By Chip Chandler — Producer
Here's a quick take on your 10 best entertainment bets in the next 10 days.
1. Sweat
Amarillo Little Theatre is getting rave reviews for its latest, a timely drama (and winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for drama) by Lynn Nottage about a group of factory workers whose bonds of friendship are frayed by layoffs and picket lines. It'll be staged through Nov. 24 in the ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle.
2. Falling into Dance
West Texas A&M University dancers are in step for student-led performances from Nov. 21 to 24 in the WT Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex. Also for dance fans: Christian dance ensemble Doxa will perform holiday show Bloodline at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.
3. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Tom Hanks plays the beatific Fred Rogers in this feel-good drama about a reporter (Matthew Rhys) whose life is changed when he writes a profile about the children's TV show host. Other movie options will include:
- Weekend of Nov. 22: animated sequel Frozen II and action thriller 21 Bridges;
- Nov. 27: comedic thriller Knives Out (which previews Nov. 22 and 23) and romantic drama Queen & Slim;
- Special engagements: a Met: Live in HD performance of Philip Glass's Akhnaten on Nov. 23 (encoring Dec. 4); eight turkey-themed episodes of Friends over two days for Friendsgiving on Nov. 24 and 25; and Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary on Nov. 26.
4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The "worst kids in the history of the world" take over the holiday show in this classic kids' tale to be staged by Amarillo College Conservatory Theatre from Nov. 22 to 24 in AC's Ordway Auditorium.
5. Carden International Circus
Look for aerial stunts, music, comedy, magic and plenty of animals at this three-ring circus at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave.
6. Amarillo Bulls
The Bulls will face off against the Odessa Jackalopes at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 and 23 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.
7. Mannheim Steamroller
Celebrate 35 years of holiday music when this beloved, rocking orchestra returns for a 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 performance in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.
8. Black Friday Comedy Show
Touring comic Corey Evans will headline this free Yellow City Comedy show at 9 p.m. Nov. 29 at RR Bar, 701 S. Georgia St. The bar also will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a Trailer Trash Bash on Nov. 27.
9. Christmas in the Gardens
More than 300,000 lights will be strung festively around the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, at this annual holiday event open from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 30 to Dec. 22. Other holiday events include:
- Wolflin Village Open House: 4 to 9 p.m. Nov. 21 at the shopping center, Georgia Street and Civic Circle;
- Panhandle Community Services' 2019 Festival of Trees: 6 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St.;
- Holiday Sip n Shop: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541;
- Amarillo's Original Toy Run: Noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 from Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd., to Tripp's Harley-Davidson, 6040 W. Interstate 40;
- Final Friday Art Bazaar: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 29 at Gallery on 7th, 513 S.W. Seventh Ave.;
- Tangled Lights holiday display: 7 p.m. to midnight Nov. 28 to Jan. 6 at 11816 Flying W Trail;
- The Lights at Town Square: 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 29 to Jan. 31 at Town Square Village, 9181 Town Square Blvd.;
- Breakfast with Santa: 9:30 a.m. Nov. 30 at Westgate Mall, 7701 W. Interstate 40;
10. Travis T. Warren
The Amarillo native and lead singer of Blind Melon will perform with his mother, Amarillo singer-songwriter Tennessee Tuckness, in a 10 p.m. Nov. 30 show at Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave. Other concerts of note:
- the AC Chamber Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in the AC Concert Hall Theatre on the Washington Street campus;
- Christian band Big Daddy Weave at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.;
- the James Barger Quartet at 9 p.m. Nov. 22, harpist Jenny Miller at 7 p.m. Nov. 23, house combo Esquire Jazz at 9 p.m. Nov. 23, Amarillo combo Polk Street Jazz at 9 p.m. Nov. 29and Amarillo duo Neal Nossaman and Keralee Clay at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St.;
- Texas singer Garrett Bryan and Amarillo indie band Vamping at 10 p.m. Nov. 22 and electronic dance duo Vanilla Pop at 10 p.m. Nov. 23 at Golden Light Cantina;
- outlaw band Tejon Street Corner Thieves with Yes Ma'am at 10 p.m. Nov. 22, Lubbock rock band Dillon Cassidy & The Rhythm at 10 p.m. Nov. 23 and Amarillo indie singer J. Trial at 10 p.m. Nov. 27 at Leftwoods, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave.;
- Amarillo rock band Hangman at 10 p.m. Nov. 22 at Whiskey River, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave.;
- Americana artist Stoll Vaughan at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Starlight Canyon Bed and Breakfast, 100 Brentwood Road;
- Amarillo rock band Loaded Six at 10 p.m. Nov. 23 at Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd.;
- Amarillo rock singer Michael D. Coon at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at Fire Slice Pizzeria, 7306 S.W. 34th Ave.;
- Texas musicians Aeryk Cox and Cooper Gentry at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541;
- Amarillo-based Americana band Comanche Moon at 10 p.m. Nov. 29 at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road;
- a 12-year reunion show for Amarillo rock band Indeavor at 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at Smokey Joe's, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.;
- and country band Barn Noize at 9 p.m. Nov. 30 at Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.
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.
