The 'Houston' Thread.- Page 5

[M J R]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 11:42pm

I haven't posted on this board in WEEKS, but this thread definitely sparked my interest.

I am a Houston boy, currently living in New York. I went to the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University for Graduate School and I am a former company member of Masquerade. (I did four shows with them: Floyd in "Floyd Collins", Anthony in "Sweeney Todd", Britt Craig in "Parade" and Man 2 in "Songs for a New World.")

Phillip Duggins, the artistic director has a great vision for his theatre and an incredible dedication to Houston actors. I can highly recommend any production they mount. I would most definitely like to work there again.

Masquerade recently hosted composer William Finn for a workshop and opening for their mounting of "A New Brain". Finn had great things to say about the production and the theatre company.

Definitely go check out the two shows they have coming up - I can guarantee you will enjoy yourself.

I can also say great things about the entire theatre scene in Houston, including Theatre Under the Stars (with whom I've also done four shows) Main Street, Stages and The Alley. More and more I miss the community of actors there in Houston!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 4:54am

the staff at Candylicious and the Chocolate Bar are the best. Really great places.

How sorry am i that i missed FLOYD COLLINS at Masquerade. i did catch SONGS, but missed A NEW BRAIN. As M J R mentions, the actors i know from the Houston scene are very talented, and actually surprisingly supportive of each other.

The other restaurant i'd recommend is Benji's in Rice Village. A slightly more upscale Barnaby's, with a good eclectic menu, wonderful staff, and nice atmosphere. i also like Mi Luna next to Urban Outfitters in the Village---amazing desserts there, and good tapas. This weekend i just discovered 19th Street antique/thrift shops in the Heights...i knew about the strip on Westheimer and Texas Junk on Taft, but these were amazing. Near Texas Junk is also a wonderful hole in the wall burger place called Lankford's (sp?)...fun place, great food, and interesting staff. You never get a bill, just go up to the aging owner at the register and give your table number, where he rings up your tally.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 10:05am

I like Mi Luna as well. A couple of my friends were bartenders there, so I always got free drinks. Also check out Cleburne Cafeteria in West University if you haven't already. The food there is far beyond what you would think is "cafeteria". It was one of my regular spots. Living in Chicago, I have definitely missed good Tex-Mex. Doneraki is the firt place I go when I visit Houston. I found one similar place in Chicago, but it's nearly twice the price. And though it's outside the Loop, Fadi's Mediterranean (Westheimer between Hillcroft and Fondren) is FANTASTIC! I started going there when they first opened and I was pleased to see they have really grown and expanded. It is worth the trip. In the same area, if you want an expensive, yet exquisite and fun dinner, go to Fogo de Chao. Be sure to skip lunch that day because you will be eating for hours.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 10:45pm

when i first moved to Houston, Mr. Matt, there was this one waiter at Mi Luna...let's just say he was as fulfilling as the menu, in a purely visual way. i hope he was a friend with benefits of yours. This would have been about two to three years ago. He looked Mediterranean, but had an Anglo name and no accent. i was never bold enough to ask for his station, but lucked out once or twice. When i've been back recently, i don't see him. *sigh*

He should be an actor, or at least a model.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 10:53pm

lol. awww, poor Twostep. Why won't my profile show? this is wack. BTW- did anyone see Main Street's Promises, Promises? what'd you think?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 10:53pm

lol. awww, poor Twostep. Why won't my profile show? this is wack. BTW- did anyone see Main Street's Promises, Promises? what'd you think?

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 11:05pm

i missed it unfortunately. i really wanted to see Doris Davis again and hear Ivy Castle sing. i'm also interested in a new-to-Houston actor in it, David LaDuca (sp?).

Thanks for the sympathy. i do miss my visual crushes, but in such a big city, there are always more to come.

"And another hundred people just got off of the train..."

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 2:23am

omg--you guys are killing me with all of these names and places! Memories. :)

I am going to be in Houston for a week in two weeks. I will have to see the show at Stages--I love Joanne. I miss her terribly.

I miss a few people in Houston, but many of us have moved to NYC, LA, and Chicago. However, it sounds like a lot of theatre folk I know are still doing their thang in H-town.

I wouldn't trade life in NYC for life in Houston though. I love it here. And, I probably would have been murdered during last year's election.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 10:33am

Doris Davis! I did her first show with her! Another first-timer in the show was Parker Esse who can be seen on the Fosse DVD. Ivy Castle! She sings beautifully. I did a couple of things with her at UH. I was going to cast her as Eve Harrington in The Wisdom of Eve at the Little Room, but that's a long story...

I absolutely ADORE them both and would love to get in touch with them. If anyone has their emails or info, PM me. Or I will send you mine. I would also love to hear from Tom Pryor and Leslie. I'll be in Houston this weekend, but probably won't have much time for socializing.

What was the name of that bar where Joanne hosted karaoke nights?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 10:39am

I'm getting all teary-eyed just thinking about all these people I miss so much. Does anyone know if Naya Castinado is still in Houston? I think she'd be a PERFECT Glinda in Wicked, though I have trouble picturing her as a blonde, but her voice and personality as spot-on for the role.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 1:10pm

jrb - I doubt you would have been murdered in Houston. Pretty much everyone I know there voted for Kerry.

TxTwoStep - All the guys I knew at Mi Luna are probably gone. That waiter doesn't sound familiar.

When I first moved to Chicago, I was pleasantly surprised to see Doris Davis in a DeVry Institute commercial and last year I saw Jovan Jackson in a Wal-Mart commercial. It's so much fun to see my old friends doing well. I might be available Friday night for a get-together with some of these guys in Houston. If anybody has any info, let me know ASAP.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 9:25am

bump

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 6:13pm

the bar is called METEOR, but it's not really a karaoke evening (though sometimes people sing impromptu, it's to a live piano). Generally the singing is from cast members promoting current shows, and Joanne and Greg Gordon host it. They usually have a theme and some kind of medley, or Joanne sings a few numbers, all for comic effect. It's a blast, with the trivia questions and all. Check out the bar's website for info---though i think it just sold to the guy who owns JR's and South Beach.

Is Naya the petite long raven-haired singer who was featured in TWAS at UH and also in THREE-CORNER HAT (i think first at UH then at Main Street)? she's a terrific performer.

Prior (sp?) was in SPITFIRE at Stages and his bio says he's teaching at Sam Houston now. Is Leslie his wife? is she a performer too?

Finally, is Mister Matt finally going to meet JRB if they're in town at the same time?!??!

and for you "younguns" enjoy the culture here. You both seem to have the smarts to do so...there's a Houston site, TheatrePort, where you could probably have a forum of theatre fans your age. With HSPVA in town, i bet there's a demographic ready for that (not to chase you away from here, the focus might just be more local than NYC).

Updated On: 2/3/05 at 06:13 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 6:27pm

hehe. theaterport... must remember...

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 7:11pm

I love theatreport. I don't post on it or anything but I regularly check the auditions posting. I've gone to like 5 or so from it.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 3:23am

Mister Matt and I know each other from UH.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 7:19pm

"knew each other at UH" hopefully in the Biblical sense...do dish! *LMAO*

CAROLINE QT is LaDuca's partner decorative himself?!?!

(why do i feel so gossipy today?)

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 7:39pm

he's an interior decorator. i dunno, i don't really judge men... sorry...

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 7:40pm

just wanna wish Maybethistime GOOD LUCK ON YOUR HSPVA AUDITION TOMORROW! YOU ARE GONNA NAIL IT!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 7:54pm

"don't really judge men"...mind specifying? are you a straight boy theatre geek? (not that there's anything the matter with that) or a dyke who just happens to not be a techie (not that there's anything the matter with that, either).

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 7:56pm

im straight, and not that old...

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 8:04pm

str8, gr8, but what gender? and i didn't mean to offend by the use of the word "boy". i just assumed from your energy and enthusiasm you were younger than myself, but then most of the population is *wink*

and i also wish MAYBE THIS TIME luck tomorrow. i'm seeing DAMN YANKEES there tomorrow myself.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 8:05pm

boy. gender=boy. i passed Barnabys on the walk to allrecords and thought of all you guys here on the houston thread

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 8:16pm

i need to get back to Barnaby's soon. Great desserts too. Have you been to Baby Barnaby's for breakfast? a fun time. The apple sausage is great.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 9:07pm

Thanks guys! Its at 8.30 tomorrow morning! **Hope everything goes well**. Its a pretty long audtion - three hours!