Performing Arts Houston | Encore Magazine, Summer 2023

Felipe Esparza: Last Comic Standing

Performing Arts Houston

615 Louisiana Street, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77002-2715

713.227.4772

info@performingartshouston.org performingartshouston.org

Meg Booth President & Chief Executive Officer

Leslie Nelson

Chief Financial Officer

Jordan Drum Director of Development

Jessica Ellison

Education Events Coordinator

Brian Glass

Director of Marketing, Communications & Digital

Caroline McCain Development Associate

Brenda Oliveira

Board Liaison & Executive Assistant

Helena Oliver Development Manager, Individual Giving & Events

About Performing Arts

Michelle Pacheco

Patron Services Manager

Caroline Senter Public Relations Associate

Jennifer Steiner

Director of Operations

Lee Strickland

Director of Artistic Programming

Phoebe Vo

Accounting Manager

Claire Williamson

Director of Education & Community Engagement

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON 2022–2023

Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE C O MMITTEE

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)

Charles C. Boettcher

Michael Cannon

Charles D. Davidson

Theresa A. Einhorn

Stephen M. Gill

Michael Hatfield

Emily T. Kuo

Eileen Lawal

Ann V. Rogers

Stephen M. Trauber

DIRECTORS

Norah G. Adams

Jeffrey A. Ball

Mary Fischer

Deborah Gordon

Sean Gorman

Shawn K. Jackson

Joel Lambert

Ginni Mithoff

Katherine Easterby Murphy

Michaelene Lusk Norton

Houston

Performing Arts Houston (formerly known as Society for the Performing Arts) connects audiences with exceptional artists through diverse performances and learning experiences. We ignite and cultivate passion for the performing arts, exploring the vast landscape of artistic expression to discover new understanding about ourselves, create community, inspire dialogue, and enrich our world. More at performingartshouston.org.

Armando A. Perez

Lance G. Reynolds

Gloria Ryan

Marisol Salazar

Omar Samji

Leslie Elkins Sasser

Nameer A. Siddiqui

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, Society for the Performing Arts Foundation

SEASON SPONSORS

Audience

EXPERIENCE GUIDE

HEALTH & SAFET Y

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.

PARKING

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.

DOORS OPEN

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

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.

FOOD & DRINK

Concessions are available for purchase in the lobby. Eating inside the performance space is prohibited but you're welcome to enjoy drinks during the show.

ACCESSIBILIT Y

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

CHILDREN

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.

DEVICES

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.

TICKETS

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

Upcoming Performances & Events

MAR 14

MAR 15

MAR 22

MAR 23–26

APR 1

APR 14

APR 21

APR 22

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 60th Anniversary Celebration , featuring an H-E-B Performance Prelude by Summer Jazz Workshop All-Stars

Violinist Randall Goosby at Zilkha Hall

Our Planet Live in Concert at Jones Hall, featuring H-E-B Performance Preludes by Meyerland Dance Ensemble and 713 Dance Ensemble

STOMP returns to Jones Hall, featuring an H-E-B Performance Prelude by Sincopa: El Sofrito de Latin Musica on March 26

2023 Kaleidoscope Ball: An Evening in the Garden District , honoring Linda & Willie Chiang

Ballet Folkloric Los Angelitos at Miller Outdoor Theatre, presented in Partnership with Mariachi Festival

Vuyani Dance Theatre at Cullen Theater, featuring an H-E-B Performance Prelude by San Jacinto College Dance Company

Vuyani Dance Theatre Master Class open to intermediate to advanced dancers. A unique opportunity to explore choreographer Gregory Maqoma’s Pulse Technique. Held at Institute of Contemporary Dance.

APR 28

Felipe Esparza: The Bigfoo Tour at Jones Hall

Pages & Stages book club event in partnership with Harris County Public Library, featuring Tattoos on the Heart by Father Gregory Boyle, illuminating the stories of Felipe Esparza and others who’ve participated in programs with Homeboy Industries.

APR 29

MAY 5

JUL 29–30

South Korea’s Ak Dan Gwang Chil at Miller Outdoor Theater

Metamorphosis: Third Coast Percussion , featuring an H-E-B Performance Prelude by Group Acorde

Bluey’s Big Play at the Wortham Center

Season Sponsors performingartshouston.org

Admiral Transfer Music Series

22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 60 th Anniversary Celebration

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023 | 7 :30 PM

JONES HALL

Duration: 85 minutes, with no intermission

About the Show

About the Artists

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 60th Anniversary Celebration

Preservation Hall is a humble, much-loved room dedicated to keeping the past and future of jazz alive. It’s a well-worn, wellloved space that’s physically small but spiritually huge. People from around the globe make pilgrimages to it, and now, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is embarking on a pilgrimage of its own: a nationwide tour to celebrate the Hall’s 60th anniversary. The band’s mission remains focused on initiating audiences into the ineffable, almost religious experience of channeling their ancestors through the music and culture they’ve inherited from them.

“Touring is a part of our ritual,” Ben Jaffe, creative director of Preservation Hall, adds. “It’s our tradition. When my parents began touring with the band in the early 60s, they were bringing something that most people didn’t even know existed to stages all over the world. It was this magnificent revelation to people that something so beautiful could even exist. People come to Preservation Hall and have transformative experiences, and that’s part of our mission: to go out in the world and make that experience available to people.”

Series Sponsor Producing Sponsors Sponsor

Kris & Mark Jodon

Admiral Transfer Music Series 22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Randall Goosby

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023 | 7 :30 PM

ZILKHA HALL

Duration: 92 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission

Randall Goosby, violin

Anna Han, piano

PROGRAM

Lili Boulanger (1887-1979)

Deux Morceaux

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Violin Sonata No. 2

Allegretto

Blues. Moderato Perpetuum mobile. Allegro

William Grant Still (1895-1978)

Suite for Violin and Piano

African Dancer

Mother and Child

Gamin

INTERMISSION

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Violin Sonata No. 9 “Kreutzer/Bridgetower”

Adagio sostenuto – Presto Andante con variazioni

Presto

About the Artists

About the Artists

“For me, personally, music has been a way to inspire others”–Randall Goosby’s own words sum up perfectly his commitment to being an artist who makes a difference. Signed exclusively to Decca Classics in 2020 at the age of 24, American violinist Randall Goosby is acclaimed for the sensitivity and intensity of his musicianship alongside his determination to make music more inclusive and accessible, as well as bringing the music of under-represented composers to light.

Highlights of Randall Goosby’s 2022/2023 season include Philadelphia Orchestra/ Yannick Nezet-Seguin, San Francisco Symphony/Esa-Pekka Salonen performing the Florence Price concerti, returns to the London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Alpesh Chauhan, Philharmonia Orchestra/ Santtu-Matias Rouvali and Los Angeles Philharmonic/Dalia Stasevska, Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Tabita Berglund, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Karina Canellakis. Goosby will also make his debuts in South Korea in recital and in Japan with the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa /Wigglesworth performing Bruch Violin Concerto in g minor. Summer 2022 included debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nezet-Seguin at the Saratoga Performing Arts Centre, Concertgebouw Hall, Amsterdam with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra under Elim Chan and in recital at the Lucerne Festival with pianist, Anna Han. Randall Goosby returned to the Hollywood Bowl performing the Bach Double Concerto with his mentor, Itzhak Perlman and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Upcoming recital appearances La Jolla Music Society, Vancouver Recital Series, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and the Schubert Club International Series featuring works by Boulanger, William Grant Still, Ravel and Beethoven.

June 2021 saw the release of Goosby’s debut album for Decca entitled Roots, a celebration of African American music which explores its evolution from the spiritual through to present-day compositions. Collaborating with pianist Zhu Wang, Goosby curated an album paying homage to the pioneering artists that paved the way for him and other artists of color. It features three world-premiere recordings of music written by African American composer Florence Price and includes works by composers William Grant Still and Coleridge-Taylor

Series Sponsor

Perkinson plus a newly commissioned piece by acclaimed double bassist Xavier Foley, a fellow Sphinx and Young Concert Artists alumnus.

Goosby is deeply passionate about inspiring and serving others through education, social engagement, and outreach activities. He has enjoyed working with non-profit organizations such as the Opportunity Music Project and Concerts in Motion in New York City, as well as participating in community engagement programs for schools, hospitals and assisted living facilities across the United States. In 22/23 Goosby will host a residency with the Iris Collective in Memphis with pianist, Zhu Wang. Together they will explore how the student’s family history can relate to music and building community collaboration through narrative and performances.

Randall Goosby was First Prize Winner in the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. In 2019, he was named the inaugural Robey Artist by Young Classical Artists Trust in partnership with Music Masters in London; and in 2020 he became an Ambassador for Music Masters, a role that sees him mentoring and inspiring students in schools around the United Kingdom. In 2010 he won first prize of the Sphinx Concerto Competition; he is a recipient of Sphinx’s Isaac Stern Award and of a career advancement grant from the Bagby Foundation and of the2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant. An active chamber musician, he has spent his summers studying at the Perlman Music Program, Verbier Festival Academy and Mozarteum Summer Academy among others.

Goosby made his debut with the Jacksonville Symphony at age nine and with the New York Philharmonic on Young People’s Concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall at age 13. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Randall Goosby continues his studies there, pursuing an Artist Diploma under Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho. Goosby plays a 1735 Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, on generous loan from the Stradivari Society.

Hailed by the Washington Post as “prodigiously gifted... a display of imagination, taste and pianistic firepower far beyond her years,” American pianist Anna Han strives to deliver heartfelt performances through a variety of classical piano repertoire. She is a laureate of many international competitions, including the

Producing Sponsors

Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Juilliard Bachauer Competition, New York International Piano Competition, and Salon de Virtuosi Grant. She has given over60 solo and 80 chamber concerts in such venues as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Alice Tully Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, New World Center, and the Phillips Collection; performed eleven different concerti with orchestras across the United States and England; and premiered multiple compositions, including Michael Brown’s Suite for Piano, which she recorded on the Steinway and Sons label. She currently lives in Berlin, where she is pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Barenboim-said Akademie under the tutelage of Sir András Schiff and Schaghajegh Nostrati. Highlights of this season include concerts at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance (LAMP)in Nova Scotia, Piano Salon Christophori in Berlin, Pierre Boulez Saal, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, National Concert Hall of Taipei, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), Jordan Hall in Boston, McCarter Theatre in Princeton, Zilkha Hall in Houston, and the Virginia Arts Festival. Her chamber music collaborators include Steven Isserlis, Kim Kashkashian, Randall Goosby, Mon-Puo Lee, James Sommerville, Leland Ko, and the Verona Quartet. She is also returning to solo with the West Valley Symphony for the fourth time, performing Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor. With the help of the 2021 Bita Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement Award from the Concours Musical International de Montréal, she is producing a documentary about the effect that Covid had on a handful of classical musicians who live all around the world. Born in Arizona, Anna began her musical journey at the East Valley Yamaha Music School and studied privately with Fei Xu for thirteen years. AU.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, she completed her Bachelor and Masters degrees at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Robert McDonald, receiving both the prestigious Kovner Fellowship and William Schuman Prize. She later studied with Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she won the Sterndale Bennett Prize. She is also an alum of Yellow Barn, Kneisel Hall, Music Academy of the West, Perlman Music Program, and Four Seasons Chamber Music Workshop. More information can be found at www.annahan.net

Emily Kuo & Michael Chu

How did you first get involved with Performing Arts Houston?

Each of us had separately attended and enjoyed several Performing Arts Houston events over the years and appreciated the variety and quality of the offerings. We were about to be engaged, and on a whim Mark contacted the box office and was told that two front orchestra seats had just become available for the upcoming season. That was forty years ago, and it is still a pleasure to slip into those seats today plus the adjoining pair we later acquired. Along with our guests, we have had the privilege of enjoying hundreds of performances at Jones Hall and the Wortham Theaters by many of the greatest artists and companies of our time.

Why do you believe it’s important to be a member?

We all know that ticket sales do not cover the cost of these events much less the expense of workshops, school programs, commissioning projects, and maintaining an excellent professional staff. Each member’s contribution is important, not only financially, but also in creating a bond between PAH and the audience and community it exists to serve. There are perquisites at every

Q&A with

Yvonne & Mark S. Jacobs

membership level, and we very much enjoy valet parking and Green Room access, but the best parts for us have been the friendships we have with some of the other “regulars” and being made to feel genuinely welcome and part of the PAH family.

Why do you support Performing Arts Houston in particular?

Unique among the city’s presenting organizations, Performing Arts Houston has always showcased an eclectic mix of music, dance, comedy, musical theater, lectures, and national touring acts. We live in the most diverse city in the country, but it is often through this organization that we have been exposed to and learned to appreciate many different cultures, genres, and points of view.

Do either of you have an artistic background?

We both started out playing the HiFi, and later became proficient at the Stereo.

What are your favorite Performing Arts

Houston experiences?

The first PAH event either of us attended was a recital by Vladimir Horowitz on a Sunday afternoon in 1976. This past October we witnessed the power

and finesse of eighteen-year-old phenomenon Yunchan Lim who some say is destined to become the world’s greatest pianist. What perfect book ends they make!

Of course, we have enjoyed the great dance companies that PAH has repeatedly brought to Houston over the years: Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Alvin Ailey, Eliot Feld, American Ballet Theater, and many more.

But perhaps the unexpected pleasures are the most memorable: Philip Glass teaming up with Kronos Quartet to perform live soundtracks to screenings of Cocteau’s ‘La Belle et la Bête’ and the original ‘Dracula’; Nigel Kennedy playing a classical violin rendition of Jimi Hendrix music; The Tiger Lillies doing whatever it is they do; or the Buena Vista Social Club rocking the house.

Being able to return to the theater again has been a welcome relief for us all, and Performing Arts Houston seems reinvigorated and eager to challenge and delight us again with the best of the performing arts from around the world or our own backyard. We are planning to keep our seats for a little while longer.

Interview by Jordan Drum

22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023 | 7 :30 PM JONES HALL

Duration: 140 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission

Music by Academy Award®-Winning composer STEVEN PRICE

Co-narrated on screen by DAVID ATTENBOROUGH and WILLIAM SHATNER

GEAlive and Silverback Films present

About the Show

COMPOSER

Steven Price

ON SCREEN NARRATORS

David Attenborough and William Shatner

LIVE SHOW PRODUCERS

Julia Krylova, Floris Douwes and Ton Olgers

GENERAL MANAGER

Ralph Schmidtke

TOUR MANAGER

Graeme Cooper

FRONT OF HOUSE AUDIO ENGINEER

Robert Abeyta

MONITORS ENGINEER

Adam Wilson

LIGHTING OPERATOR

Matvey Kitchen

VIDEO OPERATOR

Allen Witcher

TOUR MARKETING

Soloshoe Communictions

NATIONAL PRESS

Tellem Grody PR

STAGE MANAGER

Peter Molnar

BOOKING

Roadco Entertainment

A Joint Venture of Sony Music Entertainment and BSL Enterprises

Musicians

Conductor

Emily Marshall

Violin I

Rebecca Moench, Concertmaster

Mark Oshida, Associate Concertmaster

Julie Beistline

Violin II

McKenna Glorioso, Principal

Donni Evans, Associate Principal

Aaron Ashton

Viola

Bethany Pereboom, Principal

Rachel Mossburg, Associate Principal

Cello

Hannah Brown, Principal

Megan Richards, Associate Principal

Contrabass

Adam Overacker, Principal

Flute/Alto

James Brinkmann, Principal

Clarinet

Sam Day, Principal

Horn I

Joel Rodeback

Horn II

Joel Ockerman

Horn III

Adam Nelson Trumpet

Maryna Pohlman, Principal

Bass Trombone

Josh Holder, Principal

About the Concert

Welcome to a unique natural history live experience.

The landmark eight-part Our Planet Netflix documentary series has been reimagined as a two-hour live show filled with beautiful visuals and sound effects, all accompanied by a live, onstage orchestra.

OUR PLANET LIVE IN CONCERT brings the incredible cinematography of OUR PLANET to the big screen, encouraging audiences of all ages to explore the wonders of earth’s wildlife and their habitats.

Renowned naturalist David Attenborough and legendary actor William Shatner narrate a sweeping tour of Earth’s natural diversity and explores how climate change is affecting different species’ efforts to survive. From the frozen Arctic tundra to the lush rainforest to the vast African deserts, this production from the creators of Planet Earth celebrates the marvels of nature, the interconnectedness of animal species, and the responsibilities and hazards of a growing human population’s effect on the planet.

OUR PLANET LIVE IN CONCERT brings the beauty of the planet we call home right to your seat.

For more information, visit www.ourplanetinconcert.com.

Who's/Who

Steven Price, Composer

Steven Price is an Academy Awardwinning composer. In 2014, his groundbreaking score for Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity garnered wins in the Best Original Score category for the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards, along with ASCAP’s firstever Film Composer of the Year award. Other prominent projects include Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho, Baby Driver and The World’s End, Tom Harper’s The Aeronauts, Warner Bros.’ blockbuster hit Suicide Squad, and the WWII epic Fury, written and directed by David Ayer, and starring Brad Pitt. Television credits include the BBC’s The Hunt, a landmark natural history documentary series for which Price won his second BAFTA Award, and Our Planet (Netflix), which earned two Emmy score nominations for the composer in 2019. Price also scored David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (Netflix) for which he won an Emmy and an ASCAP Composers’ Choice Award for Documentary Score of the Year, and, in 2020, ventured into animation with Glen Keane’s Academy Award-nominated animated feature Over the Moon (Netflix) for which he received an Annie nomination for Best Music – Feature. Forthcoming projects include Beast (Universal), directed by Baltasar Kormákur and starring Idris Elba, The Swimmers (Working Title/Netflix), Michael Grandage’s My Policeman (Amazon Studios) and Distant (Amblin/Universal).

David Attenborough, Co-Narrator

One man has seen more of the natural world than any other. In his 93 years, David Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. He has played an extraordinary role in both reinventing and developing the medium of television, and in connecting people to the wonders of the natural world, bringing distant peoples, animals and habitats into living rooms across the planet. As a BBC producer and executive, he has played a crucial part in creating new forms of programming and scheduling that to this day

About the Show

influence global broadcasting. His work includes many iconic productions such as Life on Earth, The Living Planet, The Trials of Life, Life of Mammals, The Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet.

William Shatner, Co-Narrator

William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 60 years as an awardwinning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist. He has won Emmys and also won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer “Denny Crane” on both The Practice and Boston Legal He has received four additional Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods. Mr. Shatner currently is the host and executive producer of The UnXplained on The History Channel. From the producers of Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island, the one-hour, non-fiction series explores the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries. Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Emily Marshall, Conductor

Emily Marshall is a NYC based music director. Credits include – Broadway: Be More Chill, Head Over Heels, Elf; Beautiful, School of Rock, Mean Girls, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (keyboard sub); Waitress (reh. pianist); Annie (asst. kbd programmer). National Tours: First National Tour of We Will Rock You, A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast (sub), Flashdance (music asst), Elf (programmer). Off Bway/Labs: Be More Chill (Signature), Preludes (LCT3), Head Over Heels (Developmental Lab), Clueless (Dev. Lab), Chix 6 (La Mama). Festivals/Readings: Pool Boy (PCLO ‘17 & ‘18), The Coup (Northern Stage ‘18), Fall Springs (NAMT ‘17), Normativity (NYMF ‘16), On The Eve (NAMT ‘15). Emily also freelances as an accompanist, vocal coach, keyboard programmer, arranger and orchestrator. Her orchestrations have been performed around the world including performances by The American Pops Orchestra and recently at the Double Standards Benefit Concert benefiting Planned Parenthood at Town Hall. @emarshall_23

Rebecca Moench, Concertmaster

Rebecca Moench, a member of the Utah Symphony, has played in a wide array of musical halls since graduating from the University of the Pacific, and earning a Master in Violin Performance degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Among several musical homes have been the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra at Temple Square and Ballet West’s Utah Chamber Orchestra, where she was concertmaster. Rebecca is an avid studio musician, music contractor and enjoys connecting with students as an instructor at the Gifted Music School. Passionate about caring for the earth and its many wonders, Rebecca often finds herself getting lost in the mountains with running shoes, a camera and a sense of awe.

Silverback Films

Silverback Films specializes in the production of high-quality wildlife films for both television and cinema. Formed in 2012 by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, Silverback Films brings together a world class team of wildlife film makers to create the highest quality natural history films. Its productions include cinema films for Disneynature, African Cats, Chimpanzee, Bears, Monkey Kingdom and Dolphin Reef and television series North America (Discovery) The Hunt (BBC) and Our Planet (Netflix).

World Wildlife Fund

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of 1.3 million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis. Visit worldwildlife.org to learn more and follow @WWFNews on Twitter to keep up with the latest conservation news.

Quatro Entertainment

Quatro Entertainment produces live entertainment and promotes national Broadway touring shows. With offices in Calgary and Victoria they present hundreds of events across North America each year. Recent Broadway touring shows include: Dirty Dancing, Kinky Boots, Rock of Ages and The Illusionists.

GEAlive

Since its inception in 2003, GEAlive has produced and delivered live entertainment projects in over 40 countries worldwide. Many of the productions and artists that the company started working with in its early years are still part of its diversified portfolio today. In its early years

GEAlive mainly acted as a producer of international theatrical tours for titles such as De La Guarda, Cirque Mechanics Bounce, Fuego! – The Spanish Dance Spectacular, The Official West End Production of the Blues Brothers, Hair –The Musical and the massively successful French rock-opera Notre Dame De Paris The cooperation with the late Maestro Ennio Morricone, which began in 2012 and the phenomenal success that followed, saw a shift in the company’s focus to film music as a genre. In recent years GEAlive has produced and still produces touring live screenings with orchestra and choirs of major motion pictures such as The Godfather, Titanic, La La Land (Germany), The Hunger Games and Paddington. In later years, GEAlive produced the first ever concert tour of Hollywood composer James Newton Howard, which toured 15 European countries. The company also put together the first ever live tour of legendary music producer and pioneer of electronic dance music Giorgio Moroder and outside the realm of film music, GEAlive partnered with Graceland and Sony Music Entertainment on producing Elvis Live on Screen, which was hosted by Priscilla Presley. GEAlive is currently producing the tours of Dirty Dancing in Concert, Space Station Earth, Exhibition Imagine Monet, Ennio Morricone - The Official Concert Celebration and Our Planet for 2023, with more live entertainment coming soon.

Photo © Oliver Scholey

WWF© and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved.

22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

STOMP

MARCH 23–26, 2023

THURSDAY 7 :30 PM

FRIDAY 7 :30 PM

SATURDAY 2 PM & 7 :30 PM

SUNDAY 1 PM

JONES HALL

Duration: 105 minutes, with no intermission

“If you haven’t seen STOMP , GO!” —The Boston Globe

About the Program

STOMP is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. As The Boston Globe says, “If you haven’t seen STOMP, GO! If you have seen it, take someone and share the pleasure!” STOMP. See what all the noise is about.

Tudor Family Dance Series

22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Vuyani Dance Theatre

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023 | 7 :30 PM

CULLEN THEATER

Duration: 60 minutes, with no intermission

CREATIVE TEAM

GREGOR Y MAQOMA

Conceiver and Choreographer

NHLANHLA MAHLANGU

Musical Director and Composer

BLACKCOFFEE

Costumes

OLIVER HAUSER

Set Design

NTHUTHUKO MBU YAZI

Sound Designer

MANNIE MANIM

Original Lighting Design

BARR Y STR Y DOM

Technical Director

Series Sponsors Producing Sponsors Sponsor Eileen & Kase Lawal

THE HUMPHREYS FOUNDATION

About the Show

About the Program

Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero

In this piece the message of death and its dire consequences are infused through a lament to be able to confront a universe in which the age-old tropes of greed, power and religion have given rise to loss of life not as a natural phenomenon. Toloki, the professional mourner weaves through this virtual landscape of dissolution giving rise to a catharsis of universal grief that will conquer the sadness, the hard reality continuing to permeate the living confronted by death that is not their own, often so unexpected, brutal and merciless. Cion as in Zion, the African church is set in a graveyard, a church where the body is religion, and the voices are personal. Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Boléro, draws inspiration from creations by two artists: the character Toloki in South African author Zakes Mda’s novels Cion and Ways of Dying and music from French composer Maurice Ravel’s Boléro. It’s a universal story encompassing the past and the present that champions our ability to band together to share the burden of grief. Set in a graveyard with the persistent cries of people in mourning and the a cappella music of Isicathamiya in our languages sang by a quartet to the creative arrangement and composition by Nhlanhla Mahlangu that vividly elicits emotions associated with the loss of life performed by nine dancers who are themselves possessed by the spirit and being one with the departed souls and finally lying them to rest for peace and humanity to prevail. Maqoma’s message through this work is that we need to pause for a moment and urgently think about the pain inflicted on others by the actions of others.

About the Artists

Born in Soweto, October 16 of 1973, Gregory Vuyani Maqoma became interested in dance in the late 1980’s as a means to escape the political tensions growing in his place of birth. He started his formal dance training in 1990 at Moving Into Dance where in 2002 he became the Associate Artistic Director. Maqoma has established himself as an internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher, director and scriptwriter. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999 when he was undertaking a scholarship at the Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS) in Belgium under the direction of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

Maqoma is respected for his collaborations with artists of his generation. In 2006 he worked with the British-based choreographer Akram Khan and the London Symphonietta to the music of Steve Reich Variations for vibes, pianos & strings. He also created Neon Flight for the South African Ballet Theatre, which premiered in Russia in June 2006.

He began his ongoing collaboration with theatre director James Ngcobo in 2008 with The Lion and the Jewel’ and Zakes Mda’s The Hill. In 2009 Maqoma collaborated with Ngcobo on Crazy for Jazz and Thirst. His collaboration with James Ngcobo continued on the adaptation of Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys produced by Theatre on the Square.

In 2009 for the opening ceremony of the 4th World Summit of Arts & Culture, in Braamfontein he co-created 3 Colours with

Cape Town theatre maker Brett Bailey. In 2010 he was head choreographer for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert held in Soweto. That year he choreographed the internationally acclaimed Hugh Masekela project Songs of Migration produced by the Market Theatre, directed by James Ngcobo. In 2010 he collaborated with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui in Bound which toured Europe, Canada and USA as part of a double bill Southern Bound Comfort

Returning to The Market Theatre in 2011 he collaborated with Ngcobo yet again on their version of Sunjata. In 2011 he won the Dance Manyano Choreographer of A Decade Dance Award. In 2012 Maqoma, with Ngcobo, was part of the creative team behind the ANC Centenary Celebration, Dance and Theatre Musical, Tshihumbudzo’ staged in Bloemfontein. Maqoma is perhaps best known for producing trilogies. He first created the award-winning Rhythm Trilogy (comprising Rhythm 1 2 3, Rhythm Blues and Rhythm Colour) followed by, respectively, the Beauty Trilogy - Beautiful, Beautiful Me and Beautiful Us Beautiful (a duet with Shanell Winlock) premiered in South African in a VDT/ Moving into Dance Joint Season that took place at the Dance Factory from June 22 to 25 in 2005. After finalizing his extensive research on Beautiful Me, Maqoma took up residency at the Centre Nationale de la Danse, Pantin, outside Paris to prepare the South African premiere at the 2007 FNB Dance Umbrella. In 2006 and 2007 Maqoma won the Gauteng MEC Award for the group work Beautiful Us and solo Beautiful Me, respectively.

Maqoma’s Skeleton Dry, a work with an original score exploring the liminality of human existence, the space between flesh and bone, was commissioned for the 2009 FNB Dance Umbrella, supported by the National Arts Council. Continuing his exploration of the human condition and our relationship to the earth Maqoma created Four Seasons in 2010 again with original music played live. This work articulated Maqoma’s view on the moral degeneration of the human race and the detrimental effect it has on the world and dynamic Mother Earth.

In Exit Exist (2011), collaboration with fashion designer David Tlale, singer composer Simphiwe Dana, male a capella quartet Complete and James Ngcobo, through choreography and ritualistic performance Maqoma explores his historical roots by examining the life and fate of his ancestor Jongum-sobomvu Maqoma, the famous Xhosa chief. Chief Maqoma born in 1798 was arrested while requesting the liberation of Xhosa territories from the English colonists, imprisoned on Robben Island and was buried there in 1873. This master work toured in the United States, France, UK, Netherlands, South Africa, Greece, Australia and Belgium.

In Kudu (2013), collaboration with French-Swiss Musician and Trumpeter, Erik Truffaz allowed Maqoma to see his work introduced to Jazz Festivals including Festival Jazz De Vienne played to 7000 audience members. Kudu marked Maqoma’s return to Festival De Marseille where it had its premiere.

About the Show

In FullMoon (2014), Maqoma directed and collaborated with South African Youth Orchestra and co-choreographed with Luyanda Sidiya with music orchestration and composition by Isaac Molelekoa. In 2015 Maqoma celebrated his 25 years in Dance with a program produced by Vuyani dance Theatre, Greg Maqoma & Friends, featured artist included Sibongile Khumalo, Somizi Mhlongo, David Tlale, Bill Monama and Vuyani Dance Theatre, Complete Quartet and 70 Vuyani Outreach Children at The Lyric Theatre, Johannesburg.

In 2016 Maqoma continued his collaborations with world acclaimed artist Wouter Kellerman and Simphiwe Dana in Joys of Sharing produced by Vuyani Dance Theatre at The Lyric Theatre, Johannesburg.

In 2017 Maqoma premiered Cion – Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero (2017) in association with Market Theatre, produced by Vuyani dance Theatre with music composition by Nhlanhla Mahlangu. This work continues to tour the world and has since appeared at the Joys Theatre (NY), Kennedy Centre (Washington), Holland Festival, Marseille Festival. In the same year he premiered Via Kanana, a work he created on Via Katlehong.

In 2019 Maqoma collaborated with Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah in the production Tree, produced by Manchester International Festival and The Young Vic. Maqoma embarked on creating works for classical companies: The Valley of Human Sound was created on Opera Ballet De Lyon and premiered in 2021. Black Sun was created on UK based Ballet Black, premiered in 2022.

The pandemic provided Maqoma with an opportunity to lend his hand on creating and directing films. In 2021 during the height of Covid-19 he co-created a film Untold Secrets of the Heart Chamber with a poet, arts activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph, commissioned by ADF and DANCECLEVELAND. Maqoma was also commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival to produce and direct a film RetraceRetract which marked his going collaboration with poetry which was provided by poet and performing activists Jefferson Tshabalala.

Maqoma directorial and choreographic skills are further enhanced in 2022 with his new offering, Moya a project with Simphiwe Dana, Third World Express, a jazz musical produced by Joburg Theatre and Shadrack Bokaba. Maqoma was recently announced as the part of the creative team for the Mandela Musical to premiere at the Young Vic in London in December.

Maqoma was Associate Artistic Director of Moving Into Dance Mophatong 2002 - 2006 and for the FNB Dance Umbrella Festival 2010. He was Artistic Director of the Afro-Vibes Festival in the Netherlands and the UK from 2004 - 2010. Maqoma has served on the dance committee of the National Arts Festival 2011 – 2017 and curated the Main Dance Festival Program for 2017. He teachesat various universities in Africa, USA and Europe including, University of California (UCLA), Bates College (USA), Bennington College (USA), University of Minnesota Dance Department. He has created repertoire for Moving into Dance, Jazzart Contemporary Dance Theatre, South African Ballet Theatre and Cape Academy

of Performing Arts, amongst others. He is currently the Chairperson of the Board of STAND (Sustaining Theatre and Dance) Foundation.

Several works in his VDT repertoire have won him accolades and international acclaim. This includes FNB Vita Choreographer of the Year in 1999, 2001 and 2002 for Rhythm 1.2.3, Rhythm Blues and Southern Comfort respectively. He received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance in 2002. Maqoma was a finalist in the Daimler Chrysler Choreography Award in 2002 and in the Rolex Mentorship Programme in 2003. He is the recipient of the 2012 Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance, which is presented annually to a South African who has elevated the standard and visibility of dance in South Africa. He served as a nominator in the 2016–2017 Rolex Arts Initiative. In 2017 Maqoma was honoured by the French Government with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Arts & Literature) Award.

In addition, Maqoma continues to play an important role in transforming the artistic landscape in South Africa through the newly formed corporate entities Gregory Maqoma Industries and Vuyani Dance Company. Maqoma is regarded as a visionary for the advancement of artists and dance in the continent. He is one of the featured social entrepreneurs in a book ‘The Disruptors – Social Entrepreneurs reinventing business and society’

Otto Andile Nhlapo born and raised in Heidelberg (Ratanda). He started out with the Juvenile Development Cultural Group in 2004, specialising in Zulu dance genres (Umkhomazi, Isizingili, Ushamen and Umzansi) and Pantsula dance. He has performed for dignitaries including President Jacob Zuma, former President Thabo Mbeki and FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter. In 2010 he joined MIDM Performing Arts Training Course and had an opportunity to study and perform in various events, he also worked with Robyn Orlin in her work titled Beauty, toured 11 cities in France. 2012 He won the pick of the stepping stones Dance Umbrella Festival Johannesburg with his solo work titled Dirty Hands.

In 2013 he joined Vuyani Dance Theatre as a junior company member and, after three months he was promoted to be a senior company member, where he then got an opportunity to tour with the company abroad. He has toured countries such as Finland, Germany, Sweden, Holland, China and New York to name a few. He performed at the Metro FM annual awards 2013 to 2015, sharing the stage with various South African musicians.

He has had the privilege of performing in productions of great choreographers in the country. These include Four Seasons, Full Moon, Kudu and Wake up choreographed by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma. Works outside of the Vuyani repertoire include Via Katlehong’s Via Kanana and Transformations choreographed by Sylvia Glasser. He choreographed for Simphiwe Dana’s Ndiredi in the collaborative production Joys of Sharing presented by Vuyani Dance Theatre featuring Wouter Kellerman and Simphiwe Dana, directed by Greg Maqoma.

In the year 2017 he created his first work with the company which was presented during the Vuyani Week season, titled Interpellation. His second choreographic work, Gister Maoba premiered during 2018’s Vuyani Week. Nhlapo is currently Vuyani’s Principal Dancer in Gregory Maqoma’s Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero that has seen great acclaim internationally. Exceptional vocalist, composer, theatre maker, gravity defying dancer and educator Nhlanhla Mahlangu is a graduate in the theory and practice of Dance teaching at Moving into Dance, Mophatong. Recently Mahlangu has turned his attention to translating his prolific local and international career on stage into a Master of Arts by Creative Research at the University of Witwatersrand. Mahlangu can only be described as a generous interdisciplinary collaborator who excels at conjuring original, complex and contemporary work rooted in traditional forms.

Born in Pholapark Squatter Camp in Apartheid South Africa in the late 1970s, Mahlangu started school during the national state of emergency in the1980s. Mahlangu witnessed firsthand the conflicts between the African National Congress, Inkatha Freedom Party and the ‘Third Force’ of the 1990s. His seminal body of work, Chant is shaped and inspired by these experiences.

In addition to his contemporary dance and musical ingenuity Mahlangu is celebrated for his embodiment of Isicathamiya, a cappella-type musical form combining vocals and movement, Mahlangu uses this practice as a way to process the history of South Africa, particularly the plight of migrant workers, these performances look to build social cohesion, heal the wounds of the past and encourage resilience in the new Democratic South Africa.

Nhlanhla Mahlangu’s prolific practice is one of interrogation, articulation, development and research. He has gained exceptional ground through his pivotal collaborations with luminaries the calibre of William Kentridge, Robyn Orlin, Richard Cock, Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, Sylvia Glasser, Vincent Mantsoe, Jay Pather, James Ngcobo, Victor Ntoni, Hugh Masekela, as well as his choral music and music making approaches with his Hlabelela Ensemble and Song and Dance Works. Mahlangu was a Naledi award winner for Best Choreographer in 2017.

Zakes Mda is a writer, painter, and music composer, Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio University in the USA, and Extraordinary Professor of English at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. He has published 24 books, eleven of which are novels and the rest collections of plays, poetry, and a monograph on theatre for development. His works have been translated into 22 languages and have won several awards in South Africa, the USA and Italy. His memoir titled Sometimes there is a Void: Memoirs of an Outsider was the New York Times Notable Book for 2012. In 2008 Cion was one of the five novels shortlisted for the NAACP Image Awards, which honors projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts in television, recording, literature and motion pictures. He holds honorary doctoral degrees form five universities, including the University of Cape Town and Dartmouth College, and is an honorary patron of the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

Barry Strydom studied Dramatic and Theatre Arts at the UFS and graduated at the top of his class and winning the prestigious Elsa Krantz medal for the Best Final Year Student. He as since worked in the performing arts sector as a technician, educator, actor, designer, translator, and stage/technical manager. He currently runs Cue Lighting and Sound which offers a variety of services to the theatre and live performance sector. Some of his highlights include Flicker, Barflies, Inter(fear)ance, Draadwerk, Blood Orange, Born Naked, Johnny Boskak, and African Signatures. He has been involved with various seasons of Cion, A requiem for Ravel’s Bolero since 2018.

Ntuthuko Mbuyazi is a Durban born multi-award winning sound designer with a diploma in Audio Engineering from the Cape Audio College and currently works full time at the Market Theatre. He began his career in Sound Design in 2016 and his work was nominated in the 2017 Naledi Theatre Awards for Best Sound Design - “6 Characters In Search Of An Author”, directed by Sibusiso Mamba. He was further nominated in the 2018 Naledi Theatre Awards for Best Original Score/Arrangement/Music Adaptation for “Itsoseng”, directed by Lesedi Job. He then further received Double Nomination in the 2019 Naledi Theatre Awards for Best Sound Design for “Florence”, directed by Greg Homann (which he won) and Best Sound Design for “Shoes And Coups”, directed by Palesa Mazamisa.

Ntuthuko’s work in sound design includes “Four Women (Nina Simone)” Directed by James Ngcobo, “Cion”, Choreographed by Gregory Maqoma, “You Fool How Can The Sky Fall”, Directed by James Ngcobo, “King Leopard” Directed by Lesedi Job, “The Fishermen”, Directed by James Ngcobo, “Suddenly The Storm” Directed by Bobby Heaney, “When Swallows Cry” Directed by Lesedi Job, “The Suit” Directed by James Ngcobo, “The Suitcase” Directed by James Ngcobo, “Train Driver” Directed by Charmaine Weir-Smith, “1 Night In Miami” Directed by James Ngcobo, “Meet Me At Dawn” Directed by Lesedi Job, “Nongogo” Directed by James Ngcobo, “Cincinnati” Directed by Clive Mathibe and has assisted with Gregory Maqoma’s “Exit/Exists” Directed by James Ngcobo.

Ntuthuko has toured Durban, China, Bloemfontein, Czech Republic, France, Amsterdam, Cape Town, New York, Washington DC, London, and Romania.

Gregory Maqoma’s Vuyani Dance Theatre

RENOVATION

Jones Hall

Jones Hall gets new seats for first time in 27 years

$50 million dollar renovation to bring new lobby space, Green Room, and more.

One of the city’s iconic cultural landmarks, Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts has been integral to Houston’s performing arts landscape for 57 years. It’s a space with a remarkable history, both behind its construction and on its stage. And it’s been Performing Arts Houston’s home since 1966. Now, our historic home is getting a major renovation aimed at modernizing the facility for audiences to experience now and for decades to come.

The hall was built in 1966 and named after the late Jesse H. Jones, an extraordinary Houston developer and

philanthropist. At one time, he was recognized as the second most influential figure in the nation, behind our nation’s president. Jones laid much of the groundwork for our city— from architectural marvels Downtown, to planning and support that put Houston on the world map, industrially and culturally.

A Hall Built To Last

Jones Hall has always been impressive. Inside the auditorium, the venue boasts 2,674 seats, a ceiling comprised of 800 hexagonal structures, and a vast stage that can accommodate the variety of music, dance, and theater productions we present, plus those of our co-resident, the Houston Symphony. The lobby features sixty-foot ceilings

and Gemini II, an installation by artist Richard Lippold that was constructed with and into the space. On its façade, Jones Hall is stunningly clad with Italian travertine marble from a query 20 miles from Rome—potentially mined from the same query used for the Colosseum over 2000 years ago.

New Seats in a Timeless Space

This fall, audiences will see new seats in the Jones Hall auditorium for the first time since 1996. These new seats, manufactured in Japan by Kotobuki, plus new expanded aisles, and a new state-of-the-art sound system will dramatically enhance the experience of live arts on stage

This is just the start of a $50 million Jones Hall renovation that you will see and feel. Further phases of the project will introduce new concepts and greater access in Green Room and lobby spaces. Each new improvement, a radical advance.

Beyond these highly anticipated improvements, the renovation of Jones Hall represents a tangible recommitment to continuing Houston's cultural legacy and the importance of live performing arts to the fabric of our communities.

As we prepare to launch our 23/24 Season this April, we encourage you to take your new seat in this extraordinary space. From the stage, our artists will do the rest.

For inquiries into sponsoring the new seats in Jones Hall, please contact Jordan Drum at 713.632.8104 or jdrum@performingartshouston.org.

Pictured: Jones Hall prior to the start of renovations. Aisles on the Orchestra level were added in 2020, followed by acoustical improvements in 2022. Photos provided by Houston First Corporation.

Jones Hall Renovation

22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Felipe Esparza: The BigFoo Tour

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023 | 7 :30 PM

JONES HALL

Duration: 60 minutes, no intermission

Show Sponsor

About the Show

About the Artist

Comedian and actor Felipe Esparza got his start in comedy all because someone asked him to list 5 goals in life. During a stint in rehab before he was 21, Felipe was asked what his dreams and goals were. As a young Mexican immigrant growing up in the projects in Boyle Heights (East L.A.) and then as a teenage father with a drug and alcohol problem, it was a difficult task because he had never thought that far ahead. Up until that question, Felipe was under the impression that life was over at 18. Among the items on his list of goals, “to be happy”, and “to be a stand-up comedian,” because of how he connected with an old Bill Cosby album when he was younger.

If you had told him back then that all this life experience would one day make people laugh, he wouldn't have believed it. From being raised in the projects in a family of 9 living in the most gang-infested neighborhood in the country to winning NBC's Last Comic Standing, to selling out live comedy shows all over the country and being able to act in TV shows and movies, Felipe's life has been anything but boring. He worked for years as a stand-up comedian, opening on the road for fellow comedians such as Gabriel Iglesias and Paul Rodriguez, then took a leap of faith and went out on his own—which led to very little income and opportunity at first. During his early years as a comedian, Felipe was part of the successful stand-up comedy TV show, “Que Locos” on Galavisión (the only English-speaking show on Spanish television). That show and the resulting tour helped launch the careers of several other Latino comedians such as George Lopez, Gabriel Iglesias and Willie Barcena. Finally, after 16 years of struggling, Felipe’s big break came in the form of winning NBC’s Last Comic Standing

This “overnight success” started opening doors to more live performances and bigger audiences. Felipe went on to produce his first hour long stand-up comedy special in 2012,

They're Not Gonna Laugh at You (still running on Netflix), with his wife and producing partner, Lesa O’Daniel-Esparza. He has also made several TV appearances, including recurring roles on Gentefied, The Eric Andre Show and NBC's Superstore, and was the spokesman for a national Honda Fit campaign and a national Target Mobile campaign. In 2017, Felipe and his wife self-financed and self-produced his second one-hour stand-up special, entitled Translate This, which they licensed to HBO in 2017. His most recent standup special was released September 2020 on Netflix as a dual release of two separate specials – a performance in English (Bad Decisions) and a performance in Spanish (Malas Decisiones). Felipe is also currently developing a sitcom with actor Omar Chaparro, producer Eric Tannenbaum and 3Pas (Eugenio Derbez’s production company).

Today, in addition to his live stand-up touring, Felipe hosts a popular weekly podcast on the All Things Comedy Network called What's Up Fool? that focuses on interesting stories from just about anybody. When it started in 2014, What’s Up Fool? was one of only 2 Latino comedy podcasts in existence (second to Joey Diaz’s Church of What’s Happening Now). The show is a casual, conversation-style show with guests and a variety of Felipe’s comedian friends sitting in. Former guests include renowned author and humanitarian Father Greg Boyle (Homeboy Industries), actors Damian Chapa (Miklo from Blood In, Blood Out) and Emilio Rivera (Sons of Anarchy, The Mayans, Bruce Almighty), Rob Schneider (Deuce Bigalow, The Animal, 50 First Dates, The Wrong Missy, SNL), actors/comedians Jamie Kennedy, Neal Brennan, Russell Peters, Corey Holcomb and many more.

FelipesWorld.com

@FunnyFelipe

Facebook.com/FelipeEsparzaFanPage

@FelipeEsparzaComedian

Admiral Transfer Music Series

22/23 Season Featured Program

PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON presents

Metamorphosis Third Coast Percussion

Featuring choreography by Movement Art Is (Lil Buck and Jon Boogz)

Performed and Interpreted by Trent Jeray and Camerin Murphy

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023 | 7 :30 PM | CULLEN THEATER

Duration: 60 minutes, with no intermission

THIRD COAST PERCUSSION

SEAN CONNORS

ROBERT DILLON

PETER MARTIN

DAVID SKIDMORE

PROGRAM

Philip Glass (1937)

Metamorphosis No. 1 (1988/1999/2020)

arr. Third Coast Percussion

Jlin (1987)

Perspective (2020)

Obscure

Dissonance

Philip Glass (1937)

Amazon River (1993/1999/2016)

arr. Third Coast Percussion

MOVEMENT ART IS

LIL BUCK, co-founder & choreographer

JON BOOGZ, co-founder & choreographer

TRENT JERAY, movement artist

CAMERON MURPH Y, movement artist

Jlin (1987)

Perspective (2020)

Paradigm

Tyondai Braxton (1978)

Sunny X (2019)

Jlin (1987)

Perspective

Embryo

Fourth Perspective

Duality

Derivative

About the Show

About the Program Collaboration and Transformation

This performance is a meeting of fearless and generous collaborators from unique artistic backgrounds, creators deeply rooted in their own tradition but whose branches reach curiously into the broad expressive world surrounding them. Lil Buck and Jon Boogz founded Movement Art Is to explore how their virtuosic street dancing abilities, rooted in popping and Memphis jookin’, could tell the important stories of modern life. Third Coast Percussion has carved its own special place in the cultural landscape by showing the incredible flexibility of percussion chamber music to give voice to expressions from a diverse range of artists.

At the heart of this collaboration is a celebration of each individual’s expressive language and the experiences that shaped it, as well as a curiosity to see each artist’s energy translated into the vocabulary of another. Just as the choreography created by Buck and Boogz is set onto different bodies—the movement artists Cameron Murphy and Trent Jeray—for performance, tonight’s program highlights how music is also transformed as it is passed from one artist to another. The innovative producer Jlin (whose roots are in Chicago’s “Footwork” style of dance music) composed her

READ THE FULL PROGRAM

Series Sponsor

Metamorphosis : Third Coast Percussion

Perspective as a series of electronic tracks, with the intent that Third Coast Percussion would reimagine this music on acoustic instruments for live performance. The music of minimalist icon Philip Glass that appears on this program is an arrangement of an arrangement, music finding its third incarnation in TCP’s distinctive sound world.

This project was created in 2020, a year of isolation, and the opportunity to make art together took on a new value. The full creative team—choreographers, dancers, TCP, stage director Leslie Danzig and lighting designer Joe Burke—had planned to come together in Seattle for a residency in the summer of 2020 to build this project on the stage of the Meany Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Washington. When the residency could not take place, this determined team found ways—connecting via rehearsal videos shared on the cloud, simulated mock-ups of stage set-ups and light renderings, and of course, many Zoom meetings—to build this project together across long distances and have since continued transforming the project into versions for audiences to experience through a screen, and finally, in person.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Meany Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Washington and the Pablo Center at the Confluence, with additional support from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and the Julian Family Foundation.

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.

$25,000+

Linda and Willie Chiang

Nancy G. and Charles D. Davidson

Kristina H. and Paul G. Somerville

Leticia and Stephen M. Trauber

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

Margaret Alkek Williams

$10,000-$24,999

Rachelle and Jeff Ball

Leah R. Bennett

Janet and John Carrig

Theresa A. Einhorn and Donald Yurewicz

Duke and C.C. Ensell

Mignon and Stephen Gill

Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro

Kris and Mark Jodon

Bob Johnston

Curt and Stephany Karges

Emily T. Kuo and Michael Chu

Eileen and Kase Lawal

Stephanie and Cesar Leyva

Beverly and Jim Postl

Mari Salazar

Leslie Elkins Sasser and Shannon Sasser

Janet and Bill Swanstrom

Priti and Sammy Virani

Syma and Walt Zerkow

$5,000–$9,999

Norah G. Adams

Charles and Casey Boettcher

Kristy and Chris Bradshaw

Eric Brueggeman

Kristen J. Cannon

Sig and Patricia Cornelius

Kourtney and Vijay D'Cruz

Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook

Mary and Carl Fischer

Susan and Sean Gorman

Shawn and Bill Jackson

Yvonne and Mark Jacobs

Jesse H. Jones II

Sarah and Joel Lambert

Mimi Lloyd

Theresa and Edward Mallett

Marilyn Maloney and Paul Longstreth

Ginni and Richard Mithoff

Barbara E. Murray and Ernesto D. Baca

Miki Lusk Norton and Ralph E. Norton

The Parris-Cochinwala Family

Laura and Daniel Pears

Corina and Armando Perez

The Petersen Family

Tricia and Alan Ratliff

Kristin and Lance Reynolds

Melanie B. Rother and Justin Pack

Gloria and Nick Ryan

Charlene and Tymothi O. Tombar

Mechelle Tran

Hannah and Paul Wolfert

$3,000-$4,999

Sandy and Thomas Cattarin

Jennifer and Vittorio Cristini

Susan E. Denson

Katherine Easterby Murphy

Kathryn O'Brien

Ann V. Rogers

Kelly and David Rose

Stephanie von Stein and Mark Schusterman

$1,000-$2,999

Anonymous

Rain Arteaga

Carol Bates

Paul Bitner

Aaron S. Blomquist

Chree Boydstun

Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl

Nancy Chafe

John Chapman

Tejuana Edmond

Connie S. Ellis

Leslie and Pat Ellis

Tina Faraca

Tena and Tyson Faust

Joe J. Fisher

Chris Funk

Deborah Gordon and Nathan Coco

Timothy G. Green

Harry Grenader

Mary Van and David Grindle

Katherine and Walker Hale

Patricia Heup

Arianda and Richard Hicks

Kristy and Rett Holidy

Shelley and William Horwitz

Felicia and Perry Jordan

Taylor and Daniel Kaufman

Timothy Kisling

Susan and Michael Klaveness

Amber Knapp

Juliet Lawrence

Amy LeBlanc

Jane and Steve Malashock

April McGee

Cal and Hannah McNair

Chad Michael

Vickie L. Milazzo and Tom Ziemba

Denise Monteleone

Sara and Michael Morrow

Linda C. Murray

Amy Ng

Jill and Paul Oliver

Felecia and Ronell Peters

Christina and Troy Porter

Kim and Ted Powell

Gary Rodriguez and Michael Ball

Regina J. Rogers

Susan L. Thompson

Patricia and Michael Tilton

Wilson Van Tine

Caleb Vinson

Jill and Fabian Wirnkar

Gina and Joseph Wyszynski

Rebecca Zimdars

$500-$999

Dorothy and Mickey Ables

Travis Capps

Patricia Carnes

Richard Carter and Elizabeth Sjoberg

C.C. Conner and David Groover

The Contreras-Howley Family

Carl R. Cunningham

Janice and William J. Dana

Catherine and Nick Dunbar

Ginny and Jason Endecott

Megan and James Engelbrecht

Melissa and Jeffery Gibb

Mario Gudmundsson

Elizabeth M. Hartman

Karen Hernandez

Jeffrey Hopkins

Vy and Jim Hopkins

David Jackson

Ken and Tracy Janda

Margaret Lincoln

Bri and Joe Martin

Mavin H. Martin and Neil E. Mellen

Sallie Morian and Michael Clark

David L. Peavy and Stephen R. McCauley

Amy and Robert Pierce

Kim Sawyer

Richard Schechter

Robert Scott

Sarah Shull and Sabi Balkanyi

Ileana and Michael Trevino

Kim and Dan Tutcher

Randy Williams

Chelsea and Warren Williamson

$250-$499

Anonymous

Jennifer and Scott Allison

Anne and German Amador

Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin

Ashley Bales and Lee V. Strickland

Reagan and Doug Bauer

William Beard

Susan Blaney

Meg and Brandon Booth

Thomas Booth and Dale Cover

Claire Cahoon

Kelcey and David Case

Jane Dabney

Connor Dahl

John Eymann

Marcia and Tom Faschingbauer

Sondee and Roberto Gonzalez

Helene Gould

Peggy Haney

Susie and Michael Hatfield

Isabella Hawkins

Individual Supporters

Mike Holloman

Scott Howard

Janice Kemp and John Kling

Douglas Kenaley

Dolores Lawrence

Stephanie Lawrence

Tina Lee and Joel Smith

Larissa Lindsay and Stuart Bailey

Kent Lucas

Michael McGown

Alisa Miller

Shelby and Houston Morgan

Afsaneh Motaghed

Ira Nemeth

Scott O'Connell

Shannan O'Leary

Susan Snider Osterberg and Edward Osterberg

Michael Paras

Karina and Phil Patman

Sergio Polanco

Heidi Purcell

Lorena and Jorge Raull

Leslie Ravenswaay

Melanie L. Rogers

H.J. Rosenberger

Nicolas Rouckout

Tish Rowe

Mark Schulze

Bryan Scrivner

Randal and Robert Smith

Kathleen Solcher

M. Springer

Teresa Thomas

Mary and Michael Vitek

Tempa Weir

$100-$249

Anonymous

Amr Abouleish

Shibu Abraham

Steven Abrahams

Dayna Adewuya

Monica Aguilar

Ann and Anan Al-Bahish

Ernesto Alfaro and Rob Noga

Asif Ali

Mousa AlKhalidi

Bret Alldredge

Arden Als

Charmaine Alter

Maria Amaya

Michele Amini

Julie Anderson

Joan Ashley

Tracy Atkins

K.C. Banda

Amit Bansal

Emri Bass

Kaitlyn Baumhardt

Laura Bennett

Cathy Bernoski

Peggy and Paul Beveridge

Roy Boldon

Suzanne Bonito

Beverly Bontrager

D. Bosse

Greg Bowden

Jessica Braatz

Richard Braverman

Pamela Bregenzer

Matthew Breitel

Lisa Brenskelle

Jason Bristol

Rebecca Brown and Paul Williams

Sharon and Bill Bullock

Nicole Burich

Joyce Busch Jackson

Bryant Bush

Samantha Caceres

Ai-Ping Cai

Jeanne Cardenas

Andrea Carlton

Daniel Carr

Michael Cathcart

Tanya Chaney

Irena Chang and Clint Midgett

Celesta Chelf

Wai-Ling Cheng

Monica Childers

Raymond Cho

Lynnique Chopin

Amy and John Chronis

Councilwoman Karla Cisneros and Tim Cisneros

Brooke Cluse

Samantha Cobb

Kristin Cogan

Terry Cole

Elizabeth Collins

Cynthia Colondres

James Connor

Mary Cooper

Fred Corsiglia

Brian Cosgrove

Gigi Cox

Theresa Craig

Dawn and Michael Croxton

Lilly and Harrison Cullen

Josalyn Curl

Pud Cusack

Casey Dalton

Chau Dang

Larry Danziger

Lisa Darling

Jeff Davis

Lulu and David Deanda

Peter Dear and Wendy Prater Dear

Roxena Deaton

Pamela Dial

Fatoumata Diallo

Matthew Dickson

Courtney and Eric Diehl

Pete Diez

Sheila Diombala

Karen Doolittle

Pamela Dorsey

Michael Dougherty

Dianne Dove

Cheryl and Rennie Dover

Elizabeth Ducharme

Kelli East

Mary E. Edgerton

David Edwards

Buck and Ashley Elkins

Alexandra Ellis

Alexandra Emsley

Catherine Enbody

Logan Eneix

Katie Esparza

Yirsa Esparza

Travis Evans

Rhonda Everley

Jana and Ben Exner

Scott Fagot

Jamie Fairchild

Kenzel Fallen

Chris Farrell

Lawrence Febo

Jennifer Feldmann

Shantau Fellows

Kelli Fereday

Brian Flores

Rick Flowers

Ida Franklin

Allison Frazar

Mary Frazier

Stacy Frenchwood

Cheryl Fricke

Michael Gadagbui

Vanessa Gaona

Julio Cesar Garcia

Ginny Garriques

Yvette Garvin

Magda Ghobashy

Rosary Giang

Deborah Giannoni

Randy Gillespie

Lucy Glenn

Andrew Godbold

Mark V. Goloby

Carissa Gonzales

Paolo Gonzalez

Tiffany Goodman

L. Gordon

Samuel F. Gorman

Melissa Gould

Tom Grable

Cynthia Griffin

Cathy Hamill

Phillip Harper

Mackenzie and Spencer Harris

Michelle Hart

L.R. Harvey

Kia Hawkins

Brandy Hebert

Clair Hedgcoxe

Nancy Henderek

Christine Henry

James Herbert

David Herrera

Doris Higginbottom

Susan Hightower

Rachell Hill

Monica Hindmarsh

Floyd Hodges

Benjamin Hoff

Andrea Holberg

Rylee Hollaway

Tracy Holmes

Sharon Hudson-Spinks

Velda Hunter

Zahira Hurtado

Beth Huttenhoff

Constance Iannello

Andrew F. Icken

Laura and Philip Ivy

Katie Jackman

Chandria Jackson Stokes

Corrie Jenkins

Aisha Johnson

Grant Jones

Ian Joyce

Minjeong Kang

Joy Kelly

Lori Kennedy

Ashok Khushalani

Samir Khushalani and David Brantley

Jonathan Kim

Jason Kivett

Dorothy Kreft

Rosie Lang

Jay Larry

Jennifer Lawson

Curtis Lea

Dana Levy Germain

Stephen Lichlyter

Un Young Lim

Johnnie Lister

Nancy Little

Kay and Brandon Lobb

John Lock

Denise Long

Jennifer Looff

Dolores Lopez-Cardenas and Eduardo M. Lopez

Linda Lorelle and Lou Gregory

James Low

Serean Loyland

Marisa Lozano

Deborah Lugo

Stacey Lusk

Jan Lyons

Paul Maner

Paul Manino and Elizabeth Cloninger

Ben Manrriquez

C.J. Mantilla

Alex Martinez

Anna M. Martinez

Dinah Massie

Lafondra Mathis

Patricia McKaskle

Bonny McLoud

Jeff and Jaimee McQuillan

Marvelia Medrano

Lisa Mendelovitz

Rosalinda Mendez

Sally Mercer

John Michon

Sey Milan

Adrienne Miles

Bobbi Jo Miller

Marsha Millstid

David and Jessica Minton

Diane Moeller

Shanahan and Lisa Mondal

Katherine Moore

Renee and Milton Morris

Melissa G. Morse

Matt Moseley

Judy Mucasey

Colleen Mussetter

Mariko Nakanishi

Faida Ngumbu

Bobby Nix

Ryan Nowroozi

Abdul Latif Nurudeen

David Obando

Ruthann Obidigbo

Brian O'Connor

The Oehlman Family

Martina Ogbonna

Nick Ogurtsov

Brenda Oliveira

Leah Oren-Palmer

Brian Orr

The Orrick Family

H. and D. Osecki

Jim Oswald

Kathy Overly

Vickie Owens

Camille Painter

Jennifer Palermo

Corey Pallatto Hughan

Seema Patel

Jonathan Penchas

Graciela Perarnau de Loukanis

Cornelius Perry

Bradford Phillips

Nicholas Phillips

Arthur Pike

Amy Marlyse Plato and Kelly Plato

Chester Pleasant

Chris Poelma

Gerard Pollard

Diane E. Prince

Alice Quinn Schwarz

Archana and Rajeev Raghavan

Michele Rainford

Justin Ramirez

Tonie Reincke

Gabriel Rendon

Latisha Rendon

Rhani Resuello

Richard Retz

Jennifer Reyes-Martinez

Monique Roberts

Aaron Robilotto

Jane and Alex Robinson

Kim Rogers

Becky and Richard Rosser

Michael Ruiz

Karen Russell

Alina Saldarriaga

Lisa Salom

Michael Sanchez

Joyce and Steve Sandweiss

Travis Schautteet

George Schmidt

Laurie Schmitz

Mary Schoemann

Amber Schumacher

Laura Secrest

Pamela Sempreviva-Torkay

Robert Sheen

Eugenie Sheinberg

Dallas Shipp

Peggy Shuttlesworth-Bittick

Ezra Sillas

Walter Simons

Rohit Sinha

Allison Sliva

Angela Smith and Mark W. Smith

Beverly Smith

Brooksy Smith

Roger Smith III

Sydney and Allen Smith

Willie and Taliba Smith

Holly Sothen

Yolanda Spence

Tara St. Mary

Karl Stager and Susan Kelso

Rachael Stambaugh

Trina Stanfield

Sarah Stehling

Brandon Stein

Mary and Garland Stephens

Joycelyn Streator

Faith Strunk

Mark K. Sullivan

Hayle Summers

Felissa Sylvester

Laura Taggett

Sheila Tanner

Lisa Tatom

Gwendolyn Taylor

Edda Tinis

Nancy Townsend

Vanessa Tutos

Christine Tyler and Anthony Stergio

Tamika Tyson

Lesly Van Dame

Gleeson Van Riet

Mary and Martin Vandenbrook

Jane Vaselenak

Jocelyn Velazquez

Aracely Villalpando

Georgia Viret

John M. Vitucci

Sixto Wagan

David Wainwright

Heidi Beale

Quenette Walton

Charles Ward

Latoya Warnie

Kevin Washington

Alero and Thomas Waterhouse

Kim and John Watson

Eileen Webb

Joyce M. Wellman

Carol Werner

Karen West

Bettina M. Whyte

Edward Wiegele

Sandra Williams

Stacey Wilson

Carrie Wirsing

Andy and Kris Wittner

Margaret Woodrum

Majka Woods

Dana Wyatt

Joyce Yen

Tazeen Zahida

Elizabeth and Ron Zermeno

Martha Zink

Listings accurate as of 2/5/2023

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

CORPORATE PARTNERS

$50,000+

ConocoPhillips †

H-E-B †

Le Méridien Houston Downtown*

$25,000-$49,999

Admiral Transfer & Rigging

Plains All American Westwood Wealth Management

$10,000–$24,999

711 Fit

Associated Pipe Line Contractors, Inc.

Crestwood Equity Partners

Jackson & Company *

Locke Lord LLP †

Memoria Hermann Motiva Enterprises, LLC

Shearman & Sterling LLP

T.D. Securities

Tenenbaum Jewelers*

Truist Bank

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Wells Fargo†

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

$5,000–$9,999

Bank of Texas Barclays

Goldman Sachs

Bergner & Johnson Design*

Elizabeth Anthony*

Houston First Corporation

FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

$100,000+

Houston Endowment, Inc. †

The Wortham Foundation, Inc. †

$50,000-$99,999

The Brown Foundation, Inc. † City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance†

The Humphreys Foundation†

$25,000-$49,999

M.D. Anderson Foundation† National Endowment for the Arts

Powell Foundation

$10,000-$24,999

City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board †

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts †

Vivian L. Smith Foundation

MATCHING GIFT SUPPORTERS

Chevron Corporation

ExxonMobil

Kinder Morgan Foundation

Listings Accurate as of 2/5/2023

Murphy Oil Corporation Phillips 66

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

LD Systems*

PNC Bank

Van Cleef & Arpels

$1,000-$4,999

ExxonMobil †

Murphy Oil Corporation

Neiman Marcus USAA

Taiwan Academy, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston

Texas Commission on the Arts †

$5,000-$9,999

The Friedkin Group

Gensler

George and Mary Josephine

Hamman Foundation†

Kayser Foundation

New England Foundation for the Arts, Inc.

Truist Bank USAA

*Includes in-kind support †Indicates 10+ years of consecutive support

“A most astonishing show musically and immensely entertaining—Ak Dan Gwang Chil from South Korea. WOW!!!” — Bob Boilen, NPR Music

Ak Dan Gwang Chil

FREE PERFORMANCE FOR ALL Sponsor

With one foot in the world of tradition and another in glitzy upbeat pop, ADG7 (Ak Dan Gwang Chil) is a multi-award winning group featuring three powerhouse female folk singers. A free performance for all!

April 29, 2023

Saturday 7:30 pm

Miller Outdoor Theatre

performingartshouston.org