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    The Arthropologist

    A bounty of good: It's been a year of "farewell" and "hello" on Houston's artsscene

    Nancy Wozny
    Dec 27, 2011 | 11:01 am
    • Houston Ballet artist Karina Gonzalez in Emeralds, choreographed by GeorgeBalanchine
      Photo by Amitava Sarkar
    • Jessica Janes, Elissa Levitt and Ivy Castle in The Catastrophic Theatre'sproduction of Lisa D'Amour's Anna Bella Eema
      Photo by Anthony Rathbun
    • Shannon Emerick and Matt Lents in the Classical Theatre Company's production ofCandida
      Photo by Jan Saenz
    • Diane Barber is moving on from Diverse Works.
      Photo by Gary Fountain
    • Gary Tinterow was named director of the Museum of FIne Arts, Houston.
      Photo via MetMuseum.org
    • Cinema Arts Festival Houston
    • Danielle Rowe and artists of Houston Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty,choreographed by Ben Stevenson
      Photo by Amitava Sarkar
    • Houston Ballet artists James Gotesky and Melissa Hough in C-Sharp Minor,choreographed by Melissa Hough
      Photo by Amitava Sarkar

    Don't mind me. I'm just camped out on the docks, waiting for the white smoke to signal that DiverseWorks has hired a new executive director.

    Can you tell how the amount of change I've weathered this season has taken its toll? I prefer for people to stay in their jobs. But alas, thing happen. Some sad but part of life, like Diane Barber's moving on from DiverseWorks. Others seemingly out of the blue, like Anthony Freud's rather abrupt departure from Houston Grand Opera.

    Then there's Houston Ballet's long thought out transition from C.C. Conner to James Nelson as the incoming executive director in February 2012. One has to love the way that dance people plan ahead. The International Festival, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Opera in the Heights Talento Bilingue de Houston, Dance Source Houston, the Bayou City Art Festival and Art League also have new leaders.

    It's been a year of farewells and hellos on the culturescape.

    As I write this, Fresh Arts and Spacetaker are deciding whether or not they want to join forces, the Theatre Communications Group discusses whether or not Houston will be the site for the 2013 annual conference, and of course, the board of DiverseWorks is trying to figure out who will lead the edgy hub.

    Hence, some white smoke would be a nice touch.

     A bounty of good

    Some change has brought a bounty of good. How about the trio of relative newbies at Houston Ballet, Karina Gonzalez, Melissa Hough and Danielle Rowe? The threesome sure put me on the map, with a Dance Magazine cover story on Gonzalez, a Pointe cover story on Hough, and Rowe's "25 to Watch" entry in Dance Magazine. Thanks, ladies! They deserved every drop of ink. Gonzalez danced up a big ball of wonder in Jorma Elo's ONE/end/ONE, Hough did her brilliant Balanchine best in Rubies, and Rowe's elegance was a standout in Christopher Wheeldon's Rush.

     

      Part poem, part song, D'Amour's dirt infested trailer park tale comes alive under Jason Nodler's direction and outstanding performances by Ivy Castle, Jessica Janes and Elissa Levitt. Without a doubt, they live up to their tag line, "We will destroy you."

    Houston Ballet opened Center for Dance, a downtown beacon for ballet. Watching the company's first plie in the building felt historic.

    It was a year marked by Houston dancers performing out of town, oddly in New York City on the very same week, with Houston Ballet at The Joyce and NobleMotion Dance, iMee and others at The Dance Gallery Festival.

     The Catastrophic Theatre enjoyed yet another fine year. Sarah Kane's tone poem, Crave, will go down as one of the most memorable and intense nights in the history of Houston theater. Catastrophic stormed out of the fall gate after a sold-out run of Tamarie Cooper's The United States of Tamarie, with a stunning performance of Mickle Maher's There is a Happiness that Morning Is, proving just how much you can do with a good play, three fine actors and a small empty room with folding chairs. Nice. Then came the luminous, muddy, smokey and utterly mesmerizing Anna Bella Eema, by the award-winning playwright Lisa D'Amour. Part poem, part song, D'Amour's dirt infested trailer park tale comes alive under Jason Nodler's direction and outstanding performances by Ivy Castle, Jessica Janes and Elissa Levitt.

     

      I thoroughly enjoyed the dueling art fairs and news has it they both planning on coming back. The idea of seeing that much art without having to move the car is my kind of event, and didn't the Houston galleries look flashy?

     Spacetaker has showed savvy in two areas having nothing to do with taking over arts organizations, curating their exhibition space known as "The Arc" and hosting an informative and extremely well-attended professional development workshop series. They have figured out what artists need and deliver it.

     Classical Theatre Company (CTC) has emerged as the traditional folks to watch. Their vivid production of the George Bernard Shaw classic, Candida, showed off the deep talents of Shannon Emerick and CTC regular Thomas Prior. CTC's collaboration with the Prague Shakespeare Festival was a unprecedented event for such a young theater troupe and a testament to the stability they have built in a short time. I fully expect their upcoming dive into Chekhov, with Uncle Vanya, to be a yet another polished night of theater.

     BooTown has emerged as rulers of the alt theater world. Their uber popular Grown Up Story Time, now on Round 43, draws huge crowds at Rudyards Pub. And with their outdoor bloody puppet shows, it's hard to know what to expect. That's the point.

     Dueling art fairs

    I thoroughly enjoyed the dueling art fairs and news has it they both planning on coming back. The idea of seeing that much art without having to move the car is my kind of event, and didn't the Houston galleries look flashy?

    Finally, the last big cultural bonanza I want to talk about is the Cinema Arts Festival. Having clocked in five days in the dark with 12 films, all of them compelling, I can honestly say that this is one gem of a film festival, and it gets better with each year. Alright, so the big movie for me, Wim Wenders' Pina, in 3D no less, was a dance movie. Movies about the arts make good movies.

    Hope to meet you on the art road in 2012.

     See what I mean about Houston Ballet Principal Danielle Rowe in Christopher Wheeldon's Rush

     

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    weekend event planner

    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this 4th of July weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 2, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    The 4th of July lands on a Friday this year, which means things will get especially patriotic this weekend.

    We’ve already listed all the fireworks celebrations and restaurant specials that’ll be popping off on Friday. (Don’t forget about the screenings of Independence Day at River Oaks Theatre, Rooftop Cinema Club and Marriott Marquis Houston.) But there are also other must-see events happening this weekend, including a LEGO convention, the second anniversary of a Third Ward eatery, the return of a Stanley Kubrick classic, and an outlaw music festival featuring Willie Freakin’ Nelson and Bob Freakin’ Dylan!

    Thursday, July 3

    Brick Rodeo
    Brick Rodeo is a family-friendly event that features hundreds of custom models and displays made from LEGO bricks. Creators from Texas and around the country will be available to talk about their creations. Fans who want to display their own creations, attend workshops, and participate in all the activities should purchase an All Access Pass. Families and individuals who want to spend a day viewing incredible custom creations, talking with builders, and shopping with vendors should purchase a public exhibition ticket. 9 am (8:30 am Friday-Sunday).

    City Place presents Young Audiences of Houston: Painting with Watercolor Pencils Art Workshop
    This free art workshop, hosted by Young Audiences of Houston teaching artist Judy Malone Stein, transforms City Place’s central waterfront plaza into a classical art studio with easels and other essential supplies. Participants are introduced to the medium of watercolor pencils and will learn basic color theory which includes the color wheel and primary and secondary colors, along with complimentary colors. They will also focus on creating compositions, using traditional visions (portraits, landscapes, still life) as their subject matter. 9:30 am.

    Improv Houston presents Dustin Ross
    Dustin Ross is a NAACP Image Award-winning host, writer, and producer. Fans of The Read podcast may know him as a longtime guest/friend to the show. These days, you can hear him on two pods: The Friend Zone, with co-hosts Hey Fran Hey and Assante; and Holding Court, with Eboni K. Williams. He has also hosted seasons of Bet on Black, REVOLT TV’s competition series, Bet On Black. As an on-air contributor, Ross has appeared on multiple platforms, including MTV, BET, Bravo TV, HBO, FUSE TV, GLAAD, Fox Soul, and more. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, July 4

    Freedom Over Texas
    With an average of 50,000 people in attendance, Freedom Over Texas has become Houston’s annual, signature July 4th celebration. The live, televised event will feature local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice, and will be capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. It also features a unique non-profit component, as the event will donate a percentage of food and beverage sales to the Houston Food Bank. 4 pm.

    Ensemble Theatre presents The Tap Dance Kid
    Over at The Ensemble Theatre, The Tap Dance Kid is about a 10-year-old African-American kid named Willie who doesn’t want to be a lawyer like his well-to-do strict father, and dreams of becoming a dancer like his talented Uncle Dipsey, an aspiring Broadway choreographer. The final production in the theater’s 2024-25 season, this musical is filled with imaginations of stardom that keep us tapping along. Through Sunday, July 27. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    Dan Electro’s presents The Broken Spokes & Oliver Penn 4th of July Party
    Freedom, music, and a 4th of July Party will be going down at Dan Electros. The show will feature a performance from traditional Texas country band The Broken Spokes, a well-seasoned outfit that’s put in the time honing their craft in honky tonks across Texas,. Also performing will be Rhode Island-born, Houston-based country singer Oliver Penn, who has shared the stage with Charley Crockett, Shakey Graves, Randall King, The California Honeydrops, and Shinyribs. 9 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Graveyard Shift: Attack the Block
    Guy Fawkes Night in London is a time for fireworks, fooling around, and an occasional surprise or two. But when vicious extraterrestrials decide to crash the hellraisers’ holiday, a time for making merry quickly turns scary. Writer-director Joe Cornish also ensures it’s frequently humorous as well. This frisky, vigorous 2011 spoof — propelled by an insistent electronic score by Steven Price & Basement Jaxx and a star-making lead turn from John Boyega — shows a similar sensibility in its breezy blending of goofiness and gruesomeness. 10 pm.

    Saturday, July 5

    Rado Market 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
    Chef Chris Williams’ market and cafe at the historic Eldorado Ballroom will celebrate its two-year anniversary with a celebration that’s free and open to the public. The event will include complimentary champagne during the first hour, food specials from chef Jaden Gaines, and live music from a DJ for the first two hours. Guests can also browse and shop from a curated lineup of local vendors offering various products for sale, including Posh Body, Ambrosia Nectar, 77 Stash, and Juxx. Patrons can also enter two raffles featuring Radiant Aura samples and other giveaways. Noon.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
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    Winnie’s presents Labubu Face Tattoo Korean Corn Dog Karaoke Party
    Never has an event’s name been a more complete description of what’s happening at the Midtown sandwich shop/cocktail bar on Saturday. Artists from Rodeo Tiger will be tattooing Labubu, the must-have accessory that feels destined to become the Beanie Babies of 2025 ($25 minimum, $50 for both sides, and $100 for full face custom work). While you wait, snack on a Korean corn dog created by chef Jennifer Hoffman. Karaoke starts at 8 pm. 1 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Barry Lyndon
    This weekend, catch the 50th anniversary screening (in glorious 35mm!) of Stanley Kubrick’s lavish, Oscar-winning 1975 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 18th-century novel. Forced to leave Ireland after killing an English officer in a duel, young Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) seeks his fortune as a soldier in Prussia, as a spy, and then as a gambler living among the elite of Europe. He changes his name and marries an aristocrat (Marisa Berenson) for her wealth, but will he finally gain the acceptance he seeks? 5 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Kings Harbor Waterfront Village presents “Fireworks on the Pier”
    Looking for a post-4th of July throwdown this weekend? Kings Harbor Waterfront Village in Kingwood will have its annual “Fireworks on the Pier” celebration, a patriotic evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities include family-friendly games like Connect Four, a balloon artist, face painting and bubble stations for kids. Local restaurants will be serving up a variety of delicious food and drink options throughout the evening. A dazzling fireworks show over the pier will begin around 10 pm. 7 pm.

    Movies at Miller: Wicked
    We know there is a lot of y’all who can’t wait for Wicked: For Good to drop in multiplexes this winter. Before that happens, head over to Miller Outdoor Theatre and revisit the Oscar-winning Broadway musical adaptation that set it all off. In the magical Land of Oz, Wicked covers the first act, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good Witch. The audience is encouraged to come in costume. 8:30 pm.

    Sunday, July 6

    Eldorado Ballroom presents Ball N’ Parlay
    Dubbed “A 1st Sunday Vibeout,” Ball N’ Parlay is a vibrant, Third Ward day party that’s going to be held outside the legendary Eldorado Ballroom. They’re really hyping this one up, calling it “the Sunday you’ve been waiting for, where music, community, and culture meet.” We’re just psyched that some of our favorite DJs will be doing live sets, including DJ Elevated, Maiya Papaya, Alist, and DJ Bloom. 3 pm.

    Outlaw Music Festival
    If you grew up going to Cactus Music and picking up the latest issue of No Depression, looking for the latest in outlaw country releases to scoop up, a fest full of iconic, guitar-strumming banditos will be making a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this weekend. The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. 4:05 pm.

    CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
    As of this writing, we don’t know who will be playing in the final match of the soccer championship known as the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, going down this weekend at NRG Stadium. What we do now is that the winners will be determined on Wednesday night, when the semifinal matchups – the USMNT vs. Guatemala and Mexico vs. Honduras – will take place. This also marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in the state of Texas. 6 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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