Houston Lifestyles and Homes magazine Apr 2009: Arts and Theatre in Houston

Les Misérables
Hobby Center, Through April 5

Adapted from the classic Victor Hugo novel, the musical theater phenomenon Les Misérables has a score by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. One of the world’s best-loved musicals, it is the longest running musical in London’s West End, and arguably the longest continuously-running musical in the world.

Les Misérables follows the life of the fugitive Jean Valjean, his foster daughter Cosette, and his relentless pursuer Javert against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

For more information, call 713-558-TUTS or go to www.tuts.com.

Mauritius Alley
Theatre, April 15 - May 3

Theresa Rebeck returns with Mauritius, a “tightly woven and ever-surprising sinister comedy” (Playbill.com) “filled with stunning scenes of high humor and drama” (Variety).

The title, Mauritius, refers to an island off the coast of Africa from which a now highly collectible stamp, described as the crown jewel of philately, was issued in the age of Victoria. Like the Maltese Falcon, the Mauritius stamp is the fraught object of desire for an assortment of shady characters with different and mysterious backgrounds and motives, who move through the twists of the plot ’s crosses and double-crosses. Recommended for mature audiences.

For more information, go to www.alleytheatre.org or call 713-228-8421.

Doubt: A Parable

The Company OnStage, Through April 11

Sister Aloysius, the school principal, suspects that popular young Father Flynn is showing improper attention to the school ’s first black student. Set in 1964, this Pulitzer prize-winning drama explores how moral certainty and truth can collide with shattering results. A thought provoking evening of exciting theater.

Call 713-726-1219 or go to www.companyonstage.org for more information.

The Puppet show

Contemporary Arts Museum, Through April 12

International in scope, The Puppet Show brings together contemporary artworks in a variety of media that explore the imagery of puppets. From actual puppets, to works that evoke topics associated with puppetry and others that introduce new variations to this historical and global form of theater, The Puppet Show features works that are, in various ways, movable and/or moving objects that perform as alter-egos for the artist or as human surrogates —often with wicked good humor.

For more information, go to www.camh.org or call 713-284-8250.

Rigoletto
Wortham Center, April 17 - May 2

Houston Grand Opera continues its 54th season with Verdi’s haunting and tragic tale Rigoletto. Rigoletto, which was last performed at HGO in 2001, returns with a powerful new staging of Michael Yeargan ’s classic production that was inspired by Italian painter Giorgio di Chirico.

HGO Studio alumnus Scott Hendricks will make his role debut as the tormented jester Rigoletto. Russian soprano and HGO Studio alumna Albina Shagimuratova will sing the role of Rigoletto ’s overly protected daughter Gilda; tenor Eric Cutler returns to HGO in his role debut as the lecherous Duke of Mantua; and bass Andrea Silvestrelli will perform his much acclaimed Sparafucile, the assassin. HGO Studio artist Maria Markina sings the role of the assassin ’s daughter, Maddalena, and bassbaritone Bradley Garvin sings Count Monterone, whose curse sets the opera in motion.

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures From the National Museum

Museum of Fine Arts, Through May 17

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul explores the rich cultural heritage of ancient Afghanistan from the Bronze Age (2500 B.C.) through the rise of trade along the Silk Road in the first century A.D.

The exhibit features some 228 objects ranging in date from 2200 B.C. to the second century A.D. Drawn from four archaeological sites, they belong to the National Museum and include fragmentary gold bowls with artistic links to Mesopotamia and Indus Valley cultures from the Bronze Age site of Tepe Fullol; bronze and stone sculptures and a gilded silver plaque from the former Greek colony at Ai Khanum; and bronzes, ivories and painted glassware that have been imported from Roman Egypt, China and India and excavated from ancient storerooms discovered in the 1930s and 1940s in Begram.

For more information, go to www.mfah.org or call 713-639-7300.

Contemporary Conversations:

John Chamberlain, American Tableau

The Menil Collection, Through Aug. 2

John Chamberlain studied at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1951-52 and Black Mountain College from 1955-56. The following year, he moved to New York, where for the first time he created sculpture that included scrap-metal auto parts. He used these found metal pieces as raw materials, shaping them at will, adding paint, and welding the finished compositions to preserve their stability. Despite the heavy and rather unyielding character of such material, Chamberlain ’s work often achieves a lyrical quality-colorful, anthropomorphic, somehow lighter on its feet than one would expect.

The dismantled and reshaped auto body quickly became Chamberlain’s signature sculptural medium. Although he eschewed the material for a period starting in 1967, he resumed its use in 1974 and continues to work in this media at present.

For more information, call 713-525-9400 or go to www.menil.org.

rent

Hobby Center, April 29 - May 3

Rent is the classic musical about love, friendship and community, and is the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history. This new touring production stars original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp.

Set in New York City’s East Village, Rent is a modern take on the classic Puccini opera, La Boheme. It tells the unforgettable story of a group of young artists learning to survive, falling in love, finding their voices and living for today. This production is recommended for children ages 12 and up.

For more information, go to www.tuts.com or call 713-558-TUTS.

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Alley Theatre, April 29 - May 24

Four-time Tony Award winner Tom Stoppard returns to the Alley with Rock ‘n’ Roll, winner of London Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play.

It’s August 1968, and Russian tanks are rolling into Prague. Jan, the Czech student, lives for rock music; Max, the English professor, lives for communism; and Esme, the flower child, is high. By 1990, the tanks are rolling out, the Stones are rolling in and idealism has hit the wall. Stoppard ’s sweeping and passionate play spans two countries, three generations and 22 turbulent years, at the end of which, love remains — and so does rock 'n' roll. Recommended for mature audiences.

For more information, go to www.alleytheatre.org or call 713-220-5700.

Dangerous Corner

The Company OnStage, May 1 - June 6

Dangerous Corner by J.B. Priestley is about a musical cigarette box belonging to a departed relative that becomes the catalyst for a group of friends to examine the secrets and lies that will change their relationships forever.

By the author of An Inspector Calls, this 1932 thriller still captivates and surprises with its psychological insights and shocking twists and turns.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.companyonstage.org or call 713-726-1219.

The Miss Firecracker Contest

Texas Repertory Theatre, May 6 - 24

When Carnelle Scott, known locally as Miss Hot Tamale, enters the local beauty pageant, poignant self-improvement and outright hilarity ensue in The Miss Firecracker Contest. An eccentric southern comedy by the author of Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest is a charming and heart-warming reminder that dreams do come true.

For tickets, visit www.texreptheatre.org or call 281-583-7573.

Tapumes

Blaffer Gallery, Through May 9

Henrique Oliveira’s exhibit, Tapumes refers to the weathered wood he uses as the primary material in his installations.

Oliveira’s installations, which he refers to as tri-dimensionals, have evolved into massive, spatial constructions that combine painting, architecture, and sculpture.

The constants in his work are the visual and tactile qualities of wood that has been exposed to the elements, and though he incorporates new, flexible plywood into his work, his primary material remains the discarded wood collected on the streets of S ão Paulo.

For more information, go to ricegallery.org or call 713-348-6069.