There will be a lot to celebrate around Dallas this weekend, with events focused on Pride and Juneteenth at the forefront. Also on the slate: a bunch of notable concerts, six new local theater productions, teachers-turned-comedians venting their frustrations, and more.
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.
Thursday, June 15
Bored Teachers: We Can't Make This Stuff Up Comedy Tour
Now that school is out for the summer, teachers can let loose. The biggest entertainment platform for teachers in the world, Bored Teachers, presents teacher-comedians all on one stage. Their skits have amassed hundreds of millions of views on the internet, and they're all joining comic forces on the stage for a night of laughter. The show will be at Majestic Theatre.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Together We Sing"
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Project Unity will present a cast of music legends for "Together We Sing," their annual musical and special event fundraiser. The evening will feature Erica Campbell and Spinderella, Zebulon Ellis, Leon Lacey, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and a 200-voice multi-faith choir comprised of choruses from more than 20 religious and faith organizations. The night of inspiring gospel and classical music will lead into the week of Juneteenth, a national holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The program will also celebrate National Black Music Month with a special tribute to 50 years of Hip Hop. The event will be at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
Love and Rockets in concert
Love and Rockets comes to Dallas to perform live for the first time in 14 years. The band, made up of former Bauhaus members David J, Daniel Ash, and Kevin Haskins, was formed in 1984, following Bauhaus’ initial split in 1983. They released seven studio albums, with their 1989 single "So Alive" reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They broke up in 1999 and reformed briefly in 2007 for a few live shows, before splitting again in 2009. The concert will be at The Factory in Deep Ellum.
Shakespeare Dallas presents Shakespeare in the Park: Two Gentlemen of Verona
Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and also one of the most rarely performed. It's about betrayal, love and disguise. When two best friends fall in love with the same woman, chaos ensues. Proteus is determined to destroy the betrothal of his friend, Valentine, and the lovely Silvia, but he also forgets his own beloved Julia in the midst. Resolved to win back his love, Julia travels to Milan to find Proteus. Two Gentlemen of Verona will run in repertory with Much Ado About Nothing through July 14 at Samuell-Grand Amphitheater.
Friday, June 16
Dallas Arts District presents Pride Block Party
The Dallas Arts District will present the Pride Block Party, their annual Pride celebration at the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, Crow Museum of Asian Art, and throughout the Arts District. Events will include gallery tours, drag performers, comedy, dancing, fashion show, and more.
Garland Summer Musicals presents The Music Man
The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. The production runs through June 25 at Granville Arts Center.
Repertory Company Theatre presents Footloose
Footloose is the explosive Broadway musical set to the rockin’ rhythm of the film’s Oscar- and Grammy-nominated Top 40 score and augmented with dynamic new Tony-nominated songs for the stage musical. The production runs through June 25 at Repertory Company Theatre in Richardson.
North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre presents Grease
Head greaser Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their "Summer Nights" as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as "Greased Lightnin’," "It’s Raining on Prom Night," and "Alone at the Drive-In Movie," recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation. The production runs through June 25 at Willow Bend Center of the Arts in Plano.
Theatre Arlington presents Fly By Night
A star-crossed prophecy. Two charming sisters and a luckless sandwich maker. A lot of music. Just not a lot of light. In this darkly comic rock-fable, a melancholy sandwich maker’s humdrum life is intersected by two entrancing sisters. A sweeping ode to young love set against the backdrop of the Northeast blackout of 1965, Fly By Night is a tale about making your way and discovering hope in a world beset by darkness. The production, which had its premiere in Dallas in 2013, runs through July 2 at Theatre Arlington.
The Core Theatre presents City of Richardson History Play
City of Richardson History Play explores the people and relationships that helped to grow the city - that perhaps should have been known as Wheeler, Texas - from a railway line and post office to one of the fastest growing and thriving cities in Texas. The production runs through July 16 at The Core Theatre in Richardson.
Saturday, June 17
Walker Hayes in concert
Sometimes all it takes is one song to change a musician's life. Walker Hayes has been trying to be a country music star since 2005, with limited success. But his six-song 2021 EP Country Stuff featured the runaway hit "Fancy Like," putting him into the "gotta see" category. He'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of his 2022 album, Country Stuff the Album.
Garbage and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in concert
Rock bands Garbage and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds come to Dallas as part of their co-headlining tour. Garbage is touring in support of their 2021 album, No Gods No Masters, while Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are touring in support of their new album, Council Skies. They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion.
Jill Scott in concert
R&B/soul singer Jill Scott has released five albums in her career, most recently 2015's Woman. She got her start in 2000 with her highly-acclaimed debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1., which remains the best-selling album of her career. She'll celebrate the 23rd anniversary of that album with this special concert at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Lea Salonga in concert
Multiple award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga is best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Miss Saigon. In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards in the field of musical theatre. She was also the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II. She'll perform a variety of songs in this concert at Winspear Opera House.
Sunday, June 18
Deep Ellum Foundation presents Juneteenth on Main Block Party
The Deep Ellum Foundation will host a Juneteenth Block Party, offering its own spin on the special occasion by specifically featuring African Americans' musical contributions to local, regional, and national culture. There will be performances by local, regional, and national artists, headlined by Dru Hill. The event, taking place along Main Street in Deep Ellum, will also feature over 25 Black-owned business vendors and a special Black History exhibit.
Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight in concert
R&B/soul legends Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight earned their status thanks to their individual long and storied careers. LaBelle released her first album in 1977, gaining a huge following thanks to hits like "If Only You Knew," "New Attitude," and "On My Own." Knight is Motown royalty, scoring multiple hits with The Pips before setting off on her own, where she became an even bigger star. The two will team up for this special concert featuring a slew of their biggest hits at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie.
Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will take the stage together at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie on June 18.
Jerry Jones has good reason to give a thumbs up. Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images 