Music and theater will fight it out for dominance among the events taking place in and around Fort Worth this weekend. Choices include a piano festival, four theater-related events (including the tour of a Broadway musical), two comedians, screenings of a new film, two country concerts, and a big concert featuring one of the best hip hop groups of all time.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, June 12
PianoTexas International Festival at TCU
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition may have come to a close, but classical music fans can find more interesting performances at the PianoTexas International Festival at TCU. Taking place almost daily through June 29, the festival features a variety of recitals and concertos. Performances take place at both Van Cliburn Concert Hall and Ed Landreth Hall and Auditorium on the TCU campus.
Stage West Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Soufflé
It’s the eve of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, but her son, the playboy Prince of Wales, and French chef Auguste Escoffier have just turned up at 221B Baker Street in the thick of scandal and blackmail. Royal vice, priceless gems, and gourmet food abound in this new action-packed whodunit. Noted sleuth Sherlock Holmes reunites with his beloved Irene Adler and his partner Dr. Watson for their tastiest and most bizarre case yet. The production runs through June 29 at Stage West.
Casa Mañana presents Bridge Over Troubled Water: The Reid Cabaret Theatre Sings Simon & Garfunkel
From their folk roots to global superstardom, Simon & Garfunkel told stories through their music that became anthems. The Reid Cabaret will sing their most iconic songs, including “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “Scarborough Fair/Canticle,” “The Boxer,” “Bridge over Troubled Water,” and more. The production runs through June 28 at Casa Mañana.
Broadway at the Bass presents Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Moulin Rouge! The Musical features a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory, a world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. The production runs through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Improv Arlington presents Tony Rock
Being the brother of an established entertainer, Tony Rock was able to successfully elude the shadows of his older sibling and step into his own limelight. He has hosted HBO’s weekly stand-up comedy series, All Def Comedy, NBA TV's The Warm Up, and BET’s Black Card Revoked and Apollo Live. He also co-starred in CBS' Living Biblically. He'll perform six times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Friday, June 13
Magnolia at the Modern: Bad Shabbos
When David (Jon Bass) and his fiancée Meg (Meghan Leathers) gather for his family's traditional Shabbat dinner on New York's Upper West Side, things spiral faster than you can say hamotzi. When an accidental death - or murder? - derails the evening with Meg’s devoutly Catholic parents due any moment to meet David’s very Jewish family, Shabbat becomes a comedy of biblical proportions. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Amphibian Stage presents SparkFest
Amphibian Stage's SparkFest is annual celebration of live entertainment. This year, SparkFest will shine a spotlight on the Native American and Indigenous community, offering an array of events, including theatre, live music, storytelling, and poetry. Events will take place almost every day through June 22 at Amphibian Stage.
Hyena's presents Jiaoying Summers
Jiaoying Summers is a fresh voice in comedy who embodies the Asian American perspective through her work with uncensored, unapologetic comedic stylings. Among her unique gifts are powerful and dark truth bombing; she turns extreme childhood trauma into comedy gold. Summers recently starred in Netflix is a Joke Festival's Women in Comedy Show. Her 30-minute comedy special, Hot Girl Summers, is streaming on Peacock TV and Prime Video. She'll perform four times through Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.
Wu-Tang Clan in concert
Wu-Tang Clan has been one of the most influential groups in hip hop history, and also one of the most enigmatic. Their first four albums from 1993-2001 established the collective greatness of the team, but their 21st century output has consisted mostly of compilation albums and, infamously, the album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, of which only one copy was made. They recently released Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman, the first collection to feature all nine living members since 2015. They'll perform at Dickies Arena.
Josh Turner in concert
Country singer Josh Turner came out of the gates running on his debut in 2003, scoring a top 3 album with Long Black Train, and he hasn't slowed down since. All but one of his next seven albums made the top 3 on the Billboard Country charts thanks to a string of hit songs, including "Your Man," "Would You Go With Me?," "Why Don't We Just Dance?," and "Hometown Girl." He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his 2024 album, This Country Music Thing.
Saturday, June 14
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 seven albums in their career, including Somewhere Down The Road in 2024. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
