Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, High Noon season finale among this week's entertainment

The Arts at WT subscription drive opens, with 6 exclusive events offered

CANYON — Memberships are available now for West Texas A&M University’s exclusive society of arts supporters. Now in its 15th year, The Arts at WT: A Subscription Series offers special access to the best that WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities has to offer.

Membership is $300 for two people, which offers exclusive admission for two at six concerts, dance recitals, lectures and art exhibitions throughout the year, as well as access to private receptions, cocktail buffets and more. Individual memberships are available for $150. Subscriptions help provide funds for four endowed scholarships, for special events and for various purchases of equipment and supplies.

Arts subscribers receive admission for two to each of the season’s special events, with receptions scheduled before for each event:

• Opera Cowgirls (7 p.m. Oct. 3, Jack B. Kelley Student Center Legacy Hall): Dinner-theatre experience including WT’s Sarah BeckhamTurner, assistant professor of music.
• “The Language of the Cottonwoods: A Dialogue on the Plains and Sense of Place” (7 p.m. Nov. 7, Legacy Hall): With Clay S. Jenkinson, host of “The Thomas Jefferson Hour” and winner of National Endowment of the Humanities Charles Frankel Prize.
• “Music of the Christmas Season” (4 p.m. Dec. 8, Northen Recital Hall): This year, the WT Choirs and Symphony Orchestra will be joined by members of WT Dance for an aerial silks performance.
• “Illumination” (7 p.m. Feb. 6, Legacy Hall): WT Dance’s spring extravaganza will feature a combination of choreography and state-of-the-art projections.
• “Art for the People” (6 p.m. March 20, location TBD): A spotlight on recent projects in the region as seen through the lens of the history of mural painting and public art, including the Hoodoo Mural Festival, Blank Spaces and WT’s own Rural Mural Project.
• “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (7:30 p.m. May 1, Branding Iron Theatre): WT Theatre will stage this early classic by Stephen Sondheim.

For information or to subscribe, visit The Arts at WT website or call 806-651-2777.

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.

Following an extended 50th anniversary tour, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ensemble grew to a six-piece in 2018 for the first time since their early jug band days. The American roots music group now includes Jeff Hanna (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica), Bob Carpenter (keyboards), Jim Photoglo (bass, acoustic guitar), Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin), and Jaime Hanna (electric and acoustic guitar), with all on vocals. And with the father-son pairing of Jeff and Jaime Hanna, the band carries on a country music tradition of blood harmony.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played their first gig in 1966 in Southern California as a jug band and by 1969 had become a cornerstone of the burgeoning country-rock community. Their career breakthrough came in 1970 with the release of the record Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and the single “Mr. Bojangles,” a folksy Top 10 pop hit that remains a staple of their live show. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band earned a pop resurgence in 1980 with “An American Dream” and “Make a Little Magic.” Those singles also found traction on the country chart, setting the stage for a major run at country radio. The band secured 16 Top 10 country hits between 1983 and 1990, including three No. 1 singles: “Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream),” “Modern Day Romance,” and “Fishin’ in the Dark.”

“We’re fortunate that we’ve got a deep songbook. That’s been on our list, to resurrect some of the tunes we haven’t done in a while, in addition to some new stuff,” Jeff Hanna says.

Tickets are on sale at panhandletickets.com .

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

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.

“Shakespeare in the Canyon,” will be featured at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 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 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 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 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 concerts, tribute band, festivals throughout its season

The Starlight Ranch Event Center, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr., has a full lineup of concerts and festivals in the works as summer continues. Among performers and events listed on their website are the Amarillo Margarita Festival (Aug. 3), a Linkin Park tribute band (In The End - Aug. 23), the toadies (Aug. 31), Neal McCoy (Oct. 4), Shane Smith and the Saints (Oct. 11), the rescheduled Calf Fry Festival (Oct. 12), Wade Bowen (Oct. 26), and more.

In addition, tickets went on sale this week for the Paul Wall show at Starlight Ranch with special guest Chalie Boy, scheduled for Oct. 25. 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.

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 Sept. 7

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.

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.

Magic of Motown to take the stage in Civic Center Sept. 7

Moxie Presents The Magic of Motown will begin its Amarillo show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium.

The Motowners show is a tribute to the many artists and songs from the Motown years. Attendees can expect to hear hits by the Temptations, The Four Tops, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and many more. The unique and family-friendly show is still a favorite, and its classic group sound and approach never loses its universal appeal.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com .

Amarillo Symphony presents 'Symphony Spooktacular' concert for all ages Oct. 25

Get ready for a bewitching evening of music as the Amarillo Symphony joins forces with the WTAMU Orchestra and choirs from WTAMU and Canyon High School for "Symphony Spooktacular," a family-friendly Halloween concert on Friday, Oct. 25. Two performances will be held at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, at 6 and 8 p.m.

Thrill to hauntingly beautiful melodies from iconic soundtracks like "Harry Potter," "Skyrim," and "Halo," as well as other beloved Halloween classics. The concert will also feature the talent of WTAMU student soloist Justin Williamson, recipient of the Eric Barry Vocal Competition. Come dressed in your most creative and spooky costumes and enjoy an immersive experience the whole family will enjoy.

Student and group discounts and special rates are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (806) 376-8782.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, High Noon season finale among this week's entertainment