Dish-Houston

The Halo House Foundation has announced the 2nd annual “Houston Stars - Dancing for a Cause” gala will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the Houston Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Local Houston celebrities have teamed up with the Halo House Foundation in support of the event. The Houston Stars - Dancing for a Cause Gala will be raising money to provide short-term housing for out-of-town patients who are receiving blood cancer treatment at the Houston Medical Center. Every year a significant number of blood cancer patients are unable to obtain the care they need because they cannot afford the necessary short-term housing.

The gala will feature dance performances from:

Dale Tyczowski - Owner, Dalek Interiors
Jared Lang - G.M., Momentum Audi.  President of Fashion Houston 2010;
James Rodriguez - Houston City Councilman
Jo Furr - Author, Retired Educator
Lynn Lumsden - Development Manager, Prism Electric
Kat Cosley - LiveWell Network's "Deals" Program Host
Patricia Gras - Senior Producer, PBS
Chita Johnson  - Meteorologist, KHOU.

Guests will have the opportunity to pick their favorite Houston "Stars" of the evening, enjoy great food, libations, a live and silent auction, and all in support of providing housing to cancer patients in Houston.

As you may remember DISH Publisher Lori Freese won last year's competition and has been honored to be asked back this year as a judge.

Halo House Foundation
The Halo House Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides short term housing for Houston Medical Center blood cancer patients and their families.  The organization was started in 2009 by Dr. Nathan Fowler and Kathleen Fowler. Dr. Fowler is a researcher and practicing oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and was inspired to create Halo House after seeing his own patients spend their entire life's savings to pay for housing and medical treatments because they did not have access to affordable short-term housing during their time of treatment. Halo house has provided over 2,500 days of housing since opening their first two apartments in January, 2011, and has helped families from 12 states across the US. In 2015, the organization plans to open their own Halo House facility with 20 apartments for cancer patients.

For more information about Halo House or to purchase tickets for the upcoming gala please visit CLICK HERE

DISH received the sad word over the weekend that due to a health problem, Alley veteran James Black is unable to perform the role of Willy Loman in the Alley Theatre’s current production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.  Everyone is confident that he will make a full recovery and will be able to return to the Alley stages in future productions.

“I must put my health above all, follow the medical guidance of my doctor, and step away from this role and this great production,” says James Black.  “I leave with a heavy heart and apologize for disappointing loyal Alley subscribers and current ticket holders.”

Managing Director Dean R. Gladden continues:

“We request that you respect the privacy of James Black and feel confident that he will return to full strength soon and be able to direct this year’s production of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas. We have cancelled performances through Friday, October 5 and are doing our best to contact all ticket holders to reschedule for performances later in the run.”

Artistic Director Gregory Boyd is pleased to announce that Glenn Fleshler will play the role of Willy Loman. He was the understudy for Willy Loman in the recent Broadway production. His Broadway credits also include Captain Brice, RN in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia and Antonio’s man/ensemble in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A definitive first preview and opening will be announced at a later time.

ABOUT DEATH OF A SALESMAN
The return to the Alley of Arthur Miller’s Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Death of a Salesmanis particularly relevant today. The play juxtaposes the American Dream with the realities of a fluctuating economy, unequal opportunities, and unfair advantages, with vivid characters and consummate theatricality. As salesman Willy Loman approaches the end of his working life, he must reconcile his unrealized dreams while struggling against the current world. Recommended for general audiences; mature themes.

ABOUT GLENN FLESHLER
Glenn Fleshler is making his Alley Theatre debut. On Broadway, he appeared in Death of A Salesman, Arcadia, The Merchant of Venicewith Al Pacino, A Behanding in Spokane, Guys and Dolls, and Spring Awakening. He appeared with Meryl Streep in Mother Couragein Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre, Maggie Smith in The Lady From Dubuque in the West End, and the Drama Desk-winning cast of Stuff Happens at The Public Theatre along with many other productions Off-Broadway and around the country. He has had many recurring roles on TV including George Remus on Boardwalk Empire, Pavel Mirminsky on Delocatedand Det. Milton Trammel on Damages. He has also made appearances on Law & Orders, Fringe, The Good Wife, Bored to Death, Sex and the City and Third Watch. Films include: Margaret, All Good Things, A Price Above Rubies and the upcoming releases of Gods Behaving Badly, Nightingalewith Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix, Starbuck with Vince Vaughn and the latest Woody Allen project.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is proud to announce the international musical sensation and four time Tony Award nominee Jekyll & Hyde will run at Hobby Center For The Performing Arts Oct. 10 – 21, 2012 as TUTS’ opening show for its 2012-2013 “A Lot To Love” season.  After four thrilling, chilling years on Broadway and multiple world-wide tours, this dark and dangerous love story returns in a stunning new production that includes all the classic songs (“This is the Moment,” “A New Life,” and “Someone Like You”) that first grabbed audiences by the throat and transformed Jekyll & Hyde into a theatrical phenomenon.

The musical stars Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis in the dual title role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde.  Starring alongside him will be Grammy nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox as Lucy.

Several stage veterans will join the headlining cast.  Teal Wicks, whose credits include Wicked’s Elphaba on Broadway, will play Emma Carew.  Laird Mackintosh, who played on Broadway and in the first national tour as George Banks in Mary Poppins, will portray John Utterson.  Richard White, whom audiences will remember from the lead role in TUTS’ Zorro and Phantom, Broadway’s Most Happy Fella and the national tours of Urinetown and Camelot, will play the role of Sir Danvers Carew.

TUTS’ presentation of Jekyll & Hyde is part of a 25 week national tour leading up to a Broadway engagement of the show starting in April 2013.  TUTS fittingly serves as a stop during the tour as the show originated right here in Houston.

Conceived for the stage by Tony and Grammy Award nominee Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, Jekyll & Hyde features a book & lyrics by two-time Oscar winner, Emmy winner and four-time Tony Award nominee Leslie Bricusse, music by Frank Wildhorn, and will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award Nominee Jeff Calhoun. 

The musical is based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s acclaimed novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde about a London doctor who accidentally unleashes his evil alternate personality in his quest to cure his father’s mental illness.

Tickets (starting at only $24) are available on-line at TUTS.com, by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, located at 800 Bagby at Walker, Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  An audio described performance is available Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.; open captioning is available Sunday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible.  Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.  Group tickets may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

PEVETO is pleased to announce the opening of Ten Propositions, a single-artist exhibition featuring new works by Houston-based artist Joseph Cohen. In this particular exhibit, Cohen explores the nature of painting and human perception through a series of unique concrete paintings. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, September 27, 2012 from 7 - 9 p.m., and the exhibit will remain on view through Saturday, October 27, 2012.

“The Propositions that I offer are the philosophical inquiries into both the nature of painting and human perception,” says Cohen. “My work calls for a slowing down, a respite in which one may contemplate.”

Ten Propositions, consisting of Cohen’s most recent works, incorporates 45 degree sides that accentuate the works’ departure from the wall. Through hundreds of layers of personally-made paint, he is able to achieve a multi-faceted perspective through the use of interference pigments, gold, platinum, silver, diamond dust and other precious materials. Using paint as a sensual vicious matter, Cohen highlights its fluid nature by showing its ability to flow, drip and carry a brushstroke’s gesture, but also uses it as a medium with both mechanical and geometric natures. The act of objectification is only achieved through motion and the viewer shifting perspectives, thus it is imperative to view the artworks from numerous angles.

A longtime Houston native, Joseph Cohen has been internationally recognized and continues to withhold strong collector support, including the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Constantly trying to exceed the expectations and perceived limitations of his medium, he frequently collaborates on projects around the world, including a recent public sculpture for Leon Berard Children’s Cancer Hospital in Lyon, France. Prior to France, Cohen took part in the first exhibit by an American artist in Carlo V Castle, along with two additional exhibitions in Europe during his involvement in a six-month residency in Southern Italy. Currently residing in Houston’s museum district, he finds the city’s rich art scene a potent source of creative inspiration. 

WITH HELP FROM DISH CONTRIBUTOR RUCHI MUKERJEE:

It was a perfect evening for Indian street food and chai as the weather reminded everyone of Mumbai's monsoons as guests gathered at the Kiran's Restaurant for the launch of Houston's South Asian Lifestyle Society Magazine, 'Lights Camera Action' Curry Digest, a series by the digital magazine's founder and editor, Ruchi Mukherjee, in which she will immerse viewers in Indian cuisine.

A kick start to the cool weather added some spice in our lifes as Chef Kiran Verma took us on a journey to India's diverse kitchen. Indian cuisine is not just limited to chicken tikka masala, samosas or saag paneer. It's cuisine is as rich as its culture. Her daughter Puja was on hand (who also plays the roll as General Manager of the restaurant) to host and dance. One of the things you will notice when you are experiencing Kiran's is the family atmosphere. Personally speaking it honestly feels as if you are being hosted in a friend's home.

Chef Kiran's event was to celebrate andkick-off Houston's Metro Cooking Show that featured a fabulous display of Street Foods of India, henna tattoos, of which DISH got 2!! Bollywood chic attire and Dhol beats. Guests were mesmerized by the elaborate spread of street food such as pani pooris, pav bhaji, gulab jamuns, samosas, lamb kababs, gazar ka halwa and the list can go on. Our personal tour guide of the evening was Dr. Sharma who is in charge of the more than 400 wines on the list at Kiran's. He gave the history of the menu, paired wines beautifully and shared the background of the Spice Road.