Encore Magazine | Summer 2022

Performing Arts Houston

MAGAZINE

Summer 2022

New name. New look.

Where live arts thrive.

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON Encore Summer 2022

Contents 08

DAVID SEDARIS APR 28 | Brown Theater, Wortham Center

10 YOTAM OTTOLENGHI MAY 2 | Cullen Theater, Wortham Center

12

FEATURES

JEFF GOLDBLUM & THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA

03 Audience Guide

MAY 4 | Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center

04 Letter from the CEO

18

14 Gala Recap

A.I.M BY KYLE ABRAHAM: AN UNTITLED LOVE MAY 6 | Cullen Theater, Wortham Center

06 The 22/23 Season 16 Education Spotlight 26 Our Supporters

20 DR. ZAHI HAWASS: RAMSES THE GREAT AND THE GOLD OF THE PHARAOHS MAY 9 | Jones Hall

22 BLACK VIOLIN: IMPOSSIBLE TOUR MAY 17 | Jones Hall

24 AN EVENING WITH NEIL GAIMAN MAY 22 | Jones Hall

MAGAZINE is the official magazine of Performing Arts Houston Alexandra Drake Publication Editor Melanie O’Neill Design & Production Ventures Marketing Group Matt Ross Advertising 713.417.6857

On the cover: Jeff Goldblum (photo by Pari Dukovic), A.I.M by Kyle Abraham (photo by Christopher Duggan), Black Violin (photo by Mark Clennon), David Sedaris (photo by Anne Fishbein)

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON 2021-22 Performing Arts Houston 615 Louisiana Street, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77002-2715 713.227.4772 info@performingartshouston.org performingartshouston.org Meg Booth Chief Executive Officer Leslie Nelson Chief Financial Officer Andrea Allen Education Specialist Alexandra Drake Communications Manager Jordan Drum Director of Development

Brenda Oliveira Board Liaison & Executive Assistant Helena Oliver Development Manager, Individual Giving & Events Michelle Pacheco Patron Services Manager

Jessica Ellison Education Events Coordinator

Jennifer Steiner Director of Operations

Brian Glass Director of Marketing

Lee Strickland Director of Artistic Programs

Devin Kennamore Accounting Manager Mick Molina Development Associate

Claire Williamson Director of Education & Community Engagement

Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

G. Mark Jodon, Board Chair H. William Swanstrom, Board Vice Chair Tymothi O. Tombar, Secretary Willie C.W. Chiang, Vice President, Nominating & Governance Vijay D´Cruz, Vice President, Development Melanie Gray, Vice President, Special Projects Curt D. Karges, Vice President, Finance & Audit Theresa Mallett, Vice President, Education & Community Engagement Melanie B. Rother, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Leah R. Bennett Meg Booth (Ex Officio) Chree Boydstun Michael Cannon Charles D. Davidson Theresa A. Einhorn Mary Fischer

Stephen M. Gill Michael Hatfield Emily T. Kuo Eileen Lawal Katherine Easterby Murphy Ann V. Rogers Stephen M. Trauber

DIRECTORS Norah G. Adams Charles C. Boettcher Sean Gorman Shawn K. Jackson Ginni Mithoff Michaelene Lusk Norton Lance G. Reynolds

Gloria Ryan Marisol Salazar Omar Samji Leslie Elkins Sasser Kristina H. Somerville Margaret Alkek Williams

DIRECTORS EMERITI James J. Postl Robert B. Tudor III About Performing Arts Houston For over 55 years, Performing Arts Houston has connected audiences with exceptional artists through diverse performances and learning experiences throughout Houston communities and schools. We welcome all to ignite and cultivate passion for the performing arts and explore the vast landscape of artistic expression to discover new understanding about ourselves, create community, inspire dialogue, and enrich our world. More at performingartshouston.org.

John T. Jones Jr. Founder (1917-1994)

Marcus A. Watts

Jesse H. Jones II President, Society for the Performing Arts Foundation

SEASON SPONSORS

SEASON SPONSOR

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

FUNDED IN PART BY

THE CITY OF HOUSTON

THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE

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Audience

EXPERIENCE GUIDE

HEALTH & SAFETY

PARKING

DOORS OPEN

All Covid policies are at the discretion of the artist, presenter, and venue, and are subject to change. For the latest updates on Health & Safety protocols, please visit performingartshouston.org/faq.

Event parking is available in the Theater District Parking garage for $12. Street parking in Downtown Houston is free after 6pm, Monday-Saturday, and all day Sunday. Parking rates and availability are subject to change.

Unless otherwise noted, doors to the lobby will open 60 minutes prior to performance start time and seating inside the auditorium will open 30 minutes prior to start time.

LATE SEATING

FOOD & DRINK

ACCESSIBILITY

Late seating is at the discretion of the artist and may not be available. We suggest everyone arrive early, allowing extra time for parking, entry, and concessions inside the lobby.

Concessions are available for purchase in the lobby. Please note that food and drink are not allowed inside the seated area of the theater.

For accessibility information, or to purchase accessibility seating, please contact the Box Office at 713.227.4772.

CHILDREN

DEVICES

TICKETS

Unless otherwise specified, all children ages 4 and above may attend performances. Tickets must be purchased for all children, regardless of age, as required by the City of Houston Fire Code.

As a courtesy to others, please silence all electronic devices and refrain from using them during the performance. Even on silent, the glow from devices can be a distraction. Photography and recording of any kind are strictly prohibited.

All tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets can be exchanged or donated up to 48 hours prior to the performance. Exchange fees are waived for all Performing Arts Houston members.

LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH

Follow us @performingartshouston

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 3

Letter

from the CEO A new name and new look.

When John T. Jones and a group of community leaders established Society for the Performing Arts in 1966, they wanted to create an organization that would “bring the best to Houston,” ensuring that all Houstonians had the opportunity to see the most accomplished and celebrated artists from around the world, and what a legacy of success they set in motion.

Over the past few years, we’ve completed our strategic plan and strengthened our organization, all while navigating this pandemic. Part of that work has been to capture the spirit of our future, which is welcoming all to the performing arts, representing a diversity of art forms and our community.

On April 12th, we dropped the word "Society" from our name and became Performing Arts Houston. Our new name and new look builds on our half-century of history and welcomes all to participate in the arts, to spark their imagination and creativity, a place where we amplify the voice of the artist and celebrate the human spirit.

Join me in the theater as we begin the next 50 years,

Meg Booth CEO Performing Arts Houston

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MFAH.ORG/MCESCHER

•

#MCESCHERMFAH

This exhibition is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Generous support provided by: Luther King Capital Management, Vivian L. Smith Foundation, Marty and Kathy Goossen, Martha and Richard Finger, Marc Grossberg, The Francis L. Lederer Foundation, courtesy of Sharon Lederer and Ellis Mills IV, Elizabeth and George Passela, Grace Phillips and Eugene Nosal, The Scurlock Foundation This program is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.

M.C. Escher, Bond of Union, April 1956, lithograph, collection of Michael S. Sachs. All M.C. Escher works © The M.C. Escher Company, The Netherlands. All rights reserved.

SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY PRESENTS

FEATURING ARTWORKS BY

KEHINDE WILEY & AMY SHERALD

µ˙The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston April 3–May 30, 2022 VISIT MFAH.ORG/OBAMAPORTRAITS | #OBAMAPORTRAITSTOUR (L) Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley, 2018, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. © 2018 Kehinde Wiley. (R) Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (detail) by Amy Sherald, 2018, oil on linen, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

The National Portrait Gallery is grateful to the generous donors who made these commissions possible and proudly recognizes them at npg.si.edu/obamaportraitstour.

This tour has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. Support for the national tour has been generously provided by Bank of America.

Generous support provided by: Tony Chase and Dina al Sowayel Joyce Z. Greenberg Ellen S. Susman Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones Merinda Watkins-Martin and Reginald Martin

Scan and Learn More

An amazing new season awaits

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Sep. 9–10

My Name is NOT Mom

Oct. 1

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan: 13 Tongues

Oct. 7

Tom Papa: Family Reunion Tour

Oct. 14–15

DIAVOLO

Oct. 16

Cuando México Canta, starring Mariachi Herencia de Mexico and featuring Lupita Infante

Oct. 18

2022 Cliburn Gold Medalist

Oct. 23

Mutts Gone Nuts!

Nov. 13

Tenebrae: The Passing of the Year

Nov. 18

Matthew Whitaker

Nov. 27

An Evening with Nigella Lawson

Dec. 4

The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show

Dec. 23–24

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Jan. 28

Gazillion Bubble Show

Feb. 3-4

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Feb. 24–25

New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project

Feb. 26

Mnozil Brass: Gold

Mar. 10

Ragamala Dance Company

Mar. 14

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 60th Anniversary Celebration

Mar. 15

Randall Goosby

Mar. 22

Our Planet Live in Concert

Mar. 23–26

STOMP

Apr. 21

Gregory Maqoma's Vuyani Dance Theatre: Cion: Requiem of Ravel's Boléro

May 5

Metamorphosis: Third Coast Percussion

On sale to members now. Join today for as little as $25 per year. performingartshouston.org/memberships

FUNDED IN PART BY

SEASON SPONSOR

THE CITY OF HOUSTON

THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

David Sedaris THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2022 | 7:30 PM BROWN THEATER, WORTHAM CENTER Duration: 60-minute lecture and 30-minute Q&A Post-Event Book Signing

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Photos by Anne Fishbein

About the Artist David Sedaris is one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers.

Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, David Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, and Calypso, which was a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. He is the author of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, a collection of fables with illustrations by Ian Falconer. He is also the author of an essay length ebook titled Themes and Variations. Each of these books was an immediate bestseller. He was also the editor of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories. His pieces regularly appear in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.”

The first volume of his diaries Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) was a New York Times best-selling book. As a companion piece to the book, Jeffrey Jenkins published and edited an art book of Sedaris’s diary covers, entitled David Sedaris Diaries: A Visual Compendium. His book, The Best of Me, is a collection of 42 previously published stories and essays, about which novelist Andrew Sean Greer wrote in the New York Times: “You must read “The Best of Me.” It will be a new experience, knowing that enough time has passed to find humor in the hardest parts of life. More than ever — we’re allowed to laugh.” The second volume of his diaries, A Carnival of Snackery, Diaries (2003-2020) (Little Brown/Hachette, October 5, 2021) was also a New York Times bestseller and the audiobook was selected as part of Apple’s Best Audiobooks of the Year for 2021. His next book will be Happy-Go-Lucky (Little, Brown, May 31, 2022).

Sedaris and his sister, Amy Sedaris, have collaborated under the name “The Talent Family” and have written halfa-dozen plays which have been produced at La Mama, Lincoln Center, and The Drama Department in New York City. These plays include Stump the Host, Stitches, One Woman Shoe, which received an Obie Award, Incident at Cobbler’s Knob, and The Book of Liz, which was published in book form by Dramatists Play Service.

Sedaris has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His audio recordings include “David Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure” and “David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall.” A feature film adaptation of his story C.O.G. was released after a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (2013).

Since 2011, he can be heard annually on a series of live recordings on BBC Radio 4 entitled “Meet David Sedaris.”

In 2019 David Sedaris became a regular contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, and his Masterclass, David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor, was released.

There are over 16 million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 32 languages. He has been awarded the Terry Southern Prize for Humor, Thurber Prize for American Humor, Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor, Time 2001 Humorist of the Year Award, as well as the Medal for Spoken Language from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In March 2019 he was elected as a member into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2020 the New York Public Library voted Me Talk Pretty One Day one of the 125 most important books of the last 125 years.

You can follow David at facebook.com/davidsedaris or visit his official website at davidsedarisbooks.com.

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 9

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Yotam Ottolenghi MONDAY, MAY 2, 2022 | 7:30 PM CULLEN THEATER, WORTHAM CENTER Duration: 60-minute conversation and 30-minute Q&A Moderated by James Beard Awardwinning Houston chef Chris Shepherd A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to Southern Smoke, a crisis relief organization for people in the food and beverage industry.

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Photo by Elena Heatherwick

About the Artists Yotam Ottolenghi for chef, writer, and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi, food is about more than what we eat. It is about joy, pleasure, and surprise. It is about a sense of place and home. It is about commonality, an act which brings people together. The popular chef has stated, “It’s tragic that we are so good at adapting ourselves to different cuisines and enjoy being super international, yet we are not able to apply the same level of tolerance to the actual people that cook them.” Simply put, this philosopher of the kitchen is passionate about making people happy through food full of harmonious contradictions.

Ottolenghi is widely beloved for his beautiful, inspirational, and award-winning cookbooks, yet he had an unlikely beginning. In 1997, Ottolenghi completed a combined bachelor's and master's degree in comparative literature at Tel Aviv University; his thesis was on the philosophy of the photographic image. That same year, he moved to Amsterdam, where he worked at a Dutch-Jewish weekly and considered getting his doctorate at Yale. Instead, and against the advice of his father, family and friends, he moved to London to study French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu. Soon, Ottolenghi found work as a pastry chef, and eventually met the Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi.

Ottolenghi and Tamimi discovered they had grown up just a few miles apart on opposite sides of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, in Jerusalem. They became friends and eventual business partners, bonding over shared language and a joint “incomprehension of traditional English food.”

Ottolenghi’s debut cookbook, Ottolenghi, co-authored with Tamimi, was published in 2008. Eight more internationally bestselling volumes have followed: a collection of recipes exploring the flavors of his home-city, Jerusalem with Tamimi (2012); the vegetable cookbooks Plenty (2010) and Plenty More (2014); a cookbook from his acclaimed London restaurant, Nopi (2015); a dessert cookbook, Sweet (2017); Ottolenghi Simple (2018); and Ottolenghi Flavor (co-written with Ixta Belfrage). His books have sold over 1.5 million copies in North America and 5 million worldwide. Yotam Ottolenghi’s most recent book, written with Noor Murad, is Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love (Penguin Random House, November 2, 2021).

Ottolenghi's cookbooks have proven influential, with The New York Times noting they are widely imitated for their plain-spoken instructions and enticing photographs (overseen by Ottolenghi himself). They have been praised

by Nigel Slater, David Lebovitz, Deborah Madison, Food & Wine, and the Wall Street Journal. Mark Bittman said, “Plenty... is among the most generous and luxurious nonmeat cookbooks ever produced, one that instantly reminds us that you don't need meat to produce over-thetop food.”

In 2014, the London Evening Standard noted Ottolenghi had “radically rewritten the way Londoners cook and eat.”

While Bon Appétit wrote that he had “made the world love vegetables.” Jerusalem was awarded Cookbook

of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals and Best International Cookbook by the James Beard Foundation. Ottolenghi’s books have been named among the best books of the year by the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR. A documentary film, “Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles,” directed by Laura Gabbert, was released in theaters and on demand September 25, 2020. Yotam Ottolenghi is an instructor with Masterclass, the streaming platform.

Ottolenghi grew up in Israel to parents of Italian and German descent and spent childhood summers in Italy.

Long based in London, where he co-owns an eponymous group of deli shops and the fine dining restaurants NOPI and ROVI, Ottolenghi spends much of his time creating and testing recipes for his weekly column in the Guardian and monthly column in the New York Times. When he is not cooking, he oversees the day-to-day running of his business and makes occasional television programs. Family life with his husband and two young sons and Pilates are muchloved distractions.

Midwest-raised, James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd has helped change the landscape of the Houston culinary scene since opening Underbelly in 2012. He built the restaurant to support the Houston food community and its suppliers by buying local and drawing inspiration from the people and cultures that live in the city. Thanks to Chris’ vision and passion, Underbelly was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, was named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit and Esquire and was named one of 38 essential restaurants in America by Eater. Chris was named one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2013 and was then awarded the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest.

Chris' foundation Southern Smoke has distributed more than $9.5 million directly to people in the food and beverage industry in need via the Emergency Relief Fund.

Sponsored in part by

Westwood Trust

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 11

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 | 7:30 PM SAROFIM HALL, HOBBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Duration: 120 minutes, including intermission

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Photo by Pari Dukovic

Sponsored in part by

Pages &

Stages About the Artists With film credits including "Jurassic Park," "Independence Day," "The Fly," "The Big Chill," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," and “Thor: Ragnarok;" theatre performances including "The Pillowman," "Speed the Plow" and "Domesticated;" and television appearances including “Portlandia” “Inside Amy Schumer” and “Will & Grace,” Jeff Goldblum also plays jazz with his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Whether performing regularly at Los Feliz's Rockwell Table and Stage, or elsewhere, Goldblum will take your questions, ask you trivia questions, and play classic jazz. The evening typically features Goldblum on piano, John Storie on guitar, James King on tenor saxophone, Alex Frank on bass, Joe Bagg on organ and Kenny Elliott on drums, along with special guests.

Performing Arts Houston has partnered with Harris County Public Library to launch the Pages & Stages Book Club!

Scan the QR code or visit performingartshouston.org/ pagesandstages for details and registration.

Recently Goldblum signed with Decca Records and recorded his first full length record, entitled “Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, The Capitol Studios Sessions.”

PRESS “The Snitzer quintet (reportedly named after a neighbor from Goldblum's childhood) drew the kind of young, upscale crowd that most jazz venues would be delighted to see, a crowd straight out of the nightclub scenes in "Ally McBeal.” Although Goldblum is a modest jazz talent, at best, he's far too musically sophisticated to assume that his audience was as fascinated by his piano playing as it was by his sheer presence as an A-list celebrity. But, to his credit, he remained completely immersed in his playing whenever he was on stage, his head bobbing and weaving, body moving rhapsodically with the music, a satisfied smile frequently crossing his face. The very image, in fact, of a happy man.” —LA Times

David Sedaris’ The Best of Me APR 28 | 5:30 PM | Wortham Theater Center Neil Gaiman’s The Neil Gaiman Reader MAY 22 | 6:00 PM | Jones Hall

Gala

2022 Kaleidoscope Ball 14 | Performing Arts Houston | performingartshouston.org

On Saturday, April 2nd, hundreds of Performing Arts Houston supporters came together to celebrate in style at the 2022 Kaleidoscope Ball, Celebrating Houston. The event honored longtime supporters Phoebe and Bobby Tudor at the Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston and was chaired by Kristina and Paul Somerville.

Attendees enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour on Fish Plaza, dinner catered by Jackson & Company, a record breaking auction, and a kaleidoscope of performers reflecting and celebrating Houston's diverse artistic landscape, including live music by Asleep at the Wheel, the High School of Performing and Visual Arts, and the Westbury High School Marching Band. Attendees then danced for hours to DJ Corey Greene at the After-Party, which went well past midnight.

Kaleidoscope Ball supporters got a sneak peek at our new name, brand, and the 22/23 Season. The event, the organization’s last under the SPA brand, broke a record with nearly $600,000 in support of our presentations and education and community engagement programs, making it our highest grossing event ever!

We hope you’ll save the date for next year’s Ball, chaired by Mignon & Steve Gill, on April 1, 2023.

Left page (Performing Arts Houston supporters dine around the dance floor at the 2022 Kaleidoscope Ball.

Right page, top (left to right, Kristina H. Somerville, Gala Co-Chair; Phoebe & Bobby Tudor, 2022 Kaleidoscope Ball Honorees; Meg Booth, Performing Arts Houston CEO) Right page, bottom (Mark Jodon, Board Chair; Kristina H. Somerville; Meg Booth; Bill Swanstrom, Board Vice Chair & Incoming 2022-23 Board Chair)

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 15

Education Spotlight

Callie Gray Each year, students from across the Houston area experience educational and enrichment programs through Performing Arts Houston. We sat down with one such alumna this spring to learn about her experience as a student, and where those experiences have taken her.

Q: Callie, thank you so much for sharing your time with us today. Tell our patrons a little bit about yourself.

Hi, my name is Callie. I am 20 years old, I grew up in Houston and have danced for most of my life. When I was 16, I moved to New York City and became a jazz contemporary trainee with the Joffrey Ballet School. This is my last year there. I really enjoy choreography, dance, and my two cats.

Q: What are your memories from the Performing Arts Houston Ballet Hispanico Summer Intensive?

Doing the Ballet Hispanico Summer Intensive was really fun.

The first time I did the intensive was in 2018, so it was right before I found out I was accepted to Joffrey. It was my first time seeing dance is more than just movement, because for my whole life it was just kind of like “we’re dancing, we’re just doing steps.” Through doing Ballet Hispanico and taking the flamenco class and learning the repertoire and talking with the teachers and dancers from the company, I started to see dance as a way to express your culture, and a way to express more than just how you feel, but also how you think.

It was the first time I started to think about dance in a more critical and analytical sense.

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Q: What is one major thing you learned/major takeaway from your experience?

would like to share with a current high school dancer looking to build a career in dance?

My major takeaway was definitely seeing dance in a new light, seeing it in a cultural and analytical context. I also really enjoyed the improvisation class I took the first year with Chris Bloom. Those are really fun classes and I really remember enjoying that. Getting to explore the improvisation classes to not just improvise in the moment, but also to improvise and create movement.

First, even if you don’t feel qualified, still try it, still learn about it, because even if you fail, you’re going to learn something. Someone is going to see that you tried and they’re going to recognize that you care, they’ll want to help you. I’m a completely different dancer, now that I’ve done this kind of training. There were steps I didn’t know, things I couldn’t do before, that now I can. I was in a class of people who were doing like 17 pirouettes and I didn’t know if I was qualified to be there, but now that I’ve been in class with them, I realize they’re just people, they struggle with things too, and its not about how good you are, its about how much effort you put in and how much you love what you’re doing. As long as you’re having fun and working hard, that’s really all anyone can ask of you.

That’s what most people love to see, in a classroom setting and a performance setting. It’s so much more fun to watch someone enjoying what they’re doing.

Also getting to see professional dancers. My dance studio in Houston had professional dancers, but they were our teachers, they were from the same company, and I think seeing people from a different company was really enlightening for me.

Q: Tell us about your journey from summers with Performing Arts Houston to where you are now.

It has been a complete whirlwind. I am dancing at the very least, 5-6 hours a day, every single day. The amount of technical growth that I’ve had is insane. I came here and there were certain ballet steps I didn’t even know the name of, and now I’m doing them from muscle memory.

Its wild to have all of these teachers from different places.

Before I had professional dancers as teachers, but they were all from the same company and the same town. Now I have teachers and peers in my classes who are not only from different places in the US but from different countries, with English as their second or third language. They have completely different backgrounds, they didn’t start with ballet, they had hip hop or jazz or tap first. I took my first hip hop class at Joffrey and that opened a whole world. I started to see jazz not just as “drag step ball change” but as African American dance, seeing it as a whole cultural movement. I’ve taken two Dance History classes, and Critical Analysis, which is dance theory and who different choreographers and different pieces have shaped our community. This last semester I had my senior project and it was all about making dance history and dance academia more accessible to the public. I didn’t learn about any of it until I started studying at a collegiate level and I think it would be really nice and moving for younger students, or students who don’t end up studying at the collegiate level to have that kind of access.

Q: What is one piece of advice that you

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

A.I.M By Kyle Abraham: An Untitled Love FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2022 | 7:30 PM CULLEN THEATER, WORTHAM CENTER An Untitled Love Choreography: Kyle Abraham in collaboration with A.I.M Music: D’Angelo & The Vanguard Lighting Design: Dan Scully Costume Design: Karen Young and Kyle Abraham Sound Editing: Sam Crawford Duration: 60 minutes, no intermission

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Photo by Christopher Duggan

Photo by Melissa Taylor

Sponsored in part by

Let's have some fun!

SPA FOUNDATION CHARLENE & TYM TOMBAR

About the Artists Founded in 2006 by choreographer Kyle Abraham, A.I.M

by Kyle Abraham is a Black-led contemporary dance company that provides multifaceted performances, educational programming, and community-based workshops. The mission of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham is to create a body of dance-based work that is galvanized by Black culture and history. The work, informed by and made in conjunction with artists across a range of disciplines, entwines a sensual and provocative vocabulary with a strong emphasis on music, text, video, and visual art. While grounded in choreographer Kyle Abraham’s artistic vision, A.I.M draws inspiration from a multitude of sources and movement styles.

Since A.I.M’s founding, Artistic Director Kyle Abraham has made more than 15 original works for and With the company. In 2018, A.I.M began commissioning new works and performing existing works by outside choreographers to expand its repertoire and offer a breadth of dance work to both the dancers and audiences. The repertory now includes works by Trisha Brown, Andrea Miller, Bebe Miller, Doug Varone, and A.I.M dancer and early-career choreographer Keerati Jinakunwiphat.

A.I.M's audience base is as diverse as A.I.M’s movement vocabulary, which ranges from hip-hop to formal ballet technique. As Abraham says, “I’m interested in a really wide range of folks from the brother who owns the corner store to the woman who has never even heard of a corner store. I want those people to interact, and I want them to be sitting next to each other sensing the other person’s experience. And then, I want them to stick around for the post-performance discussion and hear the other person’s perspective and learn more about each other. That’s what is most exciting for me.”

For more information, to get involved, or purchase your A.I.M merchandise, please visit aimbykyleabraham.org.

Follow A.I.M on Instagram @aimbykyleabraham and Kyle Abraham at @kyle_abraham_original_recipe.

Student Night May 17 6-7:30 pm before Black Violin Students! Before Black Violin takes the stage, join us in the lobby for Performing Arts Houston Student Night, featuring fun activities, partner tables, miniperformances, and more.

FREE to Black Violin ticket holders

Tickets at

performingartshouston.org/ blackviolin

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Dr. Zahi Hawass: Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs MONDAY, MAY 9, 2022 | 7:30 PM JONES HALL Duration: 90-minutes, no intermission This lecture is offered in conjunction with the world premiere of Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs, an exhibit presented

by World Heritage Exhibitions and Cityneon and on view at the Houston Museum of Natural Science until May 23.

About the Artist World-renowned archaeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, has brought the world of the pharaohs into the homes and hearts of people everywhere.

Known for his charisma, he uses his platform to raise public awareness for the conservation and protection of Egypt’s monuments and heritage.

One of Dr. Hawass’s most important endeavors has been the Egyptian Mummy Project (EMP), which uses modern forensic techniques, including CT scans and DNA analysis, to answer questions about human remains from ancient Egypt. The EMP has resulted in several crucial findings, including identifications of the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut and members of the family of Tutankhamun, and the cause of death of Rameses III. Dr. Hawass, began as an inspector of antiquities and rose to the height of the profession in Egypt, becoming Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, as well as the first Minister of State for Antiquities.

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Presented in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Photo courtesy of Zahi Hawass

Let's make something new.

Applications are now open for New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project.

New/Now world premieres will take place on February 24-25. Winners receive a $6,000 cash award, full presentation of a new 20-25 minute work in Houston's Theater District, and more.

Learn more at performingartshouston.org/newnow Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 21

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Black Violin TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 | 7:30 PM JONES HALL Duration: 90-minutes, no intermission

22 | Performing Arts Houston | performingartshouston.org

Photo by Mark Clennon

Program Notes Black Violin, alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Elton John, recently joined with Turnaround Arts to bring arts education to struggling schools in underserved communities. Turnaround Arts is a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, founded by President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2012. In addition, Black Violin has composed for a major FOX Television original Pitch, and has been featured by ESPN as the official artist of the 2017 US Open (tennis) and 2016 & 2017 Heisman Trophy Award ceremonies.

They have been featured on The Tonight Show, Ellen, The Wendy William’s Show, NPR, and more. The group has collaborated creatively with artists such as Kanye West, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys.

Black Violin’s latest studio album Take the Stairs was released on November 1, 2019 and includes singles “Showoff,” “One Step,” and “Impossible is Possible.” The record debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Chart,#1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart, #7 on Billboard’s Top New Artists Chart, and #9 on the Billboard Hip Hop and R&B Chart. Their last album, Stereotypes, hit #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart and #4 on Billboard’s R&B Chart.

Black Violin “The stereotypes are always there, embedded so deep in our culture,” says Wil. “Just by nature of our existence we challenge those ideas. It’s a unique thing that brings people together who aren’t usually in the same room, and in the current climate, it’s good to bring people together.”

Last year, the group launched the Black Violin Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by providing access to quality music programs in their community. BVF believes that music and access to music programs should not be determined by race, gender, or socio-economic status. Black Violin Foundation’s inaugural program the Musical Innovation Grant for Continuing Education will provide scholarships to young music students to attend a program of their liking that fosters musical creativity and innovation.

More info: http://www.blackviolinfoundation.org Discography: http://blackviolin.net/albums/

About the Artists For 17 years, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities along the way. Members Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste first met in orchestra class at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, becoming classically trained on the violin and viola through their high school and college careers. Post-college, they reconvened to produce beats for South Florida rappers, and began building an audience in local clubs. They later went on to win Showtime at the Apollo in 2005, and eventually sold out headline performances at venues across the country, including a sold out two-night headline run at The Kennedy Center in 2018. NPR took note and declared “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.”

Black Violin’s latest release, Take the Stairs, earned a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album”. Pre-pandemic, Black Violin was playing over 200 shows a year (many of these are performances for young low-income students in urban communities-in the last year alone, the group played for over 100,000 students) with the goal of challenging stereotypes and preconceived notions of what a “classical musician” looks and sounds like.

Photos by Michael Macsuga

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 23

21/22 Season Featured Program PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

An Evening with Neil Gaiman SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022 | 8:00 PM JONES HALL Duration: 90-minutes, no intermission

24 | Performing Arts Houston | performingartshouston.org

Photo courtesy of MasterClass

About the Artist NEIL GAIMAN was born in Hampshire, UK, and now lives in the United States near Minneapolis. As a child he discovered his love of books, reading, and stories, devouring the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Branch Cabell, Edgar Allan Poe, Michael Moorcock, Ursula K. LeGuin, Gene Wolfe, and G.K. Chesterton. A self-described "feral child who was raised in libraries," Gaiman credits librarians with fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Gaiman began his writing career in England as a journalist.

His first book was a Duran Duran biography that took him three months to write, and his second was a biography of Douglas Adams, Don't Panic: The Official Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion. Violent Cases was the first of many collaborations with artist Dave McKean. This early graphic novel led to their series Black Orchid, published by DC Comics.

The groundbreaking series Sandman followed, collecting a large number of US awards in its 75-issue run, including nine Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and three Harvey Awards. In 1991, Sandman became the first comic ever to receive a literary award, the 1991 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story.

Gaiman writes books for readers of all ages, including the following collections and picture books for young readers:

An Evening with Neil Gaiman M is for Magic (2007); Interworld (2007), co-authored with Michael Reaves; The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish (1997); The Wolves in the Walls (2003); the Greenaway-shortlisted Crazy Hair (2009), illustrated by Dave McKean; The Dangerous Alphabet (2008), illustrated

by Gris Grimly; Blueberry Girl (2009); and Instructions (2010), illustrated by Charles Vess.

Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere (1995), Stardust (1999), the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning American Gods (2001), Anansi Boys (2005), and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett, 1990), as well as the short story collections Smoke and Mirrors (1998) and Fragile Things (2006).

He has written and directed two films: A Short Film About John Bolton (2002) and Sky Television's Statuesque (2009) starring Bill Nighy and Amanda Palmer. An animated feature film based on Gaiman's Coraline, directed by Henry Selick and released in early 2009, secured a BAFTA for Best Animated Film and was nominated for an Oscar in the same category.

Gaiman has achieved cult status and attracted increased media attention, with recent profiles in The New Yorker magazine and by CBS News Sunday Morning.

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 25

Individual Supporters Performing Arts Houston would like to thank the individuals who support our work through generous contributions throughout the year. For more information on donor benefits, please visit performingartshouston.org/donate or contact Jordan Drum at (713) 632-8104 or jdrum@performingartshouston.org.

We also wish to extend our sincere thanks to the hundreds of individuals included below who helped sustain Performing Arts Houston through our Relief & Response Fund in the 20/21 Season.

$100,000+ Natasha and Michael Cannon Linda and Willie Chiang Nancy G. and Charles D. Davidson Leticia and Stephen M. Trauber

$50,000–$99,999 Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

$25,000–$49,999 Casey and Chuck Boettcher Kris and Mark Jodon Stephany LeGrand Karges and Curt D. Karges Beverly and Jim Postl Susan and Fayez Sarofim Kristina H. and Paul G. Somerville Janet and Bill Swanstrom Hallie Vanderhider

$15,000–$24,999 Theresa A. Einhorn and Donald Yurewicz Mignon and Stephen M. Gill Yvonne and Mark Jacobs Jesse H. Jones II Emily T. Kuo and Michael Chu Eileen and Kase Lawal Melanie B. Rother and Justin Pack Mari Salazar Leslie Elkins Sasser and Shannon Sasser

$10,000-$14,999 Patricia and Sig Cornelius Duke and C.C. Ensell Mary and Carl Fischer Ginni and Richard Mithoff Miki Lusk Norton and Ralph E. Norton

$5,000–$9,999 Anonymous Norah G. Adams Leah R. Bennett Chree Boydstun Eric Brueggeman Kourtney and Vijay D’Cruz

Susan and Sean Gorman Susie and Michael Hatfield Melinda and Jeffrey Hildebrand Amy and Jonathan C. Homeyer Shawn and Bill Jackson Susan and Michael Klaveness Mimi Lloyd Theresa and Edward Mallett Marilyn Maloney and Paul Longstreth Katherine Easterby Murphy Kathryn O’Brien Laura and Daniel Pears Kristin and Lance Reynolds Gary Rodriguez and Mike Ball Ann V. Rogers Gloria and Nick Ryan Charlene and Tymothi O. Tombar Margaret Alkek Williams Syma and Walt Zerkow

$1,000-$4,999 Nancy C. Allen Leslie Alston and Mike Zenker Ashley Bales and Lee V. Strickland Meg and Brandon Booth Ronald D. Boston Kristen and David Buck Chris Caddell Zane and Brady Carruth Sandy and Thomas Cattarin Nancy Chafe Chris Chandler Carl R. Cunningham Susan E. Denson Timothy G. Green Mary Van and David Grindle John and Cynthia Gualy Rene Haas and David Perry Sheila Heimbinder The Hermosa Family Shelley and William Horwitz David Jackson Taylor and Daniel Kaufman Lilia D. Khakimova and C. Robert Bunch Emily Korinek and Jordan Drum Juliet Lawrence Amy LeBlanc Kathryn E. Lott Jane and Steve Malashock

26 | Performing Arts Houston | performingartshouston.org

Donette and Jeff Manley Anna McDonnell Mavin H. Martin and Neil E. Mellen Vickie L. Milazzo and Tom Ziemba Paul L. Mitchell Barbara E. Murray and Ernesto D. Baca Leslie and Kent Nelson The Parris-Cochinwala Family Christina and Troy Porter Ted and Kim Powell Sam Quintero Meredith and Michael Rice Jay Ring Regina Rogers Rabia and Omar Samji Mark C. Schroeder T. Smith Karen Stall John B. Thomas Susan L. Thompson Patricia and Michael Tilton David Uthe Wilson Van Tine Katherine Warren James Williams Gina and Joseph Wyszynski

$500-$999 Anne and German Amador Latasha Bell Thomas Booth and Dale Cover E. Brietzke Carol Brooks Berglass Dona and Bob Chambers C.C. Conner and David Groover Janice and William J. Dana John Eymann Joe J. Fisher Byron Gulick John Halbur Tracy and Ken Janda Jillian Jopling and Peter McGillivray Beth Diane Landay Tina Lee and Joel Smith Masha and Richard Lunam Bruce Lundstrom Alex Martinez Lila Rauch Bryan Scrivner

Individual Supporters

Lynda Seaman Randal and Robert Smith Georgia Viret Tonya Williams Nora and Charles Zabriskie

$250-$499 Anonymous Molly and Jerry Adams Roy Allice Monika Bertoni Julie Bortolotti Peter Botvin Barbara Bullock Emily Bullock Lawrence Burns Denise Castillo-Rhodes and Bob Sergesketter Edward Cazier Kendra Clark Janice Cormier Rodney Cox Jill Cude Leslie Culhane Ida Diamond Jennifer Feldmann Mary Gleason Torsten Gretz Kathy Grubbs David Guetzow Kathleen Hawk Lee Ann Hellums Irene and Marc Helsinger Celia Homer Scott Howard Christopher M. Johns-Krull Douglas Kenaley Richard Knight Dena Linda Larissa Lindsay and W. Stuart Bailey III James Marbach Vikki Marsh Marilyn Miller Thomas Mills Timothy Molloy Juliana Montgomery Renee and Milton Morris Jeff Munoz Sandra Murray Kathy Parven Andrea and Carl Peterson Valerie Phipps Monique and Steve Pinckney Jennifer Renner Cali Ritter Christa Robbins Melanie Rogers

Sybil F. Roos Stephanie Ross Stephan Shaw Aaryn Silva Elizabeth Sparks Rhonda Stewart Nicholas Stuart Johanna Sweed Vita and Boris Taksa Sheila Valley-McBrinn Jane Vaselenak Salle and James M. Vaughn Amanda Videtich Friederich von Schenk Janet Waid Charles Ward Paul and Lisa Welch Bettina M. Whyte Cheryl Williamson Marissa Yu

$100-$249 Anonymous Dorothy and Mickey Ables Amr Abouleish Barbara and Mike Adams Wendy K. Adler Hadiyah Aluqdah Sarah Andrews Jami Arnst Joni Baird Barry Baisden Lani Baker Debbie and Franklin Ballard Kipp and Harry Baxter Sam Baxter Roslyn Bazzelle Linda Bennett and Jeffrey Nunn Leslie Berardo Pantaleon Beverly Ruthlynn Black Michele Blackburn Kayleigh Blevins Janica and Matthew Boles Dorothy Boone Douglas Bosse Pamela Boyd Belinda Bracht Michael Bradford Lisa Brenskelle James Broadfoot Trevina Broussard Lucy Buencamino Amy Burns N.C. Cafarelle-Guidry and Randy Guidry Wendy and Bruce Cain Ben Carpenter

Richard Carter Constance Cephus Suzanne Cetrullo Cristina Checka Denise Cheplick Penny and Bill Clark Andrew Clarke and Gerhard Mosch Cindy Clifford Cliff Clinton Ana Colina Jocelyn Corbett Angelique Cunningham Richelle Cynowa Patrick Davis JeanMarie Diskin Karen Doolittle D.M. Droogleever Sarah A. Duckers and Mark Davidson Jane and Richard Dudek Joel Dye Douglas Edit Tejuana Edmond Mynde Eisen Ramsay M. Elder Alexandra Emsley Susan Entwistle Berenice Espinoza Connie Evans Rivera Marcia and Thomas Faschingbauer Jeffery Faulkinbury Kimberley Felton Katy Fricke William Fu Diane Garey Jeremy Gaskins Anson Gibson Marian and Philippe Gleize Valerie Gordon Harry Grenader Kevin J. Grice Richard Guerrero Sarah Gutierrez The Hafle Family Lizzy Hargrove Margie Harrington Nancy Henderek Eduardo Hernandez Susan Hightower Eric Hintz Brian Hodge Merlin Hoiseth Holly Holmes Suzanne Holyfield Robert Hopkins The William H. Hopkins Jr. Family Anne Benedicte Houang Andrew F. Icken Robert Inaba

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 27

Individual Supporters

Evelyn Ireton Larisa Ivy Harry W. Jackson Angela Jackson Hudson Carson Jarnagin Edwin Jennings Nikki Jennings Crystal Johnson Sheila K. Johnstone Darla Jones Linda Kane Manpreet Kaur Linda Kelly Lori Kennedy Rainey Knudson Micki Ko Jenny Koehler Jacob Kosior Ilianna Kuntz Shoe Latif Pacquitta Laverents Andrew Lee Mark Leger Kelly Levar Johnnie Lister Susan Litts Ryan Long Dolores Lopez-Cardenas and Eduardo M. Lopez Dominic Macklon Pauline Markenscoff Suzanne McAndrew David McKee Laura Mendoza Alisa Miller Anthony Miller Bonnie Milne April Mims Nancy Lee Mitchell Elizabeth Montz Blaine Morris Andrew Mosher Marci Murff Shelley Myers Karyn Nabhan Angela Nava Lynda Nguyen Nelli Nikova John Ogletree Leah Oren-Palmer Regan Orillac Susan Snider Osterberg and Edward Osterberg Margaret Owen Sari Ozeri

Gracie Padron Ruth Paige Robia Pautler Sara Peaks Jerry Petrizzo Melissa Peyton Harrison Phan Nathalie Phlips Sharon Polt Sara Ptomey Cheryl Ray Sandra Dittrick Reid Susan Resnick Rana T. Rice Bowen Roberts Jane Robinson Ann Saunders Rebecca Schlembach H. Irving Schweppe Carlos Serrano Sheryl A. Shafer Emily Shields Maxine and Bubba Silberstein Jessica Sinclair David Smith Roger Smith III Sharon Snyder Nina Staats Deborah and David Stern Rebecca Storey Sofia Straus Cynthia Sudela Amy Tanner Rebecca Tapick Ann-Marie Tcholakian Justin Thekkekara Stephani Tipton Eleanor and Jon Totz Erick Tournier Saundra and Mark Truett Ashley Turner Tamika Tyson Priti Ubhayakar Lori van Veldhoven Faith Vedder Stephanie Viator Angelita Villarreal Jacqueline Villarreal John Vitucci William V. Walker Gail Walsh Cheryl Walters Alero and Thomas Waterhouse Jamie Webster John Welch

28 | Performing Arts Houston | performingartshouston.org

Michelle Wettig Nikolas White Susan Whitfield Stacey Wilson Ximena Wood Courtney Young Scott M. Zindler Listings accurate as of 2/9/2022

Institutional Partners Performing Arts Houston is proud to recognize our corporate, foundation, and government partners for their exemplary community leadership and support. To learn more about partnership opportunities and benefits, please contact Jordan Drum at (713) 632-8104 or jdrum@performingartshouston.org.

We also wish to thank the institutional supporters who helped sustain Performing Arts Houston through our Relief & Response Fund in the 20/21 Season.

CORPORATE PARTNERS $50,000+ ConocoPhillips H-E-B †

†

$20,000-$49,999 Le Méridien Hotel Houston Downtown* Truist Bank Westwood Wealth Management

$10,000–$19,999

$5,000–$9,999

711 Fit* Admiral Transfer & Rigging American Bank Bank of Texas The Friedkin Group* † Houston First Corporation* Locke Lord LLP † Motiva Plains All American Shearman & Sterling LLP TD Securities United Airlines* † Wells Fargo †

Barclays CAMAC International Tombar Energy Holdings, Inc. Winstead PC

$1,000-$4,999 Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing PC Dobrowski Larkin & Stafford LLP Bracewell LLP Hicks Thomas LLP Legacy Community Health Services

FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES $100,000+

$30,000-$49,999

The Cullen Foundation Houston Endowment, Inc. † Humphreys Foundation † Society for the Performing Arts Foundation † The Wortham Foundation, Inc. †

M.D. Anderson Foundation † National Endowment for the Arts Texas Commission on the Arts †

$50,000-$99,999 The Brown Foundation, Inc. † The City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance †

$20,000-$99,999 The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts†

$10,000-$19,999

Vivian L. Smith Foundation Whalley Foundation

$5,000-$9,999

George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation † Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation The City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Inc. †

The Alkek and Williams Foundation † Kayser Foundation † Mid-America Arts Alliance The Vaughn Foundation †

MATCHING GIFT SUPPORTERS Admiral Transfer & Rigging The Coca-Cola Company ExxonMobil Listings Accurate as of 2/9/2022

HP Legacy Community Health Services LyondellBasell

Murphy Oil Corporation Phillips 66 *Includes in-kind support † Indicates 10+ years of consecutive support

Encore Magazine — Summer 2022 | 29