Calendar

NOVEMBER

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (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 8th & 22nd in Conroe at Northwoods AIDS Coalition, 1414 South Frazier, Ste. 106. More info: 936/441-1614.

5 (Sun.)

PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Carol Petrucci, program director for H.A.T.C.H. (Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals), presents "H.A.T.C.H.: The Past, Present, and Future," accompanied by a panel of youths. Gay & lesbian youths are at a high risk for depression, substance abuse, & suicide due to exposure to daily hazards such as gay bashing, harassment in school, & even disownment by their parents. 2 pm @ Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas. PFLAG Helpline: 713/867-9020.

8 (Wed.)

Gay/Lesbian Singles Mixer. A special Hasbro games mixer for the gay or lesbian single who is looking for a different environment to meet, greet, and have fun! 7:30 pm @ Borders Books, 3025 Kirby Dr., 713/524-0200.

9, etc. (Thu., etc.)

Single White Girl Looking to Swing, Sing, & Rock. After 10 years in the Texas music scene, Christy Claxton is striking out on her own. She is a veteran of two Texas folk/rock bands, Dream Horse and the Watsons. Her solo turn with her Out of Nowhere CD also represents her new focus on Adult Album Alternative music. Her Texas folk roots are still present, but she sends the music to a new level of energy and appeal. Claxton certainly draws on country, folk, and roots influences, but she also positions herself in a genre that gives her music a broad appeal. She delivers smart songs with engaging stories and unforgettable characters. From "Funky Little House": "...But my funky little house is too big for me/I need a good time lover to set my heart free./Impersonal personal do your thing/Single white girl looking to swing/Impersonal personal let me lie/I'll be tall and thin with big blue eyes...." o Lavender Lounge is bringing Claxton to these Texas venues: Nov. 9, 8 p.m. at Houston's Anderson Fair, 2007 Grant St.; Nov. 10, 9 p.m. at Gabby and Mo's, 1809 Manor Rd., in Austin; Nov. 17, 9:30 p.m. at Galveston's Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, 413 20th St.; Nov. 18 at noon at Messina Hoff Winery Festival in Bryan; and Nov. 25, 7 p.m. at the Plateau Restaurant in Fredrickburg. For more info, visit www.christyclaxton.com or call 512/423-1770.

9 & 16 (Thu.)

Bi Now. Bi-Net (Bisexual Network of Houston) now holds topic discussion meetings on three Thursdays of every month. A topic discussion group for women meets on the second Thursday of the month. A mixed-gender group meets on the third Thursday. A men's group normally meets on the 4th Thursday but will not meet in November because of Thanksgiving. 7:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. More info: 713/524-3818 (the center) or 713/467-4380 (Bi-Net).

10 (Fri.)

Bale Folclorico da Bahia. It gets decidedly hot when this Afro-American carnival sambas into town. Pulsing rhythms, raucous singing, frenzied dancing, & high-flying martial arts‹all so electrifying, they defy you to sit still! Presented by the Society for the Performing Arts at 8 pm @ Jones Hall. Tickets: 713/227-4SPA (772) or Ticketmaster. More info: www.spahouston.com.

10 (Fri.)

Let the Games Begin. Beginning in November, a game night for women with a friendly competitive streak will take place on the second Friday of the month. The evening promises card games, board games, & pleasant conversation. Women with games to donate to the cause should bring them. 7 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne. Info: 713/524-3818.

10 & 11 (Fri. & Sat.)

Memory's Caretaker. An expose on the family, Memory's Caretaker is a funny, powerful, & poignant tale of one American family, spanning three generations, and their efforts to blend into the American melting pot by hiding key complex ingredients of their identities. Paul Bonin-Rodriguez is an accomplished writer & performer who has performed at numerous venues including the Joseph Papp Public Theater, the Actor's Theater of Louisville, & Dallas Theater Center. 8 pm @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. Tickets $20 ($10 students/seniors, $15 members). For more info: 713/335-3445.

10-12 (Fri.-Sun.)

Blowin' Up a Spot! Film Festival highlights the art of independent women filmmakers and poets. Blowin' Up a Spot is a national coalition of women multimedia makers. The organization strives to be a resource for women in the film/television and literary industries by providing their unique voices with exposure to a wider audience. Part media literacy conference, part film/television and literary marketplace, this event will showcase 15 short works of women in independent film. The event will also spotlight five spoken- word artists. The purpose of the event is to increase the awareness of women's films by showcasing women of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who produce visual and literary images relevant to their communities and themselves as members of this society. The hope is to create and sustain a vital marketplace for women as media makers. There will be three days of fabulous short films at the Glassell School Of Art. Friday at 7 pm, tickets go on sale 6:30 pm. Saturday and Sunday: two showings 2 & 7 pm, tickets go on sale at 1:30 & 6:30 pm. More info: call 713/220-9395 or visit www.freeversepublishing.com.

11 (Sat.)

Footloose. In 1984, a movie called Footloose captured the heart & soul of America. As a musical, it is raising the roof on Broadway, and now it hits Galveston. With its irresistible score & dynamic plot, this musical will set your heart afire & your toes a tappin'. Tickets range from $16.50-$65. Two performances: 3 & 8 pm @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 409/765-1894.

11 & 12 (Sat. & Sun.)

Texas Renaissance Festival. This is the last weekend to take in the sights, sounds, tastes, & beauty of the 16th century. 9 am-8 pm. On FM 1774, between Magnolia & Plantersville, Texas (45 miles northwest of Houston). Adults $19.95; children (5-12) $8.95; children (4 & under) free. More info: 800/458-3435 or www.texrenfest.com.

13 (Mon.)

Prime Time Men. Noted gay psychotherapist Harold Kooden, Ph.D., will speak about his new book Golden Men: The Power of Gay Midlife. Dr. Kooden is a clinical psychologist in private practice and a founder of the National Gay and Lesbian Health Foundation. His five principles for gay aging: 1) By virtue of our coming out, gay men already possess the power to age well. 2) Midlife is our true adulthood. 3) The mind and the body are one. 4) Ageism causes death. 5) We cannot only survive, but thrive. Dr. Kooden's talk followed by discussion is free and open to the public. 7 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818. (See article page 82.)

14 (Tue.)

Da Camera celebrates the great gay American composer Aaron Copland on his 100th birthday by surrounding him with friends. Expect songs by Marc Blitzstein, Paul Bowles, Charles Ives, & Virgil Thomson, and chamber music by Copland, Roger Sessions, Cesar Chavez, Roy Harris, & Walter Piston. Copland biographer & U of H professor of music, Howard Pollack, hosts this musical tribute. Pre-concert talk by Pollack at 7 pm, concert at 7:30 pm @ The Menil Collection (University of St. Thomas), Alabama @ Mandell. Tickets ($25; students/seniors half-price): Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard, 713/524-5050.

17 (Fri.)

ComedySportz & Gilda Radner. The improvisational comedy show hosts a special performance to benefit Gilda's Club, a free, emotional, & social support community for people with cancer & their family & friends. Gilda's Club is named after comedian Gilda Radner, who had cancer, and was founded by Gene Wilder (her husband) and Joanna Bull. ComedySportz has long believed in the tremendous healing power of humor; it was this common bond & the inspiration of Radner's comedic work that brought ComedySportz to Gilda's Club. The improvisational comedy is played just like a sport: Two teams go head-to-head on artificial turf, with a referee overseeing the action. Because the comedy is improvised, fans never see the same match twice. 7:30 pm @ Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. (at 17th St.). Tickets $10. All ticket, refreshment, & silent auction proceeds will benefit Gilda's Club. More info/reservations: 713/868-1444.

17 (Fri.)

Wreath Collection 2000. Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) presents a stellar collection of one-of-a-kind wreaths created by the exceptional talent from Houston's art, floral, & interior design communities paired with enticing gift items to be offered at a silent auction. 7 pm @ the Warwick Hotel. Tickets $50 in advance. More info: 713/528-0505.

17 (Fri.)

Author, Author. Houston poets Simone Cunningham, Donna Garrett, & Michael Locke will read new work during "Passion, Poetry, and Politics 2," a sequel to the standing-room-only poetry night in August. An open-mike session will follow the reading. 7:30 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

17 (Fri.)

Fran Harris, former first-year Comet player and now a WNBA Lifetime television analyst, will be speaking at tonight's LiB meeting. 6:30-9:30 pm @ Holiday Inn Select, 2712 Southwest Freeway. LiB info line: 713/529-0077.

17-19 (Fri.-Sun.)

Amadeus. Peter Shaffer adapted his own play for this entertaining film about the intense rivalry between 18th-century composers Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) & Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). Salieri is doomed to mediocrity while Mozart delights in his own genius and irritates those around him. Along with numerous other Oscars, the 1984 film won for Best Picture, Abraham won for Best Actor, and Hulce was nominated for Best Actor. Tonight's showing (the 17th) is accented with a special appearance by Academy Award-winner Mark Berger, re-recording sound mixer; besides his win for Amadeus, Berger has won Oscars for The Right Stuff, Apocalypse Now, & The English Patient. Amadeus plays at 7:30 pm. o Playing Saturday the 18th at 7 pm is Tom Verlaine: Music for Film, with a special appearance by Tom Verlaine & Jimmy Ripp. o Playing Sunday the 19th at 6 pm is The Iron Giant, with a special appearance by Texas-based screenwriter Tim McCanlies. o For this weekend only, film prices are: Friday only, $25; Saturday only, $50; Sunday only, $25; for all three nights or any combination of nights, $50. Films screened in the Brown Auditorium of The Museum of Fine Arts, 1001 Bissonnet. More info: 713/639-7531.

18 (Sat.)

Funny Gay Men Starring Judy Tenuta. STARRING JUDY TENUTA?! She doesn't look much like a gay man to us, but as the press release reads, "This live extravaganza stars the totally outrageous and always unpredictable Queen of Queens...Judy Tenuta!" OK, now that we see the word queen, it begins to make sense. The totally politically incorrect Tenuta is the Mistress of Ceremonies for what promises to be a wild night with three funny gay men (to be politically correct, the trio is listed alphabetically): Brian Bradley, Bob Smith, and Jason Stuart. Oh, and I dare not forget the Love Slave Dancers, a beefcake foursome who prance around the stage in black leather hot pants and halter tops. JUDY TENUTA was nominated twice for Grammy awards for Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians and In the Goddess We Trust, and has starred in her own HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime specials. BRIAN BRADLEY is featured in the infamous Sorority Girls from Hell video seen in almost every gay bar for years. BOB SMITH was the first openly gay comedian to appear on The Tonight Show, and has authored Openly Bob and Way to Go, Smith. JASON STUART came out on Geraldo in 1993 and is now busy with films and TV. He can be seen on Nov. 9 on Will & Grace and on Norm on Nov. 10. o FUNNY GAY MEN starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Aerial Theater, 520 Texas Ave. Tickets are $27.25-$40.75 and are available at sfx.com, the Aerial Theater box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 713/629-3700.

18 (Sat.)

Mighty Texas Dog Walk 2000. Texas dogs & their owners have the opportunity to break the Guinness World Record for the "Most Dogs Walked." Thousands are expected to take part in this three-mile course, which will take walkers & their pooches along Memorial Dr. and end up near Houston's bustling downtown. The goal is to break the record set by the Brits, who walked 2,439 dogs in July 1999. The previous record was set in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 20, 1999, with 2,114 dogs. Proceeds raised from the Mighty Texas Dog Walk will benefit the Texas Hearing & Service Dogs. 10 am-1 pm (on-site registration & packet pickup begins at 8 am; starting line activities begin at 9:30 am, and awards ceremonies will commence at 12:30 pm). 110 Sabine at Memorial Dr., adjacent to Tinsley Park. $15 pre-registration, $20 day of. Registration forms are available at all Sprint PCS stores and Katz's Deli, 616 Montrose, and online at www. servicedogs.com. For more info: 713/840-0555.

19 (Sun.)

Gala. The Houston Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus is celebrating a 25th Anniversary Awards Gala. The speaker for this special evening is Elizabeth Toledo, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. The event will include a silent auction. Tickets are $75 if purchased before Nov. 13 ($90 thereafter). 6:30 pm @ Sheraton Brookhollow, 3000 North Loop West. More info: 713521-1000.

20+ (Mon.)

•utdoor Ice-Skating Rink. The Dynegy IcePlaza is preparing for another holiday season with Houston's only outdoor ice-skating rink. Located in the heart of the Theater District, the Dynegy IcePlaza will transform the area in front of the Wortham Theater into a winter wonderland. As of Nov. 20, the rink will be open seven days a week through Jan. 3, 2001. Admission is $7 (skate rental is an additional $2, and skating sessions last two hours). The rink is located in the 500 block of Texas Ave., adjacent to the Wortham Center and Sesquicentennial Park, and across from Bayou Place. For more info: 1-800-4-HOUSTON.

21 (Tue.)

K.d. lang is on her invincible summer tour. Spend an evening with the lesbian lady of song. 8 pm @ Aerial Theater, 520 Texas Ave. Tickets ($21-$35.50) available at sfx.com, Ticketmaster (713/629-3700) & all Ticketmaster outlets, or the Aerial Theater box office (713/230-1600).

23 (Thu.)

Give Thanks. Celebrate Thanksgiving with your family of choice. All the grand tradition of the holiday‹turkey, the trimmings, & football‹will make the meal festive. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the dinner. The center requests a $2 donation to help offset the cost of the meal. People who plan to attend are asked to leave word at the center in advance, so that the cooks know how much of a feast to prepare. Lunch served at 2 pm. Noon-6 pm @ the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

25 (Sat.)

Girls With Guitars. It's a live performance by the local acoustic duo. 9 pm-midnight @ The Vintage Bar, a relaxed wine bar, 4356 Westheimer at Mid Lane. If the night is pretty, they'll be on the porch under the big oak trees. Enjoy.

24 & 25 (Fri. & Sat.)

Phantom. "Rush to Phantom. The other one," urges The Boston Globe. Maury Yeston & Arthur Kopit bring you an intoxicating spin on Leroux's bewitching story. In this Phantom, Yeston's score combines with Kopit's script to produce an evening of dazzling musical theater. 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 (Mon.)

Race Relations. The community discussion of racism in the glbt community continues with the forum "The Dynamics of Interracial Couples in a Racist Culture." The first event confronting racism attracted an enthusiastic, capacity crowd, and the critical work continues. The Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center and the Black Lesbian and Gay Coalition co-sponsor with forum with the help of other groups in the city. 7 pm @ the center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

28 (Tue.)

Debra Duncan. Each year the Women's Business Support Network (WBSN) Foundation chooses a professional woman of Houston who is dedicated to the pursuit of women achieving their goals in education & business. Debra Duncan has proved herself a leader in addressing women's issues with her successful four-year run of the Debra Duncan show. This popular local KTRK Channel 13 program deals with the issues that concern all Houstonians as we strive to make Houston a better place to live & work. The luncheon to honor Duncan will be held in the Junior League Ballroom. Tickets available through WBSN at 713/783-3735.

30 & Dec. 1 (Thu. & Fri.)

2000 World AIDS Day Remembrance. The 2000 observation of World AIDS Day promises to be a very exciting one for the Houston chapter of the NAMES Project. The evening of Nov. 30 will kick off a week of events beginning with a candlelight march from the NAMES Workshop (4617 Montrose, Chelsea Market, Suite C140) to the Menil Collection (1515 Sul Ross) at 6:30 pm. The evening will culminate in a special collaborative program and quilt dedication ceremony with the Menil Collection. o The evening of Dec. 1 will feature the annual Tree of Remembrance commemoration, this year to be held at Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, at 6 pm. o The NAMES Project Houston is requesting quilt panels for the ceremony. If you would like to make a quilt panel, or if you have made one but have not brought it to them, they will be accepting panels through November for inclusion in the Nov. 30 ceremony, at which time panels are formally given to the NAMES Project. Panel-makers are not required to attend the ceremony, but it helps some people express their grief and allows those who have been affected by the AIDS virus to come together and share their awareness, love, & hope. For more info: 713/526-2637.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR DECEMBER

Dec. 1 (Fri.)

World AIDS Day Observance. The Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center plans a day-long observance, which will include photographs taken by adults with HIV/AIDS who participate in the Positive Art Workshops at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. All day @ the center, 803 Hawthorne, 713/524-3818.

Dec. 1 (Fri.)

World AIDS Day Memorial Service. Houston's Bering Memorial United Methodist Church joins with other churches and the Montrose Clergy Association in sponsoring the service to remember people who died from AIDS and bring solace to the families & friends they've left behind. 7 pm in Bering's main sanctuary at 1440 Harold Street. For more info: 713/526-1017.

Dec. 2 & 3 (Sat. & Sun.)

It's a Wonderful Life starts off the 22nd season for the Gay Men's Chorus of Houston. The program will feature holiday music from the movies, including lots of standards such as "We Need a Little Christmas." A newer holiday gem, a Nightmare Before Christmas medley from the Tim Burton movie of the same name, promises to be special. Songs of the Hanukkah tradition will round out the show. 8 pm on Saturday, 3 pm on Sunday @ the new Resurrection MCC, 2025 West 11th St. at T.C. Jester. More info: 713/521-SING (7464).

Dec. 3 (Sun.)

Christmas Gone Hollywood is A Christmas Songfest's traditional holiday celebration/singalong/silent auction/food & beverage party. This year's beneficiary is the Body Positive Wellness Program. 6-9 pm @ the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center in the Texas Medical Center, 2152 W. Holcombe Blvd. Table tickets ($400-$800) sold in advance; individual tickets ($50) sold at the door. More info: 713/417-5345 or www.christmassongfest.org.

Dec. 4 (Mon.)

Jingle Jam is the second annual 104 KRBE concert event at the Astrodome, this time featuring five national recording artists including Pink, 98š, & South Park Mexican. Tickets ($12.50-$40) available through Ticketmaster. Info: KRBE at 713/266-1000 or online at www.104krbe.com.

Dec. 6 (Wed.)

Da Camera of Houston's free lunchtime performance series, "A Little Day Music," continues with a performance by Noe Marmolejo and the Moores School of Music Jazz Orchestra. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring & enjoy their lunches while listening to music. Noon in the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Center, Texas at Smith. For more info: 713/524-7601, ext. 15.

Dec. 6 (Wed.)

Tour of World Gymnastics Champions. Anchored by the U.S. men's & women's Olympic team, the tour will include Elise Ray, Kristin Maloney, Jamie Dantzscher, & Blaine Wilson, along with Shannon Miller & Dominique Moceanu. The tour will also include the international medalists from the Sydney Olympic Games, trampolinists, & rhythmic gymnasts. 7:30 pm @ the Compaq Center. Tickets ($20.75-$46.25) on sale at the Compaq Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 713/629-3700, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Dec. 10 (Sun.)

Jingle Bell Run & Walk. Register now for the 18th annual Memorial Hermann Jingle Bell Run & Walk. Participants may register at the following locations. o Downtown YMCA, 1600 Louisiana, Nov. 6-Dec. 9 (M-F, 5 am-10 pm; Sat. & Sun., 10 am-6 pm). o Post Oak YMCA, 1331 Augusta Dr., Nov. 18 (9 am-4 pm). o B.J. and Margaret Bradshaw Wellness Center, Memorial Hermann/HBU Wellness Center, 7731 Southwest Freeway, Nov. 17 (9 am-4 pm). o Memorial Park, stretching area, Nov. 4 (6 am-4 pm). o Luke's Locker, 1953 W. Gray, Nov. 11 (9 am-6 pm). o Pick up a registration brochure at Houston-area YMCA locations or register online at www.jinglebellrun.org. To find the YMCA location nearest you, call 713/659-8501 or visit www.ymcahouston.org. Postmark deadline for early registration ($18 for adults, $8 for children) is Sat., Nov. 25; entries postmarked beginning Nov. 26 require a $20 registration fee for adults and $10 for children.

PERFORMING ARTS

• 1940s Radio Hour. In a small seedy radio station on Dec. 21, 1942, a group of radio personalities prepare for their show. In the half hour before the broadcast and during the show itself, the audience is treated to such old favorite tunes as "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B" and "That Ol' Black Magic," to name a few. Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Nov. 17-Jan. 6 (no performances Nov. 24 & 25; Dec. 22 & 23) @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219. Tickets $12 (reservations recommended).

• And the World Goes 'Round is a review of the works of Kander and Ebb, who wrote the music & lyrics for such shows as Cabaret, Chicago, The Rink, 70 Girls 70, Kiss of the Spider Woman, & many other classic American musicals. The show features songs & musical numbers from these shows, as well as many others, and includes songs they wrote prior to joining the world of musical theater. Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, Nov. 17-Dec. 16, @ the Country Playhouse, 12802 Queensbury, 713/467-4497.

• 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 Nativity. Langston Hughes conceived two stories in Black Nativity‹a gospel play to celebrate the Nativity in Bethlehem, and a contemporary story fueled by the powerful testimony of believers generations later. Marsha Jackson-Randolph's adaptation is consistent with Hughes's concept. The first act recreates the splendor of the Nativity and the birth of Christ; the second act is set in a contemporary urban setting, where the congregation has gathered for a heart-filling Christmas Eve service at the Harlem River Drive Full-Gospel Church. Nov. 17-Dec. 30 @ The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St., 713/520-0055.

• Buber Malone. A special holiday offering, this touching drama explores the memories of an elderly widow & the mysterious "gentleman caller" she receives on dark Christmas Eve. Nov. 3-Dec. 9 @ The Little Room Downstairs Studio, 2326 Bissonnet, 713/522-LRDS (5737).

• 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. Through 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.

• Company. Stephen Sondheim, considered one of Broadway's greatest composers, examines life, love, & relationships in this groundbreaking musical about a bachelor named Robert and his friends, all of whom are in various stages of coupledom. Nov. 24-Dec. 31 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713/52-STAGE.

• Forever Tango 2000 is presented by Society for the Performing Arts. Feel the heat in this steamy Broadway romp that traces origins of the tango from the brothels of turn-of-the-century Buenos Aires to the elegant drawing rooms of the Parisian society. The fine orchestra with top-notch string section plus bandoneon quartet is as compelling as the dancers. Nov. 7-12 @ Wortham Center Cullen Theater. Matinee & evening performances. Tickets available at 713/227-4SPA or through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com.

• Grandpa Hangs the Holly is a warm holiday comedy that explores family relationships. Adults $9; students/seniors $8; matinees $7 (all seats). Nov. 3-Dec. 2 (matinees Nov. 19 & 26) @ Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd, 713/682-3525.

• Hard Time is a dark & sexy prison comedy which takes you into the depths of prison life to witness the animalistic behavior of men behind bars. Jeff Stryker plays the lead role. The play contains full nudity & sexual situations (no one under 18 will be admitted) and has played to packed audiences in West Hollywood, San Francisco, San Diego, & New York. Tickets are $35 ($45 for the front row). Through Nov. 12 @ Ashland St. Theatre Co., 2610 Ashland, 713/426-3019.

• Houston Ballet rings in the holiday season with 36 performances of Ben Stevenson's staging of The Nutcracker. In the ballet, a little girl named Clara receives a magical nutcracker on Christmas Eve, and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets. Nov. 24-Dec. 30 @ the Wortham Center. Tickets $11.50-$67.50 can be purchased by calling 713/227-ARTS (2787). (The "Nutty" Nutcracker, a spoof of The Nutcracker, caps the run with a 7:30 pm performance on Dec. 30; for this performance, tickets are $11.50-$76.50.)

• Houston Grand Opera opens its 46th season with a new production of Bizet's popular masterpiece Carmen. Through Nov. 11. o Also in November: 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. Through Nov. 12. o 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.

• The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives by Kathy Najimy & Mo Gaffney. 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. Tickets are $18 & $20. Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, Nov. 10-Dec. 10 @ Theater LaB Houston, 1706 Alamo, 713/868-7516.

• Misery. 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." Through Nov. 18 @ The Little Room Downstairs Studio, 2328 Bissonnet, 713/522-LRDS (5737).

• Release Yearning delves deeply into the issue of separation, both personal & institutional. Setting the scene are characters Emma, visiting a man on death row as a political statement, and Cam, the inmate. Emma falls in love with Cam which leads her through a series of actions including smuggling contraband to her imprisoned lover and providing Cam with the means to end his life before the state does it for him. 8 pm, Nov. 12-Dec. 17 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/355-3445.

• Sin. From the writer of The House of Yes comes a devilishly funny contemporary morality play set in San Francisco on the eve of the 1989 earthquake. The story centers on helicopter traffic reporter "Avery Bly on High" who is trying to keep herself above life's messiness. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband is an alcoholic, her roommate is a glutton, she's trapped in a helicopter with an envious co-worker, and her blind dates are disasters. It takes the death of her brother to teach her that pride is the deadliest of all sins, and it takes an act of God to bring her down to earth. Tickets $14 (students/seniors $10). Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, Nov. 17-Dec. 31 @ Actors Theatre of Houston, 2506 South Boulevard, 713/529-6606.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• Frosty the Snowman. The children of Glenville have a unique, new friend. His name is Frosty, and he is a snowman who can walk, talk, dance, & even sing! Saturdays at 11 am & 1:30 pm, Nov. 11-Dec. 30 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219. Tickets $6 (reservations recommended).

• Shakespeare, Rattle & Role. Doth Shakespeare giveth you the willies? Hath poetry become a plague unto thee? Then this one's for you! InterActive Theater Company continues the 2000-2001 season with a brand-spankin'-new look at some really old plays. So for everyone whoever thought Shakespeare was difficult or outdated, here's an hour-long revue of his best comedies, tragedies, & histories presented especially for children. Tuesdays-Fridays at 9 & 11 am, Saturdays at 11 am, through Dec. 16 (no performances Nov. 21-25) @ Lambert Hall Performing Arts Center, 1703 Heights Blvd. at W. 17th St. Tickets $5 for children & adults. Info/reservations: 713/862-7112.

• The Toys Take Over Christmas. Pre-K through 4th graders can experience the power of loyalty, love, & compassion in this story of a very special rag doll; entertaining & educational. Tickets are $8; $6 a ticket for groups of 10 or more. Nov. 25-Dec. 23 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, Allen Parkway at Waugh, 713/52-STAGE.

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 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 substituted 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.

• 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.

• Palace marks the U.S. premiere of new work by three Swedish artists. The exhibition features a parallel & partially intertwined presentation of works about the passage of time & the impermanent nature of life. Nov. 3-Dec. 16 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/223-8346.

• To the Rescue: Eight Artists in an Archive. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has accumulated an archive of more than 50,000 photographs, films, videotapes, oral histories, & documents pertaining to its relief efforts. Artists were invited to create works in response to the archive. These paintings, sculptures, photographs, & multi-media installations are presented alongside those pieces from the archives. Through Dec. 1 @ Contemporary Arts Museum, 5216 Montrose Blvd., 713/284-8250.