Unwrap Your Candies Now

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with soprano Anna Diemer, Co-Managing Diva of Opera on Tap - Houston. One of the newest chapters of the international opera non-profit, the group of local singers brings affordable, interactive opera performances to bars, coffeehouses, breweries and other alternative venues.

Then, Ernie Manouse interviews actor, singer and dancer Juliette Redden, who stars in Theatre Under The Stars' new production of the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening.

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Music used: Toothbrush Time performed by Opera on Tap Houston and "Mama Who Bore Me" from "Spring Awakening" courtesy of TUTS

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with Philip Lehl, Co-Artistic Director of 4th Wall Theatre Company.  Now entering its ninth season, the company’s 2019 – 2020 line-up opens with a reimagining of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, starring Kim Tobin-Lehl and Joseph “Joe P” Palmore.

Then, Catherine Lu interviews Marian Luntz, curator of film and video at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. They talk about the MFAH’s film program, which dates back to 1939, and preview the 7th Annual Turkish Film Festival and first-ever Korean Film Days series.

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Music used: Laura’s Theme from The Glass Menagerie by Henry Mancini

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu interviews Yoonshin Song, the Houston Symphony’s new concertmaster, who begins her appointment this 2019-2020 season. Selected from the orchestra's extensive three-year search to fill the position, she previously served as concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 2011-2019.

Then, Ernie Manouse chats with Rebekah Dahl, singer, actor, co-founder and co-owner of The Music Box Theater, named “The Best Cabaret Theater in Houston” by the Houston Press in 2015. The company presents Keep It Brassy 3, featuring songs by Chicago, Sinatra, Bruno Mars, The Temptations, Adele, James Brown, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel and many others, through October 19.

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In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with Jake Speck, Executive Director of A.D. Players. The Christian-based theater company opens its 2019-20 Season of Hope with The Hiding Place. A World Premiere adaptation by A.S. Peterson, the play is based on the true story of Corrie ten Boom, who was active in the Dutch underground, hiding Jews during World War II.

Then, Catherine Lu interviews Alecia Lawyer, Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Oboe of ROCO. The orchestra’s milestone 15th Season, Coming of Age, features a record-breaking 21 World Premieres. First up is Lisa Bielawa's Centuries in the Hours, in the season-opening concert, Time for Hope. Written for mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin, who has been blind from birth, the orchestral song cycle is based on diary entries of historically invisible American women from centuries past.

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Music used: Opening Theme to The Hiding Place (1975 film) and Murmurations by Derek Bermel from ROCO’s Visions Take Flight

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu and Ernie Manouse preview the 2019-2020 seasons of eight of the major performing arts groups of Houston’s Theater District, and they chat with Mayor Sylvester Turner about the significant impact of the arts in the city. Recorded live at Jones Hall at the 26th Annual Theater District Open House on August 25, this episode also marks the radio debut of the podcast, which can now be heard Fridays at 10:30 pm on News 88.7.

Guests include:

Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston

Rob Melrose, Artistic Director, Alley Theatre

Perryn Leech, Managing Director, Houston Grand Opera

Toni Capra, Executive Director, Da Camera

Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS)

Meg Booth, CEO, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA)

Wendi Reichstein, Director of Regional Marketing, Broadway at the Hobby Center

John Mangum, Executive Director & CEO, Houston Symphony

Angela Lee, Director of Marketing and PR, Houston Ballet

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In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu learns about the Houston Chamber Choir's season-opening concert, featuring Annelies, the first major choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank, composed by James Whitbourn with libretto compiled and translated by Melanie Challenger. The Choir presents the work’s Houston Premiere at the newly-reopened and expanded Holocaust Museum Houston, September 21 and 22. Catherine chats with the Choir’s Founder and Artistic Director, Robert Simpson, and the Museum’s Chief Marketing Officer, Robin Cavanaugh, about this collaboration.

Then, Ernie Manouse interviews Bryan-Keyth Wilson, director and choreographer of Obsidian Theater’s production of Othello: The Remix, August 30 – September 21 at MATCH. Originally created by The Q Brothers and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the show reimagines Othello as a rising hip-hop star and Iago as a jealous member of his entourage.

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Music used: Sinfonia (Kyrie) from “Annelies” by James Whitbourn

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse gets an inside look at A Chorus Line and what it’s like to cast and stage this Broadway classic with Megan Larche Dominick, Theatre Under The Stars’ Associate Artistic Director / Director of New Works. TUTS presents the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that portrays the life of a Broadway dancer, September 10 – 22 at The Hobby Center.

Then, Catherine Lu chats with Bradly Brown, curator of the San Jacinto College South Campus Gallery, whose latest exhibit is Golf Coast. The interactive art installation is a mini-golf course modeled on seven Houston bayous, complete with the city’s freeways, landmarks and other local details surrounding it – and built mostly from recycled materials. Brown talks about the making of, and thinking behind, Golf Coast, on view and ready for play August 26 – September 27.

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Music used: One from A Chorus Line Original 1975 Broadcast Cast Recording and Putt Putt For The Fun Of It

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Brandon Bell, Director of Education and Artistic Administrator, about Da Camera’s 2019 – 2020 season, which opens with Bon Appetit! – a concert with a musical take on Julia Child. Bell also describes the free activities that Da Camera has planned for the 2019 Theater District Open House, including musical caricatures composed on-the-spot by a Da Camera Young Artist-Composer.

Then, Ernie Manouse interviews Denise Fennell, star of Sister’s Back to School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales at Stages Repertory Theatre. Part of the Late Nite Catechism series, the interactive comedy puts the audience in Sister’s class, where she begins the school year with lessons about starting anew, the Church’s approved tales of ghosts and goblins and a Catholic-appropriate Halloween costume contest.

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Music used in Da Camera segment: Branford Marsalis Quartet - Cianna

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with Martha Davis, lead singer of the ’80s new wave band The Motels, known for hits like “Only the Lonely” and “Suddenly Last Summer.” The Motels will perform in Houston’s Arena Theater on Thursday, August 22 as part of the Lost 80s Live tour.

Then, Catherine Lu previews the 2019 Houston Theater District Open House with Kathryn McNiel, CEO of Theater District Houston. McNiel shares fun facts about Houston’s downtown arts district and its annual festival, and gives an update on how the area has recovered two years after Harvey. The 26th Annual TC Energy Theater District Open House is on Sunday, August 25.

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In this episode of "Uwrap Your Candies Now," Catherine Lu chats with two local musicians of the World Doctors Orchestra - Drs. Charles and Grace Lee. A married couple who met while playing in the Texas Medical Center Orchestra, The Lees spearheaded the effort to bring the global orchestra of doctors to Houston, where they will present a series of events culminating in a concert on August 17. Proceeds will benefit A Children's House For The Soul.

Then, Ernie Manouse sits down with Cody Jenkins and Coleman Cummings, two of the stars of Rent. The 20th Anniversary touring production of Jonathan Larson's beloved Broadway rock musical plays August 6 - 11 at the Hobby Center.

Share your comments, questions and ideas at [email protected].