Dallas theater bolts out of the winter doldrums this week with WaterTower Theatre's second Out-of-the-Loop Festival, a celebration of acting, dance, music and art filling three venues at the Addison Theatre Centre. More than 20 new works will be featured, including the area premiere of The Guys, Anne Nelson's controversial drama about a grieving New York City firefighter who must write a eulogy for friends lost on 9/11. WaterTower's artistic director, Terry Martin, plays the lead.
Also in the festival are performances by Echo Theatre, Triqueta Creative Group, Ground Zero Theatre Company, Cara Mia Theatre and Punch Drunk Comedy. Jennifer Freeman and Julie Stirman join voices for their cabaret show Unattached (they played conjoined twins in Theatre Three's fine Side Show). Actor Robert Prentiss makes his directing debut with Thumper, a new play by Robert Bosquez. The Most Massive Woman Wins by Madeline George finds four women arguing beauty in a liposuction clinic. Fred Curchack argues with himself in his merry monologue Dionysos Does Dallas: A Geek Tragedy. The festival runs through Sunday with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Addison Theatre Centre, 15650 Addison Road. Shows are $5 to $15. Call 972-450-6232.--Elaine Liner
3/15
Arias of Amity
You've just demonstrated in the latest anti-war protest and let's face it: You're one exhausted peacenik. The Women's Chorus of Dallas has just what you need. Its A Dream of Peace concert features inspirational and empowering songs from countries that reflect their desire for global peace. It's certain that President Bush will not be in attendance. You, however, can hear the renowned women's chorus at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Caruth Auditorium, 6101 Bishop Blvd., on the campus of Southern Methodist University. Tickets are $15 to $30. Call the chorus at 214-219-1818.--Mark Donald
3/15
Tuning In
Here's a paradox concerning America's cultural conservatory, Juilliard. This was the school to agitate the dance world by mandating full-throttle classical ballet training for its modern dance students, establishing Juilliard as a forward-thinking archetype among followers and scholars of dance. Look for the same sort of convention-challenging from Contemporary Ballet Dallas on Saturday at Southern Methodist University's McFarlin Auditorium. CBD twists up some fairy tales with its presentation of five young choreographers' variations in An Evening With Hans Christian Andersen. The works include the world premiere of Princess and the Pea by Holly Williams set to Dave Brubeck's jazzy score; The Snow Queen as adapted by CBD artistic director Kelley Calhoon to music by Depeche Mode; The Nightingale accompanied by Kodo Drummers and created by CBD resident choreographer Cynthia Anne Krempetz; The Shadow, ironically interpreted by Caroline Calouche; and The Emperor's New Clothes by CBD assistant artistic director Valerie Shelton Tabor. Contemporary Ballet Dallas presents An Evening With Hans Christian Andersen at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $13 to $25. Call TITAS at 214-528-5576 or CBD at 214-683-7593.--Annabelle Massey Helber
3/14
War on War
On its face, the premise of Aristophanes' 2,500-year-old anti-war comedy Lysistrata--an entire town's female population withholds sex until their warrior husbands stop fighting--is practical and funny even today. Were our nation's women to threaten men with a lifetime coital ban, it would seem that our nation would be less likely to march headlong into war. But, as you enjoy the bawdy raucous fun of the play's musical treatment at Jubilee Theatre, Lysistrata, Please!, consider the ancient idea's fatal flaw: Republicans only care about screwing the poor. Lysistrata, Please! runs through April 13. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with matinees at 3:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Two Thursday performances (March 20 and April 3) are at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $16 to $25. Call 817-338-4411.--Eric Celeste
