5 Things to Do this Week, for Everyone from Music Nerds to Theater Junkies

Narrowing down your cultural calendar this week is going to be a little daunting. To say that there’s a lot going on is something of an understatement: Spring always brings with it an embarrassment of artistic riches in these parts, thanks to tolerable weather and savvy planning. Theater directors, festival organizers, curators and culture hounds in general will reel you in this week with rich dialogue, big drama and engrossing stories. Here’s a sampling of the best offerings for the next five days. There's something for you, no matter your interests.

For the Art Enthusiast:
Creative Conversation with Dr. Richard Brettell
6 p.m. Monday, April 11
Dallas City Performance Hall
2520 Flora St.
Free

The dialogue about Dallas’ potential as a major arts scene is getting incrementally more pronounced — and it will continue to with this program, which explores the future of professional arts in our city. Brettell, an art historian, educator, critic and curator with deep ties to Dallas’ art community, will discuss where Dallas stands as an incubator for creativity during the presentation, plus highlight local opportunities for arts development and discuss the city’s position in the national and international scene.

For the Music Nerd:
Bill Scozari
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12
The Wild Detectives
314 W. 8th St. 
Free

We’ve come to expect the very best in literary offerings from The Wild Detectives during its two-year tenure in Oak Cliff — but its chops as a small concert venue are as legit as its more bookish pleasures. New York singer/songwriter Bill Scorzari takes advantage of the intimate setting and above-par acoustics as he presents a selection of folk and country-tinged tunes that are right at home among all the poetry and prose on the shelves.

For the True Story Addict:
Oral Fixation “Pulling Teeth”
8 p.m. Wednesday, April 13
Dallas City Performance Hall
2520 Flora St.
$25

Local storytelling franchise Oral Fixation has a lock on curating themes that are at once outlandish and completely relatable. Their true-life tales have explored a wide range of subject matter and it’s always surprising to see where people will take these themes, and how they can fit their stories into the context laid out by founder Nicole Stewart. Oral Fixation’s latest production is a promising semantic ploy that allows plenty of room for toothy tales — there are dentistry-centric sagas, as well as stories of stubbornness, resilience and dedication from an ensemble of ordinary people. Purchase tickets at oralfixationshow.com

For the Film Buff:
Dallas International Film Festival Opening Screening and Gala
7 p.m. Thursday, April 14
Dallas City Performance Hall
2520 Flora St.
$35-$95

The Dallas International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for 11 days worth of fresh flicks and movie star sightings around town. Now a decade in, the festival celebrates its continued growth and contributions to the Texas film scene with a jam-packed itinerary, featuring 113 films (including nine world premieres) representing 31 countries. This year’s festival kicks off with a screening of The Land, a modern and disturbing coming-of-age story/crime drama from newcomer Steven Caple. Tickets are available for the screening alone, or you can invest extra cash for the flashbulbs-and-red-carpet opening gala as well. Visit diff2016.dallasfilm.org.

For the Theater Junkie:
Topdog/Underdog
8 p.m. Friday, April 15
South Dallas Cultural Center
3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave.
$20-$65

Soul Rep Theatre Company stages Suzan-Lori Parks’ ironic and slow-burning exploration of fate, race and intrafamilial tension through April 17. The play is violent, messy and disheartening in its exploration of power and oppression — and director Ed Smith takes a stark approach to the story of brothers Lincoln (Djore Nance) and Booth (Brentom Jackson). This one will stick with you for a while. Buy tickets online here.