I realize that the amount of time I devote to Cold Case Files, Forensic Files and other Court TV shows detailing gruesome investigations of murder and heinous crimes might be shocking to the average person. But to someone like Dallas native and author John Leake—who celebrates the release of his…

Before Katrina hit and destroyed her native city, Melissa Turner Drumm relocated to Dallas unaware that she’d soon have artistic inspiration no one would ever hope for. Her city was flushed, razed and broken by nature and shoddy prevention. In Dallas, she not only had a place to view all…

In any war, there may be two main parties at battle, but the victims are far greater in number. There are the naïve soldiers, the injured soldiers, the families of military, injured civilians, those who must report on death and destruction on a daily basis, those that must worry about…

Apocalyptic graphite versus plastic transfers of youthful paint. Dunn and Brown Contemporary has done well to juxtapose two very different shows this go around. Robyn O’Neil’s This is our ending, this is our past. offers gigantic and dramatic graphite drawings that depict mind-bogglingly beautiful landscapes that are the backdrop for…

Apocalyptic graphite versus plastic transfers of youthful paint. Dunn and Brown Contemporary has done well to juxtapose two very different shows this go around. Robyn O’Neil’s This is our ending, this is our past. offers gigantic and dramatic graphite drawings that depict mind-bogglingly beautiful landscapes that are the backdrop for…

Since Mark Cuban was voted off Dancing With the Stars, my love for televised ballroom dancing has waned ever so slightly. Sure, I appreciate a good foxtrot just as much as the next viewer, but—wait, what am I saying? People watch Dancing With the Stars not for dancing (save a…

Is your queen denying you the consumation of your marriage? Kings, look deeper. She might be giving clues you’re not picking up! Could there be a lady-in-waiting to blame? Is her attention diverted? Scandal may be on the horizon. Find out when The Modern Stage presents a dramatic reading (i.e.,…

In influential literature, Miguel de Cervantes’ The Adventures of Don Quixote is memorable in terms of theme, visual elements and literary reference. The word “quixotic” is derived from the character of Don Quixote. The description of foolish acts as “tilting at windmills” is a reference to his fantastical sword battles…

On the Web site of Doug Varone and Dancers, the word “kinetic” comes up more than once. Kinetic. As in, the energy or force of motion when relating to material bodies. When applied to current choreography, basically, it just means “you need to see this company perform, like, now.” Their…

How do you turn a street urchin into an attractive, cultured lady? In Dallas, you ban the use of shopping carts and limit the area’s of food distribution for the homeless. But George Bernard Shaw took a different angle in his 1913 play Pygmalion. In the classic that would later…

Everyone’s had a bout of genius on a cocktail napkin. Well, more likely, everyone’s thought at one time they’ve just crafted some brilliant turn of phrase, created a stunning work of art or drafted the best pick-up line ever. Few really have. When James Watral says, “Come see my cocktail…

Something about The Little Dog Laughed reminds me a bit of Oscar from NBC’s The Office. It works a sort of tragic storyline—hiding one’s homosexuality—into a tale that’s at once both funny and relatable. I guess that’s the sign of good comic writing, though, that the hardest things one can…

Of course England’s Alan Ayckbourn knows a thing or two about suspense and drama. He’s directed plays by greats Anton Chekov, Noel Coward, Neil Simon…and himself. Yeah, he’s written a thing or two or 100. And he certainly knows how to take a seemingly unthreatening thing like a sunlight garden…

The United States should be so glad we’re the “melting pot.” Without all the influences from other cultures, we’d be pretty damn boring. Just think of the hell we’d live in without occasional curry, oregano and cayenne pepper. That’s putting it too simply though, so here’s a better example: Dia…

We’ve mourned the loss of the Good-Latimer tunnels. We’ve been saddened by Gypsy’s demise and with that the loss of Frank Campagna’s “upcoming shows” murals on its walls. But all hope is not lost. Thanks to the Deep Ellum Foundation and Deep Ellum Association’s Re*Cov*Er Deep Ellum mural series (spearheaded…

Years ago a local artist and friend of mine introduced me to something so awesomely bad it was great and so campy the excessive gore was more funny than nauseating. The film we watched on a tiny screen via VHS tape was one of Peter Jackson’s (yes, as in, Lord…

This is no time to turn your back on what you think is a stuffy dance recital. No, sir. Elledanceworks has concocted a Texas fall outdoor event that envokes the mischievious and quirky spirit of dusk and teams it up with, not only modern dance, but various live musical works…including…

The birth of a healthy child is a blessed event…at least, it should be if all the right factors are in place. You know, the pregnancy is expected, the marriage is a happy one, the family is supportive, finances are in order, basic elements like that. But what if, after…

A friend once said that Loreena McKennitt was what you’d get if you sent Sarah McLachlan into the forest for several years to build a mystery. Now, it’s true, both women are Canadian singer-songwriters concerned with various charities, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. McKennitt’s ethereal recordings have…

I never got into Jane Austen. The idea of corsets, arranged relationships, meddlers and bewitching looks that lead logically thinking folk to throw caution to the wind (in their imagination if not in real life) didn’t do much for me as a teen. I was satisfied to stick with fiction…