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Your weekly guide to Houston: Five (plus) don't-miss events — cosmic mixer included

On the agenda this week are the opening of a hyper local art exhibition, a film festival that explores architecture's relationship to the natural order, a community market and talent showcase, an artsy display of Houston prowess and a young professionals pity party for a has-been cosmic A-lister.

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston opening reception: Right Here, Right Now: Houston

The title of this hyper local exhibition says it all. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston director Bill Arning and curators Valerie Cassel Oliver and Dean Daderko chose to focus on the works of Debra Barrera, Nathaniel Donnett and Carrie Marie Schneider in an effort to bring attention to what's happening right here in Houston, artistically speaking, at the present moment in time.

The skinny: Friday, 6:30-9 p.m.; Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; free event.

Fourth Annual ArCH Film Festival "Architecture Meets Life"

The three-day festival continues on Friday and Saturday with The Human Scale, a film that explores how spaces influence human interaction by looking at urban centers such as New York, Berlin and London; and Biophilic Design, a survey of how buildings should connect to nature.

The skinny: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Architecture Center Houston; $10 per screening.

Project Row Houses' Third Ward Community Market and Talent Showcase

Project Row Houses is one of the most successful arts-centered experiments in which creativity acts as a catalyst for social change and community enrichment. Founder Rick Lowe's vision has surely been noticed: He was appointed by Mayor Annise Parker as one of the co-chairs to develop a cultural strategic plan to bolster local arts endeavors.

You can get a taste of what this Third Ward destination is all about at this relatively new ongoing event. This showcase — a mixture of performances, visual art, installations and hands-on activities — spotlights emerging artists in a family-friendly display.

The skinny: Saturday, 3-7 p.m.; Project Row Houses; free event.

21st Annual TransCanada Theater District Open House

Think of this affair that's held at the Hobby Center, Alley Theatre, Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center and Bayou Music Center as an appetizer to the city's menu of delectable artsy offerings that contributes to the city's national standing as a desirable place to call home.

Hands down the best prices on subscriptions and select single tickets to downtown's performing art presenters are available during Theater District Open House. Check out the day's activities here to plan your outing. How does a free tango lesson sound?

The skinny: Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Theater District; free event.

Houston Museum of Natural Science's Mixers and Elixirs

He was the smallest of the bunch, the little planet that couldn't. Although he enjoyed many years in the company of other official planets, eventually Pluto's true self was revealed: He was a dwarf planet and no longer belonged among the other cosmic A-listers.

The theme for this month's Mixers and Elixiers young professionals brainy fete pays homage to the celestial body with music courtesy of the Space Rockers, drinks and grub from H-Town StrEATs, Coreanos and Golden Grill.

The skinny: Sunday, 7-10 p.m.; Houston Museum of Natural Science: $20.

Biophilic Design, screened as part of the ArCH Film Festival, is a survey of how buildings should connect to nature.

Courtesy photo

Biophilic Design, screened as part of the ArCH Film Festival, is a survey of how buildings should connect to nature.

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Musical theater veteran joins prominent Houston company

Courtesy of Stages

Stages has named Valerie Rachelle as its new associate artist director.

A Houston theater company is adding an accomplished artist to its ranks. Stages announced that Valerie Rachelle will be the company’s new associate artistic director beginning in January 2026.

For more than a decade, Rachelle has been artistic director of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, Oregon, where she oversaw artistic vision and operations. That theater specializes in musical theater performances offered in a cabaret setting.

Rachelle comes to Houston with a career spanning nearly 30 years as a director and choreographer. She has extensive experience in developing new musicals and plays for regional theaters and opera companies across the United States, including the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Sierra Repertory Theatre. She was appointed to her position at Stages following a nationwide search.

“I’m beyond thankful for this opportunity to join this incredible company, and I’m excited to be a part of a creative entity that has a strong mission and vision as Stages,” Rachelle said in a statement.

In her role with Stages, she will support artistic director Derek Charles Livingston with season planning and casting; liaise with artists, press, and staff; and coordinate day-to-day operations for the artistic department. She will also assist with crafting educational materials, direct and choreograph productions, and serve as the primary liaison with theatrical unions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Valerie to Stages in this role,” said Livingston. “I have seen her work as a director and director choreographer — she's excellent. Those skills combined with her experience as a theatre artistic director and manager only further fortify Stages' commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement.”

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Rachelle began her career as a dancer and apprentice ballerina with the Eugene Ballet Company before earning her BFA in acting from California Institute of the Arts. She received her MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine. She has held teaching and directing positions at numerous institutions, including the University of Southern California, Southern Oregon University, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and others. She has also served as a mentor through Statera Arts, an organization dedicated to gender equity in the arts.

Rachelle teaches musical theater, auditioning, and singing at Southern Oregon University when she isn’t on the road as a freelance director and choreographer. She’s also a classically trained singer and toured the world with her parents and their illusionist show as a child.

“Joining the team that has a long-standing reputation of excellence in theater is an honor,” Rachelle added.

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