HoustonChronicle.com
Section: Houston Lifestyle & Features
3:50 PM 3/10/1998
Music bow ahead for artist Adickes
SHOW TIME: David Adickes has had more showings of his fabulous paintings and sculptures at Houston galleries and events than anyone can count, to say nothing of his bigger-than-life bronze of former President Bush at the Bush Library in College Station. But at the moment, Adickes is immersed in his debut as a composer. He's been "dabbling" in music for some time, and the Houston Youth Symphony -- talented musicians under age 21 -- will premiere one of his works at its third annual gala concert April 26 in the new Aerial Theater at Bayou Place. The program will be Winds of Change, a symphonic tribute to Bush that Adickes wrote in 1991, and Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait, which includes a narration written by Carl Sandburg based on Lincoln's addresses and letters. Adickes and the orchestra are still searching for a narrator. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, and Dan Rather have other commitments, and Walter Cronkite hasn't responded yet. Because the program honors two presidents, Adickes will flank the stage with two of his giant heads of presidents, amid lots of red, white and blue bunting and balloons. The heads are to be in Adickes' Presidents Theme Park, which will feature a head of every U.S. president. ...
Shirley MacLaine was in Houston for a long weekend to visit daughter Sachi, son-in-law Frank Murray and, most of all, her first grandchild, 18-month-old Frank. Shirley is a typical first-time grandma, full of stories about little Frank, including the fact that he picked his name for her -- not quite "Granny" -- and is sticking to it. Sachi is expecting her second visit from the stork in September. Shirley has a home on the beach in Malibu, Calif., and when I talked to her Monday, she said that because of the bad weather, Old Malibu Road -- her access to and from Los Angeles -- had been closed for two days and might be closed longer. Shirley has mostly been staying at her home in New Mexico. As you may have read, she is readying her first directorial effort with a new play and a terrific cast. She won't say any more until everything is set. She'll be back in Houston, probably next week. ...
Ladies' Home Journal's April issue has an incredible story about Barbara Walters and her favorite and least favorite interviews during her 35 years in the business. Although she's interviewed every American president from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton, Barbara talks little about politicians except for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Barbara notes how tough the rise and fall can be, saying that Thatcher went almost overnight from being prime minister to being rejected by her own party in 1990. She went into a period of deep depression and despair. Imagine: One day you're your country's leader, riding in bulletproof limos and private planes; the next you're hailing your own taxi and hoping someone remembers you. The lesson to learn is that you'd better have good friends and a solid private life, because the fame and glory can go away with a snap of the fingers. Most of the cited interviews are with show-biz figures, who, except for a few superstars, live as precariously as any politician. Barbara gives the scoop on Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Rosie O'Donnell, Barbra Streisand, Michelle Pfeiffer and on and on. But I don't want to spoil it for you -- grab an April copy of Ladies' Home Journal. ...
Don't forget Houston Grand Opera's "Little Women Gala" Thursday night at Francie and Michael Willis' swankienda, which is easy to spot because of the people-size doll house on its front lawn. Francie is one of the four women who are honorary chairs of the event; the others are her daughters, Tammie Leak, Dawn Willis and Deborah Willis. Denise Dunham and Younjee Kim are chairing the gala, which will benefit Opera New World, HGO's program supporting the creation of operas, including Jackie O, Florencia en el Amazonas and Little Women. Mark Adamo, who wrote Little Women, is here for the opening festivities. ...