Weekend Event Planner

These are the 11 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Theater and music are the big things to see around Dallas this weekend, as they're the focus of nearly every event on our list. They include a Tony-winning play, another play aimed at breaking down stereotypes, acrobatics on ice, no fewer than five big-name concerts, a celebration of movie music, stellar dance, and more.

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, June 13

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Broadway Series: The Play that Goes Wrong
What would happen if Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python had an illegitimate Broadway baby? You’d get the award-winning smash comedy The Play that Goes Wrong. Welcome to opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous, with an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). The play will run at Winspear Opera House through Sunday.

WaterTower Theatre presents Unveiled: A One Woman Play
Five Muslim women from around the world sip tea and share stories about faith, culture, and prejudice in this groundbreaking one-woman show, written and performed by critically acclaimed playwright and actor Rohina Malik. Unveiled is an uplifting and universal performance sure to break down stereotypes of Muslim women. It will run at WaterTower Theatre in Addison through June 30.

Cirque du Soleil: Crystal
Crystal is not just an ice show; it’s the very first experience on ice from Cirque du Soleil. Led by Crystal, the misfit heroine, who takes the audience on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination, world-class ice skaters and acrobats claim their new frozen playground with speed and fluidity as they challenge the laws of gravity with never-before-seen acrobatics. The show will be at Comerica Center in Frisco through Sunday.

Friday, June 14

Florida Georgia Line in concert with Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, and Hardy
Country duo Florida Georgia Line hit the ground running in 2012, reaching No. 1 with their debut album, Here's to the Good Times, a feat they've repeated with their next three albums, including their new album, Can't Say I Ain't Country. They play at Dos Equis Pavilion, joined by opening acts Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, and Hardy.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Star Trek and Beyond
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will present an evening of the greatest science fiction movie scores ever written, including Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T The Extra-Terrestrial, Star Wars, and more. The concert, under the direction of Jeff Tyzik, will play at Meyerson Symphony Center through Sunday.

Paul McCartney in concert
Sir Paul McCartney, who will turn 77 years old on June 18, remains as much of an entertainer as he was with The Beatles 50 years ago. And now he's showing us new tricks: The legendary singer, making his first appearance in Dallas-Fort Worth since 2014, will put on the first major concert at Globe Life Park in Arlington in its 25-year history. He's touring in support of his 2018 album, Egypt Station.

Bruce Wood Dance presents Embrace
Embrace features the return of Joy Bollinger’s highly acclaimed Carved In Stone, along with a world premiere from renowned choreographer Garrett Smith. The program concludes with the re-staging of Bruce Wood’s mysterious Dark Matter, which tells the story of a journey of a motley crew of dancers looking for a way home. The company will perform at Moody Performance Hall on Friday or Saturday.

"Weird Al” Yankovic in concert
Someone who writes and performs comedy songs for a living is not supposed to have an extended career, but somehow "Weird Al" Yankovic is almost as popular as ever, after 36 years in the business. His last album, 2014's Mandatory Fun, was the first No. 1 album of his career. He'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving as part of his Strings Attached tour, featuring a 71-piece orchestra.

Saturday, June 15

Texas Summer Jam with Randy Rogers & Friends
Whataburger and Randy Rogers will present the Second Annual Texas Summer Jam at Toyota Music Factory in Irving. The festival will include a non-ticketed pre-party at the Texas Lottery Plaza Stage starting at 3:30 pm, featuring performances by Ray Johnston Band, Wynn Williams, and Holly Tucker. The Main Stage inside The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory will kick off at 7 pm and include performances by Randy Rogers Band, Josh Abbott Band, and William Clark Green.

Hootie & The Blowfish in concert with Barenaked Ladies
If you want to make anyone who came of age in the '90s feel old, you just have to point them to this concert, which has Hootie & The Blowfish celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Cracked Rear View. The band, which will soon release their first new album since 2005, will play at Dos Equis Pavilion alongside another '90s mainstay, Barenaked Ladies.

Sunday, June 16

Clint Black and Trace Adkins in concert with Pam Tillis
Local country station 99.5 The Wolf will celebrate its 21st birthday in a big way with a concert featuring country stars Clint Black, Trace Adkins, and Pam Tillis. Black and Adkins are appearing as part of their Hits. Hats. History. Tour, a nod to the long history of each in the industry and their shared past when they toured together in the '90s. They'll play at The Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Paul McCartney will play at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 14.

Paul McCartney at the Frank Erwin Center arms open

Photo by Chad Wadsworth

Paul McCartney will play at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 14.

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Movie Review

Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

Photo courtesy of A24

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara) and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin - a weatherman at a local TV channel - even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, there are many things in the story that go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

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Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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