The theme of the weekend in and around Dallas is entertainment with a purpose. Different events will feature film, theater, and forums designed to spur conversation beyond the events themselves. You can also take in circus combined with classical music, a guitar legend, a hilarious basketball team, a great rock group, and two stellar art exhibits.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, January 25

Denton Black Film Festival
The Denton Black Film Festival will present a lineup of nearly 50 films at its 2018 edition, offering a platform that showcases filmmakers and films that tell diverse, dynamic stories. While the screenings take place at Campus Theatre through Sunday, the festival will also include a poetry slam, panels and workshops, music, comedy, and more.

Dallas Summer Musicals presents The Color Purple
The Color Purple is the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival, a re-imagining of an epic story about a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South. This joyous American classic conquered Broadway with a soul-raising score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues, giving an exhilarating new spirit to the Pulitzer Prize-winning story. The musical, which stars McKinney native Adrianna Hicks, will run at the Music Hall at Fair Park through February 4.

Friday, January 26

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Cirque de la Symphonie: Cirque Goes to the Cinema
Acrobats literally will drop into the Meyerson Symphony Center as conductor Ruth Reinhardt and the Dallas Symphony are joined by Cirque de la Symphonie. Aerialists, contortionists, strongmen, and jugglers will perform to above and around the orchestra as they play. There will be three performances through Sunday.

Joe Satriani in concert
Joe Satriani is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, mentoring other guitar greats like Steve Vai, Andy Timmons, and more. He's also been part of the supergroup Chickenfoot, which included ex-Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. He'll play at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of his new album, What Happens Next.

Cara Mía Theatre Co. & Human Rights Initiative present Women Speak, Men Listen
Driven by the #metoo and #timesup social media movements in response to accusations and evidence citing misconduct from powerful men across many industries, Cara Mía Theatre Co. and Human Rights Initiative are presenting a platform to hear and honor women’s voices. There will be two forums over the weekend — Friday at Pan African Connections and Saturday at Latino Cultural Center.

WaterTower Theatre presents Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue
Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist Quiara Alegría Hudes takes a poignant look at the way war permeates young men’s lives in a play spanning three generations of the same Puerto Rican-American family. Different wars and different tales are strung together as the mother of a wounded soldier seeks to reconcile the disparate parts and heal emotional wounds. The play will run at WaterTower Theatre in Addison through February 18.

Saturday, January 27

Nasher Sculpture Center presents "First Sculpture: Handaxe to Figure Stone" opening day
"First Sculpture: Handaxe to Figure Stone" is the first museum exhibition to present ancient handaxes and figure stones as works of art. "First Sculpture" will present these objects as evidence of the earliest forms of artistic intention, highlighting the aesthetic qualities of each stone and providing crucial historical and scientific information to give the viewer a deeper understanding of human history. The exhibit will be on display through April 29.

American Airlines Center presents The Original Harlem Globetrotters
The Original Harlem Globetrotters will bring their action-packed tour to American Airlines Center for two games. The globetrotting team is known for their ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment. After each game, Globetrotter stars will stay for an autograph, photograph, and high-five session for fans.

The Killers in concert
For almost the past 20 years, it seems like The Killers were just on the cusp of becoming the biggest band in the world. They scored with hits like "Mr. Brightside," "When You Were Young," and "Human," but they always stopped just short of crossover success. In fact, it wasn't until their latest album, 2017's Wonderful Wonderful, that they had a No. 1 album. They'll play at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory with opening act Amanda Brown.

Sunday, January 28

Dallas Museum of Art presents "Truth: 24 Frames Per Second" closing day
Sunday will be your final chance to see the first major exhibition in the Dallas Museum of Art’s history dedicated to time-based media. “Truth: 24 Frames Per Second” brings together 24 pioneers of film and video and over six decades of work focused on pressing contemporary themes, such as race relations, political unrest, sexual identity and the media, to explore the nature of truth and reality in contemporary life. As a bonus, admission to the exhibit is now free.

The Color Purple will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park through February 4.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

The Color Purple will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park through February 4.