With the addition of the tagline, “the orchestra redefined,” Mercury Baroque is changing its name to Mercury. The orchestra’s repertoire has expanded in recent seasons to include works outside of the Baroque era. While Mercury will still maintain its tradition of bringing Baroque music to life, it is the organization’s goal to have its brand reflect the natural growth and evolution of the orchestra.
For more info:
www.mercurybaroque.org
The Board of Directors of Fresh Arts Coalition and Spacetaker are merging their organizations. In a joint statement, Fresh Arts Coalition Board President Karen Farber and the new organization’s Board President Harry McMahan expressed their enthusiasm about this decision. “We believe that by bringing Spacetaker and Fresh Arts Coalition together, we can create a “1+1=3” opportunity, where we draw on the complementary assets of two wonderful organizations to serve artists, arts organizations, and the art-loving public better than ever before.”
For more info:
www.spacetaker.org
Aurora Picture Show will be moving to a permanent location at 2442 Bartlett in June. The new space has an outdoor area to host backyard community gatherings and a flexible interior space perfect for screenings and education programs. It will also house the Aurora Video Library, and offices. Aurora will continue to partner with organizations such as the Menil Collection, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Project Row Houses, MFAH and others.
For more info:
www.aurorapictureshow.org
Galveston Arts Center is pleased to introduce a new program, “Conversations at the Center,” featuring presentations and discussion by area artists. The inaugural gathering will feature Galveston-based artists Eric Schnell and Ann Wood. The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at the Galveston Arts Center, 2501 Market Street. It is free and open to the public.
For more info:
www.contemporaryartgalveston.org
Josef Helfenstein, Director of the Menil Collection, has named Sheryl Kolasinski as the museum’s Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Kolasinski will work closely with Mr. Helfenstein on strategic planning, as well as the gradual implementation of the museum’s master site plan. The Menil Collection has also announced that it has been awarded a grant to restore 12 sculptures by the American artist John Chamberlain through Bank of America’s Art Conservation Project.
For more info:
www.menil.org
Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch promoted Joseph Walsh to the rank of principal dancer after his performance as the Prince in Mr. Welch’s production of “Cinderella.” Houston Ballet has also been recognized for 2011 by the American Marketing Association’s Houston Chapter as the top Houston marketer in two categories: Arts: Performing and Retail, and Consumer Products/Services for Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market. In addition, C.C. Conner, Houston Ballet’s former managing director, will be honored with the Trustees Award from Dance/USA.
For more info:
www.houstonballet.org
Da Camera of Houston announced its 2012/2013 25th anniversary season of chamber music and jazz concerts. Season highlights include world premieres of Da Camera commissions from Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and Houston-based Richard Lavenda and Pierre Jalbert; classical virtuoso Eliot Fisk teaming up with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell; Houston debuts of France’s Diotima Quartet and early music ensemble Le Poème Harmonique; Shostakovich String Quartet cycle; and the premiere of Sarah Rothenberg’s production “In the Garden of Dreams.”
For more info:
www.dacamera.com
Frame Dance Productions celebrates its second birthday with five grants, residencies at Puffin Foundation, Houston Arts Alliance, Rockbridge Artist Exchange, Hope Werks and Rice University Dance Program, eight new works and six collaborations with new musicians, writers, and visual artists. “It’s been a two year whirlwind,” reports Lydia Hance, artistic director of Frame Dance Productions. “In year three, you’ll see a push toward connectedness and interaction with the audience: integrated curatorial and educational elements to our shows.”
For more info:
www.framedance.org
Sundance Cinemas Houston announces the opening of the Screening Room. April films include “Natural Selection,” “Goethe in Love,” “Salt of Life,” “This is Not a Film” and “Monsieur Lazhar.”
For more info:
www.sundancecinemas.com
Keith Hollingsworth took top prize at the Museum of Fine Arts’ 16th Annual Citywide African American Artists Exhibition, displayed at the Community Artists’ Collective and in the Heritage Plaza Lobby in February and early March. Vonetta Berry was the second-place winner, and Kula Moore was named third.
For more info:
www.mfah.org
www.thecollective.org
The Tommy Tune Awards for high school performers will take place on April 17, at the Hobby Center. The winners of the Best Leading Actor and Actress categories will represent TUTS, all expenses paid, as they go on to compete at the national level for the Jimmy Award at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City in June 2012.
For more info:
www.tuts.com
Houston Family Arts Center just received notification from the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) that it has been selected to receive the national Twink Lynch Award. This prestigious award will be presented at the AACT National Convention in New York City on July 14, 2012. The award focuses national attention on HFAC as a leading force in Houston’s thriving community theater scene.
For more info:
www.houstonfac.com
Opera in the Heights’ 2012- 2013 season is built around the works of Shakespeare that have been made into operas, and includes Gioachino Rossini’s “Otello,” Vincenzo Bellini’s “I Capuleti e I Montecchi,” along with two operas by Giuseppe Verdi, “Macbeth” and “Falstaff,” to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Verdi’s birth.
For more info:
www.operaintheheights.org
