Sure, it started late, but this week has felt like a never-ending hangover from the three-day weekend. Maybe I'm just getting too old for Memorial Day Jell-o shots. It's been a slow slog to Friday, but it's finally arriving. You've barely touched your work this week, why start now? Let's plan your weekend instead. If you're looking for the concerts, head over to the music blog, DC9 at Night.
Thursday, May 29
John Waters: This Filthy World It's no question that John Waters sees the world differently than the average person and that his perspective has in turn altered the world as we know it. He's been shocking audiences for decades and we expect his one-man show at the Kessler Theatre (1230 W. Davis St) will be no different. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $45-60. If you're not ready to sit through it yourself, we'll have the full report tomorrow.
Quebe Sisters Band There's not much better than a good 'ol fashioned Texan hoedown, especially one from the likes of the Quebe Sisters Band, especially when it's free. Soak in the last cool breeze of the summer at 8 p.m. at Klyde Warren Park (2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy) tonight and listen to the fiddle-playing, three-part harmonies of this Denton trio. Visit klydewarrenpark.org for more info.
Relatively Speaking If you weren't an only child, then you surely understand the realities of relatives in family dynamics. As the middle child, I fell between the first child strictures and the spoils of being the baby, which means I was allowed to date, but not given a car to drive to meet the foolhardy boy. This, of course, means he was faced with the terrifying prospect of meeting my father. Those interactions were fodder worthy the wit of Woody Allen. In the trio of short plays, collectively titled Relatively Speaking, three of theater's greatest wits tackle aspects of the family tree. Allen, Ethan Coen, and Elaine May's work premiered together on Broadway in 2012 to rave reviews. See a local take on the plays at Pocket Sandwich Theatre (5400 Mockingbird Lane) at 8 p.m. Friday or another performance through June 21. Tickets are $18 and available by calling 214-821-1860. For more information visit pocketsandwich.com.
One by One Your Instagram feed is a work of art. You've spent hours perfecting it, getting the perfect angle for that shot of your breakfast or of the puppy you recently adopted. Everyone needs to see your adoption story. Hashtag puppy. Hashtag look how good I am. Hashtag down with puppy mills. The local Instagram organizers, @InstaDFW, believe in the artistic integrity of the smart phone app -- so much so, they've organized a free exhibit of favorite grammers from across the country. Check out One by One at One Arts Plaza (1722 Routh St.) through June 22. Visit instadfw.com/onebyone.
Matthew Mahon Talk You might have a lot of questions for photographer Matthew Mahon after you see his exhibit at The Public Trust (2919 Commerce St.), in which he pays prostitutes their service fee and instead asks them to pose for photographs. Luckily, he'll answer any questions you've got Thursday at the artist talk. Stop by the gallery at 7 p.m. and satisfy your curiosity.
Staged Reading of Rooting Get a taste of Kira Rockwell's writing in the staged reading of her play Rooting, which chronicles a family as they travel across America in an RV. See it at 8 p.m. Thursday at Margo Jones Theater (1121 First Ave). The event is pay-what-you-can at the door, and is BYOB. There will be a talk back after the reading moderated by producer Clay Wheeler.
Friday, May 30
Art and Science A telltale sign of a hypochondriac is their need to one-up stories of sickness. You had pneumonia? They've had it twice in the past six months. You've had knee surgery? They're quite certain they're walking around on a broken femur. The flip side of this psychological dilemma is the skeptic who refuses to visit doctors. Take Robert, the main character in Art and Science, for example. Even after he has suffered a paralyzing stroke, his status as a Christian Scientist would be in jeopardy should he rush to the emergency room. When a former student arrives for a visit, he grows concerned with the state of Robert's health and tries to coax him to the hospital. What unravels is a play about the conflicts of art, science and the crippling realities of old age. See the play in Frank's Place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater (3636 Turtle Creek Blvd.) at 8 p.m. Friday or in another performance through June 15. Tickets are $18 and available at uptownplayers.org.
Rob Schneider Movies, television and stand-up comedy. Rob Schneider does it all. He's been on SNL, starred in the Deuce Bigalow movies and now he brings his stand-up to Dallas. Well, Addison. See him at the Addison Improv, 4980 Belt Line Road, this Friday through Sunday. Tickets are $35-$45, and Friday's shows are at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Visit improv.com for more information.
Swan Lake Our dance writer, Danielle Georgiou, recently explored the love-hate relationship dancers have with the eternal swan. See the ballet in which Prince Siegfried is duped into falling in love with the wrong Odette when Texas Ballet Theatre mounts Swan Lake at 8 p.m. Friday at the Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. Friday's performance begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15-$175. There also will be matinee and evening performances Saturday and Sunday. More information and tickets are available at texasballettheater.org.
Saturday, May 31
Mark Grotjahn Sculpture LA- based artist Mark Grotjahn has earned a following across the world for his focus on textures, colors and forms. In his Face and Butterfly painting series, he uses color to sear the canvas to what some have described as a hallucinogenic effect. Opening at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora St.) presents the first museum exhibition solely emphasizing his 3-dimensional work. He uses minimalism to create a meeting place of modernism and tribalism that appears at times rudimentary. Many of his pieces explore essential minimalism, by painting a simple box, in the vein of Pablo Picasso or Alberto Giacometti's painted objects. See the work through August 17. It's open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Entrance is $10. For more information visit nashersculpturecenter.org.
Seven Deadly Sins Burlesque Can you name the seven deadly sins? Furthermore, are they really that deadly? Sure, gluttony will kill you, but so will starving yourself. Besides, aren't we all on a slow path to death anyway? On our way to hell, why not stop by the Wits End (2724 Elm St.) for the Deadly Sins Burlesque and Sideshow. With a bearded lady, beds of nails and Satan as the emcee, it sounds like a hellish flashback to the days of freaky carnivals, which will certainly prepare you for your time in the fiery pit. Doors open at 8 p.m. Entrance is $8 at the door.
The Good Karma Circus Music and Arts Festival We could all use a bit of good karma. Luckily, this weekend has some in store for you at the Good Karma Circus, Music and Art Festival at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Where House, 2510 Hemphill St. in Fort Worth. There will be fire breathers, belly dancers, hoopers, parkour artists and more. Exactly how will it effect your karma? All proceeds go to benefit The Nourish Collective, dedicated to the education and empowerment of women in developing nations. Visit nourishcollective.org for more information.
lololololololololol The first time the cute boy from science class typed "lol" into our AIM chat, my heart fluttered. Of course, later my older, wiser sister had to explain to me that these three letters were internet speak for "laugh out loud," not "lots of love" as I'd hoped. This easy misinterpretation is just one of the effects of the digital age, in which computers, cell phones and other technologies have totally changed our lives. In Spencer Brown-Pearn's master of fine arts thesis, he explores the intersection of art and technology with an exhibit lololololololololol. His argument centers on where the expressive "hand" meets the coded, digital world. See the exhibit -- it's paintings, drawing and sculptures -- during the opening reception at 7 p.m. Saturday at CentralTrak (800 Exposition Ave). For more information visit centraltrak.com.
Surf's Up So technically there's not an ocean within a hundred miles, but you can catch the art waves to RE Gallery and see a group show featuring the artists that the gallery represents, as well as a few invited artists. Opening reception for this summer exhibition takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday. More information at regallerystudio.com. Viral Fantasy Two Bronze Doors blends art and music in its Viral Fantasy series, which has its penultimate show at 8 p.m. Saturday. Rather than carry on about how cool this video art show is, check out the above video. The video premieres happen at 10:30 p.m. and there will be a set from local band Vulgar Fashion at 11 p.m. You can find Two Bronze Doors at 5732 Richmond Ave. BYOB.
Sunday, June 1
Halt and Catch Fire screening party We've been talking about AMC's new show Halt and Catch Fire for months. If we sound a bit excited, it's because we are. In fact, we've been nerding out so hard, we convinced our cool friends over at Sundown at the Granada to invite us over to watch it on the big screen. They didn't want to be seen hanging out with just us (it was something about our pocket protectors), so they decided to invite you guys too. Catch the free screenings on the rooftop of Sundown at the Granada, at 9 p.m. Sundays, beginning June 1.
Always.... Patsy Cline You know the feeling when "Crazy" comes on the radio and you realize it's the frikking Lee Ann Rimes version? Yeah, we hate it too. Because nobody does it better than Patsy herself. While it won't be the lady herself onstage in the Casa Mañana show, Always... Patsy Cline (because, duh), it's as close as we're going to get to seeing her today. See it at 2 p.m. Sunday or at a different performance through June 8. Visit casamanana.org.
Cities and Cultural Investment: A Snapshot Have you ever wondered what museum directors talk about when they get together? I've always wondered if it was small ego battle where they get together and one-up one another with recently acquired works. Who wins, I wonder, when the director of the Louvre pulls out the Mona Lisa and the director of the MoMA pulls out Starry Night. This weekend, while the rest of us are lying by the pool, the Association of Art Museum Directors meets across the city, talking about whatever it is they talk about. The one chance we get to spy on these meetings is at 5:30 p.m. Sunday when the Dallas Museum of Art presents Cities and Cultural Investment: A Snapshot. This panel conversation is free, but tickets are required. Reserve them through dma.ticketleap.com.
