This weekend around Dallas just has that special kind of feeling. It will feature special appearances by a certain blue musical group, a well-known actor, and a host of respected comedians. It will also include four unique theater productions and a notable violinist performing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, January 16
Dallas Summer Musicals presents Blue Man Group: Speechless
Blue Man Group is comedy, theater, rock concert, and dance party all rolled into one. The wildly popular phenomenon delivers an outrageous, multi-sensory experience that is the enemy of monotony, remedy for boredom, and promoter of overjoy and elation. Speechless will feature new and original compositions, invented instruments, and unexpected situations alongside iconic Blue Man Group moments. The show will be at Winspear Opera House through Sunday.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Dvořák’s Violin Concerto & Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony
The latest concert from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will feature four separate pieces including Tchaikovsky's Francesca da Rimini, Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, Dvořák’s Carnival Overture, and Dvořák’s Violin Concerto performed by violinist Gil Shaham. The concert will have three performances through Saturday at Meyerson Symphony Center.
Jake Nice presents Slide By
As part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project, Jake Nice will present Slide By. It’s the week after the Columbine shootings and Chad Squier is subbing at his former high school amid threats of a copycat attack. After learning that most of the teachers have stayed home and the rest of them might be armed (the result of a “hush-hush” district meeting), Chad tries to make it through the day unscathed. The production will play in the Studio Theatre at Wyly Theatre through January 26.
Uptown Players presents Broadway Our Way
The Uptown Players divas return for another entertaining weekend of Broadway music with plenty of twists, laughs, and surprises. The evening features many favorite actors from past Uptown Players seasons performing selections from Broadway shows, both past and present, all done with an Uptown Players twist. The annual fundraiser, written and directed by B. J. Cleveland for the ninth straight year, will play at Kalita Humphreys Theater through Sunday.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents An Evening With C.S. Lewis
In An Evening with C.S. Lewis, the year is 1963 and C.S. Lewis, the famous British author, is hosting a group of American writers at his home near Oxford. They are about to experience a captivating evening with a man whose engaging conversation and spontaneous humor made him one of the great raconteurs of his day. The production will run at Wyly Theatre through Sunday.
Friday, January 17
Mandy Patinkin: Diaries
Mandy Patinkin: Diaries is a marriage of some of Patinkin’s favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, along with selections from his newest recordings. This powerful, passionate evening of popular song features songs from Randy Newman to Stephen Sondheim, from Rufus Wainwright to Harry Chapin. The performance will be at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
Theatre Three presents Stuff As Dreams are Made On
Internationally acclaimed theatre artist Fred Curchack performs Shakespeare’s The Tempest changed into something rich and strange. Curchack has created 78 original theatre pieces (51 ensemble works and 27 solos). Stuff As Dreams are Made On was featured at dozens of international theatre festivals and it received the Gold Medal at the International Festival of Solo Theatre, among many other awards. It will have four performances at Theatre Three through January 25.
Saturday, January 18
Kathleen Madigan: 8 O'Clock Happy Hour Tour
Kathleen Madigan is a stand-up comedian who currently has two one-hour specials running on Netflix. She has also recently appeared on such comedy fan-favorite series as Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening and Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. She'll perform at Majestic Theatre.
Sunday, January 19
Black Laughs Matter featuring Arnez J, Tommy Davidson, Aries Spears, and more
Stand-up comedy has a long tradition of hilarious black comedians, from Richard Pryor to Eddie Murphy to Chris Rock to Dave Chappelle. Black Laughs Matter will feature performances by some of the funniest black comedians working today, including Arnez J, Aries Spears, Tommy Davidson, Benji Brown, and Carmen Barton. They'll perform at The Theatre in Grand Prairie.
Blue Man Group: Speechless takes place at Winspear Opera House through January 19.
Racing at the Velocity Sim Racing Lounge in Houston. Courtesy of Velocity - Sim Racing Lounge