Podcast appearances and mentions of catherine lu

On Friday's Houston Matters: A new investigation from the Los Angeles Times reveals how large highway projects nationwide -- including here in Houston -- take a disproportionate toll on Black and Hispanic communities. We talk with two reporters involved about what they found. Also this hour: Kam Franklin, lead singer of The Suffers, talks about her experience at the Astroworld festival last weekend where nine people died. And she talks about her recent solo work, including her new single Don't Get Caught Sick. More From Kam Franklin: The Suffers Perform on Skyline Sessions Kam Franklin Shares Her Mixtape ‘The Suffers' Has Its Own Brand Of Gulf Coast Soul Kam Franklin Covers "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus Then, Houston Public Media's Catherine Lu discusses efforts to promote gender equity in classical music conducting. The local orchestra ROCO is featuring female guest conductors throughout its current season, including Jeri Lynne Johnson, who will lead the orchestra in a performance Saturday called A Stitch in Time. And we discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

On Wednesday's Houston Matters: Local leaders and businesses are pushing back against Gov. Greg Abbott's new executive order banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates — this time banning any entity in Texas, including private businesses, from requiring vaccinations from employees or customers. Also this hour: We discuss the latest news in our weekly political roundup. Then, we discuss the future of downtown with Bob Eury, the outgoing president of the downtown revitalization organization Central Houston. And Catherine Lu talks with former Houston Poet Laureate Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, who was just named a resident artist for the American Lyric Theater in New York City.

On Thursday's Houston Matters: Texas State Senators are angry about a power grid winterization loophole for natural gas companies that was built into a law they approved this year. We discuss what exactly it means and the response from the Texas Railroad Commission. Also this hour: The current iteration of Pres. Biden's infrastructure bill proposes spending $4.7 billion on decommissioning orphaned oil and gas wells. These are oil well sites that were operated by companies that became financially insolvent and entered bankruptcy. It then falls upon state governments and, ultimately, taxpayers to pay for and properly decommission their abandoned assets. We learn more about efforts to deal with these sites. Then, local activist Ashley Dedmon talks about serving as a caregiver for her mother during her battle with breast cancer and for her father during his battle with prostate cancer. And she discusses a new initiatve from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to reduce the breast cancer mortality rate among Black women. The organization's annual Race for the Cure is Saturday morning at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston. And we learn more about the Black Indigenous People of Color Arts Network and Fund, which plans to offer financial help to artists of color in Greater Houston. The deadline to apply for the first round of funds is Oct. 22.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk. Houston's art scene was hit hard by the pandemic, resulting in the closure of several theaters, galleries, and venues throughout the past year. But despite those odds, the city's art scene persevered, and in some cases, flourished into something completely new, according to community arts leaders. After the city of Houston -- along with rest of the world -- shut down due to the pandemic, the local arts scene had to adapt in order to survive. That meant transitioning to a digital space, like the Houston Grand Opera did with its fully digital 2020-2021 season. According to Khori Dastoor, the incoming general director and CEO of Houston Grand Opera, the company will continue to explore virtual creation, even after audiences return in person for the 2021-2022 season. "We will absolutely continue to mine the digital form," Dastoor said. "Opera, human expression, and more intimate, shorter-form content can be very enriching." https://youtu.be/_rhr1bY6m_4 However, as physical attendance begins to rise, Dastoor said the Houston Grand Opera is prepared to restructure in order to accommodate the community post-pandemic. “I think people are going to need a very compelling reason to come out again,” she said. “It'll give us an opportunity to really reevaluate.” Dastoor and other local arts leaders joined Town Square for a prerecorded show that aired Tuesday, with guest host Catherine Lu, about the future of the arts in the city after more than a year dealing with the impacts of the pandemic. Over the past year, some physical spaces permanently closed as COVID-19 ravaged the community. But others were able to stay afloat. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston reopened its doors in February, allowing people to visit the museum -- some for the very first time -- by utilizing the large open space inside and instituting pandemic safety protocols, according to Janice Bond, the deputy director of the CAMH, who came aboard in June 2020 as deputy director of CAMH. “I think that this will continue to evolve,” Bond said. “Museums will continue to create space for people to think. They'll continue to create spaces for people to be.” That evolution has been seen in other aspects of the local arts scene as well, including the Houston Symphony, which just named its new music director last week. Slovak conductor Juraj Valcuha will take the helm in fall 2022 after current music director Andres Orozco-Estrada, who has led the orchestra since 2014, ends his tenure following this coming 2021-2022 season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyEKvBgm5lY John Mangum, the executive director and CEO of the Houston Symphony, said the change in leadership marks a new era for the symphony -- with an emphasis on equity and representation. "I think he will continue...this diversification of the repertoire that we've started over the past year," he said. "We need to be more reflective of the diversity of our community in what we choose to play on the stage." He added that the focus on diversity would also extend to carefully choosing who plays with the orchestra to better reflect the Houston community. The pandemic also allowed the Houston Symphony to reach new audiences, as it took advantage of the digital space by offering live streamed performances for more affordable ticket prices throughout the pandemic, Mangum said. "The live streaming is one of the big sort of learning moments that we had last year," Mangum said. "It ended up kind of developing this new audience group for us, so that was really exciting." But as the symphony transitions back to its traditional live audience, Mangum said that he believes it will take a few years to reach pre-pandemic levels of attendance. "What I'm hoping is that there's a pent-up desire for live music, for live performance," he said. "I'm hoping that'll really remind people why they used to be subscribers, why they used to come to the Houston Symphony, and that they'll come out again." As for the Houston Grand Opera, incoming CEO Dastoor said she wasn't worried about what the future may have in store for the city's arts and culture.  “What everybody wants is to write a new chapter that makes sense for Houston today," she said. "Not Houston 10 years ago, and not Houston pre-COVID, but Houston today and moving forward.” A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that CAMH stayed open through the pandemic. They closed last year and reopened in February. Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues. Audio from today's show will be available after 5 p.m. CT. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk. Twenty-five years, a quarter of a century. How much can be accomplished in that amount of time? As they say, time flies when you're having fun. Twenty-five years ago today, Ernie Manouse joined Houston Public Media. And you've allowed him into your lives and homes ever since. Today, on this “Erniversary,” join us as we reminisce about the last 25 years -- from Channel 8 to Houston Public Media ... from InnerVIEWS to Manor of Speaking ... and now Town Square. Matt Harab has an "investigative piece" on Who is Ernie Manouse? You'll hear from Ernie's friends, colleagues and past celebrity interviewees, including Barbara Taylor Bradford, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Lyle Lovett, Nana Mouskouri, Suze Orman, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Lisa Shumate and others. Then, Sunny 99.1's Dana Tyson reminisces about Ernie's past shows, Weeknight Edition and Manor of Speaking, with his co-hosts and on-air colleagues Doris Childress, Doug Mueller and Luke Wrobel. In the third segment, producers Catherine Lu and Brenda Valdivia take calls from listeners who share their memories of watching and listening to Ernie over the years. Plus, we hear Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's proclamation of May 21, 2021 as "Ernie Manouse Day." Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues. Audio from today's show will be available after 5 p.m. CT. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

On Thursday's Houston Matters: Oil giants were expected to make up some of their financial losses in the last quarter of 2020, but reports show that wasn’t the case. So, how might 2021 play out for the oil and gas industry – and therefore the Houston economy? Also this hour: State lawmakers have submitted their first proposed budgets. How much will they have to spend and will Texas dip into its “rainy day” fund to... Read More

On Thursday's Houston Matters: A lack of negotiations on a new contract between the city and the Houston Police Officers’ Union raises concerns. Also this hour: We learn more about Project Guardian, a new program from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office intended to improve interactions between law enforcement and people with autism. Then, retired astronaut Col. Terry Virts tells some of the interesting stories from daily life in space as detailed in his book How... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse interviews Nick and Diane Marson, a Houston couple who met on 9/11 and whose real-life story inspired central characters in the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away. Then, Catherine Lu chats with Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, Houston Poet Laureate Emeritus and World Champion Slam Poet, about writing the libretto for Houston Grand Opera’s Marian’s Song, a World Premiere based on the life of legendary... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu heads to Lawndale Art Center to interview Houston artist Virginia Lee Montgomery about her solo exhibition Sky Loop. Incorporating video, sound, sculpture and Houston-centric symbols, the immersive installation is inspired by the artist’s personal experience and memories of Hurricane Harvey, on view through March 29. Then, Ernie Manouse talks with former American Idol finalist-turned Broadway star Tamyra Gray, who is performing in the... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with singer-actor Paul Hope about legendary songwriter Harold Arlen – in particular about the music he wrote in the decade after his famous “Over the Rainbow.” The Paul Hope Cabaret presents That Old Black Magic – Harold Arlen in the 40s on February 17, February 24 and March 2 at Ovations Night Club. Then, Catherine Lu talks with percussionist Craig Hauschild and... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu interviews Houston Chamber Choir founder and artistic director Robert Simpson and tenor Jack Byrom on what it was like to attend the 2020 Grammys and accept the award for Best Choral Performance for their album Duruflé: Complete Choral Works. From the red carpet to the moment the envelope was opened, we go behind-the-scenes of their win. The choir’s next concert is Circlesong on February... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse interviews Sasson Gabay and Janet Dacal, who star in The Band’s Visit, winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Broadway Across America presents the North American-touring production January 28 – February 2 at The Hobby Center. Then, Catherine Lu finds out about the city’s newest dance troupe, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, from Marlana Doyle, founder and artistic director. Doyle talks about forming... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director of Theatre Under The Stars, about the company’s recently-announced 2020 – 2021 season. Knechtges, a Tony-nominated director and choreographer, talks about the eclectic mix of national productions with major buzz and homegrown TUTS productions that celebrate Houston talent – and why it’s like a meal of tapas. Then, Ernie Manouse interviews Emilio Delgado, who played “Luis” on... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with award-winning director and veteran actor, Shirley Jo Finney. Finney talks about the art of directing and her latest project as director of The Ensemble Theatre’s production of The Green Book. Inspired by The Negro Motorist Green Book, this play by Calvin Alexander Ramsey runs January 23–February 23. Then, Catherine Lu interviews Natalie Lin, artistic director and founder of Kinetic. Lin talks... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Madison Petaway, Houston’s fifth Youth Poet Laureate. Appointed in November 2019 by Mayor Sylvester Turner through a joint program of Writers in the Schools and Houston Public Library, Petaway is a junior at Westbury High School and a member of the Meta-Four Houston youth slam team. She talks about how poetry changed her life and how she hopes to serve the city’s... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with Mariah Lyttle, who stars as “Celie” in the North American-touring production of The Color Purple. Society for the Performing Arts presents the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from January 3 – 4 at The Hobby Center. Then, Catherine Lu features a sound portrait of Houston poet Francis T. Goodbeer. Produced originally for HPM’s Voices and Verses series, the segment explores Goodbeer’s love... Read More

In this special episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu and Ernie Manouse unwrap and share audio gifts of holiday performances by beloved singers and actors from Houston and beyond. Set list: Martha Davis – I’ll Be Home for Christmas Lyle Lovett – A Visit from St. Nicholas Deborah Hope and Steven Jones – Santa Baby Julia Krohn and Walt Zipprian – The Gift of the Magi Martha Davis – Silent Night... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Houston Ballet Principal Dancer Connor Walsh. They talk about his lead role as “The Prince,” which he originated for Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, as well as his childhood Nutcracker memories and finding time for holiday traditions amidst a busy performance schedule. Performances of The Nutcracker run through December 29 at the Wortham Center. Then, Ernie Manouse talks to actor Julia Krohn,... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with longtime “Tonight Show” host, stand-up comedian, voiceover artist, author and speaker Jay Leno, known to many as “the hardest working man in show business.” Society for the Performing Arts presents An Evening with Jay Leno on December 6 at Jones Hall. Then, Catherine Lu interviews mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and bass Daniel Noyola, two of the stars of Houston Grand Opera’s World... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with hip hop pioneer and legendary rapper Kurtis Blow, who is the MC of The Hip Hop Nutcracker. The national-touring holiday production comes to the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on December 4. Then, Ernie Manouse sits down with Dixie Longate of "Dixie's Tupperware Party" to talk about her latest show, Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse interviews Jeff Miller (director) and Tamarie Cooper (cast member and co-artistic director) about Baby Screams Miracle by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Clare Barron. Described as a funny, moving tale of faith and survival, the show is being produced by The Catastrophic Theatre from November 22 – December 15 at MATCH. Then, Catherine Lu chats with Houston Symphony Composer-in-Residence Jimmy López Bellido about his World... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Houston arts writer Pete Gershon about Lawndale Art Center’s 40th Anniversary. They discuss the center's history and impact, from its DIY beginnings in 1979 as an annex for University of Houston art students and its role as an incubator for experimental art to current exhibits and plans for the future. Gershon is Chair of Lawndale’s Advisory Board and author of Collision:... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse interviews actor and attorney John Raley, who stars in Inherit the Wind. Cone Man Running Productions will present the classic play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, inspired by the Scopes Monkey Trial, November 14 – 23 at Spring Street Studios. Raley talks about his career in law, his love of acting and how the two intersect. Then, Catherine Lu features a... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse interviews Broadway superstar and stage legend Bernadette Peters, who performs in Houston on November 2 at Jones Hall presented by Society for the Performing Arts. Then, Catherine Lu previews the 7th Annual Houston Early Music Festival, November 7 – 17.  She finds out about the city’s early music scene, uniqueness of historical instruments and upcoming festival concerts from Houston Early Music Executive Director Deborah... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with MECA’s Resident Curator Theresa Escobedo and Program Director Liz Salinas about the traditions associated with Día de los Muertos and the organization’s free community festival in celebration of the holiday, from November 2–3. Then, Ernie Manouse interviews Timothy Gulan and Brandon Michael Nase, who star in Broadway’s Cats, October 22 – 27 at the Hobby Center. Share your comments, questions and... Read More

In this episode of the podcast “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with Desdemona Chiang, director of Vietgone at the Alley Theatre, from Oct. 4 – Nov. 3. A mix of rom-com, road trip, hip-hop and 70s pop culture, the play by Qui Nguyen is inspired by the story of how his own parents met and fell in love in 1975 in an Arkansas camp for Vietnamese refugees. Then, Catherine Lu learns more about... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu finds out what it took for ROCO to bring together their new CD Visions Take Flight.  Alecia Lawyer, ROCO Founder and Artistic Director, explains how Harvey complicated the making of this album.  And, Ernie Manouse chats with Chelsea Ryan McCurdy, one of the stars of Stages Repertory Theatre's The Doyle and Debbie Show. Chelsea shares tales of a life on the stage and beyond.  Share your comments,... Read More

Catherine Lu was approached by a few top venture firms after she sold a company that she'd started with Stanford classmates. But it wasn't until she met Andre de Baubigny, Managing Partner of Spike Ventures, that she made the leap into VC. Through Spike, she could be both a venture capitalist and an entrepreneur—all while disrupting the VC industry.

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu finds out about Theatre Under The Stars’ new community engagement program, Public Works Houston, and its first collaboration with the company’s annual summer production at Miller Outdoor Theatre. TUTS’ Seussical will feature a mega cast of community members and professional actors of all ages and is the culmination of a nine-month program that seeks to serve, learn from and empower Houston's diverse communities. Catherine chats... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with two stars from Disney’s Aladdin The Musical: Major Attaway (Genie) and Jonathan Weir (Jafar). The actors share stories and insights about the production, which features favorite songs from the film, as well as new music by Tony and Academy Award winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and book writer Chad Beguelin. And, Catherine Lu finds out what local high... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with the Apollo Chamber Players' Artistic Director, founder and violinist Matthew Detrick and composer Erberk Eryilmaz about their July 6th concert at NASA in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. The centerpiece of the program will be a movement from Erylimaz’s Was Her Face the Moon or Sunlight? – a piece that will be sent to the moon in 2021 as part of... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse talks with Jason Nodler and Tamarie Cooper, Co-Artistic Directors of Catastrophic Theatre, about Speeding Motocycle. First produced in 2006 to rave reviews, this original rock opera is based on the songs of legendary outsider artist-musician Daniel Johnston. Catherine Lu chats with violist Brian Bires, First Place Winner of the 30th Annual Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition at the Immanuel & Helan Olshan Texas Music... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Mollie Haven Miller, executive director of Dance Source Houston, about the 5th Annual Barnstorm Dance Fest. The festival is curated by members of the local dance community (this year’s panel: Elijah Alhadji Gibson, Sue Schroeder and Janie Yao), who selected works that reflect the diverse identities and dance forms in Houston and beyond. Ernie Manouse talks to Seth Andrew Bridges, one of the musketeers... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with Cissy Segall Davis, managing director of Miller Outdoor Theatre, about the historic Houston venue. Opened in 1923 and named after Jesse Wright Miller, the Miller Outdoor Theatre offers the largest “always free” program of its kind in the country, with eight months of professional entertainment free of charge to the public, making it an especially popular summer destination. Catherine Lu talks to artist... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Leslie Contreras Schwartz as she kicks off her two-year term as Houston Poet Laureate. The native Houstonian describes her plan to tackle mental health through poetry, and she reads “Roots” – a poem inspired by gardening and the urge to grow even under the harshest circumstances. Ernie Manouse talks with Dan Knechtges, artistic director of Theatre Under The Stars, about the rarely-staged 1989... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse talks with Eddie George about his transition from football to theater. The Heisman Trophy winner and former Houston Oiler/Tennessee Titan/Dallas Cowboy stars as “Billy Flynn” in the hit musical Chicago, which Society for the Performing Arts presents from June 4 – 9 at Jones Hall. Catherine Lu chats with violinist Zoë Miller, concertmaster of the touring Broadway production of Miss Saigon. A graduate of Rice University’s... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu talks with Houston Ballet Principal Dancer, Jessica Collado, about her life as a dancer and her lead role in The Merry Widow, from May 31 – June 9 at the Wortham Center.  Ernie Manouse chats with Society for the Performing Arts CEO, Meg Booth, about joining the organization this past December and about SPA’s 2019 – 2020 season. Booth previously served for over a decade... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Ernie Manouse chats with prolific actor Brett Cullen, who can be seen in Joker this fall with Robert DeNiro and Joaquin Phoenix. A University of Houston alum, Cullen is directing the World Premiere of Contradiction of the Southern Soul written by and starring Sally Mayes, at the UH Quintero Theatre from May 9-12. Catherine Lu samples the Houston Chamber Choir’s new CD with conductor, Robert Simpson, who... Read More

In this episode of “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” Catherine Lu chats with Carleen Graham, director of HGOco, about Houston Grand Opera’s web opera series, Star-Cross’d. And Ernie Manouse explores the Alley Theatre’s upcoming 2019-2020 season with the company’s new Artistic Director, Rob Melrose. Share your comments, questions and ideas at UYCN@houstonpublicmedia.org.

Hosts Ernie Manouse and Catherine Lu chat about what to look forward to on “Unwrap Your Candies Now,” including how they came up with the title, their passions and what they love about Houston’s arts scene. Share your comments, questions and ideas at UYCN@houstonpublicmedia.org.

Join Ernie Manouse and Catherine Lu as they welcome their first guests to the podcast, “Unwrap Your Candies Now.” Ernie chats with director Marcia Milgrom Dodge about her new staging of the musical Ragtime, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, and brought lovingly to life by playwright Terrence McNally, lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty. Dodge was nominated for the 2009 Tony for her Kennedy Center production of this same show.  Catherine shares... Read More

The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto was written by two Chinese composers, Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, in 1959. In honor of Chinese New Year – which begins 1/31 – Houston Public Media's Catherine Lu has come back to the Classroom to teach us all about this gorgeous piece, which was based on possibly the most tragic opera ever. Audio production by Todd “??” Hulslander with ??????? by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: – Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao – violin by Gil Shaham – “Leading a Camel” from the The Flowing River Water, by Yang Yi He (erhu example) …and don’t miss Catherine Lu’s 2-hour Chinese New Year classical music celebration on Classical 91.7 (and on classical917.org) at noon and again at 10pm, Friday (1/31)!

Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Suite from Incidental Music! In this episode, Classical 91.7 announcer and producer, and Cheeto the cat's person, Catherine Lu chats with Dacia. Learn about scherzos, nerds, and Dacia's totally plausible theory about Puck's "love potion".   Audio production from Todd Hulslander, with a lot of help this time actually from Dacia Clay. Music used in this episode includes: – Mendelssohn: Incidental Music to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 61 (We used CBS/Sony 37760 with Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, which is not available – we think – for MP3 download, but here is another recording which is perfectly lovely.)