It's the rare weekend when the star power at events around the Dallas area is relatively low. But there are still fun concerts from a variety of B-listers, a new theater production honoring a legendary star, and two new stellar museum exhibits.
Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, October 6
Leukemia Texas presents 4th Annual Concert for a Cure
Kick off Texas-OU weekend with Leukemia Texas and the 4th Annual Concert for a Cure, featuring Austin-based singer/songwriter Bob Schneider. Taking place at The Rustic, attendees have the chance to win two game-day tickets at the end of the evening. Proceeds from the event benefit the life-saving Patient Aid and Research Programs of Leukemia Texas.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents A German Requiem
The latest Dallas Symphony Orchestra concert is A German Requiem, featuring Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Brahms' A German Requiem (Ein deutsches Requiem), which are being sung in German with English subtitles. Playing three times through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center, the concert features pianist Yuja Wang, soprano Lisette Oropesa, and baritone and DSO artist-in-residence Matthias Goerne.
Friday, October 7
WaterTower Theatre presents Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash
WaterTower Theatre in Addison presents the regional premiere of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, a unique musical that explores love, faith, success, and struggle, using the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash. Featuring his most memorable songs, like “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” and “I Walk The Line," a company of five actor/musicians celebrate the life of the Man in Black, and his trademark strength, humor, and honesty. The production runs through October 30.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents DanceAfrica
It's a weekend packed with dance, as all five Dallas Black Dance Theatre companies, as well as guest artist Forces of Nature Dance Theatre from New York, are performing at Dallas City Performance Hall on both Friday and Saturday, Also, on Saturday there is a free festival at Annette Strauss Square, featuring vendors, music, art, food, and children's activities.
Improv Arlington presents Arsenio Hall
If you ask people where they first saw Arsenio Hall, you’d probably get a number of different answers. But it was the success of his late-night talk show The Arsenio Hall Show that made him a household name. Hall brings his stand-up act back to the stage in this special appearance at Improv Arlington, performing four times through Saturday.
Under the Streetlamp in concert
For a Jersey Boys experience without the Broadway price, check out Under the Streetlamp, a vocal group made up of recent leading cast members of the Tony Award-winning musical. The concert, taking place at Majestic Theatre, includes Doo-Wop, Motown, and favorite songs from The Drifters, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and a medley from the Four Seasons catalog.
Conor Oberst in concert with Pearl Charles
Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst is not one to sit still. In addition to the band for which he is best known, Oberst has been part of seven different groups throughout his career. And that's not even counting his solo work, which he's focused on since 2012. He's playing at Granada Theater in support of his 2016 album, Ruminations, with help from opening act Pearl Charles.
Saturday, October 8
Red River Showdown Watch Party
Aside from the Texas Rangers' playoff series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the big sports event in town this weekend is the annual Texas-OU football game at the Cotton Bowl. If you can't get a ticket or just don't feel like enduring the masses, you can still enjoy the game outdoors at Klyde Warren Park, where they'll have a huge HD screen set up, plus other activities centered around the rivalry.
Perot Museum presents Birds of Paradise
The latest traveling exhibit to come to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is Birds of Paradise. A science exhibition, art show, and natural history display in one, Birds of Paradise takes visitors on an expedition to a New Guinea rainforest to witness the spectacular plumage and dazzling dance moves of the family of birds known as birds-of-paradise. The exhibit is on display through January 8, 2017.
The B-52s in concert with The O's
Few groups live on their past the way that the B-52s do. Now celebrating their 40th year, the group will live forever thanks to eternal party songs like "Rock Lobster," "Love Shack," and "Roam." They are joined by local favorites The O's at this fundraising concert at Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Arlington, which puts on more than 50 free concerts every year with the money earned from paid concerts like this.
Sunday, October 9
Dallas Museum of Art presents "Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt" opening day
From domesticated cats to mythic symbols of divinities, felines played an important role in ancient Egypt for thousands of years. "Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt," the new exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, features cats and lions in ancient Egyptian mythology, kingship, and everyday life, through diverse representations from the world-famous holdings of the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibit is on display through January 8, 2017.
TLC in concert
It's been 14 years since Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes died in a car crash, and it appears as if Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas are finally about to close that chapter of their lives, as they're planning on releasing TLC (The Last Chapter) in early 2017. While we wait for that album, you can enjoy their earlier hits at this concert at Gas Monkey Live.
Bob Schneider headlines the Concert for the Cure at The Rustic on October 6.
Polish gingerbread at Gourmet European Market.Photo courtesy of GEM 