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