Weekend Event Planner

These are the 11 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

The first full weekend of September brings an interesting mixture of events in and around Dallas. Choices include Harry Potter in concert, two local theater productions, an early Halloween event, three concerts, a unique dance/sound performance, a festival celebrating all things pickle, and two comedians.

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

Photo courtesy of Nelly

Nelly will perform at Dos Equis Pavilion on September 5.

Thursday, September 4

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert
CineConcerts goes back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for an evening of music and magic in the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. Audiences can relive the magic of Harry Potter soaring across the big screen in high-definition and experience the music of a live symphony orchestra performing Nicholas Hooper’s score. The experience includes themed photo backdrops, specialty food and beverages, and more. There will be four performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Ochre House Theater presents Opera Box
A poor Southern family, caught up in the addiction of the opioid crisis and the collapse of their American Dream, journeys through a Tibetan bardo seeking clues to understand their lives. The production, written in verse, will employ live music, shadow play techniques, projections, puppetry, and a wickedly hilarious cast of talented unflinching artists. It runs through September 20 at Ochre House Theater.

Friday, September 5

Galleria Dallas presents Boo!
BAYMO, the creative team behind Santaland and Snowday! at Galleria Dallas, has taken over ownership of the BooMont Hotel. Guests will enter the "hotel" through the refurbished lobby, still decorated in the golds and greens that delighted guests when it opened in 1901. Elevators transport guests through the hotel, where older children and adults can expect the unexpected as they navigate through mysterious rooms, interactive spaces, and imaginative photo opportunities. The Halloween-style event will be open at Galleria Dallas through November 2.

Kidz Bop: Certified Bop Tour
The Kidz Bop: Certified Bop Tour is a high-energy concert that features family-friendly versions of today’s biggest pop hits, including “espresso,” “HOT TO GO,” and “Dance Monkey.” The interactive concert will feature eye-popping visuals, engaging stage design, and the fan-favorite Daddy Dance Off. There will also be a special opening performance by Snoop Dogg’s DOGGYLAND*, a colorful crew of musical pups. The concert will be at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Repertory Company Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes & The Case of the Jersey Lily
The wit of Oscar Wilde meets the cunning of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the sleuthing caper Sherlock Holmes & The Case of the Jersey Lily. Wilde’s muse, actress Lillie Langtry (a.k.a the Jersey Lily) presents Holmes with what seems like an open and shut case. But with his superior powers of deductive reasoning, Sherlock wastes no time in exposing a much more sinister conspiracy. Meanwhile, Wilde is in the throes of writing his acclaimed The Importance of Being Earnest and Holmes might inspire some of the play. The production runs through September 14 at Repertory Company Theatre in Richardson.

Shakti Collective presents Shades of Women in Love
Shades of Women in Love discovers the timeless power of love through the lens of feminist poets and ancient texts. From Maya Angelou to Natya Shastra’s Ashta Nayikas, the program explores the emotional states of women in love, as well as how these archetypes connect to modern-day experiences, highlighting themes of love, longing, and empowerment. The production, part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project, will have three performances through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.

Nelly in concert
Rapper Nelly is now one of the old guard in the hip hop genre, having released his debut album, Country Grammar, in 2000. Known best for early hits like "Ride Wit Me" and "Hot in Herre," Nelly has also been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Ashanti that resulted in a recent marriage and child. He'll celebrate the 25th anniversary of Country Grammar at this concert, joined by special guest Ja Rule and others at Dos Equis Pavilion.

Saturday, September 6

Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation presents Pickle Fest
Pickle Fest will feature more than 65 pickle-themed vendors, pickle-inspired food and drinks, and fun for the whole family. Guests can challenge their friends in the pickleball tournament, show off their speed in the pickle-eating and juice-drinking contests, or dress to impress in the pickle costume contest. The event takes place in Historic Downtown Grand Prairie.

Leanne Morgan: Just Getting Started
Leanne Morgan’s style of comedy combines her Southern charm and hilarious storytelling about her own life. As a stay-at-home, mother of three with a husband, people are always accusing her of spying on them because she seems to be living the same life that they do. The fact that everyone can relate to her comedy has made her a hit even among the strangest of audiences. Morgan, who recently released the sitcom Leanne on Netflix, will perform an early show and late show at American Airlines Center.

Simple Plan in concert
Canadian rock band Simple Plan has always been a bigger deal in their home country than the United States, but they've had some success south of the border, most notably with their 2004 album, Still Not Getting Any..., which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200. They are celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band with the Bigger Than You Think! tour. They'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, joined by 3OH!3, Bowling for Soup, and Lolo.

Sunday, September 7

Anthony Rodia: Laugh Till It Hurts Tour
A first-generation Italian-American born and raised in Westchester, New York, Anthony Rodia came out of the womb making people laugh. In his twenties he tried a few open mics, but ultimately took a different career path as a finance manager of a luxury car dealership. In 2019, Rodia returned to comedy and left his day job to become a full-time stand-up comic. He hit the ground running and performed 100 shows in just nine months, and within a few years Rodia gained a massive fan base online and around the country. He'll perform at Texas Theatre.

music movies symphony concerts theater kids families dance festivals food-drink comedy event-planner

Movie review

Nick Jonas steals song from Paul Rudd in music-heavy Power Ballad

Photo by David Cleary for Lionsgate

Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd in Power Ballad.

Writer/director John Carney is one of the great purveyors of movies featuring music (as opposed to musicals) in the 21st century. Starting with Once in 2007 (which was turned into a Broadway musical several years later), he has made music-themed stories like Begin Again, Sing Street, Flora and Son, and now Power Ballad.

Rick Power (Paul Rudd) is a former wannabe rock star who is now the lead singer of “Ireland’s #1 Wedding Band,” The Bride & Grooves. While they mostly play smaller weddings, a gig at a country estate leads to an encounter with Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), a former boy band member struggling to make it as a solo artist. Rick and Danny wind up bonding in a booze- and pot-filled jam session, sharing various song ideas.

After returning to Los Angeles and desperate for a hit, Danny steals one of Rick’s songs, which miraculously turns into the No. 1 “How to Write a Song (Without You).” Rick, initially overjoyed that something he wrote has become big, is crushed when he finds out Danny didn’t give him credit. His quest to find a way to prove his worth sends him into a spiral, upending the ordinary life he had built.

Co-written by Peter McDonald, the film is a nice exploration of two men trying to hold on to their music dreams. Their individual circumstances could not be more different, but each of them knows the ups and downs of the business as well as the other, as well as the ineffable magic of creating that one great song. While the music scenes are hit-and-miss because of a reliance on lip synching, the scene featuring Rick and Danny trading ideas is electric with creativity.

Oddly, though, the film could have used a bit less music and more of a focus on the two men’s personal lives. Rick wound up living in Ireland after falling in love with his future wife, Rachel (Marcella Plunkett), while on tour with his former American band. He spends a decent amount of time with her and his daughter, Aja (Beth Fallon), but his story needed a few more family scenes to drive the point home. Danny’s personal life is all but nonexistent, giving his arc less impact than it could have had.

Instead of loved ones, Carney and McDonald try to give Rick and Danny more depth through friends and business associates. Rick’s bandmate Sandy (McDonald) is a ride-or-die kind of guy for him, but his presence is only good for a few humorous distractions. Danny’s manager Mac (Jack Reynor) is difficult to parse, as he goes to bat for Danny on multiple occasions, but also seems to keep him at arm’s length.

It’s long been joked that Rudd never ages, and that youthfulness serves him well in this role, in which his character is supposed to be much younger than his actual age of 57. His energy and enthusiasm make his character appealing throughout, even when Rick starts to go off the deep end. Jonas is decent in his role, selling the music side well, but there might be a reason his character doesn’t have many scenes requiring him to show emotions.

While Power Ballad has all the hallmarks of another great Carney music movie, it’s missing a few pieces that could have put it over the top. It’s still a fun film with an insanely catchy song at its center, but it’s not quite as memorable as most of the filmmaker’s previous efforts.

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Power Ballad is now playing in theaters.

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