As a new year begins, event organizers are easing into things slowly, with fewer new events than usual in the Fort Worth area. But the limited offerings are still enticing, including a big Broadway musical, a highly-acclaimed film, several concerts, and a trio of art exhibitions coming to a close.
Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.
Thursday, January 6
Broadway at the Bass: Dear Evan Hansen
A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. Dear Evan Hansen is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it. The Tony Award-winning musical will play at Bass Performance Hall through Sunday.
Friday, January 7
Magnolia at the Modern: The Tragedy of Macbeth
Shakespeare aficionados will find much to love in Joel Coen’s bold and fierce adaptation of Macbeth. Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand star in the tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning, stripped down to its roots in the sparse black-and-white film. There will be six screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Night Ranger in concert
If you know the name of the band Night Ranger, you probably remember them best for their 1984 top 5 hit, "Sister Christian." The quintet of musicians has changed a bit over the years, but still features original members Kelly Keagy, Brad Gillis, and Jack Blades. They've had a few breaks in the decades since, but have continued releasing albums, including the brand-new ATBPO. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, January 8
Victor Trevino Jr: Elvis Birthday Celebration
It may be hard to believe, but Saturday marks what would have been Elvis Presley's 85th birthday. To celebrate the King's day, Downtown Cowtown at the Isis will host a concert by Victor Trevino Jr., one of the best Elvis tribute artists in the world. Trevino will make audiences feel like they are watching the King himself, taking them on a journey of his life, his love, and his music.
Josh Abbott Band in concert
The Josh Abbott Band, which was formed in Lubbock while all the members were students at Texas Tech, is part of the next generation of Red Dirt/Texas Country acts alongside Eli Young Band, Randy Rogers Band, and more. They have released six albums in their career, including 2020's The Highway Kind. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Sunday, January 9
Fort Worth Cultural District exhibition closings
Both the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art will close exhibitions on Sunday. At the Modern is "Focus: Frances Stark," featuring the work of an interdisciplinary artist and writer whose output comes in many forms, including painting, video, collage, performance, and drawing. At the Carter are Anila Quayyum Agha: "A Beautiful Despair," featuring an immersive, site-specific sculptural installation by the artist and related drawings informed by her multicultural experience; and "Imagined Realism: Scott and Stuart Gentling," the first-ever comprehensive retrospective of the brothers’ work, exploring their distinct style that defied the movements of their times.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art closes "Anila Quayyum Agha: A Beautiful Despair" on January 9.
