THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US

November 1-30

The Coal Camp Madonna is a heartwarming holiday story suitable for the entire family. Tickets $10 (students/seniors $9, matinees $8 [all seats]). November 1-30 @ Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd, 713/682-3525.

November 15

Sing Along Santa. Though we're pretty sure this wasn't intended to be gay, Santa makes his entrance in purple and, during the show, displays a wardrobe in the colors of the rainbow! Anyway, Sing Along is interactive and plays on a grand scale in what could be called a theatrical caroling party. Tickets $10-$25. 5:30 and 8 p.m., Friday, November 15, @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 800/821-1894, www.thegrand.com.

November 21-December 31

Yuletide at Bayou Bend. For this annual celebration, eight rooms on the first floor of Bayou Bend, the former home of Houston philanthropist Miss Ima Hogg, are decorated to reflect seasonal events. $10 adults, $8.50 seniors (65+)/students with ID, and $5 children (10-18). November 21-December 31. Reservations are required. For more info/reservations, call 713/639-7750.

November 23-December 22

Black Nativity. Audiences are transported through gospel music and dance from the splendor of the first Nativity in Bethlehem to a spirited Christmas Eve service in a Harlem gospel church. Black Nativity plays from November 23-December 22 @ the Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. For ticket info/reservations, call 713/520-0055.

November 23-December 24

The Toys Take Over Christmas. A show for families of all faiths, Toys reminds us of the power of generosity and love. A very special rag doll teaches her fellow toys and their creator that it is never too late to find the joy of forgiveness and compassion. November 23-December 24, @ Stages Repetory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets are $8. For more info/reservations, call 713/527-0220 or visit www.stagestheatre.com.

November 23, 2002-January 4, 2003

Frosty the Snowman. The children of Glenville love their unique new friend who can walk, talk, dance, and even sing! When Magnificent Max tempts Frosty into show business, he has to make an important decision with help from all of his new friends. 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Saturdays, November 23, 2002-January 4, 2003, @ the Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square. Tickets are $6. Reservations recommended: 713/726-1219.

November 26-December 29

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. After seven years in celestial limbo, Jacob Marley is in a bind: Either redeem Ebenezer Scrooge before Christmas morning or face eternal punishment. When haunting and chain rattling fall flat, Marley desperately attempts a series of cosmic tricks to put Scrooge on the road to righteousness-and save himself in the bargain. Five actors play dozens of roles. Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol plays from November 26-December 29 @ Stages Repetory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets are $32-$42 (preview performances $22-$25). For more info/reservations, call 713/527-0220 or visit www.stagestheatre.com.

November 28

Thanksgiving Day Parade. On Thanksgiving morning, about 400,000 spectators are expected to line the streets of downtown Houston for the 53rd annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 28, and will be televised on Channel 11 (CBS).

November 28

Dysfunctional Family Thanksgiving. Now in its fifth year, Dysfunctional Family Thanksgiving dishes up a daylong marathon of films-comedies, dramas, shorts, documentaries-certain to soothe, or at least distract, jangled holiday revelers. Films include Kurt & Courtney, Happiness, and The Virgin Suicides. Thursday, November 28, all day on the Sundance Channel. For a complete listing, go to www.sundancechannel.com.

November 29-December 29

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas is the touching story of the miserly old Scrooge who goes from "Bah, Humbug!" to "Merry Christmas!" From youngsters to the young at heart, audiences laugh with delight and scream with fright throughout Dickens' entertaining story of Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. A Christmas Carol plays from November 29-December 29 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. For ticket info/reservations, call 713/228-8421 or visit www.alleytheatre.org.

November 29-December 29

The Nutcracker. Set in 19th-century Germany, the ballet opens at a Christmas party at which the mysterious magician Dr. Drosselmeyer gives his little niece Clara a magical toy that takes her on an unforgettable holiday journey. The Nutcracker runs from November 29-December 29 @ Wortham Center's Brown Theater, Texas Ave. at Smith St. Tickets available at the ballet box office at the Wortham, at the Houston Ballet at 1916 W. Gray, by phone at 713/227-ARTS, or online at www.houstonballet.org.

December 5

Gloria. It's Christmas music by Handel, Vivaldi, and Corrette presented by the Mercury Baroque Ensemble. Tuesday, December 5. For info/tickets, call 713/498-4853, e-mail Mercury@houston.rr.com, or visit www.MercuryBaroqueEnsemble.org.

December 6, 2002-January 11, 2003

As It Is in Heaven is a new play that explores how a Shaker community in 1830s rural Kentucky reacts when several of its younger members claim to see angels. This Houston premiere plays at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, December 6, 2002-January 11, 2003, @ the Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square. Tickets are $12. Reservations recommended: 713/726-1219.

NOVEMBER CALENDER OF EVENTS

Daily (Mon.-Fri.)

HIV Testing. HCHD Thomas Street Clinic is offering HIV testing free to the public, 9 am-1 pm. There is no need to establish eligibility ("gold-card"), no donation will be asked of the person seeking testing, and the test is free. Thomas Street Clinic, 2015 Thomas, 713/873-4157 or 713/873-4026.

Daily (Mon.-Sat.)

HIV Testing. The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing at these flocations. Monday: Bricks, 617 Fairview, 4-8 pm; Keys West, 817 W. Dallas, 8 pm-midnite; Club Xcape, 2612 South Richey, 9 pm-midnite. Tuesday: The 611 Club, 611 Hyde Park, 4-8 pm; The Briar Patch, 2294 W. Holcombe, 8 pm-midnite; The Club Houston, 2205 Fannin, 8 pm-midnite. Wednesday: Mary's, 1022 Westheimer, 4-8 pm; Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 803 Hawthorne, 6-9 pm; Ripcord, 715 Fairview, 9 pm-midnite; EJ's, 2517 Ralph, 10 pm-1 am; Midtowne Spa, 3100 Fannin, 10 pm-1 am. Thursday: The Outpost, 1419 Richmond, 4-8 pm; Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos, 8 pm-midnite; Cousins, 817 Fairview, 8 pm-midnite; Toyz Disco, 5322 Glenmont, 10 pm-1 am. Friday: Club Escandalo, 2053 Wirt, 8-10 pm; Viviana's, 5219 Washington, 10 pm-midnite; Midtowne Spa, 3100 Fannin, 10 pm-1 am; Club Kalipso, 6806 Longpoint, midnite-2 am. Saturday: Club Inergy, 5750 Chimney Rock, 9 pm-midnite. The clinic offers classes for those newly diagnosed with HIV or Hepatitis C. For more info: 713/830-3000.

3 (Sun.)

Mel White. At PFLAG's general meeting, hear Mel White's account of his move to a home in Lynchburg, VA, across the street from Jerry Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church. He moved there recently with Gary Nixon, his life partner of more than 20 years. Falwell, notorious for his condemnation of those in the GLBT community, is a conservative minister, televangelist, and chancellor of Liberty University. 2 pm @ Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave. For more info: 713/467-3524.

3 & 16 (Sun. & Sat.)

Get Centered. At these wellness & psychic expos, explore alternative healthcare medicine & products, including vitamins & magnets. Try aroma-therapy, acupressure, reflexology, & more. Entry $2. 1-5 pm @ CenterPoint for Body, Mind & Spirit, 1920 Hollister, 713/932-7224, www.centerpoint houston.com. Also: yoga, t'ai chi, pilates, feng shui, & meditation, all starting Nov. 4.

7, 16, & 24 (Thu., Sat., & Sun.)

Family to Family Adoptions, Inc., a nonprofit licensed agency, is offering a free adoption seminar discussing how to adopt a child in less than one year. They currently have programs in the U.S., Guatemala, Bulgaria, Russia, & other countries. They work with single men, single women, & couples 25 to 65 years of age. Everyone will be given a free informational packet. On the 7th: 6:30-8:30 pm, Methodist Hospital, 16655 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. On the 16th: 1-4 pm @ Family to Family Adoptions, 1000 Austin St., Ste. B, Richmond, TX. On the 24th: 6:30-8:30 pm @ Clear Lake Hospital, 500 Medical Center Blvd., Webster, TX. For more info: call 713/249-5941; e-mail info@fam2fam.org or Fam2fam@aol.com; or visit www.fam2fam.org.

8 (Fri.)

ComedySportz, Houston's longest-running improvisational comedy show, celebrates its 12th anniversary with a benefit for Gilda's Club, a free, emotional & social support community for people with cancer & their family & friends. Tickets $12. A silent auction will also take place which will include donations from some of the finest restaurants, salons, & entertainment offerings in Houston. 8 pm @ Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. at 17th St. More info: 713/868-1444.

8 & 9 (Fri. & Sat.)

Ballet Preljocaj. Society for the Performing Arts presents the Houston debut of the bold, innovative Ballet Preljocaj from France. Performances include Helikopter and The Rite of Spring, both contemporary works by choreographer Angelin Preljocaj. In Helikopter, Preljocaj takes music by Karlheinz Stockhausen and puts against it a gamut of dancers & video projections, thereby transforming the militaristic whir of helicopter blades into a demanding dance of majestic beauty. Stravinsky's modern classical creation The Rite of Spring has been described as "an atomic bomb of new music." Because the piece was so contemporary & primal, its Paris permiere in 1913 caused a great scandal. Preljocaj has not abandoned Stravinsky's initial intent, but has instead embraced it as a work that is just as much about enthrallment as it is about a feeling of ancestral terror. 8 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. Tickets ($29-$55) can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713/227-4SPA, or at the street level box office at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. For more info: Society for the Performing Arts, 713/227-4772.

8 (Fri.)

GoGirlsMusicFest "Get Hip to Hep C" Concert Tour raises awareness of Hepatitis C and benefits the American Liver Foundation. Features Cowboy's Nightmare (TX), Carol Plunk (TN), Elizabeth White (TX), Mandy G. Smith (TX), & Kelly's Lot (CA). It will be a night of great music & fun and benefiting a great cause. The first 75 people in the door will receive a free GoGirlsMusicFest CD featuring Carol Plunk and Kelly's Lot. Tickets $10. Doors open at 8 pm @ The Rhythm Room, 1815 Washington Ave. More info: www.GoGirlsMusicFest.com.

9 (Sat.)

Stargazer 2002. This movie & autograph show, which is the largest in Texas, will include tables of modern & vintage autographs, posters, stills, books, magazines, cartoon & comic art, old TV/movies on video, and drawings for door prizes throughout the day. 10 am-8 pm @ the recently remodeled Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 7787 Katy Frwy near I-10 & Antoine. Admission $5 (chil-dren under 12 free). Info: Robert Cullen at 713/365-0266 (after 6 pm).

10 (Sun.)

In the Heat of the Night. Winner of five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor (Rod Steiger), this 1967 film is a Civil Rights-era murder mystery that focuses on Southern race relations. In Sparta, Mississippi, a wealthy industrialist is murdered and Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) is arrested for the crime. When a phone call confirms that Tibbs is a police pathologist from Philadelphia, Sparta's sheriff (Steiger) is persuaded to enlist Tibbs's help with the investigation. Directed by Norman Jewison. 7 pm @ the Museum of Fine Arts (Brown Auditorium), 1001 Bissonnet. Admission is $6 ($5 members. seniors, students w/valid ID). For more info: 713/639-7515 or www.mfah.org.

10 (Sun.)

Mr. Prime Choice Benefit is in memory of Creath Robinson, Mr. Prime Choice 2001-2002. Benefits the Gulf Coast Archives and Museum & the Colt 45's. 8 pm @ the Ripcord, 715 Fairview. For more info: Robert Harwood at 713/571-7870 (M-F, 3-9 pm).

10 & 24 (Sun.)

The Fragility of Civil and Religious Liberty. From the selection of school textbooks, to a woman's right to choose abortion, to prayer in schools, to a general repression of human sexuality, to surveillance of potential terrorists and the establishment of "homeland" security, good & well-meaning people are attempting to circumvent and to change our laws. How should people of liberal & progressive convictions react to the challenges to civil & religious liberty posed by the increasing influence of Christian fundamentalism in this country? What is the cost of doing nothing? St. Stephen's Episcopal Church explores these questions in a series of special Sunday evening services. Excerpts from literature & the arts frame the issue, and invited guest speakers respond, involving everyone present in dialogue. The final two in this series are scheduled for 6 pm @ St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1805 West Alabama at Woodhead, 713/528-6665.

11 (Mon.)

Listen Up. Peruvian novelist, author of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, The Feast of the Goat, The Green House, & many other books, Mario Vargas Llosa is considered one of Latin America's leading writers & a major contender for the Nobel Prize. His collection of essays, Making Waves, won the National Book Critics Circle Award, & he has received virtually every important international literary award. He is part of Inprint's 2002-2003 Margarett Root Brown Houston Reading Series. 7:30 pm @ Cullen Performance Hall, entrance #1, University of Houston campus. Suggested donation is $5 (students/senior citizens free). For more info: 713/521-2026 or www.inprint-inc.org.

16 (Sat.)

Gregory Hines. As a singer, dancer, & star of Broadway shows, Gregory Hines exemplifies the term "multi-talented." He has earned an Emmy nomination, Tony nominations, & a Tony win for Best Actor in a Musical in Jelly's Last Jam. And he proved his comedic talent in last season's Will & Grace. Hines' stage show incorporates his stage, film, & recording works. Tickets $39-$87. 8 pm @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 800/821-1894, www.thegrand.com.

17 (Sun.)

Homosexuality and the Bible video showing. There will be a lively video discussion by the Rev. Ken Martin (MCC Austin) of the Old and New Testament passages that have been used to support the belief that God condemns homosexuality. The Rev. Martin concludes that those looking for support of homophobia in the Bible are looking in the wrong place. Free of charge. 1 pm @ First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin Street, 713/526-5200.

17 (Sun.)

Society for the Performing Arts presents violinist Hilary Hahn in her Houston recital debut. Hahn, called "America's Best" young classical musician by Time magazine, will be accompanied by Natalie Zhu on piano. The program includes Ernest Bloch's Sonata for violin and piano No. 1, Franz Schubert's Sonata for violin and piano in A Major, J.S. Bach's Partita No. 3 in E Major for solo violin, and Claude Debussy's Sonata for violin and piano. 7 pm @ Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. Tickets ($29-$45) can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713/227-4SPA, or at the street level box office at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. For more info: Society for the Performing Arts, 713/227-4772.

19-23 (Tue.-Sat.)

Jason Stuart. The openly gay comic & character actor travels to Austin with his outrageous stand-up act @ the Capitol City Comedy Club, 512/467-2333. For more info: www.jasonstuart.com.

22 (Fri.)

Three Mo' Tenors is presented by Society for the Performing Arts. Inspired by the incredible versatility of African-American operatic tenors, Three Mo' Tenors takes your spirit, body, & mind on a fantastic, memorable, & awe-inspiring musical journey. It was conceived & directed by Broadway director Marion J. Caffey, who has forged an entertaining, theatrically staged concert for the whole family. Three Mo' Tenors stars the three vocalists Victor Trent Cook, Rodrick Dixon, & Thomas Young. Together, they explore seven musical forms and span 400 years of music in a single evening. They hit high C's in opera, belt out Broadway, bend & scat notes in jazz, and stir your soul with haunting gospel & spirituals. 8 pm @ Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. Tickets ($15-$55) can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713/227-4SPA, or at the street level box office at Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. For more info: Society for the Performing Arts, 713/227-4772.

22 & 23 (Fri. & Sat.)

Cabaret. What good is sitting alone in your room when you can sit with others to see the hit musical Cabaret? Winner of four 1998 Tony awards including Best Revival, this production brings the seedy glamour of the legendary Kit Kat Club to Galveston. Tickets $18.50-$67. 8 pm on Friday, 3 & 8 pm on Saturday, @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 800/821-1894, www.thegrand.com.

23 (Sat.)

10th Annual Artists' Warehouse ArtCrawl. The downtown Artists Warehouse District involves approximately 100 artists from a neighborhood cluster of more than 10 warehouses. Interwoven into this unique urban fabric of artist-rejuvenated warehouses are commercial art galleries, nonprofit organizations, restaurants, residential apartments, & sundry businesses. This diverse creative community consistently uses the Saturday before Thanksgiving to open their studio & workshop doors and invite the public to experience where they work & how they work. Bring your checkbook & take home an original artwork! (MasterCard & Visa not accepted.) Metro trolleys provided free to shuttle visitors from one warehouse to the next. Trolley maps available at each warehouse. Free parking available underneath I-10 between Main St. & San Jacinto, or park at any warehouse. Info: 713/229-9760.

23 & 24 (Sat. & Sun.)

The Salt Grass Potters will host its annual holiday sale for original hand-thrown & hand-built pottery, everything from functional tableware, decorative sculpture, magical fountains, & colorful tiles. 6-9 pm on Saturday, 10 am-5 pm on Sunday, @ the Clear Lake Meeting Room, 5002 Nasa Road One. For more info, call 281/331-7918, 281/337-6090, 281/332-4490, or visit www.saltgrasspotters.org.

29 & 30 (Fri. & Sat.)

Grease. The 5th-longest-running musical in Broadway history, Grease is the story about the "leader of the pack" who meets his bobby-sox sweetheart and proves once & for all ... rock 'n' roll is king. Tickets $18.50-$67. 8 pm on Friday, 3 & 8 pm on Saturday, @ Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, 800/821-1894, www.thegrand.com.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR DECEMBER

December 1 (Sun.)

Help the Needy Drive. For the 21st year, B'nai B'rith will hold its annual drive. Bring nonperishable food, clothing, & toys, which will go to the Greater Houston Interfaith Ministries pantries. 8 am-sundown @ JCC, 5601 South Braeswood.

December 4 (Wednesday)

A Little Day Music. Da Camera of Houston's free lunchtime performance series continues with Guitarras del Sur: Spanish Inspirations featuring Edward Grigassy and Rodrigo Gamboa. The series features live music & drawings for tickets to Da Camera's upcoming events. For this free event, concertgoers are encouraged to bring & enjoy their lunches while listening to the music. Noon in the Grand Foyer @ the Wortham Theater Center, Texas Ave. at Smith. For more info: 713/524-7601, ext. 15, or visit www.dacamera.com.

PERFORMING ARTS

• Bedroom Farce. Three bedrooms on stage display all the chaotic hilarity during one night in which a couple's attempts to deal with their marriage ruffle not only beds, but tempers, marriages, & the domestic harmony of three other couples. Tickets $12. Fridays & Saturdays, 8 pm, throughNov. 16 @ The Company Onstage, 536 Westbury Square, 713/726-1219.

• The Coming Out Party. Theatre New West opens its 2002-2003 season with the southwest premiere, and the first production outside of New York and Los Angeles, of the smash comedy The Coming Out Party by John Michael Caffey. Adapted from Caffey's Pen Award-winning novel (outstanding fiction), The Coming Out Party is a gay Pygmalion set in West Hollywood, circa 1977, and played to sold-out houses in New York City and Los Angeles. "It's much better than La Cage aux Folles" (L.A. Times). Directed by Joe Watts. Through Nov. 23 (Fridays & Saturdays, 8 pm; Sunday, Nov. 17, 3 pm) @ Theatre New West, 1415 California. Tickets $20. Reservations/info: 713/394-0464.

• The Drawer Boy. The play's central characters are haunted by the devastating injuries they suffered in World War II. When an eager young actor, researching material for a new play, uses their story-and the secrets they have harbored-the line between truth & storytelling is irrevocably blurred. Tickets $32-$42. Through Nov. 10 @ Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713/527-0123, www.stagestheatre.com.

• Frame 312, Keith Reddin's latest work, takes its name from a crucial frame of the Zapruder film that captured John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. In 1963, a Life magazine secretary is one of only three people to view the historic 22-second film in its entirety. Forty years later, as the only surviving witness, she grapples with a haunting secret and whether to reveal it to her family. Through Nov. 24 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. For ticket info: 713/228-8421 or www.alleytheatre.org.

• The General from America. Corin Redgrave (who received a Tony nomination for his performance in the Alley's Not About Nightingales) plays Benedict Arnold in this historical drama about the circumstances surrounding the general's decision to defect to the British during the American Revolution. Richard Nelson (a Tony Award-winning playwright) directs the play. Through Nov. 9 @ the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets to preview performances: $20-$40; tickets after the Oct. 16 opening: $35-$50. Tickets can purchased at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley box office, or by calling 713/228-8421.

• Houston Grand Opera presents La Bohème and Ariodante. • The 48th season opens with Puccini's La Bohème, a timeless story of friends' camaraderie & of lost love. This new production moves the tale of struggling Parisian artists to the start of World War I. With bodies returning from the front, our young Bohemian heroes lose both their innocence & idealism. Through Nov. 16. • Ariodante: For the first time, American mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, a native of Texas, sings the pants role of the prince Ariodante, joined by soprano Alexandra Coku as his beloved princess. Through Nov. 17. • Both @ Wortham Center's Brown Theater, Texas Ave. at Smith St. Tickets (La Bohème $15-$250; Ariodante $10-$250) available at www.houstongrandopera.org, 713/228-OPERA, or in the Wortham Center's lobby.

• Killer Karaoke and Come Up and Slay Me Sometime are presented by Mystery Café, home of Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. • Killer Karaoke: The Gulf Coast Regional Semi-Final Three Steps Before National Silver Microphone Karaoke Competition will continue, despite an "accidental" fire and a crazed karaoke serial killer stalking the contestants. Anybody who's actually listened to karaoke will probably side with the killer, if they can figure out his or her identity. • Come Up and Slay Me Sometime: Bathtub gin isn't the only illegal thing going on in this 1920s floating speakeasy-there's a dead body lying around, and nobody can call the cops. Featuring special appearances by Mae West, Charles Lindbergh, and Abraham Lincoln. • Killer Karaoke plays Fridays; Come Up and Slay Me Sometime plays Saturdays. Both shows are presented at 8 pm @ Marriott West Loop, 1750 West Loop South at San Felipe. Reservations required: 713/944-2583 or www.mysterycafehouston.com.

• The Laramie Project. A new resident theater company, etc (east-end theatre company), has formed on Galveston Island. Comprised of experienced theatrical professionals, the nonprofit etc promises to produce consistent, high-quality live theater of a wide variety, with a primary emphasis on innovative and "cutting-edge" plays. As etc's founding director Kim Mytelka says, "We rely on 'the kindness of strangers' for a successful start." True to its commitment to innovative drama, etc has chosen The Laramie Project as its premiere production. A powerful piece based on the prejudicial battering death of Matthew Shepard in 1998, this series of vignettes was taken from the actual documented facts of the case, interviews, & journals of those close to the crime. Written by Moises Kaufman & the Members of the Tectonic Theatre Project. 8 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays, and 2:30 pm on Sundays, Nov. 1-16 @ 2001 Postoffice. Tickets available through The Grand 1894 Opera House box office at 800-821-1894 or www.TheGrand.com. More info regarding the play or etc sponsorship & volunteer opportunities: 409/762-3556 or Islandetc@aol.com.

• Over the River and through the Woods. Nick's parents have moved to Florida and his sister to California, but he still lives in New York City and visits his Italian immigrant grandparents-both sets-for dinner every Sunday. This week Nick faces a dilemma: He'd like to tell his grandparents that he's been offered a job in another city, but he can't get a word in edgewise. He faces an uphill battle in trying to extircate himself from these loving but exasperating family ties. Nov. 7-Dec. 15 @ Main Street Theater in Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets are $20-$30. For more info: 713/524-6706 or www.mainstreet theater.com.

• A Soap Opera by the Kinks, presented by Infernal Bridegroom Productions. Released in 1975, A Soap Opera isn't just a rock opera about rock 'n' roll, it contains some of composer Ray Davies' most purely satisfying songs ever. Nov. 8-30 @ the Axiom, 2524 McKinney. Tickets $12-$17. There will be a sneak preview performance on Thurs., Nov. 7 (tickets will be $35). Info: 713/522-8443 or www.infernalbridegroom.com.

• Top Gun! The Musical. All at Mach 3! If you see only one musical comedy about mounting a mega-musical based on the movies, make it Top Gun! The Musical. You'll laugh. You'll hum. You'll believe a jet can fly! (This is worth seeing for the title alone!) Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Nov. 16-Dec. 14 @ Theatre LaB Houston, 1706 Alamo. (Opening night is Wed., Nov. 13, 8 p.m., and there are two Sunday matinees, Dec. 1 & 8 at 5 p.m.) Tickets $20 in advance, $22 at the door. To reserve tickets: 713/868-7516.

PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• The Sorcerer's Other Apprentice. Chip wants to be a real wizard, not just an apprentice. Merwyn, a wise sorcerer, sends Chip on a quest where he meets an independent princess & a fiercely funny dragon, and discovers that he is a real wizard after all. Tickets $6. Sat., 11 am & 1:30 pm, Nov. 2 & 9 @ the Company Onstage, 536 Westbury, 713/726-1219.

RADIO

• After Hours. Saturdays, midnight to 3 am. Featuring the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. KPFT 90.1 FM, 713/526-5738.

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

ART/PHOTOGRAPHY

• Artworks-Houston features three Houston artists for November: C. Ellen Hart for wall art, Alla Stefanski for jewelry, and Susan Cobb for ceramics. Established to meet the growing need for affordable contemporary artworks & gifts from local/regional artists & Israel, Artworks carries giftware, home & office accessories, & antique to modern wall art. Artworks works with individuals, designers, & decorators. 2470 Times Blvd. at Kelvin. Mon.-Thurs., noon-6 pm; Fri., noon-4:30 pm; and Sat., 3-5 pm. The store will open by appointment by calling 713/521-2233.

• Asian Vision. Thai artist Ithipol Thangchalok's decisive & intricate strokes, which focus on the power of nature and light, are energizing and have an electrifying feel. The semi-abstract works of Thai artist Tawatchai Somkong capture the true essence of the metaphysical world, revealing his journey in India for many years. Singapore artist Syed Mahmood Aljunied's works reveal the power of dancing waves and the flight of nature. Japanese artist Kyoko Ebina's "Person's Desires" captures the human search for self-expression. Chinese artist Yang Jin Long's fresh & colorful pieces are deep yet subtle. All of these works are presented by Iklektik Designs from Nov. 4-Dec. 7 @ Mo Mong, 1201 Westheimer, #B, 713/524-5664. Opening reception at Mo Mong: 7-9 pm, Thurs., Nov. 7. For more info on the artists: Iklektik Designs at 713/647-8542 or visit their website at www.iklektik.com.

• Bamboo Roof, an outdoor site-specific installation commissioned by Rice University Art Gallery, will be created by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. The work will feature an expansive open-weave canopy of bamboo boards that spans the gallery plaza. The opening celebration: Sat., Nov. 9, with a lecture by Ban at 2 pm at Hamman Hall on Rice campus. More info: 713/348-6069 or www.rice.edu/ruag.

• The Michael Smith Series. Houston-based Nicholas Bakaysa's painterly interest lies in observing his subjects close up and often in their own domestic landscapes. This most recent body of work considers Michael Smith, a personal friend of the artist, in a variety of activities that form an intimately observed narrative of Smith's daily life. Through Nov. 23 @ Joan Wich & Co. Gallery, 402 Main, 2nd floor, 713/227-2480 or www.joanwichgallery.com.

• Roxy Paine/Second Nature focuses on two distinct-yet-interrelated bodies of Paine's work: monumental art-making machines & naturalistic, botanical environments. These two types of work illustrate a reversal between the artist, whose repetitive processes are machinelike, and machines, which are programmed to emulate human art-making. Through Jan. 12, 2003, & the Contemporary Arts Museum, 5216 Montrose Blvd., 713/284-8255, www.camh.org.

• "See America First": The Prints of H.C. Wester-man includes over 45 lithographs, linoleum cuts, & woodblock prints, along with selected working drawings, related finished drawings, color proof variations, alternate print states, and selected linocut & wood blocks that will be shown alongside the editioned prints. Through Nov. 17 @ the Contemporary Arts Museum, 5216 Montrose Blvd., 713/284-8250.

• UN Real Estates is the first national touring solo exhibition of new work by the award-winning Cuban American artist Maria Elena Gonzalez. The gallery becomes a landing zone for sculptural "flying carpets" that double as mobile real estate and inspire thoughts of freedom, flight, ascension, & desire. Nov. 1-Dec. 14 @ DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, 713/335-3445, www.diverseworks.org.

• Watercolors by Richard Byrd are still-life paintings inspired by contemporary urban life. Some of his subject matter includes Asian-inspired floral arrangements, martinis, & other home accessories. Byrd, a native Houstonian, has had his work displayed in numerous exhibitions and is a member of the Watercolor Art Society of Houston and Art League, Houston. Through Nov. 22 @ Loft & Home Essentials, 1009 Missouri St. at Montrose, 713/522-5638.