Weekend Event Planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

This weekend features a nice variety of things to do that will take eventgoers all over the Dallas area. They include a film festival, several theater productions (including a tour of a Broadway musical), three national comedians, the unofficial start of baseball season, a concert from a legendary singer, and more.

Below are more 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, January 25

Denton Black Film Festival
The Denton Black Film Festival, celebrating 10 years of showcasing Black culture, will showcase cinema created by and/or featuring people of the Black diaspora. Visitors can immerse themselves in some of the best artistic showcases of Black cinema, music, spoken word, art, and more. The festival will go through Sunday at Theatre Denton, and feature a special concert by Kirk Whalum at Margo Jones Performance Hall on January 28. The festival will be extended virtually through February 5.

Broadway Dallas presents Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
An uplifting comeback story like no other, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock 'n’ Roll, featuring her much-loved songs. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. The production runs through February 4 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Friday, January 26

Prism Movement Theater presents La Maupin: The French Abomination Staged Reading & Workshop
La Maupin is based on the true story of Julie D’Aubigny, bisexual duelist and opera singer who was famous for dueling men and wooing their women. Through a beautiful mix of sword fighting and dance, the show details her almost too incredible to believe exploits, exploring Julie’s journey to find happiness and acceptance as a queer woman way ahead of her time. This event at Latino Cultural Center will feature a reading of the newest draft of La Maupin, followed by a talk back with the audience about the play, which will have its world premiere in July.

Art Centre Theatre presents Stop the Presses
Freedom of the press is threatened when Sleazy Tab Lloyd gains control of The Clarion and stuffs each issue with utter nonsense. Everyone will groan and howl at the jokes. Of course, all ends well when the villain is defeated in the hilarious finale, and Aspen and Jack head down the wedding aisle. The production runs through February 11 at Art Centre Theatre in Plano.

Tim Dillon: American Royalty Tour
Acclaimed comedian and podcaster Tim Dillon is known for The Tim Dillon Show. He has graced both Netflix and Comedy Central with his comedy specials, and also has a new book, Death By Boomers. His unique brand of cultural commentary and satire has established him as one of the nation's top comedic voices. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Garland Civic Theatre presents I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the longest running off-Broadway revue in history, has been revised for the 21st century. The celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship.” Through sketches and songs, it explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, moving into the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car, and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. The production runs through February 11 at Granville Arts Center in Garland.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Rajaton Sings Queen"
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will revisit favorite Queen songs with Finnish sensation, Rajaton. The six-person singing group will sing Queen’s greatest hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “I Want It All,” “Somebody to Love,” “We Are The Champions,” and more. There will be three performances through Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory presents Brian Regan
Stand-up comedian Brian Regan has two Netflix specials, Brian Regan: On The Rocks and Brian Regan: Nunchucks And Flamethrowers. He also starred in his own Netflix series, Stand Up And Away! With Brian Regan, a half-hour series executive produced by Regan and Jerry Seinfeld that combines sketch comedy and stand-up. He'll perform at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Saturday, January 27

Texas Rangers Fan Fest
The Texas Rangers will present their annual Fan Fest, giving fans their first chance in 2024 to interact with the reigning World Series Champions. The event at Globe Life Field in Arlington will feature autograph sessions with current Rangers players and alumni, photo opportunities with the Commissioner’s Trophy, on-field activities like running the bases, wiffle ball home run derby, bullpen fast pitch, inflatables, and more.

Photo courtesy of Rajaton

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Rajaton Sings Queen" at Meyerson Symphony Center, January 26-28.

Eisemann Center for Performing Arts presents Judy Collins featuring the Richardson Symphony Orchestra
Singer Judy Collins comes to Richardson as part of her Wildflower Tour, accompanied by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. The performance will be at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts.

Stavros Halkias: The Fat Rascal Tour
Stavros Halkias is a comedian, actor, and writer originally from Baltimore. He’s a former co-host and founding member of the podcast Cum Town and was a staff writer and regular performer on the MSG network’s late night show, People Talking Sports and Other Stuff. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Sunday, January 28

Dallas Museum of Art presents Abraham Angel: "Between Wonder and Seduction" closing day
After almost five months, Abraham Angel: "Between Wonder and Seduction" will come to a close at the Dallas Museum of Art. Assembling nearly all his known surviving works, Abraham Ángel: "Between Wonder and Seduction" introduces U.S. audiences to this legendary artist with the first major survey of his work in over 35 years. During his brief three-year career, Ángel developed a unique artistic style that successfully captured the rapidly changing society and culture of Mexico in the early 20th century.

Dallas Opera presents The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors Showcase Concert
The opera world’s most brilliant young conductors will take the podium for an evening of opera selections featuring The Dallas Opera Orchestra at The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors Showcase Concert. Dallas Opera's Hart Institute is an artistic and leadership program that builds and advances the careers of women conductors with the talent and drive to pursue major positions with opera companies worldwide. The concert will be at Winspear Opera House.

movies festivals theater music comedy symphony concerts sports kids families galleries opera event-planner

Movie Review

New Superman film honors the past while forging into the future

Photo by Jessica Miglio

David Corenswet in Superman.

When the character of Superman was invented in 1938, it was perhaps easier to see the world in good and bad terms. Fascism was already on the rise in Germany under Adolf Hitler, and the idea of an all-powerful superhero who stood up for people in need was a welcome one. In the nearly 90 years since, though, the world and the character have undergone multiple evolutions, and the thought of someone who is purely good is often met with cynicism or worse.

The new Superman, written and directed by James Gunn, puts the superhero (or metahuman, as the film calls him and similar creatures) squarely in the midst of the modern world, with geopolitical conflicts, mega-corporations, and social media all combining to make the altruism of Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) questionable. That skepticism even extends to his coworker/girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), whose knowledge of his exploits puts her in a tricky position personally and professionally.

Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is out to dominate the world and take down Superman, with his eponymous corporation and vast group of underlings dedicated to doing both. Superman is generally a one-man fighting crew, but he’s occasionally aided by a group calling themselves the Justice Gang, comprised of heroes many have never heard of like Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), a version of Green Lantern; Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), a flying metahuman; and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who knows all kinds of technology.

One of the best things about this new version of Superman is that it mostly dispenses with introductions, putting the audience in a world where Superman is already a well-known quantity who’s adored by many and hated by some. Gunn has used his new position as co-CEO of DC Studios to honor the past of the hero and take him into the future. With the 1978 John Williams theme song echoing throughout and Corenswet giving off Christopher Reeve vibes, it’s clear Gunn wants audiences to feel nostalgia while still getting something new.

He also appears to want viewers to fight against the negativity that the modern world can bring. The plot involves manipulation of the public, usually at the hands of Luthor, through bombastic talk shows, political theater, and social media, the latter of which - in a great joke - comes to involve hundreds of typing monkeys. The film could be read as a rebuttal of many real-world ills as, despite Luthor’s machinations, many choose to continue to believe in the goodness of Superman.

There is a lot going on in the film, but somehow it never comes off as overly complicated. Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane and Luthor’s attempts at taking him down are given the most prominence, with everything else supporting those two main things. The Justice Gang is a fun addition, with Mr. Terrific becoming the breakout hero of the group. The addition of the (CGI) dog Krypto provides levity, poignant moments, and unexpectedly great action scenes. The only part that gets somewhat short shrift is the crew of The Daily Planet, with everyone besides Lois and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) getting little more than face time.

Being the new Superman is a lot to live up to, but Corenswet is completely up to the job. He, like Reeve, plays the character as someone who is earnest but not naive, a quality that comes through even when he’s in the middle of fight scenes. Brosnahan is also fantastic, providing a nice balance to the relationship while also proving the character’s own worth. Hoult makes for a great new version of Luthor, and Gathegi nearly makes the case that Mr. Terrific should get a starring film of his own.

Just as he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn has shown that success can be found through making characters people want to see. Not everyone in this Superman will be familiar to viewers, but in the end a group of people working together toward a goal that serves the common good is one worth watching and cheering for.

---

Superman is now playing in theaters.

movies film reviews