SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
MAGAZINE
Spring 2022
SW!NG OUT
Directed by Caleb Teicher PHOTO BY EM WATSON
The arts are in full swing!
SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
ENCORE SPRING 2022
Contents 06 DRUM TAO 2022
An exhilarating Houston favorite returns— fun for the whole family!
APR 4 | Jones Hall
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SW!NG OUT DIRECTED BY CALEB TEICHER Hello, roaring 2020s. Dance Magazine cover star Caleb Teicher proves there’s no better time in history to swing out!
APR 9 | Jones Hall
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DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE: NEIGHBOR DAY Daniel Tiger and all his friends from the beloved Emmy Award-winning PBS KIDS television series are back!
APR 10 | Jones Hall
FEATURES 3 Audience Guide 4 Letter from the CEO 22 SPA Supporters MAGAZINE is the official magazine of Society for the Performing Arts Alexandra Drake Publication Editor Melanie O’Neill Design & Production Ventures Marketing Group Matt Ross Advertising 713.417.6857
SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 2021–22
Board of Directors Society for the Performing Arts 615 Louisiana Street, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77002-2715 713.227.4772 info@spahouston.org | spahouston.org Meg Booth Chief Executive Officer Leslie Nelson Chief Financial Officer Andrea Allen Education Specialist Alexandra Drake Communications Manager Jordan Drum Director of Development Jessica Ellison Education Events Coordinator Brian Glass Director of Marketing Devin Kennamore Accounting Manager Mick Molina Development Associate
Brenda Oliveira Board Liaison & Executive Assistant Helena Oliver Development Manager, Individual Giving & Events Michelle Pacheco Patron Services Manager Jennifer Steiner Director of Operations
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
Lee Strickland General Manager Claire Williamson Director of Education & Community Engagement
Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is the largest independent nonprofit performing arts presenter in the southwest. A resident company of Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, SPA was founded in 1966 to be Houston’s window to the world of the live performing arts. In a typical season, SPA presents more than 30 different programs, of all genres, with leading artists, innovators, and entertainers from around the globe.
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
John T. Jones Jr. Founder (1917-1994)
Marcus A. Watts
Jesse H. Jones II President, SPA Foundation
Thank you—and enjoy the show!
SEASON SPONSORS
SEASON SPONSOR
OFFICIAL AIRLINE
FUNDED IN PART BY
THE CITY OF HOUSTON
THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE
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Audience
E XPE RI ENCE GUI DE
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 spahouston.org/faq.
Event parking is available in the Theater District Parking garage for $12. Street parking in Downtown Houston is free after 6pm, MondaySaturday, and all day Sunday. Parking rates and availability are subject to change.
Unless otherwise noted, doors to the lobby will open 90 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.
Eating and drinking are only permitted in designated areas of the lobby. Please note that food and drinks are not allowed inside the auditorium.
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 SPA 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 SPA Subscribers.
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH Follow us @spahouston
Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 3
Letter
from the CEO Friends, we have news. You’ve known us as Society for the Performing Arts for more than 55 years. On April 12, we’re changing our name, and our look. Our name is changing, but not our commitment to ignite and cultivate passion for the performing arts, and more than ever, to support and amplify the voice of the artist. As the largest independent non-profit arts presenter in Texas, we introduce a world of live arts experiences—every genre, featuring artists from around the globe. We’re thrilled to continue this work. And so happy you’re joining us as we create the future of live arts, here in Houston.
On April 2, 2022, we celebrated our annual Gala, the Kaleidoscope Ball, a wonderful celebration with friends, and an important fundraiser enabling us to continue bringing the curtain up on extraordinary artists from around the world. This year we honored longtime SPA supporters Phoebe & Bobby Tudor, enjoyed dancing, dinner and cocktails, a live auction, and music by Asleep at the Wheel. As we look ahead—the 21/22 Season is in full swing. On Apr. 4, Japanese drumming phenomenon Drum Tao returns—an evening of dazzling musicianship and athleticism. Caleb Teicher’s SW!NG OUT takes the stage at Jones Hall on Apr. 9. (You'll marvel as Teicher and their Braintrust bring Lindy Hop dancing to
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life with pure unabashed joy.) And on Apr. 10, Daniel Tiger and all his friends from the beloved Emmy Award-winning PBS KIDS television series are back, with Neighbor Day. A new name, a new look, and more—all happening here, where live arts thrive. See you at the theater,
Meg Booth CEO Society for the Performing Arts
21/22 SEASON FEATURED PROGRAM SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents
DRUM TAO 2022 MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2022 | 7:30 PM JONES HALL Duration: 2 hours, including one intermission Performers: Kiyoko Aito Shoko Sakaguchi Yoshinori Suito Taro Harasaki Keisuke Yamamoto Masanori Takayama
Shinya Kiyota Shoya Hamada Soshiro Fukumizu Takuto Ogawa Taketora Mitsuo
Lighting Technician: Kensuke Yamasaki Sound Technician: Kenichi Horiuchi Production Manager: Jeremiah Brophy Tour Manager: Donnie Keeton Sponsored in part by
THE HUMPHREYS FOUNDATION
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AB O UT TH E AR T IST DRUM TAO‘s stage is created through phenomenal performances and expressions consisting of incomparable “ Wadaiko-drums” and the beautiful melody of Japanese utes and harps. It is the “ Japanese Entertainment” for a new generation that completely surpasses expectations. In February 2016, their O-Broadway shows in New York were completely sold out! It was featured in the weekly American magazine, Newsweek stating “ e highly acclaimed debut of DRUM TAO in Broadway will represent not only Japanese entertainment but Japan itself.” eir new long-run production “MANGEKYO” started in Tokyo in 2017. is nightly entertainment aimed at international tourists became widely popular and was later expanded to shows over six months in 2018. is has been performed throughout a year in their exclusive theater from April 2019, over the year of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. In 2017, they made their major recording debut from Universal Music as a compilation of their work for 25 years, which ranked as one of the top three in the iTunes World Album Ranking in ve dierent countries. In 2018, they performed in the opening ceremony of “Japonisms 2018” in Paris, France. ey also costarred with the Bolshoi Ballet as the opening act of “Japan Year in Russia” held at e Bolshoi eatre in Moscow, Russia, in front of the head of each country. ey were awarded “Outstanding Cultural Contribution” from Oita prefecture, “Culture Creators Award” from Taketa city in Oita prefecture, and “ e 6th Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Award” and “Minister for Internal Aairs and Communications Award” from the Japanese government. In 2020, they were supposed to perform 1,000 shows with 4 teams in a year. ey had no choice but cancelled more than 600 shows due to COVID-19. ey restarted the tour on July 19th, 2020, and successfully performed 274 shows in 2020 and 500 shows in 2021. In March 2022, they have nally restarted their international tour in the U.S.!
Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 7
21/22 SEASON FEATURED PROGRAM SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents
SW!NG OUT SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2022 | 7:30 PM JONES HALL Duration: 2 hours, no intermission (75- minute show, followed by 30 minute “open dance) Braintrust (Creative Team): Evita Arce LaTasha Barnes Nathan Bugh
Macy Sullivan Caleb Teicher Eyal Vilner
Choreography and Improvisation by Caleb Teicher and the Braintrust in collaboration with the Dancers, except: “Big Apple Contest” - choreography by Frankie Manning, as first seen in “Keep Punching” Director: Caleb Teicher Assistant Director: Macy Sullivan Music: All arrangements and orchestrations by Eyal Vilner, performed by the Eyal Vilner Big Band; Downhill, The Rabbit, Ain't Got Nobody, Chabichou, The Jam, Tap Tap Tap, and Belleville - all composed by Eyal Vilner. My Baby Just Cares for Me - by Donaldson & Kahn Saint Louis Blues - by W.C. Handy The Big Apple Contest - by L. Norman Shiny Stockings - by F. Foster Jumpin’ At The Woodside - by C. Basie 8 | Society for the Performing Arts | spahouston.org
PHOTO BY EM WATSON
Original Lighting Design: Serena Wong Lighting Supervisor/Assistant Lighting Design: Kelly Martin Sound Design: Matthew Good Costume Design: Márion Talán Bandstand & Logo Design: Michelle Stokes Choreographic Advisor: Melanie George Dancers: LaTasha Barnes, Nathan Bugh, Gaby Cook, Laura Glaess, AJ Howard, Michael Jagger, Jennifer Jones, Remy Kouakou Kouame, Dee Daniels Locke, Joshua Mclean, Macy Sullivan, Caleb Teicher Understudy: Brian Lawton Band: Erán Fink (drums) Ian Hutchison (bass) John Lake (trumpet) Brandon Lee (trumpet) Josh Lee (baritone saxophone) Julieta Eugenio (tenor saxophone)
Sean Mason (piano) Eyal Vilner (alto saxophone, flute, clarinet) Imani Rousselle (vocals) Mariel Bildsten (trombone)
Producer: Ross LeClair, Joyce Theater Productions Production Manager: Jacob Wexler Company Manager: Aria Roach
THE HUMPHREYS FOUNDATION
Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 9
ABOUT THE SHOW
SW!NG OUT
INVITATION TO JAM Improvised social dancing is integral to the tradition and modern-day expression of Lindy Hop and Jazz Dance. Now that you’ve seen our show, we invite you to dance: find some space and join us while the Eyal Vilner Big Band plays a 30-minute set! ABOUT LINDY HOP Lindy Hop is the preeminent, swing-jazz, partnered dance. In the late 1920’s, movement elements, including those of The Charleston, The Collegiate, and The Texas Tommy, were swirling together in African-American communities to form a new style, and they coalesced around a musical groove called “swing.” Dance champion George Snowden supplied the name, “Lindy Hop,” in reference to Charles Lindberg — whose recent transatlantic flight was the phenomenon of the moment. The name stuck, and the dance was popularized by early masters at the Savoy Ballroom, in Harlem. Frankie Manning, and other exponents of the 1930’s and 1940’s, incorporated choreography and high-flying “air steps.” Frequently presented by Savoy bouncer Herbert White as “Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers,” these champions dominated clubs, contests, stages, and film. Manning had a phasic career, retiring after the swing era, but reengaging with the dance industry in the 1980’s. In the intervening years, visionaries such as Norma Miller and Mama Lu Parks sustained Lindy Hop and even adapted to new music genres. At the end of the 20th century, a surge of popularity sowed modern, swing-dance scenes all around the world. There are now plenty of non-US hotspots, like Stockholm and Seoul, with robust dance communities. Lindy Hop also continues to thrive in the US, and in Harlem, where the dance never stopped. A NOTE FROM THE BRAINTRUST SW!NG OUT presents social Lindy Hop and vernacular dance as a jazz, concert experience. It is a blend of prearrangement and improvisation, where only some of the steps are choreographed; only some of the music is on the page. Performers and spectators are invited to interpret the material in real time, to share in the exhilaration of creation. Even though Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz have been used in other productions for nostalgia or novelty, there has not been a touring, evening-length program celebrating what these dances have become. By assembling genuine, swing-dance superstars in an improvisatory space, this show offers a unique glimpse into their universe: the modern, Lindy Hop scene. For us, Lindy Hop tackles the issues of society-at-large, but in an arena of exaggerated humanity. Touch, trust, gender, history, 10 | Society for the Performing Arts | spahouston.org
intimacy, and partnership get ground together there, in the crucible of jazz, and they are reified as art. Our mission with SW!NG OUT is to search for perspective on these complexities, while embracing the joy of jazz dance and music. Thank you for joining us. - The Braintrust: Evita Arce, LaTasha Barnes, Nathan Bugh, Macy Sullivan, Caleb Teicher, and Eyal Vilner FUNDING CREDITS SW!NG OUT was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; and was commissioned and created, in part, with the support of The Joyce Theater’s Artist Residency Center, made possible by lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; Works & Process at the Guggenheim; the Center for the Arts at George Mason University; Northrop at The University of Minnesota; and additional commissioning funds provided by The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation. Additional creation support was provided by Deborah and Charles Adelman, Alpern Family Foundation, Sarah Arison, Michèle and Steve Pesner, Anh-Tuyet Nguyen and Robert Pollock, and Karen Roth. Music commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. Additional support for this tour of SW!NG OUT generously provided by Stephanie Gittleman, Karen Roth, and Dorry Segev.
PHOTO BY MELISSA TAYLOR
TIG NOTARO: HELLO AGAIN
DAVID SEDARIS
YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
JEFF GOLDBLUM & THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA
APRIL 28
APRIL 22
MAY 2
MAY 4
A.I.M BY KYLE ABRAHAM: AN UNTITLED LOVE
MAY 6
Learn from the best! Join us for these public dance master classes around town: April 10, 2022 | 11AM | FREE! Lindy Hop workshop with cast members of SW!NG OUT
MAY 9
BLACK VIOLIN MAY 17
DR. ZAHI HAWASS: RAMSES THE GREAT AND THE GOLD OF THE PHARAOHS
NEIL GAIMAN
May 5, 2022 | 5:45PM Master Class with company members of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham
Information about location & registration online at spahouston.org/education spahouston.org
MAY 22
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
SW!NG OUT
EVITA ARCE (BRAINTRUST) an internationally renowned Lindy Hop dancer and teacher, began her jazz journey in Austin, Texas (1998). Career highlights include representing Lindy Hop and competing on So You Think You Can Dance (2007), Let Freedom Swing with Jazz at Lincoln Center at the Kennedy Center (2009), performing in SWING! the musical (2008-2009), and her Broadway debut with Caleb Teicher for Regina Spektor’s run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater (2019). Evita was also featured in the Swing documentary Alive and Kicking (2016) which follows her path in the international Lindy Hop community. Co-directing with Michael Jagger, Syncopated City, debuted as the first Lindy Hop dance company to present at Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Stage (2012-2013). Evita has danced for Caleb Teicher & Company since 2017, having performed in Meet Ella and More Forever. Over the course of the pandemic Evita has continued to teach Lindy Hop, Charleston and solo jazz dance online at syncopatedcity.com. Thanks to her family, especially Simon, her mentors Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas, the Vanaver Caravan, support from Mirra Bank and Richard Brockman, Elena Iannucci and Teddy Kern of Dance Manhattan - Evita's home for 10 years, and the extraordinary cast of SW!NG OUT who are all an inspiration. LATASHA “TASHA” BARNES (BRAINTRUST, DANCER) is an internationally acclaimed and awarded dancer, educator, coach and ambassador of culture from Richmond, VA. Globally celebrated for her musicality, athleticism, and joyful presence throughout the cultural traditions she bears, which include House, Hip-Hop, Waacking, Vernacular Jazz, and Lindy Hop. Her expansive artistic, competitive and performative skills have made her a frequent collaborator to Dorrance Dance, Singapore based Timbre Arts Group, Caleb Teicher & Company, Ephrat Asherie Dance and many international Urban Arts and Jazz/ Lindy Hop festivals like Summer Dance Forever and Paris Jazz Roots Festival. Accolades and accomplishments aside, Tasha’s forever purpose is to inspire fellow artists and art enthusiasts to cultivate an authentic sense of self in their creative expressions and daily lives.
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MARIEL BILDSTEN (TROMBONE) is based in New York City. Mariel works as a bandleader and sidewoman. She is the lead trombonist in Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and tours internationally with Brass Against. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, London’s O2 Arena, and the Apollo Theater, among other venues and festivals. Mariel has also performed alongside Jennifer Hudson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, and Cyrus Chestnut. Her own groups have headlined jazz festivals, played around the country, and performed regularly in New York City. Her debut record “Backbone” (2020) received rave reviews. NATHAN BUGH (BRAINTRUST, DANCER) is known worldwide for his intimately rhythmic style of Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz. He "rocked the stage" at Carnegie Hall, dancing Lindy Hop with the New York Pops Orchestra; he performed in Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater in Swingin' Frankie's Way; and he danced in the CT&Co's More Forever, at Jacob's Pillow. His on-film appearances include: My Fair Wedding S.3 E.3 - Great Gatsby Bride, Fox and Friends Christmas, Rebel in the Rye, and The Weepies - Be My Honey Pie. As a national jazz-dance competitor, Nathan has taken 1st place in Lindy, Slow Dancing, Solo Charleston, Team, Jill&Jack, Luck/Draw, and Cabaret divisions. He is one of the most eminent solo-jazz contestants in the world, having won both the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown (2012) and International Lindy Hop Championships (2014), as well as achieving 3rd place in the ILHC invitational (2018). He was also the director and choreographer of Yeah Man, the 2015 ILHC Team champions.
SW!NG OUT
GABY COOK (DANCER) is a veteran lindy hopper of all stripes. For the last 15 years, she has been an active professional in the global lindy hop scene — teaching and performing for events such as Herräng Dance Camp, Lindy Focus, Paris Jazz Roots, Rock That Swing Festival, and the IG hop Dance Residency in Vienna among others. In addition to her career as a teacher, she is also a choreographer and performer. She is Artistic Director for two New York dance companies based in the language of Swing and Vernacular Jazz: Wild Rhythm Dance Company and Gatsby Entertainment. These two companies have presented feature performances on stages like Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Series, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, 92nd St Y, Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center, The Great Gatsby Party and many appearances at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. Wild Rhythm is a current dance company in residence at Brooklyn College through the CUNY Dance Initiative program for the 2019-2020 season. Photo by Jessica Keener. JULIETA EUGENIO (TENOR SAXOPHONE) is an Argentinian Saxophonist based in New York City. Julieta embedded herself into the Argentinian jazz scene and performed in renowned jazz venues in Buenos Aires alongside master musicians. In 2013, Julieta was accepted to study at Queens College for a Jazz master's degree in New York city. After her Master Graduation, nowadays, Julieta is playing alongside the finest jazz musicians from the worldwide and New York city jazz scene, such as Johnny O'Neal, Eric Reed, Leon Parker and more.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
In 2021 Julieta recorded her debut album (to be released soon) with her own compositions featuring Jonathan Barber and Matt Dwonszyk. ERÁN FINK (DRUMS) is originally from Israel, where he attended the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts. His passion for music, and jazz in particular, then led him to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with jazz masters Ralph Peterson Jr., Hal Crook, Bob Gulotti, and Jamie Haddad, among others. Since moving to New York City in 2011, Fink has been active in the jazz, R&B, Ethiopian, and AfroCuban music scenes. He is a sought-after accompanist at the city’s top dance schools, including the Alvin Ailey School and Martha Graham School. MELANIE GEORGE (CHOREOGRAPHIC ADVISOR) is the founder and director of Jazz Is… Dance Project and Associate Curator and Director of Artist Initiatives at Jacob’s Pillow. As a dramaturg, she has contributed to projects by Raja Feather Kelly, Ephrat Asherie, Susan Marshall & Company, Kimberly Bartosik/daela, LaTasha Barnes, and Urban Bush Women, among others. Melanie is featured in the documentary UpRooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance and founded the global advocacy website jazzdancedirect.com. She is the former Dance Program Director at American University, and has guest lectured at Harvard University, the Yale School of Drama, and The Juilliard School.
Julieta had the opportunity to perform on one of the most prestigious jazz broadcast radios in the US - WBGO As well as being featured on a piece of ABC7 News nationwide alongside Master Philip Harper. In April 2017, Julieta Eugenio won the International Women in Jazz Competition as a member of the SIJ trio and will perform at the Saint Peter's Church for the IWJ Festival in NYC. Julieta has shared the stage multiple times with the Jazz Legend Johnny O’Neal, where she was featured on his residencies at Smoke Jazz club, Ginny’s Super Club, Smalls Jazz club, Mezzrow and more. Over the last years Julieta had the opportunity to record with prestigious musicians such as David Kikoski, Leon Parker, to name a few. Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 13
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
SW!NG OUT
LAURA GLAESS (DANCER) started dancing in 2001 in San Antonio. It wasn’t a very large scene, and her teachers hadn’t been dancing very long, but she instantly fell in love with Lindy Hop, the music, the history, and everything involved. When we’re not in a pandemic, Laura travels the world teaching, competing, performing, and learning. She is a passionate believer in dancing with swing, with rhythm, and in pushing for something new while maintaining a connection with the original vintage context of Lindy Hop. She feels that honoring the history of the dance and its inventors is a crucial part of practicing the dance. She is madly in love with jazz music and movement and strives to convey that love to her students. She is also a strong believer that the best thing to do to get good at dancing is to DANCE. Classes are amazing and helpful, but they are merely supplemental to getting out there on social the social dance floor and just doing it. Laura believes that the local scene is the backbone of the global community, so she is an active participant in her home music and dance communities. Laura is also an artist and works on blending her love of music and movement with a fine art medium. You can buy her prints at etsy.com/shop/lauraglaessart, her T-shirt designs at lauraglaess.threadless.com/, and you can see her latest routines and dance tutorials at youtube.com/c/lauraglaess. AJ HOWARD (DANCER) is a California-based dancer with influences from Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, he brings a unique style and energy to the Lindy Hop community. Getting introduced to the world of Lindy Hop at the age of 19, AJ quickly took an appreciation to dance which led to him running home, getting changed, and heading out to dance almost every day of the week after working at his job at a car dealership. He burst into the scene in 2016, winning competitions throughout the US with his partner Jennifer, showing the dance world what Sacramento really had to offer! Competing at international events such as Camp Hollywood and the International Lindy Hop Championships, AJ became well known for his generous use of aerials paired with his energetic dancing. AJ has also had the honor of performing with dance groups such as HellaBlackLindyHop, San Francisco 14 | Society for the Performing Arts | spahouston.org
Jitterbugs, and the Midtown Stompers, and the privilege to spread his love of dance through teaching at Lindy Hop events in the US, on a Carnival Cruise ship, and overseas in countries such as Denmark and Sweden. Photo by Jessica Keener IAN HUTCHISON (BASS) Ian's passion is playing swing music for swing dancers - he's done it all over the world. His big sound and bouncing pulse make Ian one of the busiest swing and trad jazz bass players in New York City. Ian has played with a virtual who's who in the swing dance world, including Glenn Crytzer, Jonathan Stout, Naomi Uyama, and Gordon Webster. As a skilled social dancer, Ian is in a unique position to teach in-depth yet practical music classes to swing dancers. Ian has taught in NYC, Colorado, and Israel. Ian leads his own swing band Slap Happy; they've played at dance events in Florida, Colorado, NYC, and Canada. Originally from Colorado, Ian enjoys hiking and rock climbing whenever he can make room in his gig schedule. Ian studied jazz bass at the University of Denver. MICHAEL JAGGER (DANCER) stage credits include South Pacific (associate choreographer, Chichester Festival Theater), two consecutive appearances at Jacob’s Pillow Inside/ Out Festival with his dance company, Syncopated City, which he codirected with his dance partner, Evita Arce. They were featured dancers for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Let Freedom Swing, a celebration of jazz for Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Kennedy Center and again with the J @ LCO for a tribute to Benny Goodman at the Rose Theater in NYC. As a principal dancer with Evita, he starred as Lindy Hop specialist in several productions of the Broadway musical Swing!, including regional productions at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, the California Music Circus in Sacramento and the 2008 Japanese tour. Photo by Tamara Andrea Pinco.
SW!NG OUT
JENNIFER NICOLE JONES (DANCER) is a New York City based Dancer. Originally from Akron, Ohio, she received a BFA in Dance Performance from Wright State University while performing with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Jennifer has performed in many regional and Off-Broadway productions. REMY KOUAKOU KOUAME (DANCER) fell into the Swing pot at an early age. He has been an established teacher and performer for many years, traveling around the world to international camps and festivals, sharing his passion and knowledge. His approach to Swing dances is special because it combines the authenticity and the respect of the dances – thanks to the education he has learnt from his elders – with an originality and creativity inspired by his experience of many other artforms, with the addition of some spicy madness that characterizes Remy! What he loves to share the most is the joy that dancing provides, as well as helping people find their unique voices. As an established competitor, Remy earned many awards in Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz. His teaching, dancing and performing are very tainted by what he believes at the moment and can be changed from one month to another as he is not afraid of “thinking differently than the day before”! Photo by Tamara Andrea Pinco. JOHN LAKE (TRUMPET) is a trumpet player and composer living in New York City, maintaining a busy performance schedule as a jazz soloist and in-demand lead trumpet player and featured jazz soloist. In the thriving NYC big band scene, John has performed and recorded for numerous up-and-coming names including Remy Le Bouef, Steven Feifke, Jihye Lee, Eyal Vilner, Brian Krock, Angela Morris and Anna Webber, the Terraza Big Band, and many more. John released his debut jazz small-group recording, “Seven Angels”, in June 2020, and continues to write and perform his own music across the US and internationally.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
BRIAN LAWTON (UNDERSTUDY - DANCER) is a New York City-based dancer, instructor, choreographer, and director. He has an eclectic background in ballet, jazz, and modern as well as Latin and Ballroom dances with a specialty in the vernacular jazz dances of the 1920s-1940s. Brian has performed in Shakespeare in the Park’s Comedy of Errors, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Madison Square Garden and in their recent music video "Go Robot", and Swing! at Gateway Playhouse. He has traveled around the world with his wife, Samantha Lawton (samanthaandbrian.com), teaching vernacular jazz, Charleston, and Lindy Hop. He was the Assistant Director/Choreographer of the new musical Part of the Plan (TPAC) as well as Assistant Director of Distant Thunder (A.R.T. /New York Theaters) both alongside Lynne Taylor-Corbett, and the Choreographer and Resident Director of the A Charlie Brown Christmas National Tour. He most recently performed in an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Tonight Show. BRANDON LEE (TRUMPET 2) was born and raised in Houston, TX. Growing up in a musical family, Lee started on piano at age 5 and switched to trumpet at age 9. He found his love for jazz at the early age of 11 years old and never looked back. In 2001, Brandon moved to New York City to further pursue his jazz studies at The Juilliard School, where he received a Bachelor of Music, Masters in Music and Music and Artist Diploma. After studying, Brandon taught at Juilliard as one of the youngest to ever teach on faculty in the jazz studies department, from 2008-12. Brandon then moved to North Carolina from 2013-2018 to pursue a college teaching position for the Miles Davis Studies program at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG). As a sideman, Brandon is a member of the Christian McBride Big Band, Birdland Big Band, David Berger Big Band and recently joined the Count Basie Orchestra. He also plays frequently with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Fat Cat Big Band, Eyal Vilner Big Band and many others. Over the years, Brandon has played with notable artists and groups including Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Aaron Diehl and Cecil McLorin Salvant, Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 15
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
SW!NG OUT
Kurt Elling, Kenny Barron Quintet, and many more. He has recorded on over a dozen albums as a sideman. In February 2018, Brandon was awarded his first Grammy as a sideman on Christian McBride’s big band album, “Bringin’ It”. As a leader, Brandon has recorded three albums: “From Within” (2007), “Absolute-Lee” (2010), and his latest, “Common Thread” (2017). Brandon also co-leads a 10-piece ensemble, Uptown Jazz Tentet (UJT). UJT released its first album, "There It Is” in March of 2017 and second album, “What’s Next” in October of 2020. Currently, Brandon resides in New York City where he is continuing to pursue more performance-based opportunities in the city and abroad. JOSHUA LEE (BARITONE) is a saxophonist, composer, arranger, and Managing and Co-Artistic Director of Jazz Lives Philadelphia, and is fully dedicated to the advancement of the Philadelphia jazz community. Joshua graduated from Temple University in 2016 and 2019 with both a Bachelors's and Masters's degree in Jazz Performance. Joshua brings performance experience gained in the trenches of the Philly and New York scene that has been fostered by mentors like Barry Harris, Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Dick Oatts, and Gary Smulyan. In June of 2018, Joshua joined the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra and currently performs with them around the world. He also is a regular substitute with groups like Terell Stafford’s Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Mingus Big Band, and Memo Acevedo's Manhattan Bridges Orchestra and has had the privilege to travel around the country with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Delfeayo Marsalis, and the Upton Jazz Orchestra, and Orquestra Akokan. He, along with classmate Sarah Leonard, founded Jazz Lives Philadelphia in 2015-its mission being to celebrate Jazz in Philadelphia through Performance, Education, and Community outreach. Since its existence, Jazz Lives Philadelphia has presented music in unconventional venues and given free jazz education master classes for thousands of Philadelphia school children. Joshua has taught Jazz at his high school alma mater Pennsbury since 2017 and joined the Jazz Faculty at Temple University in the fall of 2019.
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DEE DANIELS LOCKE (DANCER) started Swing Dancing at the age of four with her dad in the basement at her grandma’s dance parties, wearing her mom’s heels and her favorite plaid skirt. After a hiatus into hip-hop performance during her school years, she was called back to Lindy Hop, and co-founded her college swing dance club. She has become an influential member of the Minneapolis scene, teaching and mentoring. For two decades she has shared her love of Lindy Hop and Jazz with dancers young and old. Dee loves feeling free on the dance floor and advocates for self-expression and individual creativity as the true spirit of Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz. Weaving music and movement allow her the expression. She dances for joy both in partnered or solo dancing and searches for presence in each moment. She loves responding to the music and partner, priding herself on making each dance unique to the musical experience and partner, creating an authentic dance conversation. She has taught, performed, and choreographed nationally and internationally, but mostly she wants to have a good dance, and she wants you to have a good dance. KELLY MARTIN (ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER) is a lighting designer and associate based in New York. Mr. Martin is the lighting director for New York Theatre Ballet, and writer/director/actor Ain Gordon. Design collaborations include performances by choreographers Richard Alston, Duncan Lyle, Kyle Marshall, Clove Galilee, Nicolo Fonte, Catherine Tharin, Julia Gleich, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Garnet Henderson, Amanda Treiber, and Julian Donahue. He has lit numerous productions for The Bang Group, Co•Lab Dance, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Boston Early Music Festival.
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SEAN MASON (PIANO) was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. He taught himself by ear how to play the piano at the age of 13. His beginning musical roots included Gospel, Hip-Hop, and R&B music, but then he discovered jazz and decided to make a career of it. After his studies at both The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and The Juilliard School, Sean quickly made a name for himself in New York City, performing and touring with many jazz legends, including Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Herlin Riley, among many others – while also venturing outside of the genre working with artists such as Masego, Roy Blair, and Kenneth Whalum. He is most noted for his ability to fluently play many different styles of music, spanning across multiple genres and generations of artists – and while continuing to be an in-demand sideman, Sean also leads his own band, the “Sean Mason Trio,” which exclusively performs his original music. Aside from his performing career, Sean also works in the film and theater space: in film, as the pianist for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) and Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre (The History Channel). In theater, Sean has worked on both Hadestown (Broadway) and Phantom of the Opera (Broadway), and is also a composer, orchestrator, and music director in the off-Broadway theater space. JOSHUA MCLEAN (DANCER) is a Lindy Hopper, Educator, and tradition-bearer specializing in Lindy Hop, Charleston, and other Swing-Era Dances. He launched his professional career in 2015, appearing at events across nine countries and five continents to teach and perform. Notable appearances include Paris Jazz Roots, Lindy Focus, Jacob’s Pillow, and The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. As an educator, Joshua enjoys providing fun and challenging classes for all ages and backgrounds. He recognizes Lindy Hop as part of the moving history of African American Social Dances and seeks to connect dancers and audiences with both the art and movement traditions that Jazz music and dance have contributed to the world. Joshua is the Founder of HellaBlackLindyHop and co-directs the company alongside Latasha Barnes. HBLH is a collective group of black dancers
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
worldwide. We gather to support and learn from each other, to be a community, and uplift each other through performance, education, and fellowship. IMANI ROUSSELLE (VOCALS) is a Texas-born vocalist with a love for interpreting and delivering the message of lyric. Whether jazz standards or contemporary compositions, her voice invites you to follow along as she fills the spaces between the silence with carefully crafted sound. She currently resides in New York City, having graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in the spring of 2021. Prior to moving to NYC, Imani studied at Columbia College Chicago where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Voice as well as a double minor in environmental science and management. While in Chicago, she performed on many stages around the city including the legendary Jazz Showcase and The Green Mill, and since moving to New York just before the global shutdown, Imani was able to sing on stages such as the world-famous Dizzy's Jazz Club, Clements Place, the Schomburg Center in Harlem, and more. She is excited to be joining the world's audiences again, *safely*. MACY SULLIVAN (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BRAINTRUST, DANCER) (Camas, WA) has the pleasure of working as a dancer, rehearsal director, and dance editor for Caleb Teicher & Company. She has also performed extensively with Dance Heginbotham and enjoyed projects with Merce Cunningham Trust, The Bang Group, The Chase Brock Experience, and Pat Catterson. As an assistant to Michelle Dorrance, John Heginbotham, and Chase Brock, she’s helped create and stage work at American Ballet Theatre, Dartmouth College, and Barnard College, respectively. Her own work has been performed through Works & Process Artists Virtual Commissions, Center for Innovation in the Arts, Judson Memorial Church, and The 92nd Street Y, and she’s been on creative teams as a movement specialist for theatre works by Tyne Rafaeli and Helen Cespedes. Passionate about teaching, she’s currently on faculty with Together in Dance, which brings creative movement residencies to public NYC elementary Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 17
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
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schools, and Dance for PD®, which offers free, specialized dance classes to people with Parkinson’s Disease. Sullivan holds a BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School (Martha Hill Prize, John Erskine Prize, Choreographic Honors). In recent years, she’s fallen in love with Lindy Hop and is eagerly exploring both lead and follow roles. MÁRION TALÁN DE LA ROSA (COSTUME DESIGNER) was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and has nurtured her work by collaborating with artists and innovators of dance, drama, and opera for over the last two decades. She has been the wardrobe supervisor and designer at the Juilliard School for 15 years and has designed at NYU Steinhardt School for approximately 13 years in collaboration with Joe Salvatore on plays and research-based performances including the Verbatim Performance Lab (VPL). Her most recent project of note is the GRAMMY nominated Fire in My Mouth composed by Julia Wolfe and performed by The New York Philharmonic, The Crossing, and the Young People’s Choir of NY. This highly acclaimed piece was inspired by the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Fire that took place on March 25, 1911 and was performed with a symbolic 146 women’s choir. Other works include collaborations with choreographers Caleb Teicher, Sonya Tayeh and Bryan Arias and has had work featured in Fall for Dance at City Center, BAM Next Wave Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, American Dance Festival, The Joyce, The Gibney, The New Victory Theater, the DUMBO Light Festival, and WHITE WAVE Festival among others. Márion is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. CALEB TEICHER (DIRECTOR, BRAINTRUST, DANCER) is a NYC-based dancer and choreographer specializing in musically-driven dance traditions and interdisciplinary collaboration. Teicher began their career as a founding member of Michelle Dorrance’s critically acclaimed tap dance company, Dorrance Dance, while also freelancing in contemporary dance (The Chase Brock Experience, The Bang Group), Lindy Hop (Syncopated City Dance Company), and musical theater (West Side Story 18 | Society for the Performing Arts | spahouston.org
International Tour and London). As a solo performer and collaborator, Teicher is known for choreographic collaborations with diverse musical talents: world-champion beatboxer Chris Celiz, composer/pianist Conrad Tao; the National Symphony Orchestra, and indie rock legends Ben Folds and Regina Spektor. In 2015, Caleb shifted their creative focus towards Caleb Teicher & Company (CT&Co), a creative home for incubating new concert dance works from Teicher’s unique perspective. CT&Co’s engagements and commissions expand across the US and abroad including The Joyce Theater, New York City Center, the Guggenheim Museum (NYC and Bilbao), Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Caleb is the recipient of a 2019 New York City Center Choreographic Fellowship, two Bessie Awards, a 2019 Harkness Promise Award, the 2020 Gross Family Prize, and a 2019 NEFA National Dance Project Production Grant. Their work has been featured by The New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Vogue, Interview Magazine, on the cover of Dance Magazine and, most recently, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert alongside Regina Spektor. Caleb continues to engage with dance communities as a teacher for international tap, swing, and jazz dance festivals. CalebTeicher.net / Instagram: @CalebTeicher EYAL VILNER (BRAINTRUST, BAND LEADER, ALTO SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, CLARINET) is one of the leading voices in the New York Swing and Big Band Scene. Born in Tel Aviv, saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Eyal Vilner moved to New York in 2007 and started his big band the following year. The Eyal Vilner Big Band has been performing widely at some of New York’s landmarks such as Jazz at Lincoln Center Midsummer Night Swing, Birdland, Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy's, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, Jazzmobile SummerFest, Swing 46, Battle of the Big Bands on the Intrepid, The Django, Minton’s Playhouse, and Central Park Summer Stage. The band performs Eyal’s original compositions as well as his new arrangements of jazz and swing tunes. Their music, which derives from the tradition of jazz, swing, and the blues, strives to bring a unique voice to this beautiful art form. The band’s first five albums: Introducing the Eyal Vilner Big Band, Almost Sunrise, Hanukkah, Swing Out!, and Live in Washington Square Park! received rave reviews and made it to the Top Jazz Radio Charts of the US and Canada. Photo by Nina Galicheva.
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
JACOB WEXLER (PRODUCTION MANAGER) (he/they) is a professional stage manager based out of New York City and proud SUNY Purchase graduate. Focused primarily within the dance industry, Jacob has worked both domestically and internationally with acclaimed companies and choreographers such as Martha Clarke, L.A. Dance Project, Jessica Lang Dance and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. Other past credits include stage managing for the School of American Ballet, Fall for Dance, and the Fire Island Dance Festival. When Jacob is not stage managing, they can be found reading leftist literature, playing with their beagle named Bagel and fighting for a more egalitarian world. Please consider donating to an organization that is very dear to their heart, NYC-based Black Disabled Lives Matter. Ways to donate can be found on the IG @blackdisabledlivesmatters. SERENA WONG (LIGHTING DESIGNER) is a Brooklyn-based freelance lighting designer for theater and dance, whose work has been seen in the US and Europe. Most recently she has designed for choreographers Gemma Bond, Caleb Teicher, Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, and Shamel Pitts. She enjoys biking, bread baking, and pottery.
JOYCE THEATER PRODUCTIONS (JTP) is the in-house producing entity for The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc., formed to create original work for The Joyce’s stage and for worldwide touring. This initiative provides dance artists who have little or no formal management or infrastructure the means to create productions of the highest standards of excellence. The program also includes the Associate Company model, offering sustained producing, fiscal, and/or administrative management to companies that may require short- or longer-term support.
Society for the Performing Arts has partnered with Harris County Public Library to launch Pages & Stages, the SPA Book Club! Scan the QR code or visit spahouston.org/pagesandstages for details and registration.
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
21/22 SEASON FEATURED PROGRAM SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents
DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE: NEIGHBOR DAY SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2022 | 5:30 PM JONES HALL Duration: 90-minutes, including one intermission
ABOUT THE SHOW Based on characters created from the PBS KIDS television show, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood “Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us oered as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person. One kind word has a wonderful way of turning into many.” - Fred Rogers Tour Produced by MILLS ENTERTAINMENT in cooperation with The Fred Rogers Company 20 | Society for the Performing Arts | spahouston.org
Cast and Crew: Daniel Tiger: Amanda Leigh Lupacchino Katerina Kittycat: Kimmi Neuschluz Miss Elaina: Kaileah Hankerson Mom Tiger: Emily Gardenhire Prince Wednesday: Erik Gosnell O The Owl: Jamir Brown Swing: Tamia Hatcher Swing: Tyrell Ruffin Swing: Eriel Milan Brown Swing: Justin Lowry Special thanks to Devon Cohen, voice of Daniel Tiger Composer: Voodoo Highway Associate Director: Ricky Whitfield Associate Director: Terrence Bennett Music Director: Tom Helm Scenic Director: David Miller Costume Design: Isabel Rubio Lighting Design: John E. D. Bass Sound Design: Connor Wang Props Design: Casey Schwartz Puppet Design: Scott Molampy Stage Manager: Melanie Davis Casting: Wojcik/Seay Casting Writer: Jeremy Dobrish Director/Choreographer: Jennifer Rapp Tour Booking by The Brad Simon Organization. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is created for television by Angela C. Santomero and brought to life by 9 Story Media Group. Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood © 2022 The Fred Rogers Company. All rights reserved. Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 21
Individual Supporters Society for the Performing Arts would like to thank the individuals who support our work through generous contributions throughout the year. For more information on donor benefits, please visit spahouston.org/donate or contact Jordan Drum at (713) 632-8104 or jdrum@spahouston.org. We also wish to extend our sincere thanks to the hundreds of individuals included below who helped sustain Society for the Performing Arts through our Relief & Response Fund in the 20/21 Season.
$100,000+
$5,000–$9,999
Natasha and Michael Cannon Linda and Willie Chiang Nancy G. and Charles D. Davidson Leticia and Stephen M. Trauber
Anonymous Norah G. Adams Leah R. Bennett Amy and Jonathan C. Homeyer Susan and Michael Klaveness Mimi Lloyd Marilyn Maloney and Paul Longstreth Kristin and Lance Reynolds Ann V. Rogers Charlene and Tymothi O. Tombar Margaret Alkek Williams Syma and Walt Zerkow
$50,000–$99,999 Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro Kristina H. and Paul G. Somerville Janet and Bill Swanstrom Phoebe and Bobby Tudor
$25,000–$49,999 Casey and Chuck Boettcher Theresa A. Einhorn and Donald Yurewicz Kris and Mark Jodon Stephany and Curt D. Karges Emily T. Kuo and Michael Chu Janiece Longoria and Steve Lasher Beverly and Jim Postl Susan and Fayez Sarofim Leslie Elkins Sasser and Shannon Sasser
$15,000–$24,999 Mignon and Stephen M. Gill Jesse H. Jones II Miki Lusk Norton and Ralph E. Norton Melanie B. Rother and Justin Pack Mari Salazar
$10,000-$14,999 Chree Boydstun Patricia and Sig Cornelius Kourtney and Vijay D'Cruz Duke and C.C. Ensell Susan and Sean Gorman Susie and Michael Hatfield Shawn and Bill Jackson Yvonne and Mark Jacobs Eileen and Kase Lawal Theresa and Edward Mallett Ginni and Richard Mithoff Gary Rodriguez and Mike Ball Gloria and Nick Ryan
$1,000-$4,999 Anonymous Nancy C. Allen Leslie Alston and Mike Zenker Ashley Bales and Lee V. Strickland Meg and Brandon Booth Ron Boston Kristen and David Buck Chris Caddell Sandy and Thomas Cattarin Nancy Chafe Chris Chandler Susan E. Denson Mary and Carl Fischer Mary Van and David Grindle John and Cynthia Gualy Rene Haas and David Perry Sheila Heimbinder Shelley and William Horwitz David B. Jackson Taylor and Daniel Kaufman Lilia D. Khakimova and C. Robert Bunch Emily Korinek and Jordan Drum Amy LeBlanc Kathryn E. Lott Jane and Steve Malashock Donette and Jeff Manley Anna McDonnell Vickie L. Milazzo and Tom Ziemba Paul L. Mitchell Katherine Easterby Murphy Barbara E. Murray and Ernesto D. Baca Leslie and Kent Nelson Kathryn O'Brien
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The Parris-Cochinwala Family Laura and Daniel Pears Christina and Troy Porter Sam Quintero Demi and Ron Rand Meredith and Michael Rice Jay Ring Rabia and Omar Samji Mark C. Schroeder 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 Latasha Bell Dona and Bob Chambers Carl R. Cunningham Joe J. Fisher Jr. Denis Flanigan John Halbur Tracy and Ken Janda Beth Diane Landay Masha and Richard Lunam Bruce Lundstrom Teresa J. McCanlies Neil E. Mellen and Mavin H. Martin David L. Peavy and Stephen R. McCauley Tricia and Alan Ratliff Lila Rauch Bryan Scrivner Lynda Seaman Randal and Robert Smith Mary and Martin Vandenbrook Alero and Thomas Waterhouse Tonya Williams Nora and Charles Zabriskie
$250-$499 Anonymous Amr Abouleish Molly and Jerry Adams Roy Allice
Individual Supporters
Anne and German Amador Carol Brooks Berglass Monika Bertoni Thomas Booth and Dale Cover Julie Bortolotti Peter Botvin Claudia Brown Barbara Bullock Emily Bullock Lawrence Burns Richard Carter Denise Castillo-Rhodes and Bob Sergesketter Edward Cazier Kendra Clark C.C. Conner Janice Cormier Janet Covington Rodney Cox Jill Cude Mary and Mike Espinosa Berenice Espinoza John Eymann Jennifer Feldmann Mary Gleason Torsten Gretz Kevin J. Grice Kathy Grubbs David Guetzow Byron Gulick Lee Ann Hellums Irene and Marc Helsinger Suzanne Holyfield Celia Homer Scott Howard Christopher M. Johns-Krull Richard Knight Tina Lee Dena Linda Larissa Lindsay and W. Stuart Bailey III Barry Mandel James Marbach Vikki Marsh Thomas Mills Timothy Molloy Juliana Montgomery Randy Morrow Jeff Munoz Sandra Murray Kathy Parven Andrea and Carl Peterson Valerie Phipps Monique and Steve Pinckney Janice Quackenbush Melissa Reid and Jeff Gibb Sandra Dittrick Reid Cali Ritter Christa Robbins
Bowen Roberts Stephanie Ross Stephan Shaw Aaryn Silva Sharon Snyder Elizabeth Sparks Rhonda Stewart Nicholas Stuart Johanna Sweed Vita and Boris Taksa Shontell Thomas Sheila Valley-McBrinn Lori van Veldhoven Jane Vaselenak Amanda Videtich Georgia Viret Friederich von Schenk Janet Waid Charles Ward Paul and Lisa Welch Joyce Wellman Cheryl Williamson Marissa Yu
$100-$249 Anonymous Dorothy and Mickey Ables Barbara and Mike Adams Hadiyah Aluqdah Sarah Andrews Jami Arnst Barry Baisden Diana Baker Lani Baker Debbie and Franklin Ballard Kipp and Harry Baxter Patricia and Scott Benesh Linda Bennett and Jeffrey Nunn Leslie Berardo Pantaleon Beverly Paul M. Bitner Ruthlynn Black Michele Blackburn Kayleigh Blevins Janica Boles Dorothy Boone Douglas Bosse Pamela Boyd Belinda Bracht Michael Bradford Cathy Breeden Lisa Brenskelle James Broadfoot Trevina Broussard Lucy Buencamino Amy Burns N.C. Cafarelle-Guidry and Randy Guidry
Ben Carpenter Richard Carter Constance Cephus Suzanne Cetrullo Cristina Checka Denise Cheplick Penny and Bill Clark Cindy Clifford Ana Colina Douglas Constance Cathi Cook Jocelyn Corbett Margaret Culbertson Angelique Cunningham Richelle Cynowa Janice and William J. Dana Patricia Davis Patrick Davis Mary Dawson Lynn Derrick Ida Diamond JeanMarie Diskin Karen Doolittle Mary J. Doornbos D.M. Droogleever Sarah A. Duckers and Mark Davidson Jane and Richard Dudek Joel Dye Douglas Edit Tejuana Edmond Mynde Eisen Nicole Elliott Alexandra Emsley Susan Entwistle Berenice Espinoza Connie Evans Rivera Patricia A. Fadely Jeffery Faulkinbury Kimberley Felton Joe J. Fisher Jr. Katy Fricke William Fu Diane Garey Jeremy Gaskins Anson Gibson Marian and Philippe Gleize Valerie Gordon Kevin Grice Richard Guerrero Sarah Gutierrez The Hafle Family Lizzy Hargrove Margie Harrington Eduardo Hernandez Melvyn Hetzel Susan Hightower Eric Hintz Brian Hodge
Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 23
Individual Supporters
Merlin Hoiseth Holly Holmes Robert Hopkins Anne Benedicte Houang Andrew F. Icken Robert Inaba Evelyn Ireton Harry W. Jackson Angela Jackson Hudson Carson Jarnagin Nikki Jennings Crystal Johnson Sheila K. Johnstone Darla Jones Linda Kane Manpreet Kaur Linda Kelly Douglas Kenaley Lori Kennedy Rainey Knudson Micki Ko Jenny Koehler Jacob Kosior Ilianna Kuntz Beth Diane Landay Shoe Latif Pacquitta Laverents Tina Lee Mark Leger Kelly Levar Johnnie Lister Susan Litts Ryan Long Dolores Lopez-Cardenas and Eduardo M. Lopez Dominic Macklon Stephanie Magers Pauline Markenscoff Alex Martinez Suzanne McAndrew David McKee Laura Mendoza Janet Meyer Alisa Miller Anthony Miller Bonnie Milne April Mims Nancy Lee Mitchell Elizabeth Montz Blaine Morris Norman Morrow Andrew Mosher Marci Murff Kasey Myers Shelley Myers
Karyn Nabhan Angela Nava Nelli Nikova John Ogletree Leah Oren-Palmer Regan Orillac Susan S. Osterberg Sari Ozeri Gracie Padron Ruth Paige Robia Pautler Sara Peaks Jerry Petrizzo Melissa Peyton Harrison Phan Nathalie Phlips Sharon Polt Sara Ptomey Sandra Dittrick Reid Susan Resnick Rana T. Rice Jennnifer Richardson Jane Robinson Melanie Rogers Ann Saunders Rebecca Schlembach H. Irving Schweppe Andrea and Charles Seay Kerry Seizinger Carlos Serrano Sheryl A. Shafer Emily Shields Jessica Sinclair David Smith Roger Smith III Sharon Snyder Nina Staats Michelle Star Deborah and David Stern Rebecca Storey Sofia Straus Cynthia Sudela Sylvia Sundqvist Amy Tanner Rebecca Tapick Ann-Marie Tcholakian Justin Thekkekara Heather Thiel Julie Thyne Edda Tinis Stephani Tipton Eleanor and Jon Totz Erick Tournier Saundra and Mark Truett Ashley Turner
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Tamika Tyson Priti Ubhayakar Hywel Upshall and Tracey Rankin Lori van Veldhoven Mary and Martin Vandenbrook Faith Vedder Stephanie Viator Angelita Villarreal Hannah Villarreal Jacqueline Villarreal John Vitucci William V. Walker Gail Walsh Cheryl Walters Alero and Thomas Waterhouse Jamie Webster Michelle Wettig Nikolas White Susan Whitfield Bettina M. Whyte Kenneth Williams Stacey Wilson Ximena Wood Courtney Young Scott M. Zindler Rachel Zoch Listings accurate as of 11/28/2021
Institutional Partners Society for the Performing Arts 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@spahouston.org. We also wish to thank the institutional supporters who helped sustain Society for the Performing Arts through our Relief & Response Fund in the 20/21 Season.
CORPORATE PARTNERS $50,000+
$10,000–$19,999
$5,000–$9,999
ConocoPhillips† H-E-B†
711 Fit* Admiral Transfer & Rigging American Bank Bank of Texas Barclays BBVA - Houston The Friedkin Group*† Houston First Locke Lord LLP† Plains All American Shearman & Sterling LLP TD Securities United Airlines*† Wells Fargo†
Boeing CAMAC International Tombar Energy Holdings, Inc. Winstead PC
$20,000-$49,999 Le Méridien Hotel Houston Downtown* Truist Bank Westwood Wealth Management
$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 City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance† The Cullen Foundation Houston Endowment, Inc.† Humphreys Foundation† Society for the Performing Arts Foundation† The Wortham Foundation, Inc.†
National Endowment for the Arts Texas Commission on the Arts†
$50,000-$99,999 The Brown Foundation, Inc.† M.D. Anderson Foundation†
$20,000-$99,999 The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts†
$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.†
$10,000-$19,999 The Alkek and Williams Foundation† Kayser Foundation† Mid-America Arts Alliance The Vaughn Foundation† Vivian L. Smith Foundation
MATCHING GIFT SUPPORTERS Admiral Transfer & Rigging The Coca-Cola Company ExxonMobil
Listings Accurate as of 11/28/2021
HP Legacy Community Health Services LyondellBasell
Murphy Oil Corporation Phillips 66 *Includes in-kind support †Indicates 10+ years of consecutive support
Encore Magazine — Spring 2022 | 21
MFAH.ORG/MCESCHER
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#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
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