Events News

The latest event cancellations in Dallas-Fort Worth due to coronavirus concerns

Hayes Carll's concerts at The Kessler, originally scheduled for August 29, have been rescheduled.

Photo courtesy of The Heights Theater

As concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus and government restrictions on group gatherings continue, more event cancellations, postponements, and reschedulings are being announced every day in Dallas-Fort Worth. In an effort to keep you as up-to-date as possible, we'll compile a list of different announcements every week.

New in-person and virtual events are on the uptick, so we may be able to occasionally present the regular weekly events roundup. Still, to be sure you're up to speed, you may want to check with the presenting organization or venue regarding the status of any particular event.

Dallas

Amanda Seales: This appearance by the comedian, scheduled for August 29 at Majestic Theatre, has been canceled.
DMA Arts & Letters Live: Lauren Akins: This event, scheduled for August 29 at the Dallas Museum of Art, has been rescheduled for August 24 and will now be a virtual event.
Hayes Carll: The two concerts by the singer-songwriter, scheduled for August 29 at The Kessler, have been rescheduled for June 12, 2021.
Marcia Ball: This concert, scheduled for September 18 at The Kessler, has been rescheduled for April 18, 2021.
Ochre House Theater presents Shangri-La Lost: The theater company has postponed this production, scheduled for August 22-September 12, to undetermined dates.
Shakespeare Dallas: The theater group has canceled its fall production of Romeo and Juliet, scheduled September 9-October 3 at Samuell-Grand Park in Dallas and October 8-18 at The Sound at Cypress Waters in Coppell.
Texas Ballet Theater: The dance company has canceled its annual production of The Nutcracker, scheduled for November 27-December 6 at Winspear Opera House.

Fort Worth

AIA Fort Worth Homes Tour: The annual tour of homes around Fort Worth, scheduled for August 29 and 30, has been rescheduled for May 15 and 16, 2021.
Classic Parts of America C10 Nationals: This truck show/swap meet at Texas Motor Speedway, scheduled for August 14 and 15, has been rescheduled for May 14-15, 2021.
Cook Children’s presents Pickin’ for Preemies: This charity concert, scheduled for August 30 at Billy Bob's Texas, has been canceled.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra: The opening concert for the 2020-2021 Pops Series, Asleep at the Wheel, will still take place September 11-13, but it has been moved from Bass Performance Hall to Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium.
Kids Obstacle Challenge: This event, scheduled for October 3 and 4 at Village Creek MX Park, has been canceled.
Texas Ballet Theater: The dance company has canceled its annual production of The Nutcracker, scheduled for December 11-27 at Bass Performance Hall.
Tulips FTW: The opening of the new Fort Worth music venue, scheduled for August 21 with a performance by The Band of Heathens, has been rescheduled for February 27, 2021.

Arlington

Al Joslin: Elvis Tribute Show: This concert, scheduled for August 22 at Arlington Music Hall, has been rescheduled for February 13, 2021.

Grand Prairie

Cody Ko & Noel Miller: Tiny Meat Gang – Global Domination: The appearance by the YouTube/podcast duo, originally scheduled for April 18 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie and then rescheduled for October 20, has been rescheduled again for August 1, 2021.
Newsboys: This concert, originally scheduled for April 26 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie and then rescheduled for August 23, has been postponed to an undetermined date.

Lewisville

Texas Tunes: Jimmie Vaughan: This concert, scheduled for August 29 at MCL Grand Theater, has been canceled.

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Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer is an unappreciated mom in Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

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