With Thanksgiving a week away, it's time to get ready for the onslaught of holiday events. Two new ones start this weekend, and they're joined by a reprise of an acclaimed dance show, a visit from a big-time movie star, a winner of American Idol, a renowned pop artist, and more.
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, November 19
A Season of Stories: Christmas at the White House 2003
For the third straight year, the George W. Bush Presidential Center will take a look back at Christmastime at the White House when Bush was president. The exhibit, open now through January 3, gives visitors a glimpse of original White House decorations and behind-the-scenes photographs and video from the archives of the Bush administration.
The Danielle Georgiou Dance Group presents The Show About Men
The Show About Men, which Danielle Georgiou Dance Group originally premiered during the Festival of Independent Theatres, is a dance theater piece concerned with the catch-22 of manhood in modern culture. Honored as one of the best new plays by by the Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum, the production will play at Eastfield College through Sunday.
Friday, November 20
Dallas Film Society presents the Art of Film: Isabella Rossellini
Recent honorees at Dallas Film Society's annual fundraising event, the Art of Film, have included Val Kilmer, Lee Daniels, and Marisa Tomei. Joining that list is Isabella Rossellini, known for films like Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, and the upcoming Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence. The event will take place at the Space on Oak Lawn.
Kitchen Dog Theater presents The Totalitarians
With the race for the White House in 2016 in full gear, there may be no better time for a political satire like The Totalitarians. Kitchen Dog Theater will present the regional premiere of the play, which follows one candidate's willingness to do almost anything to get elected. It will play at the Green Zone through December 19.
David Cook in concert with Andrew Ripp
He may not have achieved the fame and fortune of such American Idol winners as Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood, but David Cook has carved out his own niche in the music landscape. Now touring in support of his fourth album, Digital Vein, Cook will play in the intimacy of The Kessler alongside opening act Andrew Ripp.
Saturday, November 21
The Trains at NorthPark
One of the great things about the holidays are the traditions, and one of the best traditions in Dallas is the Trains at NorthPark. Now in its 28th year in Dallas and 17th year at NorthPark Center, the exhibit includes trains rolling across 1,600 feet of track on a journey across America, seeing landmarks like downtown Dallas, Times Square, the White House, the Grand Canyon, and more. The exhibit will be on display through January 3.
Last Comic Standing Live Tour
The NBC comedy competition has had a hit-and-miss reputation for honoring comedians, with the likes of Amy Schumer, Tig Notaro, and Gabriel Iglesias all failing to win the seasons in which they competed. You can judge for yourself how successful they were at picking comics this past season when the five finalists perform at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Road Show Company presents Peter Max: A Retrospective 1960-2015
The unique artistic style of German pop artist Peter Max has been fascinating people for decades, and a special collaborative event in Dallas and Fort Worth will pay tribute to that history. The now 78-year-old Max will be on hand at Beaudry Gallery for an artist reception on both Saturday and Sunday, at which guests can speak with him and even pick up a Max original.
Sunday, November 22
RAW Dallas presents Uprising
RAW Dallas is a group committed to showcasing rising local talent in artistic fields like art, fashion, music, dance, and more. Avant Chamber Ballet is just one of many RAW artists to be featured in the November showcase. Other onstage performances include the jazz and hip-hop styles of indie band Duo Contra and R&B stylings of Kelton Blackshear. They'll perform at Gas Monkey Live.
Isabella Rossellini will be the honored guest at Dallas Film Society's Art of Film on November 20.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora