Mid-January brings a nice hodgepodge of events to the Dallas area. Among the new things starting this weekend are three theater productions, all of them from local companies, a driving experience like no other, a big arts event at Fair Park, and the memorial for a music legend.
Below are the best options for your precious free time 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, January 14
Arts & Letters Live: Eric Weiner
Author Eric Weiner tends to write about life's big questions, such as how different places in the world deal with happiness or God. In his newest book, The Geography of Genius, he explores the history of places and the connection between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. Weiner will talk about this book in an Arts & Letters Live event at Dallas Museum of Art.
Second Thought Theatre presents Martyr
Second Thought Theatre kicks off its 2016 season with an area premiere about religious fundamentalism gone wrong. The play is the story of Benjamin, who is obsessed with the Old Testament. As the teen’s behavior becomes increasingly aggressive, his teachers, his mother, and his fellow students begin to worry that Benjamin’s religious fixation has gone too far. The production will run at Bryant Hall next to the Kalita Humphreys Theater through February 6.
Friday, January 15
Fittipaldi Exotic Driving
Most of us could never dream of even sitting in a Ferrari or Lamborghini, much less owning one. Now, thanks to the new Fittipaldi Exotic Driving at Texas Motor Speedway, you can actually drive one on a race track — for a price. Taking place one weekend a month for the rest of 2016, drivers will have the opportunity to choose one of four luxury cars in which to take six laps around TMS' infield track.
Uptown Players and Turtle Creek Chorale presents Aida
Uptown Players and the Turtle Creek Chorale will collaborate again to present a concert version of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, with a combined cast of more than 100 actors, singers, and members of the TCC. Aida is an epic tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal chronicling the love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country; Amneris, an Egyptian princess; and Radames, the soldier they both love. It will play three times at Dallas City Performance Hall through Sunday.
Saturday, January 16
6th Annual Artopia
Artopia, presented by the Dallas Observer, is a celebration of Dallas culture that incorporates food, drink, art, music, and fashion into one evening. Featured highlights include an immersive art experience by Jeremy McKane, musical performance by Dezi 5, and fashion shows with DJ Sober. Artopia will take place at Centennial Hall at Fair Park.
The David Bowie Music Video Party
The death of music legend David Bowie was a shock and a loss that many people are feeling. This event at the Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson, the third of three local Bowie tributes, will be a chance for fans to grieve and sing along to some of Bowie's most well-known songs.
Sunday, January 17
The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Twelfth Night
We are just over three years into Shakespeare Dallas' quest to present staged readings of every single work Shakespeare ever wrote. The 28th in the series will be Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s comedy of gender confusion in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves. There will be two performances in Hamon Hall at Winspear Opera House, one Sunday and one Monday.
Tool in concert with Primus and 3Teeth
It's only been a couple of months since Tool lead singer Maynard James Keenan was in town playing with side project Puscifer. Fans will get the real deal with this concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, and perhaps a hint at when Tool's new album will finally come out, which has been held up due to some crazy legal wranglings. They'll be joined by Primus and 3Teeth.
Fans can grieve the death and celebrate the life of David Bowie at a special music video party at Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson on January 16.
