Top Things to Do This Weekend: March 14–16
Visual Art
Ahmed Mater's "Magnetism IV" (2012).
FotoFest
One of the most important events of its kind, every other year the FotoFest Biennial attracts an international array of artists, curators, gallerists, and collectors. This year’s organizing theme is contemporary Arab video, photography, and multi-media art, and the event features approximately 48 artists hailing from 13 Arab countries. Accompanying the show—which is spread out among multiple venues—are a host of partner exhibitions, talks, and events around Houston. See our full story here.
March 15–April 27. Free tours on Saturdays. Check website for locations and hours. fotofest.org
Family
Battleship Texas
Image: Wikipedia Commons
100th Anniversary of Battleship Texas
Battleship Texas is the last surviving dreadnought-class ship to have served in both World Wars I and II. When she was commissioned in 1914, she was the most powerful ship in the world, although since 1948 she has served as a memorial museum anchored on Buffalo Bayou. A celebration featuring historical exhibits, concessions, and live music by Robert Earl Keen, Reckless Kelly, and others will mark the battleship’s centennial.
March 15 noon–10. $14 in advance & $20 on day of event; veterans $8 in advance & $15 on day of event. 3523 Independence Parkway South, La Porte. 281-479-2431. tpwd.state.tx.us
Theater
Gidion's Knot
Like God of Carnage, this intense drama from Johnna Adams examines the fallout from a childhood infraction, in this case with the mother of the offending boy staging a fiery confrontation with his teacher. Touching on issues of free speech, bullying, and the failures of the public school system, this play is sure to raise hackles.
March 12–April 6. $19–45. 3201 Allen Parkway. 713-527-0123. stagestheatre.com
Opera
A Coffin in Egypt
Based on a play by Horton Foote and with music by Ricky Ian Gordon, this world premiere opera—commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera and Opera Philadelphia—tells the story of Myrtle Bledsoe, the 90-year-old doyenne of Egypt, Texas. See our full story here.
March 14–21. $20–80. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. 713-228-6737. houstongrandopera.org
Dance
AAADT's Belen Pereyra and Antonio Douthit in Kyle Abraham's Another Night
Image: Paul Kolnik
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Born in 1931 in Rogers, Texas, Ailey decided to become a dancer after watching the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in Los Angeles. In 1958, he and a group of other young African American dancers gave a performance at New York’s 92nd Street Y that shook up the then-stodgy world of ballet. As a choreographer, Ailey—who died of AIDS in 1989—said that he drew on his “blood memories” of Texas, gospel music, blues, and African American spirituals.
March 14–15. $43–118. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. 713-227-4772. spahouston.org
