There are some true living legends coming to Dallas this weekend, but you might have to be of a certain age to truly appreciate them. And if you plan it out right, you can see all of them, including a Broadway star, a one-time tennis wunderkind and three music superstars.
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, February 6
2014 Challenger of Dallas Pink Day
The Challenger of Dallas is an annual indoor men's tennis tournament that features some top players from around the world. But the highlight of the tournament is Pink Day, proceeds from which support Susan G. Komen Dallas County. Former world No. 1 and U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin will also be on hand at T Bar M Racquet Club for a meet-and-greet.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Bernadette Peters
If you're experiencing a little deja vu, that's because Bernadette Peters was just in the area a month ago singing with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She performs a similar show alongside the Dallas Symphony Orchestra this time around, tackling the Broadway standards for which she's known. She performs four times Thursday through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.
Friday, February 7
Lone Star Film Society presents ArthouseFW: Seven Samurai
The Lone Star Film Society recently started an ArthouseFW series to honor the films of John Carpenter, silent movies and samurai films. The first screening in the latter category is Akira Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai, a movie that spawned a legion of American imitators. It plays at Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Cultural Awareness Series
Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents its annual Cultural Awareness Series, featuring new works from choreographers Christopher Huggins and Chang Yong Sung, as well as one from company dancer Richard A. Freeman Jr. and Gumaro Armando Silva of Houston MECA honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez. The company puts on four performances at Wyly Theatre through Sunday.
Saturday, February 8
2014 Dallas Comic Con Sci-Fi Expo
Comic Cons in other cities may get more press, but the Dallas Comic Con has slowly but surely earned its place as a must-see event. Among the celebrities making appearances at this year's two-day Sci-Fi Expo are Richard Dreyfuss, Karl Urban, Arrow star Stephen Amell, original Robocop Peter Weller and more. It takes place at Irving Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday.
Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel in concert
Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel are true Texas country music legends, so it only makes sense that they've collaborated often throughout the years. They come together once more for this one-night-only concert at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, at which they perform selections from their 2009 album, Willie and the Wheel, as well as other classic songs.
Sunday, February 9
Dallas Opera Guild Opera Insights: Death and the Powers
In anticipation of Dallas Opera's production of Death and the Powers, starting next Wednesday at Winspear Opera House, four of the opera's main participants — composer Tod Machover, conductor Nicole Paiement, baritone Robert Orth and associate stage director Andrew Eggert — talk about the opera and what it takes to put it on. The free discussion takes place in Hamon Hall inside the Winspear.
Paul Simon and Sting in concert
Although they're both music icons dating back to the '60s and '70s, Paul Simon and Sting had never officially worked together until recently. Now fans get to see how well they jell together courtesy of this concert at American Airlines Center. The duo teams up for a few of each other's famous songs and perform separately as well.
Paul Simon and Sting team up for a concert of classic musicians at American Airlines Center on February 9.
