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April 2008
Don't miss all that Houston has to offer in
April. Perfect weather welcomes many festivals throughout the
Holidays
April 1st:
April Fool’s Day
April 19th:
Passover
April 22nd: Earth Day
April 23rd:
Administrative Professionals Day
Dance/Music/Theatre
Alley Theatre
(
Thru April 20th:
Underneath the Lintel - A puzzling mystery begins when an assistant
acquisitions librarian finds a late book in the overnight slot and becomes
determined to track down the offender… especially since the book is 113 years
overdue. As his endeavors continue, he finds himself on a journey that unlocks
ancient mysteries and moves him to new revelations.
April 29th – June 1st:
The Gershwins' An American in
for more information, see
www.alleytheatre.org
or call (713) 228-8421
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
(The Woodlands)
Surrounded by a lush forest, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is
an outdoor amphitheater that provides the Greater Houston region with an array
of performing arts and contemporary entertainment in a setting of unparalleled
beauty.
April 10th:
Tickle Me Symphony
April 20th:
Rush
April 21st:
Jimmy Buffet
April 22nd:
Andre Rieu and His Johann Strauss
Orchestra
April 25th:
Avril Lavigne
April 26th:
BUZZFEST XXI
for more information,
see
www.pavilion.woodlandscenter.org
Thru April 6th:
The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee - In the Tony-Award winning new musical comedy The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelllng Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen
by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that
winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.
Spelling Bee been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as "perfect in every
possible way – that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a
bona fide crowd pleaser." This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show
offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of
the action as on-stage spellers. The New York Times calls Spelling Bee,
"irresistible, riotously funny and remarkably ingenious – gold stars all
around."
April 4th - 6th:
Lucky Stiff - Should he agree
to take the corpse of his recently-murdered Atlantic City uncle on a week-long
vacation to Monte Carlo, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6,000,000; if not,
the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. The proceedings in this
zany murder mystery farce are sheer lunacy as Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s
score highlights Harry going up against his uncle’s insanely jealous and legally
blind mistress, her much put-upon optometrist brother and Annabel Glick, a
zealous representative from the Universal Dog Home determined to see Harry’s
inheritance “go to the dogs.” April 7th: Reflections of the Soul: A Legacy of Forbidden Music - A special program of string quartet masterpieces by Jewish composers whose music was considered “degenerate” and banned during Nazi occupation. 7:30 p.m.
April 10th – 11th:
E Merging II - The season will close with a new take on Dominic
Walsh Dance Theater’s successful fall 2006 production that highlighted new works
by up-and-coming choreographers created in collaboration with local visual
artists. E Merging II will feature brand new works created for the DWDT dancers
by two young artistic directors who are shaping the genre of contemporary
ballet, our own Dominic Walsh and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano of
April 17th – 20th:
Good
News! - This year, Second Baptist School Musical Productions will be
bringing to the
April 28th:
Classical Superstars: Mozart & Haydn - Pianist Domonique Launey
joins the orchestra's artistic director and pianist Michael Lowe in W.A.
Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos in E Flat Major.
Launey performs chamber music in her hometown of
for more information, see
www.thehobbycenter.org
or call (713) 315-2525
April 3rd – 6th:
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony - The performance of the Seventh Symphony was
one of Beethoven's most successful concerts. Viennese audiences, miserable from
Napoleon's 1805 and 1809 occupations of
April 11th – 13th:
Motown's Greatest Hits -Go back to the golden age of groups like
The Four Tops, The Temptations and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Remember songs such as “My Girl,” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” and
“Just My Imagination.” Join the
Houston Symphony and vocal quartet Spectrum to enjoy Motown’s soulful sounds,
smooth harmony and fancy footwork.
April 12th:
Philharmonic Fun - Did you know Mozart and Debussy can not only
stir your soul, but also tickle your funny bone?
Enjoy this special concert exploring the funny side of classical music. April 18th - 20th: Saint-Saens Organ Symphony - Take in the force and magnificence of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony. The restless Dies Irae chant broods throughout the work until it dissolves into a calmer mood and then a stirring climax. This powerful work alternates between agitation and tranquility. April 23rd: Johnny Mathis - Johnny Mathis, one of America’s favorite singers, has enjoyed unprecedented success through his extraordinary voice. Mathis is one of only five recording artists to have Top 40 Hits spanning four decades and 10 consecutive years on the Billboard Top Albums chart. Hear favorites like “Chances Are,” “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late,” and “Gina.” 8:00 p.m. April 26th: Aretha Franklin with the Houston Symphony - Aretha Franklin, the reigning Queen of Soul, will appear with the Houston Symphony for the crowning performance of this season's American Expressions series, which also features special appearances by Kenny G, Steve Tyrel and Bobby McFerrin. Aretha joins the Houston Symphony for a one night only appearance. The 2005 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, holder of 17 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grammy Living Legend Award, her heartfelt, passionate vocal style has graced the top of the charts for more than four decades.
for more information, see
www.houstonsymphony.com or call (713) 224-7575
Jones Hall
(615
April 3rd:
DanceBrazil - Direct from
Bahía, DanceBrazil returns with its company of perfectly honed bodies performing
Founder and Artistic Director Jelon Vieira’s newest work, the high-energy,
evening-length Ritmo. As Vieira’s homage to Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial
art, Ritmo is intertwined with Samba do Recôncavo, the unique, vibrant samba
exclusive to
April 11th:
Visual Music - Expect the
unexpected when the Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet, one of the most
celebrated and influential ensembles of our time, returns to
April 24th:
Itzhak Perlman, violinist -
Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Israeli-born Itzhak Perlman
enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician, having received
four Emmy Awards and 15 Grammy Awards. President Reagan granted him a “Medal of
Liberty” in 1986 and President Clinton awarded him the “National Medal of Arts”
in 2000. His heartrending violin solos in the John Williams soundtrack score for
Steve Spielberg's Oscar-winning picture Schindler’s List proved to be one of
Perlman's own proudest achievements.
for more information, see
www.spahouston.org
April 2nd
– 6th:
Walking With Dinosaurs – The Live Experience
April 9th:
April 10th: Mary J. Blige & JAY-Z 7:30 p.m.
April
11th:
April
12th:
April
13th:
April 14th: Bruce Springsteen 7:30 p.m.
April
16th:
April 17th: Juanes 8:00 p.m. April 18th: Scottish Festival 8:00 p.m.
for more information, visit
www.houstontoyotacenter.com
or call (866) 4HOUTIX
Warehouse Live
(
April 1st:
Saul Williams
April 3rd:
Heist At Hand
April 6th:
Family Force 5
April 8th:
Say Anything
April 11th:
Del Castillo
April 16th:
Mayday Parade
April 19th:
Pepper
April 21st:
Thrice
April 22nd:
Cat Power
April 26th:
Marc Broussard April 29th: O.A.R. with Jonathan Taylor & The Northern Lights 8:00 p.m.
for more information, see
www.warehouselive.com
April 18th – April 19th:
Spring Showcase - Students today, stars tomorrow. In these two
stellar performances, the gifted young artists of Houston Ballet’s professional
training wing showcase their brilliance. This is your chance to see the
up-and-coming dancers perform works created especially for them.
for more information, see
www.houstonballet.org
or call (713) 227-ARTS
April 11th – May 1st:
Puccini: La Bohème - Sung in
Italian with English surtitles
April 25th – May 9th:
Billy Budd - Accusations of
mutiny and an accidental death leave sailor Billy Budd in danger of hanging for
murder. Britten's masterful setting of Hermann Melville's towering novel -
adapted by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier - illuminates a journey through "the
straits of hell". Baritone Daniel Belcher ("vocally and physically agile, bright
voiced and moving - New York Times), bass Phillip Ens ("whose thunderous bass
embodies the ominous threat posed by Claggart" - Marin Independent Journal) and
tenor Andrew Kennedy as Vere ("immaculate sense of style and his keen musical
and verbal intelligence" - The Times,
for more information, see
www.houstongrandopera.org
or call (713)
228-6737
DaCamera of
April 12th:
Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Cuarteto
Latinoamericano - Works of Luigi Boccherini, Carlos Guastavino, Silvestre
Revueltas, Augustin Barrios, Gabriela Lena Frank (Houston premiere of Inca
Dances) and Astor Piazzolla. Manuel
Barrueco, guitar; Cuarteto Latinoamericano (Saúl Bitrán, violin; Arón Bitrán,
violin; Javier Montiel, viola; Alvaro Bitrán, cello)
Cuban guitarist Manuel Barrueco and the
Mexican string quartet Cuarteto Latinoamericano come to Houston with a
fascinating program of Latin American works, a Houston premiere by American
composer Gabriela Lena Frank and a classical work for guitar and strings. Full
of fire and finesse, the brilliant foursome joins Barrueco — renowned for his
seductive musicality and uncommon lyrical gifts — for an impassioned program
that showcases works for solo guitar, compositions for string quartet, and the
combination of the two.
April 13th – 15th:
Elliott Carter and Late Beethoven - Following last season’s stunning
survey of the Bartók quartets, DaCamera moves on to the next generation of
composers and performers. Elliott Carter’s Quartet No. 1 – composed 11 years
after Bartók’s last quartet – started a cycle that is now recognized as one of
the great post-war achievements in American music. The brilliant Pacifica
Quartet, winner of a prestigious 2006 Avery Fisher Career Grant, have championed
these works and been praised for “the virtuosity and intense commitment it
brings to a contemporary master like Carter”(Chicago Sun-Times).
April 26th:
Vijay Iyer Quartet - Just
announced: Vijay Iyer is Down Beat magazine's #1 Rising Star Jazz Artist and #1
Rising Star Composer of 2007! Dubbed one of the “new
stars of jazz” by U.S. News & World Report, and one of “today’s most important
pianists” by The New Yorker, Vijay Iyer is a forceful, rhythmically invigorating
performer who weds a cutting-edge sensibility to a unique sense for
compositional balance. An exceptional, forward-thinking composer, Iyer draws
from African, Asian and European musical lineages to create fresh, original
music in the American creative tradition.
for more information, see
www.dacamera.com
Miller Outdoor Theatre
(
Located on nearly eight acres in the heart of
April 10th – 12th & 17th – 19th:
Peter Pan
April 23rd:
Danceology 101
April 26th:
Dance of Asian
for more information, see
www.milleroutdoortheatre.org
A.D. Players
(2710
April 25th – June 1st: The Heiress -
When shy Catherine falls in love with a
penniless but charming young man, her father's rigid control over her is
threatened. Who will control her life and love? Based on Henry James’ novel,
April 24th – May 24th: The Emperor’s New
Clothes - When the Emperor needs a
new outfit, two shady weavers promise him magic clothes that are invisible to
those unfit for their position. As people realize they cannot see anything on
the loom, they must decide whether or not to tell the Emperor the truth. Will
anyone be brave enough to tell it like they don't see it?
for more information,
see
www.adplayers.org
Main Street Theatre
(2540 Times Blvd.)
Thru April 5th:
Goodnight Moon - From the book
by Margaret Wise Brown - "Goodnight room. Goodnight moon. Goodnight cow jumping
over the moon. Goodnight light, and the red balloon ..." Published in 1947,
Goodnight Moon is the beloved, classic bedtime story that has delighted
generations of children. With its simple poetic verse and familiar
illustrations, children and adults will delight in seeing their beloved
characters come to life in this visually stunning production.
April 15th – May 23rd:
James and the Giant Peach
- After his parents' tragic death by rhinoceros , James is sent to live with his
horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. The contents of a magic bag transform an old
peach tree into a portal to adventure, and James is able to escape his miserable
existence. He makes new friends with
a host of fantastical creatures and travels across the ocean on a Giant Peach to
for more information, see
www.mainstreettheater.com or call (713) 524-6706
Opera in the Heights
(
Thru April 5th:
TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini - Who
does not love Tosca? A staple of the Italian opera scene for over 100 years,
Tosca chooses murder rather than submit to the monstrous figure of Scarpia, a
man incapable of finding pleasure except in conquest. Puccini’s music will
exhaust your every emotion as the young artists of Opera in the Heights bring
this masterpiece to life.
for more information, call (713) 861-5303 or see
www.operaintheheights.org
Playhouse 1960
(
Thru May 10th:
Leading Ladies - In this
hilarious comedy by the author of Lend Me a Tenor and Moon over Buffalo, two
English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their
luck that they are performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge
circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in
Thru May 11th:
Mulan, Jr. - Travel back to the
legendary, story-telling days of ancient
for more information,
see
www.playhouse1960.com
or call (281) 587-8243
Radio Music Theatre
(2623 Colquitt)
Thru May 10th:
Young & Fertle -
It's Class reunion time at Central High for
Bridgette and Justicena. Join them and
the rest of the gang from Dumpster as they stroll down memory lane. Doc
Moore and all the Fertles will be there, so make your reservations now.
for more information, see
www.radiomusictheatre.com or
call (713) 522-7722
Stages Repertory Theatre
(
Thru May 16th: Mr. Marmalade -
In this
grown-up play about playing grown-up, Lucy is a precocious four-year-old with an
alarmingly adult imagination. Her imaginary friend Mr. Marmalade comes
accessorized with cell phone, personal assistant and a very busy schedule, and
when he misses their tea-party date (again), Lucy throws him over for the
suicidal five-year-old next door. In a disturbingly funny whirlwind of food
fights, porno magazines, tea sets and coke habits, Lucy enacts a wild vision of adult
dysfunction seen through a child's eyes.
for more information,
see
www.stagestheatre.com
or call (713)
527-0123
Verizon Wireless Theatre
(
Verizon Wireless Theatre is the source in downtown
April 5th:
Saul Soliz presents Amateur Cage Fighting
April 9th:
Ray Romano & Brad Garrett with Jon Manfrellotti
April 11th:
George Carlin
April 13th:
April 14th:
The Mars
April 17th:
Hot Topic Presents Gigantour featuring Megadeth with Children of Bodom,
In Flames, Job For a Cowboy, High on Fire
April 18th:
Ministry with Meshuggah
April 19th:
Brian Regan
April 20th:
Honda Civic Tour presents Panic At The Disco with Motion City Soundtrack,
The Hush Sound, Phantom Planet
April 22nd:
Kids in the Hall
April 24th:
The Temptations, The Four Tops
April 25th:
Steve Earle
April 26th:
Latin Kings of Comedy with Paul Rodriguez, Gene Pompa, Manny Maldonado,
Frank Lucero
for more information, see
www.livenation.com
or call (713) 230-1600
Museums
Blaffer Gallery
(
April 12th – 26th:
2008
for more information, see
www.hfac.uh.edu/blaffer
or call (713) 743-9530
Children’s
The Children’s
Thru May 11th:
The
Farm to Market
- Kids will be shopping 'till "the grown-ups" drop all while learning all about
nutrition, money-management and more in Farm to Market. Kids can start out by
clocking-in, donning an apron and then proceed to the cash registers or even the
real-life scanners to serve as a cashier or stock person. As food is scanned,
not only will the kids learn how much they are spending, but also what part of
the food pyramid the food comes from.
Or, should they prefer to shop, kids will want to start at the ATM to get
their shopping money, pick up a grocery list and GO! They can shop through the
bakery, produce, meat and dry goods departments to fill a recipe and even use
coupons-- just like Mom and Dad might do. Adjacent to the market, kids can
mosey on down to the farm where they can milk a robotic cow or see live chicks.
If they're lucky, they'll even get to see some hatching! Kids can also explore
the worm farm, take a virtual reality journey on the back of a bee, and get
decked out in aprons, hats or bonnets to take care of the barn, gathering 'eggs'
from the chicken coop and more. Farm to Market is sponsored by Randall's
Food Markets
April 17th – 23rd:
Earth Day - Children's Museum
of Houston pays a colorful tribute to Mother Nature during Earth Day
Celebration, Special Earth Day Salute on April 19.
Twenty million people took part in the first Earth Day celebration in
1970. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson wanted a nationwide protest to get people
to think about cleaning up the environment, and he got it. As a result, The EPA
was formed and the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act
were passed. This goes to show it takes only one person who believes in a cause
to create an entire movement with lasting impact!
Join us as we find ways to preserve the planet with eco-friendly games
and activities during our weeklong Earth Day Celebration! Explore energy saving
ideas, resource conservation, recycling tips, and alternative fuel source
concepts! It’s the small things that together make a BIG difference!
April 27th:
Día
del Niño - Puppet drama, getting it mixed up. Go fish! These aren’t life’s
little lessons, but some of the exciting activities kids will participate in
during the Day of the Child Celebration at the Children’s
How Does It Work? - Did you ever wonder why you can't see in the dark? Or how your
wireless telephone worked? Or even what really happens when you turn the
ignition in your car? This multi-level exhibition challenges you to ask and
discover the answers to your own science questions with tons of hands-on,
investigative experiences. You will explore light and color and can even
become part of the exhibit with Light Warehouse, see what makes a car go with
the '66 Mustang in Auto Alley, watch your messages be sent via fiber-optics and
check out the history of communication in Phone Zone or challenge yourself to
discover something new in the Science Station. You can even lift yourself 5 feet
into the air to see how pulleys can make life a lot easier with the Kid Lift.
Then, step into a whimsical factory from the future in The Matter Factory, a new
area in the How Does It Work? exhibit. Kids will develop the understanding that
everything is made up of material or matter. They will learn that molecules and
atoms are the building blocks of matter as they investigate materials and solve
factory problems.
Kid TV - The Adler-Sarofim
KID-TV Studio Lights! Camera! Action! Think your child might be the next Matt
Lauer or Barbara Walters? Let them show their stuff on camera in this exhibit,
which teaches kids and parents what television is like behind the scenes.
KID-TV includes a dramatic backdrop of downtown
Think Tank -
In this hands-on, minds-on exhibit, kids will get to explore different thought
processes and learn how effective problem-solving can boost self-confidence.
After meeting the Think Tank Guides (Carlos, Felicia, Rosie and Isaac), you can
jump right into solving the riddles...or you might want to put on custom-made
thinking caps and lounge in the thinking chairs to get those brainstorming
juices flowing. Either way, inventive, "outside the box" thinking is sure to
occur!
Tot Spot -
Tot Spot is the place to bring your newborn, toddler and two-year-old.
It’s where play is learning and learning is play for children from birth to
thirty-six months. The eye-catching bubble machine is a first stop, but
not the last as tots crawl, cruise or walk throughout the exhibit which has four
distinct areas. These areas promote exploration, discovery,
experimentation and wonder.
for more information,
see
www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138
Thru April 20th: Design Life Now: National
Design Triennial - Design Life Now: National Design Triennial will present
the experimental projects, emerging ideas, major buildings, new products and
media that were at the center of contemporary culture from 2003 to 2006.
Inaugurated in 2000, the Triennial seeks out and presents the most innovative
American designs from the prior three years in a variety of fields, including
product design, architecture, furniture, film, graphics, new technologies,
animation, science, medicine and fashion. Design Life Now: National Design
Triennial will focus on four principal ideas that characterized elements of the
design world during the last three years: emulating life; community;
hand-crafted and do-it-yourself design; and transformation. On view throughout
the exhibition will be the work of 87 designers and firms, ranging from
established design leaders such as Apple, architect Santiago Calatrava, and
Nike, Inc., to emerging designers like Joshua Davis, Jason Miller, and David
Wiseman. The National Design Triennial is organized by the Cooper-Hewitt,
for more information, see
www.camh.org or
call (713) 284-8250
The Heritage Society |