5 Best Things to Do in Dallas this Week

Can you oversaturate yourself with culture? Overdose on the arts? Get lit on literature? Because if that’s a thing, we are in serious danger this week. The next several days present an amazing array of cultural experiences — highlighting gender issues in the arts, bringing New Orleans flavor to South Dallas, kicking a Shakespeare classic in the pants, and giving regional poetry some space to breathe. It’s gonna be hard to narrow things down — but don’t feel bad about overindulging. The hangover is painless — and eye opening.

Shakespeare in the Bar: As You Like It
7 p.m. Monday
The Wild Detectives
$7

All the bar’s a stage as Shakespeare in the Bar serves up a delightfully zany, vaguely boozy and slightly under-rehearsed version of As You Like It at 7 p.m. Monday. The Wild Detectives, 314 W. 8th St., plays host to The Bard’s beloved musical comedy, known for its witty dialogue, complex family drama and gender-bending princess. The freewheeling, liquored-up production adds an extra element of humor; tickets are $7 at eventbrite.com. For procrastinators, 50 walk-up tickets will be released the day of the show. Find more information on Facebook


Women in Theatre Panel Discussion
7 p.m. Tuesday
WaterTower Theatre
$10

March is Women’s History Month, and while we hope these conversations aren’t limited to one month, it’s nice to see panels like the second annual Women in Theatre Panel at WaterTower Theatre (15650 Addison Road), which will feature a conversation among some of the city’s most talented actors. Actresses Pam Dougherty, Jenny Ledel, Denise Lee, Sarah Elizabeth Smith and Wendy Welch will discuss opportunities for women in the marketplace, and share insights into the profession and stories of their experiences navigating the world of theater. The discussion starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $10. More at watertowertheatre.org.

Wordspace: Pegasus Reading Series
7 p.m. Wednesday
Kettle Art
Free

This monthly poetry event is a who’s who of regional writers — this time featuring Austin’s Ji Yoon Lee, Fort Worth’s Gayle Reaves-King and Dallas’ own L.E. Goldstein. Musician Kim Nall will pitch in with her brand of Americana as part of a lyrical night that won’t bust school-night routines at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kettle Art, 2650 Main St. Admission is free.

Fractal Logic 3
7 p.m. Thursday
Kettle Art
Free

This is the third installment of George Fowler’s beautifully curated series that requires artists to construct cohesive murals out of small, discrete works. The result? A collection of over a thousand diverse components that can be separated, purchased and taken home by patrons — but will always evoke feelings of belonging to something much bigger. Get there early for the best selection from artists Ray Albarez, Brad Albright, Todd Bot, Chetley Cade, Tom Currie, IZK, George Fowler, Allison Gillies, Jenny Heissenhuber, Steven Hamilton, Robert Irby, Nick Glenn, Paxton Maroney, George Mendez, Christian Millet, Dusty Moore, Erin & Steve Reeves, Clint Scism, Francois Shogreen, George Wallace III and Minji Watrous.

Takin It to the Roots: New Orleans Dance Set 
8 p.m Friday
South Dallas Cultural Center
$10-$20

An energetic, forceful performance from dancer Michelle Gibson calls forth New Orleans in all its complicated glory, and this Friday you can see a piece co-commissioned by the South Dallas Cultural Center and New Orleans’ Ashe Cultural Arts Center. Takin’ It to the Roots will also feature original music from Brent Nance and Jason Davis, videography from Bart Weiss, a script from Jonathan Norton, and musical performances from Kicking Brass Band, Nance, Lin Barnett and Alejandro Perez. The collaborative event is a visual and auditory experience you won’t want to miss — and it gets a seal of approval from the National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network Creation Fund, National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts. It all kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday at the South Dallas Cultural Center (3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave.). Tickets are $10-$20. For more info, visit dallasculture.org/sdculturalcenter.