With kids going back to school and the oppressive heat bearing down on us, the slate of events across Dallas is a little slower than usual this week. Choices include four well-known comedians, two new local theater productions, two concerts by long-tenured bands, and the final days of a notable art exhibition.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, August 21
Majestic Theatre presents Marcello Hernández
Marcello Hernández is a Cuban/Dominican stand-up comedian, writer, and actor who's currently a featured player on Saturday Night Live, becoming popular for his recurring character, Domingo. Doing stand-up since he was 18 years old in 2016, he has opened for headliners such as Tim Dillon, Jim Breuer, Mark Viera, Gilbert Gottfried, and more. He'll perform for one night only at Majestic Theatre.
Urban Arts Collective presents The Color Purple
The Color Purple is the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film). It spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love, and a celebration of life. The production runs through August 31 at Kalita Humphreys Theater.
Improv Addison presents Marlon Wayans
Actor, producer, comedian, writer, and director Marlon Wayans has had an enviably long career, with much of it thanks to collaborations with other members of the Wayans family. He premiered his first-ever comedy special, Woke-ish, on Netflix in 2018, hosted a week's worth of shows for The Daily Show in 2023, and had a cameo in the Matt Damon/Ben Affleck movie, Air. He'll perform six times through Sunday at Improv Addison.
Friday, August 22
The Offspring in concert
Believe it or not, The Offspring recently celebrated their 40th anniversary as a band, having formed in 1984. They released their debut album in 1989, but it wasn't until their third album, Smash, in 1994 that they had their breakthrough thanks to hits like "Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem." They've gone on to release 11 studio albums, most recently Supercharged in 2024. They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion, joined by Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.
Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Pure Prairie League in concert
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils came to fame as part of the Southern rock boom of the early 1970s. Although the bulk of their discography came out during that decade, they're reunited a couple of times to release new music, most recently Off The Beaten Path in 2018. Like many in their age group, they've decided to hang it up for good with When It Shines, their final tour. They'll play at Winspear Opera House, joined by Pure Prairie League.
Art Centre Theatre presents ACES!
ACES! is about five incredible women who did the impossible - again and again and again and again. It's the true story of five Miss Texas USAs who all became Miss USA from 1985-1989, adding in their fictionalized televised reunion special. The production runs through August 31 at Art Centre Theatre in Plano.
Improv Arlington presents Bill Bellamy
Using his experiences growing up in Newark, Bill Bellamy started doing stand-up while he was a student at Rutgers University. His long comedy career has led to multiple roles in both television and movies, including Love Jones, How to Be a Player, Any Given Sunday, and Insecure. He also hosts the podcast Top Billin’ With Bill Bellamy. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Sunday, August 24
Nasher Sculpture Center presents "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" at Nasher Sculpture Center. Drawn from the Nasher’s permanent collection, the selection of works features numerous recent acquisitions and offers conversations about the possibilities for sculpture, both past and present. The exhibition features over 50 works of art by 24 artists, with sculptures by Nairy Baghramian, Kevin Beasley, Huma Bhabha, Anthony Caro, Jaume Plensa, Jean Tinguely, and others.
Kurtis Conner: The Goodfellow World Tour
Canadian comedian Kurtis Conner began his career on the now-defunct Vine before transitioning over to YouTube. His long social media presence has led him to get over 5 million subscribers, which has also boosted the audience for his stand-up comedy shows. Also the host of the podcast Very Really Good, Conner will perform for one night only at Majestic Theatre.
Photo courtesy of The Offspring
