It's a Mouthful

Dallas-area concert venue unveils its new 7-word corporate name

Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie rendering

The latest name for the venue in Grand Prairie is Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Image courtesy of AEG Presents

The multipurpose concert venue currently known as The Theatre at Grand Prairie is undergoing yet another name change, one with many words. It will now be known as the Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, after Texas Trust Credit Union signed a naming rights agreement with AEG Presents, which operates the facility.

The name change is effective immediately, with the sponsorship agreement lasting an unspecified number of years. As the venue has touted since its opening in 2002, it is known for being versatile, with a capacity of more than 6,500 people and different configurations allowing it to host concerts, corporate gatherings, and award shows.

This is, of course, far from the first name change for the two-level theatre. As we noted back in 2018 when the venue changed from Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie to simply The Theatre at Grand Prairie, it has also been known as NextStage Performance Theater and Nokia Live at Grand Prairie over the years. Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie was the one that stuck the longest, lasting from 2009 to 2018.

“As the public appetite for live events is reinvigorated, we are thrilled to bring the Texas Trust CU name to The Theatre at Grand Prairie,” said Andrew Klein, Managing Director of AEG Global Partnerships, in a statement. “Texas Trust has been a valued member of the Grand Prairie community for over 70 years, and together we look forward to continuing to provide unparalleled live entertainment experiences for the residents of Grand Prairie.”

As of now, events at the theater are set to resume on June 12 with a concert by Pink Floyd tribute band Brit Floyd. Other forthcoming concerts/events include John Legend on August 11, Iliza Shlesinger on September 18, and The Price is Right Live on October 12.

concerts

Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife