Weekend Event Planner

These are the 17 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

As we creep up on Christmas, this weekend in and around Dallas will feature a new batch of holiday events, ranging from a cirque-style show to theater to concerts. If you're up for something different, you could see a national tour of a Broadway musical, screenings of a classic Hitchcock film paired with dance, a well-known comedian, or an iconic R&B singer.

Below are more 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. Looking for the best Christmas lights to see this weekend? Find those lists here and here.

Thursday, December 14

A Magical Cirque Christmas: A Holiday Variety Show
A Magical Cirque Christmas is a variety show full of nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages. Audiences will be dazzled, enchanted, and filled with holiday cheer as they witness the talents of world-class entertainers performing to favorite holiday music. The event takes place at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie.

Abraham Alexander in concert
Fort Worth singer Abraham Alexander has been making a name for himself locally for years, playing small venues, festival gigs, and other events, and his national profile has started to grow as well. His debut album, SEA/SONS, features such luminaries as Gary Clark, Jr. and Mavis Staples. This concert is a step up, taking place at Majestic Theatre, so make sure you catch him now before he starts selling out arenas.

Broadway at the Center presents The Cher Show
Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, Cher has been an unstoppable force who has dominated popular culture – breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. The Cher Show is the Tony Award-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. The production will have four performances through Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

Friday, December 15

The Lights at Interlochen
At the Lights at Interlochen, one of the largest and longest running holiday traditions in North Texas, more than 200 homeowners in the northwest Arlington neighborhood celebrate the season by decorating their homes with festive lights and holiday-themed displays. The official event takes place through December 25.

The Polyphonic Spree 20th Annual Holiday Extravaganza
The Polyphonic Spree's annual Holiday Extravaganza is an evening of high energy and festive fun with the local choral rock band, holiday tunes, and special guests. Festive holiday attire is encouraged for this family-friendly event. Milk & cookies will be served at midnight. Guests are encouraged to bring a canned good to benefit the North Texas Food Bank, as well as a new unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots. The event takes place on both Friday and Saturday at Majestic Theatre.

Repertory Company Theatre presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
As part of their Courtyard Theater Series, Repertory Company Theatre presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. The heartwarming musical adaptation features a book by David Ives and Paul Blake and 17 Berlin songs, including “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” “Count Your Blessings,” and the perennial favorite, “White Christmas.” The production runs through December 23 at Courtyard Theater in Plano.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents The Polar Express in Concert
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will bring the holiday classic, The Polar Express, to Meyerson Symphony Center for the first time. Audiences can experience the musical magic of Christmas Eve through Alan Silvestri’s score, and be immersed as The Polar Express adventures up and down mountains, slip-slides over ice fields, and teeters across mile-high bridges while the DSO performs live with the film. There will be three performances through Sunday.

Ballet North Texas presents The Nutcracker
Ballet North Texas captures the enchantment of the holiday season with their annual presentation of the beloved classic, The Nutcracker. The production weaves a tale of wonder and joy, featuring breathtaking sets, a towering Christmas tree, snowflakes, waltzing flowers, and a captivating cast of characters, including the ethereal Sugar Plum Fairy and her enchanting castle. The production runs through December 23 at Moody Performance Hall.

Saturday, December 16

Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas
Rick Schuler's Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas is an intimate experience that will take audiences back to the ’70s when John Denver’s music permeated the radio airways. Schuler's holiday show features all the favorite Denver hits, including "Rocky Mountain High," "Sunshine On My Shoulders," "Take Me Home Country Roads," and others, as well as inspirational carols and holiday classics like "Away In A Manger," "Silent Night," "Joy to the World," and more. There will be three performances through Sunday at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

Texas Theatre & Bishop Street Ballet presents Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds
Released in 1963, Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds remains one of the iconic director's most popular films, having been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2016. Texas Theatre & Bishop Street Ballet will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the film with a special screening featuring a preshow by Bishop Street Ballet. There will be screenings on both Saturday and Sunday.

Old City Park presents 51st Candlelight Celebration
At the 51st Candlelight Celebration, the longest-running holiday celebration in the state of Texas, guests can visit Old City Park to take in the 13 acres of decorated buildings along with local craft vendors, strolling carolers, food trucks, and a whimsical candlelit park in the evening. The event takes place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Dallas Opera presents Holiday Concerts
The Dallas Opera will present two free annual Holiday Community Concerts, featuring soprano Hye Jung Lee and tenor Matthew White. The singers will join members of The Dallas Opera Orchestra for two performances of holiday favorites at the National Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

A Merry Little Christmas Show with Ricki Derek
A Merry Little Christmas Show featuring Ricki Derek features the Ho, Ho, Ho Orchestra and some very special guests. The concert goes great with Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Dean Martin, and White Christmas. The concert takes place at Granada Theater.

Todd Barry: Half Joking Tour
Comedian/actor Todd Barry has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and Late Night With Seth Meyers. His acting credits include The Wrestler, Road Trip, Flight of the Conchords, Chappelle's Show, Spin City, and Sex and the City. You may have heard his voice on the animated series Bob’s Burgers, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapis, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He is also the author of the 2017 travel memoir, Thank You For Coming To Hattiesburg. He'll perform at Texas Theatre.

Sunday, December 17

Dallas Museum of Art presents "He Said/She Said: Contemporary Women Artists Interject" opening day
"He Said/She Said: Contemporary Women Artists Interject" features women artists from the 1970s to today in questioning the myth of the sole male genius. The artists featured in the exhibition strategically appropriate the contributions of male artists to create space for new, more inclusive narratives. Ranging from the feminist movement of the 1970s to young artists who are inspired by Surrealism, they create work that critiques gender norms, sexism, and racism. The exhibition will remain on display through July 21, 2024.

Brett Eldredge in concert
Country singer Brett Eldredge has released released seven albums in his 10-year career, and he's so into the holidays that two of them are Christmas albums, including one from 2021 named Mr. Christmas. This special concert at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie will feature Mr. Christmas himself once again bringing the holiday spirit with the return of his annual Glow LIVE holiday tour.

Anita Baker in concert
For 40 years, R&B/soul singer Anita Baker has been a leader in the genre, releasing a string of chart-topping albums and hits like "Sweet Love," "Giving You the Best I Got," and "Just Because." She comes to Dallas as part of a national tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her debut solo album, The Songstress. She'll perform at American Airlines Center.

Photo by Meredith Mashburn Photography

The Cher Show plays at Winspear Opera House, December 14-16.

holidays theater music concerts symphony movies kids families comedy galleries event-planner

Movie Review

Stephen King film adaptation The Life of Chuck aims for the heart

Photo courtesy of NEON

undefined

Just like actors, once a filmmaker becomes known for a certain genre, it can be difficult to escape that pigeonholing. Writer/director Mike Flanagan has worked for 20 years in both film and television, and literally every project he’s done has been related to horror. He’s finally breaking out with The Life of Chuck, which is ironically based on a short story of the same name by Stephen King.

Told in three chapters in reverse order, the film is almost impossible to describe without giving away its magic. The first section centers on Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a teacher grappling, like everyone around him, with what seems to be the world falling apart. He’s comforted to a degree by reuniting with his ex-wife, Felicia (Karen Gillan), but is also baffled by multiple ads touting the retirement of Charles “Chuck” Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) after “39 great years.”

The second section consists of little more than a slightly younger Chuck happening upon Taylor (The Pocket Queen), a drummer busking on a street corner, giving Chuck and a younger woman, Janice (Annalise Basso), the inspiration to start dancing. The final section goes back to the childhood of Chuck (Benjamin Pajak), where he’s raised by his grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara), discovers dance as an outlet, and wonders about various small mysteries.

Flanagan finds a way to deliver a lot of story with relatively little effort. Using a wry narrator (Nick Offerman), a limited number of locations, and a series of great small performances, he creates an intriguing premise with few straightforward answers. The structure of the film is designed to confuse the viewer until just the right moment, and the revelation forces you to reexamine everything that came before.

The biggest accomplishment by Flanagan is making what are essentially three short films and having each of them resonate equally. The film contains elements of science fiction, although the first section may hit a bit too close to home for some of those watching. All three sections, though, have a heartwarming bent to them that sells their central idea without becoming overly saccharine.

To do so, each of the characters have to connect in a short amount of time. The casting of the film is crucial, and not only does that department succeed with the main roles, but a series of small roles are filled expertly as well. Carl Lumbly as a funeral home owner, David Dastmalchian and Harvey Guillen as parents of students, Matthew Lillard as Marty’s neighbor, Q’orianka Kilcher as Chuck’s wife, and Jacob Tremblay as a teenage Chuck are just a few of the recognizable actors that do yeoman’s work in their brief time on screen.

Hiddleston is only prominently featured in the second chapter, but his performance there and in small glimpses throughout makes a big impression. Ejiofor is given the star turn in the first chapter and he absolutely kills, both in moments by himself and in scenes with Gillan, with whom he has great chemistry. Hamill, making a rare non-voiceover appearance outside of the Star Wars universe, and Sara, in her first notable role in 11 years, are also very memorable in the final chapter.

The Life of Chuck is a film that’s filled with emotion, but the full impact of the story is not felt until the final moments. It has a mysterious journey that is initially frustrating, but the performances keep the film going until it gets to its satisfying payoff.

---

The Life of Chuck is now playing in theaters.

movies film