The weekend. It's always just around the corner. As life pushes ever onward, and the good things come and they go, it's nice to know that the weekend always arrives on time. Unless you have a job that requires you to work on the weekend. In that case, we're really sorry. But why are you reading this? You knew what you were clicking on. Here you'll find a smattering of fun things happening this weekend, from plays to comedy to film screenings to magic. Now get planning. The weekend starts now! Well, for some of us.
Thursday, April 23 Pandora's Box Cyrus Cassels April is National Poetry Month, a celebration of the literary art form that -- for many of us -- filled our notebooks in high school, but has largely been absent from our everyday lives since. It's not that we don't like poetry, it's that we're mostly pretty terrible at it and after a few years of trying to shove clunky metaphors into iambic pentameter, we thought it best to let that caged bird sing some other way. Like on a bathroom wall at the Landing. But there are those among us who have a pretty good handle on verses, allegories and anapests -- and this month is for them. Pandora's Box Poetry Showcase and The Wild Detectives join forces to recognize and celebrate the cultural importance of American poetry with a reading from award-winning poet Cyrus Cassells at 7:30 p.m.Thursday. Cassells manipulates words and turns phrases like nobody's business, making him a potent example of the power of verse. Catch his performance at The Wild Detectives, 314 West 8th St., and visit pandorasboxpoetry.com for more information. - Jennifer Davis-Lamm
Carly Waddell Tells All She stole our hearts when she first stepped out of the limo holding a karaoke machine and singing to the Bachelor. Then she went and stomped all over our hearts when she told on fellow contestant Britt for being dishonest to the Prince Farming. She's Carly Waddell, a cruise ship singer from Arlington, and she competed on everyone's favorite reality show that just won't go away: "The Bachelor." Now she's back and she's telling all. But first she's going to do what she does best and sing some songs she wrote, while you chow down a four-course meal at Aboca's Italian Grill. Then she will answer questions from the audience and take selfies and attempt to stretch out her 15 minutes of fame for as long as possible. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. April 23. General admission tickets are $75 and can be bought on Waddell's website. - Paige Skinner
Justyna Gorowska :FWJG Photographer Francesca Woodman was fascinated by the female body. During the late 70's she shot black and white portraiture, often of women in the nude, playing with the camera to blur or smudge the image further submerging the subject into the medium. Woodman's photographic self-awareness, her sensitive portrayal of the female form, and a personal life marked with tragedy (she committed suicide in 1981 at 22 years old) have given contemporary artists many reasons to obsess over Woodman. One such artist is Polish performance artist Justyna Gorowska, whose first American solo exhibition, FWJG, marries her style with that of Woodman. See this exhibition at Cydonia Gallery (167 Payne St.) from 11a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday. For the show,Gorowska immerses herself into Woodman's work. Like Woodman before her, Growska takes an interest in blurring the boundaries between subject and work. More information at cydoniagallery.com.
Myth America We build our lives on mythologies. Narratives, often grand ones, are responsible for structuring much of the way we discuss history, and therefore shape how we live in the present. Myth and legends are the subject of the next exhibition at Kettle Art Gallery, which will be a four man show featuring work by Clint Scism, Justin Clumpner, Johnny Hawkins and special guest Mark S. Nelson. See their interpretations and ideas through May 9.
All My Sons WaterTower Theatre's production of All My Sons hasn't been open a week and it's already sparked some interesting conversation.The winner of the very first Tony Award for Best New Play in 1947 (It beat Eugene O'Neill's stunning The Iceman Cometh), All My Sons explores the American Dream through the Keller family, who is being torn apart by a huge secret. WaterTower Theatre stacks the deck for this production with a stellar cast, including the company's artistic director Terry Martin, who is rarely seen onstage. See the show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday or through May 10. See it at the Addison Conference Center (15650 Addison Rd.). Tickets start at $20. More information at watertowertheatre.org.
Vultures If you're having trouble nailing down exactly what local playwright Brigham Mosley's Vultures is about, you're not alone. But the SMU grad and prolific dramatist seemingly wants it that way; the play is touted as a mysterious surprise. And who doesn't like surprises? There are a few things you can be assured of, despite the secrecy surrounding the project: Mosley is not one for understatement, and he embraces the sentimental in big and bold ways. His latest play, as directed by Chris McCreary, will premiere at The Basement Gallery, 115 South Beckley Ave., accompanied by live art and music at 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Monday. Tickets are $10; see eventbrite.com for more. -JDL Friday, April 24
Contemporary Ballet of Dallas: Spring Forward You reset your clocks this spring, you've cleaned out your closet, and now it might be time to sweep out the mental cobwebs. One trick? A night of dance. Nothing resets the internal tempo quite like watching the grace and beauty of a dance performance. At 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Contemporary Ballet of Dallas will restage a few audience favorites alongside the premieres of choreographer Jennifer Obeney's Relative Chaos, which draws inspiration from the eight planets in the solar system, as well as artistic director Valerie Tabor's new piece, The Ballet Waltz, set to Chopin's Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2. See these works as part of the production Spring Forward at the Latino Cultural Center (2600 Live Oak St.). Tickets start at $15 at contemporaryballetdallas.com.
Confetti Eddie & Trigg Watson MAGIC. Not Johnson. Just magic. See modern day spectacles from Dallas' own Confetti Eddie and Trigg Watson. At 10 p.m. Friday Confetti Eddie invites you into his personal studio, 823 Exposition Ave., where illusions will be performed, Lyric Laveau will sing and special guest star Sweet T will burlesque her tatas off. Also featured in the show? Jai Le Bait, the one and only sideshow performer. Duh. And before the show even begins, you'll receive a tour through the studio where you'll learn the history of magic, including that one ill-fated day when Criss Angel became famous and almost ruined it for everyone. At Confetti's request, space will be limited to 50 people to create a cozy, parlor atmosphere. Even though this sounds like the setup of the movie Clue, we assure you it's not. Light snacks and poison-free drinks will be provided as well as a brief intermission. The show is 90 minutes long and tickets are available for $20-$30 at prekindle.com. -Nikki Lott
Cinewilde: Velvet Goldmine It's a glittery tale of two wild and crazy guys -- a loud, funny and scattered flashback to a time when glamour and sexuality sold as many records as the music itself. Velvet Goldmine is director Todd Haynes' paean to glam rock, Citizen Kane and Oscar Wilde, and it ping-pongs between all that source material via characters Brian Slade and Curt Wild. The two men, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor respectively, are over-the-top rock stars with characteristics plucked from biographies and gossip columns written about David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and any other 1970s glam rock figurehead you can think of. Get your platforms ready and come bearing glitter: CineWilde will screen the film in 35mm at 8 p.m. Friday. The Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd., will play host for the evening, which concludes with an after party that will satiate your lust for life. Performances by ZHORA, Ethereal, The Queer Show, TEEN SLUT, PseudoQueen and DJs Gabriel and Travis Box will commence when the credits roll. Tickets are $10 to $18 at thetexastheatre.com. -JDL
Earth Day Texas We love the earth, both as a planet and a place to live. We love it so much that we dedicated an entire day to it. And then if that wasn't enough, Texans decided to make an entire festival out of celebrating the earth and how much we want to care for it. This weekend, Earth Day Texas will host its fifth annual outdoor festival to bring awareness to environmentally friendly ideas and help you think more in terms of saving the earth rather than crapping on it. The festival goes on all weekend long, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at Fair Park. Speakers will include Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton. Admission is free. More at earthdaytx.org. -Paige Skinner
Denton Arts & Jazz Festival Dallas has the Deep Ellum Arts Festival, Fort Worth has its Main Street Arts Festival and even Grapevine has Main Street Days and Grapefest. These are all long-running, multi-faceted family events where drinks can be enjoyed, art of a million kinds can be purchased and, yes, bands can be heard. What sets the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival apart from all other area parties of similar ilk is the dogged dedication to the Jazz portion of the programming. Jazz isn't a label to be taken lightly in Denton, of course. For this 35th edition, held across the acreage of Quakertown Park (700 Oakland St.), jazz tunes from the storied UNT Lab Bands, local high school -- and younger -- bands, and the quintessential New Orleans Jazz Legend himself, Dr. John, will be features on seven different stages through each day into each night. The Denton Arts & Jazz Festival begins 5 p.m. Friday and continues through Sunday. Admission is Free. Visit dentonjazzfest.com for more info. -Kelly Dearmore
Cedars Fever When the McKinney Avenue Contemporary revealed that this would be the final season in its bright blue Uptown space, all roads led south. Claude Albritton, the man behind the MAC, as it is loyally known, has big plans for the space, and he wants to show you the new digs as he found them, minus a bit of shubbery. Swing by the free party from 6-11 p.m. Friday at 1601 S. Ervay St. There will be "beer, brats, and fun," and a performance from the Austin-based Warren Hood Band.
Saturday, April 25 Fight Night Few things can make someone feel more alive than watching two grown men or women beat the snot out of each other in a controlled environment. It's not only exhilarating to watch two people go to the mat for the thrill of a majestic sport and your personal entertainment but it's also nice to watch because you know you're not going to be arrested for inciting a riot or paying two people to fight on the street for goods and/or services. The Majestic Theatre (1925 Elm St.) will host a good, ol' fashioned "Fight Night" at 7 p.m. Saturday with local heavy hitters Roberto Marroquin and Marcos Leonardo stepping into the ring to duke it out for the USBA Jr. Lightweight Championship. The evening will also feature bouts between Chad Trahan and Rudolf Gomez Jr., Christopher Jones and Jerome Davis and newcomers George Rincon and James Gray making their professional debut. Oh, and don't forget about the ring card girls. Tickets range from $25 to $100 depending on available seating. More information at prekindle.com. -Danny Gallagher
Retail as Art What began with just five participants from Booker T. Washington School for the Visual and Performing Arts has grown to include more than 70 students from throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It's the Retail As Art annual scholarship contest, where participating high school students present their best photographic interpretations of the retail industry. The purpose is to show off student talent. Winners receive a scholarship and their high school earns a donation to its photography department. The winners will be announced at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Goss-Michael Foundation (1405 Turtle Creek Blvd.). Admission is free. More at gm-f.com. Photo: 2014's Instagram Award - "Chickn" by Sarah Deibel, Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts. - Paige Skinner
History with a Twist Consider the Dallas Heritage Village the official ambassador of history in our dear city -- an extended hand, offering to take you back in time to the Dallas of old. The historic buildings and other antiquities on-site are a throwback to the days when Big D was little more than farmland and burgeoning industry, but no less full of character. In fact, Dallas Heritage Village's grounds, at 1515 South Harwood St., are home to the city's very first park, established in 1876. Since then, that little plot of land has seen a sparkling city sprout up all around it -- but it remains, still dedicated to the Dallas it sprang from. History With A Twist, a fundraiser from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday, supports that ideal: All proceeds go to preservation and educational programs at the site. And the evening stays true to its roots; tunes will be provided by retro orchestra The Singapore Slingers; mixologist Brian McCullough will be pouring classic American cocktails; and vintage costumes are encouraged. The evening also includes auctions, a photo booth and silent movies. Make a date with history by purchasing tickets for $75 each or $125 per couple at dallasheritagevillage.org. -JDL
Kent Dorn: Into the Night Houston-based artist Kent Dorn swims upstream for his exhibition at The Safe Room that opens this weekend. Er, he rolls up the highway at least. Then he climbs the stairs up into the hidden gallery space at the Texas Theatre (231. W. Jefferson Blvd.), paintings under arm, to display his new series of work, which is described as "parody[ing] the idealism of early American landscape painting." Honestly, there's no telling how Dorn and his work will arrive, or at least it's none of our business, but we've been told to show up at The Safe Room from 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. More at thetexastheatre.com.
O'Keeffe! It's a weird thing to associate the mother of American Modernism with an artist who was born in 1887. However, Georgia O'Keeffe was able to pull it off and become one of the most studied artists of the past few decades. While most famous for her florals that fairly resemble female genitalia, her story goes much deeper. Actress and playwright Lucinda McDermott explores the tumultuous marriage of O'Keeffe and renowned photographer Alfred Stieglitz, and how it shaped her identity as a person and artist, with her latest one-woman show O'Keeffe!. All fans of feminine florals should unite at the Addison Conference Center (15650 Addison Road) at show previews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday to learn everything about Georgia O'Keeffe that your high school art teachers forgot to tell you. Tickets range from $22-$27.50. Go to watertowertheatre.org for more information.
SELLOUT by Annie Preece Lab Art Texas is the LA transplant in the Design District that brings street art into the gallery. Riding the wave of popularity for the genre, this space presents the work both on and off its white walls with special exhibitions of notorious artists, like Annie Preece who will have solo exhibition in the space opening this weekend. The space turns the opening receptions into parties with plenty of booze. Swing through from 7-10 p.m. RSVP to [email protected].
The Egg Salesman How many times in our lives have we said something like, "I'd bet you anything, if [insert event] would happen"? Or "I'd give anything just to win this one." Marvin (played by Justin Locklear) bets it all--we're talking what's left of his life savings -- at the dog races in Ochre House's latest offering, The Egg Salesman. Written and directed by Dallas' beloved Matthew Posey, The Egg Salesman sends audiences on a luck-testing adventure complete with puppets, vaudeville and original music. In the cozy 50-seat space that is Ochre House, audiences get up close and personal with Marvin's victories and failures. The Ochre House delivers an unusual, exciting approach to just about any dramatic subject matter, and with The Egg Salesman it's almost certain audiences will win even if Marvin loses everything. See the action live at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday through May16 at 825 Exposition Ave. Tickets are $17 at the door, or call 214-826-6273 for reservations. May 4 is pay-what-you-can night. Visit ochrehousetheater.com. - Merritt Martin
Her Obsidian Intentions: Contemporary Latina Artists Currently on display at Mountain View College's Cliff Gallery is an array of work by five female Latina artists. Ann-Michèle Morales, Elizabeth Hurtado, Irma Martínez Sizer, Sara Cardona, and Adriana Martinez-Gonzalez are the featured artists in a show curated by Tina Medina meant to demonstrate the wealth of work by Latina artists that is far too often overlooked. There will be a reception at 2 p.m. Saturday. The work remains on display through May 1.
Sunday, April 26
Evan Meaney How do new media artists approach the decay of the physical? The question may sound pedantic, but consider this: Collectively, human beings are leaving a more permanent mark on the earth thanks to the Internet. We're storing our resumes, our social interactions and more in the cyber world, which is likely to exist much longer than we will. Now, that's a reductive way to talk about Evan Meaney's work, which is far more complicated than can be summed up here. But it might be a good point of entry for the screenings of his work in "glitch" media at CentralTrak (800 Exposition Ave.) at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The works are collectively titled /a_ceibas_cycle.zip and promise an interesting look at the artist and his ideas. Admission is free. More at centraltrak.net.
Marc Maron Stand-up comedians are usually caricatured as grumpy, clinically depressed people with social phobias and a textbook example for doctors to prescribe antidepressants to, and Marc Maron is a prime example of this archetype. Even now that he's a successful, iconic name who packs theaters around the country whether it's to record an episode of his "WTF" podcast or just to perform his material, he still seems lost in his head as he ruminates about hefty philosophical concepts or why he's willing to say "F*** you" to ice cream. Fortunately for the audience, being lost in a barrage of constant thoughts is great for comedy when the angry is crafted with Maron's signature wit. The star of the "WTF" podcast and IFC's "Maron" will perform live on stage at Gilley's Dallas (1135 S. Lamar St.) at 8 p.m. Sunday as part of his Maronation Tour. Tickets are $29 per person. Visit ticketmaster.com for more information. - Danny Gallagher
