There's never a shortage of things to do on any given weekend in Dallas, but this one seems particularly packed. Interesting theater, movie and music options abound, with the State Fair of Texas looming over all of them when it kicks off Friday.

Below are some of your best options for 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, September 27

 Performing Arts Fort Worth presents Les Miserables
The classic musical, which also hits movie screens this Christmas, is making a short but sweet stop at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. Susan Boyle has gotten the most recent attention for her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream," but the full impact of that and other songs can't be known until you see the full production. Les Mis runs through Sunday.

 Dallas VideoFest 25: Ann Richards' Texas
The 2012 edition of Dallas VideoFest gets going Thursday night with a documentary looking at the life of one of Texas' most memorable governors, Ann Richards. That a state as staunchly Republican as Texas would elect not only a Democrat, but a female Democrat at that, is still remarkable. DVF shows this and many, many more films throughout the weekend at the Dallas Museum of Art.

 Friday, September 28

 State Fair of Texas
It shouldn't take any convincing to get people out to the State Fair; thousands look forward to it all year long. But it doesn't hurt to be reminded of all the great things the fair brings to town, from new fried foods to fun concerts to rivalry football games to the rides and midway games. New this year is the Chinese Lantern Festival, which lights up at night to provide an extra glow to Fair Park. But don't dawdle: The fair's only around until October 21.

 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons in concert
With all the attention that Jersey Boys has received since opening on Broadway in 2005, it's easy to forget that the real Frankie Valli is alive and well and touring with the reformed Four Seasons. A one-night-only appearance at the Winspear Opera House is a great reason to dust off that falsetto voice and sing along to classics like "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Oh What a Night."

 Saturday, September 29

 Shakespeare Dallas presents Macbeth
Shakespeare in the Park has become a great tradition in Dallas, and this production of Macbeth is your last opportunity to see the Bard's work at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre in 2012. With the weather promising to cool down — and stay cooled down this time — there's no better time to get some culture in the open air.

 Kevin Costner & Modern West in concert
Kevin Costner never really went away, but his star shines slightly less bright than it did in the '80s and '90s. However, he made a comeback of sorts with the recent Hatfields & McCoys miniseries, even earning an Emmy for his work. Costner and his band Modern West provided some of the music for that production, and they play that and other selections for the State Fair crowd Saturday.

 Sunday, September 30

 Dallas VideoFest 25: Breaking Down Breaking Bad with Matt Zoller Seitz and Ed Bark
There's no doubt that we are in the midst of a golden age in television, and few shows exemplify that high standard like Breaking Bad. Because the interminable wait for the final half of the show's last season just started, there's no better time for experts like Zoller Seitz and Bark to discuss its place in television history and what we can expect when it makes its final bow next summer. The discussion takes place at the Crow Collection of Asian Art, and only festival pass holders can attend.

 Florence and the Machine in concert with The Maccabees
The dog days of summer have come to an end, but Florence and her machine sing "The Dog Days are Over" and other hits Sunday night at Gexa Energy Pavilion. Fellow Brits The Maccabees open the show, although whether or not they pay homage to Jewish history is up for debate.