44 new Dallas debutantes begin Presentation Ball prep with glam parties and glorious gowns

Meet the DSOL debs

Photo by James French

With the start of summer vacation came the beginning of the 2023-2024 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debutante season - even though it seems like just yesterday that the 2023 debs were Texas-dipping into society.

The DSOL introduced 44 new debs during Announcement Weekend festivities, May 18-20, in Dallas. Their parties, philanthropy, and training will culminate with the 38th Presentation Ball on February 10, 2024.

The mega-weekend began with the Announcement Party, emceed by Stan Gardner, at Dallas Country Club on the evening of Thursday, May 18. The next day, a deb and Honor Guard family dinner was held at the El Fenix downtown. Stanley Korshak hosted a couture gown show at the Bridal Salon on Saturday morning, May 20, and Patti Flowers Design Studio presented custom gowns that afternoon. (Per tradition, each deb will wear a white ballgown to her Presentation Ball.)

The 2024 Presentation Ball is under the guidance of chair Kristin Cordiak and DSOL President Nancy Labadie. Both women will lend special expertise to this year's debs: Kristin’s daughter Bronwyn made her debut in 2018 and her son Newt was an Honor Guard this year. Nancy was Ball Chair in 2016 and her son Will was an Honor Guard in 2015. Her daughter-in-law Lizzie was a debutante in 2013.

"The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball has celebrated music and family for 38 years,” says Cordiak, adding that the 2024 debs "each add to the beautiful tapestry of the event as they embark on a lifelong journey of philanthropy.”

Now, for the most important part. The 2024 debutantes are: Helena Breland Bach; Erika Mae Batson; Mia Lane Blanton; Claire Elise Cahoon; Ellie McClain Gidden; Ripley Elizabeth Cooley; Kennedy Claire Downing; Electra Wallace Ford; Sarah Rose Gambrell; Catherine Lee Grayson; Camille Anne Greening; Meredith Elizabeth Hallam; Grace Soleil Handler; Caroline Parker Hart; Catherine Bradford Hunt; Isabella Ann Jackson; Ashley Elizabeth Jaynes; Ellen Taylor Jones; Minje Kwun; Emannuelle Grace Le Voyer; Claire Michael Levy; Riya Kaur Luthra; Elizabeth Myers Madison; Avery Pilar Moore; Finley Elizabeth Nelson; Day Gilmer Nettle; Lillian Susan Nettle; Mina Hiranmayee Raj; Bailey Erin Robirds; Courtenay Christianson Sands, Kathryn Bunker Sands; Caroline Robertson Smith; Sheridan Michelle Spencer; Caroline Story Stiles; Leslie Katherine Swango; Caroline Parker Teegarden; Payton Grace Thurman; Megan McKamy Dyer Underwood; Lauren Alexis Watkins; Charlotte Nicole Webb; Kelley Caroline Wheeler; Abigail Archer Willingham; Claire Anh Wooley; and Sophia Corina Yung.

Honor Guard officers presenting the debutantes for the Announcement Party were Conner Olson, John Liptack, Matthew Melcher, Eric Hirschbrich, Nicholas Arnold, Philip Jenevein, Wyatt Awtrey, Vance Miller, Thomas Liu, and Stefan Fischer.

Debs' parents and other relatives in attendance at the launch events included Laura and Jason Downing (whose daughter Kennedy is the third debutante in the family making her debut); The Hon. and Mrs. Alphonso Jackson, John and Kristina Hallam, Dena and Vaughn Miller, Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell, Cameron and Clay Smith, Suzanne and Adam Stiles, Kathryn Wheeler, Kelli and Gerald Ford, Gayle Sands, and many more.

The Assembly, a group of former debutantes who assist the Symphony League by helping with event arrangements throughout the season, was represented by Perrin Griffin, Bronwyn Cordiak, Allie McWhorter, Katie Kottwitz, Emily Stone Young, Ava Heppner, Maddy Duvall, Maddi Hendrick, and Samantha Sullivan.

The presentation of Dallas Symphony debutantes is a time-honored tradition for many of Dallas' most influential and philanthropic families. The debs are of college age and typically are graduates of Dallas-area high schools, but may be attending college out of the area.

Participation is open to all young women. Much like a sorority, participants pay fees and participate in parties, fundraisers, classes, and other events throughout the year, all leading up to the Presentation Ball.

The Presentation Ball, which was first held in 1987, is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Over $15 million has been raised for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the annual black- or white-tie event.

Founded in 1946, the DSOL's mission is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising activities. Since 1998 the League has contributed over $22 million in support of the DSO's many community initiatives.

Photo by James French

Debutante Lauren Watkins (center) with grandparents Alphonso and Marcia Jackson

Photo by Casey Howes and Krystal Butler

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

Weekend Event Planner

There is quite the variety of events going on across Dallas this long Memorial Day weekend, with multiple outdoor events and celebrities of all different types. Choices include a (literally) major golf tournament, dance in a (sculpture) garden, two local theater productions, a horror convention, two big rock concerts, a classical concert, a unique musical performance, and an arts festival.

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, May 25

Photo by Casey Howes and Krystal Butler

Pilobolus in the Garden will be at Nasher Sculpture Center on May 25 and 26.

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Major Championship golf is coming to Frisco for the first time with the playing of the 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort. Twenty-five major champions will be part of the 156-player field, including John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Pádraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard. Davis Love III, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, and more. The tournament takes place through Sunday.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents Pilobolus in the Garden
Pilobolus in the Garden is a special TITAS-commissioned site-specific project created for, and in, the Nasher Sculpture Garden. The magical work involves the famed Pilobolus dancers performing with Booker T. Washington HSPVA’s student dancers, moving throughout the entire the Nasher garden landscape. The dancers, and audience, move quietly through the sculpture garden in an outdoor experience. There will be four performances through Friday.

Pocket Sandwich Theatre presents How the Other Half Loves
How the Other Half Loves follows three married couples whose lives are hopelessly, hilariously, entwined. Chaos ensues following the consequences of an adulterous affair between a married man and his boss' wife and their attempts to cover their tracks by roping in a third couple to be their alibi, resulting in a chain of misunderstandings, conflicts, revelations, and laughter. The production runs through June 17 at Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Carrollton.

Friday, May 26

Texas Frightmare Weekend
The annual Texas Frightmare Weekend, the Southwest’s premier horror convention, celebrates all aspects of genre films. The event features a variety of celebrity appearances, including filmmaker John Carpenter; filmmakers Sam and Ted Raimi; Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, and Dane DiLiegro from Prey; actor/dancer Amie Donald from M3GAN; and more. There will also be autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties, and horror memorabilia vendors from all over the country. The event takes place through Sunday at Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas.

Dead & Company in concert
Dead & Company comes to Dallas part of their final tour since forming in 2015. The band - Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer, and Bob Weir, with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti – will perform two sets of music drawing from the Grateful Dead’s historic catalog of songs. The concert is at Dos Equis Pavilion.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Liszt & Ligeti"
The final concert in Dallas Symphony Orchestra's 2022/2023 classical series will be "Liszt & Ligeti," featuring conductor Jaime Martin and pianist George Li. The program will include Ligeti's Concert Românesc für Orchester, Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Bush in concert with Our Lady Peace
British rock band Bush is a rarity in the music industry, in that they've consistently been more popular in the United States than their native country. Their debut albums, 1994's Sixteen Stone, went to No. 4 on the Billboard 200, but only No. 42 in the UK, a trend that has remained the same throughout their career. They'll honor that special relationship with U.S. fans at this concert at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, which is in support of their 2022 album, The Art of Survival. They will be joined by Our Lady Peace.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents No Sex Please, We're British
A young bride who lives above a bank with her husband, who is the assistant manager, innocently sends a mail order off for some Scandinavian glassware. What comes is Scandinavian pornography. The matter is considerably complicated by the man's mother, his boss, a visiting bank inspector, a police superintendent, and a muddled friend who does everything wrong in his reluctant efforts to set everything right, all of which works up to a hilarious ending of closed or slamming doors. The production runs through June 11 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

Jess Garland presents Luminescence
Part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project series, Luminescence is a performance featuring Jess Garland on a laser-harp created by frequent collaborator Eric Trich. The performance shows the connection between light, sound, and visual arts. There will be three performances through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.

Saturday, May 27

Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair
Taking the place of the now-defunct Deep Ellum Arts Festival, the inaugural Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair seeks to highlight the wide variety of artists, performers, and entertainers in the Dallas area. Taking place through Monday, the event will be filled with curated exhibits, concerts, and food showcasing the talent and businesses inside of the community. The layout of the fair will run down Crowdus Street to bring more foot traffic to Deep Ellum businesses.

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

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

Weekend Event Planner

It's another big weekend in and around Dallas, with all sorts of significant events taking place. There will be four new theater productions, including a national Broadway tour, a genre movie celebration, a visit from the premier acrobatics troupe, three big festivals, two dance productions, an orchestra playing live to a classic movie, and the annual return of a great rock band.

Richard Thomas in the national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Broadway Dallas presents To Kill a Mockingbird, playing at the Music Hall at Fair Park through May 28.

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, May 18

Lyric Stage presents Tarzan
Adapted from the 1999 Walt Disney Animation Studios film of the same name, Tarzan follows the journey from "boy to man" of an infant who is raised by gorillas in the jungles of West Africa. As Tarzan develops feelings for a young woman who suddenly appears in his jungle, he discovers that his animal upbringing clashes with his human instincts, causing him to struggle with not only his love for Jane but how to protect his family. The musical, with music & lyrics by Phil Collins, will have five performances through Sunday at Majestic Theatre.

Echo Theatre presents I and You
Caroline doesn’t do school. And she hates poetry. Home-bound due to a life-threatening illness, Caroline has isolated herself in her room as she awaits an organ transplant, which seems fated to never arrive. But then classmate Anthony, a devoted Walt Whitman enthusiast, bursts into her life armed with an urgent homework assignment, waffle fries, and his own vivacious love of life. The production runs through June 3 at Bath House Cultural Center.

Dallas Noir Fest
The 2nd annual Dallas Noir Fest includes three days of films, books, and events, all tied together by a mutual love of great Noir stories. Taking place at Violet Crown Cinema in Dallas, the festival will include screenings of Hell or High Water,Dial M for Murder,Point Blank, Strangers on a Train, Cape Fear (1962), The Getaway (1972), and The Maltese Falcon.

Broadway Dallas presents To Kill a Mockingbird
Set in Alabama in 1934, Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, small-town lawyer Atticus Finch (played by Richard Thomas). The cast of characters includes Atticus’s daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker, Calpurnia, their visiting friend Dill, and a mysterious neighbor, the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. The touring production, adapted by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin, will run through May 28 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Cirque du Soleil presents Corteo
Corteo, which means "cortege" in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The Cirque du Soleil production runs through Sunday at Comerica Center in Frisco.

Friday, May 19

39th Annual Main Street Fest: A Craft Brew Experience
Main Street Fest: A Craft Brew Experience in Historic Downtown Grapevine is a fun event for all ages, with a carnival, artisans, shopping, A Taste of Texas, the Craft Brew Experience, and more. Live music will be featured along Main Street from headliners Vertical Horizon and Little Texas, as well as tribute bands like Blaze of Glory, Dunn & Brooks, and King George. The festival takes place through Sunday.

Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival
The annual Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival will be headlined by bands like X Ambassadors, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-a-Whirl Band. Taking place through Sunday at Galatyn Park in Richardson, the festival also features the Singer Songwriter contest, the family friendly WF! Kids, the WF! Eats, the WF! Marketplace and Performers Row featuring strolling entertainers, buskers and acrobats, a Battle of the Bands contest, the Budding Talent Competition, and the Art Guitar Auction.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Spring Celebration
Spring Celebration from Dallas Black Dance Theatre will feature the world premiere of T A B E R N A C L E by Chanel DaSilva, which takes the audience on a journey through layered emotions and concepts, paying homage to the many facets and complexities of Black Culture. In Furtherance, Kirven Douthit-Boyd created a work that portrays overcoming a personal struggle from anguish to bliss. DBDT veteran dancer McKinley Willis choreographs her first mainstage work for the company. SMILE is a ballet filled with whim and wonder, suspense, and unpredictability. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Wyly Theatre.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in Concert
Filled with unparalleled magic and imagination, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial follows the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy named Elliott. Audiences can experience all the mystery and fun of their unforgettable adventure in the beloved movie, complete with John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score performed live by a full symphony orchestra in sync to the film projected on a huge HD screen. There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Texas Ballet Theater presents Alice in Wonderland
Audience can go down the rabbit hole with Texas Ballet Theater this weekend, as the dance company presents their final production of the season, Alice in Wonderland, a family-friendly ballet that showcases charming characters and a fantastical journey narrated by Alice herself. There will be four performances through Sunday at Winspear Opera House before the production moves to Fort Worth next weekend.

The Core Theatre presents Portal to the Keep
Portal to the Keep is a mind-bending melodrama of epic proportions. When John and Lacey find an old watch in an antique store, they have no idea that it is about to send them on a life-changing adventure, one that will pit them against the ghastliest villain of the universe bent on controlling time itself. The production runs through June 11 at The Core Theatre in Richardson.

Saturday, May 20

Exodus Music and Arts Festival
Iconic gospel artist Kirk Franklin and Live Nation Urban will present the return of the Exodus Music & Arts Festival. The event, taking place on Saturday and Sunday at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, is the preeminent festival for gospel music and culture, spotlighting the genre’s superstars and elevating the vanguard of its next era. Franklin will host and headline the show, leading a lineup that includes Yolanda Adams, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tamela Mann, Natalie Grant, Naomi Raine, Taya, and more.

Dave Matthews Band in concert
If it's the third weekend in May, that means it's time for the annual visit from Dave Matthews Band. The group has consistently played the same venue, Dos Equis Pavilion, on virtually the same weekend in May every year since at least 2013. Though their days of delivering hits like "What Would You Say," "Crash Into Me," and "The Space Between" are behind them, they always score No. 1 albums, including (most likely) their new album, Walk Around The Moon, which is being released on May 19, just in time for this concert.

Photo courtesy of The Concert Truck

Dallas Symphony's Concert Truck hits the road for free outdoor shows in May and June

DSO on the go

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Concert Truck is on the road again, bringing mobile concerts to more than 30 locations around the city in May and June.

A favorite pandemic-time pivot from 2020, the Concert Truck is a 16-foot mobile box truck converted into a fully functioning concert hall on wheels - complete with lights, sound system, and piano. Musicians and soloists arrive, set up, and give performances from the truck's stage outdoors.

From May 17 to June 11, the Concert Truck will visit more than two dozen Dallas locations, from Klyde Warren Park and NorthPark Center to local hospitals and residential communities. Each concert will be free, family-friendly, and last no more than 60 minutes.

The complete Concert Truck schedule can be found here .

Concerts kick off 2:30 pm Wednesday, May 17 at The Landon at Lake Highlands, followed by a performance at 6:15 pm at Highland Park Library.

Pianists Susan Zhang and Nick Luby founded the Concert Truck in 2016 as a mobile concert stage that could take classical chamber music directly to communities, and they travel all over the United States. They first took up residence with the DSO during the 2020 holiday season and have returned to Dallas for four more residencies.

Dallas performances will feature Zhang and Luby, as well as DSO musicians in small configurations – from solo violin to brass combo. Audiences this spring can expect to hear works by Amy Beach, Johannes Brahms, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Florence Price, Robert and Clara Schumann, Maurice Ravel, and more, they say.

“We are thrilled to partner once again with The Concert Truck, continuing our ability to bring fantastic music out of the Meyerson and into Dallas communities,” says Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony, in a release. “Our time with The Concert Truck remains a programming highlight and I hope to see many faces – new and familiar – this summer at our performances.”

To keep up with the Concert Truck, visit dallassymphony.org

Photo by Larry Pollis

Plano Symphony Orchestra presents Patriotic Pops Concert

The Plano Symphony Orchestra will present their Patriotic Pops concert to celebrate Independence Day. The concert includes a tribute to all the branches of the armed forces and will feature guest artists Grammy-nominated vocalist, Charles Billingsley and Yamaha Artist pianist, Eduardo Rojas joining conductors Héctor Guzmán and Shira Samuels-Shragg.

Patriotic music will include traditional favorites "The Star-Spangled Banner," "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," the moving "Salute to the Armed Forces" and a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue."

Photo courtesy of Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents The Unicorn’s Birthday

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra commissioned Grammy®-nominated and multi-platinum award-winning composer Bob Singleton to create a new family-friendly concert. The Unicorn’s Birthday is a charming, fantasy-and-fun-filled symphony experience with terrific music, fun sounds, captivating on-stage activity, friendly graphics, and gentle audience interactivity. This new work is designed to be a welcoming concert for families as well as those with special needs.

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New location of buzzy healthy restaurant Flower Child blooms in Plano

Healthy Eating News

A popular restaurant concept from a hospitality mastermind is opening in Plano. Flower Child, the fast-casual healthy-centric restaurant that's part of Arizona-based Fox Restaurant Concepts, is opening a location at the Preston Park Colonnade Shopping Center. According to a release, it'll open in late 2023.

Flower Child’s menu offers customizable bowls, wraps, salads, different mix-and-match veggies, grains, fruits, and healthy proteins. It’s clean eating with convenience.

Known for its upbeat environment, Flower Child has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

The concept currently has four locations in Dallas and another in Fort Worth, making this the sixth location in North Texas. See, you add the 4 + 1 and get 5, and so this is #6.

Flower Child is known for its menu that caters to multiple dietary preferences including and especially vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

The menu will feature fan-favorite dishes such as:

Mother Earth Bowl with ancient grains, sweet potato, portobello mushroom, avocado, cucumber, broccoli pesto, charred onion, leafy greens, red pepper miso vinaigrette, and hemp seed;

Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese, which they describe as infamously creamy with aged white cheddar and parmesan

Chicken Enchiladas with guajillo chile, smoked gouda, poblano cream, organic black bean, roasted corn, and avocado

Flying Avocado Wrap with smoked turkey, gouda, romaine, tomato, and avocado hummus

Brussels Sprouts & Organic Kale Salad with red grape, organic apple, pink grapefruit, white cheddar, smoked almond, and apple cider vinaigrette.

Fox Restaurant Concepts was founded by Sam Fox, who opened his first restaurant in Tucson in 1998, and has since created dozens of brands, including Culinary Dropout, North Italia, Zinburger, Blanco Cocina + Cantina, Doughbird, and The Henry.

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This week in gluttony

Barbecue, tiki drinks, seafood, and white wine are all on the menu this week as restaurants embrace the summer season. There’s also opportunity to get the kids out of the house for a fancy afternoon tea, and a Saturday book signing event will come with barbecue from a famous pitmaster. Save room for new Tex-Mex dishes launching at a Snider Plaza restaurant for its first birthday celebration.

Tuesday, June 6

Sonoma Summer Wine Dinner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill
The Italian restaurant chain with locations in Dallas, Plano, and Hurst will welcome diners from all over DFW for a four-course summer wine dinner. Guests will get wines from well-known labels like La Crema, Mark West, Josh, and Kendall Jackson paired with crab and artichoke salad, linguine with crushed tomatoes and grilled chicken, Tuscan-grilled sirloin, and butter cake with berries. The dinner is $55 and begins at 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, June 7

The Douglas 1st Anniversary Party
The Snider Plaza bar and grill will celebrate its first birthday with a party, including the launch of Tex-Mex dishes. There’ll be live music by Ray Johnston, drink specials, and new menu items like smoked guacamole, queso, tacos al carbon with Wagyu skirt steak, and churros served with Mexican chocolate. The festivities kick off at 4 pm.

Thursday, June 8

Children’s Tea at the Dallas Arboretum
Bring the littles to an afternoon tea service geared just for them. The Arboretum’s Restaurant DeGolyer Tea Room will offer a multi-course, kid-friendly tea menu, including assorted sandwiches and sweet treats. The price is $42 for children 2-12, and $59 for adults. Reservations include parking and garden admission. The tea service will be offered on Thursday and Saturday at 2 pm.

Saturday, June 10

Aaron Franklin Barbecue and Book Signing at Loro Addison
The Asian smokehouse will host Loro co-founder and barbecue guru Aaron Franklin for a barbecue and book signing. Franklin will sell and sign copies of his latest book, Franklin Smoke, on the restaurant’s patio. He and his team will also prepare pulled pork and chopped brisket for purchase. The first 50 guests who buy a sandwich will get a free signed copy of the book. The event will run from 2-5 pm.

Dallas Tiki Week
A week of events offers a taste of the tropics without leaving North Texas. The annual celebration of tiki drinks and tropical vibes kicks off Saturday with a sip-and-shop at Savannah Hoffman Designs in Carrolton. Events through June 18 range from cocktail classes and tasting parties to a full-blown luau. Find the full schedule of events here.

Monday, June 12

Seafood & White Wine Dinner at Urban Crust
Kick off summer at this Plano dining destination with a light and lovely seafood dinner paired with four crisp white wines. Dinner is $59.90, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Controversial comedian Dave Chappelle plots out 4 Texas arena shows, including Dallas

Chappelle's Show(s)

Comedian/actor Dave Chappelle will soon bring his "Dave Chappelle Live" stand-up comedy show to arenas in four cities in Texas, including American Airlines Center in Dallas, on June 29.

Other dates include Toyota Center in Houston on July 1, AT&T Center in San Antonio on July 12, and Moody Center in Austin on July 14.

Chappelle is a complicated figure who's been celebrated for his trailblazing comedy and vilified for his controversial stances. Chappelle's Show, which ran from 2003 to 2006 on Comedy Central, was widely praised, and Chappelle remained extremely popular despite the abrupt end of the show and him choosing to recede from the spotlight in the following decade.

His re-emergence in the late 2010s brought success in the form of three straight Grammy wins for Best Comedy Album, but also continued jokes aimed at transgender people. He has been the subject of multiple protests over that material, and has even had a show canceled by a venue in Minneapolis after receiving criticism for hosting him.

As if to underscore the contentious nature of his comedy, no cellphones, cameras, or recording devices will be allowed at any of the four shows. All phones and smart watches will be secured in special pouches that can be unlocked at the end of the show. Anyone caught with a cellphone in the venue will be immediately ejected.

Tickets for the four shows will go on sale at 5 pm on June 5 at ticketmaster.com.

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