Amarillo entertainment in brief for April 14, 2024

Amarillo Globe-News

AMoA hosting exhibit by Brooklyn-based artist

A Swoon exhibition will be on display at the Amarillo Museum of Art, April 13 through Aug. 11. A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by an artist talk at 7 p.m. by Caledonia Curry. Admission is free for AMoA members or $10 for non-members. Tickets will be available at the door.

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.

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.
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.

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.

SWOON, Ice Queen, 2022, Coffee stained blockprint on mylar with papercut headdress & hand-painted acrylic-gouache embellishments, 60 x 51 in
SWOON, Ice Queen, 2022, Coffee stained blockprint on mylar with papercut headdress & hand-painted acrylic-gouache embellishments, 60 x 51 in

While much of Curry's art plays with the fantastical, there is also a strong element of realism. This can be seen in her myriad social endeavors, including a long-term community revitalization project in Braddock, Pennsylvania and her efforts to build earthquake-resistant homes in Haiti through Konbit Shelter. Her non-profit, the Heliotrope Foundation, was created in order to further support these ventures.

Today, Curry's work can be found on the sides of buildings worldwide and has been given both permanent and transient homes in more classical institutions, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, the Tate Modern, and the São Paulo Museum of Art. Most recently, she has begun using film animation to explore the boundaries of visual storytelling and currently is developing a project supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program.

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).

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 .

Eldrena Douma will speak during the “Back to Our Roots” festival and lead public storytelling workshops on April 18 and 19.
Eldrena Douma will speak during the “Back to Our Roots” festival and lead public storytelling workshops on April 18 and 19.

Native storyteller Eldrena Douma to headline WT Festival April 18 and 19

CANYON — A renowned Native American speaker will headline the 2024 West Texas A&M University Storytelling Festival. Eldrena Douma, who was a classroom teacher becoming a professional storyteller, will speak during the “Back to Our Roots” festival and lead public storytelling workshops on April 18 and 19.

Douma will perform at 6 p.m. April 18 in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus. Admission is free.

She also will conduct a storytelling workshop for students and the general public at 1 p.m. April 18, also in the Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall. Douma also will offer children’s concerts at 10 and 11:15 a.m. April 19 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall.

“Eldrena uses her gifts to transport listeners to a world most haven’t seen in person,” said Paula Schlegel, associate lecturer in WT’s Department of Communication and festival coordinator. “While her stories connect us with her roots, they also create in the listener a desire to explore our own roots.”

Douma, the winner of a John Henry Faulk Award from the Tejas Storytelling Association for her contributions to storytelling in the Southwest, is a professional storyteller, writer, speaker and author who travels the country sharing stories and presenting workshops on creative writing and storytelling. Her experience as a storyteller began as a child listening to her Pueblo tribes of Laguna, Tewa and Hopi family members and other adults in her community tell stories about life experiences, history and folktales.

The WT Storytelling Festival was founded in 1991 by Dr. Trudy Hanson, who retired in 2021 as head of WT’s Department of Communication. For information on the festival, contact Schlegel at 806-570-3797 or pschlegel@wtamu.edu.

Dylan Green, right, a senior graphic design major from Dumas, and Chris Mathews, center, a senior graphic design major from Amarillo, were chosen to include work in the National Student Show and Conference, which runs April 11 and 12 in Dallas. Also pictured is Marcus Melton, left, associate professor of graphic design.
Dylan Green, right, a senior graphic design major from Dumas, and Chris Mathews, center, a senior graphic design major from Amarillo, were chosen to include work in the National Student Show and Conference, which runs April 11 and 12 in Dallas. Also pictured is Marcus Melton, left, associate professor of graphic design.

WT student designers picked for national exhibition in Dallas

CANYON — A pair of West Texas A&M University student designers were selected to show their work in a national exhibition. Dylan Green, a senior graphic design major from Dumas, and Chris Mathews, a senior graphic design major from Amarillo, were chosen to include work in the National Student Show and Conference, which was held April 11 and 12 in Dallas.

Green was recognized for his print and motion-design work and had five pieces selected for the show, and Mathews was recognized for his packaging design and motion design and had two pieces selected for the show. Both are students in the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. In all, students from 26 universities were selected for the show, which featured 165 pieces.

Amarillo Little Theatre stages adaptation of Jane Austen classic 'Sense & Sensibility'

The Amarillo Little Theatre presents "Sense & Sensibility" at its ALT Adventure Space, located at 2751 Civic Circle, Thursdays through Sundays, now through April 21.

Kate Hamill's playful new adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel has a fresh female voice and follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters. Their lives are turned upside down when their father passes away suddenly, leaving them penniless and with reputations at stake. Together they must learn to mix sense with sensibility to find happiness in a society where love is ruled by money. Filled with humor, emotional depth and bold theatricality, this modern adaptation of the gossipy 18th century classic is a must-see for all audiences.

The cast includes Kyndal Knapp as Elinor Dashwood, Sterling Knight as Marianne Dashwood, Sawyer Landry as Edward Ferrars, Hunter Russell as John Willoughby and Brad McBride as Colonel Brandon. Supporting roles and ensemble members include Lindsy Donathan, Brandon Graves, Elizabeth Hopkins, Joanna Kimbell, Justin Loe, Jennifer McClellan, Maddox Nite, Jenni Opalinski, Treva Oller, Jeffrey Pickens, Camille Suzanne, Jeri Tidmore and Alexis Williams. The production is directed by Carrie Huckabay; Nolan Huckabay serves as assistant to the director and Aaron Huckabay serves as production assistant.

The show is rated PG. Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 18; 8 p.m. April 19-20; and 2:30 p.m. April 14 and 21. Tickets can be reserved online at www.tickets.amarillolittletheatre.org or by calling 806-355-9991.

The Amarillo Symphony, pictured here performing Mozart and Shostakovich in September 2022, continues its centennial season with "Beethoven's 9th" and the Harrington String Quartet on April 19-20.
The Amarillo Symphony, pictured here performing Mozart and Shostakovich in September 2022, continues its centennial season with "Beethoven's 9th" and the Harrington String Quartet on April 19-20.

Amarillo Symphony to perform April 19-20

Third, the Amarillo Symphony presents "Beethoven's 9th & HSQ" April 19-20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.

The 100th Anniversary season finale includes Beethoven's most beloved work with the Amarillo Master Chorale and special guest vocalists, plus new music written for the Harrington String Quartet by composer Christopher Theofanidis. George Jackson will be conducting.

For tickets, visit panhandletickets.com. For more information about the symphony and its centennial season, visit https://amarillosymphony.org/ .

Starlight Ranch co-owner Bobby Lee (left) and music artist Michael Martin Murphey (right) speak at news conference about upcoming benefit performance of Lyle Lovett and Murphey with the Rangeland Fire Relief Benefit Dinner and Concert hosted by The Murphey Western Institute in partnership with Starlight Ranch Event Center held Apr. 21 with events beginning at 4 p.m. held at the Starlight Ranch.

Lyle Lovett, Michael Martin Murphey to headline Rangeland Fire Relief Benefit April 21

Michael Martin Murphey’s Murphey Western Insititute is presenting a fundraising concert with iconic Texas artists Lyle Lovett and Michael Martin Murphey to help those ranching communities in that recovery.

The Rangeland Fire Relief Benefit Dinner and Concert is set for Sunday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Starlight Ranch Moon Palace, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr. For tickets, visit https://bit.ly/rangelandbenefit or through http://www.michaelmartinmurphey.com/tour.

“Our mission at Murphey Western Insititute is to preserve and perpetuate the culture and resources of the American West which have influenced the regenerative management of grasslands with grazing animals around the world,” says Murphey, a longtime ranching advocate and genre-busting musical hitmaker. “I want to help people who have lost everything in the worst fire in Texas history.

For more about Starlight Ranch and its ongoing concert season, visit https://www.bigtexan.com/starlight-ranch-event-center/ .

On Saturday, April 27, Cinergy Cinemas & Entertainment will presents its Live Comedy Showcase - “Cinergy is Funny” - featuring Jon "Polar Bear" Gonzalez.
On Saturday, April 27, Cinergy Cinemas & Entertainment will presents its Live Comedy Showcase - “Cinergy is Funny” - featuring Jon "Polar Bear" Gonzalez.

Cinergy hosts night of comedy April 27 in Amarillo

On Saturday, April 27, for one night only, Cinergy Cinemas & Entertainment will presents a night of uproarious comedy with its Live Comedy Showcase - “Cinergy is Funny” - featuring Jon "Polar Bear" Gonzalez, one of the most hilarious entertainers in the region.

The showcase promises non-stop laughter, an unforgettable performance, and a guaranteed good time for the Amarillo community. The event will be held at Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas, Amarillo, located at 9201 Cinergy Square. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25 along with a two-item food or beverage minimum per person, and are now available at www.cinergy.com/live-comedy-amarillo. You must be 17 or older to attend. Arriving early is recommended as the show is general admission and seating is limited. For more information, visit Cinergy at www.cinergy.com .

Gonzalez, a stand up comedian, podcaster, and entertainer, lives in the heart of Texas. After getting involved in the local comedy scene, he quickly found success through the release of multiple comedy skits which went viral receiving millions of views on Facebook and shortly after, TikTok. Since then, he has toured all over the country performing his live standup show.

The night will be hosted by Texas’s own husband-and-wife duo T.K. Matteson - comedian and producer known for his roles in High Class Poverty Comedy Tour, A Sense of Humor, and Being Ron Jeremy - and Kara Kimbrough, AKA “Kara with a K”, a former contestant on “America’s Got Talent”.

Amarillo Venom hosts home games, as well as concerts in May, June

Reyna Entertainment presents The Ice Man Paul Wall himself, coming to the Amarillo Venom game on May 18 at the Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan.

Paul Wall will perform a live concert immediately after the game vs. the Mississippi Raiders, and Tommy Ontheradio will be on deck spinning heat. Tickets went on sale at noon Monday for this CBS, Hulu televised game on panhandletickets.com. A VIP meet and greet will be held before the concert, including backstage access, premium seat, exclusive VIP party during the game backstage, VIP bar, autographed ball and Venom gear.

Reyna Entertainment is also 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 .

PPHM to host Dining with Giants gala in May

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum proudly announces that its next gala, Dining with Giants, a dinosaur themed affair, from 6 to 11 p.m. May 4. Seating is limited.

Guests will enter a Pioneer Hall transported back in time when giant dinosaurs roamed the earth and enjoy themed hors d’oeuvre and cocktails, silent auction items and more before the dinner begins.

Back this year, a fully engaging experience awaits the highest VIP levels in our Paleontology gallery with a special bar, themed hors d’oeuvres and exquisite service. This space will be limited.

Dinner will be served in the PPHM Derrick Room, where guests will enjoy a four-course meal "dining with giants." A live auction will be followed by dancing and drinks in the transformed Pioneer Hall.

WT art alumni to be featured in new exhibition

CANYON — More than 50 West Texas A&M University alumni are featured in a new art exhibition. WT’s first art program alumni exhibition will hang through April 27 in the Dord Fitz Formal Gallery inside Mary Moody Northen Hall.

Jarys Boyd’s “Interlude,” a mixed media on canvas, is among the works selected to hang in the West Texas A&M University art program alumni exhibition on view April 1 to 27.
Jarys Boyd’s “Interlude,” a mixed media on canvas, is among the works selected to hang in the West Texas A&M University art program alumni exhibition on view April 1 to 27.

The art program received nearly 170 submissions from 75 artists. Guest juror Deana Craighead, curator of art at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, selected 53 works to hang in the show — one each per artist chosen. Three alumni will receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500, to be announced at the opening reception.

“We are incredibly proud of these alumni, who represent graduates from the 1970s to just last year,” said Jon Revett, art program director and Doris Alexander Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts.

Fitz Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and by appointment Fridays and Saturdays. Email jrevett@wtamu.edu.

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 .

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is excited to welcome the exhibit, "Dali's Wonderland," to its Bugbee Gallery.
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is excited to welcome the exhibit, "Dali's Wonderland," to its Bugbee Gallery.

Dali's Wonderland exhibition on display at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) recently debuted its newest exhibit, "Dali's Wonderland."

"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.

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour swimming to Amarillo Civic Center Complex on April 21

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour will have two shows at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S Buchanan St. at noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

Tickets for the performances may be purchased online on the tour's site, www.babysharkontour.com. Tickets start at $25 (while supplies last - additional fees and taxes may apply) and are also available at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Box Office and panhandletickets.com. Prices are subject to change.

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour will have two shows at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S Buchanan St., at noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Tickets go on sale Jan. 19.
Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour will have two shows at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S Buchanan St., at noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Tickets go on sale Jan. 19.

Nickelodeon, The Pinkfong Company and VStar Entertainment Group present Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour!, a brand-new interactive live stage show featuring characters from the globally beloved preschool property. This tour brings the underwater world of the hit animated series, Baby Shark’s Big Show!, to life through an all-new original story, as audience members come together with Baby Shark and his undersea friends to save the Party Puddle Theatre. Featuring unforgettable music, with exciting twists on classic Baby Shark tunes, and mesmerizing visual effects, this staged “swimtacular” is jampacked with action and adventure for the whole family to enjoy.

For more information or to join the Whale Mail mailing list for presale and other exclusive offers, visit www.babysharkontour.com. Follow Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour! on Facebook and Instagram at @babysharkontour .

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.

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.
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.

“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 .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo entertainment in brief for April 14, 2024

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