Weekend Event Planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

If you like comedy or holiday festivities, this weekend in and around Dallas will have a lot to offer. Two big-name comedians will come to town, and they will be surrounded by a host of new holiday happenings, including four local theater productions, two dance productions, a classical music concert, a parade, two festival-type events next door to each other, and more.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Looking for the best places to view Christmas lights? That list is here.

Thursday, December 2

Taylor Tomlinson: Deal With It Tour
The perspective of comedian Taylor Tomlinson possesses a degree of wisdom that's typically earned with age. Named to Forbes' 2021 class of 30 Under 30, she gave fans a healthy dose of that wisdom when her first-ever, hour-long special, Quarter-Life Crisis, debuted on Netflix in March 2020, just as the world entered into a once-in-a-century pandemic. She'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

The Firehouse Theatre presents Elf the Musical
Based on the beloved holiday film, Elf the Musical is a hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy that follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities of the human world, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. The production will take place outdoors at The Sound at Cypress Waters in Coppell through December 12.

Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Black Nativity
Bishop Arts Theatre Center will present their 17th annual production of Black Nativity. Directed by Zetra Goodlow and Albert Wash II, the production is a hand-clapping, toe-tapping, finger-snapping theatrical wonderment, inspired by Langston Hughes' retelling of the Nativity story. It will run through December 18. There are both in-person and virtual ticket options available.

Friday, December 3

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Black on Black
Black on Black delivers a holiday party-feel with original new works choreographed by the DBDT and DBDT: Encore! dancers as they take the reins and fully produce this fun-filled evening. The all-inclusive holiday affair, taking place on Friday and Saturday at Dallas Black Dance Theatre, includes a complimentary happy hour, followed by an eclectic performance in the intimate setting of DBDT’s studios and a festive after-party.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Christmas Pops
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will once again present the beloved tradition of Christmas Pops, featuring the Dallas Symphony Chorus performing transcendent anthems, classical holiday favorites, and sing-along carols. Vocalists Ava Pine and Reginald Smith, Jr. will join the concert to bring a bit of Christmas magic to Meyerson Symphony Center. The concert, which will have 10 performances through December 12, will also feature an appearance by Santa Claus and a bit of snow.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents Inspecting Carol
Inspecting Carol deals with a regional theatre company that is rehearsing its annual production of A Christmas Carol when it gets news of the impending arrival of an inspector from the National Endowment for the Arts to review their work. When they assume that the man who asks to audition is really an informer for the NEA, everyone caters to the bewildered wannabe actor and he is given a role. What will happen when the actual inspector shows up? The production runs through December 19 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

The Core Theatre presents The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
A year after his miraculous transformation, Ebenezer Scrooge is back to his old ways and is suing Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future for a litany of supposed crimes. One by one, Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s nephew, solicitor and philanthropist Sara Anne Wainwright, and the ghosts themselves take the witness stand to give their account of the night in question. The production runs through December 31 at The Core Theatre in Richardson.

Saturday, December 4

Dallas Holiday Parade
The Dallas Holiday Parade is the city’s largest one-day, outdoor event and has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families throughout North Texas. The showstopping parade begins at the intersection of Commerce and Houston streets, proceeds down Commerce past the Adolphus Hotel and The Statler, turns right on Harwood and right on Young, and winds up in front of Dallas City Hall. Viewing is free, with reserved seating available for purchase.

Ballet Ensemble of Texas presents The Nutcracker
The Ballet Ensemble of Texas will present their annual production of The Nutcracker, featuring Emily Speed as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Simon Wexler as her Cavalier. The production, which will have two performances Saturday and two Sunday at Irving Arts Center, will also feature more than 200 children from Ballet Academy of Texas.

Klyde Warren Park presents Tree Lighting Celebration
Klyde Warren Park's Tree Lighting Celebration is a festive day of activities and entertainment, including photos with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting, games, and crafts for children. The day will culminate with a live holiday show that includes visits from Frosty and Rudolph, the second act of The Nutcracker Suite performed by The Dallas Conservatory, and Klyde Warren Park’s annual tree lighting. Attendees can then walk across the street to...

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Reliant Lights Your Holidays
Reliant Lights Your Holidays features an evening of holiday magic and music, illuminating the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s campus with dazzling LED lights to celebrate the arrival of the holiday season. The festival includes a holiday concert featuring Vinyl Countdown: A Tribute to Arena Rock, Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda, projections on the campus' venues, crafts for the kids, and, of course, Santa.

Bert Kreischer: The Berty Boy World Tour
Comedian Bert Kreischer has evolved from being named Rolling Stone’s 1997 "Number One Partier in the Nation" to one of the top names in comedy. Lauded as one of the best storytellers of his generation, Kreischer seamlessly and sincerely shares anecdotes about his family and fatherhood. He'll perform twice at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Sunday, December 5

Galleria Dallas presents Grand Holiday Ice Show
Galleria Dallas will partner with Bryan’s House to create a special event featuring Canadian ice dancing champions Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje, who competed in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics. Families attending will be assigned to a private pod, where they can enjoy the holiday magic without the crowds. In addition to the celebrity skaters, fans will enjoy a performance by Missile Toes, Galleria’s ice-skating Santa, and indoor fireworks.

Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Black Nativity through December 18.

Photo by Classi Nance

Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Black Nativity through December 18.

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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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