Lott Entertainment to Host First Major Fundraiser with Local Talent

Kathryn Lott and Allison Lott founded Lott Entertainment Presents in 2015 to fill a void in Houston's performing arts scene by bringing provocative artists and deliberately different works from outside Houston to push theatre boundaries within it.

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Houston has been introduced to the artists of New York's legendary Joe's Pub, including Bridget Everett and Daniel Koren, as well as Austin's popular theatre troupe The Rude Mechs. Their thoughtful programming caught the eye of Alley Theatre managing director Dean Gladden, and Lott Entertainment Presents will perform their entire second season in the Alley's Neuhaus Theatre.

While the mission of Lott Entertainment Presents is to bring artists to Houston from outside the city, Kathryn and Allison are fiercely passionate about Houston's homegrown talent as well. Their first major fundraiser, 'SPOTLIGHT HOUSTON,' will do just that-it will spotlight groundbreaking Houston artists who are changing the city's performing arts landscape.

Four artists, selected by Kathryn and Allison, representing multiple musical genres will perform throughout the evening, introducing guests to the artists that are shaping Houston's performing arts scene now:

Brant Croucher

Lott Entertainment Presents patrons will remember singer/songwriter Brant Croucher from his collaboration with Bridget Barkan, a Joe's Pub artist, during their their 2015-2016 season. The folks at Joe's Pub were so impressed with Brant that they've invited him to perform at Joe's Pub at the Public in New York City. The Houston native's songs explore themes of moving around-and moving on-with genuine openness and honestly, delivering each with a strong vocal presence, supported by a guitar or piano.

DJ Sun

For the past two decades, DJ SUN has contributed to the live soundtrack of Houston with an aural palette of funk, soul, jazz, disco, early hip-hop and even more modern genres such as trip hop. It is his ability to seamlessly blend those elements and find ways to shape the music to the contours of the many rooms in which he spins records that has made him a Houston standard. A recent inductee in The Houston Press' Music Hall of Fame (class of '14), DJ Sun is charged with the music programming at The Flat.

Jawwaad

Jazz and hip hop musician Jawwaad works with visual artists in his performances to change the way listeners interact with music. The Houston native fuses creative free improvisation, inspired by trumpeters, with forward-thinking hip-hop. Before moving back to Houston, he spent a handful of years living and creating in New York City; some of his higher profile gigs included performances and collaborations with hip-hop luminaries Jay-Z and MF DOOM.

Lyric Michelle

The music of Lyric Michelle fuses southern charm, a touch of poetry and a blast of ferocious lyricism to deliver a sound that is uniquely her own. It's not just about the music for Lyric-it's about opening doors for a new crop of female emcees intent on proving their lyrical skill. She was selected as the 2015 Pop Montreal Artist and has had repeated appearances as an official SXSW and A3C artist.

Music by DJ Sun follows the artist spotlights.

Event co-Chairs are Jonathan Beitler and Stuart Folb; the Honorary Chair is Lee Ellis; and the Social Chair is Rob Rutherford. Food provided by Lee Ellis.

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1ST ANNUAL SPOTLIGHT HOUSTON is from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at Warehouse Live, 813 St Emanuel St. For information, please visit lottentertainmentpresents.com. Tickets are $75 for individual and $125 for couple, and $1250 for a table of 10.