Weekend event planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

This long holiday weekend across Dallas is dominated by one type of event: theater. There will be six different productions, including a national tour of a Broadway musical and local version of a classic musical. Other choices include two comedy events, two big concerts, two dance events, and the return of a popular Easter event.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events. Still looking for a place for Easter brunch? Find that list here.

Thursday, April 6

The Firehouse Theatre presents Hello, Dolly!
Matchmaker Dolly Levi is a widow, a matchmaker, and also a professional meddler - but everything changes when she decides that the next match she needs to make is to find someone for herself. Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Hello Dolly! is a musical filled with charisma and with heart that is boisterous and charming from start to finish. The production runs through April 23 at The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch.

Improv Addison presents Michael Rapaport
Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport has appeared movies likeTrue Romance, Higher Learning, Cop Land, Deep Blue Sea, The 6th Day, and The Heat, and TV shows like Boston Public, Friends, Prison Break, Justified, and Atypical. He’s also the host of the I Am Rapaport Stereo Podcast. He'll perform five times through Saturday at Improv Addison.

Whose Live Anyway?
Whose Live Anyway? is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Cast members Dave Foley, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray perform witty scenes they invent before the audience's eyes. The live event showcases some of the improv games made famous on the long-running TV show, as well as some exciting new ones. The event will be at Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton.

Broadway at the Center: Anastasia
The musical Anastasia transports the audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. The production will have four performances through Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

Theatre Three presents The Butterfly’s Evil Spell
In a whimsical world of beetles, scorpions, and bugs of all sorts, a beetle falls in love with an injured butterfly. An "insect comedy" written in verse, The Butterfly’s Evil Spell is a story about unrequited love in a “green and humble meadow” covered in dewdrops on the side of the road in South Texas. The production runs through April 30 at Theatre Three.

Friday, April 7

The O'Jays in concert
The R&B group The O'Jays dates back to the late 1950s, when original members Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles formed the group as teenagers. Their biggest success came in the 1970s, when they had a string of top-selling albums thanks to hits like "Love Train," "For the Love of Money," and "I Love Music (Part 1)." They'll play at the Music Hall at Fair Park as part of their final tour, Last Stop on the Love Train. They'll be joined by The Spinners.

Dallas Theater Center presents Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a whimsical, timeless classic from Stephen Sondheim, masterfully intertwining beloved fairy tales with contemporary challenges into a critically-acclaimed musical masterpiece. The enchanted story begins with the Baker and his wife and their desire for a child; when they engage with the vengeful Witch, the adventure brings childhood storybook characters Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel, a Wolf, giant, and of course a charming prince, "into the woods" for an incredible journey. The production runs through April 30 at Wyly Theatre.

TITAS / Dance Unbound presents Vuyani Dance Theatre - CION: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero
A cathartic, yet uplifting and remarkable work, Vuyani Dance Theatre's CION: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero is a hauntingly beautiful and moving exploration of grief, struggle, and relief. The music of Ravel’s Bolero using South African a cappella voices as a musical device creates the powerful score. There will be two performances - one Friday and one Saturday - at Moody Performance Hall.

Bath House Cultural Center presents A Light in Dark Places
A Light in Dark Places features five short plays working together to break down the stigma surrounding the topic of suicide, using a mix of comedy and drama to encourage healthy discussion, create community, and offer hope to those affected. Performances, running through April 15 at Bath House Cultural Center, will be followed by a Q&A featuring members of the production team and mental health professionals.

Theatre Coppell presents The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Written in 1876, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, about a boy growing up along the Mississippi River, is one of Mark Twain’s best-loved and most quoted works. In this theatrical adaptation, all of the major adventures of Tom and his friends are brought to the stage. The production runs through April 23 at Coppell Arts Center.

Saturday, April 8

Bruce Wood Dance and The Dallas Conservatory presents Dallas Spring Arts Festival
Co-produced by Bruce Wood Dance and The Dallas Conservatory, the Dallas Spring Arts Festival is a multicultural celebration of North Texas artists featuring storytellers, musicians, singers, dancers, poets, visual artists, and interactive art activities. Headlining the festival is mixed media artist and storyteller Jin-Ya Huang and The Wishing Tree. The festival takes place at Klyde Warren Park.

LiveNation presents Hip Hop Classic featuring Scarface
Hip hop of the '80s and '90s makes a comeback as the Hip Hop Classic tour comes The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory. Headlining will be Scarface, and he'll be joined by other great performers like Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Big Daddy Kane, and Slick Rick.

Sunday, April 9

Turtle Creek Conservancy presents Easter in the Park
After a three-year hiatus, the Turtle Creek Park Conservancy will bring back Easter in the Park at Turtle Creek Park. The afternoon of fun will feature food trucks, music, games, photos with the Easter Bunny, the Pooch Parade, a live concert, and a new Easter Egg Recognition Wall.

Easter in Lee Park Facebook

Easter in the Park takes place at Turtle Creek Park on April 9.

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Movie Review

Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

Photo courtesy of A24

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara) and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin - a weatherman at a local TV channel - even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, there are many things in the story that go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

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Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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