Tuesday, March 28
When PGA rookie Grayson Murray called out his fellow golfers for not embracing Twitter, the Houston Golf Association not only agreed – it was one step ahead. HGA president Steve Timms says the group wants folks snapping selfies at the Shell Houston Open, either for the new 9-Hole Social Media Challenge, at the HEB Family Fun Zone or with revelers on the Hendricks Party Deck. “Golf has this staid, stodgy image, and we’re trying to do everything we can to say, ‘Look, this is fun, a beautiful place, and you can come out and have a great time, and there just happens to be a golf tournament going on’” – a tournament that includes world No. 1 Dustin Johnson. 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 28. Also 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 29-31, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 1, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 2. Golf Club of Houston, 5860 Wilson, Humble. For information, call 281-454-7000 or visit shellhoustonopen.com. Free to $10,000. — Natalie de la Garza
Wednesday, March 29
For its final show, the walls of Rice University Art Gallery have been painted black, as if the gallery is shrouded in mourning. “Sol LeWitt: Glossy and Flat Black Squares” is a reinstallation of the conceptual art pioneer’s work created specifically for the gallery and shown in 1997. Black paint with either a flat or a gloss finish is brushed in rectangles and squares on the gallery’s three 16-foot-high sheet-rock walls. These vast planes of blackness overwhelm the viewer, all at a scale much larger than human; standing in front of them, you are encompassed by their darkness. “Glossy and Flat Black Squares” is a quiet and elegant ending for a space that has hosted such a dynamic range of work. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29. Continuing 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. February 9 through May 14. 6100 Main. For information, call 713-348-6069 or visit ricegallery.org. Free. — Kelly Klaasmeyer
Thursday, March 30
If you give a “woof” about homelessness, check out the 2017 Dog House Extravaganza. We’re jumping up and down over the creative, custom-made doghouses provided by local Houston donors (builders, realtors, mortgage companies and insurers). Which house is top dog? Celebrity judges Mayor Sylvester Turner, Logan Lester (Miss Houston) and a mystery judge make that call, but there’s still lots of tail-wagging fun to be had by human partygoers, including hors d’oeuvres, games and a silent auction. Organizers Houston Association of Realtors, along with last year’s TRLP graduates, are trying to raise awareness and donations for New Hope Housing of Houston, which helps provide affordable housing for those on limited incomes. 6 to 9 p.m. March 30. Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight. For information, call 713-629-1900 or visit dhe2017.com. $30. — Susie Tommaney
Quilts have come a long way, baby. In the case of “Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry: 40 Years of Color, Light, and Motion” at the Texas Quilt Museum, Fallert-Gentry’s nearly 50 quilts have more in common with prints than patterns. Her color-rich, painterly pieces have been installed on a gallery wall and placed to create dialogues. Sadly, these quilts won’t keep you warm at night, but you can still rest assured; Fallert-Gentry is “very salt of the earth,” says Dr. Sandra Sider, curator of the museum. And there’s “nothing rarified about quilt art.” On April 1, the museum offers free admission after 2 p.m. and Fallert-Gentry will give a lecture at 3 p.m. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. March 30 through June 25. Texas Quilt Museum, 140 West Colorado, La Grange. For information, call 979-968-3104 or visit texasquiltmuseum.org. $6 to $8. — Katricia Lang
Tilting, twirling, tipping and swaying, the Rube Goldberg devices produced by kinetic sculptor Pedro S. de Movellán suggest that a master alchemist is at work. While his transmutations result in elegant works of art rather than gold, he has been known to work with gold leaf — as well as mahogany, maple, polished aluminum and carbon fiber — to create pieces that would make a Swiss watchmaker proud. Now, his latest are on view at Sicardi Gallery in “Grace: A distillation of current kinetic works.” The paint is barely dry on 2017’s Outdoor Conical Leaf, coated with a fire-engine-red finish. Allison Ayers, a partner at the gallery who was traveling when she emailed us, told us that the 96-inch-by-75-inch behemoth is “one of his large outdoor pieces.” An opening reception with the artist is 6 to 8 p.m. March 30. Continuing 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. March 30 through May 18. 1506 West Alabama. For information, call 713-529-1313 or visit sicardigallery.com. Free. — Susie Tommaney
Friday, March 31
Love, strife and celebration are at the core of life in the Andes, where the indigenous population carves out its hardy existence in a place where the air is ultra-thin and farmers learn to make peace with the mountains. The region’s unique folk rhythms have inspired Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, a 2001 composition by Houston Symphony composer-in-residence Gabriela Lena Frank that serves as the cornerstone of Andean Walkabout and continues the seasonal celebration of heritage for presenter Apollo Chamber Players. The program includes the world premiere of Quintet for String Quartet and Guitar by award-winning Chilean composer-guitarist Javier Farias, who drew upon the classic folk songs of Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. It’s a big month for Farias — five of his compositions are premiering at Carnegie Hall in April — and he’ll be present this Friday as Apollo’s guest artist. Rounding out the program are works by Argentine composers Alberto Ginastera and Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla. Musicophiles wanting to dig deeper should arrive at 7:30 p.m.; University of Houston professor of music Howard Pollack, Ph.D., will lead a pre-concert discussion with Farias. 8 p.m. March 31. The MATCH, 3400 Main. For information, call 713-521-4533 or visit matchouston.org or apollochamberplayers.org. $10 to $35. — Vic Shuttee
It’s the story of a very angry man in power, a prisoner who is believed to be innocent, and a woman who dresses as a man. Is it a parody of the most recent election cycle? No, it’s the Houston Symphony’s presentation of Fidelio. The semi-staged, concert version of Beethoven’s only opera features seven soloists, all backed by the orchestra and the Houston Symphony Chorus. Director Tara Faircloth tells us she and conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada have added a modern variation to the original work. “I knew that we wanted something that would be more immediately relevant to our audience, so we cut [Beethoven’s original] dialogue, which didn’t give a lot of information, and replaced it with quotes from a narrator that are applicable and enlightening,” she says. Just who is that narrator? None other than native Houstonian Phylicia Rashad. 8 p.m. March 31 and 2 p.m. April 2. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. For information, call 713-224-7575 or visit houstonsymphony.org. $25 to $136. — Sam Byrd
Comedian Jim Jefferies has no chill, and that’s probably why we love him. The famous rageaholic will bring his righteous indignation all the way to Houston as part of his Unusual Punishment Tour. After growing up in Australia, the actor and writer worked his way both north and west, first being embraced by the Brits and filming his first special at the London branch of the Comedy Store, and later presenting his 2010 tome on substance abuse, Alcoholocaust, through Comedy Central UK. Jefferies made his splash stateside as both co-creator and star of the critically acclaimed FX series Legit, whose table-turning sexual harassment episode, “Licked,” featured the late Carrie Fisher. Although the series failed to find secure footing after the cable station divided in 2013 (the creation of Fxx also led to the untimely deaths of Wilfred and Totally Biased), Jefferies is just getting warmed up. He’ll host a new weekly chat series on Comedy Central in the fall, so now’s the time to catch him while you can. 8 p.m. March 31. Cullen Performance Hall, 4300 University. For information, call 713-743-2255 or 1-800-745-3000 or visit uh.edu/cullen-performance-hall or ticketmaster.com. $39.50 to $49.50. — Vic Shuttee
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women earned its spot as a beloved tale of four sisters’ passage from childhood to adulthood. Now, Opera in the Heights is reviving this American classic under the direction of Dash Waterbury and starring Monica Isomura, Jennifer Crippen, Julie Hoeltzel and Leigh Whitney Rosh. The story has been replicated in staged and musical versions, but nothing compares to Mark Adamo’s operatic adaptation. “Adamo put a lot of heart and soul into the show,” Waterbury says. “He delved beneath the surface. You will have seen the story, but once you see the opera, you see what’s going on underneath the surface.” He guarantees this performance shows excitement, humor, romance and drama. “I think people are going to leave feeling a deep catharsis. They will get their laughs and cry their tears in equal measure.” 7:30 p.m. March 31. Continuing 2 p.m. April 2, 7:30 p.m. April 6 and 8. Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights. For information, call 713-861-5303 or visit operaintheheights.org. $13 to $71. — Sam Byrd
Forget Carrie Bradshaw, the third annual Houston Lebanese Festival is bringing a souk to the city. During the three-day festival, you can stroll the open-air bazaar (or souk), stall to stall, perusing Lebanese arts and crafts to the strum of the Arabic guitar while stuffing your face with shawarma. You can take in a folkloric dance performance, or sip coffee and play no-holds-barred backgammon like they do in the cafes of Beirut. (Just don’t flip the board when you lose.) “We’re trying to re-create the feeling of being in the country,” says Hiba Elcroz, board member for presenter American Lebanese Cultural Center. Well, she laughs, “as much as we can at Jones Plaza.” 5 to 11 p.m. March 31, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 1, 1 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 2. 600 Louisiana. For information, visit alcchouston.org/houston-lebanese-festival. Free to $10. — Katricia Lang
Tracy Stephenson, coordinator of film and video at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has a rule: “If I haven’t laughed pretty heartily in 20 minutes, I cross it off the list.” So, rest assured the Five Funny French Films screening this year will be laugh-out-loud, gut-busting funny. Selections include a man tasked with opening a ski resort in the jungle in Struggle for Life, a deadbeat rapper with 24 hours to write a hit in Uncompleted Song, and Stephenson’s favorite, The Brand New Testament, about God’s ten-year-old daughter and her motley group of disciples setting out to correct all of his mistakes. “I think the French are more courageous in taking on certain topics,” says Stephenson. “I just can’t see an American film taking on that kind of content at this time.”
7 and 9 p.m. March 31, 7 and 9:15 p.m. April 1, 7 p.m. April 2, 4 p.m. April 8. 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7515 or visit mfah.org/films. $7 to $9. — Natalie de la Garza
Saturday, April 1
In playwright Heidi Schreck’s Grand Concourse, a nun goes to work in a Bronx soup kitchen, but her faith seems to waver. The arrival of Emma, a college dropout and volunteer filled with initial enthusiasm, adds to the stress as she becomes more and more erratic. Local actor, director and professor Rachel Dickson directs the regional premiere at Main Street Theater and says she was attracted to the project because of its theme of forgiveness. “It deals with a universal issue whether you are part of a faith or not; forgiveness is something we all understand. And personal struggle is something we all understand.” The four-actor cast learned to navigate around a crowded kitchen onstage and even took a field trip to a food kitchen during rehearsals. Dickson cautions that some of the subject matter is better left to older teens and adults, so leave the youngsters at home. 7:30 p.m. April 1. Continuing 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. April 1 through 30. 2540 Times. For information call 713-524-6706 or visit mainstreettheater.com. $36 to $45. — Margaret Downing
“You looked sexy even though you were having a seizure,” sings Gabriel Kahane in “Craigslistlieder,” an eight-part found-text song cycle made up of personals from the sketchy ad site. In Gabriel Kahane In Concert — Craigslist, Schumann, & Other Inspirations, the singer-songwriter will perform songs from his latest album, The Ambassador, and celebrate the ten-year anniversary of his cult hit by performing it alongside Robert Schumann’s cycle, Dichterliebe. “Vocal cycles are typically known as very old, but [Kahane] reinvented this classical medium with a very contemporary subject matter,” says Michael Zuraw, president and artistic director of presenter Aperio, Music of the Americas. By playing both, Kahane will show the connection between the great traditions of art songs and modern pop music in a way that “isn’t stuffy at all,” Zuraw says. Not convinced? Zuraw recommends Come on All You Ghosts and Memory Palace; then be prepared to buy a ticket. 8 p.m. April 1. The MATCH, 3400 Main. For information, call 713-521-4533 or visit aperioamericas.org. $15 to $35. — Natalie de la Garza
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We already know somebody is going to pull a prank today (one of our favorites is remapping keys on the victim’s keyboard). Well, it seems that Mother Nature is up to her own tricks and sneaky tactics 24/7, though sometimes it’s a matter of life and death for plants and animals. Today the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center presents Nature Revealed: April Fools’!, a class plus walking tour of crypsis (hiding in plain sight), mimicry (trying to look like something else) and other sneaky tactics by flora and fauna to deceive and survive. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 1. 4501 Woodway. For information, call 713-681-8433 or visit houstonarboretum.org. $10 to $25. — Susie Tommaney
A magical play about the coming of end times and waiting for the great Rapture, moving into a new home previously inhabited by a mass shooter, a circa-’40s drama about prejudices and secrets, and a dark western based on a real-life family of innkeepers who murdered and buried travelers in the orchard. It’s all part of the lineup when The Landing Theatre Company presents its New American Voices Play Reading Series, with four new plays by Alexis Schaetzle, John Bavoso, Barbara Kingsley and Anne Phelan. Talkbacks with the playwright, actors and director follow each reading. 1 and 7 p.m. April 1-2. The Docks Theatre, 1119 Providence. For information, call 562-502-7469 or visit landingtheatre.org. Free; donations suggested. — Susie Tommaney
Do you have more followers than a Kardashian? Social-media-savvy Houstonians are invited to test their mettle with the next Instagram Scavenger Hunt along Buffalo Bayou. Teams of four will walk the greenspaces between Sabine and Shepherd, exploring the landscape and solving clues. Post your pics to public Instagram accounts and try to take home the win in either the adult or the family category. And yes, there are prizes for first to complete the task. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Rice Design Alliance put their brains together for this one, and it looks like previous winners were creative on those team names, including “Yes We Kahn,” “Ham Sandwich” and “Minority Report.” 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 1. Bike Barn, 105 Sabine. For information, visit ricedesignalliance.org/2017/instagram-scavenger-hunt-buffalogram. $15 to $25. — Susie Tommaney
Sunday, April 2
It’s perfectly fine if you’re not hip to Sanam Marvi, because she hasn’t really toured the States before. You should probably get on that. “She has an incredible set of pipes and her talent is so tremendous. She’s one of those voices that come across once in a generation,” says Deirdre Valente, general manager of Center Stage, an organization that brings underappreciated-in-America artists from overseas. “Pakistan has been blessed with those voices, which are especially pungent with messages of peace and empathy.” Marvi, a Sufi singer, performs classic songs from across the South Asian regions of Sindh and Punjab. This intimate, stripped-down show will center on Marvi and tabla, harmonium, sitar and dholak players. “There will be no fog machine or water features,” says Valente. “It will be minimalist, which will be nice in this time of hyper-presentation.” 6 p.m. April 2. Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas. For information, call 832-487-7041 or visit sanammarvihouston.com. $20 to $80. — Steve Jansen
Yes, ghosts can be wicked, but Ars Lyrica Artistic Director Matthew Dirst wants to remind you that Casper hasn’t cornered the market on friendliness, either. In fact, benevolent, otherworldly figures haunt the ensemble’s Classical Spectres, like the divine aura of Jean-Marie LeClair (Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 7/1); the imaginary, immortal beloved of Beethoven’s song cycle An die ferne geliebte; and Beethoven’s evocative but spooky “Ghost” Trio. “It does a bit of supernatural conjuring by going into very exotic keys and with some strange writing for the violin, the cello and the fortepiano,” says Dirst. Closing the program is Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach’s Pygmalion, a cantata based on the same tale that inspired My Fair Lady. “There’s moments of great anguish, outburst, tender melancholy — it moves from one thing to another very, very quickly,” says Dirst, “the hallmark of an 18th-century melodrama.” 6 p.m. April 2. The Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-315-2525 or visit arslyricahouston.org. $22 to $65. — Natalie de la Garza
The backstabbing and infighting begin when a respected barbershop owner passes away. His shop, in a southern Mississippi town, is apparently worth a lot of money and the son and illegitimate daughter duke it out. But here the plot takes a turn, as supernatural occurrences and near-death experiences begin to occur in the close-knit community. Zu’s Earth, by playwright Sidney Rushing, is next up in Queensbury Theatre’s New Works Series, offering staged readings curated by playwright in residence L. Robert Westeen. It’s directed by Denise O’Neal; be sure to stay after for discussion and a feedback session with the playwright. 7 to 10 p.m. April 2. 12777 Queensbury Lane. For information, call 713-467-4497 or visit queensburytheatre.org. Pay what you can. — Susie Tommaney
Monday, April 3
Roger Ebert once commented that Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey stands out because it is not concerned with thrills, rather inspiring awe. Robert Saucedo, programming director for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, gushes slightly more, saying, “The film is an iconic art-house film and piece of science fiction. It set the standard of how space travel and exploration was depicted on the screen.” The theater is showing Kubrick’s film, known for its classical score and Academy Award-winning special effects, on the 49th anniversary of its original release. Not familiar with 2001? “It deals with human evolution, space travel and artificial intelligence gone awry — all in one movie,” says Saucedo. The theater is preserving the authentic experience by showing the film just as it originally was done in 1968, complete with an overture and intermission as well as original lighting and schematics. 7:30 p.m. April 3. 531 South Mason, Katy. For information, call 281-492-6900 or visit drafthouse.com/houston/theater/mason-park. $9.74. — Sam Byrd
Lone Star College, our region’s own six-campus brain trust, is back with the Bayou City Book Festival, rebranded from the inaugural year’s “Lone Star” moniker. Some things haven’t changed, though. We’ve still got nationally and internationally known authors, book signings and a week of intense programming. It all kicks off with Mystery Monday on April 3 at the Montgomery campus. Programming continues all week with Romance Genre (University Park) and Creative Writers (Cy Fair) on April 4, Día de los Libros (North Harris) on April 5, Family Fun Night (Creekside Center) on April 6 and the big closer on April 8 in Kingwood with cooking demos and keynote speakers throughout the day. 4 to 8 p.m. April 3,4 and 6; 3 to 7 p.m. April 5; 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. April 8. Various locations. For information, visit lonestar.edu/book-festival. Free, though memberships (with special perks) are available for purchase. — Susie Tommaney
This article appears in Mar 16-22, 2017.
