As will be the case through the end of the year, this weekend around Dallas includes several new holiday-themed events. The list also features a production combining nostalgia and puppets, two big-name concerts, a new musical theater production, spectacular dancing, a well-known stand-up comedian, and a show that lovingly mocks bad movies.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, November 14
Eisemann Center presents That Golden Girls Show
Set in that sassy Miami house in 1985, That Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody is one of Off-Broadway’s biggest smash hits, parodying classic Golden Girls moments with puppets. The production, which will have four performances through Saturday at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, is an evening of cheesecake, laughter, Jazzercise, shoulder pads, sex, and the elegant art of the quick-witted put down.
Fantasia in concert with Robin Thicke, Tank, and Bonfyre
Former American Idol winner Fantasia has not been as hugely successful as fellow champions Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood, but she has firmly established herself in the R&B genre. Her first five studio albums reached the top 3 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop charts, and now she's touring in support of her new album, Sketchbook. She'll headline this concert, also featuring Robin Thicke, Tank, and Bonfyre, at The Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Friday, November 15
Gaylord Texan presents Lone Star Christmas
During Lone Star Christmas at Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, guests can enjoy a 125-acre winter wonderland including millions of twinkling lights, lavish large-scale décor, 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice, and more. Highlights include holiday lights decorating the resort’s indoor atriums, hand-carved sculptures for ICE! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” a two-story tall, eight-lane snow tubing hill, an outdoor ice-skating rink, miniature train sets throughout the property, and more. The event runs through January 5.
Lyric Stage presents Mirette
Set in a boarding house for circus performers in 1890s Paris, Mirette is an intimate chamber musical. Demonstrating an innate talent for balancing, Mirette convinces the reluctant Bellini — against her mother's wishes — to teach her his craft. But when Bellini, determined not to disappoint the girl, stages a comeback performance, only to find himself paralyzed with fear, it is Mirette who must climb the wire and help him regain his courage. There will be four performances through Saturday at Majestic Theatre.
Bruce Wood Dance presents Harvest
Coming shortly after Veterans Day, Harvest features the return of the nationally renowned Follow Me by Bruce Wood, a tribute to U.S. soldiers. The performance, taking place on both Friday and Saturday at Moody Performance Hall, will also include the world premiere of In My Your Head by Joy Bollinger, and a world premiere by 2017 Princess Grace Choreography Awardee and 2019 Jacobs Pillow Fellowship honoree, Bryan Arias.
Joe Rogan in concert
A stand-up comedian for more than 20 years, Joe Rogan has a unique and intense comedic style. He's also a versatile entertainer, having appeared as an actor in a variety of TV shows and movies, hosting Fear Factor, serving as color commentator for UFC fights, and hosting The Joe Rogan Experience, a popular comedy podcast. He'll perform at American Airlines Center.
Saturday, November 16
The Trains at NorthPark
Benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, The Trains at NorthPark will mark its 21st year at NorthPark Center with more than 750 railcars on a 1,600-foot elaborate configuration of tracks and scenes. The annual holiday exhibit features cityscapes like Dallas, replete with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Fair Park; New York with Times Square and Grand Central Terminal; Washington, D.C. with The White House; and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. The exhibit will be on display through January 5.
Moscow Ballet presents Great Russian Nutcracker
Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker is a family-friendly production that will feature spectacular sets, beautifully costumed Russian dancers, and whimsical and imaginative storytelling blended with the richness of Russian classical dance, costumes, soaring birds, giant puppets, and a grand stage design. The production will have three performances through Sunday at McFarlin Auditorium on the SMU campus.
Don McLean in concert
There's no doubt that legendary singer Don McLean is best known for his No. 1 hit song "American Pie." But he also went to No. 1 with "Vincent" (aka "Starry Starry Night") off the same album, and his songwriting abilities had artists like Elvis Presley, Perry Como, and Glen Campbell recording his songs. McLean will be at Arlington Music Hall, playing a mix of his classic hits with an array of new works.
Sunday, November 17
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live features an all-new production, The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour, with creator and original host, Joel Hodgson in his final tour alongside the movie riffing robots, Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy. The event, taking place at Winspear Opera House, will take the audience on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through some of the cheesiest films ever made.
That Golden Girls Show will play at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson through November 16.
Guy Fieri is filming in Dallas.
Photo courtesy of Food Network