We've come to that point in December when most of the big holiday events have already started, so there are relatively few new things going on. But this weekend is an exception. It holds three huge happenings: A classic holiday movie come to life on stage, the final tour visit of a music legend, and another music legend celebrating the holidays in his unique style.
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, December 13
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Broadway Series: A Christmas Story, The Musical
From the songwriting team behind the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen and the Academy Award-winning film La La Land, A Christmas Story, The Musical, brings the classic 1983 movie to hilarious life on stage. It features all the classic scenes, including the infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department-store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole. The production will run at Winspear Opera House through Sunday.
Mainstage Irving Las Colinas presents Have Yourself A Broadway Little Christmas
Have Yourself A Broadway Little Christmas brings together favorite holiday songs made famous through Broadway shows and movie musicals. Cabaret luminary Amy Stevenson and Sherry Etzel will sing hits from Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Mame, How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical, Songs for A New World, Holiday Inn, Broadway’s Elf, and more. There will be two more performances through Friday at Irving Arts Center.
Friday, December 14
Elton John in concert
After more than half a century on the road and an unparalleled career that has redefined the cultural landscape, Elton John comes to Dallas as part of of his final tour called "Farewell Yellow Brick Road." The new stage production will take John's fans on a musical and highly visual journey spanning a 50-year career of hits like no one has ever seen before. He'll play at American Airlines Center on both Friday and Saturday.
Brian Wilson presents The Christmas Album Live
Brian Wilson and his crack band of musicians and vocalists, along with longtime bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin, will be performing The Beach Boys' Christmas Album in its entirety, along with cuts from his solo Christmas album, What I Really Want for Christmas. The concert will take place at Majestic Theatre.
George Lopez: The Wall World Tour
Few comedians have enjoyed the type of success that George Lopez has over the past 20 years or so. He has had not one, but three eponymous sitcoms — George Lopez, Saint George, and Lopez. He was also the host of the short-lived talk show, Lopez Tonight. Obviously, the man knows funny, which he'll show at this special event at The Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Black Nativity
This holiday Gospel celebration returns for its 15th Anniversary. Spoken word, song, music, dance, and theater combine to create this one-of-a-kind Christmas pageant that has become a Bishop Arts Theatre Center holiday tradition. Hughes’ retelling of the Nativity Story encourages audiences to find joy and asks us all to look inward and find the wonder in life itself. The production will run through December 23.
Saturday, December 15
Tuzer Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Tuzer Ballet presents its 34th annual production of the holiday ballet, Peter Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Audiences will be transported to the wondrous world of swirling snowflakes, magical gifts, and the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy at this production, which features two soloists from the Boston Ballet. There will be three performances through Sunday at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
The Polyphonic Spree Christmas Show
At The Polyphonic Spree's annual Christmas Show, guests are encouraged to bring a new toy for Toys for Tots and a canned food item for the North Texas Food Bank. The all-ages show at Majestic Theatre, which features performances by The Polyphonic Spree and others, also gives ticketholders a chance to win some great gifts from the sponsors and some white elephant treasures from members of the band. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite holiday garb.
Elton John will play at American Airlines Center on December 14 and 15.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora