Theater productions take center stage in and around Fort Worth this weekend, ranging from a period piece to retirement home drama. You can also enjoy a rising comedian, a documentary about Filipino politics, great classical music, and a gala that gives a preview of one of the biggest events of the year.
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.
Thursday, January 9
Stage West Theatre presents Ada and the Engine
Young and curious mathematician Ada Byron is caught between two worlds. Her mother is pushing for a prestigious marriage to Lord Lovelace, hoping to repair the damage Ada’s father, the late Lord Byron, imposed on the family name. But Ada sees the creative potential in the analytic engines created by her elder friend and scholar Charles Babbage. As pressures mount and feelings grow, these two form a partnership that will change the course of the future. The production will run at Stage West through February 9.
Amphibian Stage Productions presents Chris Laker
Chris Laker is a New York City-based stand-up comedian who just made his television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Laker's sharp and edgy comedy has earned him a loyal following in New York’s alternative scene, where he’s hosted a variety of shows and podcasts. He'll perform three times through Saturday at Amphibian Stage Productions.
Friday, January 10
Magnolia at the Modern: The Kingmaker
Centered on the indomitable character of Imelda Marcos, The Kingmaker examines, with intimate access, the Marcos family's improbable return to power in the Philippines. The film explores the disturbing legacy of the Marcos regime and chronicles Imelda's present-day push to help her son, Bongbong, win the vice presidency. There will seven screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Grieg's Piano Concerto
Miguel Harth-Bedoya brings the Northern Lights to North Texas in a program of music by Scandinavian composers. The concert, which will have three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall, will feature the U.S. premiere of María Sigfúsdóttir’s Clockworking, Sibelius’ bold and unconventional Symphony No. 2, and Grieg’s celebrated Piano Concerto, featuring renowned pianist Jon Kimura Parker.
Theatre Arlington presents Ripcord
A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. A seemingly harmless bet between the old women quickly escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship. The play will run at Theatre Arlington Through January 26.
Tarrant Actors Regional Theatre presents Hay Fever
Hoping for a quiet weekend in the English countryside with some guests, David Bliss, a novelist, and his wife, Judith, a retired actress, find quite an impossible dream when their high-spirited children, Simon and Sorel, appear with guests of their own. In one of Noel Coward's most enduring farcical comedies, a houseful of drama waits to be ignited as misunderstandings and tempers flare. The production will run through January 26 at Fort Worth Community Arts Center.
Saturday, January 11
Junior League of Fort Worth presents Grand Entry Gala
Junior League of Fort Worth will present its annual Grand Entry Gala, featuring a performance by country star Darius Rucker, dinner, dancing, cocktails, silent auction, and concert with a top-secret guest to celebrate the League's 90th year in serving Fort Worth. The gala, taking place for the first time at Dickies Arena, serves as the kickoff event for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, which officially starts on January 17.
Stage West presents Ada and the Engine through February 9.
Fort Worth Police Sgt. Billy Randolph, RIP.
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