By Chip Chandler — Producer
Here's a quick take on your 10 best entertainment bets in the next 10 days.
1. The Underpants
Amarillo Little Theatre opens its 2019-20 season with this Steve Martin-adapted comedy of manners about what happens after a prim woman's bloomers fall down in public. It'll run Aug. 15 to 25 in the Adventure Space.
2. Amarillo Sod Poodles
The Soddies start to wind down their successful first season with home games Aug. 16 to 18 against the Frisco Roughriders at Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.
3. The Farewell
Comedian/actress Awkwafina is getting exceptional reviews for this real-life drama about a Chinese family keeping a big secret from their grandmother. Also opening Aug. 16: animated sequel The Angry Birds Movie 2, Bruce Springsteen-themed musical comedy Blinded by the Light, shark flick 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, raunch comedy Good Boys and family dramedy Where'd You Go, Bernadette? Opening the weekend of Aug. 23 are action thriller Angel Has Fallen, faith-based sports drama Overcomer and horror comedy Ready or Not. Special engagements will include restored anime classic Millennium Actress on Aug. 19; a RiffTrax Live screening of the sci-fi junker The Giant Spider Invasion on Aug. 15 and 20; the nearly four-hour director's cut of the classic documentary Woodstock on Aug. 15; and an anniversary, final-cut screening of Apocalypse Now. Plus, shark thriller The Meg will screen at dark Aug. 16 in a Dive-In Movie Night at Canyon Aqua Park, 1900 12th Ave.
4. Texas
It's the final weekend of the season for the beloved outdoor musical drama, to be staged at 8:30 p.m. through Aug. 17 in Pioneer Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
5. Curry County Fair
The annual festivities in Clovis, N.M., which will run Aug. 13 to 17, will feature Stoney LaRue and Micky & The Motorcars on Aug. 15, Brigade FMX on Aug. 16 and 17, Los Palominos on Aug. 17 and more. Also in the area: Howdy Neighbor Day on Aug. 17, celebrating the 60th birthday of Fritch; and Wheatheart of the Nation celebrations from Aug. 22 to 24, celebrating the 100th birthday of Perryton.
6. Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots
The popular radio host will bring his musical-comedy bandmate Eddie Garcia to town for an 8 p.m. Aug. 16 show in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Other comedy options: Yellow City Comedy's Comedy Cartel at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Golden Light Cantina, 2908 S.W. Sixth Ave.; and Latino comedian Mike Salazar on Aug. 17 in the Globe-News Center.
7. America's Horse in Art
American Quarter Horse Association's annual show and sale opens at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 with a reception; art will be on view (and up for bid) through Oct. 12.
8. Starlight Theatre
Amarillo party band Insufficient Funds will close out the season for the Amarillo Parks & Recreation Department's outdoor concert series at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street.
9. Rodney Crowell
The country music icon will perform at 10 p.m. Aug. 24 with openers Matt Martindale and Charlie Shafter at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road. Other concerts of note through Aug. 24: indie band Red Light Cameras at 9 p.m. Aug. 15 and indie band Al1ce at 9 p.m. Aug. 21 at The 806 Coffee + Lounge, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.; Texas country singer Josh Weathers at 10 p.m. Aug. 15 at Hoots Pub; Texas country star William Clark Green with Thieving Birds at 8 p.m. Aug. 16, George Strait tribute artist King George at 8 p.m. Aug. 17 and Texas country star Parker McCollum with Kevin Galloway at 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunset Drive; Amarillo rock band Boss 420 at 10 p.m. Aug. 16, Americana singer Tell Runyan at 10 p.m. Aug. 17 and Amarillo rock band Jen Williams & The Potty Mouths at 10 p.m. Aug. 23 at Whiskey River, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave.; Amarillo singer-songwriter Ray Wilson at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 and Jackie Haney & The Geezers Gone Wild at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541; Amarillo combo Polk Street Jazz at 9 p.m. Aug. 17 and Americana singer Tennessee Tuckness with guitarist Gary Thomason at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St.; Lubbock jazz artist D.G. Flewellyn at 8 p.m. Aug. 17 and the Killer Keyz Dueling Pianos at 9 p.m. Aug. 20 at Metropolitan — A Speakeasy, 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201; eclectic band Vanilla Pop at 10 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Golden Light Cantina, 2908 S.W. Sixth Ave.; Lubbock-based Americana band Gunner Fore & The Interstate at 10 p.m. Aug. 17 at Leftwoods, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave.; Amarillo rock band Hangman at 10 p.m. Aug. 17 at Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd.; Amarillo rock band Monarch at 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at Smokey Joe's, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; and Amarillo rock band Moon Dog for the 28th anniversary celebration at 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.
10. Santa in the Summer
Escape the dog days and get into the holiday spirit early with this annual fundraiser for Eveline Rivers Christmas Project at 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at the project, 314 S. Jefferson St. The party will feature a barbecue dinner, auctions and music by Old Dog Tray.
Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS and a member of GALECA. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
