Texas Ballet Theater
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The theater is a special place. Anything is possible through the magic of fly systems, trap doors, optical illusions and a talented tech crew. With the swell of an orchestra, a dramatic curtain close and a moody spotlight, there’s really nothing like witnessing the fine arts in person.
Whether you fancy the ballet, the opera, Shakespeare, or Broadway hits, Dallas has something to offer, but for some reason, our fine city is overlooked as a performing arts hub. It’s a shame, being that we did give the world 10-time Tony winner Tommy Tune (say that five times fast), after all. We’re here to change our reputation, or at least to open the eyes of our readers who appreciate the finer arts in life.
While not exhaustive (except for the dance section, our editor-in-chief is clearly a big fan of the medium), our list below pinpoints all the must-sees.
Dance
Texas Ballet Theater, Diversions
Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St., Feb. 27 – March 1
Tasting menus allow diners to sample a range of chefs’ dishes, assess their creators’ skills, and enjoy a variety of flavors. The same principle applies to dance, or at least that’s the case with Diversions, a production by Texas Ballet Theater that demonstrates the troupe’s versatility. On the menu, Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D” (classical); Martha Graham’s “Diversion of Angels” (modern); Bolero (contemporary and spicy, we suspect); and “Company B” (an homage to the swing-time sounds of the Andrews Sisters). You can find tickets as low as $24.80
Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, Wood/Shop
Bruce Wood Dance Gallery, 101–103 Howell St., Feb. 28 and March 1
Members of Dallas’ premiere contemporary dance company will let their creativity and imaginations fly free, performing works they choreograph and direct themselves, set to a soundtrack of songs from Björk to Fleetwood Mac to Edith Piaf. General admission is $45, and seating is limited.
TITAS/Dance Unbound, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., March 10
As is probably obvious by now, our knowledge of dance is somewhat … limited. But even Terpsichorean ignoramuses like us know that Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is, to put it ungracefully, a BFD in the world of dance. They’re coming to Dallas for one night only, which should thrill anyone who knows more than the number of steps in a two-step. Tickets start at $18.50.
TITAS/Dance Unbound, BODYTRAFFIC
Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St., March 20 – 21
Fan-favorite company BODYTRAFFIC brings the spirit of Los Angeles back to Dallas for two energetic, inspiring performances. Tickets start at $43.
Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, Culture Shock
Sounders, 1211 E. Levee St., March 28
Billed as a “far-out fundraiser,” performances are set to tunes from the ‘50s-’70s — from swing, to rebellion, to groove. Dress in period attire and support local dance. This is a fundraiser, so tickets start at $500 and include cocktails, dinner, the performance, valet and dancing.
TITAS/Dance Unbound, Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., April 4
If your knowledge of ballet begins and ends with an annual holiday nap to the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, blow some dust off your imagination and expand your horizons with this performance by Complexions, a company critics say is defining the modern face and future of ballet. They add some Prince and other modern music into the mix alongside classical music, raising the question: Can they dance to Prince better than Prince did? Tickets start at $16.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Rising Excellence
Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St., April 17 – 18
Catch a showcase of young, hometown talent before they head for performances on the road. Tickets are $52.50.
TITAS/Dance Unbound, GALLIM / SAMA
Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St., May 29 – 30
What does it say about our tastes to know that the New York-based contemporary dance company GALLIM / SAMA includes dances on stilts in some of its choreography, and that we find it extremely cool? On stilts! Dancers performing en pointe have always seemed impressive, but GALLIM / SAMA raises the bar with the physicality of its choreography. Tickets start at $43.
TITAS/Dance Unbound, Compagnie Marie Chouinard
Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St., May 1- 2
French-Canadian dance company Compagnie Marie Chouinard returns to Dallas with Magnificat and Rite of Spring. TITAS describes Chouinard’s choreography as “very musical,” and an excerpt of Magnificat online makes clear what that means: the dancers’ movements seem to embody the music, giving living, moving form to sound. Tickets start at $43.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Ascension
Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., May 1
DBDT’s annual showcase features dance from its performing ensemble Allegro, along with its senior and junior ensembles, as it nears the end of its performing season. Tickets will be available closer to the show date.
Texas Ballet Theater, Swan Lake
Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., May 1 – 3
Fun fact: In some versions of Swan Lake, the White Swan doesn’t die at the end. Oh, don’t say spoiler. Everyone expects Odette to die. Besides, we don’t know how Ben Stevenson’s two-act production of Tchaikovsky’s iconic masterpiece plays it. Obviously, you can expect sorcery, love, passion and betrayal as the White Swan and Black Swan perform the ultimate dance-off for the love of Prince Siegfried. Tickets for the Dallas performances start at $30, with further performances May 15 – 17 at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Prismatic
Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St, May 15 – 16
DBDT’s season finale, wrapping up its Spring Celebration series, features two world premieres: Richard A. Feeman Jr.’s Polarity II and a special guest performance. Tickets start at $64.50.
Theater
Dallas Opera, The Three Little Pigs Family Opera
Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., Feb. 28
Despina, Cherubino and little Don Giovanni, the three little pigs in this interpretation of the classic fairytale, won’t be huffing and puffing, but they will be singing three of Mozart’s arias. This 30-minute mini-opera is a great entry point to the fine arts. If you’re intent on building the tastes of your kin, eventually working them up to Madame Butterfly, this is a good place to start. Tickets are but $5.
Broadway Dallas, The Great Gatsby
Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Ave., Feb. 17 – March 1
Watch Broadway Dallas bring high schoolers’ required summer reading to life through song and dance. The Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic brings back jazz and swing. Need an escape from the current ’20s? Live a few hours in the roaring ones. Tickets start at $37.
Broadway Dallas, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Ave., March 10 – 22
We’d be lying if we said we loved jukebox musicals. But we’d also be lying if we said we don’t love some good Neil Diamond. Don’t be a “Solitary Man” and join the rest of Dallas in singing the “Song Sung Blue.” Fair warning: “Sweet Caroline” closes the first act, so if you thought the sing-along version at every wedding you’ve ever been to was bad, get ready. We’re only kidding; it’s a song we love to hate. Tickets start at $37, which is likely the lowest you’ll ever pay to hear Diamond’s music live, even if it’s fake Neil Diamond.
Theatre Three, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Theatre Three 2688 Laclede St, #120, April 16 – May 20
Boy, does this city like an adaptation or what? The Agatha Christie novel by the same name hits the Theatre Three mainstage. This dark comedy is staged in a theatre-in-the-round, so eager watchers won’t miss a single second as a tiny town works to solve a murder. Tickets start at $40.
Broadway Dallas, Wicked
Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Ave., May 6 – June 14
“Madame Morrible,” MM, flip it around, contort it, add a few letters, what do you get? Wicked in Dallas. One of the longest-running musicals on Broadway, and the highest-grossing musical-to-film adaptation ever, will stop by Big D. Unfortunately, Ariana Grande didn’t audition for the national tour cast, but we’re sure it’s just as good as the movie. Tickets start at $56.
Dallas Theater, Clue: On Stage
Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., June 16 – 28
The ultimate whodunit. Who killed Mr. Boddy? Was it Mr. Mustard with a meat cleaver? Or Miss Scarlett with a sawed-off shotgun? Or perhaps it was the unassuming butler, Wadsworth? The great thing about the play adaptation of the 1985 blockbuster is that, just like the movie, the answer is all of the above. Tickets start at $12.
