It's all about that bass ... and theater and ideas this week in Dallas-Fort Worth, as an up-and-coming pop superstar, a Tony Award-winning musical and a festival for big thinkers come to town. Add in a music legend, a celebration of what will soon be spring and one seriously funny man, and you have what should be a great weekend.
Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, February 26
Dallas Summer Musicals presents Kinky Boots
The great thing about theater is that you never know what will resonate most with critics and audiences. That a musical about a shoe factory owner and a drag queen teaming up to making thigh-high stiletto boots could win the Tony Award for Best Musical and draw in huge crowds is proof of just that. The production, with music from Cyndi Lauper, is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at Music Hall at Fair Park through March 8.
Diana Ross in concert
The name of Diana Ross brings up thoughts of greatness even if she hasn't put out any new music since 2006. That's because Ross, who performs at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, became a legend long ago thanks to her time with The Supremes and solo songs like "Touch Me in the Morning" and "Endless Love." She treats fans to songs from throughout her 55-year career.
Second Thought Theatre presents Bull
While Dallas Theater Center takes over Kalita Humphreys Center for a spell, Second Thought Theatre gets the run of Wyly Theatre as it presents Bull as part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project. The savagely funny play that probes the dark sides of office politics runs through March 14.
Friday, February 27
Meghan Trainor in concert with Sheppard
Love it or hate it, but Meghan Trainor and her hit song "All About That Bass" have been unavoidable over the past year. But with the release of her debut album, Title, in January 2015, music lovers finally got the chance to see that Trainor was much more than just a one-hit wonder. Enjoy this concert at the Granada Theater, as she's sure to be playing bigger venues soon.
For the City: The Dallas Festival of Ideas
There are many people dedicated to making Dallas a world-class city for decades to come, and this new event is full of such people. Speakers from here and around the country discuss what Dallas looks like as a physical city, cultural city, innovative city, political city and an educated city. The introductory event on Friday takes place at Dallas City Performance Hall, while the main event on Saturday is at Winspear Opera House.
Saturday, February 28
Dallas Arboretum presents Dallas Blooms: Deep in the Hearts of Texans
With an ice storm virtually shutting down Dallas-Fort Worth earlier this week, celebrating the forthcoming arrival of spring may not seem like the best timing. But it's never a bad time to check out the glorious gardens at the Dallas Arboretum, and with more than half a million bulbs blooming over the course of this 44-day event, you're guaranteed to see one of the best floral displays anywhere.
George Lopez in concert
Comedian George Lopez has had an enviable career, even if not all of his projects have been long-lasting. His biggest success came with the mid-2000s George Lopez show, but he's maintained a high profile thanks to a string of supporting roles and a solid work ethic as a stand-up comic. He demonstrates the latter when he appears at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Sunday, March 1
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Live!
The struggle between men and women to understand each other has raged since the beginning of time, a fact that was exploited by the early '90s book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. More than 20 years later, the impact of the book is still being felt thank to a forthcoming movie adaptation and this one-man show that blends theater and stand-up. The show starts Friday at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson and ends with two performances on Sunday.
2015 South Asian Film Festival: Rough Book
The first-ever South Asian Film Festival, running Friday through Sunday at Angelika Film Center Plano, exposes filmgoers to a variety of issues facing those who live in one of most populated areas on Earth. This closing-night film takes a hard look at the education system in India, which faces a host of issues despite being acknowledged as one of the finest in the world.
Dallas Summer Musicals presents Kinky Boots at the Fair Park Music Hall through March 8.
