Paper City Article

Houston, We Have A Blockbuster

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:19:46 GMT

Mao%26#8217;s Last Dancer recent premier to a full house brought together the Arts of Houston and the unique community that appreciates them so. The venue was ever appropriate considering The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has recently been feeling all things Asian, adding both Arts of India and China Galleries. At the The Landmark River Oaks Theatre this Friday (August 20), this movie is not to be missed.

The film tells the story of Li Cunxin's rise to ballet fame, and is premised on the extraordinary autobiography he penned in 2003. Born into a large Chinese family living in abject poverty during Mao Zedong's reign, Cunxin was the only child chosen from his village to audition for the Beijing Dance Academy. Once chosen to attend he confronted the emotionally jarring reality of an adolescence without parents, which was compounded by the physically exhausting life he began to lead as a dancer. What emerged from the situation was his own unique and otherworldly dancing style, and his eventual discovery by then Houston ballet director Ben Stevenson; the rest, as they say, is history. As if the the movie's ties to Houston aren't reason enough to see the film, Chi Cao's performance, as Cunxin, surely is; a principal dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, scenes in which Cao dances are simply a pleasure to watch. (Click to view the trailer)

What especially endeared the film to its audience was that many had seen, and known, the film's characters first hand when Cunxin first came to Houston during the 70s as a dancer for the Houston Ballet. The films reflection of our city's adoration of the arts made one and all proud to be a Houstonian, even if only for the night.%26nbsp; %26nbsp;

On hand for the screening were Li Cunxin himself; Kyle Mchlaclan and Steven Greenwood who star in the film; Cunxin's immigration attorney, Charles Foster; and former Houston ballet director, Ben Stevenson. All of whom were on hand to great audience member afterwords at a reception given by Cunxin's longtime friend GiGi Wong.%26nbsp;

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"Plants! The Musical"

Tue, 25 May 2010 01:43:05 GMT

If you thought that Little Shop of Horrors%26#8217; Audrey II was the only vocal vegetable in musical theater, think again. On Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29, Plants! The Musical! takes root just outside Antidote Coffee in the Heights. The imaginative, family-friendly work is the creation of Keith Reynolds (Slump Xmas Show) and Ashley Horn (Suchu Dance). In this plot, the plants take on a secret human-like existence, working together to save their garden from a drought. Characters include a tree, an orchid, a daisy, dandelions and some moss. Intrigued? Tickets are only $10, with no reservation required. Just stop by 729 Studewood in the Heights in time for the 8 pm performance.

Image: Shanon Adams as a dandelion in Plants! The Musical! Photo courtesy of Keith Reynolds and Ashley Horn.

En Pointe in the Park

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:39:59 GMT

%26#8220;Diversity%26#8221; is the word that best describes Houston Ballet%26#8217;s free evening performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park Friday through Sunday, May 7 through 9.

The program begins with Falling (music by Mozart, choreography by Stanton Welch), a playful classical piece originally created for the San Francisco Ballet in 2005. Next is the multilayered In the Upper Room (music by Philip Glass, choreography by Twyla Tharp), which The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Dance calls %26#8220;one of Tharp%26#8217;s most popular works.%26#8221; The evening concludes with Jard%26#237; Tancat, a passionate interpretation of Catalonian folk tales sung by Spanish singer Maria del Mar Bonet and choreographed by Spain%26#8217;s revered Nacho Duato.

%26nbsp;Performances start at 8 pm, but there%26#8217;s one caveat: Tickets are available on the day of the performance only, from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Miller Theatre Box Office. Any remaining tickets are distributed one hour before curtain %26#8212; but why take chances? Get there early to claim up to four free tickets, then enjoy a long afternoon in the Hermann Park environs before showtime. For more information, visit houstonballet.org or milleroutdoortheatre.com.

Image: Dancers Kelly Myernick and Ian Casady in Jard%26#237; Tancat, choreographed by Nacho Duato. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.

The Sound of Musiqafest

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:18:00 GMT

If you've never heard jazz pianist David Harris at the keys, now's your chance. On Thursday, April 29, Musiqafest lures the musician and composer out of retirement to play at the ensemble%26#8217;s spring benefit. Harris will join special musical guests including saxophonist Warren Sneed and soprano Karol Bennett, all to benefit this composer-led group's quest to enrich the community through innovative collaborations and educational programs. The concert will begin at 6:30 pm at Page Southerland Page, 1100 Louisiana. Tickets $100 in advance, $125 at the door. Information musiqahouston.org, 713.524.5678.

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Image: Davis Harris, courtesy of Musiqa

The Alley Theatre Reimagines "Harvey"

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:28:00 GMT

Johnny Depp isn%26#8217;t the only one having tea with rabbits these days. From April 16 through May 9, the Alley Theatre stages Harvey, the beloved comedy-fantasy by Mary Chase. Has Elwood P. Dowd (James Black) really befriended an invisible rabbit, or does he truly belong in the sanatorium as his sister and psychiatrist suspect? And is it better to talk to six-foot-tall bunnies than to %26#8230; shudder %26#8230; be normal? You may be familiar with the Jimmy Stewart film. Now come and see director Gregory Boyd%26#8217;s take on this Pulitzer Prize%26#8211;winning classic on the Alley%26#8217;s Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $21, at alleytheatre.org.

A True Camp Classic

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:00:27 GMT

It%26#8217;s time to box up the Wii and show your kids some real summertime fun. After all, Houston and its environs are packed with activities to fill the summertime months, whatever your child%26#8217;s interests. Start planning now with The Summer Book 2010: A Guide to Houston Day Camps and Classes for Kids and Teens (Gish Creative, $12.95). The eighth edition of publisher/editor Sarah Gish%26#8217;s essential family resource sorts more than 200 opportunities by category, age group, duration and dates. Many of our most beloved institutions are here, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Moody Gardens, Houston Zoo, Houston Grand Opera, Theatre Under the Stars, Glassell School of Art, The Health Museum and the Houston Arboretum %26amp; Nature Center, as well as major sports teams such as the Aeros, Dynamos, Rockets and Texans. Does your daughter dream of horses? Check out the Sam Houston Equestrian Center%26#8217;s Summer Horse Camp. Your little Steve Jobs might favor a robotics or technology retreat. Budding Olympians can hone their skills at swimming, ice skating, gymnastics, karate, tennis, fencing and more %26#8212; no remotes or Nunchuks allowed. Animal lovers will flock to the Houston SPCA Critter Camp and Camp Zoofari at the Houston Zoo. Little Hermione Grangers can focus on science (Camp Invention or Mad Science of Houston Summer Camps, anyone?) math, creative writing, reading, foreign language immersion or even college credit courses. Eclectic choices abound: scuba diving, pottery, musical theater, skateboarding, rock %26#8217;n%26#8217; roll, magic, rock climbing, improv comedy, alternative filmmaking, self defense, surfing, African dance, cooking, even Irish step dancing. Purchase your copy of The Summer Book at more than 20 local stores, including Barnes %26amp; Noble and Borders Books %26amp; Music. For more information and a full list of retailers, visit thesummerbook.com.

The "Cats" Meow

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:45:57 GMT

"Jellicle Cats, come out tonight," urges the first act of Andrew Lloyd Webber's feline fantasy %26#8212; and all cat and Cats lovers alike should heed that advice when HITS Theatre stages the dance musical next month. The venue couldn't be more appropriate: under the Jellicle moon at Miller Outdoor Theatre Thursday through Saturday, April 8 through 10, then again April 15 through 17. All performances start at 8 pm.

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HITS, one of the top performing arts and education organizations in the Houston area, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. This production of Cats is home-grown, cast with 61 HITS Theatre students, all of whom are 18 or younger, with a custom-designed set and costumes, plus fresh choreography by Victoria and Alex Arizpe. Stephen W. Jones serves as musical director.

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Tickets are free while supplies last, available from 10:30 am to 1 pm on performance day, under the canopy at the Miller box office. Any remaining tickets are doled out one hour before curtain time.

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Cats won multiple awards in London and New York in the early '80s. It's the fortuitious marriage of Andrew Lloyd Webber's soaring, diverse melodies with poet T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The best-known song from the score is "Memory," performed originally by Elaine Paige in London and Betty Buckley in New York; you might have heard renditions by Barry Manilow or Barbra Streisand through the years, or Susan Boyle's interpretation on Britain's Got Talent. The number rightly belongs, however, to Grizabella the Glamour Cat, and it's one of the only songs not taken verbatim from a Practical Cats poem %26#8212; although it was embroidered together from snatches borrowed elsewhere from%26#160; T.S. Eliot's oeuvre and letters. Other memorable songs are "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer," "Old Deuteronomy," "Gus: The Theatre Cat,"%26#160; "The Rum Tum Tugger" and "Macavity: The Mystery Cat."

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HITS is a nonprofit musical theater dedicated to teaching children the performing arts. For more information, visit hitstheatre.org.

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Image: Austin Jacobs as Munkustrap in HITS Theatre's production of Cats. Photo by Pin Lim, Forest Photography.

Compulsion to Collect

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:06:48 GMT

Every great art institution began with its top collectors. The Met in New York would not be the same without the Havermeyers, while the art angels of the Art Institute of Chicago extend from Mrs. Potter Palmer to Henry Field. Although Texas got off to a significantly later start, as much as a century after its New York or Chicago counterparts, it has now resoundingly caught up, as underscored by the Kimbell Art Museum's current blockbuster, now in its final weeks. "From the Private Collections of Texas: European Art, Ancient to Modern" presents the DNA of Texas' major museums, as well as showcasing works from under-known protagonists who have also contributed to our state's collecting mania.
%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; One hundred-some paintings, sculptures and artifacts are presented, revealing 40 discerning acquirers who often built seminal, world-class museums along the way, encompassing natch the Kimbell, and extending to the McNay, the Nasher, San Antonio Museum of Art, the DMA, The Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Blanton and decorative arts destination, Rienzi. Nearly half of the works exhibited are currently held in private collections, so are unknown to the public and even scholars. Also included are those once owned by Texans, such as an ancient Greek bronze tripod ornamented with horse heads and sphinxes, bequeathed to The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Dallas collectors who remain anonymous. Ancient and Old Master offerings have their day and Impressionist and Post Impressionist canvases%26nbsp; %26#8212; the glorious Renoir Woman Combing Her Hair, a rare Monet still life, a pair of Monet water lily paintings, a serene lake view by Swiss turn-of-the-century master Ferdinand Hodler (owned by The Barrett Collection, Dallas), which is exquisite in its simplified bands of blue alternating with cream, and a vividly-hued Van Gogh streetscape that is the show's signature image %26#8212; provide a handsome segue to 20th-century modern masterpieces by Leg%26#233;r, Picasso, Arp, Klee, de Chirico, Magritte and Beckmann, capped by the chance to see treasures from the Menil traveling to Fort Worth.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;
%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; Assiduously co-curated by UTD's department chair Richard Brettell and the Kimbell's C. D. Dickerson, the exhibition is expansive and packed with surprises such as Lawrence Alma-Tadema's 1876 canvas, Between Hope and Fear, a rare Victorian-era painting set in idealized, classical ancient Greece (culled "from the collection of a Texas lady") and a jazzy 1921/1925 Mondrian from the coffers of tony, unnamed Fort Worth collectors. Make sure to snap up the lavish catalogue, with Brettell's definitive essay, "From Boulevards to Ranch Roads," and extensive notes and provenance on each painting and sculpture, including the splendid Grand Manner Gainsborough portrait, Colonel John Bullock, and a view of its installation in a private home improbably in Tomball, Texas.
%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; Missing are icons like Hopper and Sargent, and extraordinary patrons such as Ima Hogg, absent due to this show's European emphasis in keeping with the Kimbell's mission, thus presenting a challenge to the Amon Carter to come up with an exhibition that puts an American spin on the intriguing topic of Texas collectors. Shown: Giorgio de Chirico's Hector and Andromeche, 1918, owned by The Menil Collection, Houston. "From the Private Collections of Texas: European Art, Ancient to Modern," hurry, ends March 21; Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, 817.332.8451; kimbellart.org.%26nbsp;

Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps"

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:20:27 GMT

Talk about something for everyone. The Alley Theatre%26#8217;s new production of Alfred Hitchcock%26#8217;s The 39 Steps involves an on-stage plane crash, romance, a mysterious secret agent (or is she %26#8230;?), handcuffs, missing fingers and more than 150 eccentric characters played by four brave Alley stalwarts: Jeffrey Bean, Elizabeth Bunch, John Tyson and Todd Waite. It%26#8217;s all in good fun %26#8212; and suitable for all ages, so bring the kids. Performances run through Sunday, March 28, on the Alley%26#8217;s Hubbard Stage. Tickets from $21. Information alleytheatre.org.

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Image: Todd Waite and Elizabeth Bunch in The 39 Steps at the Alley Theatre. Photo by Jann Whaley

Weekly Pick: Fresh French

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:27:16 GMT

Christopher French's new view at Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery moves beyond his previous rigorous minimalism towards investigations loosely based on flora in his Long Island garden. Zinnias and dahlias, rendered up close and abstracted, pack plenty of energy and add a spontaneity to his precisionist watercolor oeuvre. Paired with James Turrell's 1990s aquatints, exhibited in an adjoining room%26nbsp; %26#8212; which feature beams of light illuminating a simple, blackened space %26#8212; the dual shows are exquisitely understated. (We enjoyed seeing French, previously based in Houston, and his wife, Parrish Art Museum director Terrie Sultan, at the opening on Saturday, February 27, which brought out curators, collectors and the art press contingent.) Through March, Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery, 4520 Blossom, 713.863.7097; dbhbg.com.

What We Love Now

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:01:03 GMT

Whitney Biennial%26#8211;exhibited puzzle meister Al Souza continues his infatuation with cut paper, on view through March 20 at Conduit Gallery.

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Image: Al Souza%26#8217;s "Man Holes," 2009, at Conduit Gallery

"Dreaming the Duke" in Irving

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:55:51 GMT

Nnenna Freelon, Harolyn Blackwell and pianist Mike Garson celebrate the music of the legendary Edward "Duke" Ellington at Carpenter Performance Hall at the Irving Arts Center for one performance on%26nbsp; Friday, February 19. Expect such jazz standards as "Prelude to a Kiss," "It Don't Mean a Thing, "Come Sunday," "Solitude" and "Black Butterfly."

Jazz artist Freelon has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times. She's performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, and at jazz festivals throughout the world. Soprano Blackwell has performed in opera and concert halls around the world for 30 years. Pianist Garson is known for his improvisational skills and has accompanied talents ranging from Stanley Clarke and Elvin Jones to David Bowie and Smashing Pumpkins.

Dreaming the "Duke" is presented by the Irving Black Arts Council and the Irving Arts Center. Tickets start at $25, through 972.252.2787; www.irvingartscenter.com.

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Image:%26nbsp;Nnenna Freelon, Harolyn Blackwell and Mike Garson in Dreaming the "Duke"; photo courtesy of the Irving Arts Center

Minding Your Manners at the Alley

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:24:52 GMT

Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher was inspired by memories of a childhood etiquette class when he wrote Mrs. Mannerly, the comedy currently playing downstairs at the Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage. Alley stalwart James Black stars as 10-year-old Jeffrey (as well as all his quirky castmates), while Josie de Guzman plays the title role. Tickets start at $21. Through Sunday, February 28, at the Alley Theatre. Information or tickets 713.220.5700; www.alleytheatre.org.

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Image: Josie de Guzman as the title character in Mrs. Mannerly at the Alley Theatre. Photo by Jann Whaley.

Pilgrim's Progress at Art Palace

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:01:24 GMT

This week's pick involves a visit to the most-anticipated new space in town, Art Palace, which has carved out part of the cavernous former Finesilver Gallery to bring a thoughtful dose of the burgeoning Austin scene to town. Case in point, owner-director-curator Arturo Palacios presents Jonathan Marshall, a talent who is synonymous with Art Palace, and one of the first artists to enter Palacios' stable. This show is important for highlighting works by this UT grad (BFA, 2003) who is on the trajectory to international importance. A current candidate for a MFA at Virginia Commonwealth University, and fresh from a solo at Man%26amp;Eve Gallery in London, Marshall's exhibition here, entitled "Doubled Vision," continues his preoccupation with the concept of a make-believe voyage, from a Robinson Crusoe-like trek to that of an interstellar nature. The artist rolls out a panoply of media and techniques, often exquisitely executed, to convey an epic journey that moves from a ship wreck, to a Western odyssey to galactic space travel%26nbsp; %26#8212;%26nbsp;including drawing, painting, print-making, sculpture, photography and a very compelling video, "Quest of Sight" (2009, film still shown) which puts all these disparate messages into a statement edged with wit, and possessing a buoyant DIY aesthetic. Marshall leaves the interpretation to us. Art Palace, 3913 Main St., 512.496.0687; artpalacegallery.com; through March 6, 2010.

What We Love Now

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:24:04 GMT

On view through February 14 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in %26#8220;Your Bright Future."

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Image: Do Ho Suh%26#8217;s Fallen Star 1/5, 2008, at MFAH. Courtesy the artist %26amp; Lehmann Maupin Gallery, NY %26#169; Do Ho Suh; photo Jenny Antill.

What's the Deal at The Public Trust?

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:45:37 GMT

The Public Trust unveils"The New Deal" (January 16 %26#8211; February 27), a welcome serving of the avant-garde, showcasing some of the core artists that built owner-director Brian Gibb's Deep Ellum destination into its current incarnation as one of Dallas' most important (as well as way too underknown) galleries. (Perhaps that will change with next month's at the Dallas Art Fair, where Gibb promises a unforgettable booth guaranteed to stop some traffic.) Don't miss the fun and fine fare this evening, with a happening involving wheat paste and the mighty graphic talent, Brent Ozaeta. We also love Blakely Thomas Dadson's Bring Down Babylon, 2009, a panel that reverberates with an apocalyptic, hip-hop vibe (shown).

"The Color Purple": Why You're Going

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:07:52 GMT

Whether you missed the show last time it came to town or want to experience the epic drama again, tickets are going fast for the return engagement of The Color Purple. Catch one of eight performances by the First National Tour at the Music Hall at Fair Park Tuesday through Sunday, January 19 through 24. The renowned musical, produced by a team led by Oprah Winfrey herself, was nominated for 11 Tony Awards. Its pedigree runs deep: This production, spun from the Broadway original, is based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize%26#8211;winning novel and the beloved Stephen Spielberg film, both of the same name, and its eclectic score (a blend of gospel, jazz, pop and the blues) earned a Grammy nomination. Tickets for this Dallas Summer Musicals engagement begin at $25 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com.

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Want to know more about the show? Visit the official site at www.thecolorpurple.com. Or pick up a copy of The Color Purple: A Memory Book of the Broadway Musical by Lisa Funderburg and Oprah Winfrey (Avalon/Carroll %26amp; Graf, $40) at major booksellers or through www.amazon.com.

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Images:

Above, Kenith R. Miller as Celie and LaToya London as Nettie in The Color Purple.

Below: The Church Ladies (from left): Lynette DuPree, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Kimberly Ann Harris.

Both photos by Paul Kolnik.%26nbsp;

SPA Welcomes the Mark Morris Dance Group

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:02:22 GMT

The world-renowned Mark Morris Dance Group is in town for two days only, January 15 and 16, at the Wortham Theater Center's Cullen Theater as part of the Society for the Performing Arts' Dance Series. Highlights will include "Excursions," with music by Samuel Barber; "Going Away Party," with music by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys; J. S. Bach's "Italian Concerto"; and "Grand Duo," with music by Lou Harrison.

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%26nbsp;Brooklyn-based MMDG is hailed as one of the world's leading dance companies. Find out more by visiting www.mmdg.com, and by booking your tickets right now ($22 to $57) through www.spahouston.org.