Archives for : Texas
THE ACCLAIMED HOLIDAY THEATRICAL
“TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE…” BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Will Run at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie
November 25 – December 11, 2022
Tickets Go On Sale Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m. at AXS.com
Dallas, TX (August 23, 2022) – The acclaimed family holiday theatrical – “‘Twas the Night Before…” by Cirque du Soleil – is making its Dallas debut at the Texas C. U. Theater fromFriday, November 25 – Sunday, December 11, 2022. The production will run for 25 performances.
Tickets start at $44 and will go on sale Friday, August 26th at 10 a.m. at AXS.com. Group tickets of 10 or more will be available at texasgrouptickets.com, via email at christina@texasgrouptickets.com or by calling (281) 367-9717 beginning August 26 at 10 a.m.
“‘Twas the Night Before…,” Cirque du Soleil’s exhilarating spin on the beloved Christmas tale, is about the wonders of sharing and friendship. The production marks Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever Christmas show and is a flurry of Christmas cheer – rip-roaring fun with hugely lovable characters that will introduce audiences to the magic of Cirque du Soleil.
Performance Schedule:
Friday, Nov. 25 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 26 1 p.m., 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 27 12 noon, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 30 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 1 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 2 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3 1 p.m., 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4 12 noon, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 7 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 8 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 9 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 10 1 p.m., 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 11 12 noon, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.
B.J. Novak’s directorial debut, “Vengeance”, is a thought-provoking, hilarious, dark comedy. The talented filmmaker also, wrote and starred in the film. I got a chance to speak with him about the film, the best way to connect with people, what he loved about Texas, and much more!
Check out the interview and the movie when it opens in theaters on July 29, 2022.
This week I got a chance to speak with director, Hannah Marks and actors, John Cho & Mia Isaac about their new movie, “Don’t Make Me Go”. The four of us chat about life lessons, road trips, how to know when you’ve found the right partner and more!
“Don’t Make Me Go” is available to stream on Amazon Prime July 15, 2022.
A comedy about an aspiring film crew doing whatever it takes to make it big, from starting a porno, to fighting demons, to starting a gang.
About this event
Raw Lemon’s first feature-length film “We Start A Series” screening at Texas Theatre on Jefferson! Experience the biggest comedy movie event happening in Oak Cliff, by Oak Cliff filmmakers. We’re buying three kegs of beer and handing them out to all who arrive on time! Come out, have a drink, have lots of laughs, and enjoy the night with us!
Date and time
Sun, July 17, 2022
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM CDT
Location
Texas Theatre
231 Jefferson Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75208
Purchase tickets here:
We Start A Series (Movie Event) Tickets, Sun, Jul 17, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
Ben Master’s brilliantly captures the wildlife of Texas in the first ever nature documentary about the Lone Star State.
“Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story” is narrated by Texas native/ Academy Award winner, Matthew McConaughey. The film begins in the high plains and peaks of West Texas, flows along our many river systems, and concludes along the bay of the Gulf of Mexico. It showcases a variety of wildlife species ranging from mountain lions to the mysterious blind catfish. Master’s vision is stunning, offering sharp and thrilling images that will consume audiences. Especially when we arrive at a heart-pounding hunt between a snake and bat.
It’s amazing we haven’t seen a doc like this about Texas before. The state has such diverse landscapes and unique creatures that deserve to be recognized. Though Masters excels at showing the beauty of our nature, his main goal is to inspire Texans to conserve what’s left of their wildlife. Encouraging water preservation and a plea to stop traps that are left in the wild to mangle animals who are unfortunate enough to get caught and left to die in the cruelest manner. That particular scene alone is enough to break your heart and seek change.
This isn’t a political documentary, it’s a humane one. “Deep in the Heart” is an immersive and breathtaking journey that powerfully portrays the importance of Texas’ conservation.
Rating: A
Roger & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” at Winspear Opera House – Dallas, TX
Where to start with this production of Daniel Fish’s “Oklahoma!”. I’ll admit, even though I knew this was a different version of the 1943 production, I still had no idea what I would be walking into. The moment I sat down and saw the very bare, wooden set with walls of guns, I quickly knew, this wasn’t like anything I had imagined.
Due to the recent shootings and, unfortunately, the Tulsa shooting that happened during opening night, there was an insert card explaining a “prop gun use warning” in our playbills. It was slightly alarming, and may have overshadowed a bit of the story.
Fish’s revival of the beloved Broadway classic is far from a traditional musical production. The set lacks color with wooden walls and tables, the cast sits around until their turn to speak, and there is no big musical, choregraphed numbers. This show is much more relaxed, and the dance numbers seem less rehearsed, with the exception of a emotionally heavy, solo dance in the second opening act.
I can appreciate a modern twist on an old school tale; however, this show never picked a lane. One minute you’re in a comical, old western setting, next you’re in the dark listening to a depressing conversation about death. It took me out of the story multiple times, till eventually I gave up trying to stay in.
Though, the production was not my cup of tea, the talent of the entire cast was! Sean Grandillo does a fine job as Curly, offering his vocal and instrumental gifts while playing the guitar. Sasha Hutchings as Laurey stuns audiences the moment she first sings onstage. She effortlessly embodies her character from the beginning to the sad end. BUT the hilarious shining star is Sis as Ado Annie! Talk about a showstopper. Whether she’s singing or flirting, you can’t take your eyes off of her. In some dark times during the show, she was a bright light. Confidently juggling two men, while acting like a sweet innocent little girl to her shotgun carrying daddy.
I’m all about creative, artistic liberties, but this production of “Oklahoma!” was just a little too outside of the box. However, it is still enjoyable to watch this talented ensemble and hear their renditions of the beautiful soundtrack.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! at the Winspear Opera House from May 31 – June 12. Get tickets at https://broadwaydallas.org/shows/oklahoma/
This week I review the remake of a Stephen King classic, “Firestarter” and Hulu’s new crime drama series, “Candy”.
“Firestarter is currently playing in theaters and “Candy” is available to stream on Hulu.
EARTHX FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS 2022 PROGRAM LINEUP FEATURING OVER 75 FILMS
— BEN MASTERS’ FILM DEEP IN THE HEART NARRATED BY AWARD WINNER MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY WORLD PREMIERING ON OPENING NIGHT AT THE FEST —
Also Screening are Festival Favorites FIRE OF LOVE, WE FEED PEOPLE, and THE TERRITORY Along with Stories Unique to Texas
Curiosity Joins Festival as Presenting Sponsor
Dallas, TX (April 8, 2022) – EarthX Film Festival 2022 presented by Curiosity unveiled its programming lineup today with over 75 feature-length and short films screening during its four-day run May 12-15. This year’s theme, “A Celebration of the Outdoors,” continues the Film Festival’s mission to highlight films and emerging media that celebrate nature and outdoor adventure stories exploring the environment, conservation, climate change, and science while honoring the heroes working to protect our planet. This year for the first time, the EarthX Film Festival will be held in the Dallas Arts District, providing easy walking for attendees to the five theater venues tapping into the vibrant downtown community and making it an exciting cultural touchstone for the city. Each night of the Film Festival will feature a musical act performing before a showcase screening.
Curiosity, a leading factual entertainment media company, has joined the festival as the Presenting Sponsor. Curiosity’s flagship streaming service, Curiosity Stream, delivers thousands of films, series, and shows on space, history, nature, tech, lifestyle and more, all on demand, available to watch on all the major streaming devices. They will also be presenting a screening of the Curiosity original film GOING CIRCULAR, exploring circularity, an innovative concept that could save our collective future on planet Earth.
“We’re thrilled to present films this year that showcase our amazing planet and the people dedicated to making a difference. It’s always been our vision to create a world-class event that celebrates the spirit of Texas and welcomes global citizens to experience the rich arts culture in Dallas,” said Michael Fletcher, CEO of EarthX. “We’re pleased to welcome Curiosity as our Presenting Sponsor. They share our vision in the power of storytelling to change the world, and we’re grateful for their continued support.”
Curiosity is thrilled to partner with EarthX to bring this incredible lineup of game-changing films to thousands of festival-goers both in person and virtually,” said Rob Burk, head of original content for Curiosity. “We know firsthand to resonate deeply with viewers, films must dive into our past and present and also explore solutions for the future, and we are proud to support the EarthX Film Festival mission to empower documentary fans to learn, enjoy, and take action.”
For more information and tickets, go to: https://earthxfilmfestival.org/ or download the app available on iOS and Android.
OPENING SCREENING
This year’s Film Festival has something for everyone with 24 features and 54 shorts, music, art installations, panel discussions, and more. The festival’s opening night will be the world premiere of Ben Masters’ film DEEP IN THE HEART, narrated by Academy Award® Winner Matthew McConaughey. The first feature-length wildlife film ever produced about Texas, DEEP IN THE HEART, is a visually stunning celebration of what makes Texas unique — its diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife behavior that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Filmed over two years, DEEP IN THE HEART showcases Texas’ breathtaking species and wild places, the connectivity of water and wildlife, and recognizes Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale.
“Texas has one of the most diverse wildlife and ecosystems in the country. For Texans, this is a love letter to the diverse and vibrant state that we call home,” said Ben Masters, filmmaker. “We’re all interconnected, and it’s only by conserving what we have that we can ensure our future. I’m proud to bring DEEP IN THE HEART to the EarthX Film Festival.”
FESTIVAL FAVORITES COMING TO DALLAS
The Festival has programmed several festival darlings in the lineup, including Sara Dosa’s FIRE OF LOVE, WE FEED PEOPLE, directed by Ron Howard, THE TERRITORY (Sundance Audience Award winner), Lucy Walker’s BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE, and Rachel Lears’ TO THE END.
This year’s Festival features a wide range of filmmakers, including award winners Jeff Orlowsky (CHASING ICE), Raj Patel & Zak Piper (THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER), young superstar Lindsey Hagen (CALIFORNIA NATURAL) and several newcomers, includingtwo, second grade brothers making their first film with their father called LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE. The films cover a variety of important topics, from the healing experience for veterans through nature (ERIC AND THE BEES, BASTARDS’ ROAD), to female big wave surfing (BIG VS SMALL), and tiger poaching (TIGRE GENTE). Also screening are popular outdoor culture films REEL ROCK: BLACK ICE, The North Face’s award-winning film LEARNING TO DROWN, SPIRIT OF THE PEAKS from REI and Protect Our Winters, and MOUNTAIN REVELATIONS from Protect Our Winters.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT – UNIQUELY TEXAS STORIES
This year’s festival turns a spotlight on Texas with DEEP IN THE HEART that addresses Texas conservation issues, BATTLE FOR THE HEART OF TEXAS that addresses property rights in energy production, WHEN IT’S GOOD, IT’S GOOD, focusing on oil-drilling communities in West Texas, and REI’s SLIM PICKINS about diversity in outdoor culture.
SHORT FILMS
Many of the Festival’s shorts are associated with well known brands and film companies including Patagonia’s RAISED FROM THE EARTH about living off the land, and THE MONSTER IN OUR CLOSET which focuses on the plastic in our fashion. The Redford Center is presenting two short films on mass transit, COMMUNITY POWER ARIZONA: EN NUESTRXS MANOS (IN OUR HANDS) and COMMUNITY POWER NEVADA: UNIDXS EN ACCION (UNITED IN ACTION).
You can find the entire EarthX Film Festival 2022 line-up here:
FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS
- Bastards’ Road, Director Brian Morrison
- Battle for the Heart of Texas, Director John Brown
- Before They Fall, Director Cam MacArthur
- Big vs Small, Director Minna Dufton
- REEL ROCK: Black Ice, Director Peter Mortimer, Zachary Barr
- Bring Your Own Brigade, Director Lucy Walker
- Chasing Ice, Director Jeff Orlowski
- Coextinction, Director Gloria Pancrazi, Elena Jean
- Deep in the Heart, Director Ben Masters
- Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, Director Bill Kroyer
- Fire of Love, Director Sara Dosa
- Godspeed, Los Polacos!, Director Adam Nawrot
- Going Circular, Director Ricard Dale, Nigel Walk
- Inhabitants, Director Costas Boutsikaris, Anna Palmer
- Learning to Drown, Director Ben Knight
- Mountain Revelations, Director Justin Fann
- Newtok, Director Michael Kirby, Andrew Burton
- Spirit of the Peaks, Director Connor Ryan, Tim Kressin
- The Ants and the Grasshopper, Director Raj Patel, Zak Piper
- The Territory, Director Alex Pritz
- Tigre Gente, Director Elizabeth Unger
- To the End, Director Rachel Lears
- We Feed People, Director Ron Howard
- Zero Gravity, Director Thomas Verrette
SHORT FILMS
- 80° North, Director Brandon Holmes
- All Bodies on Bikes, Director Zeppelin Zeerip
- American Scar, Director Daniel Lombroso
- An Eye for Detail, Director Matthew Harmer
- Bad Boy of Bonsai, Director Juan A. Moreno
- Breaking Trail, Director Jesse Roesler
- California Natural, Director Lindsey Hagen
- Camp Yoshi, Director Faith E. Briggs
- Chasing the Sublime, Director Amanda Bluglass
- Community Power Arizona: En Nuestrxs Manos (In Our Hands), Director Pita Juarez
- Community Power Nevada: Unidxs En Acción (United In Action), Director Nico Cadena
- Eric and the Bees, Director Erin Brethauer, Tim Hussin
- Finding Gulo, Director Colin Arisman
- From My Window, Director Frank Pickell
- Humanity Has Not Yet Failed, Director Norma V. Toraya, Jared P. Scott
- I am One of the People, Director Cameron Woodle
- If I Tell Them, Director Oliver Sutro
- Kāhuli, Director Chris Jones
- Life in the Slow Lane, Director Sol de Glanville, Ben de Glanville
- Like a River, Director Jim Aikman
- Listen to the Beat of our Images, Director Audrey Jean-Baptiste, Maxime Jean-Baptiste
- Loon, Director Jason Whalen, Chris Zuker
- Mission Mountain, Director Kody Kohlman, Andrew Bydlon
- Mother of the Sea, Director Nicholas Brown
- Mylo, Director Chris Bukard
- No Soy Oscar, Director Jon Ayon
- Nuisance Bear, Director Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden
- One Star Reviews: National Parks, Director Alex Massey
- Patagonia Provisions: The Ocean Solution Film, Director Darcy Hennessey Turenne
- Raised from the Earth, Director Forest Woodard
- Rebirth of a Reef, Director Shaun Wolfe
- Return to Earth, Director Darcy Wittenburg, Darren McCoullough, Colin Jones
- Rockies Repeat, Director Caroline Hedin
- Slim Pickins, Director Justin Jeffers
- The Captain, Director Gregory Kohs
- The Diamond, Director Caitlyn Greene
- The Endless Wave, Director Tom Attwater
- The Interconnectedness of all Living Things, Director Jenn den Broeder
- The Land of Griffons, Director Riccardo Soriano
- The Last Last Hike, Director Celene Francois
- The Monster in Our Closet, Director Kathryn Bays, Nicole Gormley
- The Seeds We Keep, Director Gabriel E.W. Carter
- The Seeker, Director Lance Edmands
- The Wilderness Within, Director Jason van Bruggen
- They Carry Us With Them: Gabriel Frey, Director Jeremy Seifert
- Thomas Deininger. Trash Artist., Director Gnarly Bay
- To Live Here (sống ở đây), Director Melanie Dang Ho
- Wastewater: The Tale of Two Cities, Director Sarah Franke
- We Decided to Become Farmers, Director Rob Herring, Ryan Wirick
- What Remains, Director Paavo Hanninen
- When It Comes from the Earth, Director Katalin Egely
- When it’s Good it’s Good, Director Alejandra Vasquez
ABOUT EARTHX FILM FESTIVAL 2022
The 2022 EarthX Film Festival is four days of film, music and interactive environmental programs and events set in the heart of Dallas Arts District, May 12-15. Our mission is to bring awareness of the environmental crisis in order to create sincere action on both an individual and communal scale; to inspire local and global change on how we as humans affect our home planet and our fellow beings. We aim to include Texas, and the Southwest, in the conversation on climate change through compassionate, positive, truthful storytelling.For more information, visit https://earthxfilmfestival.org
SUMMARY OF AWARD WINNERS
2021 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
(Choices listed in order of votes received)
BEST PICTURE
Winner: THE POWER OF THE DOG
Runners-up: BELFAST (2); KING RICHARD (3); WEST SIDE STORY (4); LICORICE PIZZA (5); DUNE (6); NIGHTMARE ALLEY (7); THE FRENCH DISPATCH (8); THE LOST DAUGHTER (9); CODA (10)
BEST ACTOR
Winner: Benedict Cumberbatch, THE POWER OF THE DOG
Runners-up: Will Smith, KING RICHARD (2); Andrew Garfield, TICK, TICK, BOOM! (3); Peter Dinklage, CYRANO (4); Denzel Washington, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (5)
BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Kristen Stewart, SPENCER
Runners-up: Olivia Colman, THE LOST DAUGHTER (2); Jessica Chastain, THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (3); Lady Gaga, HOUSE OF GUCCI (4); Nicole Kidman, BEING THE RICARDOS (5)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Kodi Smit-McPhee, THE POWER OF THE DOG
Runners-up: Troy Kotsur, CODA (2); Ciaran Hinds, BELFAST (3); Ben Affleck, THE TENDER BAR (4); Jesse Plemons, THE POWER OF THE DOG (5)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Ariana DeBose, WEST SIDE STORY
Runners-up: Kirsten Dunst, THE POWER OF THE DOG (2); Aunjanue Ellis, KING RICHARD (3); Caitriona Balfe, BELFAST (4); Ruth Negga, PASSING (5)
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Jane Campion, THE POWER OF THE DOG
Runners-up: Steven Spielberg, WEST SIDE STORY (2); Kenneth Branagh, BELFAST (3), Denis Villeneuve, DUNE (4); Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA (5)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Winner: DRIVE MY CAR
Runners-up: A HERO (2); THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (3); THE HAND OF GOD (4); FLEE (5)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Winner: SUMMER OF SOUL
Runners-up: FLEE (2); THE RESCUE (3); PROCESSION (4); VAL (5)
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Winner: ENCANTO
Runner-up: THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES
BEST SCREENPLAY
Winner: Jane Campion, THE POWER OF THE DOG
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA; Kenneth Branagh, BELFAST (tie)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner: Greig Fraser, DUNE
Runner-up: Ari Wegner, THE POWER OF THE DOG
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
Winner: Hans Zimmer, DUNE
Runner-up: Jonny Greenwood, THE POWER OF THE DOG
RUSSELL SMITH AWARD (best low-budget or cutting-edge independent film)
Winner: FLEE