Relief From the Deluge
It’s been three weeks since Tropical Storm Allison laid waste to the city of Houston, but time has done little to diminish the shock at the staggering losses suffered by that city: 22 deaths and almost $5 billion in damage to the Houston area, more than a third of which was localized in the city’s Theater District. Jones Hall, the Alley Theatre, and the Wortham Theater Center all sustained losses in the millions of dollars, with major damages ranging from $1 million in ruined costumes at the Wortham to the losses of the set for the world premiere production of Horton Foote‘s The Carpetbagger’s Children, the seats in the basement-level theatre where it was being staged, and costumes for two other summer productions at the Alley to the destruction of an irreplaceable 300-year-old double bass and the Houston Symphony‘s priceless music library with annotated scores dating back to 1913 at Jones Hall. In fact, Jones Hall itself may be lost; between the bayou sewage spread through the lower levels by the floodwaters and the asbestos in the ceiling that it may have dislodged, the building has been rendered a biohazard, and the basement levels were hit with such force by the torrent that now the building’s structural integrity is being questioned. However you look at it, the impact on the Houston arts community is devastating. Fortunately, groups near and far are extending a hand to help. On Tuesday of this week, June 26, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded the Texas Commission on the Arts $30,000, the maximum amount allowed through a chairman’s special action grant, for Houston arts organizations that sustained flood damage, and the TCA promised to match that amount. Arts groups can apply for up to $10,000 to be used toward addressing flood-related needs. TCA is also working with the Texas Fine Arts Association to provide assistance to individual artists affected by the storm and is accepting donations to a flood relief fund for artists and arts organizations. Contributors should make checks payable to the Texas Commission on the Arts, P.O. Box 13406, Austin, TX, 78711-3406, and include a letter indicating that the donation is restricted for the Southeast Texas Flood Disaster Relief Fund. At the same time, our own Austin Theatre Alliance stepped forward to help its beleaguered colleagues in the Bayou City. During its presentation of The Vagina Monologues at Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater last week, ATA solicited support for Houston Theater District member organizations. By the end of the week, the company had raised more than $12,000. While $12K or $30K or $60K may just be a drop in the bucket compared to the millions needed, the gesture is still worthwhile. Add your support if you can.
In Memoriam
A memorial service for Judith Sklar Becker and Ross Becker, two valued friends of Austin theatre who were killed June 14 in an auto accident in South Carolina, will be held Saturday, June 30, 2pm, at the State Theater, 719 Congress. As noted last week in this space, Judi had been active in the Austin theatre community since the early Eighties. But I was mistaken in suggesting that she had little time for local theatre in the last few years. Rosalyn Rosen of the new play development company Remembrance Through the Performing Arts says that both Judi and Ross were deeply involved in the company, taking part in all of its playwrights’ workshops and/or productions. Friends of the couple who would like to speak at the memorial service are urged to contact Rosen at RemPerArts@aol.com.
This article appears in June 29 • 2001.