This weekend in and around Dallas will feature a number of big events, including a film festival and music festival. Other choices include a musical version of a favorite animated movie, a great comedian, blues at the symphony, a dance production, a performance by a well-known nonagenerian, two concerts, and a movie star showing off one of his best films.
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 22
Oak Cliff Film Festival
The Oak Cliff Film Festival is a four-day event featuring a variety of feature films, short films, concerts, workshops, and more. Highlights include opening night film Going Varsity in Mariachi, spotlight feature Problemista, the documentary Mom and Dad's Nipple Factory, closing night film Earth Mama, and more. Events will take place at Texas Theatre, Bishop Arts Theater Center, The Wild Detectives, Oak Cliff Cultural Center, The Kessler, and more through Sunday.
Friday, June 23
Red Tail Live and Tobin Entertainment presents Madagascar The Musical
Audiences can move it, move it and join Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria as they escape New York's Central Park Zoo and head for the stage in this live musical spectacular. Based on the Dreamworks movie, the production will feature new songs written for the stage, dancing menageries, and even some puppets. The production will have two performances through Saturday at Winspear Opera House.
Dallas Comedy Club presents Josh Gondelman
Josh Gondelman is a writer and comedian who incubated in Boston before moving to New York City, where he currently lives and recently worked as the head writer and an executive producer for Desus & Mero on Showtime. Gondelman also contributed to the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and spent five years at Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He released his debut standup special, People Pleaser, in 2022. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Dallas Comedy Club.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Nothin’ But the Blues"
"Nothin’ But the Blues" will explore the early music that started the Blues and is at the heart and soul of nearly every form of popular music of the past 100 years. The concert, featuring the vocals of Shayna Steele, will pay tribute to Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey, Louis Armstrong, and more with songs like "St. Louis Blues," "House of the Rising Sun," "Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out," and "Baby Won’t You Please Come Home." There will be three performances through Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
Pegasus Contemporary Ballet presents Amor Fati: A Modern Take on the Ancient Tales of Greek Mythology
Amor Fati will take audiences on a journey through the captivating stories of Greek mythology, seamlessly blending dance, music, and spoken word. Choreographer Carrie Ruth Trumbo's artistic vision and storytelling delves deep into the human experience, allowing spectators to explore the depths of emotion through the power of ancient myths and movement. The first dance event ever to grace the stage of Kalita Humphreys Theater, there will two performances, one Friday and one Saturday.
Chita Rivera in concert
Chita Rivera, the 90-year-old Tony Award winner, will recreate signature moments from her legendary Broadway career, including West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Visit, and more. A theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents, Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history, having earned 10 nominations, two wins, and the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. The concert will be at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
Saturday, June 24
So What?! Music Festival
The 2023 So What?! Music Festival is a two-day event that will feature performances by over 90 bands. Headlining the hard rock event at Fair Park on Saturday will be Pierce the Veil and The Used, while Neck Deep (making their only festival appearance in 2023), Sleeping with Sirens, and Thursday (celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 2003 album, War All the Time) will headline on Sunday.
Dirty Heads in concert
Reggae rock band Dirty Heads has carved out their niche in the music industry over the past 15 years. Since their 2008 debut album, Any Port in a Storm, they have consistently placed in the top 10 on both the Billboard Alternative and Rock charts, highlighted by 2014's Sound of Change, which cracked the top 10 on the Billboard 200. They'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of their 2022 album, Midnight Control.
Pixies in concert
Pixies are a band whose reputation is outsized compared to their actual success. They had a few modest hits in the late '80s and early '90s, and since 2013 they've been forging ahead without the services of original bassist/vocalist Kim Deal. They'll play at South Side Ballroom in support of their 2022 album, Doggerel, joined by special guests Franz Ferdinand and Bully.
An Evening with John Cusack
John Cusack is one of those actors fortunate enough to have starred in a number of iconic movies throughout his long career. To celebrate that fact, he's hosting screenings of some of his most popular movies in multiple events around Texas. For this event at the Music Hall at Fair Park, he'll screen the 1989 film Say Anything, followed by a live conversation about his career and the making of the film, as well as a Q&A.
Chita Rivera will perform at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson on June 23.
