The Naked Truth

La Bare documentary about famed Dallas strip club fails to arouse

For most people, their curiosity about the world of male strippers started and ended with Magic Mike, the 2012 Steven Soderbergh dud that was only entertaining because of the actors’ commitment to the dancing.

But one of those actors — Joe Manganiello, who played the humbly named Big Dick Richie — was so intrigued by male dancers that he decided to dive all the way in and make a documentary about them. That film, La Bare, focuses on LaBare Dallas, which, according to the film, is known as one of the best male strip clubs in the world.

Manganiello, in his directorial debut, says he was able to gain access into every aspect of the dancers’ lives because of the street cred he earned from Magic Mike. That entrée to their inner sanctum pays off in a number of ways.

Anyone expecting a repeat of the glossy dance scenes from Magic Mike will be sorely disappointed, as Manganiello shows only smidgens of routines.

The undisputed star of the film is Randy, also known as Master Blaster, a nickname he swears he took before Stevie Wonder made the term popular. And that could very well be true, because the song was released in 1980, and Randy has been entertaining the ladies since the late 1970s.

Randy’s commitment to his craft is either impressive, as he’s been able to maintain a body necessary for the profession for so long, or sad, as it seems like a job that one shouldn’t stick with for longer than a decade, at most. But there’s no denying Randy’s commitment, and the fact that his elderly mother supports his career 100 percent and that he has a multitude of fans willing to testify on his behalf speaks volumes.

Manganiello profiles pretty much everyone at the club, from the hottest dancer to the guy responsible for cleaning up discarded clothing and dollar bills. In addition to Randy, there are a few interesting stories, including a military veteran and a dancer who was shot and killed while still in his prime.

But Manganiello never finds a true heart to the film. Although it’s not hard to see how he might have found a kinship with the people he talked with, that familiarity and warmth never translate on film.

Some of the dancers are dumb, some are smart, some are egotistical and some are humble. In short, they’re just like people from every other walk of life. Although that may surprise a few people, most would know that without ever watching the movie, and the film never gives a compelling reason that we need to know the dancers better.

Anyone expecting a repeat of the glossy dance scenes from Magic Mike will be sorely disappointed, as Manganiello shows only smidgens of routines. Those that do appear have almost zero titillating value; the experience may be fun in person, but on screen it comes off as dark, dirty and depressing.

Manganiello’s heart was in the right place in making La Bare, because he wanted to show the world that male dancers have more depth than many give them credit for. Although he has the moves to prove himself as an actor, Manganiello hasn’t yet figured out how to make people shine from the other side of the camera.

Joe Manganiello, who starred in Magic Mike, got inside access to LaBare Dallas to shoot La Bare.

La Bare documentary

Photo courtesy of Main Street Films

Joe Manganiello, who starred in Magic Mike, got inside access to LaBare Dallas to shoot La Bare.

Weekend Event Planner

Concerts rule the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Jason Aldean

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 14.

Music takes center stage this weekend across Dallas, with half of the 12 events on this list being concerts featuring national touring artists. Other choices include a comedian from SNL, three local theater productions, a unique 24-hour theater event, and the final days of a notable art exhibition.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, August 14

Jason Aldean in concert
Country singer Jason Aldean was named the Artist of the Decade for the 2010s by the Academy of Country Music, and it's not hard to see why. From 2010 to 2019, he released six albums, each of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart. He set such a high standard that the fact that his three 2020s albums - most recently Highway Desperado in 2023 - came in at No. 3, No. 2, and No. 6 count as a disappointment. He'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion, joined by Nate Smith and RaeLynn.

Dallas Comedy Club presents Michael Longfellow
Comedian Michael Longfellow is currently a cast member on Saturday Night Live. He joined as one of the new featured players of the show’s current 48th season. Prior to SNL, he was one of eight comedians chosen for the inaugural Netflix Introducing… showcase at the Netflix is a Joke Festival in 2022, and made his late night debut on Conan in 2018. He'll perform five times through Saturday at Dallas Comedy Club.

Chris Botti in concert
For over two decades, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Chris Botti has amassed a variety of honors, including multiple Gold and Platinum albums, to become the nation’s largest selling instrumental artist. He has performed with an array of legends, including Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Yo-Yo Ma, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Andrea Bocelli. Botti has released 12 albums in his career, most recently Vol. 1 in 2023. He'll play at Majestic Theatre.

Friday, August 15

Theatre Denton presents Ken Ludwig’s Shakespeare in Hollywood
In Ken Ludwig’s Shakespeare in Hollywood, fairies from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream magically appear in 1934 Hollywood. They are delighted with the glitz and glamor of show biz and proceed to wreak enchantingly comic havoc on all that they encounter. The production runs through August 24 at Theatre Denton.

Lyric Stage and Turtle Creek Chorale present Guys & Dolls
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys & Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. The production will have four performances through Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.

Lewisville Playhouse presents Blind Date
In Horton Foote’s charming one-act play Blind Date, an awkward evening of Southern matchmaking unfolds with wit and warmth. When an earnest aunt arranges a blind date for her reluctant niece, what begins as a quiet evening quickly spirals into a hilarious and poignant clash of generations, expectations, and emotions. With Foote’s signature blend of humor and humanity, Blind Date is a delightful exploration of family, romance, and the unpredictability of first impressions. The production will have three performances through Sunday at Lewisville Playhouse.

Drew and Ellie Holcomb in concert
Husband-and-wife duo Drew and Ellie Holcomb were originally part of the band Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, an Americana band that started in 2005. When Ellie stopped touring to raise their children, she also started her own solo career. In recent years, the couple have collaborated on two albums, Coming Home: A Collection of Songs in 2022 and Memory Bank earlier this year. They'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Saturday, August 16

Big Time Rush in concert
The boy band Big Time Rush was formed in conjunction with the Nickelodeon show of the same name in 2009, a series that ran for four seasons and produced three albums. After the show ended, the band went on hiatus, with the four members pursuing solo careers. But they reunited in 2023 to record a new album, Another Life, and they have been touring all over the world ever since. They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion as part of their In Real Life Worldwide Tour.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in concert
Country/bluegrass singer Gillian Welch has partnered with guitarist David Rawlings for almost 30 years, starting with her 1996 debut album, Revival. They've gone on to record eight more albums together under her name, his name, or both. Their latest collaboration, Woodland in 2024, resulted in a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album, an honor they had also received in 2021. They'll play at Majestic Theatre.

BOLT! A 24-Hour Musical Project
In the unique theatrical event BOLT!, community members submit their favorite songs, and a team of writers randomly draw nine tracks from a bucket at 8 pm on August 15. From that moment, writers have until 8 am to craft a script that weaves the songs into a (moderately) cohesive narrative. As the sun rises, the clock starts ticking for actors, directors, and musicians to bring the script to life. They’ll have just 12 hours to rehearse, stage, and perform the finished musical by 8 pm on Saturday. They'll perform that production at The Addison Performing Arts Centre.

Sunday, August 17

Nasher Sculpture Center presents Otobong Nkanga: "Each Seed a Body" closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view Otobong Nkanga: "Each Seed a Body" at Nasher Sculpture Center, a new and re-envisioned work from the 2025 Nasher Prize laureate. The exhibition presents newly conceived iterations of major recurring projects, including Carved to Flow (2017-), along with a new work, each responding to the North Texas region. Nkanga engaged with Texan history, material culture, ecology, and community through a process of deep research and an exchange of knowledge.

Lost '80s Live
Nostalgic fans can take a trip back in time at Lost '80s Live, a retro tour featuring a number of '80s favorites performing live on one stage. Performers will include A Flock of Seagulls, General Public, Big Country, The Vapors, The Icicle Works, Josie Cotton, Belouis Some, China Crisis, and The Polecats. The concert takes place at The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Jason Aldean

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 14.

concerts music comedy theater galleries event-planner

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