She's Baaack

THU 7/15

Have you ever seen an actor completely lose her shit on stage? Well, be prepared
to watch a major-league freak-out when those charming renegades at Infernal
Bridegroom Productions present the latest installment of the Tamalalia series.
Starring award- winning actor (and director, designer and choreographer) Tamarie
Cooper, Tamalalia 9 delves into that neurotic experience known as “being
alive.” Through song and dance, we gain access to Tamarie’s fears and watch
as she confronts them in the only way she knows how: with unbridled hilarity.
A Houston summer staple since 1996, the Tamalalia series has attracted
a cult following and grown from a two-night performance at the un-air-conditioned
Orange Show to a full-fledged theatrical must-see. Featuring a cast of 20 and
an onstage band, Tamalalia 9 probes the dark places we fear, confronting
carbohydrates, gym class, dentists and disease. The show opens at 8 p.m. Thursday,
July 15. Through August 28. The Axiom, 2524 McKinney. For information, call
713-522-8443 or visit www.infernalbridegroom.com.
$12 to $17. — Tyler Smith

Boys Will Be Boys
The Encore Theatre does the neighborly thing

FRI 7/16

Centered around four mentally challenged young men and a burned-out social
worker, The Boys Next Door doesn’t seem too PC at first glance. One character,
for example, brings home 17 boxes of Wheaties, and another tries to take a train
to Russia. But Tom Griffin’s comedy celebrates the characters, says Harold J.
Haynes, artistic director for the Encore Theatre. “Besides, sometimes the best
way to deal with pain,” he says, “is to deal with it lightheartedly.” The Encore’s
production adds a twist by featuring an all-African-American cast. “Issues like
mental illness are hidden in African-American culture,” says Haynes. “They really
don’t get a lot of public exposure.” Until now, that is. Meet the Boys at 8 p.m. Friday, July 16. Through August 8. 2011 Lamar. For information, call
713-223-2787. $15. — Steven Devadanam

Billy and the Kid

THU 7/15

Back in the glory days of the Rat Pack, the Dean Martin-Sammy Davis Jr. comedy
routine had a simple formula. The two of them mounted the stage, clowned around
together and threw in a little music and some bad jokes. And the people loved
it. That’s what Christopher “Kid” Reid and Billy D. Washington are going for
this week at the Comedy Showcase. Reid (you may remember him as the “Kid” of
the duo Kid n’ Play) and Washington will perform some musical numbers and rip
on life and sports, “basically until the club owner throws us out,” says Washington.
8 p.m. Thursday, July 15, through Sunday, July 18. 11460 Fuqua, suite 300. For
information, call 281-481-1188 or visit www.thecomedyshowcase.com.
$13 to $15. — Steven Devadanam

Pink-Blooded Americans

SAT 7/17

As the Pride Parade and Independence Day took place just weeks ago, it seems fitting that members of the Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals are getting together to share their perspectives on gayness and patriotism. At a weeklong workshop, the teens will write, direct and produce a video segment for a program called “Turned Up Volume: Houston 2004.” See the results at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 17. DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. For information, call 713-223-8346 or visit www.diverseworks.org. $8. — Steven Devadanam