Belt It Out!

The Houston Grand Opera hosted its 30th annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Youth Singers at Rice, streaming the program live on Facebook and YouTube. The months-long application and audition process concluded with eight finalists performing at the vocal competition — congratulations are in order for contralto Leia Lensing from the University of Northern Iowa, who was awarded the $10,000 grand prize! — followed by a seated dinner at the Hotel ZaZa. The evening raised more than $600,000.

Priscilla Dickson



Ben Edquist and Chelsea Helm
Parties

Actor Alan Brincks gets his makeup done for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

BEGINNING AUG. 1 THROUGH Aug. 10, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, the professional arm of the University of Houston’s School of Theater and Dance, takes the stage at Miller Outdoor Theatre for its 50th iteration. The milestone event includes productions of Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, plus "Bard talks," all at no cost to viewers.

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Art + Entertainment

Dandelion Cafe owners Sarah Lieberman and J.C. Ricks with Mireya Villarreal of GMA, Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown of Southern Smoke Foundation (photo by Shane Dante Photography)

THE SOUTHERN SMOKE Foundation, established by chef Chris Shepherd, has only been around for seven years — but that's long enough to have helped hospitality workers through hurricanes, freezes, a pandemic, and countless other personal situations requiring emergency relief.

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Food