Theater District Open House

Though last weekend's afternoons felt as miserably hot and humid as any day this summer, the Theater District Fifth Annual Open House made it worth a drive downtown. It was somewhat magical as all theater experiences should be. Smidgens of free food were passed out. And though you had to make your way through the lines 10 or 15 times to get enough to fill up even a medium sized belly, the gumbo at Jones Hall and the tiramisu at the Alley were yummy. Also games of chance abounded. Tickets could be had for a lucky spin of the roulette wheel or toss of the dice. Cloggers, singers, and actors performed. Children roamed and at the Alley they were encouraged to dress up in costumes they pulled from a great fat trunk. Faces were painted, programs were passed out, as was a very useful paper fan that featured a listing of the upcoming operas from HGO, including Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and Puccini's La Boheme. Ballet dancers pranced about in their tights and tutus. Folks lined up a hundred deep for backstage tours, and when the curious were weary and ready to go, they could catch a red trolley to take them down the street toward their cars.