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February Events OPENERS

By D Magazine |

ALVIN AILEY: DANCES OF JOY

After 25 years of exciting audiences around the world, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform in Dallas under the joint sponsorship of The International Theatrical Arts Society (TITAS) and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Ailey, who was born in Rogers, Texas, in 1931, has been hailed universally for his unique combination of modern, jazz and classical dance styles. Revelations, one of his earliest signature pieces (which is tentatively scheduled for the troupe’s Dallas appearance), came out of his memories of Sunday school and the Baptist Young People’s Union in his hometown.

Since its inception in 1958, the Ailey company has appeared in 44 countries on six continents before 10 million people. Audience responses everywhere range from the enthusiastic to the electrified; Clive Barnes has said that “the world has never seen a more powerful expression of sheer joy.”

That joy comes to McFarlin Auditorium on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets $25-$5; available through TITAS (528-5273) or at Central Ticket Agency in Fort Worth (metro 429-1181).

-Willard Spiegelman



THE NATURE 0F THE DALLAS NINE



During the four decades in which abstraction dominated American art, regionalism- the art of the Thirties-was neglected, scorned and all but forgotten. Those paintings of rolling Iowa hills, Missouri camp meetings and dust-bowl Texas farms seemed out of touch and unsophisticated to artists and critics for whom the artist’s mark on the canvas was the final-and only-measure of a painting’s worth.

Now the inevitable has occurred: Art scholars everywhere have rediscovered the Thirties and are turning back to give serious attention to this neglected period and its art. Among them is the bright new curator of American art at the Dallas Museum of Art, Dr. Patrick Stewart. For the past two years, Stewart has been organizing Lone Star Regionalism: The Dallas Nine and Their Circle, 1928-1945, one of the most extensive and searching examinations yet. The exhibit, which opens this month at the DMA, is the first official event of the Texas Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of Texas’ independence from Mexico.

From 1928 to the end of World War II, art in Texas was dominated by a small group of young painters living in Dallas and painting all over the state. Although the group was known as “The Dallas Nine” or simply “The Nine,” its makeup was constantly shifting as artists moved into and out of the city. The core members were Jerry Bywaters (who later became director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts), Alex-andre Hogue, Otis Dozier, Charles Bowling, William Lester and Everett Spruce.

Far from being naive or provincial, these painters had closely studied the great art of the past. They painted “local” subject matter, chiefly rural, but their best work was marked by a deep feeling for nature that gave it a universal relevance.

Feb. 3-March 17 at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Har-wood. Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10-5; Thur 10-9; Sun noon-5. 922-0220.

-Ken Barrow



STRING ALONG WITH LIST

One of Dallas’ up-and-coming musical organizations, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, has in recent seasons formed a beneficial relationship with one of the long-established favorites of the piano circuit, Eugene List. A European-style string ensemble that performs without a conductor, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra regularly draws overflow crowds to its concerts, which range from works for two players to pieces for small orchestra.

This month, music lovers have more reason than ever to turn out for the Dallas Chamber Orchestra when List joins members of the ensemble for a concert of works for piano and string quartet. List has long been associated with the music of Dmitri Shostakovich, and he will capitalize on that link for his Dallas appearances, performing the Russian composer’s Quintet for piano and strings as well as Mozart’s Concerto for piano and string quartet, K. 415.

Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Transfiguration, 14115 Hillcrest at Spring Valley, and Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Tickets $9. 826-6974, 358-5413.

-Wayne Lee Gay



D’s Openers include this month’s theater, music, film, art, dance and enlightenment events, as well as a list of some of the top nightlife establishments in Dallas. These listings are updated and supplemented each month. They have nothing whatsoever to do with paid advertising.

All events listings should be addressed to the Openers editor and must be received at least two months before publication.

Credit card notations: MC/MasterCard, V/Visa, AE/American Express, DC/Diners Club, CB/Carte Blanche. “All credit cards” indicates that all five cards are accepted.



ART



Alexandra Hogue. A profound feeling for natural forms and natural forces mark the paintings of this Texas regionalist, whose work is as powerful and expressive today (he has recently completed a series of large paintings of the Big Bend region) as it was 50 years ago Feb 3-March 17 at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Har-wood. Tue. Wed. Fri & Sat 10-5; Thur 10-10; Sun noon-5 922-0220.

Bernardo Cavallino. a strange, solitary genius whose delicate and subtle paintings display a keen sense of drama, Cavallino was famous in his own time and place-17th century Naples-but died young and was all but forgotten until recently About 50 of his 85 known works have been assembled for this show Through March 24 at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie. Fort Worth Tue-Sat 10-5. Sun 1 -5. (817) 332-8451.

Cervin Robinson. Robinson’s photographs of buildings and parts of buildings have made him an important interpreter of modernism, the style that has dominated architecture in the past 25 years. Through March 3 at the Amon Carter Museum. 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth Tue-Sat 10-5. Sun 1-5:30. (817) 738-1933.

Charles M. Russell. Here are paintings, drawings, bronzes and a selection of tetters full of wry humor, colorful illustrations and misspellings by one cowboy artist who really was a cowboy. Through March 10 at the Amon Carter Museum. 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5:30 (817) 738-1933.

David Hockney. Few artists have designed for the opera more often or more brilliantly than this owlish Briton-turned-Californian, who has raised a useful craft to the status of a major art. Through Feb 17 at the Fort Worth Art Museum. 1309 Montgomery, Fort Worth. Tue 10-9. Wed-Sat 10-5. Sun 1-5. (817) 738-9215.

Emma Lee Mom. Works by an eminent black folk artist appropriately mark Black Awareness Month. Through Feb 10 at the Art Gallery, Fine Arts Building, University of Texas at Arlington. Mon-Fri 9-4, Sun 1 -4 (817)273-2891.

Marie Cosindas. One of the first serious photographers to give up black-and-white for color photography. Co-sindas quickly discovered the warm, lush tones of Polaroid color film and created a series of large and remarkably sensuous portraits. Through Feb 4 at Gallery Four. Central Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young. Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4. 749-4100.



Morse’s Code of Art



In 1832, just three years before he made his first telegraph, Samuel Finley Breese Morse painted Gallery of the Louvre, a benchmark in the history of American art and culture. The 6-by-9-foot masterpiece, which is now on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art from the Daniel J. Terra Collection of the Terra Museum of American Art in Evanston, Illinois, depicts Morse and a group of other Americans-including novelist James Fenimore Cooper-examining the paintings in the Louvre’s Salon Carée. The artist thought of the work as a kind of art lesson for the folks back home who might never get to see the Louvre. Unfortunately, his countrymen weren’t ready for a dose of European culture, and the painting’s American tour was not a success. But 150 years later, it remains worth a visit. Through Feb. 28 at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood. Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10-5; Thur 10-9; Sun noon-5. 922-0220.



William W. Pankey. Focusing his camera on the front yards and back alleys of East Dallas for the past two years, Pankey has produced a series of platinum prints with a delicate beauty all their own Through March 2 at the Afterimage Gallery, the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh, Suite 151 Mon-Sat 10-5:30 748-2521.



THEATER



Angela Fall. Following a nuclear accident, a sunbaked New Mexico mission harbors a group of strangers, each at a moment of personal crisis, in this touching, sometimes funny play by Lanford Wilson, whose ’Fifth of July’ inaugurated Stage #1’s first season 5 1/2 years ago. Through Feb 10 at Stage #1. Greenville Avenue Theater. 2914 Greenville Wed-Fri at 8:15 pm, Sat at 5:30 & 9 pm, Sun at 7 pm Tickets $12 50 Fri & Sat at 9, $10 Wed. Thur, Sat at 5:30 & Sun 760-9542.

Good. Where lies evil, and what does it take to stir it from its sleep? Such are the questions posed by this complex, taunting drama written by the late C P Taylor about a would-be Nazi Feb 26-March 24 at the Dallas Theater Center’s Frank Lloyd Wright Theater. 3636 Tur tle Creek Blvd Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri at 8 30 pm, Sat at 4 & 8:30 pm, Sun at 2 30 & 7:30 pm Tickets $15 & $14 Fri & Sat evening; $12 50 & $11 Tue-Thur, Sat & Sun matinees 526-8857

’night, Mother. In Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, an elderly woman attempts to save her daughter after the daughter tells her that she is going to kill herself Can a play be both delightful and harrowing? Yes – rarely – as in this brilliant piece of theater, which stars Mercedes McCambndge Jan 30-Feb 3 at the Ma-lestic Theater, 1925 Elm Wed-Sat at 8 pm. Sun at 2:30 pm Tickets $26 50-$21 50 Fri & Sat; $21.50-$19 50 Sun & Thur; available at Ticketron outlets 265-0789.

Passion Play. James loves Eleanor and Eleanor loves James, with honesty and trust and no duplicity – that is, until James has an affair with a much younger woman, causing him to sprout a sly alter ego. Jim Eleanor’s ability to forgive and forget vanishes with the entrance of Nell, her own savvy shadow. This simple conceit takes flight when the “real” James and Eleanor begin to interact in peculiar configurations with the characters of their consciences. A sharp comedy that ultimately cuts deep Feb 5-March 3 at the Dallas Theater Center’s Arts District Theater. 2401 Flora at Fairmount. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri at 8:30 pm. Sat at 4 & 8:30 pm. Sun at 2:30 & 7:30 pm. Tickets $15 Fri & Sat evening; $12 50 Tue-Thur. Sat matinee & Sun 526-8857

Possessed by Romance. A young Yankee widow returns to an antebellum manor that’s not quite as vacant as she assumes It’s occupied by a ghost, a pretty young phantom from the Old South who needs the widow’s body so that she may attend the great Hamilton Ball This stylish romantic comedy, set in the Thirties (and before) was written by Sharon Ratcliffe ol Dallas and is filled with classic comic confusion and lunacy. Feb 6-24 at New Arts Theater. 702 Ross at Market in the West End warehouse district Wed-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 5 & 9 pm. Sun at 2 30 pm Tickets $12 50 Sat at 9: $10 50 Fri & Sat at 5, $8 50 Wed, Thur & Sun 761-9064.

Quartermaine’s Terms. Score another for the Brits. Simon Gray’s play about a third-rate school for foreign students in England is not only hysterically funny but has much to say about education, Britain and the sloppy ways of the world Feb 1 March 3 at Theater Three, the Quadrangle. 2800 Routh Tue-Sat at 8 15 pm. Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm Tickets $13 50 Fri & Sat, $11 Tue-Thur & Sun 871-3300.



MUSIC



Brookhaven College. Buddy Morrow conducts the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Feb 17 at 4 pm in the Performance Hall, Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Lane. Farmers Branch Tickets $10-$9 620 4118.

Cliburn Concerts. Feb 12: Pianist Radu Lupu performs Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Op 109 and 110 and Schumann’s Fantasia in C at 8 pm at Ed Landreth Auditorium. TCU. University at Cantey. Fort Worth Tickets $16-$10 Feb 26: Pianist Ralph Votapek performs J.S. Bach’s French Suite No.6 in E. Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 8 in B flat, Chopin’s Andante spianato and Grande Brilliante Polonaise and Ravel’s “La Valse” at 8 pm at Texas Wesleyan College’s Fine Arts Auditorium. Wesleyan at Rosedale. Fort Worth, Tickets $10 (817) 738-6536.

Dallas Bach Society. Oboist Eric Barr. trumpeter Richard Giangiuho and organist-harpsichordist Paul Riedo join other members of the Dallas Bach Orchestra in a “Baroque Sampler” featuring the music of J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi. Hertel and the Bologna trumpet school Feb 18 at 8:15 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 6306 Kenwood at Abrams. Tickets $5. 821-3450.

Dallas Chamber Music Society. The Emerson Quartet presents Mozart’s String Quartet in E flat (K. 248), Debussy’s String Quartet and a new quartet written especially for the ensemble in 1984 by George Tsontakis. Feb 25 at 8:15 pm at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Tickets $8. 526-7301.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Feb 1 & 2: Eduardo Mata conducts a concert featuring Gritfes’ Poem for flute and orchestra (with soloist Jean Weger Larson), Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto (with soloist Malcolm Frager), and the Mephisto Waltz and “Les Preludes” of Liszt. Feb 3: Soprano Leontyne Price appears in concert with Mata conducting. Feb 22,23 & 24: David Zin-man conducts Erb’s Sonneries for orchestra, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto (with soloist Elmar Oliviera) and Dvoraks Eighth Symphony. Feb 28 & March 2: John Nelson conducts Bach’s Mass in B minor with the DSO chorus, joined by sopranos Arlene Auger and Patricia Schuman, mezzo-soprano Janice Taylor, tenor David Gordon and bass Charles Nelson. All concerts at Fair Park Music Hall. Feb 24 at 2:30 pm; all other dates at 8:15 pm. Tickets $25-$10 for Price concert, $16-$6 for all others. 692-0203.

Dallas Symphony SuperPops. Conductor John Green joins pianist Jeffrey Siegel and the Dallas Pops Orchestra to present The Definitive Gershwin.’ Feb 8 at 8 pm at Fair Park Music Hall. Tickets $18-$8. 692-0203.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Feb 9 & 10: Contralto Maureen Forrester performs with conductor John Giordano in a concert including Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 (“Surprise”), Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody and Chausson’s “Poem de I’amour et de la mer.” Tickets $15-$5. Feb 17: Violinist Isaac Stern appears in recital. All concerts Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm at Tarrant County Convention Center, 1101 Houston, Fort Worth. Tickets $25-$9. Metro 429-1181.

Richardson Symphony Orchestra. Chris Xeros conducts a concert featuring D.K. Lee’s Hawaiian Festival Overture. Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from “Daphnis et Chloe” and concerto performances by winners of the McCar-ty Young Artists Competition. Feb 16 at 8 pm at Richardson High School Auditorium, Belt Line near Coit. Tickets $12.50$5. 234-4195.



DANCE



Dallas Ballet. The Dallas Ballet’s February presentation offers both an all-Flemming Flindt program and what looks like a basic introduction to balletic styles, periods and moods. Using three different scores from the 19th and 20th centuries, Flindt’s three February pieces run the gamut of his own distinctive styles. Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score, “Swan Lake,” the second act will be seen in the original Petipa choreography, now restaged by Flindt. Also making a comeback will be “The Miraculous Mandarin,” set to a score by Bartok. It’s a melodrama of a surrealistic sort involving a mysterious title figure, a woman of the streets and a prototypical modern urban environment. Rounding out the program will be the world premiere of Flindt’s newest ballet, “Tarantelle Classique.” Set to a suite by Boccherini and arranged by Chuck Mandernach, the new ballet by Flindt is in a romantic mood. Feb 21 -23 at 8 pm and Feb 24 at 2 pm at the Majestic Theater, 1925 Elm. Tickets $25-$5. 744-4430 or at Ticketron outlets.

Fort Worth Ballet. This month, the Fort Worth Ballet presents the Bejart Ballet of the 20th Century, an internationally acclaimed Belgian dance troupe. Directed by Maurice Beiart, one of the world’s preeminent choreographers, the ensemble has received rave reviews for its theatrical, avant-garde approach to ballet. The program features Bejart’s signature work, The Rite of Spring,” set to a score by Stravinsky. Other works include “Greek Dances,” “Concerto in Re” and “Eros Thanatos (Love and Death).” Feb 1 & 2 at 8 pm at Tarrant County Convention Center Theater, Fort Worth. Tickets $23-$7; available at Central Ticket Agency. Metro 429-1181.

FILM



Black Film Festival. The Southwest Film/Video Archives of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts presents this festival of black films of the Thirties and Forties. The films were selected from the Tyler-Texas Black Film Collection, a group of black-audience films recently discovered in a Tyler, Texas, warehouse. The cost of restoring the deteriorating films was underwritten by the Zale Jewelry Division of the Zale Corp. The festival coincides with the beginning of Black Emphasis Month. Feb 1-3 at the Bob Hope Theater, Owen Arts Center. SMU. Tickets $12 50 for festival, $5 for films only, available at the door. Call 692-3510 for times and information.



NIGHTLIFE

ENTERTAINMENT/DANCING



Acapulco Bar. Here’s a great bar for the over-21 par-tyer: three blackjack tables with dealers, a waitress who walks around offering tequila shots out of her holster, lots of color on the walls and even more colorful characters on the dance floor. (5111 Greenville 692-9856. Tue-Fri 4 pm-2 am. Sat 7 pm-2 am. Closed Sun & Mon Cover varies. MC. V. AE.)

4500 McKinney. Following a few false starts, this intimate supper club now seems to work. The food is good, and the entertainment -regional and national performers of jazz, blues, pop and show tunes – has been outstanding. If you don’t want dinner, you can pay the cover charge at the door and sip drinks while enjoying the show (4500 McKinney at Armstrong. 522-5818. Tue-Sat 7 pm-2 am; shows at 9 & 11 pm. Cover $ 10 Sun & Tue- Thur, $ 15 Fri & Sat. MC, V, AE.)

Memphis. This is the best live music bar in Far North Dallas, if you like large jazz ensembles-and everybody seems to. The little Addison bar is usually packed with jazz buffs listening to regulars such as Clairvoyance. Emerald City and Eddie Harrison and the Shortcuts. (Quorum Plaza, 15000 Quorum, Suite 500. 386-9517. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. Cover S3$5 All credit cards )

Prohibition Room. This bar has great atmosphere: hardwood floors, a bar made from old buildings, jazz, blues, old Sinatra on the jukebox, pool tables It’s a tremendous after-work place, and there’s no cover, despite live acts. (703 McKinney in the Brewery. 954-4407. Mon & Tue 4 pm-midmght, Wed-Fri 4 pm-2 am. Sat 7 pm-2 am. AE, DC)

Rusty Pelican. The large bar in this restaurant can best be described as having a California Surf motif: lots of plants, wood and surfing pictures. There’s dancing to pop-music bands every night except Monday and mind-boggling beach drinks. (14655 Dallas Pkwy. 980-8950 Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am. Sat & Sun 4 30 pm-2 am. All credit cards.)

The Saloon. This is the best bluegrass bar in Dallas. It may be the only bluegrass bar in Dallas But it sometimes books bands that have never heard of bluegrass. Oh well, you can still eat decent nachos, occasionally watch some of the regulars do mountain clogging (some kind of dance), drink lots of beer and act like a hillbilly in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. (2818 Greenville. 823-6550 Mon-Fri 3 pm-2 am, Sat 11 am-2 am. Sun noon-2 am. MC. V. AE.)



FORT WORTH NIGHTLIFE



Caravan of Dreams. Caravan of Dreams, which covers three floors of a chic Sundance Square building, has excellent live jazz/blues (and a bar) on the first floor, a theater with movies and live drama (and a bar) on the second floor and an outdoor patio with a cactus garden (and a bar) on the roof (312 Houston (817) 877 3000 Daily 11 am-2 am. shows at 9:45 & 11:30 pm Cover lor shows only MC. V. AE.)

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