There is so much going on around Fort Worth this weekend that it will be tough to make a choice. Will it be one of four new theater productions, including a national tour? How about one of five different concerts, ranging from classical to country? A new art exhibition? A celebration of Black opera performers? A heartbreaking movie about a donkey? All those and more are among the options from which you can choose.
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, February 9
Theatre Arlington presents Gypsy: A Musical Fable, February 10-March 5.
The Cliburn presents J'Nai Bridges
J'Nai Bridges comes to Fort Worth fresh off a 2022 Grammy win for her recording of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten with the Metropolitan Opera. Bridges has graced the world’s top stages in repertoire ranging from traditional favorites to world premieres to spirituals and standards. The Thursday performance will be at Kimbell Art Museum, and the Friday performance will be at The Post at River East.
Broadway at the Bass presents Pretty Woman: The Musical
Based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, Pretty Woman: The Musical springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The production, featuring an original score by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and a book by the movie’s director, Garry Marshall, and screenwriter, J. F. Lawton, runs through February 12 at Bass Performance Hall.
Casa Mañana presents Unchain My Heart: The Music of Ray Charles
Often called the “Genius,” Ray Charles pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s, combining blues, gospel, R&B, rock, country music, and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as “Unchain My Heart,” “I’ve Got a Woman,” and “What I’d Say.” The cabaret production will feature singers Matt Manuel, Trisha Jeffrey, and Winston Daniels. There will be 10 performances through February 18 in the Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana Theatre.
Hyena's presents Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore tasted stardom in the 1990s thanks to his MTV show Totally Pauly, as well as starring roles in films like Jury Duty, In the Army Now, Bio-Dome, Encino Man, Son In Law, and A Goofy Movie. Apart from actively touring the country with his stand-up comedy, Pauly is working on a documentary of his life that spans the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. He'll perform once on Thursday and twice on Saturday at Hyena's in Fort Worth.
Friday, February 10
Magnolia at the Modern: EO
EO, a gray donkey with melancholic eyes and a curious spirit, begins his life as a circus performer before escaping on a trek across the Polish and Italian countryside in a journey marked by absurdity and warmth in equal measure. Legendary filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski directs one of his most free and visually inventive films yet, placing the viewer directly in the heart and mind of the four-legged protagonist. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Theatre Arlington presents Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success – while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920s and '30s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents’ landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication. The production runs through March 5 at Theatre Arlington.
Stolen Shakespeare Festival: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Stolen Shakespeare Guild will presents the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream as part of their annual Stolen Shakespeare Festival. When two pairs of star-crossed lovers, a troop of inept amateur actors, a feuding pair of supernatural sprites, and a love potion gone awry all come together in an enchanted moonlit forest, the result is an unequalled mixture of entertainment and enchantment. The play, running in repertory with The Winter's Tale (which starts on February 17), will run through March 5 at Arts Fort Worth.
Amphibian Stage presents Spaceman
Spaceman is a full-sensory, surround-sound expedition into outer space thatfollows Molly Jennis’ solo mission to Mars after her husband’s failed, tragic attempt at the same journey. The production, the first since the world premiere at New York City’s Loading Dock Theatre in 2019, will run through March 5 at Amphibian Stage.
Ashley McBryde in concert
Country singer Ashley McBryde's first album in 2018 was called A Girl Going Nowhere, but she's quickly proven that title wrong, as her first two albums reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts. She's won a handful of awards from the various country music organizations, and just took home a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Never Wanted to Be That Girl," her duet with Carly Pearce. She'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of her 2022 album, Lindeville.
Saturday, February 11
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "An Evening of Brahms"
This one-night-only special concert at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU will be conducted by newly-appointed principal guest conductor Kevin John Edusei. It will also feature violinist Michael Shih and cellist Allan Steele. Selections will include Brahms' Academic Festival Overture and Concerto for Violin and Cello.
The Mavericks in concert
For more than 30 years, The Mavericks have made their own way in the music industry, along the way becoming masters of country-Latin rock’n’roll. The band, born in the rich cultural mix of Miami, found their biggest success during their Nashville days in the 1990s, with hits like "O What a Thrill" and "Here Comes the Rain." Their most recent album was 2020's En Español. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.
Wade Bowen in concert
Texas country/Red Dirt singer Wade Bowen has slowly but surely been making his way up in the industry, scoring three top 10 albums in recent years. He's recently collaborated with Randy Rogers on three separate albums, including 2020's Hold My Beer, Vol. 2. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his new album, Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truth.
Sunday, February 12
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents "I'll Be Your Mirror: Art and the Digital Screen"
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents the landmark "I’ll Be Your Mirror: Art and the Digital Screen," a thematic group exhibition that examines the screen’s vast impact on art from 1969 to the present. This exhibition surveys more than 60 works by 50 artists over the past five decades. The artists included examine screen culture through a broad range of media such as paintings, sculpture, video games, digital art, augmented reality, and video. The exhibition will remain on display through April 30.
Fort Worth Opera presents "A Night of Black Excellence"
Fort Worth Opera will continue its annual celebration of Black History Month with "A Night of Black Excellence: Songs of a Native Son." This year’s event will feature performances from singers John Holiday, Donnie Ray Albert, Naguanda Nobles, and Tesia Kwarteng, joined by the ANOBE Ensemble, Dr. Clark Joseph, Monya Davis Logan, Lesio Littlejohn and Cassidy Robinson, along with poet Leslie N. Polk, the Cosmopolitan Dance Troupe, members of the Hattie Mae Lesley Resident and Studio Artists, and more. The event will be at I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA.
Harlem Globetrotters World Tour
The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour will feature favorite Globetrotter stars, showcasing their amazing basketball skill, outrageous athleticism, and a non-stop LOL good time. The Globetrotters will go head-to-head against the Washington Generals, who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team. The event will be at Dickies Arena.
