Theater Critic Picks
These are the 10 can't-miss shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for January
Cabaret returns to Arts Mission Oak Cliff.
New year, new goal of seeing more theater (right? Right!). Luckily, companies all across Dallas-Fort Worth are ready to help you meet that goal.
In order of start date, here are 10 local shows to watch this month:
The Dimension of Death
Pegasus Theatre, through January 22
The world premiere of the 22nd Harry Hunsacker adventure by Kurt Kleinmann finds us in the year 1955. Harry, Nigel, and Foster have been dispatched to a Top Secret Air Force base in Nevada where a matter of the highest level of National Security awaits them. They’d heard rumors about Paradise Ranch but the reality of what they saw exceeded their imagination. In no time, however, the bodies start piling up and our trio finds themselves trapped in The Dimension of Death.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Theatre Three, through February 18
Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts' musical is headline the grand opening of Theatre Too, the intimate downstairs space that has been closed since 2020. Directed by Joel Ferrell and music directed by Vonda K. Bowling, this comedy takes on the truths and myths behind what it means to love, date, or lose someone. The run includes special performances on New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day, complete with holiday-focused perks like champagne, chocolates, and flowers.
Cabaret
Arts Mission Oak Cliff, January 11-21
The classic Kander and Ebb musical gets a modern interpretation thanks to AMOC and The Lost Boy Presents. Set on the eve of the Third Reich, an American writer finds life-changing inspiration from an English nightclub singer as the world begins to crumble around them. This is a remount of the summer 2022 production, which was canceled by flooding.
The Lion King
Broadway at the Bass, January 18-29
Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure, set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. The production also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.
Legally Blonde
Broadway at the Center, January 19-21
Witness the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams, and proves that you can be blonde and still the smartest person in the room. Based on the beloved movie, Legally Blonde: The Musical takes you from the sorority house to the halls of justice with Broadway’s brightest new heroine.
The Elephant Man
Theatre Three, January 19-February 19
John Merrick, an intelligent and friendly man shunned by Victorian-era society and called a “freak” due to his skin and bone disorders, is found abandoned. Under the care of physician Frederick Treves, Merrick begins to slowly evolve from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati, only to be denied his ultimate dream: to become a man like any other.
Ada and the Engine
Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas, January 20-February 2
Jane Austen meets Steve Jobs in this poignant, pre-tech romance heralding the computer age. As the British Industrial Revolution dawns, young Ada Byron Lovelace (daughter of the flamboyant and notorious Lord Byron) sees the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and soul mate Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer. Together, they envision a whole new world where art and information converge — a world Ada might not live to see.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
Broadway Dallas, January 24-February 5
Based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories, Pretty Woman: The Musical springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The production features an original score by Grammy Award winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and a book by the movie’s director, Garry Marshall, and screenwriter, J. F. Lawton.
Moon Man Walk
Jubilee Theatre, January 27-February 26
Upon hearing about the sudden death of his mother, Spencer returns to his home in Philadelphia to plan her funeral. Along the way, Spencer falls in love, discovers the truth about his absent father, and learns that his past is also the making of his present. This magical journey through space and time takes audiences literally from Philadelphia to the moon and back.
Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus
Dallas Children's Theater, January 28-February 19
The Pigeon is having a bit of an identity crisis — he never gets to do anything, and people just want him to "fly off." Everything changes when the confident, cool Bus Driver rolls into town, and the Pigeon finds himself with a brand new goal: Drive the bus!
