AE briefs: 'Impressionists' up through July 17, Shakespeare in Canyon starts

'Impressionists Immersive Exhibition' at Arts in the Sunset on display through July 17

The Amarillo Art Institute's (AAI) Arts in the Sunset is presenting the highly acclaimed "Impressionists Immersive Exhibition," now through July 17.

"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. 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 are $15-$25. For more, see artsinthesunset.org.

'Texas the Outdoor Musical' holding its 58th season, Shakespeare in July begins

CANYON — TEXAS the Outdoor Musical is presenting its 58th season, every Tuesday through Sunday, June 6 to Aug. 3 at the Pioneer Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

“Shakespeare in the Canyon,” will be featured at 8 p.m. Tuesdays on July 9, 16, 23 and 30. The Shakespeare in the Canyon series centers on the bard’s most famous and magical comedy, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." Special themed foods will be available in the concession stand.

The TEXAS show brings to life the stories, struggles and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle in the 1800s through its fictional characters. The amphitheatre, box office and parking opens at 6 p.m. each night, with a BBQ dinner (must be pre-purchased) at 6:15 p.m., pre-show entertainment at 6:45 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. Amphitheatre seating opens at 7:40 p.m. Discounts are available for seniors, military and West Texas A&M University staff/faculty/students to come see both of the shows. Tickets and more information are available at texas-show.com or by calling the Box Office at 806-651-2181.

'Photography is Art' exhibit on display at AMoA

The exhibition "Photography is Art" will be on display through Aug. 11 at the Amarillo Museum of Art, located at 2200 South Van Buren on the Washington Street campus of Amarillo College.

Art museums have not always embraced photography. One of the earliest museum efforts to define the medium’s contribution to the arts came in the mid-1930s, when New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) asked its librarian, Beaumont Newhall, to create an exhibition survey of photographic history. That 1937 show led to a 25-year debate inside MoMA over whether to treat photographs as works of personal expression on par with painting, or as vibrant, easily reproduceable tools for communication and persuasion.

This exhibition was originally organized by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art with objects from its expansive photography collection. The current presentation was reconceived as a team project with AMoA, the Art Museum of South Texas, and Ellen Noël Art Museum. The artworks tell a story of American photographers’ efforts, from the late nineteenth century on, to explore and proclaim photography’s artfulness.

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).

Cinergy hosting Kids Summer Movie Series, now through Aug. 15

Cinergy Entertainment Group is holding its “Kids Summer Movie Series” program, inviting families to celebrate summer vacation with a lineup of fun-filled, kid-friendly movies at a price of $2 per ticket at all Cinergy locations, including Amarillo. Cinergy also welcomes summer camps, church groups, and all other kid-focused associations down to check out the fun. Groups of 20 or more can also book concession packages and reserved seating, upon request.

Running Tuesday and Thursday from June 4 until Aug. 15th, the first matinee of the day will be dedicated to Cinergy’s Kids Summer Movie Series, featuring a lineup of fan-favorite and classic films. Showtime is at 10 a.m.

Upcoming events inlude the Shark Week film series - with titles including "Shark Tales," "MEG2" and "Jaws" July 5-11; comedy shows on July 13; and a sensory friendly screening of "Despicable Me 4" on July 20.

Movie premieres slated for this month include "Despicable Me 4," "Kill" and "MaXXXine" on July 3; "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Touch" on July 12; "Twisters" on July 19 and "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Didi" on July 26. Food and beverage specials will be "Despicable Me 4" kids packs (July 4), a ‘Blood in the Water’ cocktail during Shark Week, tornado potatoes and twisted tea for "Twisters" (July 19), and 44 oz collector cups, figural popcorn tubs and a featured cocktail for "Deadpool 4" (July 26).

In games and play for all of July, starting 4th of July Weekend will be a Money machine for "Twisters." Elite members can send in a voucher to redeem one play. On July 19, a Wind Tunnel with redemption point and game card vouchers will be held in Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, and Tulsa locations. On July 4, Elite Plus Members can enjoy a 4th of July free chili dog. Popcorn will be available at the locations that don’t have chili dogs.

Other upcoming films include "Migration," "Bad Guys," "Puss In Boots," "Shrek" and "Spiderman 2023" in July, and "Smurfs 2" in August. Movies, dates, and titles vary by location, so be sure to check your local theater schedule at https://www.cinergy.com/specials.

Sunset Marketown being held Saturdays at Arts in the Sunset

Arts in the Sunset is debuting a new summer market this year. Sunset Marketown hosts more than 50 local artisans and artists booths, selling a variety of handmade items including soap, baked goods, skincare products, paintings, pottery, and more.

Sunset Marketown will be open every from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the AJ Swope Performance Plaza. The market will continue every Saturday until Sept. 28. This market will run alongside the Golden Spread Farmers Market, which also takes place at Arts in the Sunset.

High Noon on the Square concert series returns

Center City of Amarillo's High Noon on the Square free concert series continues from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays on the Potter County Courthouse lawn at 501 S. Fillmore throughout July. Lunch is available for $10, cash only.

According to the season's schedule, July 10, Ruth Ellen Lynch takes the stage, with hamburgers offered by Bubba’s 33. On July 17, Buster Bledsoe performs, with a sack lunch by Chick-Fil-A. July 24 will have entertainment by the Amarillo Performing Arts Center, with chicken fingers by Raising Cane’s. And July 31 caps off the series with music by Insufficient Funds and hamburgers by Bubba’s 33.

Music in the Gardens concert series being held throughout June

Amarillo Botanical Gardens summer concert series, Music in the Gardens 2024, takes place 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at the gardens, located at 1400 Streit Dr.

In July, performers include Tennessee Tuckness & Friends, Andy Chase and the Rhythm Cats, and Sadie's Rangers. August features Cameron James Smith, RAK-45, Jack Cryver Band, Touching Voodoo and Geezer's Gone Wild.

Admission is $10 for the general public, and $5 for members. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.

Starlight Theater offers free live music performances in Sam Houston Park

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 Mike Fuller & The Repeat Offenders on July 9, The Prairie Dogs on July 16, Party of 6 on July 23, Big G & The Tradewinds on July 30 and Insufficient Funds on Aug. 6.

For more information, follow the Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department on Facebook or see their page on the city's website.

Starlight Ranch hosting full concert season

The Starlight Ranch Event Center, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr., has a full lineup of concerts and festivals in the works for summer. Among performers and events listed on their website are La Mafia (July 12), the toadies (Aug. 31), the Amarillo Margarita Festival (Aug. 3), Neal McCoy (Oct. 4), Wade Bowen (Oct. 26) and more.

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.

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.

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. The George Lopez: ‘Alllriiiighhttt, Texas!’ Comedy Tour will be at the Amarillo Civic Center on Aug. 2.

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.

Tickets are on sale at panhandletickets.com .

AMA-CON returns Aug. 3-4

The annual AMA-CON Convention, presented by the Friends of the Amarillo Public Library, is set to take place 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 in the Amarillo Civic Center.

Events fans can look forward to include five cosplay contests, vendors offering everything from comic books to steampunk jewelry, the annual Geek Prom, an art show, sketch off, gaming tournaments, demonstrations, free play and more.

One- and two-day passes will be available for purchase. AMA-CON started in 2012 and has been growing ever since, serving more than 25,000 convention goers. Follow AMA-CON on Facebook and Instagram, visit libraryamacon.org, or call 806-378-3051 for updates and more information.

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."

Celebrate America at Hodgetown with fireworks, food, and fun in Sept.

Celebrate America and salute veterans at Hodgetown from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, with fireworks, food, music and fun.

The unforgettable evening under the stars will feature the Amarillo Symphony performing a selection of patriotic classics, film scores, previews of the Symphony’s 2024-25 season, beloved American favorites and a grand finale with the 1812 Overture and a fireworks display that will light up the night sky.

Amarillo Symphony Subscribers and Sod Poodle Season Pass Holders had pre-sale access to tickets starting June 20. Tickets open to the public on Tuesday, June 25.

VIP Tables are available on a limited basis; to reserve one, call the Amarillo Symphony office at 806-376-8782. Treat your group to a special night out with a variety of hospitality options, including Dugout Suites, Concourse Suites, Luxury Suites, and the Pepsi Party Deck. For more information, call 806-803-7762 or email groups@sodpoodles.com.