I’m in my Joss Whedon happy place today. Nothing can bring me down.
Friday
Guess who’s here. Amy Acker is here! The USA Film Festival is screening Much Ado About Nothing tonight, which is of course written by that dead famous writer guy and directed by my personal hero, Joss Whedon. He shot the whole thing at his house in something like 12 days, which is fantastic, and Much Ado stars Whedonverse regulars Acker (Dollhouse, Angel, Cabin in the Woods), Fran Kranz (Dollhouse, Cabin in the Woods), Alexis Denisof (Angel, Buffy), and Nathan Fillion (Buffy, Firefly, Dr. Horrible). Acker, who also happens to be a native daughter of Dallas, will be in attendance. You can’t purchase tickets online to any of the USA Film Festival films (don’t ask me why), so you have to show up at the box office when it opens at 6 p.m. And if anyone gets in my way, I will get vengeful. Just keep that in mind.
Also tonight, the Nasher Sculpture Center continues their Soundings series. Contemporary acoustic chamber group Tin Hat, accompanied by pianist Gilbert Kalish, weaves 20th century modernist composer Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata with the words of E.E. Cummings for what should prove an interesting mash-up of classical music and poetry.
Saturday
You know how I’ve been talking about the Big Read a lot? Since April is drawing to a close, so too are all our literacy-inspired activities. But our grand finale, a “read-in” at Klyde Warren Park, is really more of an invitation to carry on. We’ll have actors from the wonderful Undermain Theater perform a dramatic reading from Fahrenheit 451, plus Booker T. Washington dancers, DJ Smiley, art by Sour Grapes, Mavs ManiAACs, and the smiling presence of all your Big Read volunteers. The fun starts at 4 p.m., and come hungry, since we’ll have food trunks out (Ruthie’s, Nammi, Crazy Fish, and Trailercakes) serving Fahrenheit 451-themed treats.
It’s also my duty to inform you that it’s closing weekend for quite a few plays, in case you’ve been slacking on theater lately. There’s Rx, at Kitchen Dog Theater; A Lesson Before Dying at African American Rep, Dreams of Slaughtered Sheep at Ochre House, and Trav’lin at Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth. We’re lucky people, you know that, right?
Sunday
President Obama attended the memorial for victims of the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion on Thursday. And now you can do your part, which basically means hanging out with friends and listening to great live music on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Not too hard. Zac mentioned this particular benefit earlier in the week, but all the proceeds from the Texans for West concert will go to nonprofit relief organizations working in the area. There’s a silent auction, plus live music from Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, The Os, Somebody’s Darling, and Vaden Todd Lewis, lead singer of the Toadies. And did I mention that this is a really cool partnership between a bunch of our venues and organizations? That’s Communities Foundation of North Texas, A&T Performing Arts Center, Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House, Granada Theater, Kessler Theater, House of Blues, Homegrown Fest, Club Dada, The Door, and Good Records. And tickets are just $20.
Finally, we have The Great Create at the Nasher Sculpture Center. This colorful fundraiser connects local and internationally acclaimed artists with kids 12 and under for creative play the entire family can enjoy. The garden will come to life with the hands-on activities and workshops, live music, food, and more. Older kids 13 and up can serve as “art ambassadors” and assist the artists and younger kiddos with their creations. And since it’s sponsored in part by D Moms, edited by the lovely and talented Joslyn Taylor, Taylor and D Moms arts editor Lucia Simek are hosting an “Art Imitation” project.
For more to do this weekend, go here.
