Film • Performing Arts • Performing Arts for Young People • Radio • Art/Photography • Day-By-Day • Planning Ahead • HIV Testing
Compiled by Nancy Ford
HOT TICKET:
Fringe Effect
Frenetic Theater hosts an eclectic festival lineup of out-there art and performance
Get ready to be shocked and awed by the shocking and odd. The Fringe Festival is back, this year showcasing acclaimed Houston poet and playwright Loueva Smith’s Bruna Bunny and Baby Girl.
Anne Mabry directs the short play described as “a cross between Dr. Seuss and a Grimm Brother’s Fairy Tale.” But what it isn’t is your run-of-the-mill bedtime story. The title character is a tiny freak (and we mean that in the literal, circus-heritage way: her mother is a retired hatchet juggler). One day at the doctor’s office, research cat Sherbert tells mother and daughter that Bruna Bunny, a former magician’s hat-rabbit, is in town.
And that is why they call it “fringe.”
An out lesbian, Smith is no stranger to the quirky annual venue that promises to “entertain, thrill, shock, and provoke audiences with an amazing variety of cutting-edge theater, dance, music, film, and visual art from Houston and around the country.” In 2008, she took the festival’s Audience Favorite prize for her play, Wounded Woman Fashion Show. Additionally, her poetry has been published in DoubleTake, The Texas Review, The Louisiana Review, Nerve Cowboy, and Poetry Revolt, and she was the featured poet at the Houston Poetry Fest in 2001 and 2002.
The 2nd Annual Frenetic Fringe Festival takes place Aug. 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22, 8 p.m., with a different lineup each weekend; Smith’s Bruna Bunny and Baby Girl is scheduled to be staged during the first weekend. The closing party and awards ceremony takes place Aug. 23, 7 p.m. Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation Blvd. $15–$18. www.freneticore.net. —Nancy Ford
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FILM
Until the Light Takes Us, a feature-length documentary examining the birth and explosive arc of black metal music and performance art. Aug. 7, 8:30pm. Domy Books Houston, 1709 Westheimer Rd. $9. domystore.com • 713/523-3669.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Landmark Theatres presents the camp classic in conjunction with its Midnight Madness series. Aug. 8, midnight. Landmark’s River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W. Gray St. houstonrhps.com • 713/866-8881.
Duck Soup, the Marx Brothers’ comedy classic, is preceded by a 42-minute selection of Looney Tunes cartoons. Aug. 13, 11am. Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St. mfah.org • 713/639-7300, 713/639-7379 (Spanish).
High Ho Silver: A Ride Through TV Westerns is part of the Aurora Picture Show and Menil Summer Movies in the Park series, Aug. 14, 8pm. Menil Park, 1515 Sul Ross. Free. aurorapictureshow.org • 713/868-2101.
Buffet DVD. Based on the belief that there is an enormous amount of great video out there these days, the bi-annual DVD project gathers the gems for you. Presented by flickerlounge in partnership with Aurora Picture Show. Through Aug. 15. DiverseWorks Project Space, 1117 East Freeway. diverseworks.org • 713/335-3445.
Where Is the Avant-Garde Cinema Today? The video salon with Michael Sicinski focuses on music videos, amateur experiments on YouTube, narrative film excerpts, and modernist international cinemas. Aug. 16, 1pm. Aurora Video Library, 1524 Sul Ross. Free. aurorapictureshow.org • 713/868-2101.
All in a Days Work: Short Documentaries. Karen Cirillo curates a traveling festival of documentary films under 40 minutes in length. Presented by Spacetaker and Aurora Picture Show. Aug. 20, 8pm. Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter St. Donations accepted. aurorapictureshow.org • 713/868-2101.
Naughty Girls. 16mm school films prove little girls can be just as delinquent as their male counterparts. Skip Elsheimer of A/V Geeks attends. Presented by Aurora Picture Show. Aug. 29, 8pm. Houston Skyline Studio, 1111 Hutchins St. $7. aurorapicture
show.org • 713/868-2101.
A/V Geeks: Crafty Is as Crafty Does explores the art of the craft from the 1950s. Skip Elsheimer of A/V Geeks attends. Presented by Aurora Picture Show. Aug. 30, 3pm. Hits Theatre, 311 18th St. $5–$10. aurorapictureshow.org • 713/868-2101.
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PERFORMING ARTS
Pericles. Houston Shakespeare Festival presents the Bard’s racy classic, Aug. 1, 5, 7, and 9, 8pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. Free. milleroutdoortheatre
.com • 281/373-3386.
Twelfth Night. Houston Shakespeare Festival presents the Bard’s classic. Aug. 2, 4, 6, and 8, 8pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. Free. milleroutdoortheatre
.com • 281/373-3386.
Footloose. Royal Academy of Fine Arts’ Broadway Workshop Studio’s production directed by Kevin Cahoon. Through Aug. 7. 7:30pm. Oliver Theatre, 17170 Mill Forest Rd. $10. royal
academyoffinearts.com • 281/480-1466.
12th Annual Festival of Originals features five original one-act plays by five different playwrights with five different casts. Through Aug. 8. Theatre Southwest, 8944-A Clarkcrest. Tickets: $13–$15. theatresouthwest.org • 713/661-9505.
Cabaret. The WWII-era classic musical. Through Aug. 8, 8pm. Island ETC at the Strand Theatre. 2317 Mechanic Street, Galveston. $20–$25. islandetc.org • 409/762-3556.
Thoroughly Modern Millie opens Texas Repertory Theatre’s 5th anniversary season. Through Aug. 9. 14243 Stuebner Airline Rd. $25–$45. texreptheatre.org • 281/583-7573.
10×10 Showcase. Eric James’ Upstairs Dirty Bomb and Joe Watts’ Mornings are two one of 10 one-act plays by local playwrights featured in Scriptwriters/Houston annual summer collection. In Upstairs Dirty Bomb, two men and a woman joke with racial and sexual epithets about the terrorists who live upstairs. In Mornings, a gay couple and a lesbian couple interact about jealousy, friendship and death. Aug. 14–15, 8pm; Aug. 16, 5pm. Country Playhouse, 12802 Queensbury Ln. country
playhouse.org • 713/467-4497.
Sherlock Holmes and The Crucifer of Blood. Alley Theatre’s ExxonMobil Summer Chills series kicks off with a tale of two murders that lead to a blood oath and an uncanny mystery. Through Aug. 16. $21+. 615 Texas Ave. Details: alleytheatre.org • 713/220-5700.
The Color Purple. Live stage version of the Academy Award-winning movie about the love shared by two oppressed African-American women. Presented by Theatre Under The Stars. August 18–23. Hobby Center for Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St. tuts.com • 713/558-8887. (See interview with The Color Purple’s dance captain on page 47.)
Dirty Dealings in Dixie, a summer mellerdrammer. Through August 29. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm.; Sundays at 3pm. $10–$12. Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West Dr. theatresuburbia.com • 713/682-3525.
The Story of Burford, Category 5. When a hurricane hits Houston, the Spy Eye News team hits the water. Through Aug. 29. Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt. $22. radiomusictheatre.com • 713/522-7722.
The Tamarie Cooper Show: Journey to the Center of My Brain (in 3D!). The Catastrophic Theatre presents the local legend’s singing neurotransmitters, raging hormones, Tamarie’s inner child, id, and super-ego in this journey of self-discovery, science-style. Through Aug. 29. Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. $25. stagestheatre.com • 713/527-8243.
The Wiz. Patdro Harris directs this funkier version of The Wizard of Oz. Through Aug. 30. Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St. Tickets: $15–$45. ensemblehouston.com • 713/520-0055.
Capital One Bank 16th Annual Theater District Open House. Learn about Houston’s nine major performing arts organizations while enjoying musical-theater shows, behind-the-scenes backstage tours, an interactive instrument petting zoo, a costume trunk, meet-and-greets with costumed performers, and a concert at Jones Hall (starting at 4pm). Alley Theatre, Cadillac Broadway Across America–Houston, Da Camera of Houston, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Society for the Performing Arts, Theatre Under The Stars, and Uniquely Houston participate, with downtown restaurants providing refreshments. Free. Aug. 30, noon. Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. houstontheaterdistrict.org • 713/658-8938.
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PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Target Free First Sunday offers Albert Lamorisse’s 1952 French classic, The Red Balloon (Le Balloon Rouge) and Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues. Aug. 2, 1pm. Museum of Fine Arts’ Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main St. Free. mfah.org • 713/639-7300, 713/639-7379 (Spanish).
P’s and Q’s: the ABC’s of Manners. Steven Garfinkel’s musical world premiere about etiquette. Through Aug. 9. Main Street Theater–Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets: $20–$36. Details: mainstreettheater.com • 713/524-6706.
Kids On Stage Free Open House for Families leads kids of all ages in mask-making, arts and crafts, theater games, and dance. Aug. 22, 11am–1pm. Main Street Theater–Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd. mainstreettheater.com • 713/524-6706.
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RADIO
After Hours. Sunday mornings, 1-4 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.
Reach Out in the Darkness. Houston’s only transgender radio host and her partner present selected music from the ’60s, played like it was in the ’60s, exclusively from vinyl pressings. Every Wednesday morning, 3-6 am, KPFT Pacifica radio (90.1 FM).
World of Opera. Houston Grand Opera returns to the airwaves for its 8th season beginning Oct. 14 with highlights from last season’s performances. Saturdays, 12:30 pm on 88.7 FM, KUHF. Info/radio guides: 800/62-OPERA or www.npr.org.
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ART/PHOTOGRAPHY
Existed: Leonardo Drew. Fourteen major sculptures and 12 works on paper created between 1991 and 2008 represent the artist’s abstract works. Through Aug. 1. Blaffer Gallery, University of Houston’s Fine Arts Building, entrance 16 off Cullen Blvd. blaffergallery.org • 713/743-9971.
Dirty Drawers features provocative works by Lorrie Aslakson, William Bailey, Jess W. Coleman, Rafael Castañet, Brian Ford, Gena Haber, Byrne Jackson, Cam Lu, Fiona F. Maclean, Austin McClure, Annette K. Palmer, and William Tone. Gallery 1724, 1724 Bissonnet St. Through Aug. 15. gallery1724.blogspot.com • 713/582-1198.
$timulus features new works by Mequitta Ahuja, Dawolu Jabari Anderson, Katy Heinlein, Lauren Kelley, El Franco Lee II, Lynne McCabe, Delilah Montoya, Katrina Moorhead, Floyd Newsum, and Stephanie Toppin, all 2008 recipients of the Artadia Awards. Through Aug. 15. DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. 713/335-3445.
Detritus features painter Angela Beloian’s Color Study IV and sculptor Jessica Moon Bernstein’s Land Fill, both inspired by discarded materials. Through Aug. 28. Art League Houston. 1953 Montrose Blvd. Details: artleaguehouston.org • 713/523-9530.
Visual Harassment. El Franco Lee II, son of the former county commissioner, explores the “truthful realities of humanity” with small, graphic paintings. Through Aug. 28. Art League Houston. 1953 Montrose Blvd. Details: artleaguehouston.org • 713/523-9530.
The Nature of Diamonds. Exhibit includes the Elton John Cartier shoulder brooch and the 2,000-diamond corsage ornament made in 1855 for the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte. Through Sept. 7. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Dr. hmns.org • 713/639-4629.
Amy Blakemore: Photographs 1988–2008. Thirty-six intriguing works from Houston-based Blakemore’s collection includes black-and-white street settings to lush colorful landscapes. Through Sept. 13. Museum of Fine Arts’ Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main St. mfah.org • 713/639-7300, 713/639-7379 (Spanish).
Challenge VII: dysfunctional and Unknitting: Challenging Textile Traditions. Dual summer exhibits challenge the traditional uses of wood, textiles, and other materials. Through Sept. 13. Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts. 4848 Main St. crafthouston.org • 713/529-4848.
Ways of Seeing: Photography of Ishimoto Yasuhiro. 300 photographs reveal why Yashuhiro was considered the most influential Japanese photographer of his generation in the development of postwar Japanese photography. Through Sept. 13. Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet. mfah.org • 713/639-7300, 713/639-7379 (Spanish).
Art on Water floats down Buffalo Bayou in conjunction with the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, scheduled Oct. 10–11. Deadline for design applications is Sept. 18. bayoucityartfestival
.com • 713/521-0133.
North Looks South: Building a Latin American Art Collection. More than 80 works celebrate MFAH’s major Latin American art acquisitions ranging in date from the 1920s to the present. Through Sept. 27. Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet. mfah.org • 713/639-7300, 713/639-7379 (Spanish).
Miles and Miles of Texas: The Lone Star State Through the Eyes of Buck Schiwetz. Works in graphite, watercolor, mixed media, and oil pay homage to Texas’ earliest buildings and homes. Through Sept. 30. The Heritage Society Museum, 1100 Bagby St. Free. heritagesociety.org.
No Zoning: Artists Engage Houston. Through Oct. 4. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd. camh.org • 713/284-8250.
Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor features life–size clay figures and artifacts excavated in 1974. Through Oct. 18. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Herman Circle Drive. hmns.org • 713/639-4629.
Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust is a photographic exhibition depicting stories of Albanian Muslims who saved Jews from extermination despite great danger to themselves. Through Feb. 7. Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline St. hmh.org • 713/942-8000.
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AUGUST DAY-BY-DAY • WEEKLY • BIWEEKLY • MONTHLY
Daily (August 8)
Soulcheck, a non-denominational multi-cultural worship event through hip hop, a cappella, pop/rock, gospel, dancing, acrylic and sand art, and more. 6:30pm. Discovery Green Park, 1500 McKinney St. discoverygreen.com • 713/400-7336.
Daily (August 9)
Tejano Talent Showcase. HPL Express presents a day of music, dance, and a lowrider car exhibition in recognition of Tejano Music Month. Bring a picnic. Free. 2pm. Discovery Green Park, 1500 McKinney St. discoverygreen.com • 713/400-7336.
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Weekly (Sundays)
The Women’s Group. A feminist group for all women (where each woman defines her own feminism) hosts a different speaker each week. 10:45am. First Unitarian Universalist Church’s Sojourner Truth Room, 5200 Fannin. Iris Sizemore, 713/529-8571.
Weekly (Mondays)
TG Support Group. Helping TransGenders Anonymous is a facilitated support group for all transgenders, supporters, family, and significant others. 7–9pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
Meditation Mondays. Shift into wisdom, self-realization, and actualization with Big Mind led by Alan Davidson, author of Body Brilliance: Mastering Your Five Vital Intelligences. 7:30–9:30pm. 1712 Fairview Ave. throughyourbody.com • 713/942-0923.
Get Healthy with Your Community. Montrose Community Meltdown Challenge features motivational speakers, light exercises, and weight loss progress checks. Through Sept. 17, 7pm. Montrose Counseling Center’s GLBT Cultural Center, 401 Branard St. 281/974-9917.
Weekly (Tuesdays)
Houston Roller Derby Rec League. Skate to train or just recreationally with the women of the Houston Roller Derby. 7:30–9:30pm. Dairy Ashford Roller Rink, 1820 S. Dairy Ashford St. houstonrollerderby.com.
Weekly (Thursdays)
GLBT-Friendly Depression & Bipolar Support Group. 7:15–8:30pm. Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold, room 232. Free. 713/526-1018.
Weekly (Fridays)
Mixers and Elixirs. Enjoy dancing under the dinosaurs to some of Houston’s most popular bands, complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Through Aug. 28, 6pm. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Dr. $13-$15. hmns.org • 713/639-4629.
You Are Not Alone. GLBTQ Coming Out Support Group features an educational presentation on a specific topic, followed by an open, confidential discussion of that topic. Through August 6, 6pm. Donations accepted. Montrose Counseling Center, 401 Branard St. Registration: 713/529-0037, ext. 394.
Love and Rackets. Houston Tennis Club welcomes players and enthusiasts of all skill levels. Sundays, 9am–noon; Wednesdays, 7:30–9pm; clinics, every Saturday 9–10:30am. Memorial Park Tennis Center, 1500 Memorial Loop. Annual membership, $30; court fees, $3 per session. houstontennisclub.org.
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Biweekly (2nd & 4th Wed.)
City of Houston’s TransGender Task Force helps Houston-area transgenders access medical and social services to reduce the incidence of HIV. 7–9pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
Biweekly (2nd & 4th Fri.)
Transgender Buddhist Meditation Group offers a traditional Theravada Buddhist vipassana 30-minute meditation for transgenders. 7–9pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
Semimonthly (2nd Tues. & 4th Sat.)
Some Transgenders Are Guys (STAG) is a facilitated group for female-to-male identified individuals, supporters, family, and significant others. 2nd Tuesday, 7–9pm, and 4th Saturday, 5–6pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
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Monthly (1st Sun.)
Finding Your Voice. PFLAG Houston’s speakers bureau panel discusses experiences speaking to various groups, organizations, and corporations. Small groups break off after the program for discussion in a safe, confidential environment. 2pm. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Jones Building, 5501 S. Main St. pflaghouston.org.
Free Legal Consultations for PWAs. AIDS Foundation Houston and Katine & Nechman L.L.P. offer 30 minutes of free legal consultation on any legal issue to persons with HIV and AIDS, by appointment. Katine & Nechman, 1111 North Loop West, Suite 180. lawkn.com • 713/808-1000.
Monthly (1st Fri.)
First Friday Happy Hour. Northwest Corner, a social and civic LGBT organization for Houstonians living northwest of Loop 610, meets. Time and location TBA. NWCorner.org.
Transgender Social. Dinner and a movie and/or games and a speaker of interest to the trans community. 7-10pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. Tickets: $5. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
Monthly (1st Sat.)
First Saturday Arts Market. Local artists display and sell works of art, and local musicians entertain. 11am–6pm. Wind Water Gallery, 548 West 19th St. Free. yalestreetmarket.com.
Monthly (2nd Sat.)
Second Saturdays at Winter St. Studios. Meet and hang with artists in the studios marked by a large red dot on or near the door. 1–6pm. Winter St. Studios, 2101 Winter St. winterstreet
studios.net • 713/862-0082.
Monthly (3rd Sun.)
LOAF Meet and Greet. Lesbians Over Age Fifty meet for munchies and fellowship; bring some of both. 2pm. 1034 West 17th St.
Monthly (3rd Thurs.)
Share with PFLAG Houston in a safe, confidential setting. 7:30pm. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s Chatham Room, 1805 Alabama. pflaghouston.org.
Monthly (4th Wed.)
Lesbian Dinner Group. Single and coupled women come for a meal, but stay for the camaraderie. 7:30pm. Cafe Express, 1422 West Gray St. [email protected].
Monthly (4th Sat.)
TG Support Group. Texas Association for Transsexual Support (TATS) is a professionally facilitated support group for those identifying as being a transsexual. 4–5pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
Significant Others. TG Support Group provides support tothe wives, husbands, girlfriends, and boyfriends of individuals whose partners are considering transition. 3–4pm. TG Center, 713 Fargo. transhouston.com • 713/520-8586.
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PLANNING AHEAD
Return to Oz. Landmark Theatres presents second thrilling live-action adventure based on L. Frank Baum’s Oz books as part of its Midnight Madness series. Sept. 4–5, midnight. Landmark’s River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W. Gray St. landmarktheatres.com • 713/866-8881. n
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HIV TESTING
Thomas Street Clinic is offering HIV testing free to the public, Mon.-Fri. 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.
The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing at these locations:
Decades, 1205 Richmond, 713/521-2224, Mon. 6-10pm (Dennis);
EJ’s, 2517 Ralph, 713/527-9071, Wed. & Fri. 10pm-1am (Rhonda & Lourdes);
Mary’s, Naturally, 1022 Westheimer, 713/527-9669, Wed. 4-8pm (Jack);
Midtown Spa, 3100 Fannin, 713/522-2379, Tues. 9pm-1am (Carlos), Wed. 10pm-1am (Juan), Fri. 10pm-1am (Quincy);
Ripcord, 715 Fairview, 713/521-2792, Wed. 9pm-12am (Matthew);
Inergy/Mango Lounge, 5750 Chimney Rock, 713/660-7310, Mon. 9pm-12am (Carlos);
1415 Bar & Grill, 1415 California, 713/522-7066, Thurs. 9pm-12am (Carlos);
611 Hyde Park Pub, 611 Hyde Park, 713/526-7070, Tues. 3-7pm & Sun. 2-6pm (Matthew);
All Star News and Video Emporium, 3415 Katy Freeway & Studewood, 713/869-7878, Mon. & Thurs. 4-8pm (Jack);
Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos, 713/528-9192, Thurs. 8pm-12am (Matthew);
Cousin’s, 817 Fairview, 713/528-9204, Thurs. 8pm-12am (Jack);
Club Houston, 2205 Fannin, 713/659-4998, Tues. 8pm-12am (Dennis). For more info: 713/830-3000.
Planned Parenthood offers free anonymous or confidential testing at clinic locations throughout the area. To speak with an HIV counselor: 1-800-230-PLAN, Dickinson: 281/337-7725, Fannin: 713/831-6543, FM1960: 281/587-8081, Greenspoint: 281/445-4553, Huntsville: 936/295-6396, Lufkin: 936/634-8446 x223, Rosenberg: 281/342-3950, Stafford: 281/494-9848.
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