Houston -Guide for the Arts-2016 by Instep Communications, LLC

SYMPHONY OPERA BALLET THEATRE MUSEUMS

HOUSTON 2016

BOB CLYATT

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KIM CASEBEER

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HOUSTON 2016

Ambassador to the Arts

I am pleased to serve as Ambassador to the Arts for this year’s Houston Guide for the Arts. When I moved to Houston in 2009, I was very happy to run a museum that for over six decades has served the function of bringing the new in arts, culture, and thought to the city. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) has made our city a fundamentally richer cultural capital in the American arts landscape. Houston is a wild, sprawling, and diverse city. Appealing to the appetites of such a globally informed and curious community is often a difficult task. CAMH enjoys exceptional freedom because we are in a great museum city – flanked to the north and south by exemplary collecting institutions, the Menil Collection and Museum of Fine Arts – allowing CAMH to specialize in groundbreaking, edgier exhibits. We provide access to these exhibitions and programming at no cost to our visitors. Growing up in New York City, I have loved museums my whole life. I encourage everyone to incorporate the arts – visual, performing, or otherwise – into their life. And in a city as culturally rich as Houston, it’s an easy endeavor!

Bill Arning Director Contemporary Arts Museum Houston www.GuidefortheArts.com

Contents

Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

Sponsors

Publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

Alley Theatre

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Da Camera

Houston Ballet

Houston Grand Opera

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston Symphony

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Theatre Under the Stars

Contact Information

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Opera, Symphony, Ballet, Museums, and Performing Arts groups in Houston. The guide for the arts is produced to service the fine arts & musical communities in the Houston area and includes event schedules and important phone numbers. We wish to thank all of our advertising sponsors and patrons, a select group that values the arts in their communities. Their support contributes greatly to the success of this 2016 edition of the guide for the arts. We appreciate the cooperation of the participating art groups for their invaluable assistance with event schedules and information that helps us share the guide for the arts. with their major donors, corporate sponsors, and valued members. To showcase your company, advertise in the next edition of the guide for the arts.

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A Thank You to Our Patrons Welcome to the Houston edition of the Guide for the Arts.

The arts in Houston continue to flourish, thanks to your patronage. Without your help, the Houston area arts landscape would not be the vibrant and inspiring community that you have come to know and expect. Because of people like you, Houstonians and visitors alike are able to enjoy a great variety of performing and visual arts. It is your generosity that has helped to build a metropolitan arts scene that is a source of civic pride envied throughout America. Guide for the Arts has put together a unique and

informative guide to the Houston arts community, and we encourage you to patronize the advertisers who have helped to make this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide possible. Be sure to visit www.GuidefortheArts.com to find in-depth coverage and behind-the-scenes arts information, and to utilize our digital guides. We hope that you enjoy this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide for the Arts Thank you again, and we look forward to seeing you in the coming season. Enjoy the show!

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Alley Theatre

THE ALLEY WAS founded over Exterior of the Alley Theatre. Photo courtesy of Houston 60 years ago as Houston’s theatre Culture Map company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works – to provide the inspirational and the provocative – to make our audiences think, feel, dream, and be entertained. The Alley Theatre is one of the few American Theatre companies that supports a company of actors, designers, artisans, and craftspeople throughout the year. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, and new artists of the American theatre.

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Alley Theatre

JANUARY 29 – FEBRUARY 21, 2016 Hubbard Theatre ALL THE WAY By ROBERT SCHENKKAN Directed by KEVIN MORIARTY WINNER OF THE 2014 Tony Award, the Alley’s Texas-sized production of a gripping new play about LBJ features a cast combining artists from the Alley, with members of the Dallas Theater Center portraying some of history’s most dynamic figures and the 36th President of the United States himself, Lyndon Baines Johnson. 1964: A pivotal year in American history – a landmark civil rights bill passed, involvement in Vietnam deepening, and one man at the center of it all, determined to lift the country out of the ashes and rebuild it into The Great Society – by any means necessary. MARCH 4 – APRIL 3, 2016 Hubbard Theatre AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS By MARK BROWN Directed by MARK SHANAHAN MARK BROWN’S AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, adapted from the great Jules Verne adventure, will be directed by Mark Shanahan, who helmed the Alley’s phenomenally popular Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. In Around the World in 80 Days, fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg agrees to an outrageous wager that puts his life and fortune at risk, as he embarks on a grand journey to circle the globe in a race to beat the clock. Danger, romance, and comic surprises abound as five actors portraying 42 characters traverse seven continents in this classic adventure.

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Alley Theatre

MARCH 25 – APRIL 17, 2016 Neuhaus Theatre GROUNDED By GEORGE BRANT Directed by JACKSON GAY IN THE NEVADA DESERT, a now pregnant ace F-16 fighter pilot has been reassigned to a new poImage from the Public Theater’s sition, flying a remote-controlled production of Grounded with Anne Hathaway. drone from an Air Force trailer. Photo: Joan Marcus Her 12-hour shifts hunting terrorist targets in the Middle East are followed by 12 hours at home, struggling as a wife and mother in suburban Las Vegas. The mounting pressure to track a high-profile target blurs the boundaries between the desert she lives in and the one she patrols, half a world away. “Top Notch – a chilling portrait of future war” – New York Magazine. “A stratospheric level of theatrical intensity” – The Telegraph. APRIL 22 – MAY 15, 2016 Hubbard Theatre THE CHRISTIANS By LUCAS HNATH Directed by GREGORY BOYD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR GREGORY BOYD will direct Lucas Hnath’s The Christians, which centers on Pastor Paul, who started his church in a modest storefront. Now, he presides over a congregation of thousands. On the anniversary of the

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Alley Theatre

church’s founding, Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundation of his congregation’s beliefs. What happens to the flock when the shepherd has a change of heart? The Christians’ playwright Lucas Hnath has been lauded “as one of the freshest playwriting voices to emerge in the past five years,” by The New York Times. MAY 6 – 29, 2016 Neuhaus Theatre THE NETHER By JENNIFER HALEY SET IN THE YEAR 2050, The Nether is an intricate sci-fi crime drama that tells the story of a new virtual digital world that provides total sensory immersion. Log in, choose an identity, and indulge your every whim, with no consequences in the “real” world. Or so it seems. A female detective begins an investigation to determine if there is a point at which thought or intention may actually constitute a crime within, and outside of, this new virtual realm. The Nether is “Mind-bending… like a hall of mirrors...” “CSI SVU meets Ray Bradbury.” JUNE 3 – JULY 3, 2016 Hubbard Theatre BORN YESTERDAY By GARSON KANIN Directed by JONATHAN MOSCONE THE GREAT AMERICAN comedy about politics and the power of female persuasion. Born Yesterday tells the story of a hot-tempered and corrupt tycoon and a not-so-dumb blonde out to “capitalize” on everything Jonathan Moscone. Photo: California Shakespeare Theater Washington has to offer. This ex-showgirl gets an extreme makeover from a political reporter hired by her boyfriend

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Alley Theatre

and receives more than a history lesson. Born Yesterday is a delicious screwball classic. TICKETS & CONTACT Alley Theatre 615 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 (713) 228-9341 (General) (713) 220-5700 (Tickets) www.alleytheatre.org

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Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Contemporary Arts Museum THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS Houston exterior. MUSEUM Houston was Photo: Rick Gardner founded in 1948 by a group of seven Houston citizens to present new art and to document its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures, and other activities.Â The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art. Through dynamic exhibitions accompanied by scholarly publications and accessible educational programs, the Museum reaches out to local, regional, national, and international audiences of various ages. CAMH is a nonprofit organization that relies on a variety of funding sources, including individual, government, and corporate, for its activities.

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Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

ISLAND TIME: GALVESTON ARTIST RESIDENCY – THE FIRST FOUR YEARS NOVEMBER 21, 2015 – FEBRUARY 14, 2016 ISLAND TIME: GALVESTON ARTIST RESIDENCY – THE FIRST FOUR YEARS features works by former residents and artists who have exhibited at the Galveston Artist Residency (GAR). The exhibition includes work by twenty-two artists and features animation, installation, painting, sculpture, video, and performance, representing the breadth of work that has originated and been shown in Houston’s neighboring island city of Galveston. The exhibition is organized by guest curator Eric Schnell, director and co-founder of GAR. JENNIE C. JONES: COMPILATION DECEMBER 12, 2015 – MARCH 27, 2016 THROUGH EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH and imaginative talent, Jennie C. Jones brings to light the unlikely parallels that emerged between the visual arts Jennie C. Jones, Blues in C Sharp and jazz during the social Minor (for Teddy Wilson), 2015. Acoustic panel and acrylic. and cultural upheavals in the Courtesy of the artist and Sikkema late 1950s. A resistance to tradiJenkins & Co., New York tion in favor of experimentation gave rise to an avant-garde in the visual arts and in jazz. These imprints exist as tangible markers of social evolution and political strivings. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is pleased to present the midcareer survey Jennie C. Jones: Compilation, which chronicles Jones’s practice over a fifteen-year period and includes the artist’s iconic Acoustic Paintings, early works on paper, sculpture, and sound works. The exhibition will debut a suite of new 26

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Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Acoustic Paintings along with a site-specific installation created for her presentation at CAMH. THE INTERVIEW: RED, RED FUTURE FEBRUARY 27 – JUNE 5, 2016 THE HUMAN COLONIZATION of Mars is expected to begin in the coming decades as NASA and independent space ventures partner with corporate investors to explore the future of life on the planet. The recent discovery of flowing water on its surface only adds to the speculation that Mars may already support life. Within this extraordinary context, CAMH is excited to present THE INTERVIEW: Red, Red Future, a solo exhibition by the artist MPA that includes photography, sculpture, and performance, all commissioned for this presentation. MPA has developed a series of exploratory topics – which she calls “landings” – drawn from the cultural imaginary surrounding the red planet. Combining advanced technology and Minimalist aesthetics, MPA’s work seeks to shed light on invisible forces and power. TICKETS & CONTACT Contemporary Arts Museum Houston 5216 Montrose Boulevard Houston, TX 77006 (713) 284-8250 www.camh.org

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Da Camera Houston

The Menil Collection exterior. DA CAMERA OF HOUSTON, Photo: D. Jules Gianakos founded in 1987, was created with the intention to produce a series of thematically programmed concerts designed to attract new listeners to the concert hall. By bringing together leading American and international musicians, specifically selected for each program, Da Camera concerts offer a broad range of repertoire and musical styles while ensuring a product of outstanding musical excellence. Members of the Houston Symphony and faculty of Rice Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shepherd School of Music, University of Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moores School, and others are often included in Da Camera programs, expanding the opportunities for locally based musicians of national acclaim and enriching our community by enhancing the musical life of artists who choose to live here. Under the artistic leadership of Sarah Rothenberg since 1994, Da Camera maintains its commitment to this high caliber of musicianship brought together to perform in its Houston-based subscription series at the Wortham Theater Center and The Menil Collection; its extensive education and outreach activities; and its regional, national and international touring initiatives.

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Da Camera Houston

JANUARY 29, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center MONTROSE TRIO HOUSTON DEBUT WITH RICHIE HAWLEY, CLARINET HAYDN, Trio in E Major, Hob. XV:28 PIERRE JALBERT, Street Antiphons TCHAIKOVSKY, Trio in A Minor, Op. 50 THREE WORLD-RENOWNED musicians join forces in this new ensemble making its highly anticipated Houston debut. A veteran of the international concert stage, Houston-based Jon Kimura Parker joins forces with Martin Beaver and Clive Greensmith of the now-disbanded Tokyo String Quartet, a longtime favorite of Houston chamber music audiences. Clarinetist Richie Hawley joins the Trio for a new work by award-winning Houston-based composer Pierre Jalbert. FEBRUARY 5, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center GREGORY PORTER THE LONG-AWAITED FIRST Houston appearance by the vocalist who exploded onto the international music scene with his debut CD, Water. Gregory Porter has racked up a continuing stream of accolades and awards. Porter’s first two CDs were nominated for Grammys, and his Blue Note debut, Liquid Spirit, won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. FEBRUARY 11 & 12, 2016 Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center SARAH ROTHENBERG: THE MARCEL PROUST PROJECT HENRY STRAM, Actor NICHOLAS PHAN, Tenor BOSON MO, Violin SARAH ROTHENBERG, Piano Works by FAURÉ, FRANCK, SAINT-SAËNS, DEBUSSY, CHOPIN, AND HAHN Excerpts from MARCEL PROUST, In Search of Lost Time SARAH ROTHENBERG’S MARCEL PROUST’S PARIS was a landmark 1995 concert, the first in her highly-regarded Music and the Literary Imagination series presented by Da Camera and Great Performers at Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy

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Da Camera Houston

Center, Mexico’s Cervantino Festival, the Ijsbreker series in The Netherlands, and other prestigious venues. Now, Rothenberg revisits the great French author with a team of collaborators including tenor Nicholas Phan, Tony AwardNicholas Phan. winning lighting designer Photo: Face Collective Jennifer Tipton, Tony Award-winning set and costume designer Marina Draghici, and Obie Award-winning projection and video designer Hannah Wasileski. Music of the French belle epoque, imagery from paintings and period photography, and excerpts from the early 20th century literary masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, transport us to the dreamy realm of a recaptured past. FEBRUARY 23, 2016, 7:30 P.M. The Menil Collection BRENTANO QUARTET: THE QUARTET AS AUTOBIOGRAPHY PAUL RUDERS, Romances for Viola and Piano BRITTEN, String Quartet No. 3 MOZART, Quintet in G Minor, K. 516 RENOWNED FOR HIS opera and vocal works, when the great British composer Benjamin Britten began his third and final string quartet in 1975, he had not composed for the form in 30 years. Written after his last opera, Death in Venice – quoted in the work’s last movement – the quartet is an intensely moving autobiographical work, a final testament composed in Britten’s last year. The renowned Brentano Quartet is joined by frequent collaborator Hsin-Yun Huang for Mozart’s masterpiece. MARCH 19, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center GUILLERMO KLEIN Y LOS GUACHOS GUILLERMO KLEIN Y LOS GUACHOS is a fantastic 11-piece band that bridges jazz, the music of Argentina, and other

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Da Camera Houston

genres. One of the most original artists to emerge on the international scene in recent years, composer and pianist Guillermo Klein is noted for distinctive compositions featuring dazzling rhythms, lush harmonic layer,s and rich melodies. MARCH 22, 2016, 7:30 P.M. The Menil Collection SOLZHENITSYN AND PROKOFIEV: THE WAR YEARS IGNAT SOLZHENITSYN, Piano PROKOFIEV, Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, Op. 83 PROKOFIEV, Piano Sonata No. 8 in B-flat Major, Op. 84 FOLLOWING THE TRIUMPHANT release of Live from Moscow: Solzhenitsyn Plays Prokofiev, renowned pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn performs Prokofiev’s monumental sonatas, written after the composer’s return home to Stalinist Russia following 18 years of exile. Solzhenitsyn joins Sarah Rothenberg in a post-concert discussion about Prokofiev’s return, the Soviet Union, and the life and work of his father, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Nobel prize-winning author of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, the historic publication that revealed life in the Stalinist gulag to the western world.

Ignat Solzhenitsyn. Photo: Dario Acosta

APRIL 1, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC: ORLANDO CONSORT CARL THEODOR DREYER’S The Passion of Joan of Arc is widely recognized as a silent film masterpiece, regularly appearing on lists of the top ten greatest films ever made. The world-renowned vocal ensemble Orlando Consort present an entirely new, carefully crafted soundtrack of music from the era in which the film is set. The intricate beauty of 15th-century works by Binchois and Dufay, together with animated motets and haunting plainsong, amplify the poignant depiction of medieval France. Dreyer’s portrayal of Joan of Arc is a film of extraordinary power, delivering an emotional experience that resonates as strongly today as it did in the 1920s.

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APRIL 12, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center THE COLORADO: A FILM ORATORIA With ROOMFUL OF TEETH, GLENN KOTCHE, AND JEFFREY ZEIGLER COMPOSER-IMPRESARIO PAOLA PRESTINI, named one of the top 100 composers in the world under 40 by NPR, spearheads this new collaborative project, a music-driven documentary accompanied by original music, exploring water, land, and survival in the Colorado River Basin. Six distinct composers’ soundscapes, including music by Pulitzer Prize-winner John Luther Adams, make up the music of The Colorado. The unique Grammy Award-winning Roomful of Teeth, a vocal project dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice, is joined by Wilco’s Glenn Kotche and former Kronos Quartet cellist Jeffrey Zeigler. APRIL 16, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE: MUSIC OF MICHAEL JACKSON AN ALL-STAR jazz ensemble comprised of eight of the finest performer/composers at work in jazz today. Launched in 2004, the Collective has become one of the most exciting and acclaimed groups on the American and international jazz scenes. Continuing their tradition of saluting icons of the past, the Collective takes a fresh look at the music of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. APRIL 25 & 26, 2016 The Menil Collection BEETHOVEN SONATAS KRISTÓF BARÁTI, Violin KLÁRA WÜRTZ, Piano SOME OF BEETHOVEN’S most powerful and expressive music can be found in intimate forms Kristóf Baráti. like the violin sonata. Da Camera Photo courtesy of the artist continues its Beethoven celebration with the Houston debut of violinist Kristóf Baráti and pianist Klára Würtz. This extraordinary, celebrated duo has received rave reviews for their recording of these brilliant works.

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Da Camera Houston

MAY 6, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center PASSION FOR BACH AND COLTRANE With IMANI WINDS AND HARLEM QUARTET CHICK COREA, The Adventures of Hippocrates JASON MORAN, Cane for Wind Quintet JEFF SCOTT, Passion for Bach and Coltrane CHAMBER MUSIC AND JAZZ come together in this adventurous concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. Since 1997, the Grammy-nominated Imani Winds has been carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with dynamic playing, culturally resonant programming, and adventurous collaborations. After performances by each ensemble, Imani Winds, the dynamic Harlem Quartet, the jazz trio, and respected poet A.B. Spellman come together for composer-member Jeff Scott’s powerful Passion for Bach and Coltrane, inspired by Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Coltrane’s masterpiece. TICKETS & CONTACT Da Camera of Houston 1427 Branard Street Houston, TX 77006 (713) 524-7601 (General) (713) 524-5050 (Tickets) www.dacamera.com

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Houston Ballet

Members of the Houston Ballet IN 1955, THE founding memperform The Merry Widow. bers of Houston Ballet FoundaPhoto: Amitava Sarkar tion had a vision for dance in Houston: to create a resident ballet company and to start a school that would train its dancers. In 1969, the professional company was founded, under the direction of Nina Popova, a former dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and American Ballet Theatre. Houston Ballet Foundation has seen the fulfillment of its goals: an internationally acclaimed ballet company that is now America’s fourth largest and an academy that supplies over 40 percent of the company’s dancers. The New York Times has hailed Houston Ballet as “one of the nation’s best ballet companies.” The company is comprised of 52 dancers, including artists who have won medals at major international ballet competitions. The mission of the Houston Ballet is to inspire a lasting love and appreciation for dance through artistic excellence, exhilarating performances, innovative choreography, and superb educational programs.

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SUPERPLEXUS Interactive Sculptures

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Houston Ballet

FEBRUARY 25 – MARCH 5, 2016 THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Choreographed by BEN STEVENSON Music by PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY IN CELEBRATION OF his 80th birthday, Houston Ballet will revive Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson’s spectacular staging of The Sleeping Beauty, which launched Stevenson’s career as a choreographer in London in 1967. The Sleeping Beauty is recognized as one of the supreme achievements of classical ballet. The ballet is based on the classic French fairytale by Charles Perrault: a beautiful princess is cursed by an evil fairy and doomed to sleep for a hundred years, only to be awakened by the kiss of the handsome prince who loves her. Desmond Heeley’s spectacular designs beautifully evoke the magic, drama and whimsy of this great work. MARCH 10 – 20, 2016 WINTER MIXED REPERTORY PROGRAM (FEATURING WEST SIDE STORY SUITE) Dyad 1929–2009 West Side Story Suite Wings of Wax IN ITS WINTER repertory program, Houston Ballet introduces three masterpieces into the company’s repertory in a thrilling evening of dance. Dyad 1929 is the first work by the celebrated British, Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor to be performed by Houston Ballet. Set to Steve Reich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet and dedicated to the memory of modern dance legend Merce Cunningham, the work showcases Mr. McGregor’s trademark style of dynamic contrasts and intensely physical partnering. West Side Story electrified audiences when it premiered on Broadway in 1957, and this collection of dances and songs from that Dancers of The Australian Ballet in Wayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929. Photo: Jim McFarlane

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Houston Ballet

landmark production exemplifies the electricity, vitality and dramatic poignancy of this quintessentially American work. Jirí Kylián’s Wings of Wax is a visually arresting work in which eight dancers perform to haunting pieces of music by four great composers, with their encounters unfolding underneath the canopy of a giant tree. APRIL 22 & 23, 2016 ACADEMY SPRING SHOWCASE MAY 26 – JUNE 5, 2016 SPRING MIXED REPERTORY PROGRAM (FEATURING SERENADE) Serenade Gloria Cacti HOUSTON BALLET’S SPRING Repertory is powerhouse program, pairing two twentieth century masterpieces with the company premiere of a delightfully comic Members of the Houston Ballet in George Balanchine’s Serenade. work created in 2010. George Photo: Amitava Sarkar Balanchine’s romantic masterpiece Serenade, a showcase for the company’s classical technique, opens the evening. Inspired by Vera Brittain’s poignant wartime memoir Testament of Youth, Gloria is a haunting elegy for “the lost generation” of young men who perished in World War I. The ballet is a magnificent synthesis of dance, theater, and music: Poulenc’s exquisite choral work, performed live by an ensemble of 50 singers, combines with the drama of love,

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Houston Ballet

loss, and heartbreak. Closing the evening is Cacti, the first work by Alexander Ekman to enter Houston Ballet’s repertoire – a gleeful, hilarious parody of the excesses of contemporary dance. JUNE 9 – 18, 2016 GISELLE Velocity Giselle

HOUSTON BALLET CAPS its 2015–16 season with a lavish new production of Giselle, staged by Stanton Welch, the company’s first new production of this great work in over three decades. In Giselle, the supreme example of 19th century balletic Romanticism, a beautiful peasant girl is deceived in love by an aristocrat disguised as a commoner. Love, betrayal, and redemption play out with stunning simplicity. Also on the program is Stanton Welch’s fast-paced Velocity, created for eight men and eight women, which premiered in 2006. Members of the Houston Ballet perform Stanton Welch’s Velocity. Photo: Amitava Sarkar

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Houston Ballet

TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Ballet Wortham Theater Center 501 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 (713) 227-2787 www.houstonballet.org

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Houston Grand Opera

Houston Grand Operaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carmen. SINCE ITS INCEPTION in Photo: Lynn Lane 1955, Houston Grand Opera has grown from a small regional organization into an internationally renowned opera company. HGO enjoys a reputation for commissioning and producing new works, including forty-seven world premieres and six American premieres since 1973. In addition to producing and performing world-class opera, HGO contributes to the cultural enrichment of Houston and the nation through a diverse and innovative program of performances, community events, and education projects that reaches the widest possible public. HGO has toured extensively, including trips to Europe and Asia, and it is the only opera company to have won a Tony, two Grammy awards, and two Emmy awards.

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Houston Grand Opera

JANUARY 22 – FEBRUARY 7, 2016 THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO By WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Directed by IAN RUTHERFORD Conducted by HARRY BICKET Production by MICHAEL GRANDAGE ONE OF THE greatest operas of all times examines love and lust in a single day of madness. This revolutionary masterpiece follows a resourceful valet who uses every trick in the book to keep his comely fiancée out of the clutches of the lustful Count Almaviva. A quintessential comedy of manners, Mozart’s work is a timeless look at husbands and wives, masters and servants, and hearts both fickle and true – all played to glorious music. JANUARY 29 – FEBRUARY 12, 2016 RUSALKA By ANTONIN DVORÁK Directed by DONNA STIRRUP Conducted by HARRY BICKET Production by MELLY STILL FEW MYTHS HAVE so strong a hold on the imagination as that of the Little Mermaid, and no one ever gave her a more beautiful Song to the Moon than the great Czech composer Dvorák in this, his most romantic opera. Be transported to a mystical world of

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Ana María Martínez in Melly Still’s production of Rusalka. Photo: Bill Coope

HOUSTON

Houston Grand Opera

water sprites, witches, and wood nymphs. In exchange for love, Rusalka will relinquish not only her mermaid magic, but also her voice. MARCH 5 – 13, 2016 PRINCE OF PLAYERS Based on Compleat Female Stage Beauty by JEFFREY HATCHER Music and Libretto by CARLISLE FLOYD Directed by MICHAEL GIELETA Conducted by PATRICK SUMMERS A KING’S DECISION drastically alters the life of an actor and the future of the theater. The androgynous Edward Kynaston has become an idol of London’s Restoration-era theater for his finely honed and utterly convincing portrayals of female characters. But with the stroke of a pen, King Charles II not only allows women to appear onstage but also forbids men from performing as women. Only Kynaston’s mastery of his craft keeps him from being swept away by the tides of change. APRIL 16 – MAY 1, 2016 SIEGFRIED By RICHARD WAGNER Directed by CARLUS PADRISSA Conducted by PATRICK SUMMERS Production by LA FURA DELS BAUS THE THIRD OPERA in Wagner’s epic Ring cycle, Siegfried stands on its own as great spectacle, masterful storytelling, and electrifying music. The conniving dwarf Mime has raised the naïve and fearless boy Siegfried in hopes that he will obtain the all-powerful ring and turn it over to him. But with the help of a mysterious Wanderer – the god Wotan in disguise – Siegfried reforges his father’s powerful sword and uses it to claim the ring for himself. The balance of power is changing: the power of the gods continues to diminish as Siegfried’s journey culminates in the discovery of his destined bride, Brünnhilde.

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Houston Grand Opera

APRIL 22 – MAY 7, 2016 CAROUSEL By RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN Directed and Choreographed by ROB ASHFORD Conducted by RICHARD BADO A TESTIMONY TO the power of young love, desperation, and one man’s redemption. Shortly after a young carnival worker, Billy Bigelow, and local mill girl Julie Opera North’s production of Carousel. Jordan fall in love Photo: Alastair Muir and marry, they’re faced with hardship that leads to a devastating loss. But Billy receives one last chance from beyond the grave to save his family’s future. Carousel was named by Time magazine as the best musical of the 20th century for its beautiful score and affecting storytelling, and it makes its way to the HGO stage for the first time in 25 years. Join us to hear Broadway classics like “If I Loved You,” “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in Richard Rodgers’s favorite of all his musicals.

guide for the arts 2016

HOUSTON

Houston Grand Opera

TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Grand Opera 510 Preston Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 546-0200 (General) Wortham Theater Center 500 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 (713) 228-6737 (Tickets) www.houstongrandopera.org

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Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston Museum of Natural

FOUNDED IN 1909, the purScience interior. Photo courtesy of PGAL pose of the Houston Museum of Natural Science has always been to enhance in individuals the knowledge and delight in natural science and related subjects. To this very day, this purpose is carried out in every project, program, and exhibition associated with the museum. As one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, and one of the most attended venues in Houston, the Museum houses the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham GIANT Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and a fascinating variety of permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife, and much more. In addition, the museum frequently presents traveling exhibitions on a variety of topics.

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HOUSTON

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Houston Museum of Natural Science

SPIES, TRAITORS, SABOTEURS: FEAR AND FREEDOM IN AMERICA SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 – JANUARY 17, 2016 SPIES, TRAITORS, SABOTEURS: FEAR AND FREEDOM IN AMERICA reveals nine major events and periods in U.S. history when Americans were threatened by enemies within its borders. It depicts how the government and public responded, illustrates the corresponding evolution of U.S. counterintelligence and homeland security efforts, and examines the challenge of securing the nation without compromising the civil liberties upon which it was founded. THE CHRONOPHAGE CLOCK THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2016 THE CHRONOPHAGE CLOCK is one of only four in the world. A marvel of science and art, it features the historic grasshopper escapement invented by British clockmaker John John C. Taylor’s Chronophage Clock. Harrison in 1722. The escapePhoto: Richard Dashnau ment “pushes” the pendulum, releasing each second with precise control. Traditionally inside a timepiece, Taylor enlarged it for the viewer to see in motion. The grasshopper escapement solved a major problem in 16th century marine navigation. Seafarers determined their longitude by comparing local time to a clock set to the “base time” at their home port, but clocks proved untrustworthy on rolling seas. Harrison’s escapement helped create marine timekeepers that remained accurate in spite of tossing. Part insect, part reptile, the chronophage represents the looming presence of wasted time. Every 60 seconds, she opens her mouth to devour the passing minute.

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HOUSTON

Houston Museum of Natural Science

She appears weathered, but her lacy enamel wings suggest she was once beautiful. Every hour, she stretches her titanium body, her glass eyes light up, and she warbles the Westminster Chimes, voiced by Scottish Opera singer Kate Valentine. From outer to inner, the rings light up to count seconds, minutes, and hours. LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE: EMPRESS OF THE AMERICAS DECEMBER 11, 2015 – SEPTEMBER 5, 2016 SHE’S BEEN A symbol of hope, protection and comfort to her followers for almost 500 years, but why? What is it about her that has inspired millions throughout the Americas? La Virgen de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 and changed his life. Today, her image represents not only a great miracle, but the identity of a nation of believers. Trace the story back to its origins in our limited engagement exhibition. BLOCK PARTY NOVEMBER 20, 2015 – AUGUST 7, 2016 PARENTING FACT: WHEN kids aren’t making stuff, they’re tearing it apart. At Block Party you can let them do both and learn a thing or two about the construction industry! From columns to cantilevers, kids and parents can explore the world of architecture and the forces that keep our greatest structures standing… or topple them. The Coliseum, Stonehenge, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Empire State Building all use the same principles to withstand destruction from tension, compression and torsion. Get up to your elbows in interlocking bricks and try your own hand building a gravity-defying masterpiece, then see how much force it takes to break it down. WIDE ANGLE: THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES ONGOING WHEN SAM GAINER’S PARENTS showed him how to use the Brownie Hawkeye camera they took on family vacations back

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Houston Museum of Natural Science

in the 1950s, they did not realize the spark they had ignited. It was the beginning of a life-long passion for both travel and photography that would eventually take Sam to Sam Gainer, left, posing on a camel with a Mongolian man in China’s over 146 countries around the Zhangye Geology Park during a trip world. His tenacity in tracking, in 2012. Photo courtesy of Sam Gainer/Que chasing, and waiting for the perImaging Inc. fect shot enables him to capture his subjects at the moment that epitomizes their essence. Whether you’re looking for armchair adventure or you’re planning your own photography life list, Sam Gainer’s magical point of view invites you now to gaze through his lens and see what he has seen. GEMSTONE CARVINGS: THE MASTERWORKS OF HAROLD VAN PELT ONGOING MARVEL AT THE EXTRAORDINARY artworks of Harold Van Pelt in the exhibition Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt. For more than 35 years, Harold Van Pelt has quietly been perfecting the art of carving quartz, rock crystal, and agate gemstones. Hundreds of hours go into each multifaceted, fluted, and textured vase, hollow container, sculpture, and vessel, many of which are accented with gold and semiprecious stones. Working the stone down to paper-thin walls brings out the gorgeous natural quality and colors of the agate and gives quartz the transparency of glass. Transformed by one man’s vision and skill from a solid stone to an incredibly delicate work of art, the gemstone carvings of Harold Van Pelt have to be seen to be believed.

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HOUSTON

Houston Museum of Natural Science

TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Museum of Natural Science 5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, TX 77030 (713) 639-4629 www.hmns.org

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Houston Symphony

Music Director Andrés THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY Orozco-Estrada conducts the has played a central role in Houston Symphony. Photo: Werner Kmetitsch Houston’s cultural and civic life for more than 100 years. Founded in 1913 by the guiding hand of Miss Ima Hogg, the Houston Symphony is one of America’s oldest performing arts organizations with a distinguished musical history. Over the years, the orchestra has grown and matured under the direction of distinguished leaders such as Ernst Hoffmann (1936–47), Efrem Kurtz (1948–54), Ferenc Fricsay (1954), Leopold Stokowski (1955–61), Sir John Barbirolli (1961–67), André Previn (1967–69), Lawrence Foster (1971–78), Sergiu Comissiona (1979–88), Christoph Eschenbach (1988–99), Hans Graf (2001–13), currently serving as conductor laureate, and Andrés Orozco-Estrada who will take the podium as the fifteenth music director of the Houston Symphony in September 2014. Principal POPS Conductor Michael Krajewski is beginning his 16th season in Houston, and Associate Conductor Robert Franz is starting his 8th season.

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HOUSTON

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Houston Symphony

JANUARY 8 – 10, 2016 A TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAMS MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, Conductor

Kirill Gerstein. Photo: Sasha Gusov

JANUARY 22 – 24, 2016 SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONY NO. 10 ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor KIRILL GERSTEIN, Piano SHOSTAKOVICH, Festive Overture RAVEL, Piano Concerto for the Left Hand SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 10

JANUARY 27, 2016, 7:30 P.M. GARRISON KEILLOR JANUARY 28, 2016, 7:30 P.M. Rice University Stude Hall SCHUMANN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor CARLOS ANDRÉS BOTERO, Co-Host PATRICIA KOPATCHINSKAJA, Violin SCHUMANN, Violin Concerto JANUARY 30 & 31, 2016 BRAHMS & SCHUMANN ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor PATRICIA KOPATCHINSKAJA, Violin BARBER, Overture to The School for Scandal SCHUMANN, Violin Concerto BRAHMS, Symphony No. 2 FEBRUARY 5 – 7, 2016 SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN STEVEN REINEKE, Conductor

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HOUSTON

Houston Symphony

FEBRUARY 12 – 14, 2016 HAYDN & SIBELIUS

Sol Gabetta. Photo: Uwe Arens

JOHN STORGARDS, Conductor SOL GABETTA, Cello HAYDN, Cello Concerto No. 1 SIBELIUS, The Bard SAINT-SAËNS, Cello Concerto No. 1 SIBELIUS, Symphony No. 1

FEBRUARY 26 – 28, 2016 THE BEST OF BENNY GOODMAN MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, Conductor DAVE BENNETT, Clarinet THE DAVE BENNETT SEXTET MARCH 4 – 6, 2016 BEETHOVEN 2 & 8 ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor WAYNE BROOKS, Viola BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 2 GABRIELA LENA FRANK, La Llorona for Viola and Orchestra BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 8 MARCH 10 – 13, 2016 BEETHOVEN’S EROICA ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor MARTIN HELMCHEN, Piano MARK HUGHES, Trumpet PIERRE JALBERT, Music of Air and Fire SHOSTAKOVICH, Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”

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Houston Symphony

Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Photo: Werner Kmetitsch

MARCH 11, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Sugar Land Baptist Church BEETHOVEN 2 & EROICA ANDRÉS OROZCOESTRADA, Conductor BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 2 BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”

MARCH 18 – 20, 2016 BEETHOVEN 9 & BERNSTEIN ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS BERNSTEIN, Chichester Psalms BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 9, “Choral” MARCH 24 – 26, 2016 MATTHEW MORRISON STEVEN REINEKE, Conductor MARCH 26, 2016, 10:00 & 11:30 A.M. SUPERHEROES AT THE SYMPHONY! ROBERT FRANZ, Conductor THEATRE UNDER THE STARS MARCH 31 – APRIL 3, 2016 RACHMANINOFF SYMPHONIC DANCES MICHAEL FRANCIS, Conductor DAVID PYATT, Horn RICHARD WATKINS, Horn WILLIAM VERMEULEN, Horn ROBERT JOHNSON, Horn

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HOUSTON

Lincoln Center

Houston Symphony

KORNGOLD, The Sea Hawk JAMES HORNER, Concerto for Four Horns and Orchestra RACHMANINOFF, Symphonic Dances

Caroline Goulding. Photo: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

APRIL 8 – 10, 2016 RAVEL’S BOLÉRO FABIEN GABEL, Conductor CAROLINE GOULDING, Violin DUKAS, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice BRUCH, Violin Concerto No. 1 POULENC, Suite from The Model Animals RAVEL, Boléro

APRIL 14 – 17, 2016 MOZART AND BRUCKNER THOMAS SONDERGARD, Conductor KAREN GOMYO, Violin MOZART, Violin Concerto No. 3 BRUCKNER, Symphony No. 7 APRIL 15, 2016, 7:30 P.M. DISNEY IN CONCERT DEIDRE DONOVAN, Vocalist STEPHANIE GERSON, Vocalist JOHN DE LISA, Vocalist ANDREW JOHNSON, Vocalist APRIL 28 – MAY 1, 2016 FAURÉ REQUIEM DAVID ZINMAN, Conductor KIERA DUFFY, Soprano STEPHEN POWELL, Baritone HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS MENDELSSOHN, Symphony No. 4, “Italian” FAURÉ, Requiem

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Houston Symphony

MAY 6 – 8, 2016 JOURNEY, THE EAGLES, AND MORE MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, Conductor SHEM VON SCHROECK, Vocalist MICAH WILSHIRE, Vocalist LORI WILSHIRE, Vocalist MAY 7, 2016, 10:00 & 11:30 A.M. DREAMS CAN COME TRUE ROBERT FRANZ, Conductor MAY 19 – 22, 2016 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor GABRIELA MONTERO, Piano GABRIELA LENA FRANK, Escaramuza GRIEG, Piano Concerto BERLIOZ, Symphonie fantastique

Gabriela Montero. Photo: Colin Bell

MAY 27 – 29, 2016 THE COSMOS – AN HD ODYSSEY ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, Conductor LUTOSLAWSKI, Concerto for Orchestra DVORÁK, Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” (with premiere of final installment of the HD Odyssey film trilogy)

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HOUSTON

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Houston Symphony TICKETS & CONTACT Houston Symphony 615 Louisiana Street, Suite 102 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 224-4240 (General) Jones Hall 615 Louisiana Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 224-7575 (Tickets) www.houstonsymphony.org

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Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Museum of Fine Arts Houston exterior. LOCATED IN THE heart of Photo courtesy of the Greater Houston Houston’s Museum District, Convention and Visitors Center the MFAH is a dynamic cultural complex comprising two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, visitors center, library, movie theater, gift shop, café, two art schools, and two house museums.

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HOUSTON

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

MARK ROTHKO: A RETROSPECTIVE SEPTEMBER 20, 2015 – JANUARY 24, 2016 LONG RECOGNIZED AS among the foremost figures of the Abstract Expressionist vanguard, Mark Rothko embraced the possibility of beauty in pure abstraction with a painterly eloquence that gave a new voice to American art. The MFAH is the sole U.S. venue to present Mark Rothko: A Retrospective, which draws upon the unrivaled holdings of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Across a career spanning the most troubled years of the 20th century, Rothko (1903–1970) explored the tragic and the sublime, and his canvases remain a testament to the deep humanism he brought to modern painting. This definitive retrospective comprises more than 60 paintings that trace the artist’s full career arc, highlighting milestones in the development of his signature style. PLEASURE AND PIETY: THE ART OF JOACHIM WTEWAEL (1566–1638) NOVEMBER 1, 2015 – JANUARY 31, 2016 THE FIRST-EVER MONOGRAPHIC exhibition devoted to Wtewael, Pleasure and Piety: The Art of Joachim Wtewael (1566–1638) sheds light on his artistic excellence. The works on view showcase an expert draftsman and Joachim Wtewael, Perseus and a brilliant colorist who Andromeda, 1611. Oil on canvas. Musée du Louvre, Paris could work in large and small scale with equal ease. Born and raised in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Wtewael (pronounced OO-te-vall) embraced international Mannerism, a popular painting style

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HOUSTON

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

characterized by extreme refinement, artifice, and elegant distortion. He remained one of the leading proponents of Mannerism throughout his career, even when most contemporaries shifted to a more naturalistic mode of painting. Pleasure and Piety reveals Wtewael’s brilliant combination of two modes of painting: working from the imagination and from nature. Many of his works are marked by unnatural colors, dense and sophisticated compositions, and highly mannered figures and poses, although always with touches of carefully observed details. OLAFUR ELIASSON: THE COLLECTIVITY PROJECT OCTOBER 16, 2015 – JANUARY 31, 2016 MUSEUM VISITORS ARE invited to participate in The collectivity project, an imaginary cityscape made of more than Installation view of Olafur Eliasson’s The Collectivity Project. 580,000 white Lego bricks. Photo: Timothy Schenck Dive right in to help build and rebuild the structures! Over time, a collective creation takes form. This interactive installation was conceived in 2005 by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson (born 1967). The project has previously been installed in public squares in Tirana, Albania (2005), Oslo, Norway (2006), and Copenhagen, Denmark (2008). Most recently, Olafur Eliasson: The collectivity project was on view at the High Line in New York City (2015). The human-scale work of art encourages visitors to engage in new ways of thinking about Houston’s built environment and social spaces. Before The collectivity project opened at the

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Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Museum, students from the Rice University School of Architecture and Texas Southern University collaborated on building the installation’s initial structures. ARTS OF ISLAMIC LANDS: SELECTIONS FROM THE AL-SABAH COLLECTION, KUWAIT JANUARY 31, 2015 – JANUARY 29, 2017 THE MUSEUM’S LANDMARK partnership with the Kuwaitbased al-Sabah Collection and the cultural institution Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah continues with an expanded installation of Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait. The renowned al-Sabah Collection is one of the greatest privately held collections of Islamic art in the world. The collaboration with the Museum, established in 2012, led to the 2013 Houston debut of 67 objects ranging from carpets and architectural fragments to exquisite ceramics, metalwork, jewelry, scientific instruments, and manuscripts. This newly expanded installation more than triples the display, increasing the art on view to some 250 works that, together, present an impressive and comprehensive spectrum of Islamic art. VERA LUTTER: INVERTED WORLDS NOVEMBER 21, 2015 – MARCH 20, 2016 THE MYSTERIOUS, MONUMENTAL photographs in this exhibition are one-of-a-kind negative prints by New York-based German photographer Vera Lutter (born 1960). To create these large-scale images, she transforms a darkened

guide for the arts 2016

Vera Lutter, San Marco, Venice, XX: December 3, 2005, 2005. Gelatin silver prints. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund. © Vera Lutter. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery

HOUSTON

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

room, shipping container, or specially constructed box into an enormous pinhole camera. The exposures can last for days, weeks, or months. Lutter retains the negative form as the final work – a literal reflection of space and time as determined by the immediate visual environment. Inverted Worlds presents an eerie parallel universe: images that are tonally reversed, laterally mirrored, and devoid of people because of the long exposures. The subjects range from postindustrial ruins, to the visual cacophony of Times Square, to the serenity of Venetian canals. At a time when analog negatives are disappearing from photographic practice and process, Lutter finds new magic in the traditional materials of her medium. CONTINGENT BEAUTY: CONTEMPORARY ART FROM LATIN AMERICA NOVEMBER 22, 2015 – FEBRUARY 28, 2016 CONTINGENT BEAUTY: CONTEMPORARY ART FROM LATIN AMERICA features a selection of major works by 21 established artists from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela. Encompassing a variety of media including drawing, sculpture, video, and interactive object- and videobased installations, the exhibition highlights contemporary artists who use seductive and engaging materials to convey their social, political, and environmental concerns. Drawn primarily from the Museum’s permanent collection of modern Latin American art – one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind in any public institution – nearly all of the 32 works on view have been acquired by the Museum over the last five years through the Caribbean Art Fund, established in 2010 as a special initiative of the Museum and Fundación Gego. Contingent Beauty intertwines aesthetic refinement with biting critiques of timely issues grounded in the complex realities of Latin America and its long history of colonization, political repression, and economic crisis. These issues range from poverty, violence, gender, government corruption, and globalization, to the war on drugs and the legacy of colonialism.

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Museum of Fine Arts Houston

SCULPTED IN STEEL: ART DECO AUTOMOBILES AND MOTORCYCLES, 1929–1940 FEBRUARY 21 – MAY 30, 2016 TODAY’S AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS strive for economy and efficiency, but there was a time when art and elegance reigned. Sculpted in Steel: Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles, 1929–1940 celebrates the cars and motorcycles designed during Bodywork designed by Figoni this iconic period. Sculpted in & Falaschi, Delahaye, 135M Competition Coupe, 1936, the Steel showcases 14 cars and three Patterson Collection. motorcycles, alongside historical imImage © 2008 Peter Harholdt ages and videos. The classic grace and modern luxury of Art Deco design dazzles in vehicles from the United States and around the world. The innovative, machineinspired Art Deco style began in France in the early 20th century, but the movement was interrupted by World War I. The style reemerged across Europe after the war, and the 1920s to 1930s proved to be one of the most creative eras for international design in all mediums. Art Deco influenced everything from fashion and fine art to architecture and transportation. Automakers embraced the sleek iconography of streamlining and introduced industrial materials to present aircraft-inspired body styles. Grilles and hood ornaments, headlamps, windows, and instrument panels are just some of the elements that were transformed through the use of chrome detailing and innovative aerodynamics. The cars and motorcycles on view in Sculpted in Steel were crafted from the finest materials of the time.

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HOUSTON

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

TICKETS & CONTACT The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005 (713) 639-7300 www.mfah.org

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The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

The Hobby Center for the Performing THE HOBBY CENTER Arts exterior. FOUNDATION is a nonPhoto courtesy of TUTS Underground profit organization whose mission is to expand Houston’s reputation as a world-class cultural center by providing a premier performing arts facility, fostering accessibility to the performing arts, and promoting arts education, with an emphasis on musical theater.

JANUARY 19 – 31, 2016 Sarofim Hall THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, one of the most romantic stories ever written, first captured the nation’s attention as a best-selling novel and is now an irresistible, two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. This stunning new production features gorgeous, soulful music by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years) that the Daily News hails as “one of Broadway’s best scores in the last decade.” With a book by Pulitzer Prize Winner Marsha

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HOUSTON

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The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Norman (The Secret Garden, The Color Purple) and direction by two-time Tony winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza), The Bridges of Madison County is the unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more. FEBRUARY 12, 2016 Zilkha Hall ARS LYRICA: ALL IN A GARDEN GREEN CECILIA DUARTE, Mezzo-soprano EDUARDO TERCERO, Tenor KATHRYN MONTOYA, Recorder MARY SPRINGFELS, Viola da Gamba SONGS ABOUT SPRINGTIME animate our 2016 Houston Early Music Festival program, entitled All in a Garden Green after an English folksong. A menu of delectable tunes mixes items from English, Italian, French, and Spanish musical cultures and includes Vivaldi’s Spring, along with songs and cantatas by William Byrd, Thomas Morely, Clément Jannequin, Juan del Encina, and others. Love will definitely be in the air at this Valentine’s weekend program! FEBRUARY 16 – 21, 2016 Sarofim Hall THE SOUND OF MUSIC THE HILLS ARE ALIVE! A brand new production of The Sound of Music, directed by three-time Tony Award-winner Jack O’Brien, is coming to the

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New production of The Sound of Music, directed by Jack O’Brien. Photo: Matthew Murphy

HOUSTON

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Hobby Center! The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony-, Grammy-, and Academy Award-winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” and the title song. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history. MARCH 8 – 20, 2016 Sarofim Hall MARY POPPINS NO SUGAR NEEDED to help this musical go down. This “practically perfect” portrayal of Disney’s Mary Poppins treats audiences of all ages to the cherished story of a very special nanny. Armed with song, dance, and trusty umbrella, Mary Poppins and her sooty sidekick, Bert, transform the unhappy world of a banker’s two children into a magical new fantasyland. Full of chimney sweeps, statues that come to life, and toys that think for themselves, this wondrous, Tony Award-winning musical soars to the highest height. In a word? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! MARCH 17 – 27, 2016 Zilkha Hall SWEET POTATO QUEENS SWEET POTATO QUEENS (SPQ) is loosely based on the life-story of #1 New York Times best-selling author and SPQ founder, Jill Conner Browne, and the organization’s philosophy, which was born out of her need for some excitement and a new direction. After its recent successful staged reading here at TUTS Underground, Sweet Potato Queens will be fully staged and produced for the world premiere next March. The musical is being developed in partnership with Grammy awardwinning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester (music), Oscar nominee, multiple #1 songwriter, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Sharon Vaughn (lyrics), and Rupert Holmes (book).

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The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

MARCH 22 – 27, 2016 Sarofim Hall CABARET WELCOME TO THE INFAMOUS Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to Broadway production of Cabaret. tantalize the crowd – and to Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New leave their troubles outside. York Times But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through their dangerous times? Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen,” and “Maybe This Time.” Right this way, your table’s waiting at Cabaret, John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff’s Tony-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way. APRIL 2, 2016 Zilkha Hall ARS LYRICA: AN EASTER “MESSIAH” JOHN BUTT, Conductor MELISSA GIVENS, Soprano JAY CARTER, Countertenor AARON SHEEHAN, Tenor CURTIS STREETMAN, Bass ORPHEUS CHAMBER SINGERS THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED Orpheus Chamber Singers from Dallas return for a collaboration on Handel’s Messiah with conductor John Butt, whose recent recording of the Mozart Requiem with the Dunedin Consort won a Gramophone Award in 2014. This Easter Messiah will be a performance of the complete work, with a cast of stellar soloists and full Baroque orchestra.

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HOUSTON

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

APRIL 5 – 17, 2016 Sarofim Hall OLIVER CONSIDER YOURSELF AT home in this dramatic take on a classic novel – Oliver... with a twist. Discover the story of a runaway orphan who finds himself in the grimly fascinating underbelly of eighteenth-century London. Befriended by the Artful Dodger and his fellow gang of youthful pickpockets, the pure-hearted Oliver is introduced to a witty, gritty world of new friends, formidable foes – and an abundance of merry mischief. Cunning, comedic, and downright captivating, Oliver will leave you with your porridge bowl out, begging for more. APRIL 9, 2016 Zilkha Hall MUSIQA AS A PART OF The Hobby Center for Performing Art’s Uniquely Houston® series, Musiqa will offer two world premieres in April, including Rob Smith’s new work Angenieta for string quartet and double bass and Marcus Maroney’s collaboration with FotoFest, a non-profit photographic arts and education organization. Also on the program are Timo Andres’ I Found It by the Sea, Hannah Lash’s Around and Kevin Puts’ And the Legions Will Rise. APRIL 27 – MAY 1, 2016 Sarofim Hall NETWORKS PRESENTS DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

NETworks’ production of Beauty and the Beast at the National Theatre. Photo: Joan Marcus

BASED ON THE Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this eyepopping spectacle has won

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The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song. APRIL 28 – MAY 8, 2016 Zilkha Hall HEATHERS BASED ON THE classic 1989 film, Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulderpadded, scrunchiewearing junta: Heather, Heather, and Heather… the Cast of Heathers. Photo: Chad Batka hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place – six feet under. Relive your high school years, friends and foes, in this rollercoaster ride of a musical! MAY 4 – 15, 2016 Sarofim Hall A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession, by any means necessary. All the while, he’s got to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be 74

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worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance… and be done in time for tea. The Hollywood Reporter raves, “Gentleman’s Guide restores our faith in musical comedy.” This new musical will have you dying with laughter! MAY 31 – JUNE 5, 2016 Sarofim Hall BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Featuring a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and the title song, Beautiful has a book by Tony Award-nominee and Academy Award-nominated writer Douglas McGrath and choreography by Josh Prince.

Kathryn Montoya. Photo: Alex Belisle

JUNE 3, 2016 Zilkha Hall ARS LYRICA: SUMMER ZEPHYR JOHN HOLIDAY, Countertenor KATHRYN MONTOYA, Baroque Oboe and Recorder MATTHEW DIRST, Harpsichord

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ARS LYRICA’S 2015/16 Seasonal Rituals comes to a close with a program celebrating the warm and sometimes unpredictable winds of summer. Virtuosic flights of fancy abound on this program, which features Vivaldi’s Summer, J. S. Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor, W. A. Mozart’s Exultate, Jubilate, and three outstanding soloists. JULY 6 – AUGUST 14, 2016 Sarofim Hall WICKED BACK BY POPULAR demand. Variety calls Wicked “a cultural phenomenon,” and it continues to break box office records across North Cast of Wicked. Photo: Tristram Kenton America. Winner of over 100 international awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, Wicked is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times). Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery, and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious, and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the most complete - and completely satisfying musical in a long time” (USA Today).

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TICKETS & CONTACT The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts 800 Bagby Street, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 315-2400 (General) (713) 315-2525 (Tickets) www.thehobbycenter.org

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Theatre Under the Stars

Theatre Under the Stars’

production of Evita. THEATRE UNDER THE STARS’S Photo: Richard Termine primary commitment remains the production of musical theatre of the highest excellence for audiences in south Texas and elsewhere. It is equally committed to education in theatre arts, and to providing opportunities for participation by all constituents of the community through its outreach programs. Today, TUTS continues to thrive in Houston and make its artistic impact felt across the country.

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Freedom Inviting us to aspire to the highest ideals and aspirations, reaching for the sky with an open heart. Edition of 12.

The Bird Bath Like the mesmerizing melody of trickling water, the spellbinding beauty of The Bird Bath soothes and exalts its surroundings. Edition of 12. (only one copy remaining)

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JANUARY 19 – 31, 2016 Sarofim Hall THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Music and Lyrics by JASON ROBERT BROWN Book by MARSHA NORMAN THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, one of the most romantic stories ever written, first captured the nation’s attention as a best-selling novel and is now an irresistible, two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. This stunning new production features gorgeous, soulful music by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years) that the Daily News hails as “one of Broadway’s best scores in the last decade.” With a book by Pulitzer Prize Winner Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden, The Color Purple) and direction by two-time Tony winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza), The Bridges of Madison County is the unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more. MARCH 8 – 20, 2016 Sarofim Hall MARY POPPINS Music by ROBERT B. SHERMAN, RICHARD M. SHERMAN, AND GEORGE Broadway production of Mary Poppins. STILES Photo: Jeremy Daniel Lyrics by ROBERT B. SHERMAN, RICHARD M. SHERMAN, AND ANTHONY DREWE Book by JULIAN FELLOWES NO SUGAR NEEDED to help this musical go down. This “practically perfect” portrayal of Disney’s Mary Poppins treats audiences of all ages to the cherished story of a very special nanny. Armed with song, dance, and trusty umbrella, Mary Poppins 80

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and her sooty sidekick, Bert, transform the unhappy world of a banker’s two children into a magical new fantasyland. Full of chimney sweeps, statues that come to life, and toys that think for themselves, this wondrous, Tony Award-winning musical soars to the highest height. In a word? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! MARCH 17 – 27, 2016 Zilkha Hall SWEET POTATO QUEENS Music by MELISSA MANCHESTER Lyrics by SHARON VAUGHN Book by RUPERT HOLMES SWEET POTATO QUEENS (SPQ) is loosely based on the lifestory of #1 New York Times best-selling author and SPQ founder, Jill Conner Browne, and the organization’s philosophy which was born out of her need for some excitement and a new direction. After its recent successful staged reading here at TUTS Underground, Sweet Potato Queens will be fully staged and produced for the world premiere next March. The musical is being developed in partnership with Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester (music), Oscar nominee, multiple #1 songwriter, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Sharon Vaughn (lyrics), and Rupert Holmes (book). APRIL 5 – 17, 2016 Sarofim Hall OLIVER Music, Lyrics, and Book by LIONEL BART CONSIDER YOURSELF AT home in this dramatic take on a classic novel – Oliver... with a twist. Discover the story of a runaway orphan who finds himself in the grimly fascinating underbelly of eighteenth-century London. Befriended by the Artful Dodger and his fellow gang of youthful pickpockets, the pure-hearted Oliver is introduced to a witty, gritty world of new friends, formidable foes – and an

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abundance of merry mischief. Cunning, comedic, and downright captivating, Oliver will leave you with your porridge bowl out, begging for more. APRIL 28 – MAY 8, 2016 Zilkha Hall HEATHERS Music, Lyrics, and Book by LAURENCE O’KEEFE AND KEVIN MURPHY BASED ON THE classic 1989 film, Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather, and Heather… the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place – six feet under. Relive your high school years, friends and foes, in this rollercoaster ride of a musical!

The Broadway production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder. Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

MAY 4 – 15, 2016 Sarofim Hall A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER Music by STEVEN LUTVAK Lyrics by ROBERT L. FREEDMAN AND STEVEN LUTVAK

GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TELLS the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession, by any means necessary. All the while, he’s got to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars!

guide for the arts 2016

HOUSTON

Theatre Under the Stars

Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance… and be done in time for tea. The Hollywood Reporter raves, “Gentleman’s Guide restores our faith in musical comedy.” This new musical will have you dying with laughter! TICKETS & CONTACT Theatre Under the Stars Administrative Offices 800 Bagby Street, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 558-2600 (General) Hobby Center for the Performing Arts 800 Bagby Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 558-8887 (Tickets) www.tuts.com

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Contact Information ALLEY THEATRE: (713) 228-9341 CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON: (713) 284-8250 DA CAMERA HOUSTON: (713) 227-2787 HOUSTON BALLET: (713) 227-2787 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA: (713) 228-6737 HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE: (713) 639-4629 HOUSTON SYMPHONY: (713) 224-4240 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON: (713) 639-7300 THE HOBBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: (713) 315-2400 THEATRE UNDER THE STARS: (713) 558-2600

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