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Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Luke Bryan fans, clear your calendars in late September 2023. The five-time Entertainer of the Year and American Idol judge is making not one but two stops in North Texas on his "Country On Tour."

He'll play Dallas' Dos Equis Pavilion on September 28, then scoot over to Fort Worth for a show at Dickies Arena on September 29. The only other Texas stop on his 36-city tour will be in Lubbock, on July 27. (So sorry, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.)

Special guests throughout the tour will include up-and-coming country artists Chayce Beckham, Tyler Braden, Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Jon Langston, Conner Smith, Alana Springsteen, Hailey Whitters, and DJ Rock.

According to the tour site, Beckham, Dean, Whitters, and DJ Rock will play the Dallas-Fort Worth shows.

Bryan has a history of investing in new artists by inviting them to join him on tour, a press release reminds.

“Artists get into the business to make music and perform it for the fans,” Bryan says in the release. “Leaving it all out on that stage is what it’s all about for me. I’m excited to support and have so many talented new artists along for the ride this year. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of our job.

The tour is named for Bryan's 30th No. 1 single, “Country On” - a celebration of farmers, truckers, military, first responders, and all of Americana that hit the top of the country singles charts around Christmas 2022. He has amassed a career tally of 56 total weeks at #1.

Bryan launches his 2023 headline dates at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas on February 1. He's also returning as a judge on ABC's American Idol this spring.

Bryan's "Country On Tour" kicks off June 15 in Syracuse, New York.

Tickets go on sale on at 10 am Friday, February 3 at Lukebryan.com.

Presale for Bryan's fan club members will run 8 am Tuesday, January 31 through 5 pm Thursday, February 2. For details, go HERE.

Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets from 10 am Wednesday, February 1 to 10 pm Thursday, Feb 2 through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

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ATTPAC's 2023-24 Broadway season overflows with Tony-winning titles

Season Announcement

Familiar titles populate the Broadway at the Center 2023-24 season lineup at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. And within these mostly classic musicals, there are 16 Tony, 20 Drama Desk, one Outer Critics Circle, and one Grammy award winners.

New this season are some pre- and post-show events, including pre-show Facebook Live viewings, post-show talkbacks, afterparties, themed photo opportunities, themed bar drinks, and more.

“We are so excited to bring in this new season of shows with fan favorites on the best stage in North Texas for Broadway,” says Warren Tranquada, president and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. “We are also delighted to share our new campus activations we will have before and after shows in the 2023-2024 season that will let patrons embrace and invest in the Center’s new offerings.”

This is also the fifth year of the partnership between Broadway Dallas and the AT&T Performing Arts Center, where certain Broadway Dallas shows are presented at the Winspear Opera House. In 2024 that means five weeks of Hamilton, with subscribers to both ATTPAC and Broadway Dallas given priority access to score tickets.

And now without further ado, here is the season:

The Cher Show — Superstars come and go, but Cher is forever. For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture — breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. The Cher Show is the Tony Award-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. This is the show that caused a sequin shortage in New York City, thanks to all the Bob Mackie-designed, Tony-winning gowns it showcases. It run December 14-16, 2023.

Annie — Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in a new production — just as you remember it and just when we need it most. It runs March 14-16, 2024.

Chicago — After 25 years, Chicago is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one show-stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder Chicago has been honored with six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. It runs April 4-6, 2024.

Shrek the Musical — “Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek....” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Yes, your favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar-winning, smash hit, DreamWorks animated film. The Tony Award-winning stage version features songs from Jeanine Tesori (Kimberly Akimbo; Caroline, or Change), a sidesplitting book by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo), and brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life. It runs July 18-20, 2024.

That's the main season, with the option to add on these shows:

MOMIX Alice — Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. “I don’t intend to retell the whole Alice story,” Pendleton says, “but to use it as a taking-off point for invention.” Join this dazzling company on a mind-bending adventure as Alice encounters time-honored characters including the undulating Caterpillar, a lobster quadrille, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and a variety of other surprises. It runs September 22-23, 2023.

CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY WONDERLAND — Igniting joy and wonder like never before, Wonderland is an all-new musical journey that transports audiences to a magical land far away for a fun-filled, holiday-themed show experience. Be dazzled by the acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks, and holiday cheer. The show blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal favorites. It runs December 22-23, 2023.

Jagged Little Pill — Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, life — everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show — is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music. It's directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin, 1776) with a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody (Juno). It runs January 12-14, 2024.

Hamilton — This is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theater, a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. Presented in partnership with Broadway Dallas, it runs May 8-June 9, 2024.

Subscription packages go on sale Friday, March 31, with single tickets available closer to the opening of each show. Four-show subscription packages range from $95 to $595 and may be purchased by phone at 214-880-0202, or online at www.attpac.org/broadway.

Country superstar Chris Stapleton adds Dallas stop to his all-American tour this fall

Just a Traveler

Chris Stapleton is bringing his “All-American Road Show" back to Dallas this fall. The eight-time Grammy Award-winning country music superstar (who also has 15 CMA and 10 ACM awards under his belt) will stop at Dos Equis Pavilion on October 27, 2023.

Stapleton will appear with special guests Nikki Lane and CMT-nominated Charley Crockett.

The new date, announced March 23, will come one year after Stapleton's "Roadshow" concert at Globe Life Field. He'll be playing shows in San Antonio and Austin on October 19 and 20, respectively, and his only other Texas stop (so far) is Corpus Christi, on October 12.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 31, at 10 am. Stapleton’s fan club will have early access to tickets and VIP packages with pre-sale starting on Tuesday, March 28, at 10 am through Thursday, March 30, at 10 pm. As the official card of Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show” 2023 tour, Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets starting on Tuesday, March 28, at 10 am until Thursday, March 30, at 10 pm. For complete pre-sale, details visit citientertainment.com.

In addition to the new “All-American Road Show” dates, Stapleton will headline Stagecoach Music Festival on April 30 and will join George Strait for a series of stadium shows with special guests Little Big Town.

The Kentucky-born artist is one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians. He was recently named the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year for the sixth time, setting the record for most wins ever in the category. Additionally, his most recent album, Starting Over, won Best Country Album at the 67th Annual Grammy's, as well as earning Album of the Year honors at both the 54th Annual CMA Awards and 56th ACM Awards. The record follows Stapleton’s pair of Platinum-certified releases from 2017, From A Room: Volume 1 and From A Room: Volume 2, as well as his x5 Platinum breakthrough solo debut album, Traveller.

In addition to his work as a musician, Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, are founders of the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund, which supports a variety of causes that are close to their heart. Most recently, their “Kentucky Rising” concert last fall raised over $2.8 million to support flood relief in Eastern Kentucky.

Confirmed tour dates are listed below, including supporting acts and special guests:

April 26: El Paso, TX—UTEP Don Haskins Center*
April 27: Albuquerque, NM—Isleta Amphitheater*
April 29: Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Bowl – Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday
April 30: Indio, CA—Stagecoach
May 6: Glendale, AZ—State Farm Stadium†
May 27: Columbus, OH—Buckeye Country Superfest
June 1: Moline, IL—Vibrant Arena at The MARK‡
June 2: Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena‡
June 3: Milwaukee, WI—American Family Field†
June 8: Syracuse, NY—St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview+
June 9: Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center+
June 10: Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center+
June 15: Spokane, WA—Spokane Arena§
June 16: Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater§
June 17: Seattle, WA—Lumen Field†
June 22: Des Moines, IA—Wells Fargo Arena§
June 23: Wichita, KS—INTRUST Bank Arena§
June 24: Denver, CO—Empower Field at Mile High†
July 7: Bangor, ME—Maine Savings Amphitheater§
July 8: Cavendish, PEI—Cavendish Beach Music Festival
July 13: Charleston, SC—Credit One Stadium#
July 14: Virginia Beach, VA—Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater#
July 15: Baltimore, MD—CFG Bank Arena#
July 19: Omaha, NE—CHI Health Center**
July 20: St. Louis, MO—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre**
July 21-22: Cullman, AL—Rock the South
July 28: Nashville, TN—Nissan Stadium†
July 29: Nashville, TN—Nissan Stadium†
August 5: Tampa, FL—Raymond James Stadium†
August 10: Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion**
August 11: Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion**
August 12: Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion**
August 17: Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage‡
August 18: Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage‡
August 19: Montreal, QC—Lasso Festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau
August 24: Memphis, TN—FedExForum††
August 25: Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre††
August 26: Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre††
October 5: Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena*
October 6: State College, PA—Bryce Jordan Center*
October 12: Corpus Christi, TX—AmericanBank Center Arena+
October 19: San Antonio, TX—AT&T Center+
October 20: Austin, TX—Moody Center+
October 26: Tulsa, OK—BOK Center+
October 27 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion+

*with special guests Margo Price and Nikki Lane
†with George Strait and special guests Little Big Town
‡with special guests Marcus King and The War and Treaty
+with special guests Charley Crockett and The War and Treaty
§with special guests Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives and Allen Stone
#with special guests Margo Price and Allen Stone
**with special guests Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives and The War and Treaty
††with special guests Marcus King and Allen Stone
+with special guests Charley Crockett and Nikki Lane

These are the 10 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

If this week's list of things to do around Dallas looks odd, that's because there's a wide variety of choices, including a very odd convention. Also happening are two comedians, an opera, a trio of concerts from across the musical spectrum, a local theater production, a Shakespearean festival, and a dance production.

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, March 23

Luke Comb at his November 2021 concert at AT&T Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Luke Combs

Luke Combs returns to AT&T Stadium on March 25 for another huge concert

Improv Arlington presents DeRay Davis
DeRay Davis has been killing it in Hollywood with his hilarious humor and persona, with film credits like Semi-Pro, Imagine That, Scary Movie 4, Barbershop 1 & 2, and Johnson Family Vacation. On the small screen, he has appeared in HBO's Entourage, Comedy Central's Reno 911, and as numerous voices on The Boondocks. He'll perform nine times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.

Friday, March 24

The Dallas Opera presents Così fan tutte
In Così fan tutte, the women have the last laugh when the men they plan to marry come up with a really bad idea: Egged on by a cynical old bachelor, the guys decide to put their fiancées to the “fidelity test.” Big mistake, as the resulting romantic debacle demonstrates. Mozart does it again, with glorious music fueling comedy that cuddles right up to a calamity just waiting to happen. The production, which is sung in Italian with English supertitles, will have four performances through April 1 at Winspear Opera House.

Marco Antonio Solis in concert
The 2023 concert season at outdoor venue Dos Equis Pavilion gets started a bit early with this visit from Mexican singer Marco Antonio Solis. For the first half of his career, he was part of the group Los Bukis, during which he became known as a great songwriter. He finally went out on his own in the late 1990s, releasing 10 albums, most recently 2013's Gracias Por Estar Aquí. He'll come to Dallas as part of his El Buki World Tour.

The Core Theatre presents A Trip to Bountiful
A Trip to Bountiful is a classic American play about a remarkable journey home. In her autumn years Carrie Watts dreams of escape from the bustling city and of a return to simpler times in her beloved Bountiful, Texas. She sets out on a risky journey to her long lost hometown, with her family in hot pursuit. The production runs through April 9 at The Core Theatre in Richardson.

Sabrina Carpenter in concert
The 23-year-old Sabrina Carpenter is a multi-hyphenate who's dipped her toes into multiple parts of the entertainment industry. She's had parts in productions as diverse as Disney's Girl Meets World, the film The Hate U Give, and the two Tall Girl movies on Netflix. She put out her first music single in 2014, and has gone on to release five albums, including 2022's Emails I Can't Send. She'll perform at The Factory in Deep Ellum.

Saturday, March 25

Oddities & Curiosities Expo
The Oddities and Curiosities Expo features over 150 oddity vendors and artists selling a wide variety of rare and unusual items, including taxidermy, preserved animal specimens, original horror and Halloween-inspired artwork, antiques, handcrafted oddities, skulls, bones, and funeral collectibles. The one-day expo at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will also feature photo ops, tarot reading, sideshow performers, and concessions.

Adriatica Village presents Shakespeare McKinney
Shakespeare McKinney provides residents and businesses with an opportunity to show their support for the local arts community, including theatre, dance, music, and visual arts, at the celebration of culture, creativity, and community. Shakespeare’s work comes to life through presentations, adaptations, and modernized renditions of his repertoire performed on the MainStage. Taking place at Adriatica Village, there will be multiple other stages of entertainment, as well as street performers and visual artists, a variety of food truck options, a vendor market, and a kids zone.

Luke Combs in concert
There was no wait-and-see period with country star Luke Combs; he was big out of the gate, going to No. 1 with his 2017 debut album, This One's for You. He maintained that popularity with his next two albums, so there's no reason to think that his just-released fourth album, Gettin' Old, won't have the same success. He'll be joined at this huge concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington by special guests Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, Flatland Cavalry, and Brent Cobb.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents "Dancing Beyond Borders"
DBDT: Encore! takes its talents to Richardson with "Dancing Beyond Borders," pushing the lines of contemporary modern dance. Choreographer Jess Hendricks brings the dancers to the brink of physical exhaustion in the dance Shedding Skin. Tears of War choreographer Christopher L. Huggins mirrors the heartbreak of war during six periods of American history. Spiritual Suite is a collection of spiritual works choreographed in a collaborative effort by Nycole Ray, Richard A. Freeman, Jr., Floyd McLean, Jr., and Dianne Grigsby. The production will be at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts.

Druski: "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Tour"
Acclaimed comedian, actor, and entrepreneur Druski comes to Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie as part of his first-ever headlining comedy tour. The tour will feature a traditional comedic stand-up performance, as well as a live element of Druski’s record label, Coulda Been Records. Online, Druski facetiously offered aspiring performers an opportunity to showcase their skills online in front of millions. Now, these prospective entertainers will have the chance to perform for a live audience for the first time ever.