After a slow start, things are starting to rev back up, events-wise. This weekend's offerings include visits by a couple of bold names, the first Dallas Theater Center production of the year, an art extravaganza and a preview screening of a highly anticipated movie.

Below are your 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 16

Authors Live!: Jane Pauley
Jane Pauley has been mostly out of the broadcasting game since 2004, but her history on the Today show and on Dateline NBC still makes her one of the more recognizable journalists out there. Pauley appears at Highland Park United Methodist Church in support of her new book, Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life. The forum is free for all, but there is also a pre-forum reception for $30, which includes a copy of her book.

Dallas Theater Center presents Oedipus El Rey
The 2013-2014 Dallas Theater Center season has already been a smashing success, and now the company kicks off 2014 with another hotly anticipated production, Oedipus El Rey. The show, adapted by playwright Luis Alfaro, takes the story out of Greek mythology and puts it in the barrios of Los Angeles, where a young Chicano rises to power among gangs. The play runs through March 2 in the Studio Theatre at Wyly Theatre.

Rick Springfield in concert
It's barely been four months since the last time Rick Springfield graced a Dallas stage, so we really haven't had much time to miss him. But this concert, the second of two performances in the main space at Wyly Theatre, promises something different, with some storytelling, songs he's never played live and a Q&A session with KLUV's Jody Dean. But don't fret: He's virtually guaranteed to still play "Jessie's Girl" at some point.

Friday, January 17

Uptown Players presents Broadway Our Way 2014
The traditional kickoff to any Uptown Players season, Broadway Our Way is a fundraiser that delivers Uptown's patented skewed take on recent and classic Broadway musicals, including Motown the Musical, Newsies, My Fair Lady and West Side Story. The musical plays at Kalita Humphreys Theater through January 26.

TITAS presents Pilobolus
Dance is an art form that's not appreciated often enough, but you can change that by going to see the wondrous Pilobolus. Using their bodies as props, the dancers' moves appear to be more illusions than anything else. You can see the magic for yourself when they perform Friday and Saturday night at Winspear Opera House.

Saturday, January 18

Dinosaur Zoo Live
Dinosaur Zoo Live is a theatrical experience that's both entertaining and educational at the same time. The show features large-scale dinosaur puppets that are used to re-create prehistoric scenes with insects and mammals, giving children and adults alike an insight into what life was like millions of years ago. The production plays five different times on Saturday and Sunday at Majestic Theatre.

2014 Artopia
Presented by the Dallas Observer, Artopia is a celebration of local art and culture that promises sensory overload. That's because the event, taking place at Three Three Three First Avenue, also incorporates food, drink, music, fashion, performing arts, visual arts and more into one big feast that'll more than fill your arts quota for the month.

Sunday, January 19

Kimbell Art Museum presents The Monuments Men screening
A movie about saving art is right up any art museum's alley, but the story behind The Monuments Men is especially close to the heart of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, as several pieces recovered by the group in the movie now reside there. These preview screenings are for Kimbell members only, but because this is an Oscar-type movie starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, among others, it just might be worth becoming a member for the privilege.

Nasher Sculpture Center presents 360: Tony Tasset
If you, like many others, have been freaked out by curious about the gigantic eyeball sculpture that currently resides across the street from The Joule, you can get answers from artist Tony Tasset by attending this free forum (RSVP required) at The Joule, presented by Nasher Sculpture Center.

Artist Tony Tasset discusses his massive eye sculpture at The Joule on January 19, presented by Nasher Sculpture Center.

  

Photo by Mei-Chun Jau

Artist Tony Tasset discusses his massive eye sculpture at The Joule on January 19, presented by Nasher Sculpture Center.