situation, demonstrating that human connection & caring are possible regardless of sexual preference. • THE BATHTUB by Lisa Shipley is a two-character comedy/drama about a lesbian couple, one of whom has been in the bathtub for two weeks and refuses to come out (of the tub, that is). Will she or won't she? Go see for yourself. • The two one-act plays are directed by Joe Watts and will play on Fridays & Saturdays through Nov. 4 (no performance on Oct. 14) @ Theatre New West, 1415 California (on the ground floor of the Sonoma Restaurant building). Tickets are $20. Reservations: 713/394-0464. Info: 713/522-2204.
• 1776 recounts the debates, the intrigues, & the comic by-play leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Set in Philadelphia in the humid summer of 1776, it shows the human side of the founding fathers-their foibles, passion, & scheming, and the impact of the women in their lives. But what's most important is that Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, & John Adams sing & dance! Theatre Under The Stars brings this winner of three Tony Awards to the Arena Theatre, Oct. 10-22. Tickets available by phone from Admission Network (800-678-5440); at TUTS TIX (2600 SW Frwy @ Kirby); outlets (Sound Revolution, Vinal Edge); online (www.tuts.com).
• The Turn of the Screw. In this adaptation of the well-known classic, a young governess, newly arrived at an English manor, is haunted by the ghosts of the servants who came before her. In order to save herself and the children under her care, she must confront these malevolent spirits. But are these beings truly supernatural or merely physical manifestations of the governess' own psychological torments? Oct. 13-Nov. 5 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713/52-STAGE.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• The Adventures of Peer Gynt tells the story of a ne'er-do-well young boy from a small town in Norway who dreams of becoming a king. Gynt, who faces many trials on his long & dangerous journey in his quest for greatness, comes to realize his own self-worth, discovering that the happiness & love he has at home have already made him the king he longs to become. PEER GYNT is a production of Opera to Go!, a professional touring company which presents fully-staged portable operas for children in grades K-7. The hour-long opera plays three days, Oct. 17-19, at 11 am @ Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr. in Hermann Park. It is free and open to the public. For more info: 713/284-8350.
• Alice in Wonderland. Come along with Alice on a visit to Wonderland as she meets the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the King, the Queen, & the Knave. Who has stolen the Queen's tarts? The answer lies in Wonderland. Saturdays at 11 am & 1:30 pm, through Oct. 28 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219. Tickets $6 (reservations strongly recommended).
• In Between examines peer pressure, confrontation, and courage as a new student is forced to choose between the friendship of the popular Tad & the ignored "B." For 4th grade-9th grade. Tickets are $8; $6 a ticket for groups of 10 or more. Saturdays, 11:30 am & 2 pm, Oct. 14-Nov. 4 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, Allen Parkway at Waugh, 713/52-STAGE.
• The Story of the Lone Star State: 600 Years of Texas History in 60 Minutes! InterActive Theater Company begins this season with a fast-paced, action-packed, knee-slappin' 60 minutes of the history of Texas. Beginning with the Caddo tribes, moving through the conquistadors, saddling up with the vaqueros, discovering oil, and blasting into space, this story promises an educational & entertaining outing for all. Tuesdays-Fridays at 9 & 11 am, Saturdays at 11 am, through Oct. 14 @ Lambert Hall Performing Arts Center, 1703 Heights Blvd. at W. 17th St. Tickets $5 for children & adults. Info/reservations: 713/862-7112.

RADIO

• After Hours Saturdays, midnight to 3 am. Featuring the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. KPFT 90.1 FM.
• Houston Grand Opera's national radio broadcasts over NPR's World of Opera: Richard Strauss's ELEKTRA on Oct. 14 (Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Houston Symphony); Mark Adamo's LITTLE WOMEN on Oct. 21 (Patrick Summers conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra); and Gaetano Donizetti's THE ELIXIR OF LOVE on Oct. 28 (Patrick Summers conducts the HGO Orchestra). 12:30 pm on KUHF 88.75FM. For more info: www.npr.org/programs.
• 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 2001 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.
• Deborah Kass: The Warhol Project. In 1992 Kass began the Warhol Project, appropriating the style & images of pop culture icon Andy Warhol. Thirty years after Warhol completed his first silkscreened image, Kass substitued her own likeness for Warhol's. And by replacing Warhol's treasured celebrities with her own cultural & personal heroes, Kass goes to the very heart of questions about originality, celebrity, & representation. The exhibition features 28 large-scale silkscreen images and is accompanied by a 100-page catalog. Through Dec. 17 @ Blaffer Gallery, which is located on the University of Houston's main campus, entrance # 16 off Cullen Blvd. Info: 713/743-9528.
• From Above. Twenty-five views of the city of Houston, taken from the perspective of Alex MacLean's single-engine Cessna. From the Ship Channel to the suburban prairie, his photos reveal landscapes as abstract compositions, providing a vital perspective on the relationship between natural & manmade environments. Through Jan. 7, 2001 @ the Menil Collection, 1511 Branard, 713/525-9400.
• Fury is an exhibition of paintings of Galveston and the storm of 1900 by gay Houston artist Claude Pollard. The Fury exhibit focuses on a variety of Galveston's numerous themes-the forces of nature, resilience, & ingenuity, to name a few. Pollard has previously exhibited in the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, Toopees, Barnaby's, and in & around various Houston Museum District locales. Through Oct. 14 @ E Street Gallery, 2219 Postoffice, Galveston.
• Hot Sauce represents an optimistic yet flawed vision of our world. The artists hook viewers with style & form, shut them out with meaning & social critique, but always invite them back for more with color-coated beauty. Through Oct. 21 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.
• The Holocaust Woodcuts. A suite of six monumental woodcuts on the theme of the Holocaust, presented with the original woodblocks, is on view through Nov. 27 @ Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline, 713/942-8000.
• Houston Center for Photography (HCP). Main Gallery: BRAZIL WITHOUT FRONTIERS is a group exhibition of five documentary photographers-Elza Lima, Antonio Augusto Fontes, Celso Oliveira, Tiago Santana, & Ed Viggiani. • Gallery X: JACK SPENCER: NATIVE SOIL features a selection of lyrical, toned black-&-white photos of the South. • Gallery Y: HAZEL HANKIN: RHYTHM & RAPTURE. In this premiere exhibition of the work, HCP presents color photos by a photographer & dancer obsessed with the social dancing craze. Through Oct. 29 @ Houston Center for Photography, 1441 West Alabama, 713/529-4755.
• New Works by Chris Menconi. Chris is known for those whimsical clay dogs & other animals who show up sometimes. Through Oct. 14 @ Archway Gallery, 2013 W. Gray, 713/522-2409.
• Notes from Underground will feature the work of three women whose work transcends traditional boundaries of "high" art. Mary Nason, an artist from Macon, Georgia, creates a line of girl-positive stickers as well as functional art objects; Nason's heroines are smart, sexy, & full of attitude. Houston's Elizabeth Jackson writes a sly comic entitled ACTION JACKSON which features female leads who come straight out of BLACKBOARD JUNGLE or SWITCHBLADE SISTERS; Jackson's characters are self-assured bad girls who exude an air of homoerotic tension. Holly Hinson is a DJ & author of the new zine HELLO LUNCHMEAT which features reports on the local music scene; HELLO seeks out positive female role models and also features articles on contemporary girl gangs. Hinson concentrates on positive activism and not style. Oct. 6-28 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.
• Outreach Exhibition. More than 200 works of art created through the outreach programs of The Glassell Junior School of Art are on view in this annual Junior School Outreach Exhibition. Included are paintings, sculpture, & ceramics made by Houston-area residents who participate in the programs. Through Oct. 20 at the school, 5100 Montrose Blvd. For more info: 713/639-7700.