It's a good weekend to be a theater lover across Fort Worth, as four separate productions will start their runs, including one raising funds for a community in need. There will also be two comedians, concerts both indoors and outdoors, and a celebration of the cowboy as only Fort Worth can do.
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, July 20
Panther Island Pavilion presents Rockin' the River
Rockin' the River is a weekly event that features live music, food & drinks and more at the Panther Island Pavilion beach. Guests can enjoy top Texas Country acts and a little rock & soul while tubing up to the waterfront stage or chilling on the shore with a brew. This week will feature performances by headliner Grady Spencer & The Work, joined by The Damn Quails and The Pour Brothers.
Bard in the Barn presents The Taming of the Shrew
Bard in the Barn presents a gender-diverse cast production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Proceeds will benefit Finn's Place, Tarrant County's only community center for the trans and gender-diverse. The production will run through August 6 at Galileo Christian Church.
Friday, July 21
Artisan Center Theater presents Willy Wonka JR
Willy Wonka JR follows the delightful story of enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory - or suffer the consequences. The production runs through August 12 at Artisan Center Theater in Hurst.
Improv Arlington presents Preacher Lawson
Preacher Lawson is best known for his appearance on season 12 of America's Got Talent, where he made it to the final round. He went on to compete on America's Got Talent: The Champions and Britain's Got Talent: The Champions, where he advanced to the finale after receiving the most fan votes. He can be seen on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show and NBC’s Connecting. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Theatre Arlington presents Superior Donuts
Arthur Przybyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a Black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. The comedy-drama by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Letts explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship. The production runs through August 6 at Theatre Arlington.
Amphibian Stage presents Miss Molly
The new comedy Miss Molly is an homage to Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, offering the same humor and charm of Wilde’s work while incorporating modern references and exploring queer themes (an act punishable by law during Wilde’s lifetime). Written by Christine Carmela and directed by Evan Michael Woods, two TCU alumni who were roommates when Carmela first drafted the play, the production runs through August 13 at Amphibian Stage.
Hyena's presents Steve "Mudflap" McGrew
Comedian Steve "Mudflap" McGrew draws his material from everyday life situations, putting together a hybrid of character work, storytelling, and one-liner jabs to the funny bone. His “crossover” comedy style appeals to people from all walks of life. McGrew, a host on the podcasts Remasculate and Wrinkled Sheets, will perform four times through Saturday at Hyena's in downtown Fort Worth.
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen in concert
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen will be in Fort Worth as part of their "Hold My Beer" tour. The duo released two albums together - Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 in 2015 and Hold My Beer, Vol. 2 in 2020. Rogers' most recent solo album was 2022's Homecoming, while Bowen's most recent solo album was 2022's Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truth. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas on both Friday and Saturday.
Saturday, July 22
National Day of the American Cowboy
The National Day of the American Cowboy is a day filled with family-friendly activities, including a Western parade, armadillo races, cow milking, fiddling, face painting, live music, comedy gunfight shows, the Fort Worth Herd cattle drive, Stockyards Championship Rodeo, and more. In addition, all attendees who wear a cowboy hat will receive $2 off admission to the John Wayne: An American Experience Museum. Visitors can also take in the annual BBQ Rib-Eating Contest at Riscky's.
Amphibian Stage presents Miss Molly, July 21-August 6.
