MFAH HOUSE MUSEUM OFFERS AN AFTERNOON OF FREE ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCES THIS FRIDAY, JULY 4.

Before families top off their Fourth of July celebration with a fireworks show, they can take in an afternoon of early American-themed performances, crafts, and demonstrations at Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens’ second annual Fourth of July celebration. The free event is from 1-5 pm at Bayou Bend, the historic American treasure house of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, at 1 Westcott Street off Memorial Drive.

There will be singing by JAWAD, an Americana-style puppet show presented by Francesca Marquis, a Reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Lonestar Bluegrass Band, and the Fife & Drum Corps performing throughout the gardens. Kids can make liberty bells, American flags, and watercolor fireworks and there will be quill pens provided for signing an oversize replica of the Declaration of Independence. Lemonade, cookies, and other refreshments will be served. Inside the mansion, visitors may take self-guided audio tours throughout the afternoon.

For more information, call 713.639.7750 or log onto www.mfah.org.

"SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING" STARTS THIS WEEKEND.

A.D. Players Theater (www.adplayers.org) presents "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming" from July 4-August 31. In this all-new production, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church welcomes the Sanders Family for an unforgettable reunion. It’s October 1945, and the Sanders Family is reuniting for the first time in four years at Mount Pleasant (where everything still smells like pickles). Dennis Sanders is home from the war and ready to step into the pulpit as Reverend Oglethorpe answers a call to go preach in Texas, with a very pregnant June in tow. The family has grown, but some things never change. Expect the ongoing Bible battle between the Reverend and Vera, loads of laughs, and more Bluegrass Gospel than you can tap your toes to!

Audio Description for the visually impaired and Closed Captioning for the hearing impaired will be provided by Taping for the Blind and The Captioning Company on Sunday, July 27. Tickets start at $17 and the show will take place at Grace Theater, 2710 W. Alabama Street.

To get the back story, see "Smoke on the Mountain", which is being presented by the Texas Repertory Theatre Company (www.texreptheatre.org) from July 9-August 10. On a hot June night in 1938, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church erupts with comedy and commotion as the Sanders family rocks the traditional congregation with their first ever “Saturday." "Smoke on the Mountain" delivers musical fun and laughter for the whole family. With bluegrass renditions of traditional hymns and spirituals, intertwined with the endearing life stories of all five Sanders, the joyful evening uplifts and entertains even the most stalwart church members. Tickets start at $35.

Yeehaw!

PARLEZ FRANÇAIS AT THE ALLIANCE.

The Alliance Française is starting up a new series of French classes for children the week of July 7 . Their children’s program immerses children ages 4-15 in the French language, allowing them to learn in a natural way, through visual, kinetic and auditive experiences. Classes meet in three-week sessions Monday-Thursday mornings from 9:30am until noon. Tuition is $350 for the 3-week sessions. Registration must be in advance or a $25 late fee will be assessed and there is a one-time registration fee of $15 for new students. You may register by phone anytime using a credit card.

For more information, call 713.526.1121 or log onto www.afdehou.org.

HERE ARE FIVE GREAT REASONS TO STAY IN HOUSTON IN JULY, COURTESY THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY.

The return of "Video Games Live™" (if you haven't taken your computer-addled child, this is the place to be!), "The Music of Pink Floyd", Eric Idle in "Not the Messiah" and "The von Trapp Children" highlight the Houston Symphony’s "Chase Summer in the City" series at Jones Hall. The series begins on July 6 at 7:30pm with the annual "Houston Chronicle Dollar Concert". Experience the wonder of the Symphony for just one dollar per ticket and get a preview of a future star with a featured performance by the Gold Medal Winner of the 2008 Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition.

On July 10 at 7:30pm, Video Games Live™ celebrates the music of video games with exclusive video footage projected above the stage. New segments this year
include: Halo®3, BioShock™, Chrono Cross™, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ and an exclusive preview of StarCraft® II, a game that will not be released until 2009.

On July 11 and 12 at 7:30pm, the group that brought last year’s sold-out "The Music of Led Zeppelin: A Rock Symphony", returns with "The Music of Pink Floyd". Jones Hall will reverberate to a wall of sound when the Houston Symphony, a full rock band and Zebra’s lead singer Randy Jackson perform.

On July 17 and 18 at 7:30pm, the team that brought you "Spamalot" delivers "Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy)", a zany oratorio inspired by Monty Python’s hilarious "Life of Brian", a tragi-comic tale of a man mistaken for the Messiah. Aspiring to the lofty heights of composer George Frederic Handel, Eric Idle and John Du Prez crafted this comic parody for chorus, soloists, bagpipers and a lone sheep – along with the Houston Symphony.

And finally, on July 19 at 7:30pm, The von Trapp Children, great-grandchildren of Captain von Trapp, take the stage at Jones Hall. You'll hear songs from one of the most beloved musicals sung by Justin, Amanda, Melanie and Sofia von Trapp along with the Houston Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski. Bring the entire family to hear “My Favorite Things,” “So Long, Farewell” plus American classics such as “Amazing Grace.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, call 713.224.7575 or log onto www.houstonsymphony.org.

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