By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
From Easter fun to provocative art, here's a roundup of activities and events through April 20.
Seminar: I'm not entirely sure that Seminar — the black comedy about narcissistic writers that's currently being staged at Amarillo Little Theatre's Adventure Space — is totally successful, but I really enjoyed watching it. That's not, perhaps, the kind of in-depth criticism that a scholar like Leonard (played with sneering efficiency by Don Washburn) would hope to read. But sometimes, just laughing is enough, even when, as is likely, the playwright had loftier goals in mind. I can't quite get over the fact that some of writer Theresa Rebeck's characters' motivations seemed thin or wanting, though not through any fault, I think, of the talented (mostly young) actors portraying them (Leonard's students are played by Ryan T. Land as Martin, Annemarie Rossato as Kate, Jason Kopp as Douglas and Karen Colin as Izzy). To a person, they seem committed and inquisitive, snapping off barbed compliments and judgments alike at one another in a series of writing classes led by a talented, but unreliable author of some (past) note (Washburn). Egos are bruised, mangled, annihilated throughout the brisk 100-minute, intermissionless comedy, directed at a nice clip by Stephen Crandall. The set resembles a tennis court, he mentioned to me after Sunday's matinee performance, and at its best, Seminar is a dizzying series of volleys back and forth. But, given the imbalance in power between Leonard and his students, oftentimes Seminar is ace after ace, even when you suspect that Leonard is, perhaps, exaggerating his skills and his resume. There are some great exchanges and some sick burns, but the whole is somewhat less than the parts. The play continues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle. Tickets are $19 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $13 for children Thursdays and Sundays, and $21 for adults, $19 for students and seniors, and $15 for children Fridays and Saturdays. Call 806-355-9991. Check my preview for more info.
Dinosaur Club: Kids 6 to 10 will enjoy dinosaur stories and crafts at 4 p.m. Thursday at Amarillo Public Library North Branch, 1500 N.E. 24th Ave. Admission is free. Call 806-381-7931.
Lifted: A Journey into the Counterculture: Burlesque troupe Broken Belts Collective will present a "funny, heartwrenching, thought-provoking and slightly controversial" variety show exploring drug and counterculture, said troupe founder Allexa Zwinck. Guest artist is Austin-based burlesque performer Something Blue. The show begins at 10 p.m. Friday at The 806 Coffee + Lounge, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover is $15. Call 806-322-1806.
Original Team Roping and Crown of Texas Stampede: A pair of equine events is set for the weekend, with team roping kicking off around 8 a.m. Saturday in the Amarillo National Center and the Crown of Texas horse show at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Bill Cody Arena on the Tri-State Fairgrounds. Admission is free. Call 806-376-7767.
Easter Egg-citement: Get prize-filled eggs from costumed characters throughout the Amarillo Zoo, learn about eggs from birds and other animals and meet the Easter Bunny. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the zoo, 700 Comanchero Trail inside Thompson Park. Admission is $5. Call 806-371-7911.
Eggstravaganza: Celebrate Easter and science with this event at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive. Admission is $8 for members and $11 for nonmembers. Call 806-355-9547.
Open House: Amarillo Activity Youth Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary with this event, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at the center, 816 S. Van Buren St. Admission is free. Call 806-373-2292.
Humans, Being: Artist Jacob Breeden explores modern-day interpolations of ancient drawings in this art installation, also featuring a participatory piece by photographer Angelina Frances Medina and music provided by Boyband. Amarillo guitarist Hayden Pedigo also will perform in a tribute to John Maus, the original keyboardist for Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. My preview explains more. The free event runs from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Double R Lofts, 705 S. Grant St., Loft 12. Call 806-681-4337.
Foosball: Buckles Lounge, 6800 E. Interstate 40, will kick off a new series of bimonthly foosball tournaments beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday. Players must be ready to begin at 8 p.m., and tournaments will take place on the first and third Saturday each month. Entry fee is $5. Call 806-379-8064.
April Showers: Kids can learn how to make it rain in a jar and to make cloud pillows in this 7 p.m. Tuesday event at Amarillo Public Library North Branch, 1500 N.E. 24th Ave. Admission is free. Call 806-381-7931.
Chicago: West Texas A&M University's theater department closes out its season with this razzle-dazzle musical with a cynical heart. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. April 20 to 22 and April 27 to 29, plus 2:30 p.m. April 23 and 30, in the Branding Iron Theatre. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Call 806-651-2804. (Look for my preview Monday.)
Thursday Night Magic: A trio of members of Magic Amarillo will give a free show at 8 p.m. April 20 at Red River Steakhouse, 4332 S.W. 45th Ave. Organizers hope the family-friendly show will become a regular event. Call 806-367-9732.
My Little Black Dress Does Not Mean Yes: The Family Support Services organizers of this event, part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, hope to point out that rape has nothing to do with what women wear. Female attendees are encouraged to wear little black dresses, and men are asked to wear black in support. The event will include a DJ, happy hour prices from 8 to 10 p.m., giveaways and games at Butlers Martini Bar, 703 S. Polk St. There's no cover charge. Call 806-376-8180.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Broken Belts Collective will restage some of its April 14 show with a mix of new numbers and Dallas burlesque artist Lily Liquer. The show begins at 10 p.m. April 20 at Leftwoods, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover is $10. Call 806-367-9840.
Wonderland Park: The park will continue its 66th season in the coming week. The park is open 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and April 20. Admission is $16.95 for 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, $18.95 for 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, and $24.95 for 1 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Full access passes are $31.95 for Tuesdays through Thursdays, $33.95 for Fridays, and $39.95 for 1 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Spectator passes are $5. WOW passes are available in any amount. Miniature golf is $5; hours are 5 p.m. to close Tuesdays through Fridays and 1 p.m. to close Saturdays and Sundays. Call 806-383-3344.
Ongoing exhibitions include The Colour and the Shape through Friday at the Dord Fitz Formal Gallery at WT; the AC/WT Student/Faculty Exhibition through Saturday at Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St.; Dwellings at Southern Light Gallery on the Amarillo College Washington Street campus through May 5; Little Builders, Brain Teasers 2 and Strange Matter through May 14 at Don Harrington Discovery Center; Nacidos Charro: Born Charro through July 29 at American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, 2601 E. Interstate 40; The Great War and the Panhandle-Plains Region and A Picture from Home: Snapshots of the Great War on the Plains through Dec. 30 at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon.
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
