Weekend Event Planner

These are the 14 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

The last weekend of May in and around Dallas will feature a lot of fun events across the spectrum. Choices include three local theater productions, five concerts in multiple genres, a showcase of Olympic figure skaters, a legendary comedian, a dance production, a symphony concert, a soccer festival, and a music festival with a little light gambling on the side.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out our calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, May 28

Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Float
Float is a one-woman show written and performed by Maryum “May May” Ali, daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali. Ali takes audiences on an inspiring journey through the defining moments of her life, revealing rare glimpses into her father’s compassion, discipline, and humanity. The production runs through June 7 at Bishop Arts Theatre Center.

Pegasus Theatre presents Circle of Laughter Festival
A quartet of productions will comprise Pegasus Theatre's Circle of Laughter Festival. The productions include I Was a Really Great Kisser (running May 28-June 12), Washing Garbage (running May 29-June 13), The Hater (running May 30-June 13), and Neil Simon's Last Hit (running May 30-June 14). All productions will take place at Addison Performing Arts Centre.

Yungblud in concert
English rock singer Yungblud has been tearing up the charts in the 2020s, scoring three straight No. 1 albums in his native U.K. He's collaborated with a number of big artists, including Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker, Marshmello, Bring Me the Horizon, Avril Lavigne, and Aerosmith. He'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of his 2025 album, Idols.

Friday, May 29

Stars on Ice
The Stars on Ice tour will bring America’s elite figure skaters to Allen to showcase the medal-winning skills they demonstrated at the 2028 Winter Olympics in Milan. Headlining the tour will be Ilia Malinin, aka the “Quad God,” 2026 Olympic Women's Singles champion Alysa Liu, 2026 Olympic silver medalist ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates; and Amber Glenn, who was part of the 2026 Olympic gold medal-winning team event alongside Malinin, Liu, Chock, and Bates. The event takes place on Friday and Saturday at Credit Union of Texas Event Center.

Improv Arlington presents George Wallace
Comedian George Wallace’s most recognized material is his “I Be Thinkin’” lines and jokes about everything from conversational thoughts to political aspirations. In each show, he engages members of the audience in comical banter, and if provoked, he might even throw out a few of his signature “Yo Mama” jokes. He'll perform four times through Sunday at Improv Arlington, joined by opening act Jennifer Holliday.

Company of Rowlett Performers presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. The musical will be presented by Company of Rowlett Performers at Plaza Theater in Garland through June 7.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents GALLIM
GALLIM, making their Texas debut, is a fresh, fearless dance company that dives deep into the full range of human experience, where movement feels raw, curious, and deeply connected to big ideas. They'll present SAMA, a powerhouse of a performance that has a tribal energy, with dancers on stilts, others grounded barefoot, all moving through a world where the body becomes something more, something beyond. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Dvořák & Korngold"
From the pen of the composer who pioneered the art of original film music, making it symphonic in scope and sophisticated in feel, comes Korngold’s Violin Concerto, featuring Maria Dueñas, an in-demand star of the violin world. To conclude the concert, Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony, filled with Bohemian rhythms, is one of his most beloved works. The concert, conducted by Sebastian Weigle, will have performances on Friday and Saturday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

The Kid Laroi in concert
Australian rapper/singer The Kid Laroi has used social media, including TikTok, to gain notice of his music for years, breaking out in 2020 with hits like "So Done," "Without You" with Miley Cyrus, and "Stay" with Justin Bieber. After finally putting out his debut album, The First Time, in 2023, he released his second album, Before I Forget, earlier this year. He'll perform at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Saturday, May 30

Harold Simmons Park presents Dallas Soccer Kick-Off Fest
With less than two weeks to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts, soccer fans can get in the mood at the Dallas Soccer Kick-Off Fest. Located in Harold Simmons Park at Ron Kirk Bridge and Felix Lozada Gateway, the festival brings together sports, culture, live music, food, art, and neighborhood pride. It will take place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Cover-to-Cover Music Festival
The Cover-to-Cover Music Festival will include performances by three cover bands and casino-style gaming with Choctaw Casino & Resort - Durant game tables. Featured performers include Hard Night's Day, The Meat Sweats, and The Central Standard Band. The event takes place at Klyde Warren Park.

Stayin’ Alive: One Night of The Bee Gees
Stayin' Alive offers audiences the songs and sights of a full Bee Gees playlist, singing blockbusters such as “Night Fever,” “Jive Talkin,’” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “Nights on Broadway,” and “Stayin’ Alive.” In addition, they perform softer poetic ballads such as “I Started a Joke,” “Massachusetts,” “Fanny Be Tender,” “Words,” and “To Love Somebody,” among other hits. They'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Carín León in concert
Mexican singer-songwriter Carín León didn't get much traction with his first two albums, but when he switched to a bigger record label in 2023, his career took off. His next two albums both reached the top 10 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart. He'll play at American Airlines Center in support of his recently released album, Muda.

Sunday, May 31

Turtle Creek Chorale presents Pride As Big As Texas
The Turtle Creek Chorale will get an early jump on Pride Month with Pride As Big As Texas. The concert shines a spotlight on the music and creativity of Texas, featuring works by artists like Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, and Beyoncé, alongside compositions by Marques Garrett, Victor Johnson, and others. The concert takes place at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas.

Getty Images

Stars on Ice, featuring multiple Olympic medalists, will be at Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen on May 29 and 30.

theater music concerts sports olympians comedy dance symphony festivals event-planner

Movie Review

Andrew Garfield leads peasant rebellion in medieval film The Uprising

Photo by Betina La Plante/Focus Features

Andrew Garfield in The Uprising.

Writer/director Paul Greengrass made his name with a cinéma vérité style of filmmaking that brought immediacy and depth to three Jason Bourne films, United 93, Captain Phillips, and more. In The Uprising, he uses those skills to tell the story of the so-called Peasants’ Revolt in 14th century England.

Greengrass wastes no time starting the main plot as Ploughman (Andrew Garfield) and his fellow villagers object to onerous taxes put on them by the country’s nobility, led by the young King Richard II (Woody Norman), to fund an ongoing war. Ploughman initiates a violent response over the tone-deaf — and unseemly — way the king’s guard go about their business, and the rebellion soon starts to spread across the countryside, with the citizens looking for a degree of autonomy.

The ever-expanding group makes their way toward London to try to make their case to the king himself. Meanwhile, the king’s top advisors, including Archbishop Sudbury (Stephen Dillane) and Treasurer Hales (Tom Hollander), try to usurp power from the inexperienced monarch even as the king’s mother (Katherine Waterston) tries to get him to be more assertive.

The history of the English monarchy is long and lurid, as Shakespeare detailed in multiple plays, including Richard II. Though the events in the film took place almost 650 years ago, it’s easy to see parallels between what the peasants were fighting for and modern-day politics. Greengrass’ storytelling intent is solid, and the righteous anger the citizens feel is initially relatable and palpable.

But the populism theme of the story soon gets bogged down in drudgery and minutiae that is difficult to understand, especially when the details are lost in the thick regional English accents. The leaders of the rebels — including John Ball (Jamie Bell), Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis), and Alyce (Thomasin McKenzie) — are shown doing a lot of planning, but the strong feelings they have about their quest don’t come across well, leaving the audience as passive observers.

When there is action, Greengrass and his team employ a frenetic style that is not great for comprehension. While the gist of what is happening and what side is winning is legible, individual moments go by so quickly so as to be nearly meaningless. Save for Ploughman, any connection that has been made with various characters proves futile, as Greengrass doesn’t seem to have any time for emotion. Scenes that should feel thrilling or heartbreaking instead come off as empty.

Garfield is a two-time Oscar nominee who has done great work across multiple genres. He’s fine in this role, but whether it’s the story, the filmmaking, or something else, he’s not as captivating as usual. The same goes for other strong actors like Bell, McKenzie, Dillane, Hollander, and Waterston, who each seem to be giving their all to their performances but are somehow muted in the process.

Done right, The Uprising could have been a rip-roaring account of people standing up against their oppressors. What Greengrass has made, though, is a film that can’t translate its medieval story for a modern audience and concentrates too much on unexciting elements and too little on thrilling ones.

---

The Uprising is now playing in theaters.

movies film reviews