It's going to be an artsy weekend around Fort Worth, capped off by an event that takes a unique skill. There will be four separate theater productions, a performance by a renowned opera singer, a great international film, a concert featuring reworked versions of Broadway tunes, new ballet, and rodeo of the highest order.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events. Still looking for Valentine's Day dining options? We have a list of those, too.
Thursday, February 13
Theatre Wesleyan presents Second Samuel
It was a simpler time in the late 1940s, especially in South Georgia and specifically in a sleepy little town called Second Samuel. What had been called the Great Depression was quickly fading into memory. Except, this was the summer Miss Gertrude passed away, and deep dark secrets were about to be revealed. Nobody could have imagined how the death of one sweet little old lady would turn the entire town upside down. The production will run in the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University through February 22.
The Cliburn presents Susan Graham with Malcolm Martineau
Susan Graham has secured her place among the highest echelon of performers, mastering an astonishing range of repertoire and genres along the way. The Midland, Texas-raised mezzo-soprano and graduate of Texas Tech University returns to Cliburn Concerts more than 20 years after her last appearance in Fort Worth, with pianist Malcolm Martineau. The concert will be at Kimbell Art Museum. (Note the concert is sold out, but check the Cliburn site for waiting list information.)
Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana presents Broadway Reimagined: Spencer Day
Spencer Day will perform from his upcoming album, Broadway by Day, in which he puts a fresh and unique spin on classic Broadway tunes. Imagine a swinging up-tempo version of “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady, a sly, rhythmic take on “One” from A Chorus Line, and “If I Loved You” from Carousel as a bossa nova, among others. He'll perform in the Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana through Saturday.
Maverick Theatre Company presents Monster Lagoon
Lainie Jorgenson flips houses. And she’s damned good at it. But Lainie’s about to meet her match at the homestead of the dearly departed Samuel Tanner. She’s about to climb into an attic and discover Sam’s old sketchbooks, full of 1950s Hollywood Sci-Fi monsters. Lainie’s about to enter Monster Lagoon, a place where Sam kept his dreams and nightmares, and where Lainie will finally confront her most painful childhood memories. The world premiere play will run in the Studio Theatre at UT Arlington through Sunday.
Friday, February 14
Magnolia at the Modern: Invisible Life
Invisible Life takes place in Rio de Janeiro in 1950, where two inseparable sisters living at home with their conservative parents are separated by their father and forced to live apart. They take control of their individual destinies, while never giving up hope of finding each other. The tropical melodrama from the director of Madame Satã is in Portuguese with English subtitles. It will play at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth seven times through Sunday.
Theatre Arlington presents A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, an African American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play opens, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check, and each of the adult members of the family has an idea as to what he or she would like to do with the money. This landmark play was the first play on Broadway written by an African American female, Lorraine Hansberry. The production will run at Theatre Arlington through March 8.
Stolen Shakespeare Guild presents Stolen Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth
Stolen Shakespeare Guild will kick off its annual festival with Macbeth, in which a brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia. The play will run at Fort Worth Community Arts Center six times through February 29.
Texas Ballet Theater presents Mixed Rep: Firebird and Crash
Texas Ballet Theater's mixed repertoire performance features the world premiere of choreographer Ma Cong’s Firebird alongside Crash, choreographed by Jonathan Watkins. This event promises an elegant balance of performances, each strikingly different yet connected through the natural movement and beauty of ballet. There will be four performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Saturday, February 15
WinStar World Casino and Resort PBR Global Cup
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ended last weekend, but the rodeo action continues this weekend with the fourth edition of the PBR Global Cup, the only nation vs. nation bull riding competition. Taking place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on both Saturday and Sunday, the event will feature six teams representing five competing nations: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Stolen Shakespeare Guild will present Macbeth at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center through February 29.
