It's a big weekend in and around Fort Worth, with the final events in the Cliburn Competition and the start of a popular outdoor concert series. You can also enjoy a tribute to a Broadway legend, a new local theater production, an acclaimed documentary, a renowned psychic, a well-known comedian, two country concerts, a beer-themed Father's Day event, and a Juneteenth Festival.
Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, June 16
Casa Mañana presents A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim
One of the most important figures in 20th century musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim was credited for having “reinvented the American musical.” Casa Mañana's Apprentice Program Alumni will celebrate the legendary composer though a musical journey of his catalog. Audiences will enjoy songs from Into the Woods, West Side Story, Merrily We Roll Along, Saturday Night, and more in the Reid Cabaret Theatre.
Circle Theatre presents Young Frankenstein the Musical
In Young Frankenstein the Musical, Frederick Frankenstein reluctantly inherits his infamous family’s estate in Transylvania. Urged on by a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor, and a leggy lab assistant, Inga, Frederick finds himself fulfilling his grandfather’s corpse-raising legacy. The electrifying musical stage adaptation of Mel Brooks’ brilliantly funny film runs at Circle Theatre through July 23.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Concerts in the Garden
After two years without Fort Worth’s summer staple, the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Concerts in the Garden festival will feature three weekends of outdoor concerts by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Kicking things off will be concerts featuring Asleep at the Wheel (Thursday), Jackopierce (Friday), The Music of the Eagles (Saturday), and Sarah Jaffe (Sunday).
Friday, June 17
Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
This is it — the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is down to its final six competitors: Dmytro Choni from Ukraine, Anna Geniushene and Ilya Shmukler from Russia, Uladzislau Khandohi from Belarus, Yunchan Lim from South Korea, and Clayton Stephenson from the United States. After two days of finals performances earlier in the week, each competitor will have one last chance to perform during programs taking place on Friday and Saturday at Bass Performance Hall, culminating with awards ceremony on Saturday night and a big, free public party in Sundance Square.
Magnolia at the Modern: Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story
The documentary Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story weaves together live performances and interviews from the 50th anniversary of The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the annual music and cultural event of the city with hundreds of thousands of attendees each year. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Matt Fraser: America’s Top Psychic Medium
From heartfelt emotional readings to stunning revelations, Matt Fraser has audiences on the edge of their seats with his outrageous personality and unique approach to mediumship. His readings lead guests through a rollercoaster of emotions from laughing to crying, turning skeptics into believers with stunning details. He'll perform at Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium.
Hyena's presents Bobcat Goldthwait
Bobcat Goldthwait is no stranger to entertainment and is one of the most recognizable comedians in show business today. His stand up features hilarious riffs on politics, divorce, going broke, and his career as a writer and director of film. His show is a wild ride of fun finding the funny no matter what the situation. He'll perform twice on Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Club in Fort Worth.
Roger Creager in concert
Country singer Roger Creager has been plugging away at his singing career for over 20 years, but it's only in the last 10 that he's started to get some national acclaim. Creager has released seven albums in his career, including 2014's Road Show, which made it to No. 20 on Billboard's Country Albums chart. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, June 18
Shannon Brewing Company presents DadFest
Father's Day doesn't seem to be as big of a celebratory occasion for event organizers, but Shannon Brewing Company in Keller will buck that trend with their seventh annual DadFest. There will be special beer tappings all day long, live music, barbecue, a crawfish boil, and more. The come-and-go event will take place from 12-7 pm.
TRWD presents I Am Juneteenth Festival
The I Am Juneteenth Festival is a music & food festival to celebrate the accomplishments and historical significance of June 19, 1865, when slaves in Texas finally found out they were free. This year’s festival, taking place at Panther Island Pavilion, will feature entertainment for the whole family from with international and local artists, a kids zone, live acts, and more.
Stoney LaRue in concert
Singer-songwriter Stoney LaRue is part of the recent wave of Texas Country/Red Dirt artists, having put out six albums since 2002, including 2019's Onward. LaRue is as close to a regular at Billy Bob's as you can get, having played there multiple times and even recording a live album there in 2007. He'll play there yet again on Saturday night.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's Concerts in the Garden series starts with four concerts through June 19.
