Male Call

THU 9/23

Considering that the titular hero of Sir James M. Barrie’s Peter Pan was a man, it’s odd that the role, when originally adapted to the stage, went to two very non-males: Cathy Rigby and Sandy Duncan. But now the show is returning to its roots. Houston Ballet choreographer Trey McIntyre has cast alternating male leads in his redo of Peter Pan. Soloists Randy Herrera and Ilya Kozadayev will each tackle the lead role with wild-child, free-spirited abandon and punk hairdos to boot. McIntyre is sticking to the darker aspects of the 1902 classic tale of eternal childhood.

“I am exploring some minor, lesser-known parts of the book,” he says, “and
expanding upon those things.” His aerial sequences merge ballet, flight and
some mighty sturdy bungee cords. He’s also wielding some artistic license with
the story, rethinking the infamous Tinkerbell, eliminating Nana the dog and
transforming the mischievous “redskins” into chameleons. Thomas Boyd’s magical
sets and Broadway designer Jeanne Button’s costumes should make this revival
downright enchanting. Opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 23. Through
October 3. Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center. For information, call 712-227-ARTS
or visit www.houstonballet.org.
Tickets start at $17. — Nancy Galeota-Wozny

Blame It on Rio

The Balé Folclórico da Bahia puts on a Carnival

FRI 9/24

If you’ve ever been to Carnival in Brazil, you know that it involves, among
other things, nonstop ass-shaking. Of course, there’s more to dance than 360-degree
hip movement. The Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Brazil’s only professional
folk dance company, features the traditional dances brought to Brazil by African
slaves, performed with the free-minded spirit of Carnival. Expect the familiar
samba and reggae, plus more obscure forms such as maculele, a slave dance
performed with machetes and sugarcane, which offers a glimpse of what those
slave masters were afraid of when they banned dancing from the plantations.
Prior to the show, there will be a lecture featuring Balé Folclórico
da Bahia general director and co-founder Walson Botelho, and a presentation
by Houston’s Grupo Capoeira Brasil. 8 p.m. Friday, September 24. Jones Hall,
615 Louisiana. For information, call 713-227-4-SPA or visit www.spahouston.org.
$21 to $46.25. –Felicia Johnson-LeBlanc

Band of One

FRI 9/24

A darling of Houston’s local music scene with her brother Darin, Trish Murphy
moved to Austin with her new husband in the early ’90s to pursue a solo career.
But her marriage to manager Charlie Neath ended in divorce — just as her own
parents announced that they, too, were splitting. After spending some time in
recovery mode, Murphy is again flying solo. Seems her newfound status as a single,
independent woman has yielded a flood of ideas for her latest CD, Girls Get
in Free, which is her best shot at the Americana radio market to date. Check
out the elfin singer’s folk-laced rock at 9 p.m. Friday, September 24. Old Quarter
Acoustic Cafe, 413 20th Street in Galveston. For information, call 409-762-9199.
$15. — Greg Barr

Worth the Wait

THU 9/23

You may recognize Bobcat Goldthwait’s face — or rather, his voice — from those maddening Police Academy movies in the ’80s. Thankfully, that squeaky, comedic voice has matured. With lines like “America’s one of the finest countries anyone ever stole,” he’s now focusing more on topical, subversive material. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, September 24 and Saturday, September 25. The Laff Stop, 1952 West Gray. For information, call 713-524-2333 or visit www.laffstop.com. $18 to $19.50. — Eric A.T. Dieckman