Welcome to our weekly mega-list of performing arts happenings on TheaterJones! It covers a Thursday-to-Wednesday cycle and rounds up our picks for the best theater, classical music, opera, dance, comedy, spoken word/poetry and performing arts on film that are opening on North Texas stages and in movie theaters. Of all the local print and/or digital publications out there, it's the only weekly list of best bets that covers the range of performing arts—and only performing arts.
This week: There's a Curious Incident at ATTPAC, you can Laugh with Theatre Three's new head honcho, three classical concerts in Dallas and Fort Worth have Ravel in common, Dallas youth performers report on the police shootings and pay the Rent, Firehouse spells it out, plus magic, raunchy comedy, video game music, art song painting and more. Welcome to 2017!
This list doesn't have everything happening in this week's cycle, but we've hit the highlights. For more listings, click the red calendar button at the top right of the page, and then you'll see a search function where you can search for events by presenting company, venue, title, description, date range and more options. Keep looking at the calendar over the next few weeks as we'll be entering all the new seasons for the arts organizations, so it will grow again!
Note: Theater productions that have opened in a previous cycle and are in the middle of the run are not in the list below, but you can find them in the listings (see paragraph above). When a show is in its final weekend, we'll mention it in the "Last Chance" section of Places!
Get out and support the arts!
THE BIG 12
THU JAN 05 thru WED JAN 11
1 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
AT&T Performing Arts Center Broadway Series | Winspear Opera House, Dallas
It's rare to see a major national tour of a play in large houses, rather than musicals, so you know when it happens, it's a popular one. The only other touring plays at the Winspear have been Love Letters and August: Osage County. Now comes Simons Stephens' adaptation of Mark Haddon's novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which racked up the awards in London (2013 Olivier Award for Best Play) and then on Broadway, where it won the 2015 Tony for Best Play. It deals with a 15-year old boy with behavioral problems (interpreted by some as being on the autism spectrum, although Haddon never suggests that) and a thriller about a neighborhood dog that was killed. Christopher sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever. The production is designed by Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie and Tony Award-winning video designer Finn Ross, with lighting by Tony Award-winner Paule Constable, choreography by Scott Graham and Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett. It runs for two weeks in the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Broadway Series, and note that ATTPAC and TheaterJones will host an Industry Night on Jan. 17, for which there are discounted tickets and other perks. | Jan. 11-22
» Ticket info for Industry Night
2 Laugh
Theatre Three, Dallas
Jeffrey Schmidt, who has worked as an associate artist with Theatre Three for more than a decade, was already scheduled to direct the area premiere of this Beth Henley comedy when the season was announced last year. But now that he has officially been named the theater's new artistic director, there will be more eyes on him. Henley is the Southern Methodist University grad best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning play Crimes of the Heart, but she has a number of underrated comedies and dramas under her belt. Laugh focuses on two fish-out-of-water in 1920s Hollywood, the era of slapstick silent film and early talkies. It stars Debbie Crawford, Magdiel Carmona as well as Ashlee Elizabeth Bashore, Ashley Wood, Bradley Campbell and Steph Garrett playing more than 30 different roles—sometimes within the same scene. | Previews Jan. 5-8; opens Jan. 9 and runs through Jan. 29
3 The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Dallas Symphony Orchestra | Meyerson Symphony Center
Matthias Pintscher is the guest conductor, and the guest violinist is Karen Gomyo. The program is Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune), and Images: "Ibéria"; plus Pintscher's own Mar'eh; Ravel's Alborada del gracioso; and Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier). Keep an eye on the guest conductors this year, as some of them could be tryouts for the position of Music Director when Jaap van Zweden departs for his new post at New York Philharmonic. | 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 5-7; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
4 Shots Fired
Cry Havoc Theater Company | Margo Jones Theatre, Fair Park
Cry Havoc Theater, which gave us the incredible devised youth show Shut Up and Listen this time last year, returns with Shots Fired, created the company's interviews with police, protestors and others after the July 7 event in which five officers were ambushed and shot. The work, modeled after Moises Kaufman's The Laramie Project, premieres this week. | Jan. 6-14
» Read our interview with director Mara Richards Bim
5 The Rite of Spring
Voices of Change | Southern Methodist University, Owen Fine Arts Center, Caruth Auditorium
Voices of Change begins the year with a concert of Lutoslawski's Bucolics (viola, cello), Mark Buller's Rapido (extended), Ravel's Chansons, Andy Akiho's Stop Speaking (for snare drum) and a piano four hands arrangement of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. | 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
6 A Feast for the Ears
Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth | Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
The Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth presents the Borromeo Quartet, performing Haydn's String Quartet in F Major, Op 77, No. 2, Hob. III:82; Gershwin's Lullaby; Mozart's String Quartet in C Major, No. 19, K. 465 "Dissonance"; and Ravel's Quartet in F Major. | 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
7 Rent: School Edition
Junior Players | Dallas City Performance Hall
Junior Players presents Jonathan Larson's EveryAward-winning Rent, directed by Valerie Hauss-Smith with music direction by Mark Mullino. | 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 5-7; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
8 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Firehouse Theatre, Farmer's Branch
The Firehouse Theatre in Farmer's Branch opens its 2017 season with the popular, lovable hit from William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin, about a bunch of misfits at the title event. Expect harmless, and hilarious, audience participation. Directed by Ben Phillips. See promo video above. | Previews Jan. 5, opens Jan. 6 and runs through Jan. 22
9 Colin Kane
Arlington Improv
Kane specializes in raunchy sexual humor and insults, and people laugh because 1) he's funny and 2) he's insanely good looking and can get away with it. Right? Actually, it's comedy, and the lines are virtually non-existent. Catch him in six shows this weekend at the Arlington Improv. | 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5; 7 & 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6; 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8
10 The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses–Master Quest
Fort Worth Symphony | Bass Performance Hall
The global concert tour comes to town, presented by Fort Worth Symphony. Featuring music from nearly 30 years of The Legend of Zelda franchise, with a cinematic video presentation and music performed live by a chorus and the full orchestra. Includes new additions from "A Link Between Worlds," the most recently released Zelda game. | 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
11 Michael Carbonaro Live!
WMConcerts | AT&T Performing Arts Center, Winspear Opera House
The magician and actor, who has a magic show on truTV, The Carbonaro Effect, performs in Dallas. | 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
12 Canvas Cabaret
Voces Intimae | Euforia Theater at South Side on Lamar, Dallas
The art song organization presents a concert featuring mezzo-soprano Brooke Clark Gibson, baritone Brandon Gibson and pianist James C. Emery. Cuban/American artist Rolando Diaz will paint a 30" x 40" canvas inspired by the music, which will be auctioned that evening. | 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
MORE PERFORMANCES OPENING JAN 5-11
THURSDAY, JAN 5
Nathan Anderson and Bob Khosravi
The comedian is at Hyena's Comedy Night Club Plano. See video of Khosravi above. | Jan. 5-7
Tim Gaither
The comedian is at Hyena's Comedy Night Club Fort Worth. | Jan. 5-7
Erik Griffin
The comedian is at the Addison Improv. | Jan. 5-8
Slade Ham
The comedian is at Hyena's Comedy Night Club Dallas. | Jan.5-7
The Man with the Pointed Toes
A Texas comedy by Lynn and Helen Root at Plaza Theatre Company, Cleburne. | Jan. 5-28
FRIDAY, JAN 6
The Jungle Book
The Plano Metropolitan Ballet presents an original ballet based on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book at the Courtyard Theater, Plano. | Jan. 7-21
Nunsense
Artisan Center Theater in Hurst opens its season with the Dan Goggin favorite. | Jan. 6-28
SATURDAY, JAN 7
Addressing Issues of Race and Ethnicity Through the Arts
Before the AT&T Performing Arts Center's jazz concert with trumpeter Terence Blanchard and the E Collective at the Wyly Theatre (7:30 p.m. Jan. 7), ATTPAC presents this panel discussion about race in the arts. Panelists include Terence Blanchard, composer and trumpeter; Carlos Donjuan, visual artist and Senior Lecturer at University of Texas at Arlington; Janeil Engelstad, Founding Director, Make Art with Purpose; Curtis King, Founder & Director, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc.; and David Lozano, Executive Artistic Director, Cara Mía Theatre Co. The free lecture (RSVP requested) is 3-5 p.m. in the Skyline Terrace at the Winspear Opera House. | 3-5 p.m. panel discussion; 7:30 p.m. concert with Blachard, Saturday, Jan. 7
Nabucco
Metropolitan Opera presents the Verdi opera, screened in movie theaters, starring Plácido Domingo in the title role. | 11:55 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7; with an encore at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11
SUNDAY, JAN 8
Carousel
Catch a 60th anniversary screening of the film based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical masterpiece. Preceded by a Q&A between Shirley Jones and R&H President Ted Chapin. | 2 & 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8; and 2 & 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11
Cymbeline
Presented in the Shakespeare Dallas Complete Works reading series at AT&T Performing Arts Center, Winspear Opera House, Hamon Hall. | 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8; and 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9
WEDNESDAY, JAN 11
Grounded
Second Thought Theatre begins its 2017 season with George Brandt's one-woman play about a female fighter pilot who is grounded because of an unexpected pregnancy. Starring Jenny Ledel, directed by Alex Organ. It begins previews today, so look for more on it in next week's Places! In Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys Campus. | Previews Wednesday, Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, opens Jan. 13 and runs through Feb. 14
WEEKLY HAPPENINGS + OPEN MICS
Arlington Improv Open Mike
Free comedy open mike on Wednesdays at the Arlington Improv. | 7 p.m. Wednesdays
Backdoor Comedy Open Mike
The Backdoor Comedy Club at the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas has weekly open mike stand-up. | 8:30 p.m. Thursdays
» Our listing, with times, ticket info, map and more
Fort Worth Poetry Slams Open Mike
Host Michael Guinn leads this weekly open mike; participants earn points to see who makes it to Cowtown's award-winning national slam team. You can also just go to watch and listen. | 8 p.m. Tuesdays
» Our listing, with times, ticket info, map and more
Four Day Weekend
Fort Worth's popular, long-running improv company has four performances every weekend at the Four Day Weekend Theater, Fort Worth. | 7:30 and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
» Our listing, with times, ticket info, map and more
Glitterbomb Denton
A weekly queer variety show that offers the "very best drag, burlesque, queerlesque, sideshow, magic and musical talent Denton has to offer," at Mable Peabody's Beauty Parlor and Chainsaw Repair, Denton | 9:30 p.m. Thursdays
» Our listing, with times, ticket info, map and more
Mama's Party
Amy Stevenson hosts a musical theater open mike event at the Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie. | 7:30 p.m. on select Mondays
Liz Mikel's Entertainer's Showcase
Dallas Theater Center company member Liz Mikel leads a jazz, R&B and show tune open mike every Monday at the Balcony Club, above the Lakewood Theater in East Dallas. | 9:30 p.m. Mondays
Open Classical
Bring an instrument (including your voice) and participate in this weekly classical music open mic. Events are in various locations in North Texas:
- 8 p.m. every Tuesday at Buzzbrews Kitchen on Lemmon Avenue, Dallas
- 8 p.m. first and third Mondays at Turkish Cafe, Plano
- 8 p.m. second and fourth Mondays at Button's in Fort Worth
» Our listing, with times, ticket info, map and more
Open Mic Nite at Central
The Dallas Public Library Central Branch presents an open mic for musicians, poets and other performers. At the J. Erik Jonsson Library in downtown Dallas. | 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
LAST CHANCE
THESE PRODUCTIONS CLOSE THIS WEEKEND
CultureWax
A piece of devised theater/dance, presented by Frieda Dunkelberg at a secret venue in Dallas; you'll get an email with details three days before event, after you purchase a ticket. | Closes Saturday
LOOKING AHEAD
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS
THEATER + CIRCUS ARTS
- Second Thought Theatre presents Grounded at Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys Theater campus | Jan. 13-Feb. 4
- Daum Theatre Company presents Buyer and Cellar at the Uptown Theatre in Grand Prairie | Jan 12-21
- Theatre Arlington presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | Jan. 13-29
- Garland Civic Theatre presents Tantalus at the Granville Arts Center, Garland | Jan. 13-Feb. 4
- Rover Dramawerks in Plano presents Things My Mother Taught Me | Jan. 12-Feb. 4
- Tarrant Actors Regional Theatre presents The Foreigner at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Betty and Hardy Sanders Theatre | Jan. 13-29
- Denton Community Theatre presents Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Campus Theatre, Denton | Jan. 13-22
- The tour of Annie comes to Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth | Jan. 17-22
- Stage West in Fort Worth presents Stupid Fucking Bird | Jan. 19-Feb. 19
- WaterTower Theatre in Addison presents Silent Sky | Jan. 20-Feb. 12
- Dallas Children's Theater presents Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook! | Jan. 20-Feb. 26
- Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas presents Five Women Wearing the Same Dress at Irving Arts Center | Jan. 20-Feb. 4
- Shen Yun comes to Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth | Jan. 23-24
- Kristin Chenoweth performs at the Winspear Opera House | Jan. 25
- Dallas Theater Center presents The Christians at the Kalita Humphreys Theater | Jan. 26-Feb. 19
- Lyric Stage presents Mame! in Concert at the Irving Arts Center | Jan. 26-29
- Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth presents Thurgood | Jan. 27-Feb. 26
- Shen Yun comes to AT&T Performing Arts Center, Winspear Opera House, Dallas | Jan. 28-Feb. 5
- Ochre House Theater in Exposition Park presents Matthew Posey's Mr. Bobaganush | Jan. 28-Feb. 18
- Dallas Summer Musicals presents An American in Paris at Music Hall at Fair Park | Jan. 31-Feb. 12
- The tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch comes to AT&T Performing Arts Center, Winspear Opera House | Feb. 7-12
- Proper Hijinx Productions presents Big Enough at the Studio Theatre at the Addison Theatre Centre | Feb. 9-19
- Amphibian Stage Productions in Fort Worth presents Northside Hollow | Feb. 10-March 5
- Theatre Britain presents Will You Still Love Me in the Morning? at the Cox Building Playhouse, Plano | Feb. 10-March 5
- The Pretty Things Peepshow comes to the Kessler Theater, Oak Cliff | Feb. 11
- The tour of An American in Paris comes to Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth | Feb. 14-19
- Kitchen Dog Theater presents Paper Flowers at the Trinity River Arts Center | Feb. 17-March 11
- Cirque du Soleil's Kurios in the Grand Chapiteau at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie | Feb. 17-March 26
- Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Down for #TheCount, featuring new works by women playwrights | Feb. 17-26
- The Eisemann Center presents A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up with George | Feb. 24-25
DANCE + BURLESQUE
- TITAS presents Pilobolus at Dallas City Performance Hall, Dallas | Jan. 13-14
- The third Rhythm in Fusion Festival presents TapN2Tap at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Wyly Theatre | Jan. 14
- Red Bull Flying Bach, a tour of breakdancing to classical music, comes to the Majestic Theatre, Dallas | Jan. 14-16
- Danielle Georgiou Dance Group presents War Flower at the Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas | Jan. 19-28
- Ballet Frontier of Texas presents Youth Dance Festival at the Scott Theatre, Fort Worth | Jan. 21
- TITAS presents Bridgman/Packer Dance at Dallas City Performance Hall | Jan. 27-28
- Dancing with the Stars Live comes to Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie | Feb. 8
- Paul Taylor Dance Company comes to the Eisemann Center in Richardson | Feb. 11
- Texas Christian University presents its annual AIDS Outreach Center Benefit Concert at Erma Lowe Hall Studio, TCU | Feb. 11
- Avant Chamber Ballet presents Alice in Wonderland at Dallas City Performance Hall | Feb. 11-12
- The Black Academy of Arts & Letters presents the 13th Annual Weekend of Black Dance | Feb. 17-18
- Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Cultural Awareness Series at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Wyly Theatre | Feb. 17-19
- TITAS presents Doug Varone and Dancers at AT&T Performing Arts Center, Winspear Opera House | Feb. 18
- Texas Ballet Theater presents Rooster & Smith & Scher at Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth | March 3-5
- TITAS presents Diavolo at Dallas City Performance Hall | March 10-11
- TITAS presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Winspear Opera House | March 31-April 1
CLASSICAL MUSIC + OPERA
- The Dallas Symphony performs Beethoven's Eighth Symphony at the Meyerson Symphony Center | Jan. 12-14
- The Fort Worth Symphony presents Tchaikovsky's Pathetique at Bass Performance Hall | Jan. 13-15
- The Cliburn presents Conrad Tao at the Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge | Jan. 19
- Pianist Konstantine Vaianatos performs with Symphony Arlington, Garland Symphony and Las Colinas Symphony | Jan. 19-21
- The Blue Candlelight Music Series presents Bel Canto at a private home in Dallas | Jan. 20
- The Dallas Symphony presents Remix: From Prometheus to Prokofiev at Dallas City Performance Hall | Jan. 20-21
- The Dallas Opera presents an art song recital with tenor Michael Fabiano at Dallas City Performance Hall | Jan. 22
- Dallas Winds presents Band Geeks on Fleek at Meyerson Symphony Center | Jan. 24
- The Cliburn presents Nathan Gunn and Julie Gunn at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth | Jan. 26-27
- Dallas Bach Society presents tenor Drew Minter at a private residence | Jan. 27-28
- The Dallas Symphony Pops presents Jason Alexander at the Meyerson Symphony Center | Jan. 27-29
- The Dallas Opera presents Madame Butterfly at the Winspear Opera House | March 10-26
- The Dallas Opera presents The Turn of the Screw at the Winspear Opera House | March 17-25
- The Dallas Opera presents Norma at the Winspear Opera House | April 21
- The Fort Worth Opera Festival 2017 presents Carmen, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, Voir Dire and more at Bass Performance Hall and McDavid Studio, Fort Worth | April 22-May 7
COMEDY + SPOKEN WORD + FILM FESTIVALS
- Dennis Miller comes to Bass Hall, Fort Worth | Jan. 12
- Godrey comes to the Addison Improv | Jan. 12-15
- Iliza Schlesinger: Confirmed Kills comes to the Majestic Theatre | Jan. 21
- Miranda Sings...Live comes to Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie | Jan. 21
- Bill Maher comes to the Music Hall at Fair Park | Jan. 22
- Bobby Lee comes to the Addison Improv | Jan. 27-29
- Center Stage Comedy Tour featuring Sommore, Arnez J, Bruce Bruce, Felipe Esparza and Don DC Curry comes to Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie | Feb. 11
- Craig Ferguson comes to the Winspear Opera House | Feb. 16
- Snap Judgement Live! comes to the Majestic Theatre, Dallas | Feb. 24
- Women of the World Poetry Slam comes to the Majestic Theatre | March 18
- Brain Candy Live comes to the Majestic Theatre | March 26
- Lisa Lampanelli comes to the Majestic Theatre | March 31
- Steve Martin and Martin Short come to Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie | April 8
- Sebastian Maniscalco comes to the Majestic Theatre | April 13
- Paula Poundstone comes to the Majestic Theatre, Dallas | May 19
» For complete listings of what's happening on North Texas stages, click on the calendar icon at the top right of the page. Once there, you can click the red "Search the Calendar" box, and search for listings by dates, performance type, the presenting company, titles or descriptions. For instance, type "Shakespeare" into the description field, click SEARCH and you'll find a host of performances (theater, dance, music, etc.) by, adapted from or about the Bard. 
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