Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

While the number of in-person events is starting to increase, the list of activities in and around Dallas this weekend is a reminder that things are not back to normal yet, with a handful of them still going the virtual route. This weekend will feature several theater productions, comedy from an A-list name, and outdoor opera, theater, dance, and movies.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.

Thursday, May 20

Latino Theater Co. and Cara Mía Theatre present Ursula
Ursula tells the journey of Nadia, a 7-year-old, separated from her mother after seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. As Nadia waits for her asylum to be processed, she reflects on the difficulties she is leaving behind in Honduras and the new reality she is facing. The production, performed mostly in Spanish with some English with subtitles, will be available to stream at any time through May 30.

Improv Addison presents Whitney Cummings
Comedian Whitney Cummings is best known for creating and starring in the NBC series Whitney, and she also co-created and co-wrote the Emmy-nominated CBS comedy series 2 Broke Girls. In 2019, Cummings launched her own podcast, Good For You, and debuted her fourth stand-up special, Can I Touch It?, on Netflix. She'll perform six times through Saturday at Improv Addison.

Friday, May 21

Dallas Opera presents "OperaPops!" (UPDATE: This event has been moved indoors to Winspear Opera House due to expected inclement weather.)
The Dallas Opera Orchestra will perform an outdoor OperaPops! concert featuring soprano Deanna Breiwick, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and baritone Lucas Meachem in a program of favorites from both the opera and Broadway stages. The concert, taking place at Annette Strauss Square, will include songs and music from My Fair Lady, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Candide, and more.

Echo Theatre presents Echo Reads: The Great Lonely Roamer & The Night That Changed Everything
As part of their Echo Reads series, Echo Theatre will present The Great Lonely Roamer & The Night That Changed Everything by CQ (Christina Quintana). Only two polar bears are left on the planet. On New Year’s Eve, one bear searches suburban Texas for a new, air-conditioned home, while his sister attempts to track him down in New York City. A gun-toting trucker tries to race his pregnant wife to the hospital. A first date laced with supercharged marijuana takes a turn at a police stop. A wild night ensues that will affect the future of an entire species. There will be virtual performances on both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, May 22

Shakespeare Dallas presents The Wars of the Roses
In its return to the stage, Shakespeare Dallas will journey across nearly 50 years of history between 1422 and 1485 with an abridged staged reading of Shakespeare’s four history plays: Henry VI Parts I, II and III and Richard III. The Wars of the Roses will be an all-day affair on both Saturday and Sunday at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents Pilobolus in the Garden
Pilobolus in the Garden is a premiere outdoor site-specific performance commissioned by TITAS that will take audience members through a physically and emotionally moving performance experience that explores the vistas of Nasher Sculpture Garden while exploring the nature of nature. A collaborative work between famed Pilobolus Dance Company and local dance, music, and creative writing artists of the Arts Magnet, the project will have four separate performances on Saturday.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents "Spring Celebration"
Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Spring Celebration features guest artist Alicia Graf Mack, who will perform a sentimental solo, Don’t Stop, from a New York City rooftop. DBDT veteran dancer and rehearsal assistant Claude Alexander III will take viewers on an emotional journey through the process of forgiveness and unconditional love in his full company work, A Tender Pardon. The program will also feature an emotionally moving male trio, Evidence of Souls Not Seen, choreographed by Lloyd Whitmore. The virtual event will be available to stream at any time on Saturday or Sunday.

Carbaret Drive-In presents Hedwig and the Angry Inch
After a five-month break, CarBaret will open its second season with the 2001 John Cameron Mitchell adaptation of his own off-Broadway musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. They'll also premiere the new North Texas short film That, and host a pre-show live performance by Harley Deville. The drive-in event, which was rescheduled from May 9, will take place in the parking lot outside of Brizo in Richardson.

Whitney Cummings will perform six times, May 20-22, at Improv Addison.

Photo courtesy of Whitney Cummings

Whitney Cummings will perform six times, May 20-22, at Improv Addison.

theater event-planner dance concerts

Pickleball News

Indoor pickleball concept from Georgia bounces into Frisco

Ace

Pickleball paddles face off.

There's a new indoor pickleball concept coming to Dallas: Called Ace Pickleball Club, it's a growing chain from Georgia, making its Texas debut in Frisco in an old BuyBuy Baby space at at 2930 Preston Rd. #600. According to a release, it opens July 12.

Ace Pickleball was founded in Roswell, Georgia in 2023, and calls itself the only facility of its kind, delivering a member-focused approach and all-inclusive pricing.

Professional-grade cushioned courts and a welcoming community create the optimal playing experience for all skill levels. The chain currently has 15 locations across the U.S. including Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

They emphasize an inclusive community with unlimited open play, and offer clinics, tournaments, social events, and ball machine reservations. They also offer paddle demos so that members can test out the newest technology from a variety of brands to find their favorite.

When they open, they'll offer free introductory pickleball clinics for beginners to go over the rules of the sport and feel more comfortable as they learn about the game.

Ace Pickleball ClubAce Pickleball Club

Indoor facilities have an advantage in that they're impervious to weather so players can play year-round.

The Frisco location is a nearly 33,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-size courts and one dinking court designed to welcome players of all skill levels. Memberships are $129 monthly with the first month free.

Bringing the concept to Frisco is Juan Menchaca, a former corporate worker who is a pickleball player himself. When he and his wife relocated to the DFW area in May 2023, he brought with him a lifelong dream of opening a sports facility.

Introduced to pickleball by his brother-in-law, who is now training to go pro in pickleball, Menchaca was instantly hooked by the game’s fast pace, simple rules, and strong sense of community.

Opening a dedicated pickleball facility felt like the ideal first serve into the world of sports.

“I saw the demand I knew Ace Pickleball Club was the right fit,” Menchaca says. “The model is perfect for all skill levels across the Frisco community. I’ve always wanted to create something people could rally around, and this not only provides that, but helps in bringing our community closer.”

sports openings trends