On tap for the week are the growing pains of a local comedienne, an art exhibit as big as Texas, a musical marathon, film screenings that will keep your little ones occupied, a foodie tour of La France and an opening that features the work of four women.
Be sure to click on the links below each suggestion to find helpful intel about the event and what's nearby your final destination, in case you feel an urge for food, drink or retail therapy. Tip: There's a feature that downloads the deets right to your electronic calendar. Now, read on.
Catastrophic Theatre presents Tamarie Cooper is Old As Hell
Houston funny girl Tamarie Cooper doesn't stop creating despite the fact that — in her own words as opined in her latest vaudevillian hilarious romp — she's "old as hell." The shrewdness of the 40-year-old veteran playwright/actor is something to be experienced, nothing that truly can be limned through literary devices.
Will over-the-hill Cooper be satisfied with only being typecast as an off-the-wall nosy neighbor, kooky aunt and lunatic maid? Or will she risk being shut down for churlishly breaching the unwritten code of thespian art? In light of the live orchestra, original music, big cast and singing and dancing slated for this comedic spectacle — I sure hope it's the latter.
The skinny: Thursday through Aug. 24; Catastrophic Theatre; tickets are pay-what-you-can.
Art opening reception: Lawndale Art Center's "The Big Show"
Lawndale Art Center's "The Big Show" is a juried free-for-all, an opportunity for emerging artists who live within 100 miles of Houston to hang their oeuvres at a museum of repute. The resulting exhibition is a bricolage of compelling works that paint a clear picture of the trajectory of art in the city.
As this year's juror, Duncan MacKenzie, co-founder of Chicago-based contemporary art digital hub Bad at Sports, is charged with making sense out of nearly 1,000 submissions from 366 entrants to proffer his point of view. The selected 83 works by 67 artists represent the burgeoning inventive prowess that will comprise the future aesthetic movements in the industry.
The skinny: Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Lawndale Art Center; free event.
Day of Music: A Free Day-Long Celebration of Houston's Musical Diversity
Is there such thing as too much music? Think of this Houston Symphony hosted event as a polyphonic, tuneful orgy in which major players of the city's music scene — classical, popular, jazz, international and everything in between — get in bed to offer a 13-hour marathon concert that's complemented with family friendly activities, including an instrument petting zoo, arts and crafts and harmonica lessons.
Plan your day with this helpful schedule.
The skinny: Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Jones Hall; free event, no tickets required.
Children's Film Festival Seattle 2013 presented by Asia Society Texas Center
At a loss for what to do with the kiddos now that school is out? Asia Society Texas Center has the answer with a series of screenings from the yearly Children's Film Festival Seattle — because it's never too early to impart the appreciation of diversity and knowledge about the cultures of the world in an impressionable young mind. Parents will surely learn a thing — or two — along the way as well.
Find the complete lineup of films here. Add a literary educational component by attending a family writing workshop before a couple of the screenings.
Bastille Day Celebration at Philippe Restaurant + Lounge "Pink+Petanque"
Practice your redneck français — you know, append a "le" or "la" before as many nouns as you can, say sacre bleu and mon dieu while imbibing too much vin — to fit in at chef Philippe Schmit's Bastille Day fete. Then, pay hommage to the tricoleur with a gastronomic tour de nourriture that samples the many regional cuisines of Marianne, with wine selections courtesy of sommelier Vanessa Trevino-Boyd.
A delightful extra to this year's celebration is a game of pétanque — which sounds like it means derrière, but it doesn't — sort of like bocce but with a French accent.
The (not so) skinny: Sunday, 4 p.m.; Philippe Restaurant + Lounge; entry is $65.
Staff writer and oh-so-lovely Houston explorer Whitney Radley's pick: Planned Parenthood Young Leaders' "Party Like a Rock Star" Kickoff Celebration
Whitney says: "If the recent uproar over Senate Bill 5 has you hankering to do something beyond buying a pair of Sen. Wendy Davis' pink running shoes and/or throw darts at effigies of Rick Perry, now's the time to get involved with Planned Parenthood Young Leaders, which is gearing up for its "Party Like a Rockstar" event, set for Aug. 10, with a kickoff party this Sunday at Reef."
Arts smarty pants and in-the-loop happy gal Nancy Wozny's pick: Interpretive Voices
Nancy says: "When Nicole Longnecker told me she was starting a gallery, I expected her to highlight women artists, so it's no surprise that her second show, Interpretive Voices, is an all-female exhibit. The show features works by ceramic artist Jessica Dupuis from Chapel Hill, N.C.; multi-media artist Erin Stafford from Dallas; paintings and drawings from San Antonio artist Megan Harrison and two dimensional works by Jade Cooper of Houston."
The skinny: Saturday, 5-8 p.m.; exhibit runs through Aug. 17; Nicole Longnecker Gallery; free event.
The Bastille Day Celebration at Philippe Restaurant + Lounge offers a tour de cuisine through many of the regional flavors of France.
