Pick Five (Plus)

Your weekly guide to Houston: The last day of the Byzantine frescoes, Radiohead& breakfast for dinner

Bayou Bend brings back Sip & Stroll Evenings during which guests enjoy theformal gardens' fragrant ambiance at Ima Hogg's exquisite 1920s manor.
The Houston Grand Opera Showcase features the vocals of Boris Dyakov, BrittanyWheeler, Brendan Tuohy, Lauren Snouffer, Nicholas Masters, Catherine Martin,Scott Quinn and Mark Diamond. Directed by the John Cox and hosted by HGOartistic and music director Patrick Summers.
Pancakes? Bacon? Waffles? Not the typical gala fare of filet mignon andchocolate torte. Then again, Hope Stone isn't a run-of-the-mill dance company,either.
Although Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater drops in to Houston every other yearor so, this visit is a historic one: It's their first with Robert Battle at thehelm.
Photo by Andrew Eccles
After Sunday, the frescoes that have crowned the Byzantine Chapel's name arereturning to Cyprus, their place of origin. As part of the farewell rituals isthe final Matins and Divine Liturgy.
Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/U.S. Library of Congress
The 49th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival is a mishmash of seven shorts with suchthemes as sea voyages, protomatter, coming-of-age stories, destruction andtourism.

Houston loves Rip Esselstyn, evident by the hoards of health conscious foodies that swarmed Whole Foods Market Montrose. The triathlete turned firefighter is a real-men-eat-plants dude with a mission, enlightening audiences with nutritional information fused with anecdotes from his days as an athlete and life at the firehouse.

At 49 years old, the hard-as-a-rock father, author and motivational speaker shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, his wife is expecting.

Esselstyn's appearance was the culmination of a 28-day Health Starts Here Challenge to encourage participants to make improvements in their eating and exercise regime. How did I do? Fourteen pounds and counting.

Tango & Malbec was the place to be for iFest's kick off fundraiser, "Adelante!" The event fused South American inspired cuisine with Argentinean vintages, a nod to the theme for this year's outdoor music, food and cultural carnival. Mark your calendars for April 21-29 when Los Lonely Boys, War and reggae group Steel Pulse, along with Galactic, JJ Grey and MOFRO, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Los Amigos Invisibles, Chico Trujillo, SOJA, and Hector Del Curto & Eternal Tango will perform on one of the 10 stages downtown.

Just when I think I have heard it all, Da Camera of Houston brings a couple of guys from across the pond who specialize in an obscure music genre: Medieval. Houston is charmed for having many early music troupes like Mercury Baroque, Ars Lyrica, Early Music Southwest, Bach Society Houston and Houston Early Music. But nothing could have prepared me to travel back 500 plus years before that to the 8th and 9th century and lend an ear to Germanic music traditions.

Benjamin Bagby with Norbert Rodenkirchen of Sequentia — on voice, medieval six-string harp, symphonia and wood and bone flutes — reconstructed dark apocalyptic Christian texts in a manner that lies somewhere in between spoken word and recitative.

With the Rodeo in town and spring around the corner, if you are looking to get out and play, here's what my colleagues and I suggest:

Bayou Bend's Sip & Stroll Evenings

March is here and so are the blooming azaleas (hopefully) at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston American decorative arts collection. Bayou Bend brings back this new tradition during which guests enjoy the formal gardens' fragrant ambiance at Ima Hogg's exquisite 1920s manor.

The informal event is exactly what its title implies: Grab a glass of wine and meander through the beautifully manicured pathways. Then, head inside to peruse the collection of art and antiques where themed-rooms await the discovery of how life used to be.

Tickets are $10. Bayou Bend's Sip & Stroll Evenings is a weekly Thursday social from March 1 to March 22, 5-8 p.m. (last admission is at 7 p.m.).

49th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival at Market Square Park

When Aurora Picture Show and the Downtown District plan an event, cool things happen. On Friday, bring a blanket and snacks — beer and wine are not allowed but can be purchased from Niko Niko's — to enjoy the longest-running indie and experimental film fest in the continent, going strong since its inception in 1963. The screening is a mishmash of seven shorts with such themes as sea voyages, protomatter, coming-of-age stories, destruction and tourism.

Equally as exciting is a live performance by NBC The Voice's Sarah Golden (a Houstonian) at 6 p.m. Screening begins at 7 p.m. Free event.

Houston Grand Opera Studio Showcase at Wortham Theater Center

It's where the crème de la crème of emerging opera stars begin their careers. Many apply to the Houston Grand Opera Studio, albeit only a select few are chosen to study with HGO's faculty and staff, and given opportunities to sing supporting roles, in recitals and community engagement concerts.

Want to be in the know? The Friday showcase features the vocals of Boris Dyakov, Brittany Wheeler, Brendan Tuohy, Lauren Snouffer, Nicholas Masters, Catherine Martin, Scott Quinn and Mark Diamond — directed by the John Cox and hosted by HGO artistic and music director Patrick Summers — in arias, duets and scenes from popular operatic repertoire.

Tickets start at $12.25.

Hope Stone's Gala "Breakfast for Dinner" at Houston Ballet Center for Dance

Pancakes? Bacon? Waffles? Not the typical gala fare of filet mignon and chocolate torte. Then again, Hope Stone isn't a run-of-the-mill dance company, either, mounting ground-breaking shows alongside an involved education program. On this night, guests will enjoy a performance by Hope Stone dancers with artists from Mercury Baroque and the Kid's Play Ensemble, a collaboration that embodies the nonprofit's ethos.

The "Breakfast for Dinner" gala Saturday is chaired by Leticia Loya, Kelly Myernick, Shelly Power and Heather Pray, and includes morning edibles by Catering by Culinaire, cocktails, a silent auction and raffle. Tickets start at $250 and tables start at $2,500.

Final Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Fresco Chapel

After Sunday, the frescoes that have crowned the Byzantine Chapel's name are returning to Cyprus, their place of origin. As part of the farewell rituals is the final Matins and Divine Liturgy beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

Sure, it may be a religious service. But religious affiliation should not be a deterrent to bid adieu to rescued works that have meant so much to The Menil Collection. I bet this last sacrament will be talked about many years into the future as Houstonians fondly recall the chapel as the home for these historical artifacts.

The event is free.

CultureMap intern, live music guru and Houston insider Karen Labuca's pick: Lady Antebellum at RodeoHouston

Karen says: "I'm going to make a long overdue visit to the rodeo Thursday to check out Lady Antebellum. Country music has been making a comeback. Even though most mainstream acts are pop crossovers, at least they're shedding light on the country community.

"Lady Antebellum is a good example with an impressive growing career. Recently, the group stole the Grammy for Country Album of the Year from past favorite Taylor Swift, so I'm curious to check out this trio live."

Contributor, all knowing beer sage and party gal Caroline Gallay's pick: Friends of Citizen Schools Happy Hour at Saint Arnold

Caroline says: "My pick of the week is the Friends of Citizen Schools happy hour Thursday at Saint Arnold. It's a great way to meet like-minded young professionals while enjoying some great Saint Arnold beer, live music and light bites from Ninfa's on Navigation and Down House.

"Come on by and learn about mentorship opportunities from an organization dedicated to bridging gaps in opportunity and achievement for low-income middle school students around the country and right here in Houston. There is a $15 suggested donation at the door."

Arts smarty pants and beer lovin' lovable dance maven Nancy Wozny's pick: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Jones Hall

Nancy says: "You will find me holed up at Jones Hall the entire weekend to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, presented by Society for the Performing Arts Friday through Sunday. Although Ailey drops in to Houston every other year or so, this visit is a historic one: It's their first with Robert Battle at the helm.

"Battle's Houston ties go way back too. I got a sneak peek at Rennie Harris' new work, Home, while I was in New York in October visiting an Ailey rehearsal. It's a stunner. As I was leaving the building, I ran into Battle and bid him hello from Houston. I asked if he could bring back Home with him when he came here. He replied, 'I'll see what I can do, I know someone.' I'm also dying to see Ailey dance Paul Taylor's Arden Court. There are two Battle pieces on the program, too.

"Without a doubt, every show closes with a signature work, Ailey's masterwork Revelations." Tickets start at $35.

A Houston Young People for the Arts (HYPA) post-performance party is set for Saturday night at The Capitol at St. Germain hosted by chairs Roslyn Y. Bazzelle, Marcus B. Carter and Katy J. Pease. Company members will be in attendance. More information here.

Staff writer and adorable Houston explorer Whitney Radley's pick: Radiohead at Toyota Center

Whitney says: "Though a series of mishaps prevented me from scoring tickets to the concert, in an ideal world, I would be going to see Radiohead at the Toyota Center on Saturday night. The sold-out show is sure to be an unforgettable one, and if you have tickets, don't even think of missing it. Why would you?"

Staff writer, architecture savant and all around good guy Tyler Rudick's pick: 2012 Houston Modern Home Tour

Tyler says: "Each year the Modern Home Tour opens the doors to some of the city's most intriguing residential designs built in the last half century. For the 2012 edition, I'm particularly excited about a mid-century house on the west side with one of the coolest addresses ever: 0 Paul Revere. Designed by a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright in conjunction with the University of Houston, the building appears to have been virtually untouched since it was completed in 1960."

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Best April Theater

The 9 best plays, musicals, and operas to see in Houston this month

Photo by Joan Marcus

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Houston theater companies seem to be feeling a bit nostalgic as they offer up some timeless and contemporary classics shows for audiences this month. Drama gets political, comedy gets historical, and an array of queens, knights, lunching ladies, and barbers sing. Celebrate the classics, and one world premiere, as theater blossoms across the city this month.

Brother Andrew at A.D. Players (now through April 26)
The family friendly and spiritual theater company's latest new work is this musical inspired by the New York Times Bestseller, God's Smuggler. The true story follows a young Dutch man who, after a dramatic conversion, takes on a new calling as Brother Andrew and risks his life to smuggle Bibles behind the iron curtain during the cold war. With music and lyrics by Christian rock star Neal Morse, Brother Andrew becomes an inspirational, thrilling musical, and Houston theater goers can be the first to see it.

Six presented by Broadway at the Hobby Center (April 7-12)
Let’s sing out “Yas, Queens!” as six divas take the Hobby stage once more to have (and belt) it out over who had a worst marriage to the king of bad husbands, Henry VIII. With those marriage outcomes being: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived, they’ve got a lot to sing about. Coincidentally resembling some of the hottest pop stars of our age, the 16th century royals: Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anna, Katherine with aK, and the second Catherine with a C (Henry had a type for names), finally get to tell their own side of the story in this theatrical concert extravaganza. Six is one of those rare musicals that after many years is still going strong on Broadway, but you don’t have book a flight to seek an audiences with the queens, as Broadway at Hobby brings them back to Houston.

Company from Garden Theatre (April 10-19)
Garden continues to celebrate its fifth season by remounting some of its audience's favorite shows, and the final musical of the season is no exception. Stephen Sondheim’s exploration of New York marriages through the eyes of a single and singular man, Bobby, also gave us Sondheim fans some of our most adored songs, like “Ladies Who Lunch” and “Being Alive.” Through a series of dinner parties, first dates, and candid conversations, Bobby explores the highs, lows, and absurdities of modern relationships, gaining insight into marriage, commitment, and his own persistent bachelorhood. Garden Theatre’s founding artistic director Logan Vaden, plays Bobby, alongside a cast of Garden regulars.

The Designated Mourner from Catastrophic Theatre (April 10-25)
Because of scheduling and production issues, Catastrophic made some changes to its announced season and brought back this contemporary political classic by American playwright and actor Wallace Shawn. Unfolding in a series of monologues and short scenes, three characters, a husband, wife, and her father, talk us through a labyrinthine tale spanning the years before, during, and after a populist uprising in an unnamed country. Now teetering on the edge of authoritarianism, the government has targeted artists and intellectuals for imprisonment and execution. Catastrophic co-founder Jason Nodler, who will direct, says the power of Designated Mourner is that it pushes audiences to reflect on their own beliefs and ideals if confronted by such circumstances. Previous productions have left audiences thinking and questioning long after the final lines.

Spamalot presented by Theatre Under the Stars (April 15-26)
Clap your coconut shells together as the revival of the smash Broadway hit clops into Houston. As the original description so honestly stated, Spamalot is lovingly ripped from the film classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but fans know the musical definitely expands on the film.

Follow King Arthur and his nights of the Round Table on a set of meandering adventures through ancient England, a land full of flying cows, killer rabbits, French taunters, dancing girls, shrubbery, and watery lake tarts dispensing swords. While this revival garnered critical acclaim on Broadway for its new design and staging, the original book, lyrics, and music by Python member Eric Idle still remain, so expect to sing along with knightly songs like “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” and “Find Your Grail.”

Othello from Classical Theatre Company (April 16-May 2)
The Houston theater company that specializes in bringing new perspectives to theatrical masterpieces describes its 18th season as “sad plays for sad days.” In keeping with that theme, it brings the always complex and provocative Othello to the DeLuxe stage.

The play follows the heroic Moorish general in the Venetian army, Othello, whose life is destroyed by his insidious and conniving ensign, Iago. Calling Othello his favorite Shakespeare play, company founder John Johnston finds many parallels between the play and our current political landscape, especially Othello’s blight and Iago’s ability to manipulate others using fear and racism as a wedge.

Messiah from Houston Grand Opera (April 17-May 3)
As the music rises to the heavens, the Wortham stage will be filled with images reminiscent of fantastic dreams in this rare staging of Handel’s Messiah, arranged by Mozart, as a full operatic production. Though classical music lovers likely are more accustomed to hearing Handel’s Messiah as a holiday tradition in concert halls, Wilson’s acclaimed production becomes a surreal, transformative experience.

Performed by the HGO Orchestra and Chorus alongside soprano Ying Fang, countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, tenor Benjamin Bliss, and bass-baritone Nicholas Newtona, as well as internationally celebrated dancer Alexis Fousekis, this Messiah production will be one audiences will not soon forget.

Fences at Alley Theatre (April 17-May 10)
It’s been some time since the Alley produced a work by August Wilson, one of the great American playwrights of the late 20th century, but this Pulitzer and Tony winner is certainly a momentous one to welcome Wilson’s work back to the Hubbard stage. Fences tells the story of a former baseball player, Troy Maxson, who struggles with the realities of life and the pursuit of happiness. The play explores themes of racial prejudice and unfulfilled dreams, while depicting the challenges of parenthood and the strength and bonds of family when they are tested.

The Barber of Seville from Houston Grand Opera (April 24-May 10)
One of the most beloved comic operas, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville gets a colorful and exhilarating new staging created and directed by Joan Font, founding director of the Barcelona-based company Comediants. The opera follows the story of the dashing Count Almaviva, who is captivated by the mysterious Rosina but thwarted in his pursuit by her pompous old guardian, Dr. Bartolo. In order to get close to the cloistered beauty, Almaviva enlists the help of the scheming barber Figaro and his clever tricks, leading to a series of elaborate disguises, intercepted letters, and outrageous mix-ups before true love triumphs at last.

Photo by Joan Marcus

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Six.

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