Pivot to Dallas

The one where the Friends musical parody show comes to Dallas

They'll be there for Dallas this time.

Photo courtesy of Friends! The Musical Parody

Could the timing BE any better? On the (chunky platform) heels of the biggest pop culture moment of 2021 — the Friends reunion — comes a musical parody of the beloved '90s sit-com that's stopping in Dallas for the first time this fall.

Friends! The Musical Parody will play at Dallas' Majestic Theatre one night only, September 28, as part of a 52-city tour. Tickets will go on sale June 11 through Ticketmaster.

Friends! The Musical Parody "lovingly lampoons TV’s Friends, celebrating the wacky misadventures of the group of 20-something pals as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life, and love in 1990s Manhattan," the creators say, going on to describe a plot ripped from the pilot episode of the series:

It’s a seemingly typical day at New York’s only coffee shop, Central Perk, until an unexpected runaway bride with beautiful hair enters the picture and kicks the whole gang out of second gear. This delightfully naughty confection plucks the best moments from the show’s 10 years and recreates the moments through an uncensored, fast-paced, music-filled romp.

The songs are funny takes on famous lines, sayings, scenes, and storylines involving Monica, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, and a few extra "friends." They include: "How You Doin'?" (Joey), "We Were On A Break!" (Ross), "Could I BE Anymore...In Love with You" (Chandler), "Will They or Won't They?" (Ross and Rachel), "The Ballad of Fat Monica" (Monica), and "Oh. My. God. It's Janice!" (Janice).

As first reported by TheaterMania, the show will get a limited off-Broadway engagement in New York this summer before a North American tour that starts in Texas. The curtain will rise first in San Antonio, at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, on September 26. Following the September 28 date in Dallas, it shoots up to Oklahoma City, then pivots down to Houston's Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center, October 1-3.

Tickets for the Houston and San Antonio shows are now available.

Created by the clever minds behind The Office! An Unauthorized Musical Parody and Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical, the Friends show first toured in 2019, hitting Austin and San Antonio. This time it'll be there for Dallas, too.

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Free Parking Friday

State Fair of Texas gets even cheaper with free parking for one day only

Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas starts its 24-day run at Fair Park on September 26.

The State Fair of Texas is offering yet another way to save at this year's event: Free parking for one day only on Friday, October 9.

According to a release from the State Fair, a DraftKings sponsorship will cover the cost of parking for visitors throughout the day, saving fairgoers $25 per vehicle.

“We’re always looking for ways to make a day at the State Fair more accessible and affordable for our fairgoers, and we’re incredibly grateful to DraftKings for helping us offer free parking for the first time in our history,” said Mitchell Glieber, president of the State Fair of Texas, in a statement.

Free parking will be available at official State Fair of Texas parking lots on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability.

Official State Fair parking lots will open at 9:30 am, with gates opening for admission at 10 am. Fairgoers driving to the Fair are encouraged to take Exit 48A on I-30 to access official State Fair parking lots and follow directional signage upon arrival.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early, as free parking is not guaranteed and is available only while spaces last.

October 9 might prove to be one of — if not the — busiest days of the year for the Fair, as both Dallas and Fort Worth ISD are on fall break, and it comes one day before the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry football game.

And don't forget that students can use their free tickets from school on any remaining day of the Fair, including Friday.

If you can't make it on October 9, the State Fair continues through October 18, with multiple chances to take advantage of the other discounts on offer this year.

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