ARTS PICKS
“The Stronger,” “The Invisible Visible” have our critics excited.
1. ‘The Stronger’
August Strindberg’s “The Stronger” tells the story of two rival actresses who cross paths on Christmas. They find themselves at very different stages in their careers, but expectations are dashed as the more successful of the twomay have found her good fortune through dubious means. Rob Melrose directs the virtual short.
When: Jan. 15-Feb. 7 at alleytheatre.org
Andrew Dansby
2. ‘In the Mood: A Big Band New Year’
The Houston Symphony welcomes 2021 with “In the Mood: A Big Band New Year,” featuring David Caceres (photo) singing old jazz standards backed by the symphony. The orchestra will be playing such hits fromyesteryear as “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Come FlyWith Me,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Love Is Here to Stay” and, of course, “In the Mood.”
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana
Details: $29-$109 (livestreamoption available for $20); 713-224-7575, houstonsymphony.org
Andrew Dansby
3. ‘The Visible Invisible’
Stephanie Syjuco’s excellent exhibition at the Blaffer Art Museum uses costume displays to expose race and color biases. Ahead of its final weekend, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6, Matt Manalo hosts “Visuality,” a free, livestreamed artists roundtable with Syjuco and two Houston artists — Antonius Tin-Bui and Royal Sumikat, who are residents this month at Asia Society Texas Center — that will be recorded and up indefinitely on the Society’s YouTube Channel.
When: Exhibition noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, through Jan. 10
Where: 4173 Elgin, University of Houston, Central Campus
Details: Free; 713-743-9521, blafferartmuseum.org
Molly Glentzer
4. ‘The Marzio Years’
It’s last call for the surprising sleeper hit of the MFAH’s fall season, an eye-opening show honoring the collection-building work of the late Peter Marzio, who directed the museum from 1982 until his death in 2010. On his watch, the vaults swelled with works by African American, regional and Latin American artists; as well as modern and contemporary art, photography, contemporary craft and works on paper. This backstory to the new Kinder Building is not to be missed.
When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 10
Where: 5601 Main
Details: Timed entries $12-$19; children 12 and younger free; free to all on Thursday; masks required; 713-639-7300, mfah.org