WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:10.000 You are listening to Queer Voices, a radio show on KPFT 90.1 FM Houston, and available as a podcast wherever you get those. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:12.640 I am Brett Cullum, your host for this episode. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:21.679 We're taking a look at Houston as a destination city tonight, with Houston First Corporation's Vice President of Corporate Communications, A.J. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:23.039 Mistretta. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:23.920 Author R. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:38.240 Lee Ingalls finds out from AJ about how his job is to attract people from all over the world to come to Houston and also informs the LGBTQIA Plus community through their website, mygayhouston.com. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:54.880 Then I get to talk to Matt Hune about the upcoming 10th anniversary season for Rec Room Arts, a theater company that is kicking off this year's offerings with Amadeus and a very queer twist to it. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:57.679 Queer Voices starts now. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:00:59.920 Welcome. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:01.200 Thank you for joining us. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:01.840 I am R. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.439 Lee Engels, and today I'm joined by AJ Mistretta. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:08.719 AJ oversees the communications for Houston First. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:09.760 Welcome, AJ. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:11.760 Hey Lee, how are you doing? 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:12.640 Good, good. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:13.680 Thank you for joining me. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:14.560 Of course. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:20.159 Yeah, so can you explain to me a little bit about what Houston First is and what your role is with them? 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.000 Yeah, so Houston First is what's called a destination marketing organization. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.760 And typically you see these organizations around the country. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:31.200 Usually it starts with something like visit, fill in the blank, right? 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:34.159 Uh visit Nashville, visit Austin. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:36.239 For us, we are a little unique. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.400 We do run Visit Houston, which is a brand and a website. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:45.280 It is the official destination marketing organization for our region. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:50.319 We also run a number of facilities around the city, including the George R. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.879 Brown Convention Center, a number of theaters, parks, and so forth. 00:01:55.200 --> 00:02:03.680 So we are a little unique in that space in that we we market the city, we sell the city as a destination, but we also manage a lot of the facilities that Houstonians enjoy. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:04.000 Wow. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.079 Sounds like quite a responsibility there. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:12.319 Tell me a little bit, uh, how does that, or what do you do that is specific to the LGBTQ plus community? 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:16.719 Yeah, so we actually do operate a website called My Gay Houston. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:29.360 Uh, the organization does that really is targeted at the LGBTQ traveler, really letting them know what that big city experience is in Houston and what folks who are in the community can enjoy here. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:41.919 Uh, you know, we are not a uh an out a super outdoorsy destination, but we have a lot of great things that folks in the LGBTQ community do enjoy, you know, whether it's the arts, uh museums, amazing restaurants. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:49.360 And so that website really speaks to that community and tells them about some of the events and happenings uh that are specific to the community. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:50.000 Right, right. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:52.159 And remind me, what is the website again? 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.319 Yeah, it's mygayhouston.com. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:54.879 Oh, okay. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:55.199 Thank you. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:56.080 I'll have to do a chat. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:00.000 You asked me a moment ago about my specific role, and I didn't really elaborate on that. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:10.719 So my role really is telling the story uh from a communication standpoint of the organization of Houston First, what we do as a company, but also telling the story about our industry. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:19.039 You know, a lot of cities around the country, whether it's Las Vegas or Orlando, New Orleans, you know, they're known as hospitality destinations. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:24.240 A lot of folks don't automatically think of Houston as a leisure travel destination. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:26.319 And yet we are a huge one. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:32.400 We are a major one when it comes to concerts, sporting events, major conventions, festivals, and so forth. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:37.520 And so we need to remind folks all the time that, you know, we are one of the largest employers. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:46.560 When you think about all the restaurants, all the hotels, all the nightlife venues that are in the city, we are one of the largest employers and a big contributor to the economy. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:54.560 So part of my job is really conveying that out to the community, to our stakeholders about the importance of this industry and the importance of what we do for it. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:55.199 Yeah, yeah. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:56.159 No, great information. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:56.560 Thank you. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:57.039 Thank you. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:04.879 So, talking about destination, what are some of the major projects that are coming up that would kind of put us on that destination spotlight? 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:05.280 Yeah. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:09.680 So, you know, obviously there are a lot of constantly new things popping up. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:13.360 You know, I look at things, projects such as the Memorial Park Master Plan. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.759 That's been ongoing for a number of years now. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:28.000 And we've seen some of the early components of that, whether it is the Eastern Glades uh that has already opened up the major tunnel system that with the uh the overland tunnels that go over Memorial Park. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:33.920 But we also are going to see other projects that are really transforming Memorial Park into a destination. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:35.040 A really exciting thing. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:39.439 I think that park was underutilized for a number of years, and yet it's larger. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:47.040 Many folks are surprised to learn that it's larger than Central Park, and yet hasn't been parts of it just really haven't been developed. 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:53.519 And so a lot of that, that project I think will help transform the area in and around Uptown and become a destination. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:07.680 We also see, you know, in East Downtown an evolution, projects like East River that are transforming the area to the east of downtown that really uh will become a destination with, I think, a you know, major new restaurants, nightlife, and so forth. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:11.680 And that project is many acres that will be developed over the next 10 years. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.360 You also see projects like uh Buffalo Bayou East. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:29.040 So that's that's the whole project along Buffalo Bayou downstream that is really geared toward turning that into the type of environment that we see already upriver, you know, between downtown and Shepherd, really transforming the bayou. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:36.959 So these projects really have the capacity to reshape the destination and become more of a catalyst for future development. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:37.279 Yeah. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:40.079 No, I can tell you, I used to jog at Memorial Park. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:46.319 This was back in the 90s and early 2000s, and now it's almost unrecognizable with all the changes that they've made. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:48.000 So yeah, it's it's amazing. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:51.439 If you get a chance to go see, it's absolutely something to be seen. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:06:02.399 So as I understand it, one of your tasks, and when I say yours, I don't mean you specifically, but Houston first, is to attract events and conventions to come to Houston. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:06.959 What do you do that is specific to our community, the LGBTQ community? 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:14.399 You know, Houston has hosted a number of uh conventions and major events uh tied to the LGTQ community in the past. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:24.560 In fact, in 2014, as I recall, I was very involved at the time in helping bring about the Creating Change Conference uh to Houston. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:34.639 Uh that was a major conference of community activists, leaders in community organizations, whether it's pride organizations, chambers of commerce, and so forth in the LGBTQ community. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:43.600 It really brings them all together to talk about some of the issues that are affecting this community and what can be done differently and actions that can be taken. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:48.319 And you know, it's called creating change because I think it really does catalyze change. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:50.319 Uh, it really is an energizing conference. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:53.759 And that conference was held at the Hilton Americas back in 2014. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:04.800 I'll tell you, what's really cool about that is, you know, out of that conference uh began some discussions around the need for an LGBTQ chamber here in Houston. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:09.759 We saw a number of other organizations, cities sending their chambers to that conference. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:14.480 And we realized as the fourth largest city in the country that Houston didn't have one and we really needed one. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:22.160 And I think, you know, you and I have a dear friend, Gary Wood, that was part of the foundation of that, of that chamber alongside uh Tammy Wallace. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:25.839 And uh those conversations really began out of that conference, which is amazing. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:28.959 So uh that that had fond memories of that conference, but that's just one. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:34.639 And we've hosted industry-specific conferences, whether it's the Association of LGBTQ Realtors as an example. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.160 I think that was held a couple of years ago. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:46.639 So we go after major conferences that really speak to you know the specifics of our of our community, but also about the industries that are that are prime here in Houston, right? 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:52.319 And because we have such a robust LGBT LGBTQ community, those conferences do look at us. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:08:05.600 They look at the opportunity that presents to engage locals that are part of their organizations, as well as bring folks into a city that is easy to get to, has a great, great hotels and attractions, and uh we we see a lot of uh benefit from that. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:06.319 Right, great. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:06.639 Thank you. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:12.879 And yes, I I do agree that the chamber was unnecessary, uh, avoid in our community. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:17.519 And yeah, kudos to both uh Gary Wood and Tammy Wallace for getting that started. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:20.720 And this is their 10th year, yeah, with the chamber. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.000 So great, great for them. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:23.199 Appreciate them doing that. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:36.559 So, okay, the one question that I had, and and or misunderstanding that I had, I thought Houston First was actually a department within the city of Houston, but in our early conversations, you clarified that for me, that it is not. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:42.159 So can you kind of explain the role or connection between Houston First and the city? 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:51.120 Yeah, so a lot of organizations like ours, DMOs, as I mentioned before, destination marketing organizations, sometimes they are actually a department of a city. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:53.200 In some cases around the country, we see that. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.200 Oftentimes they are a nonprofit. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:59.919 They are sometimes member-based, so they might have members that are hotels or restaurants and so forth. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:05.440 Our model is that we are funded primarily through hotel occupancy tax. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:15.519 So that's basically whenever you stay at a hotel, a portion of that rate goes back to a local community to reinvest in bringing more travelers, conventions, and so forth to that city, right? 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:22.159 And so most of our revenue as an organization comes through uh hotel occupancy tax. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:28.080 We also get revenue through the operation of our facilities, like the convention center, and we actually own the Hilton Americas. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:30.960 So the operation of that hotel, as well as parking. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:35.200 So we actually operate some parking uh facilities in and around downtown as well. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.919 So those are our primary sources of revenue. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:42.960 We are uh very well, very tightly affiliated with the city, but we are not a city department. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:50.000 So we uh operate on behalf of our stakeholders, which are again, you know, the hotel community, the restaurants, and so forth. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:56.399 But we do answer to City Hall and make sure that they are kept abreast of what we're doing, and uh they ultimately approve our budget. 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:56.720 Yeah. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.279 Wonderful. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:57.519 Thank you. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:09:58.480 Thank you for that clarification. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:02.000 And then so we're talking about the communication, your audience. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:06.559 So who do you see as your audience and how do you get to them? 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:08.399 What is your what is your you know? 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.799 So we have a lot of different media available to us today. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.320 So remember the newspaper, magazine, online, uh, social media. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:15.360 Who's your audience? 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.399 How do you nip to them? 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:18.080 Yeah, so um, you know, interesting. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:24.399 I oversee corporate communications here, and uh, we divide it out into two kind of buckets, if you will. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:35.279 On my side, I'm speaking primarily to the local media community, working with newspapers, uh, television stations, and so forth to get the word out about, again, you know, what we're doing as a company. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:41.919 Uh, and we can talk about a major project that we are underway on in a moment, but what we're doing as a company, and then also what's going on in our industry. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.000 How is how is the uh travel and visitor economy doing here in Houston? 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.279 How are our hotels doing? 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.039 How are how are restaurants doing and so forth? 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.159 So we can speak about that. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:53.360 And we primarily speak about that into the local media audience. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:11:00.240 Uh in our marketing department, uh, we have another PR division that really focuses on telling the story of the destination, right? 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:15.360 So they're working with outlets such as travel and leisure, food and wine, uh, the Wall Street Journals, entertainment section to talk about travel to Houston and they're engaging with writers that come here, that experience the city, and that can then write about that. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:24.639 So again, you know, I'm focused more on telling that corporate story and that industry story, and they're focused more on telling the story about the destination and what it means to again visit Houston. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:25.840 Yeah, excellent point. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:35.279 So now one one kind of this is a little bit of a sidetrack, but still something that's important to our listeners, and that is the shift in in communication. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:42.799 So we're accustomed to or we grew up in a world of credit, primarily newspaper, magazine, et cetera. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:48.159 And we are now seeing a shift to more digital sources and social media. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:50.960 Do you how aware are you of that switch? 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:51.519 Are you? 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:54.720 And does your plan for communication kind of address that? 00:11:54.960 --> 00:12:04.720 Yeah, you know, typically on my side, we're working with a lot of traditional media, with with the newspapers, with um, you know, and when I say newspapers, I mean, you know, print and digital newspapers. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:10.559 I think, I think we we know that there are some completely online uh outlets these days as well as the television stations. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:23.600 But on the on the destination side, you know, what we're seeing is increasingly we we're working with influencers, with digital influencers, those that are engaged on social media, because people are now planning their vacations, you know, through TikTok, through Instagram, right? 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:30.080 They're following influencers that they can see and they can track and they think they can say, okay, that looks like something really fun that I would like to do. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.799 I want to go visit that restaurant, I want to go to that museum. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:37.360 And so we're engaging them, those influencers, in ways that we really never have before. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:45.840 Certainly traditional advertising and public relations are core to our big part of what we do and our planning. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:50.240 But a growing part of that strategy is working where folks are. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:59.840 And that increasingly is through digital means, through social media, through influencers that uh help convey how what the what the trip experience can be in a place like this. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:04.559 We also, you know, as a as an organization, we again manage a number of facilities. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.960 We manage Jones Hall and the Wortham. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:23.840 So we engage influencers on our side sometimes to talk about, you know, what are some of the upcoming events happening in some of our facilities, whether it is a new convention that's just that just that's opening uh this week at the convention center and what folks might be able to experience there if it is a public show, right? 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:27.279 What it might be like the, for instance, like the car show or a boat show. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:30.399 What can folks experience this weekend at the convention center? 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:38.240 And then also, again, you know, what's going on at the theaters, what's going on at some of the parks that we manage, and you know, what can folks experience this weekend? 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:42.480 So those are the things that we uh engage influencers on as well as traditional media. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.200 Right, great. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:43.519 Thank you. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:52.399 So we talked a little bit about uh communications outward from your organization to your audiences, but there's also the communications coming in toward you as well. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:14:01.039 So one of the questions is a change in the mayor's office and the uh mayor's administration, does that change what you do? 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.960 And if so, how so? 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:10.480 Really, uh, you know, we are very focused on our mission, which is to help uh grow the Houston economy through our industry, right? 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:20.480 And so a big part of that is, you know, we we are determined to bring more conventions to our city, bring more businesses that are in the hospitality sector and adjacent sectors. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.279 And so, really, that mission is core to who we are. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.120 It outlasts every administration. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:34.799 Certainly, certain uh leadership might have perspective, and we want to we want to engage uh the mayor or council members on those those ideas, and we certainly do that frequently. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:45.120 But our mission really remains the same across administrations to really focus on what it means to be a destination and how we can help grow that experience here in Houston. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:45.759 Thank you. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:46.320 Thank you. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:54.960 So I and I'm trying to think of a uh a difficult message that might be given to you to to communicate outwards, and I can't come up with an example. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:04.639 But if you were given a message or or something happened in the city that that now we need to communicate that outward, how how would you how does your organization handle that? 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.559 Yeah, you know, we we experience difficult situations all the time. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:14.320 A lot of them are focused around, unfortunately, tragedies, like whether it's a a major storm, for instance. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:22.480 How do we, if we have a significant size convention coming to the city, but we've got we're facing a hurricane, you know, how do we manage that? 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.000 How do we communicate about that? 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.919 But we don't want to put people in danger, right? 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:33.039 So crisis communications as part of the job, making sure that uh we are equipped to communicate directly with our clients. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:41.679 In cases where, uh, for instance, during Hurricane Harvey, you know, a portion of the convention center had to be turned into a temporary shelter. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:49.120 And you know, we certainly were able to do that and and accommodate Houstonians in need, but you know, that comes with its own communication components, right? 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:54.879 We were working in that situation with the Red Cross, with the mayor's office, with federal leaders and so forth. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.519 So when tragedy strikes, it really requires people to be nimble. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:01.519 It requires organizations like ours to be to be flexible and to roll with the punches. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:11.919 Uh, but at the same time, we again we have to get back to you know the core business and uh and making sure that we can continue to support our stakeholders, which again are the is that hospitality community. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:12.879 Yeah, thank you. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:13.440 Thank you. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:24.000 So staying in the crisis of discussion, has there been an event or crisis that you've been involved in that kind of changed the way you think about public communication? 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:26.399 Yeah, I think it was probably Harvey. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.159 I'll give you uh a quick story there. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:39.120 You know, I actually had uh had left the organization at that time and had eventually would come back, uh, but I had gone to the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Houston Partnership for a bit. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:44.000 And that was in the interim in between those jobs, and I and that's when Hurricane Harvey hit. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:52.080 And I'll tell you, you know, I was called by my previous boss and and others with the with Houston First and said, Hey, listen, we know you live close by. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:54.559 Uh a lot of our folks can't get to the convention center. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.840 Would you be willing to help out? 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.519 And and given the situation, I said, sure, I if I can get there, I'll help out. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:09.119 So what that entailed was me being, you know, at the convention center for a few days, working again alongside the communications folks with the Red Cross, with with the mayor's office at the time. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:15.440 And, you know, I really saw uh folks uh coming together in a unique way to support Houstonians in need. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.720 And that was just really special. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.839 We had some challenges. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:24.480 We had people that um security challenges, folks, you know, that perhaps you know had were up to no good. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:29.200 We had to make sure that that that fo that the folks that were that were here because they needed to be were safe. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:32.400 And so we had to, you know, address that with HPD and so forth. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:40.559 But you know, overall, just a really tremendous experience and seeing people come together to support those in in their their those difficult times. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:47.680 I hope that we don't have another situation like that, but I do know that based on that experience, you know, when Houstonians need each other, we we show up. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.079 Okay. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:54.400 So what kind of shifting a little bit, what is something that Houstonians may not know about your team? 00:17:54.640 --> 00:18:00.960 Yeah, I think people are often surprised that that Houston is such a prominent destination. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:06.079 I think Houstonians tend to think, well, I live here, but you know, do people really come to visit? 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.359 And people do come to visit. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:15.599 They come to visit for, again, all the things that we talked about, for the museums, for the restaurants, for the attractions, for things like Space Center, which is so unique to Houston, right? 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:21.839 I would encourage folks to embrace that identity as a destination, to encourage friends and family to come visit them. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:34.079 You know, there are tremendous events that happen throughout the year, uh, whether it's rodeo or spring break or you know, all the things that we we come to know and love here that are part of part and parcel to our identity as his as Houstonians. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:41.599 I would encourage folks to look at our city as a as a destination, to to encourage people that they know to come and visit. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.440 And uh, I think it's a it's a it's a great thing. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.079 Right, right. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.799 Well, now kind of shifting that conversation a little bit. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:51.200 So has being gay shaped your experience as a communications professional? 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.000 If so, how? 00:18:52.319 --> 00:19:03.759 I look at it as making sure that our community is represented where possible, that our specific needs as LGBTQ people are seen and heard in the rooms. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:10.240 You know, I think that we all have a responsibility as members of this community to represent the broader community when we can. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.480 And if we're the only person in the room, then sometimes that means that we're the representative, right? 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:24.240 And so making sure that people are thinking about those things, thinking about what it means to be inclusive, to be represented, that's important to me in my communications role. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:26.559 At the same time, you know, it's a job. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:30.640 And so sometimes you have to leave certain, you know, personal feelings aside. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:36.160 Uh, but at the same time, you know, do the job, but at the same time, making sure that people know who you are. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:40.319 I'm very specific and and and open about who I am at work. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.200 I always have been. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.759 And uh that's a big part of my identity. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:45.759 But at the same time, I do my job. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:50.400 And sometimes it's leaving certain certain beliefs and and and things and so forth at at the door. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:50.799 Yeah. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.920 No, and I totally agree. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.319 I understand. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.440 I appreciate that. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:20:00.079 So do you feel a responsibility then for the LGBTQ plus community then in your role? 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:10.720 I do, and as much as I, again, want to make sure that we're represented, that our thoughts and feelings, as much as I as an individual can represent them, you know, I am gay, I'm not uh I'm not trans, I'm not bi. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.240 I can't represent everybody, right? 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:16.880 And and the and the thoughts and feelings of everyone, but I know what it means to be part of this community. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:28.720 And I do feel that I have a responsibility to make sure that people are thinking about the needs of this community and the needs of other marginalized, traditionally marginalized communities, whether it's people of color and so forth. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:35.279 So I I do feel a responsibility, but at the same time, you know, it's it's it's finding that that happy medium. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:37.519 You can't be an activist all the time, right? 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.559 Uh, but certainly at the same time making sure that the voice is heard. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:40.880 Yeah. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.079 No, I I totally agree. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:51.920 So one thing that was very prominent when I was in my early work years was sometimes you had to hide who you were so that you to protect your job or or or whatever you were doing. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.079 Do you feel that is still the case today? 00:20:54.160 --> 00:21:00.319 Are you are there times that you feel like you have to hide who you are in order to be successful or or do you not feel that? 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:03.039 I've never felt that way in in the roles that I've had. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:06.559 You know, previous to this work, I was a journalist for a number of years. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:08.319 I was an editor, I was a reporter. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:16.000 You know, those are really open professions and they were when I was coming out, you know, in the early 2000s. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:20.640 I've never felt the need or the desire to hide who I was at at work. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:25.680 But at the same time, I recognize that some folks do have that need, depending on the industry. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.960 I think that does still happen. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.440 I hope it doesn't happen as much as it used to. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:33.920 I do think it's different for gay and lesbian folks than it is for trans folks. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:42.720 I think unfortunately there's still more stigma attached to the trans community, and some of those folks really do struggle with being out at work. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:45.759 And that's something we need to we need to work on as a community. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:48.319 Our community has become more politicized. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:58.960 Uh, with that being the case, both at the state and the national level, does that make communication different or has that changed how you communicate outward, b both in the community and and outside the community? 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.599 Not for me. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.799 Again, I think sometimes we just need to express who we are. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.920 We need to express our feelings. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:11.680 So when young people listen to you and see you in your job, what is the message that you would like them to take away? 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.319 For sure. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:20.000 You know, I think that being a mentor to people that are just coming into their careers that are searching for the right career is so important. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:36.319 And I think for me, I would want them to see somebody in a position of influence from our community, from the LGTQ community successful, that somebody has been able to build a career that has been able to effectively be who they are. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:46.160 And that's my desire is to encourage folks who are just coming out to be themselves, to be able to strive and to be successful. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:52.640 At the same time, I think for me, I I love being able to teach young people this space, about this space. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:23:01.279 Whether that's this, when I say that, I mean, you know, being able to be a communicator, whether it's as a writer, as a PR professional, as a communicator in general. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.880 I love being able to teach that. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:08.000 And so for me, I always encourage people first and foremost to be able to write. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:12.720 I think that that's an incredible skill and certainly something that is important today. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.920 Yes, we have AI. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:25.200 Yes, we have the ability to plug some stuff into a chat bot, but no one can replace the notion of being able to craft compelling arguments in in writing. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:30.799 And so I think that we that is a skill that is extremely important to anything in communications. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:34.000 I tell people all the time, if you can write, you can go places. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:41.920 And so I really, really do encourage young people to learn to write compellingly, and that will lead them and and and serve them in good stead. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.720 Yeah, no, no, no. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.359 I appreciate that. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:48.240 Of course, I've I've followed your career now for probably a couple of decades and very impressive. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.119 You've done a great job. 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.799 I think visibility is important. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:56.400 Uh, people having success in their careers while still being authentic with to who they are is very, very important. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.799 And you have done that uh and done it very, very well. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:07.920 Uh so kind of stepping in outside the our community, what would you like people to know about Houston first and the communications that that you're part of? 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:13.759 Yeah, I just want people to know that we're here, that we do represent Houston on the global stage. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.799 And that is important. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:21.359 You know, we aren't just promoting Houston to folks living in Louisiana and Arkansas, right? 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.480 Near neighboring states. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.000 We're promoting Houston around the world. 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:37.279 We have agents in places like China, in in uh Germany, in Great Britain, in Mexico, uh, all these places where we're trying to encourage tourism from to our to our city. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:41.920 And those are great things because when we can bring international tourists, they they tend to tend to stay longer, right? 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:44.319 So we are representing Houston. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:52.000 We are driving people here and encouraging them to spend money, which then helps improve the overall living experience here in Houston. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:59.359 Because when we can encourage new restaurants, when we can encourage new museums, because we've got the visitors to support it, that means great experiences for locals as well. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.319 And that's really important. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.920 Yeah, no, I absolutely agree. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:04.480 So we we we walk in dual world. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:08.960 So we uh, you know, I have uh a message board that I uh communicate with everybody. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:13.039 So for everybody, where would they go to get information about Houston? 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:25.440 Yeah, so they would go to visithouston.com for that visitor experience, like what to do this weekend, what festivals are coming up, uh, what's what's going on in our community at any given moment, hottest view restaurants, things like that. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:27.279 So that's where they can find a lot of that information. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:41.279 If they want to learn a little bit more about Houston First and the visitor economy, and when I say that, I mean what's going on in hotels, what's what's going on at the at our airports, how many people are coming through Houston's airports and so forth, that's when they go to HoustonFirst.com. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:48.559 And there it's you know, that's our corporate website where we're talking about what's happening in our industry and in our company. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:56.799 But uh it's two kind of different different sides of the coin a B2C message on visithouston.com and then a B2B message on HoustonFirst.com. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:26:07.119 Yeah, no, and I I will have to say from a personal experience, when I was putting together a calendar for a print magazine, I went to Houston First and got the information on what's going on and where it's going on. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:09.519 So yeah, I it's a great website, great resource. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:12.400 I have to uh so I will absolutely support you in that. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:17.440 And then we also have the other side of the coin is that we have a very specific community that we address as well. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:24.799 And where would our community they go to to get information about the LGBTQ plus community? 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:34.799 Yeah, so uh we have again mygayhouston.com where we have editors devoted to who are members of our community devoted to telling this community what's going on in Houston, right? 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:48.960 So whether it's major pride events or it's uh October and coming out month, uh, you know, the the events going on around our community that are that are important to members of our community, whether they're visiting or locals, that's where they'll find that at mygayhouston.com. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.359 Great. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:51.759 Well, thank you, AJ, for joining me today. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.640 I appreciate it. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:55.519 It's always good to know a little bit about what's going on in Houston. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.000 Awesome. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.480 Thanks so much. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.599 I appreciate it, Lee. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.559 Thank you. 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:06.079 Thank you for listening to Queer Voices here on KPFT 90.1 Houston or as a podcast. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:09.200 KPFT is a listener-funded station. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.559 This is Brett Cullum. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:17.200 You will notice you won't hear any commercials on our program, and that is because we have wonderful people who support us. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:21.759 You can become one of those by going to KPFT.org and making a donation. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.920 You can pay it once or monthly. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:29.119 None of these funds raised go to pay us because the show is assembled by volunteers. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.319 Yep, that's right. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.519 I'm Steve. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:44.079 In fact, I'm a monthly donor to the state to myself because I believe so much in having a place where media can be free to say or do anything it wants without corporations or government entities dictating what we do. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:49.839 So go to kpft.org and join us in making content that speaks to your community. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.279 Hi there, this is Brett Cullum. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:28:00.720 Matt Hune is one of the founders and the artistic director of Rec Room Arts. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:10.079 It is a 60-seat theater within walking distance of Minute Made Park that is producing critically acclaimed shows for gosh, 10 years now? 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:10.480 Yeah. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.559 So is Rec Room the only thing you're doing? 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.599 Yeah, you know what? 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:18.720 I also uh run a therapy practice and have been doing that for a while too. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:29.200 But the idea of really exploring sort of the the human condition through through both those avenues is what I've yeah, that's that's the thing. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:33.279 In the past, you've also uh lectured and taught at Prairie View AM University. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:37.119 You've worked with the alley, you've worked with Tuts, you've worked with HGO stages. 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.000 I feel like you've hit every theater in town. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.400 Yeah. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:43.599 Uh so but rec Room Arts is sort of special. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.680 So I'm glad to have you here, Matt. 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:48.079 I I always call you the elusive Matt Hune. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:48.960 So I don't know. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.319 I'm sorry. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.200 No, it's okay. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.599 It's great. 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.960 This is your tenth season. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:58.079 So tell me about what four shows you have picked for this tenth season of Wreck Room Arts. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:03.440 Yeah, you know, I this season felt sort of big and important. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:11.759 And you know, it was really important for me to sort of look back at where we've come from, what's brought us here, and where we're going from here. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:25.119 So I was interested in shows that really explore art, performance, music, theater, whatever that might be, but the idea of what art is and what could be, what it could be. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:36.480 And also show of like really interesting shows that uh characters are really scrounging at finding a home in a place where they might not really feel at home. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:44.640 So outsiders really elbowing their way in to be coming uh, you know, kind of established to where they are. 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:51.039 So we start, we start the season with Peter Schaefer's really now classic Amadeus. 00:29:51.119 --> 00:30:04.559 Um, it was turned into a film in the 80s, uh the play premiered in the 70s, and we thought, you know, gosh, you know, we've been we've been thinking about this play for quite some time, but but really felt right to program it now, put it in our small space. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:19.119 We are really distilling this big epic down into an eight-person show that really is about the that relationship between Mozart and Antonio Salieri, who was the court composer of the time in Vienna. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:26.400 Going back to this idea of distilling down an epic in our small space that really has been really become our driving force. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:37.599 So putting big shows that don't quite necessarily fit in a 60-seat theater and and making them fit and being us being able to sort of look at the story from that perspective. 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:51.440 It's been really such a fun thing that I think Rec Room provides that, you know, starting it 10 years ago wasn't necessarily at the forefront of the mind, but really has been, you know, one of my favorite parts about Rec Room. 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:56.079 But from We definitely put a lot of stuff in there that I was like, wow, how are you going to do this? 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:56.559 Yeah. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:00.240 And Amadeus is definitely one of those where I was like, oh, okay. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:00.640 Yeah. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:03.200 Um who are your two leads for Amadeus, right? 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:09.680 We have Rose Morrigan, and this is Rose's first time with us here at Rec Room. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:19.440 She is very, you know, I'm just like our our our conversations on kind of what who Mozart is and her approach was just so exciting to me. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:29.440 So Rose is playing Mozart, and then we have Luis Galindo who is playing Salieri, and those two really kind of taking charge and leading it. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:36.079 We we also have uh Wesley Whitson, who many people may remember from Angels in America. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:39.920 He's playing The Emperor, um, and just just perfectly. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:46.960 And just a handful of really great ensemble actors, KB Kendrick Brown, who was in our Death of a Salesman. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:50.960 Just really, I'm really, really excited for this group of people. 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:55.119 Really part of the casting for this show is like, okay, let's who do we want to play with? 00:31:55.279 --> 00:32:04.000 And that's really we we got those people, and it's rehearsals are so fun because we're like, whoa, you know, they we could do anything. 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:06.720 This could be we could tell this in any way. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:12.079 So we have people just just like a yes and type of environment and the room, which is so fun. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:14.079 Rose is an incredible casting choice. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:18.000 The last time I saw her on stage, she was doing Sherlock Holmes. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.279 Yeah. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:25.920 This is just like an amazing big yes and uh transgender lead for a show, which is just amazing. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:31.759 I mean, I would have expected Hedwig, of course, as an opportunity for that, and you're doing that later in the the season. 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:41.680 But for Amadeus to come right out of the gate with this is uh gonna be an amazing crew to see do it, and of course, the rest of the cast just it was really important for me in this story. 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:52.079 What's well at least what kind of sticks out to me and about Amadeus is that you you have Mozart who's being really thrust into this environment by necessarily no choice. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:33:01.680 He's just sort of strapped to to a comet and has just kind of landed here and is like, this is you know, Mozart can't not do what Mozart does. 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:08.640 So, but that it Mozart really goes into this environment where people are very black and white. 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:12.160 This is how things are done, this is how things are not done. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:24.799 These are yes, no labeling everything, and Mozart comes in as just this enigma that people are not sure how to respond to, not sure how to define. 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:33.680 So um, you know, I I think you know, not necessarily was like, you know, we want an actor who we want a trans actor. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:43.839 It just happened to be like Rose was great, and oh my gosh, wow, these these things really fit and it it ended up it is working really, really in a great way. 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:44.799 Well, I'm excited. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.680 It's a great cast. 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:49.680 So and Rose is definitely one that can pull off Amadeus pretty well. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:54.000 So yeah, and then the next show that you're doing is Accidental Death of an Anarchist. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:34:00.000 Yeah, this is an this is a new adaptation from a Dario Faux play, an Italian playwright. 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:04.079 Uh we uh this is our Christmas show that's not a Christmas show. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:10.800 It is just it's a farce of conspiracy theories, rebellion, institutional distrust. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:17.440 I'll say rebellion is another theme we were looking for in the season because I that has kind of been our spirit from the beginning. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:31.360 But yeah, accidental death of an anarchist happens after some death threatens to expose corruption in the system and how the system really figures out how to manage that potential exposure. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:33.840 But this is Christmas time at the police station. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:40.719 I think I mean it is it is hilarious, it is very of the time, and and I think people really love it. 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.199 Yeah. 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:50.559 And then of course, you've got your big musical just in time for Valentine's Day, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which of course I is a show that I know backwards and forwards, but uh what made you want to do Hedwig? 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:52.000 Uh I just love the music. 00:34:52.159 --> 00:35:02.000 I mean, and it the themes of the show fit so well into what we were thinking, and in terms of that rebellion, in terms of an outsider trying to find home. 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:03.440 And yeah, it just felt right. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:09.360 Well, it's ironically perfect for Rec Room Arts because you are in the shadow of Minute Made Park. 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:13.119 So I can imagine Hedwig screaming across to the search. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:28.960 Part of me, like I of course, I I hate when there's an event going on at the ballpark be just because parking is so bad for us, but part of me wishes like, oh, it'll be great if there is uh during you know it's not baseball season, but sometimes there are, you know, this big concerts that happen over there. 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.679 So we'll see. 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.079 Yes. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:31.440 No, it's a perfect setting. 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:32.719 So I'm excited about that one. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:35.840 And then you round out with the light fantastic. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:37.920 And this is a show I'm not as familiar with. 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:40.480 So can you tell me about what the light fantastic is? 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:46.639 Yeah, we've had a long relationship producing work by Ike Holter, who is a Chicago playwright. 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:53.119 I've known Ike and I have been friends since we were uh coming of age, great friend, and I love his work. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:59.360 And so he's re kind of tooling the uh the light fantastic for our production. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:04.480 It's the horror, it well, it's at at its core is a horror, but we'll say a horror comedy. 00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:14.480 But yeah, it takes place in a sort of a rural Indiana town where some where some uh weird things are happening. 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.119 All right. 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:15.760 Well, great. 00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:19.760 Well, you know, 10 years, crazy to even think about. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:23.679 But how has directing changed for you over these 10 years? 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:26.960 Has it has this whole project kind of altered your view of that? 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:44.480 Well, yeah, I I guess for me it's altered more so my career in a way that I wasn't like happy accident in terms of like, oh, yeah, I've really been able to kind of set up shop here in our space and figure it out in a way that, you know, that each every space has its quirks. 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:48.880 I would, you know, argue that our space might have more quirks than than most. 00:36:49.280 --> 00:37:05.119 And those limitations that our space just inherently has um has allowed not just me, but I feel like any creative team that we get on board and any actor that we get on board to just really become more creative. 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:16.960 I'm a I'm a big believer in that limitations really allow us to uh the freedom to soar and and make perhaps bolder choices than we might if we had like all of the resources. 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:31.599 So so yeah, I mean, I I'm always loving the idea of, you know, this this show or this moment that we have in our heads, that's total this is an impossible thing to to do in our space. 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:32.960 Let's make it happen. 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:45.360 And that that spirit of directing, that spirit of just creating the work is what has been, you know, a through line, at least behind the scenes, and and how we work. 00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:50.719 And one thing that I really am, you know, it it it makes it makes the thing exciting for me. 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:52.480 Well, how did you get started 10 years ago? 00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:54.320 Tell me about the genesis of all of this. 00:37:54.559 --> 00:38:06.159 Yeah, I had recently moved back to Houston from I was living in Chicago, and um, you know, there was a type of work that was happening there in Chicago that I didn't quite see happening here in Houston. 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:08.639 So I was like, oh, there's a little bit of a hole in the market. 00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:17.039 So um, you know, it made me, you know, just in terms of a little experiment, I created what I called the living room series, and I started doing theater in my living room. 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.119 And now it wasn't theater in my living room. 00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:23.119 What I did is converted my living room into a black box theater at the time. 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:42.480 It was a monstrous uh townhouse, and uh and we did a season of four shows, and and I we I just recently married, and after the fourth show production, my wife was like, okay, either you leave or the theater leaves, pick so that happened. 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:54.000 But eventually, like I had hooked up with Stephanie Whittles Wax, who I co-founded Rec Room with, and we were both teaching at HSPVA at at the time, and we kept floating this idea around. 00:38:54.159 --> 00:39:01.599 Her brother had uh Harris Whittles, who was many people would may remember him or know of his work in comedy. 00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:24.159 Uh, he was big in the show Parks and Rec, but he he had recently died, and we we were just kind of, you know, in some ways, we were, you know, I was wanting to generate this new work, and Stephanie, you know, certainly not speaking for her, but I feel as though she was like kind of working through some of this, you know, these life events for her within the company. 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:27.119 So we just got together, we called it Rec Room. 00:39:27.199 --> 00:39:32.079 It was sort of a homage to Parks and Rec and the Living Room series, hence the name. 00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:34.559 And then yeah, we we stumbled upon the space. 00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:35.280 What happened? 00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:41.920 There was someone who cold called me while I was doing the living room series and said, I read what you're doing in the Houston press. 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.960 I I think it's great. 00:39:43.119 --> 00:39:45.840 I have a loft downtown, I want you to do theater in my loft. 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:51.119 And and in the back of my head is like, I've been doing this, I would not wish this upon my worst enemy. 00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:54.559 I'm not doing theater in someone's living space. 00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:57.519 I I I know what that's like, and I don't want to do that. 00:39:57.679 --> 00:40:01.760 Um, but uh also she cold called me, so I was like, okay, I have to meet this person. 00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:02.639 That's it's cool. 00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:19.599 So so we met and she actually lives, lived up uh above Rec Room and introduced me to uh Stefan, who has been with us really since then and was was there and got us going in the space, and it was you know one thing after another. 00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:23.039 Um still you know, it started still as an experiment. 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:24.559 Like, what are we putting in here? 00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:26.239 What how does this look? 00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:34.079 And I think we have eventually sort of found our footing in a way, although I all always believe, you know, we're you know it's important to sort of reinvent ourselves. 00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:43.039 What is you know as as long as we're following kind of what that mission is, what we originally set out to do, we still are kind of figuring out that identity. 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:50.639 But but at the time it was like throw everything at the wall, what works, what doesn't, and it was a real uh wild, wild west of wreck room. 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:52.559 That is still a wild, wild west. 00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:53.280 Are you kidding? 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.239 Yeah, true. 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:57.360 I was always wondering, is there a production from those first 10 years? 00:40:57.519 --> 00:41:03.280 And you look back and you think, okay, this is the moment where we define what Rec Room Arts really is. 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:08.320 That was our production of Cinder, and uh it was Cinder is an iCulture play. 00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:10.159 It was really, it felt like right. 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:13.280 We had like a real kind of unit set. 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:16.320 It was Stefan's first scenic design in our space. 00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:20.480 And uh I was like, okay, this is this is taking hold. 00:41:20.719 --> 00:41:24.320 You know, there's things before that that was like, oh, this is cool. 00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:28.239 Um, you know, our our version of uh The Rite of Spring, um, which is really cool. 00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:40.880 Lord Gutierrez choreographed it, but but I would say Cinder really was the first show that we did that kind of catapulted us in the direction that we're still kind of continue, uh we continue to go down. 00:41:41.199 --> 00:41:44.639 What do you want Rec Room to look like in the next 10 years? 00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:45.760 Is there a vision there? 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:46.239 Yeah. 00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:57.760 Yeah, I I want us to, I, you know, I I am in in order to have a strong theater ecosystem, not just theater ecosystem, but like a cultural city ecosystem, you have to have strong theater. 00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:05.920 In order to have strong theater, you part of the thing that needs to be involved in there is theater of all sizes that are of good quality. 00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:11.280 So I'm not interested in creating, you know, the 200-seat version of Rec Room. 00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:14.960 I want to keep Rec Room at its sort of seating capacity. 00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:35.199 Certainly we could go up perhaps a little bit more, but uh just it being a space that is kind of still presenting the type of work we're presenting, but in a way that is just more engaged in terms of people understanding how how big our small thing is. 00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:41.920 And not not and by small, I mean like kind of just you know, our our our physical space, which I think is happening. 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:43.280 We're on that trajectory. 00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:56.079 Um you know, I I think there's a world in which Rec Room becomes part of the theater district that I'm would be very interested in, just would be part of that trajectory in terms of honoring the importance of that type of work. 00:42:56.239 --> 00:43:01.280 You know, uh I also am interested in developing new work, supporting writers. 00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:11.440 That is, I think, an um a really, really important obligation for a theater like Rec Room to support the creation of new plays and new theater. 00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:16.239 So we're doing all that and lots of things behind the scenes that are moving in that way. 00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:31.280 You know, I someone might look at this current season like, well, there's no new play aside from like a new adaptation of an old play, however, uh just to say we are doing that, and there will be things to come that will resemble that. 00:43:31.360 --> 00:43:37.280 So what do you think you guys have proven about what a small theater in Houston can do that just the large theaters can't? 00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:53.760 Is there a aesthetic or an accomplishment or it it's hard to sort of nail down because you know, I I think there's there's like an alchemy involved in theater that is really important that really uh depends on the environment, the people in it, and all that. 00:43:53.920 --> 00:44:03.920 Uh I think you know, I I view my job as you the leader of recruit to really my my first and foremost job is to make sure that alchemy works. 00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:13.599 So to create an environment in which the the magic, so to speak, and not necessarily sounds cliche, but to where the magic can happen. 00:44:13.840 --> 00:44:30.480 But you know, we certainly to be able to put in a show or present a show that looks as though it it costs the same amount to produce at a large theater, but we're doing it at a fraction of the cost. 00:44:30.800 --> 00:44:36.079 In terms of materials, I mean part of that is our space is small, so we don't we have to we don't have to buy as much material. 00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:47.920 But still you know w we I would argue art design and acting talent is is up there amongst you know we we can compete it's I I'll say that. 00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:48.400 Yes. 00:44:48.639 --> 00:44:49.519 In a big way. 00:44:50.159 --> 00:45:00.239 I last year your production of angels in America just the scope the craziness of doing both parts together the tech, the acting I was just blown away. 00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:06.079 I was like this is just incredible what you're doing with this space and how you're kind of reinventing that. 00:45:06.159 --> 00:45:11.280 So I think that that's what has me excited about celebrating you for 10 years and seeing what comes up next. 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:15.519 Amadeus of course starts September 17th runs through October 10th. 00:45:15.760 --> 00:45:22.639 You can find out more information recroomarts.org and it's you're downtown you're right in the shadow of Minima Park. 00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:27.039 So it's an interesting space you've got a little bar that makes things kind of nice. 00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:35.599 Yeah I'll say in terms of that 10 year we have a lot of upgrades to space that people would be excited to know about or or experience. 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:47.920 We have not just renovated bathrooms but additional bathrooms in our space we have the the bar is getting a makeover and just gonna flow is gonna be really nice. 00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:54.480 So so in that way we're you know the space is gonna be feel feel different for those people who are used to it. 00:45:54.719 --> 00:45:57.039 All right well Matt Hewan congratulations on 10 years. 00:45:57.199 --> 00:46:08.000 I'm excited to see where all of this goes so uh congratulations and we'll see you for Amadeus and accidental death of an anarchist and Hedwig and the angry anchor and the life fantastics. 00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:08.719 So there you are. 00:46:08.960 --> 00:46:22.320 Thank you Brett and hi there this is Brett Cullum and I am joined by author R. 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:28.960 Lee Ingalls and we're going to talk about some of the things in the news one of the big things we have to talk about last week was a terrible week. 00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:41.119 We lost two huge icons in the queer community both Dolly Parton and Tim Curry and I wanted to find out some kind of tidbits about both of them that would be relatable to the queer voices audience. 00:46:41.599 --> 00:46:49.119 One of the big things that I found out was that Dolly Parton had a transgender chauffeur and longtime assistant named Jason Pyrrhot. 00:46:49.280 --> 00:46:49.920 Did you know that? 00:46:50.159 --> 00:47:07.039 I did not know that no well Pyrrh worked as Dolly Parton's uh Hollywood chauffeur beginning in the 80s and apparently remained connected to her for more than 30 years and he became a personal assistant as well and one of the things that's so fascinating is a lot of things kind of happened with them and their relationship. 00:47:07.280 --> 00:47:32.480 Yeah yeah so this was back in 1990 uh the tabloid magazine star ran a sensational story of course they did about Perot essentially outing him as a trans man the headline was Sex Change Shocker in Dolly's limo with the subheadline describing a man who used to be a woman a transgender newsletter called 20 minutes preserved the material for the from the story. 00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:59.360 Yeah but Pierrot's comments about Dolly were always positive and he said that she knew about him very nice lady all of those good things and in fact Dolly Parton returned the favor in 1994 there was her book Dolly My Life and Other Unfinished Business which is a great one if you want to read up about Dolly and she mentioned Jason by name and in a QA section she was asked about trans people and gender transition and she essentially said that everything she knew about the subject she learned from her friend Jason. 00:47:59.440 --> 00:48:27.760 So she was tremendously supportive she also thanked him for her internes and her 2016 album Pure and Simple for his time love and attention to details and Perot uh contributed to her 2023 book Behind the scenes it makes Dolly's reputation as an LGBTQ ally considerably more interesting because this was happening in the 1980s long before she was routinely celebrated as a queer icon. 00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:32.000 You know and then also put some light on some things that came up in 2023. 00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:38.559 The legislation in Tennessee they were trying to put some anti-trans things on the books. 00:48:38.800 --> 00:48:53.440 Dolly came out and said that she had transgender people, gay people and lesbians in her family and circle of employees adding that she knew and loved them and didn't judge them and obviously uh Jason Piro was one of those so and there's a pretty uh remarkable connection. 00:48:53.599 --> 00:49:05.599 The same Dolly Carton who employed and stood by a trans man in the 1980s later wrote Traveling Through which was an Oscar nominated song from the film Trans America about a transgender woman going across country. 00:49:05.760 --> 00:49:14.239 Yeah yeah yeah illustrating she was always a supporter of the community and she didn't mind standing in the face of everyone and saying this is the way it is and you should be okay with it. 00:49:14.320 --> 00:49:14.559 Yeah. 00:49:14.719 --> 00:49:21.119 So yeah a tremendous loss for the world really and and our community in particular. 00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:22.800 And then there was Tim Curry. 00:49:22.960 --> 00:49:31.039 Tim Curry wow what a what a character he was so he never really admitted to being part of that LGBTQ plus community. 00:49:31.679 --> 00:49:40.079 He was a queer cultural icon but we shouldn't retroactively label his personal sexuality he always seemed to keep that guarded. 00:49:40.320 --> 00:49:53.360 Yeah it was interesting he was rumored to be with certain people but it was just never he just he kept everything very private which is very interesting because he obviously was so boisterous and confident in the role of Frankenberger in the Rocky Horror Pixar show. 00:49:54.239 --> 00:49:59.440 Not only that one but you know I also marked his performance in Home Alone 2. 00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:02.880 I think he did a remarkable job small part for sure but very memorable. 00:50:03.199 --> 00:50:04.960 Well you know who else had a part in that film. 00:50:05.199 --> 00:50:06.320 Yeah yeah I think I do. 00:50:06.480 --> 00:50:49.280 Yeah oddly enough speaking of Trump his administration asked the Supreme Court to take up a transgender military ban and the administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the litigation involving 28 transgender service members and the military's policy barring transgender people from the service is something that they're really trying to enact and it seems kind of I mean it's hard enough to get anybody I know into the armed service one of the f things that I find most difficult to understand is from our segment last week we talked about the fact that transgender people probably represent about one percent of our society and the amount of time that this administration and certain politicians are spending on that issue is just amazing to me. 00:50:49.360 --> 00:50:51.360 And I it's something I will never understand understand. 00:50:51.760 --> 00:50:53.280 It's amazing what they get fixated on. 00:50:53.440 --> 00:50:54.320 Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. 00:50:54.480 --> 00:51:02.320 So another one that came up for us was the uh Federal appeals court blocks efforts to obtain transgender patient medical records. 00:51:02.639 --> 00:51:14.159 The Second Circuit got rejected the Justice Department's last attempt to obtain private medical records involving transgender young people receiving uh gender affirming care in New York. 00:51:14.400 --> 00:51:15.039 Sad statement. 00:51:15.679 --> 00:51:19.679 Very sad and it's just I I don't know why anybody could access medical records. 00:51:19.760 --> 00:51:23.760 There's things like PIPA and rules about that that just it it doesn't make any sense. 00:51:23.840 --> 00:51:25.360 I I really don't get it. 00:51:25.440 --> 00:51:28.960 Yeah another thing I really didn't get was Texas's drag ban. 00:51:29.440 --> 00:51:38.559 I had talked to local legend uh Violet Blue about it when it came up and it got uh struck down again in Houston, thankfully right here. 00:51:38.800 --> 00:51:39.360 Uh U.S. 00:51:39.440 --> 00:51:43.760 District judge David Hitner ruled against Texas Senate Bill 12. 00:51:43.840 --> 00:52:07.039 He said it was unconstitutional and found that its restrictions on sexually oriented performances are really overly broad and vague and really kind of in an ironic statement and this was before she passed he said that it could potentially encompass performances that aren't traditionally considered drag including things like theater, ballet, cheerleading, concerts and even performances associated with Dolly Parton. 00:52:07.199 --> 00:52:11.360 So kind of a full circle moment there her being mentioned in that as well. 00:52:11.440 --> 00:52:12.639 So for sure. 00:52:12.960 --> 00:52:24.960 Yeah so and then taking uh a glimpse of what's going on internationally at Canada our neighbors to the north unveiled a national monument acknowledging historic uh persecution of the LGBTQ plus people. 00:52:25.199 --> 00:52:42.320 So they officially unveiled the national monument in Ottawa uh commemorating people that were harmed uh by government sanctioned discrimination it's particularly significant because it formally uh acknowledges the historical mistreatment of the LGBTQ uh Canadians by their own government. 00:52:42.559 --> 00:52:48.480 Yeah it's interesting that they're taking the blame actually and creating a monument to admit that they persecuted their own people. 00:52:48.880 --> 00:52:53.280 In this case the government did it but here locally in in our c nation. 00:52:53.679 --> 00:52:58.480 Yeah no the Stonewall Inn I think is our biggest monument for the LGBTQ plus community. 00:52:58.719 --> 00:53:08.880 Yeah and uh it was designated a historical landmark back in 2000 and President Obama back in 2016 had it as a national monument. 00:53:09.039 --> 00:53:14.239 So it encompasses uh Christopher Park and the Stonewall Inn and and the portion surrounding the streets. 00:53:14.400 --> 00:53:16.559 So it's it's it's not the inn itself. 00:53:16.719 --> 00:53:18.079 That is still privately owned. 00:53:18.239 --> 00:53:19.519 It remains an operating bar. 00:53:19.840 --> 00:53:34.320 The National Park Service uh doesn't own that but Christopher Park is federally administrated and it's recognized as a state historic site and New York City designated as a city landmark in 2015 so we've got a lot of uh things about that going on with uh the the stonewall. 00:53:34.480 --> 00:53:35.920 I mean that's our biggest monument. 00:53:36.159 --> 00:53:47.679 Yeah yeah yeah yeah so talking about the attacking you know a small percentage of our population the Trump administration tried to remove the pride flag for this past year but it was overruled. 00:53:47.920 --> 00:58:25.599 So those are the news headlines for this past week uh but I do want to thank our guests from this week's episodes uh AJ Mistrata from Houston First you can find out more about them at Houstonfirst.com and also mygayhouston.com yeah fascinating to hear his mission and his company's mission to actually promote Houston worldwide and speaking of promoting things in Houston I spoke to Matt Kuhn of Rec Room Arts and they kick off their 10th anniversary season with Amadeus which starts on September 17th runs through October 10th you can find out more at recroomarts.org and it will be starring transgender actress Rose Morrigan as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Cathails got a tails cut the tails cut a tails got the tails cut a tails cut a tails cut a tails cut a tails cut a tails cut a tail got a tail got a tail got a tails is both is both seventeen fifty six top twenty seven Wolfgang of the days is born seventeen sixty one at the end of five on the day as the composer 1873 he plays his first piano 1882 Wolfgang on the day as Mozart bears constant waiver 1884 Wolfgang on the day as Mozart becomes a Freemason 1991 Mozart composes the magic of 50 years Mozart dies 1985 after the posting of telco recording this has been Queer Voices heard on APFT Houston and as a podcast available from several podcasting sources check our webpage queervoices.org for more information some of the material in this program has been edited to improve clarity and runtime this program does not endorse any political views or animal species views opinions and endorsements are those of the participants and the organizations they represent in case of death please discontinue use and discard remaining products for queer voices I'm Glenn Holtzman