Get the most out of the month with OUTSMART’s top entertainment picks.
Compiled by Nancy Ford
See also ‘Broadway Bares’
ONGOING
• Stella Link Seville Pride Pageant, held in memory of Elmer Shehane who died earlier this year, elects Miss, Mr., and Ms. Gay Pride Houston to raise funds for Montrose Counseling Center’s Capitol Campaign. Winners of the pageant were announced in May after press time, but all three winners perform at various neighborhood nightclubs throughout June and the coming year. Details: www.montrosecounselingcenter.com.
• Houston GLBT History Project — displayed by Washington Mutual — features historical memorabilia from RMCC’s archives and Gulf Coast Archives and Museum. The project moves to the Pride Festival on June 28. Free admission. 4313 Montrose Blvd. Details: www.gcam.org.
JUNE 1
• Caring Cabaret, an evening of entertainment presented by pianist Roger Woest and friends, benefits Bering Omega Community Services. 6 p.m. Ovations Cabaret, 2536 Times Blvd. Tickets: $50–$100. Details: Brenda Bailey, 713/341-3762.
• Posh Paws. Cantoni, one of Houston’s finest contemporary furniture stores, kicks off Posh Paws, a program that helps rescue and support animals at risk. In addition to the gala and auction scheduled June 28, events each weekend include an appearance by Radar the weather dog and trainer Jim Burwell. Benefits Homeless Pets Placement League, Homeless & Orphaned Pets Endeavor, and Friends for Life. 7 p.m. Cantoni Houston, 9889 Westheimer Rd. Details: cantoni.com/poshpaws.
JUNE 4
• The Houston GLBT Political Caucus meets to endorse some of the candidates in the upcoming fall election. Houston City Councilmember Wanda Adams sponsors this month’s meeting, which begins with a reception. 6:30 p.m. Havens Center, 1827 W. Alabama St. Details: www.hglbtpc.org.
JUNE 7
• The Rainbow Health Fair for women offers free mammograms and Pap smears (by appointment); HIV and STD, total cholesterol, and blood sugar testing; A1C for diabetics; blood typing; oral screening for cancer; nutrition counseling; and information about living wills and related legal matters, as well as assorted health education and materials. Presented by Lesbian Health Initiative-Houston. 8:15 a.m. ‘til 3:15 p.m. Legacy Community Health Services, 215 Westheimer Rd. Details: 713/426-3356, www.lhihouston.org.
• Tranny Q is an afternoon of barbecue, fun, and games for members and friends of the transgender community. There’s no admission charge, but guests are encouraged to bring food for the potluck meal. Noon. Vanity: A Trans-formation Studio, 1442 Yale St. Details: www.transhouston.com, Vanity Wilde at 832/767-3252.
JUNE 10
Official Pride Houston Event. Get the rules, regulations, and last-minute information for entries in Pride Houston’s 2008 GLBT Pride Parade at this mandatory meeting. 7 p.m. Resurrection MCC, 2025 W. 11th St. Details: www.pirdehouston.com.
JUNE 11
.Leslie Jorda(Emmy Award-winning actor, Will & Grace, pictured) discusses and signs copies of his new book, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet (see ReadOut on page 138 for an excerpt). 5 p.m. Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Town & Country Village, 12850 Memorial Dr. Suite 1600. Details: 713/465-5616. Jordan later performs his show based on the book at Cullen Theatre. 8 p.m. 510 Preston St. Tickets: $45–$70. Details: 866/55-TICKETS.
• Houston Gay and Lesbian Parents meet for an agenda-less, informal dinner for newcomers and long-time members. 6:30 p.m. Buffalo Grille, 3116 Bissonnet. Details: www.hglp.org.
JUNE 12
Official Pride Houston Event. Pride Idol, Pride Houston’s local version of American Idol, continues. Vocalists compete for free production of demo CD, an opportunity to perform at the Pride Festival, and more. Pictured: Charlotte Simmons, last year’s winner. 9:30 p.m. Guava Lamp, 570 Waugh Dr. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
JUNE 13
HATCH Alternative Prom
Inspired by Pride Houston’s 2008 theme, We Are Family, the 16th annual prom transforms the first floor at Montrose Counseling Center, the youth group’s new home, into a disco. 1970s attire is recommended but not required. Benefits HATCH. Pictured: HATCH members crowned as prom royalty last year. Tickets: $25 for adults; free for youth ages 13–20. Details: 713/529-3590.
JUNE 14
• Kindred Spirits’ Game Night Out. Join the Houston Comets at their new home, Reliant Arena, when Sheryl Swoopes, now playing for Seattle Storm, returns to face off against her former teammates. Tickets: $12–$32; no refunds. A portion of the proceeds helps Kindred Spirits support local women’s health programs. 7:30 p.m. Reliant Arena, 1 Reliant Park. Info: Shenita at 713/935-6511, [email protected].
• Space City Empire ‘s GingerVitus and Chanel Cartier present a Motown Review, featuring community entertainers. Benefits Bering Omega Dental Clinic, Omega House, and Lexy Bowen Community Fund. EJ’s, 2517 Ralph St. Details: www.spacecityempire.org.
JUNE 19
Official Pride Houston Event. Pride Idol, Pride Houston’s local version of American Idol, continues. See June 12 for details.
JUNE 20
Official Pride Houston Event. The Friends of Pride Wine Tasting & Silent Auction. Contributors are invited to this signature fundraising event, which features wines from around the world. 6–9 p.m. Location TBA on the tickets. Benefits Pride Houston. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
JUNE 21
• The Independent Billiard League of Houston presents its 12th annual Houston Billiard Open. 10 a.m. Slick Willie’s Family Pool Hall, 1200 Westheimer Rd. Tickets: $20–$25, with raffle tickets for prizes from local merchants beginning at $5. Benefits Pet Patrol. Details: www.hbo.iblhouston.com.
• Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston, under leadership of artistic director James Knapp, celebrates Pride month with a concert featuring singer/songwriter Mike Ator (pictured) performing his composition, “Angel Beside Me.” The program, which Ator and GMCH repeats at GALA Festival VIII in Miami in July, also includes Robert Seeley’s “Metamophosis” and GMCH greatest hits. 7 p.m. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. Info: www.bayoucityperformingarts.org.
• True Colors, a music festival founded by Cyndi Lauper (pictured), benefits the Human Rights Campaign and other nonprofit groups through the True Colors Fund. 6 p.m. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands. See page 65.
JUNE 22
• The Independent Billiard League of Houston ‘s 12th Annual Houston Billiard Open concludes. See June 21 for details.
• The Annual GLBT Interfaith Pride Service calls together clergy and lay people representing various religious traditions to worship. Led by Resurrection MCC pastor Dwayne Johnson, with a reception following. 7 p.m. Resurrection MCC, 2025 W. 11th St. Details: 713/861-9149, www.resurrectionmcc.org.
JUNE 26
• Official Pride Houston Event. Pride Idol, Pride Houston’s local version of American Idol, concludes. See June 12 for details.
• Lawrence vs. Texas 5th Anniversary. The Supreme Court case that determined all sodomy laws unconstitutional originated here in Houston with the arrest of John Lawrence and Tyrone Gardner (pictured on OutSmart ‘s October 2003 cover). Houston’s GLBT Community Center commemorates the fifth anniversary of the historic decision with a bring-your-own potluck supper celebration, with Lawrence and his attorney, Mitchell Katine, in attendance. That evening, the community center also officially announces the establishment of a fund in Lawrence and Garner’s name, designed to award scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students pursuing higher education. 6:30–9 p.m. Bering & James art gallery, 805 Rhode Place, #500. Donation: $10. Details: 713/524-3818, www.hglbtcc.org.
JUNE27
• Official Pride Houston Event. Pride Kick-Off Party launches Pride Houston’s weekend of festivities with drag performances, a fashion show, and a local DJ. 7 p.m. Club Meteor, 2306 Genesee St. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
• Noche de Gala. GALLO, Houston’s Latino/a social group, celebrates Pride with Noche de Gala, a black-tie affair, with music by Avizo Band (pictured). 8 p.m. Greer & Lowdermilk Conference Center, 4225 Interwood N. Parkway. Tickets: $50–$1,000. Benefits GALLO’s scholarship fund, AIDS Foundation Houston’s Camp Hope, Lazarus House, Lexy Bowen Community Fund, and Houston GLBT Community Center. Details: www.gallo.org, 713/658-5198.
• Houston Pride Band celebrates 30 years of music, visibility, and pride with a spectacular concert. 7:30 p.m. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts’ Zilka Hall. See page 85.
• I’ve Got My Pride. Empire of the Royal, Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Single Star’s Christopher Prado presents I’ve Got My Pride, benefiting Legacy Community Health Services and AssistHers. 8 p.m. Tony’s Corner Pocket, 817 W. Dallas St. Details: [email protected].
JUNE 28
• Official Pride Houston Event. Pride Houston’s 2008 GLBT Pride Festival offers two entertainment stages, vendor booths, nonprofit organization information, the GLBT History exhibit, and more. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Free admission. Yoakum and Westheimer in the heart of Montrose. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
• Official Pride Houston Event. Houston’s GLBT Pride Parade, celebrating its 30th anniversary with the theme We Are Family, begins at Dunlavy Street and rolls east down Westheimer Rd. 8:45 p.m. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
• Official Pride Houston Event. The Pride After-Party concludes Pride Houston’s day-long festivities, with DJ Roland Belmares and a midnight show and photo op with adult video and men’s magazine star, Johnny Castle. South Beach, 810 Pacific St. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
• Posh Paws. Cantoni’s month-long series of Posh Paws events concludes with a gala and auction featuring 18 polyethylene puppies designed by Eero Aarnio embellished local personalities, and the Posh Paws Pageant (see June 1). 7 p.m. Cantoni Houston, 9889 Westheimer Rd. Details: www.cantoni.com/poshpaws.
JUNE 29
• Official Pride Houston Event. H-Town Strip combines the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of Broadway. 9 p.m. and midnight. RocBar, 530 Texas St. Tickets: $20–$25. Benefits Pride Houston and AIDS Foundation Houston (Pride parade grand marshal). Details: 713/529-6979, www.pridehouston.org. See page 94.
• After Hours, KPFT 90.1 FM’s legendary radio show with Jim Carper, Chris Arasin, and others, annually airs the rowdiest first-person post-Pride Parade rundown. June 29 (and every Sunday morning), 1–3 a.m. Episodes are also downloadable on iTunes and archived online. Details: www.kpft.org.
• Patty Larkin, openly gay singer/songwriter, celebrates the release of her 11th CD, Watch the Sky, which she wrote, produced, engineered, and edited herself. 6 p.m. Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk St. Tickets: $18. Details: www.pattylarkin.com, 713/528-5999.
JUNE 30
• Frank Spinelli, M.D., author of The Advocate Guide to Gay Men’s Health and Wellness, dispels the myth that gay life ends at 40 with a talk and reception sponsored by Abbott Laboratories and Legacy Community Health Services $6 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St. Details: www.legacycommunityhealth.org. See page 99.
JULY 4
• The Houston GLBT Political Caucus presents “Red, White and BaYOU,” a July 4 fundraiser. A pre-event underwriters’ cocktail party includes complimentary valet parking, open bar, and hors d’oeuvres. Entertainment includes DJ Chad Guidry, vocalist Kenneth Gayle, and a “special guest,” climaxing with fireworks viewed from the balcony. Rocbar/Mosaic, 530 Texas Ave. Tickets: $50–$5,000. Details: www.thecaucus.org, 713/521-1000.
Ya Gotta Have a Gimmick
‘Broadway Bares’ it all for AIDS Foundation Houston and Pride Houston
One of the highlights of any New York theater season is Broadway Bares, the annual fundraising extravaganza that blends naughty burlesque spirit and Great White Way razzle-dazzle. Since 1991, some of the hottest male and female bodies of the stage have strutted their finely toned stuff in elaborate production numbers and saucy striptease performances at the always-sold-out performance. In the process, the chorines and chorus boys have raised more than $5 million for Broadway Cares/
Equity Fights AIDS.
Now a Houston theater boy who has returned home from Manhattan is bringing the Broadway Bares concept to the Bayou City with a June 29 show called H-Town Strip .
“We’re using the same type of format, getting the same feel of it,” says Casey Burden who is directing the show (and planning to launch a new theater company with business partners later this year).
In keeping with the disco-tinged theme of the 30th anniversary of Pride, H-Town Strip boasts a mirror-ball flair. “My idea is the glamour side of Studio 54,” Burden says. He adds that the show includes something sexy for everyone—gay, lesbian, and beyond. “I even want my straight brothers to come.”
June 29, 9 p.m. and midnight. RocBar, 530 Texas St. Tickets: $20–$25. Benefits Pride Houston and AIDS Foundation Houston (Pride parade grand marshal). Details: 713/529-6979 or www.pridehouston.org. — Tim Brookover
Barely there: The new H-Town Strip show takes its concept from the annual Broadway Bares event in New York. Get an idea of what to expect from this photo from the 2007 show, Broadway Bares XVII: Myth Behavior.
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