HOUSTON -- Two Houston theatre artists join forces with Houston's Society for the Performing Arts and New York's Lincoln Center to debut a new collaboration in chamber music and dance theater, Moondrunk April 3 and 4.

Moondrunk was conceived by ensemble music producer and presenter Sarah Rothenberg (also artistic director of Da Camera of Houston), and will be staged by choreographer/performer John Kelly at Wrotham Center's Cullen Theatre.

The musical centerpiece to Moondrunk is Arnold Schoenberg's expressionistic Pierrot lunaire. The piece will be accompanied by shadow play by German actor Alexander Moissi; a chamber music ensemble led by pianist Rothenberg; and solo singing by soprano Lucy Shelton, Kelly and two other dancer/actors.

Pierrot lunaire consists of three song cycles of seven songs each, and works from other composers inspired by him. Kelly's many honors include two New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Awards, two Obie Awards, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Subsequent to its Houston world premiere, Moondrunk will launch the inaugural season of "New Visions," at Lincoln Center. Part of the "Great Performances" program, it is scheduled to play the New York venue in mid January 1999. The production's title is taken from the name of the first song in Pierrot lunaire, "Mondestrunken," or "Moondrunk."

For tickets, $20 - $31, to the Houston production, call (713) 227-ARTS or (800) 828-ARTS

-- By Peter Szatmary
Texas Correspondent