Wed 16 – It was North Texas’ own Gene Autry (who hailed from Tioga) who first recorded the song Frosty the Snowman in 1950. Decades later, Casa Mañana is spending the holiday season by keeping the old chestnut alive and putting on a stage musical based on the song, thru Dec 23 at 3101 W Lancaster Av, FW. Tickets are $20-35. Call 817-332-2272.
Thur 17 – Spend a Thursday evening brushing up your swing dance moves and listening to hot jazz at the Winter Wonderdance. The event, which includes live music by the Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band as well as lessons to help you rediscover the jitterbug, is at 8pm at Fort Worth Community Arts Center, 1300 Gendy St, FW. Tickets are $10.
Fri 18 – Kitchen Dog Theatre’s regional premiere of The Totalitarians has been winning rave reviews over in Dallas, and in the absence of much to do this weekend, we propose you make the trip and see Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s vicious political satire before it closes. The show runs thru Sat at 3120 McKinney Av, Dallas. Tickets are $20-40. Call 214-953-1055.
Sat 19 – The Kwanzaa Fort Worth celebration goes on today at Austin Events Center. This inaugural event prepares us for the holiday (which begins in a week’s time) with African drumming, food, storytelling, music, poetry, and speeches on the seven principles underlying this weeklong festival. The event runs 10am-6pm at 1111 E Berry St, FW. Admission is free. Call 817-760-0779.
Sun 20 – Here’s a different take on Tchaikovsky: The Chris Milyo Band and singer J.E. McKissic drop in at Fort Worth Central Library this afternoon to perform Duke Ellington’s jazz arrangement of The Nutcracker. The great bandleader recorded the work in 1960, and it has become an esteemed part of Ellington’s canon. The music starts at 2pm at 500 W 3rd St, FW. Admission is free. Call 817-871-7701.
Mon 21 – If it’s Monday in December, Michael Martin Murphey must be back in town. The Dallas native, who turned 70 this year, takes the stage once again at Bass Performance Hall for an evening of cowboy poetry, Christmas stories, and country music. The concert begins at 7:30pm at 555 Commerce St, FW. Tickets are $38-82.50. Call 817-212-4280.
Tue 22 – With the 25th rapidly bearing down on us, Grapevine’s Palace Theatre is running Christmas movies every weekday and some days on the weekend. Today they’re going full blast with a double bill of A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 2pm and a screening of White Christmas at 7pm. The movies screen at 300 S Main St, Grapevine. Tickets are $6. Call 817-410-3100.
We took our 11 year old son to see Frosty earlier this month and we really enjoyed it. I had not been to Casa since my last elementary school field trip, so it was nostalgic for me as well……