Entertainment
‘Garfield’ coming to theaters, Muttfest among this week’s entertainment events
‘Impressionists Immersive Exhibition’ opens at Arts in the Sunset
The Amarillo Art Institute’s (AAI) Arts in the Sunset is presenting the highly acclaimed “Impressionists Immersive Exhibition,” now through July 17. This exhibit will be the second traveling exhibit the art gallery has housed, following 2023’s successful run of “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition.”
“Impressionists” brings to life paintings by the revolutionary movement’s famed artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Morisot, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, Gauguin, Cezanne, and Toulouse-Lautrec. An immersive room creates a multi-sensory experience, with more than 1,000 moving masterpieces projected on screens and 3D interactive panels explaining key innovations, artists’ influences, and how these paintings influence all of modern art that followed. The up-close setting will feature such well-known pieces as “Starry Night,” “Water Lilies,” “Waiting,” “In the Conservatory” and many more.
The exhibit is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., with the last entry of admission at 6 p.m. On Sundays, the exhibit will be open from 1 until 5 p.m., with the last entry at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$25, based on age. Proceeds from the exhibit go to the Amarillo Art Institute and its art programs. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at artsinthesunset.org.
Starlight Theater starts in Sam Houston Park in June
The Starlight Theater free summer concert series returns Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Sam Houston Park in Amarillo, with live music, food trucks and family fun.
The live music lineup includes June 4 – Touching Voodoo; June 11 – Ruth Ellen Lynch & Jazz Plus; June 18 – Kirk House Band; June 25 – PRVDNC; July 9 – Mike Fuller & The Repeat Offenders; July 16 – The Prairie Dogs; July 23 – Party of 6; July 30 – Big G & The Tradewinds and Aug. 6 – Insufficient Funds.
For more information, follow the Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department on Facebook or see their page on the city’s website.
Cinergy to host specials, promos during month of May
Each month, Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas including the Amarillo location hosts a variety of special events and promos. In May, upcoming movies to be shown include “The Fall Guy,” “Tarot,” “Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace” 25th anniversary, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” “IF,” “Back to Black,” “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the “Garfield” movie and “Young Woman and the Sea”. May 25 will feature a breakfast event for “Garfield” and a sensory friendly surprise.
On May 24, Cinergy will have Garfield kids packs and a Garfield featured menu, including lasagna bites and Garfield pizza, as well as a Garfield in “Cut to Win” game.
For Elite Members, from May 1-May 31 (Mother’s Day), treat mom to free movies by signing her up for Elite Plus. On May 5 (Cinco de Mayo), there will be free Rico’s nachos for Elite Plus members. On May 27, an Elite Plus Memorial Day offer will feature a $10 gift card for basic members, or $20 gift card for Elite Plus members. Other features include the Cinergy Heroes Teacher Appreciation week (May 1-8), Mother’s Day and graduation fun card special online for a $50 Fun Card with $10 Bonus Cash (May 1-31) and a Mother’s Day gift basket giveaway on social media (May 9-14).
For more information including showtimes, visit www.cinergy.com/amarillo.
Starlight Ranch hosting full concert season, Muttfest, more
The Starlight Ranch Event Center, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr., has a full lineup of concerts in the works as the summer months grow closer.
Among performers and events listed on their website are Muttfest (May 19), Tracy Byrd (May 31), The Marshall Tucker Band (June 8), Braxton Keith (June 14), Aaron Watson (June 15), Corey Kent (June 20), Chris Young (June 28), La Mafia (July 12), and the toadies (Aug. 31).
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit their website, https://www.bigtexan.com/starlight-ranch-event-center/ , follow them on Facebook or call 806-372-6000.
AMoA hosting exhibit by Brooklyn-based artist
A Swoon exhibition is on display at the Amarillo Museum of Art now through Aug. 11. Caledonia Curry, whose work appears under the name Swoon, is a Brooklyn-based artist and is widely known as the first woman to gain large-scale recognition in the male-dominated world of street art. Curry took to the streets of New York while attending the Pratt Institute of Art in 1999, pasting her paper portraits to the sides of buildings with the goal of making art and the public space of the city more accessible.
In a moment when contemporary art often holds a conflicted relationship to beauty, Curry’s work carries with it an earnestness, treating the beautiful as sublime even as she explores the darker sides of her subjects. Her work has become known for marrying the whimsical to the grounded, often weaving in slivers of fairy-tales, scraps of myth, and a recurring motif of the sacred feminine. Tendrils of her own family history — and a legacy of her parents’ struggles with addiction and substance abuse — recur throughout her work.
The Amarillo Museum of Art is located at 2200 South Van Buren on the Washington Street campus of Amarillo College. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. For additional information, visit www.amoa.org, email amoa@actx.edu, or call 806-371-5050 or 806-371-5392 (weekends).
Dali’s Wonderland exhibition on display at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) exhibit, “Dali’s Wonderland,” is currently on display.
“Dali’s Wonderland” is in partnership with the West Texas A&M University Information Technology Department. Thanks to this partnership, the exhibition will feature a virtual flipbook of Dali’s works. In the coming months, IT will also be working with to create an artificial intelligence and augmented reality aspects to this exhibition. The museum will offer some special programming this summer around the exhibition, and those details will be announced soon.
Located on the campus of West Texas A&M University, PPHM offers visitors a chance to step into Texas Panhandle history with special exhibits, a permanent collection, special events and more. For more information about PPHM, visit www.panhandleplains.org.
Don Louis at the Amarillo Civic Center on June 15
Don Louis will perform for Country Night at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15 in the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium. Experience an extraordinary evening of country music featuring a lineup of five exceptional artists, headlined by Don Louis.
Renowned for his soulful melodies and captivating performances, Don Louis is a true luminary of contemporary country music. With chart-topping hits and a dynamic stage presence, Louis promises a night to remember. From heartfelt ballads to foot-stomping anthems, each artist brings their unique style and energy to the stage, promising a diverse and electrifying concert experience.
Tickets are on sale at panhandletickets.com .
Diamond and Gold Concert – A Tribute to Neil Diamond to perform in June
Diamond and Gold Concert – A Tribute to Neil Diamond, honoring the music of the great Neil Diamond and featuring Amarillo’s own Dean Yates, will perform June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo.
Ticket sales benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Amarillo and cost $25 each, including fees. Tickets are available online at https://www.panhandletickets.com/, at the Amarillo Civic Center Box Office, by phone (806) 378-3096 and participating area United Supermarkets.
Band members include Yates – Guitar/Vocals, Dr. Dan Hanson – Keyboards, Mary Lyn Halley – Acoustic Guitar/Vocals, Marshall Pjesky – Guitar, Miranda Pjesky – Bass Guitar, Dr. Jim Rennier – Drums and Cathleen Tyson-Day – Vocals.
Yates has been a consummate performer in the Amarillo area for many years. Upon graduation from college, he passed the audition and was selected to perform as a lead guitarist for Dennis Yost of Classics IV fame. Yates traveled across the country performing the million-selling hits Spooky, Stormy, Everyday with You Girl, and Traces of Love at concerts, club dates and even at the White House. He has also performed in plays for theater and improv shows as part of the acting troupe, Merely Players. Currently, Yates can be seen in the Amarillo area as a solo artist, and as a founding member of the band, Insufficient Funds.
Throughout the years, Yates has developed a passion for the songs of Neil Diamond. He is looking forward to showcasing that passion in the band’s musical tribute to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Amarillo.For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/diamondandgoldconcert .
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo programs help alleviate some financial burdens for families with sick children. Their belief is when families are together, they cope better. No family should have to deal with their child’s medical crisis alone. You can find out more at https://www.rmhcofamarillo.org .
Amarillo Venom hosts home games, as well as concerts in May, June
Reyna Entertainment is presenting Don Louis live at the Amarillo Civic Center on June 15. The concert is set to begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are on sale now. Brace yourselves for an electrifying night featuring a stellar lineup of five bands, setting the stage on fire before Don Louis takes over, a concert announcement says. Secure your spot now at panhandletickets.com and join them for an unforgettable evening of music, energy, and pure excitement.
For more information about Amarillo Venom and Reyna Entertainment, visit their Facebook pages. For tickets, visit panhandletickets.com .
Amarillo’s first ever drone show at Hodgetown set for June 7-8
The Amarillo Sod Poodles are excited to announce the addition of back-to-back drone light show performances at Hodgetown on June 7-8. The Sod Poodles have partnered with Sky Elements to bring 200 drones to light up the Amarillo sky and pay homage to Sod Poodles baseball and other iconic Amarillo history and imagery.
Sky Elements, based in Fort Worth, is the leading drone light show provider in the United States. Their experienced team has brought the art of drone light shows all across the country for community events, sports teams, businesses, artists, and major brands alike. The company set the Guinness World Record for the largest aerial sentence formed by multirotor/drones during their Fourth of July weekend performance last year in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The shows will take place on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8 when the Sod Poodles host the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A, Los Angeles Dodgers). Games are set to begin at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.
For more information on promotions and other news, follow the team on social media @sodpoodles on Facebook, X, and Instagram. For questions and more information, call 806-803-7762 or email info@SodPoodles.com .
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello coming to Amarillo in June 2024
Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their Sesame Street friends will be featured in an all-new live show, “Sesame Street Live! Say Hello,” coming to Amarillo on June 26, 2024.
Tickets are available now online via panhandletickets.com . Round Room Live and Sesame Workshop are proud to announce the new live show, which will bring the beloved characters from the iconic Sesame Street to life in a brand-new interactive production that will tour the U.S. and Canada beginning in April 2024.
“For over 50 years, Sesame Workshop has worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts,” said Whit Higgins, Sesame Workshop Executive Vice President, Head of Global Enterprises, in a news release. “Round Room Live has a history of working with new and iconic properties to create engaging and thrilling live events. We can’t wait for families and friends to enjoy this brand-new Sesame Street show filled with song, dance, and a few fun and furry surprises.”
Fans can visit SesameStreetLive.com now for tour dates and ticket information, and follow Sesame Street Live social media for exclusive tour content. For more, visit www.SesameStreet.org .
Celtic Throne takes to Amarillo stage July 3
Celtic Throne arrives to the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, July 3, with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.
Celtic Throne explores the ancient origins of Irish step dance and celebrates the millennia-long journey of a music and-dance-loving people as they migrate from the ancient Near East to Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States. Embarking on their fifth U.S. tour in the spring of 2024, Armstrong Dance presents their original Irish dance production, Celtic Throne, with Golden Globe-nominated composer Brian Byrne’s majestic musical score.
For more information, visit https://CelticThrone.com or their social media channels. For tickets, visit panhandletickets.com .
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Farewell Tour stops by Amarillo July 28
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s All – The Good Times: The Farewell Tour will visit Amarillo on Sunday July 28. The show starts at 8 p.m. in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Various meet and greet packages are on sale, as well as general concert tickets.
With a refreshed lineup and newfound energy, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band remains one of the most accomplished bands in American roots music. Following an extended 50th anniversary tour, the ensemble grew to a six-piece in 2018 for the first time since their early jug band days. The group now includes Jeff Hanna (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica), Bob Carpenter (keyboards), Jim Photoglo (bass, acoustic guitar), Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin), and Jaime Hanna (electric and acoustic guitar). All six members also sing, and when their voices merge, the harmonies add a powerful new component for the legendary band. And with the father-son pairing of Jeff and Jaime Hanna, the band carries on a country music tradition of blood harmony. Jeff Hanna says, “It’s like when you throw a couple of puppies into a pen with a bunch of old dogs. All of a sudden, the old dogs start playing, you know? That’s kind of what’s happened with us. The basic vibe is so up and positive, and the music– we’re hearing surprises from Jaime and Ross all night. And they’re encouraging us in the same way to take more chances. It’s opened a lot of doors for us, musically, and the morale is really great. That’s important for a band that’s been out there for over 53 years.”
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played their first gig in 1966 in Southern California as a jug band and by 1969 had become a cornerstone of the burgeoning country-rock community. Their career breakthrough came in 1970 with the release of the record Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and the single “Mr. Bojangles,” a folksy Top 10 pop hit that remains a staple of their live show. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band earned a pop resurgence in 1980 with “An American Dream” and “Make a Little Magic.” Those singles also found traction on the country chart, setting the stage for a major run at country radio. The band secured 16 Top 10 country hits between 1983 and 1990, including three No. 1 singles: “Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream),” “Modern Day Romance,” and “Fishin’ in the Dark.”
With so much material to work with, the band is making it a point to shuffle the set lists more often, meaning that this isn’t the same Dirt Band show from years past. “We’re fortunate that we’ve got a deep songbook. That’s been on our list, to resurrect some of the tunes we haven’t done in a while, in addition to some new stuff,” Hanna says.
Tickets are on sale at panhandletickets.com .
George Lopez to perform during tour stop in Amarillo Aug. 2
Grammy-nominated comedian, actor and TV host George Lopez has announced six new shows across Texas this summer 2024, including Corpus Christi, Amarillo, Midland, and Lubbock. Tickets are on sale at panhandletickets.com .
The George Lopez: ‘Alllriiiighhttt, Texas!’ Comedy Tour will be at the following locations:
- July 26 – Corpus Christi, American Bank Center Selena Auditorium
- July 27 – Forth Worth, Dickies Arena
- Aug. 2 – Amarillo, Amarillo Civic Center
- Aug. 3 – Midland, Wagner-Noel Performing Arts Center
- Aug. 9 – Lubbock, Buddy Holly Hall
- Aug. 10 – San Antonio, Frost Bank Center
Lopez’s illustrious and multi-faceted career encompasses television, film, stand-up comedy, and late-night television. He has broken ground for Latino comics by embracing his ethnicity, confronting racial stereotypes, and fighting for his community on and off the stage. Lopez stars in his multi-camera comedy series for NBC, “Lopez vs Lopez,” featuring his real-life daughter, Mayan Lopez. The family sitcom, which has been renewed for its second season, follows George and Mayan in a fictionalized version of their real-life father-daughter relationship, exploring dysfunction, reconnection, and all the pain and joy in between.
Lopez can be seen in Snoop Dogg’s Amazon MGM sports comedy, The Underdoggs, and in the independent holiday comedy How the Gringo Stole Christmas, directed by Angel Gracia. Lopez joined the DC Extended Universe last summer, starring in the Warner Bros. Latin superhero film, Blue Beetle. Directed by Angel Manuel Soto and featuring a predominantly Latino cast, the film follows its first ever Mexican American teenager turned superhero. Lopez released the third installment of his middle-grade novel series, Chupacarter and the Screaming Sombrero in March. Lopez has four HBO specials, and his acclaimed comedy concert, Why You Crying?, debuted on Showtime in 2004. In 2005, Time named him one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America and the Harris Poll named him one of the Top Ten Favorite Television Personalities. The following year, Lopez received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Ben Folds on tour, visits Amarillo Aug. 8
Ben Folds brings his Paper Airplane Request Tour to Amarillo on Thursday, Aug. 8. The show is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.
“Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation,” a concert announcement notes. “The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, tv and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and is in his seventh year serving as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC.A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.”
Tickets are on sale at panhandletickets.com .
Exclusive | Unlicensed NYC boarder’s business still operating despite at least 3 dog deaths, grieving pooch owners say: ‘City has done nothing’
Malaika Arora makes bold fashion statement in chic blazer and mini skirt combo; prepare to be shocked by the price tag!
Arthur Frommer, travel guide innovator, has died at 95
Meet the MBA Class of 2026: Prapti Patel, London Business School
Special needs lack community support for jobs
Teddy’s Travels: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Perplexity Launches AI-Powered Shopping Assistant That Can Research and Purchase | PYMNTS.com
Trump taps ex-lawmaker and Fox Business host for transportation secretary
Trump Taps Former ‘Real World’ Cast Member as Transportation Secretary
