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Hollywood legend hits Houston to honor former first lady Barbara Bush's legacy

Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, will visit Houston this fall.

Courtesy photo

One wonders how Barbara Bush would react to the news. The mother-daughter team of Oscar-winning actress, singer and author Julie Andrews, and her daughter and co-author, Emma Walton Hamilton, will visit to Houston this fall to honor the former first lady legacy.

The pair will share their stories and experiences at the fourth annual Power of Literacy Luncheon, Friday, October 25 at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown.

Chaired by Lilly Andress and Vicki West, Andrews and Hamilton will participate in a moderated conversation as part of the program. Since its inception, the Ladies for Literacy Guild has raised nearly $1 million through the Power of Literacy Luncheons to fund local literacy initiatives.

“I am beyond excited for Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton to join us at this special event that helps champion Barbara Bush’s literacy legacy,” said Maria Bush, co-chair, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “Julie has been an idol of mine since I was a child, and this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the presence of someone who has enriched our lives through all of her many talents on stage, on screen, and on television – to the many books she has authored.”

Julie Andrews is famous for her roles as Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp in the iconic film The Sound of Music. Her career spans generations, from her beginnings in England’s vaudeville acts, to originating the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, to her roles in The Princess Diaries and the voices of Queen Lillian in the Shrek movies and Marlene, Gru’s mum in the Despicable Me and Minion franchises.

She and her daughter, Emma, are the authors of more than 30 children’s books, many of which have been New York Times best-sellers. Their latest franchise of books together, The Very Fairy Princess, is a 12-book series. The first book rose to No. 1 on the New York Times Children’s Best Seller list. Andrews and Hamilton are Grammy Award winners in the spoken word category.

“Emma and I are pleased to join the Foundation at this spectacular event as part of my world book tour,” said Andrews in a statement. “Reading and writing has played a significant part in both my professional career and my personal life for many, many years. Through our writings and stories, Emma and I strive to not only entertain readers, but also to inspire them to dream big in life.”

Andrews will release the second installment of her biography written with Hamilton, called Home Work - A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, on October 15. The book is a follow-up to her critically acclaimed and bestselling memoir, Home - A Memoir of My Early Years, and picks up her story with her arrival in Hollywood, sharing the career highlights, personal experiences, and reflections behind her career.

In addition to the annual luncheon, Ladies for Literacy Guild activities include funding the 30-foot Curiosity Cruiser mobile library, and creating children’s libraries in the New Hope Housing – Reed and Mission of Yahweh shelter, as well as promoting family literacy programs at Santa Maria Hostel. The guild is currently upfitting a second Curiosity Cruiser to serve low-income children across Harris County.

Intimate Musicale

Tunes fill River Oaks mansion in support of Miller Outdoor Theatre

Miller Outdoor Theatre Piano Noir fundraiser 2024

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Elizabeth and Alan Stein.

In a night that struck all the right notes, Robin and Danny Klaes opened their storied River Oaks home on November 10 to host an intimate soirée benefiting Houston’s beloved Miller Outdoor Theatre. Draped in sophisticated black and white cocktail attire, circa 40 arts patrons gathered for an evening of charming performances, fine cuisine, and meaningful chit chat — all with an eye toward supporting Miller’s mission of making the arts accessible to all.

The setting? An exquisitely decorated Kirby Drive home steeped in local lore, famously tied to the true-crime bestseller Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson, which added an intriguing layer to an already memorable evening. Was the ghost of Joan Robinson Hill roaming around? Perhaps.

Guests first mingled in the quaint, canopied courtyard, enjoying Chef Smirnov Catering’s hors d’oeuvres before being whisked into the grand ballroom on the second floor. With its baroque-inspired decor and ceiling murals, the space provided the allure of yesteryear, a theatrical backdrop for amicable chamber music.

St. John Flynn as emcee introduced performances by flutist Victor Kendall and the American Zeitgeist Chamber Ensemble, including Quantz’s Flute Concerto in G, Claude Bolling’s Suite for Jazz Flute, and Barber’s String Quartet. Adding a soupçon of modern flair, vocalists from the Music Box Theater — Rebekah Dahl, Brad Scarborough, and Austin Biel — offered their signature blend of cabaret and comedy.

Amid the musical interludes, Claudia de Vasco, managing director of the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, advocated for the nonprofit’s ongoing capital campaign. She spotlighted a recent key purchase: a grand piano specifically built to withstand Houston’s unpredictable outdoor elements. De Vasco invited attendees to become the official Miller Outdoor grand piano sponsors and make their mark on the amphitheater's enduring legacy.

Since stepping into her leadership role, De Vasco has ushered in a fresh energy around Miller Outdoor Theatre’s mission, focusing on how to better serve Houston’s diverse communities. The nonprofit’s free programming continues to be a gateway for Houstonians to experience everything from world-class symphonies to vibrant cultural showcases.

Guests in attendanceincluded Lance Jones and Allen Ueckert, John Edwards, Gabriel Olson, Carey Kirkpatrick, Lisa and Stan Duchman, Elizabeth and Alan Stein, Gretchen Gardener and Jack Watson, Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Karla and Romulo T. Cisneros, Senator Borris L. Miles and Cydonii Fairfax Miles, and Philamena and Arthur Baird.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Elizabeth and Alan Stein.

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