Dallas typically only gets one Broadway tour at a time, but with two premier venues in the city, this Easter weekend will feature a rare double dip. Other choices include three local theater productions, a symphony concert, a stand-up comedy event, a concert celebrating an iconic venue, a beatboxing/popping performance, and a concert featuring the music from a popular anime.
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, as well as a list of places serving Easter brunch.
Thursday, April 17
Soul Rep Theatre Company presents Pretty Fire
Pretty Fire is a one-woman show that explores beautiful, funny, dark, and exhilarating vignettes tracing the life of playwright Charlayne Woodard from a premature birth to a joyous maturity at 11 years old. It is a powerful exploration of three generations of family love, struggle, and triumph. The production will have three performances through Saturday at Latino Cultural Center.
Plague Mask Players presents Alice
Alice by Ara Vito is a movement and storytelling-focused adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, told through the lens of a female playwright and ensemble cast of all female and non-binary performers. The Texas premiere of the new work, which is part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project, runs through April 27 in Wyly Theatre's Studio Theatre.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony"
Inspired by seeing the ruins and moors of Scotland, and especially Mary Queen of Scots’s Holyrood Castle on a walking tour, Mendelssohn created his aptly named Third Symphony. Also, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's principal winds will gather for the world premiere of a concerto commissioned for them from one of the most sought-after American composers, Sean Shepherd. The concert, conducted by Fabio Luisi, will have three performances through Saturday at Meyerson Symphony Center.
Broadway Dallas presents Mamma Mia!
Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago. The production runs through April 27 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Broadway at the Center presents Mean Girls
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. The production will have four performances through Saturday at Winspear Opera House.
Friday, April 18
Killers of Kill Tony
Killers of Kill Tony is a standup comedy lineup featuring regulars and fan-favorites from the podcast Kill Tony. Building upon the success and energy of the original podcast, Killers of Kill Tony showcases the diverse talent pool of comedians and their wit, humor, and unique comedic styles. Performers will include Kam Patterson, Ari Matti, David Lucas, and Martin Phillips. There will be two performances at Majestic Theatre.
Saturday, April 19
Dallas Children's Theater presents James and the Giant Peach
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, young James Henry Trotter's resilience is tested when he is sent off to live with his mean aunts, Spiker and Sponge, after a chain of unfortunate incidents. Life is no fun there until he accidentally spills some tiny green things on a tree, and … voilà, a giant peach. When James and his new oversized friends - Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Earthworm, and Spider - snip the stem of the peach, the quest for happiness and great adventure lands them in New York City and at the center of attention. The production runs through May 24 at Dallas Children's Theater.
Longhorn Jubilee featuring St. Paul & the Broken Bones
To celebrate Longhorn Ballroom’s 75th anniversary, the venue is hosting a series of events to honor the iconic room's past, present, and future. Dubbed the Longhorn Jubilee, the all-genre-encompassing event will unfold both inside the Ballroom and outside in the Courtyard combining music with food trucks, local vendors, and more. This event will feature performances by Saint Paul & The Broken Bones, Abraham Alexander, The Suffers, and more.
Eisemann Center presents Beatbox Meets Popping featuring Amirah Sackett & Mr MiC
An internationally recognized hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Amirah Sackett explores and embodies her Muslim American identity through combining hip-hop movement and Islamic themes. She is widely known for her creation of the choreography and performance group known as We’re Muslim, Don’t Panic. The performance takes place at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.
Sunday, April 20
Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls World Tour
Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls World Tour is a celebration of music and anime, a concert experience that features a fusion of rock and orchestral music, vocal performances, and visuals that transports the audience straight into the heart of the universe of the anime series Attack on Titan. The concert will be performed by rock musicians joined by a symphonic orchestra, accompanied by synchronized scenes from the anime series. It takes place at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie.
Broadway Dallas presents Mamma Mia! at the Music Hall at Fair Park through April 27.
Long Branch development planned for McKinney
Rendering courtesy of Creation
