Texas Ballet Theater's new season has bite with Dracula, Beauty and the Beast, and more

Season announcement

Photo by Steven Visneau

Texas Ballet Theater's 2023-2024 season will include four separate productions, including a couple of returning favorites. Performances will take place across three venues across Dallas and Fort Worth.

The season will kick off in September with Dracula, which was a hit when it was last performed by the company in 2015. The production will run at Winspear Opera House in Dallas, September 15-17, before moving to Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, October 6-8.

Choreographed by TBT artistic director laureate Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., in 1997, the first production of Dracula featured TBT’s acting artistic director, Tim O’Keefe, in the title role.

“Having the opportunity to present Dracula is a full circle moment for TBT,” O’Keefe said in a statement. “Many of our artistic and production staff worked on the world premiere 25 years ago, myself included. I’m looking forward to working on this ballet with Ben [Stevenson] again and sharing it with our audiences, who have been eager to see it again.”

Next up will be TBT's annual holiday production of Stevenson’s The Nutcracker. The company will perform the family-friendly ballet November 24-December 3 at Winspear Opera House and December 8-24 at Bass Performance Hall. Unlike the previous 12 seasons, there will be no presentation of The Nutty Nutcracker this year.

A mixed repertoire production called "Brilliants" will be the first production of 2024, featuring four short ballets in one program. Featured ballets include Rubies, choreographed by George Balanchine; Grand Pas Classique, choreographed by Victor Gsovsky; Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev, and Without Borders, choreographed by Val Caniparoli.

"Brilliants" will run February 23-25, 2024, at Bass Performance Hall and March 1-3, 2024, at Wyly Theatre in Dallas.

The season will come to a close with Beauty and the Beast, last staged by TBT in 2017. Choreographed by Lew Christensen, the production will run May 3-5, 2024, at Winspear Opera House and May 17-19, 2024, at Bass Performance Hall.

Season packages, which start at $48, are now on sale. Those interested can purchase a package at texasballettheater.org/season-packages or by contacting the Box Office at 877-828-9200 option 1.

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Largest pickleball tournament is coming to Rockwall with coverage on TV

Pickleball News

A pickleball tournament is coming to town that will draw some of the biggest names in the field, as well as coverage on TV.

It's the Selkirk Texas Open, a professional and amateur pickleball tournament hosted by the Carvana PPA Tour that'll feature more than 1,500 registered athletes and welcome thousands of spectators and fans.

The tournament takes place at the Oasis Pickleball Club in Rockwall, at 5757 State Hwy 205, on June 1-4 from 10 am-6 pm. The 2023 event marks the fourth year PPA Tour returns to Rockwall.

The Selkirk Texas Open is positioned not only as the largest PPA Tour event in the history of pickleball, but also the largest pickleball tournament ever held in Texas. Much large.

This event is the first time that the PPA Tour has partnered with USA Pickleball, pickleball’s governing body, on a Golden Ticket Event.

Golden Tickets provide entry to the USA Pickleball National Championships, the crown jewel of pickleball competition, which will take place in Texas November 4-12, 2023 and host nearly 5,000 registered players.

Texas is practically Pickleball Central; it's home to more professional players than any other state, including Ben Johns, Riley Newman, Collin Johns, Lea Jansen, Vivienne David, Julian Arnold, Lauren Stratman, Dekel Bar, DJ Young, Zane Navratil, Lina Padegimaite, and Thomas Wilson.

Some of those players including world’s top male and female pros, including Ben Johns (Men’s No. 1), and Anna Leigh Waters (Women’s No. 1), Riley Newman (Men’s No. 2), and Anna Bright (Women’s No. 2), will be competing in this event.

They'll face off against pros from Russia, Slovakia, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, and Canada. This pickleball thing has gone international.

They'll be competing for a total of $238,314 in prize money.

Aside from the massive influx of pickleball players and the sheer pickleball momentum, the tournament will also be covered on ESPN and CBS Sports. Major big deal. Also an opportunity to get yourself on TV even if it would only be a tiny speck in the audience sea.

Breathtaking Hill Country hideaway is Vrbo's only Texas Vacation Home of the Year

RIVERFRONT OASIS

A magnificently hidden home in Dripping Springs has been chosen as one of Vrbo's "Vacation Homes of the Year" for 2023. It was the only Texas home chosen out hundreds of thousands of private residences on the vacation rental site.

The Vacation Homes of the Year showcases several popular homes throughout the country (with the occasional international spot) that range from "idyllic lakeside escapes to cozy mountain retreats and desert paradises." In all, two homes are based in California, and one each in Arizona, North Carolina, Oregon, New York, Florida, South Carolina, Idaho, Colorado, and Mexico.

Texas' Hill Country Riverfront Hideaway is tucked away on five acres of land bordering the Pedernales River. The home spans 2,150 square feet with an open-concept living area, three spacious bedrooms, two lavish bathrooms, a modern chef's kitchen, fireplace, and a breathtaking wrap-around terrace.

Floor-to-ceiling windows complete the space, allowing guests to take in the tranquility of the Hill Country. With the home's 430 feet of river access, visitors can enjoy escaping the city and relax into the views of the vast canyon below.

Dripping Springs Riverfront Hideaway It's about an hour-long drive to Fredericksburg.Photo courtesy of Vrbo

The property is within a half hour drive to many of the finest wineries, breweries, and must-see outdoor recreation spots in Dripping Springs. Fredericksburg is an hour's drive west for those wanting to head deeper into the Hill Country, and downtown Austin is an hour's drive to the east.

The average nightly cost for the riverfront oasis is $475.

Photo courtesy of Vrbo

The Hill Country Riverfront Hideaway was the only Texas home chosen on Vrbo's list.

Expedia Brands president Jon Gieselman shared in a press release that there were plenty of eye-catching homes to wade through for the report.

"This year’s Vacation Homes of the Year range from an urban oasis and a cozy ranch home under $400 a night to a beachfront estate that can sleep the whole family and more," said Gieselman. "Every single Vacation Home of the Year has a beautiful view, and combined boast seven private pools and fire pits, eight hot tubs and even five putting greens."

The full list of Vrbo's 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year are:

No. 1 – The Oasis Estate in Palm Springs, California
No. 2 – The Happy Roadrunner in Phoenix, Arizona
No. 3 – The Chasestone in Lake Norman, North Carolina
No. 4 – The Contemporary Gem in Manzanita, Oregon
No. 5 – Ocean View Oasis in Montauk, New York
No. 6 – The Riverfront Hideaway in Dripping Springs, Texas
No. 7 – 30A My Way in Rosemary Beach, Florida
No. 8 – Port of Call in Isle of Palms, South Carolina
No. 9 – Salmonfly Lodge in Victor, Idaho
No. 10 – Trestle House in Winter Park, Colorado
No. 11 – Villa Luna Nueva in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This week in gluttony

On the tails of the holiday weekend, several events return by this week’s end. A gourmet Italian grocer will celebrate an Italian holiday; one of the longest running food festivals in town kicks off on Friday; and a wine tasting event themed after a hit movie takes place on Saturday. Get outdoors and pair a craft pint with a leisurely paddleboard tour. Or sip margaritas poolside after a refreshing yoga class at a top Dallas hotel.

Friday, June 2

Sunset Paddle & A Pint
DFW Surf Frisco kicks off its Friday night guided standup paddle tour of Hidden Cove Park and Marina with an extra incentive: beer. At the halfway point of the two-mile trek, participants stop for a sunset beer toast provided by 3 Nations Brewing. Board lamps, head lamps, and glow sticks provide light for the evening paddle back to shore. Tickets are $60 and the tour will run from 7:30- 9 pm.

All You Can Eataly
The Italian marketplace at NorthPark will close to the public and open to ticketholders for a Festa della Repubblica party featuring more than two dozen food stations, 50-plus Italian wines, 25-plus beers, and multiple cocktails bars featuring Italian libations. There’ll also be chef demos, DJ sets, photo booths, and live music with a dance band. Tickets start at $125, or pay $195 for VIP and get early entry, premium tastings, and a dedicated lounge. The party will run from 7-10 pm, with VIP early entry at 6 pm.

Taste Addison
The popular family-friendly festival kicks off Friday night at Addison Circle Park for two days of local restaurant dishes, wine and spirit tastings, music acts, and more. Participating restaurants include Asian Mint, Taqueria La Ventana, Thai Orchid, Ron’s Place, Lupe Tortilla, and at least two dozen others. General admission is $15, or $5 for kids 6-12. Or go VIP and pay $60 for two beverage tokens, two Taste Bite vouchers, and access to the main stage viewing deck and private VIP lounge. Taste Addison runs from 6 pm -midnight on Friday and 2 pm-midnight on Saturday.

Saturday, June 3

Catalina Canned Wine Mixer at Truck Yard Dallas
The Truck Yard hosts a “bro-down” party themed after the 2008 hit movie Step Brothers. Wear your best tuxedo t-shirt and enjoy a wine tasting, photo ops, food trucks, and a Step Brothers cover band. Admission is free, but a $15 wine tasting from 7-9 pm offers six wine samples and a souvenir glass filled with frose. Costume contests will be held at 5 pm and 10 pm.

Sunday, June 4

Yogarita at The Stoneleigh
Move over, beer yoga. The Stoneleigh is leveling up boozy yoga classes with the launch of Yogarita, a Sunday morning yoga session paired with a margarita. The one-hour class includes a Casamigos margaritas and a fish taco from the hotel’s Perle on Maple restaurant. Bonus: participants also get a lounge chair for the day at The Stoneleigh pool. Tickets are $40 and yoga mats are provided. Class begins at 10:30 am.

Wine and Cheese Pairing Class at Dallas Arboretum
This seated class will take participants through the art of pairing wine with artisanal cheeses and will be led by a cheese expert from the Mozzarella Company and wine expert from Two Wine Guys. The class is $89 (or $79 for Arboretum members) and will run from 1-3 pm.

Monday, June 5

Lakewood Brewery Dinner at Urban Crust
The Plano wood-fired pizza kitchen hosts a four-course beer pairing featuring local Lakewood Brewery. The dinner will come with four different Lakewood brews. The event is $49.99, plus tax and gratuity, and will begin at 6:30 pm.

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