Amarillo entertainment in brief

'The Madness of Man' on display at Arts in the Sunset

“The Madness of Man” is the first major retrospective of Amarillo artist and educator Dale Conner, including over one hundred works that represent a career spanning nearly six decades. On view at the Ann Crouch Gallery at Arts in the Sunset from Jan. 28 through Feb. 18, Conner’s retrospective will be the first show mounted in the newly renovated space at 3701 Plains Blvd.

Conner is an American painter, master printmaker, and educator, and his media include oil on canvas and panel, watercolor, intaglio, relief, and drawing. Speaking both to the aesthetic and the ethical, his work examines the depth of the human condition, exposing man’s inhumanity and injustice to his fellow human beings, to other living creatures, and to the planet, using the theme of war and the people who facilitate conflict as his subjects. Conner’s award-winning work has been exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art, included in several Texas Fine Arts Association exhibitions, and a survey of his prints is part of the permanent collection of the Prints and Drawings Department of Texas Tech University.

Conner has infused his work with a message that reaches beyond the picturesque and examines the depths of the human condition. As a young boy, Conner fantasized about piloting a fighter aircraft, and after college he worked in a factory that manufactured five-hundred-pound bombs intended to be used on the people of Vietnam. His romantic notions about war were quickly crushed by the reality of the ominous gray steel canisters designed solely for the purpose of destruction. He left that job after one month. Despite the works’ dark and shadowy subject matter, Conner’s palette can be bright and cheery, adding a keen sense of irony. His paintings are revelatory, bursting with an animated yet controlled impasto. His portraits are evocative and expressive and, at times, piercing and mysterious. The work speaks both to the aesthetic and to the ethical. Conner’s work, in a word: transcendent.

The Ann Crouch Gallery at Arts in the Sunset was established by the late Ann Crouch to provide a space for artists to create and exhibit their work. Arts in the Sunset is located in the former Sunset Center Market Town, the first mall to open in Amarillo in 1960.

Cinemark screening 'Groundhog Day' for anniversary

Cinemark Hollywood 16 and XD, 9100 Canyon Drive, will host a special 30th anniversary screening of "Groundhog Day" at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Snowed in during a trip to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities, television weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself stuck in time, endlessly repeating Feb. 2. His world is inhabited by the same people every day, but they don't know Groundhog Day is repeating itself.

That gives him a certain advantage: He can find out what a woman is looking for in a man, and then the “next” day behave in exactly the right way to impress her. Luckily there is a woman closeby to practice on. She's Rita (Andie MacDowell), Phil's long-suffering producer, who has had to put up with his tantrums, demands and surliness.

Gradually Phil is able to see the error of his ways and improve his behavior until, finally, a Groundhog Day dawns when she finally likes him.

Tickets for this special screening are $12.45 and available online in advance at www.fathomevents.com/events

ALT presents 'If/Then'

Amarillo Little Theatre, 2751 Civic Circle, presents "If/Then", with music by Tom Kitt and based on book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9; 8 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 11; and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 5 and 12.

"If/Then" is a contemporary Broadway musical about living in New York today – and all the possibilities of tomorrow.

With unforgettable songs and a deeply moving story by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creators of "Next to Normal", this fascinating, ambitious, and original new musical simultaneously follows one woman’s two possible life paths, painting a deeply moving portrait of the lives we lead, as well as the lives we might have led.

Elizabeth, a city planner, moves back to New York to restart her life in the city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. If/Then follows both stories simultaneously, as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance.

Tickets range from $16 to $25 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit amarillolittletheatre.org/

Art Force Piano Series continues as AC musicians present ‘Jam with Love’

The spirit of Valentine’s Day will echo with a resounding endorsement from some of the area’s most accomplished musicians when the 2022-2023 Art Force Piano Series resumes at Amarillo College. The third installment of the Piano Series is titled “Jam with Love,” and it will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 by AC faculty and other special musical guests from AC's family of musicians.

The concert will feature a variety of instruments, from piano to harp and violin to voice, and it is free and open to the public, to be held in the Concert Hall Theater on the Washington Street Campus.

Music composed by luminaries such as Gershwin, Vivaldi, Mancini, Bach and more will make this an evening to remember. Performers include: Beverly de la Bretonne – violin; Candace Carpenter – voice; Mark Clark – piano; Kay Fristoe – flute, soprano recorder; Dr. Nathan Fryml – piano; Chris Garcia – bassoon; Cassandra Hussey – harp; Natalia Korenchuk – violin; Dr. Jim Laughlin – saxophone; Dr. Bruce Lin – piano; Camille Nies – viola; Debra Rasband – bass; Dr. Melody Rich – voice; Russell Steadman – cello; and the 4tet Jazz Combo.

Additionally, Fryml, Laughlin, Lin and Nies will take portions of “Jam with Love” to Canadian for an encore performance and a master class on Sunday, Feb. 19, an appearance sponsored by the David D. and Nona S. Payne Foundation. Both the concert and master class are free and open to the public and will take place 3-3:40 p.m. at the Texas Crown Performance Hall at Canadian Middle School. It will be immediately followed by a master class led by music faculty at Amarillo College.

Due to a conflict, the fourth and final installment of the Art Force Piano Series, which was originally scheduled for March 21, will now be presented in April. “Piano Buffet” featuring John Bayless, which is free and open to the public, is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 in AC’s Concert Hall Theater. Bayless, a product of Borger and the Julliard School of Music, offers a variety of genres, from opera to Broadway shows, music from the movies, and even the Beatles.

Cinemark to screen Minnie Pearl documentary

Cinemark Hollywood 16 and XD, 9100 Canyon Drive, will screen "Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl" at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6.

"Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl" is a full-length documentary about the life and work of Sarah Cannon, aka Minnie Pearl.

Sarah was a serious, educated woman who had once dreamed of becoming a Shakespearean actress, but she found fame playing a simple country girl who often made herself the butt of her jokes.

Instantly identifiable – even in silhouette – by her straw hat with a price tag dangling from its brim, Minnie Pearl became an icon of country music radio, stage and TV. When she greeted audiences, they enthusiastically echoed her signature “Howdee” in a happy roar.

While Sarah and Minnie were two sides of a coin, they share a legacy of compassion, empowerment and humor.

Tickets for this special screening are $12.45 and available online at https://www.fathomevents.com/

CMA presents Handel: Great Keyboard Suites

Chamber Music Amarillo presents Handel: Great Keyboard Suites at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Amarillo College Concert Hall, 2201 S. Washington St., No. 2411.

Celebrating 25 years of Chamber Music Amarillo, patrons can enjoy an intimate evening of George Frideric Handel on stage with four fabulous keyboard players, Nathan Fryml, Choong-ha Nam, Jim Rauscher and Sarah Rushing.

The repertoire include: Suite No. 1 in a major, HWV 426; Suite No. 2 in f major, HWV 427; Suite No. 3 in d minor, HWV 428; and Suite No. 5 in e major, HWV 430 “Harmonious Blacksmith”.

Tickets for this concert are $40 and available online at amarillosymphony.org/ticketing-subscriptions/upcoming-events/

WTAMU theater presents 'Sweeney Todd'

West Texas A&M University will present "Sweeney Todd" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12, at the Branding Iron Theatre, 2501 Fourth Ave., Canyon.

Music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim and the production is based on the book by Hugh Wheeler.

Sondheim’s haunting musical thriller has been hailed "the greatest musical of the past half-century” by the Wall Street Journal. Sophisticated and uncompromising, “Sweeney Todd” has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor. You will find yourself laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

For more information or for tickets, visit www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-fine-arts-humanities/department-art-theatre-dance/theatre/index.html

Tattoo Expo set for Feb. 9-12

The Amarillo Tattoo Expo, hosted by Ink Masters Tattoo Show, is set for Feb. 9-12 at the Fifth Season Inn Amarillo, 6801 I-40 Frontage Road.

This four-day tattoo expo starting on Thursday and features live on-the-spot tattooing and piercings for the public all four days.

There will be artists to help you with the style of tattoos you've been looking for including styles from realistic to traditional and black and grey or color.

Tickets will be available at the door only. Get there before 5 p.m. on Friday for a $5 discount on any ticket/pass.

Thursday: 1-11 p.m.: $10 all day.

Friday: 1-11 p.m.: $20 ($5 off before 5 p.m.)

Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: $20

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: $20

Weekend Passes: $35

There will be free raffle giveaways with $1,200 worth of free tattoos on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the attending artists of your choice.

This is a free raffle with the purchase of an entrance pass. Must be 18 to enter the raffle and be present to win. The winner must be 18 with a valid ID.

All ages are welcome (an adult must accompany children). You must be 18 and older with a valid ID for tattoos.

Cinemark to screen 'Lourdes'

Cinemark Hollywood 16 and XD, 9100 Canyon Drive, will screen the film "Lourdes" at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9. The film features subtitles.

Lourdes is a small village where the Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl about 150 years ago and where few miracles have been recognized by the church but not recognized and recounted by thousands.

The biggest of them is the heart with which pilgrims come and go, each one with something to heal: mentally, physically or spiritually.

Still today Lourdes is more alive than ever. And Our Lady remains active and attentive to each of her children.About 6 million people visit it every year. After the pandemic, her devotion is increasing. The multitudinous processions of people seeking a miracle feed a small army of caregivers (nurses, volunteers, hospitalists) who accompany them.

"Lourdes" is an insightful meditation on the human capacity for empathy and hope, and especially a journey into the mystery of religious faith in the face of life's profound tribulations.

Tickets for the special screening are $12.45 and available online at www.fathomevents.com/

ALT presents 'These Shining Lives'

Amarillo Little Theatre, 2751 Civic Circle, presents "These Shining Lives", adapted for the stage by Melanie Marnich, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 2; 8 p.m. Feb. 24-25 and March 3-4; and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 5.

Based on the book "The Radium Girls" by Kate Moore, "These Shining Lives" chronicles the historic strength, heroism and determination of the women at the Radium Dial Company during the 1920s – 1930s.

Catherine and her colleagues are becoming gravely ill by the day, but only through the acts of these brave and courageous women and their male allies were these women able to fight their town, the press, the medical community and the corporation.

Theirs is an inspirational story of survival in its most transcendent sense, as they refuse to allow the company that stole their health to kill their spirits or endanger the lives of those that come after them.

Tickets range from $13 to $21 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call the box office at (806) 355-9991 or visit them online at www.amarillolittletheatre.org

Symphony presents music of John Williams — location, times moved

The Amarillo Symphony’s performances on Feb. 24 and 25, "Star Wars and Beyond: An Evening of John Williams!", will be moved to the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium due to continuing repairs in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.

Enjoy the sounds of a live orchestra performing Hollywood classics from Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Superman, and more, conducted by George Jackson.

Due to already scheduled events at the Civic Center Auditorium on Feb. 25, both Symphony concerts will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 and 8:30 pm.

Friday night patrons will be automatically placed in the 6 p.m. performance, and Saturday night patrons will be placed in the 8:30 pm performance. If you prefer a different time than your automatic placement, you may request that change by completing a form online or by calling the Symphony office at 806.376.8782.

Ongoing ticket sales for the February concerts are on a temporary hold and are expected to reopen next week.

"We have seen so much grace in the community's response to our January concert location change, and we thank you for your patience as we adjust for our February concert as well," Amarillo Symphony said.

For more information, visit https://amarillosymphony.org .

'Legally Blonde: The Musical' coming to city

"Legally Blonde: The Musical" is coming to Amarillo at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.

Fabulously fun and international award-winning "Legally Blonde: The Musical" is the ultimate Broadway tribute to Girl Power! The story follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams, and proves that you can be legally blonde and STILL the smartest person in the room.

This contemporary, sassy musical moves at a breakneck pace driven by memorable songs and explosive dances. "Legally Blonde: The Musical" warms the heart by proving that self-discovery can be way too much fun and hilarious to boot.

Based on the beloved movie, the musical will take you from the sorority house to the halls of justice with Broadway’s brightest new heroine and, of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser.

Tickets range from $30 to $75 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com

Globetrotters coming to civic center

The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs is coming with game like never before. Your favorite Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skill, outrageous athleticism and a non-stop good time to the Amarillo Civic Center Complex on March 8.

Join the Globetrotters as they go head-to-head against the Washington Generals who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team.

The Globetrotters welcome fans in the Amarillo area to join them for an interactive gameday packed with one-of-a-kind premium offerings.

Harlem Globetrotters fans can score the best seats at www.HarlemGlobetrotters.com To order tickets online: www.harlemglobetrotters.com or https://www.panhandletickets.com/

Tickets are available online at panhandletickets.com, Amarillo Civic Center box office, by phone at (806) 378-4246, or area United Supermarkets.

CMA presents Dvorak: Piano Quintet

Chamber Music Amarillo presents Dvorak: Piano Quintet at 7:30 p.m. March 11 at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive.

After 25 years of CMA, it’s time for old home week with violinist Annie Chalex Boyle, violist Joanna Mendoza, cellist Jeffrey Lastrapes and CMA Artistic Director and founder David Palmer – some of CMA’s original musicians presenting a fun filled evening including the famous Dvořák Piano Quintet.

The repertoire includes: Ravel, Sonata for violin and piano; PDQ Bach, Sonata for viola four hands; St. Saens, Danse Macabre; John Williams, The Witches of Eastwick; and Dvořák, Piano Quintet in A major.

Tickets for this special concert are $40 each. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit amarillosymphony.org/ticketing-subscriptions/upcoming-events/

Disney on Ice coming to civic center

Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate at 7 p.m. March 16 and 17; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 18; and 1 and 5 p.m. March 19, at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum, entrances 5, 7 8 and 10.

Disney On Ice presents "Let’s Celebrate" featuring 14 classic and modern Disney stories in one epic production.

Grab your Mickey ears and get ready for non-stop fun when 50 of your favorite Disney friends come to life through world-class ice skating. Characters featured include from "Toy Story 4", "Frozen", "The Lion King" and more.

Tickets for each of the seven performances range from $25 to $65 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com

Symphony, choir collaborate on 'Carmina Burana'

The Amarillo Symphony, in conjunction with the Amarillo Master Chorale, will present "Carmina Burana" at 7:30 p.m. March 24 and 25. As of press time, this concert is planned to be held at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.

Featuring the Amarillo Master Chorale, the orchestra’s performance of the beloved "Carmina Burana" will awe and delight. They will also present Mozart’s transcendent "Ave Verum Corpus" and the Overture to Mozart’s famous opera "Marriage of Figaro".

Guest performers are soprano Sarah Vautour, tenor Andrew Morstein, bass-baritone Johnathan McCullough and conductor George Jackson.

Tickets for this performance range from $21 to $71 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating.

For more information, visit amarillosymphony.org/; to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com

Musical festival set for April 27-29

The Greater Southwest Musical Festival, presented by the Amarillo Symphony, is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, April 27-29, at the Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan St.

A fixture of the Amarillo community for 50 years, the Greater Southwest Music Festival encourages musical excellence in K-12 students in a tri-state area through competition and performance, drawing between 10,000-12,000 participants annually.

Students compete at the Civic Center and Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Amarillo, as well as at Amarillo College. Emerging from the pandemic, the Amarillo Symphony is honored to continue the tradition of the Festival, immersing directors and students in performance and networking opportunities and receiving feedback from seasoned, prominent educators and adjudicators.

For more information, visit https://amarillosymphony.org/

Gatto bringing comedy show to Amarillo

Joe Gatto, a well-known comedian, actor, and producer, is best known for the hit TV shows “Impractical Jokers” and “The Misery Index" brings his comedy show to the Amarillo Civic Center on June 11, 2023.

Gatto is one of the founding members of The Tenderloins Comedy Troupe who has toured with a live comedy show to sold-out crowds across the world, including legendary arenas, such as Madison Square Garden in New York and the O2 Arena in London.

Gatto is a co-host of the “Two Cool Moms” Podcast and has also appeared on hit podcasts including This Past Weekend with Theo Von, What A Joke with Papa and Fortune and Life is Short with Justin Long.

Joe loves spending time with his two children and his ever-growing pack of rescue dogs affectionately known as the “Gatto Pups.”

Tickets are now available online at panhandletickets.com, by calling the Amarillo Civic Center box office at (806) 378-3096 or at area United Supermarkets.

Panhandle PBS captures Missa Solemnis 'From the Heart'

In 2022, Panhandle PBS partnered with the Missa Solemnis Alliance to produce and broadcast “Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in the Texas Panhandle". The station also produced “From the Heart: The Making of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in the Texas Panhandle,” the documentary that explores the journey form 2018, though the interruption of the pandemic, to the 2022 performance.

Now, DVD and Blu-ray copies of the performance and the documentary produced by Panhandle PBS are available through donations of $35 to the station.

Beethoven referred to the “Missa Solemnis” as “the greatest music I have ever written.” It was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1824. A total of 173 musicians are needed to perform the work, which is why it is typically only performed in large metroplexes today. The Missa Solemnis Alliance, made up of musicians from organizations from across the Texas Panhandle including Chamber Music Amarillo, the Amarillo Symphony, Amarillo Master Chorale, West Texas A&M University, Wayland Baptist University, Amarillo College and First Baptist Church, was formed to bring this complex work to Amarillo.

The Missa Solemnis Alliance attracted the largest number of performers assembled on the stage of the Globe-News Center. “From the Heart: The Making of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in the Texas Panhandle” details conversations with influencers and musicians recalling the lead up to the performance. The program goes behind the scenes as an alliance of arts organizations join voices for this monumental undertaking – five years in the making.

For more information about “Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in the Texas Panhandle,” “From the Heart: The Making of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in the Texas Panhandle,” or to obtain your own copy, call (806) 371-5479.

'Achievement in Art: The Smith Collection' on exhibit at AMoA

The Amarillo Museum of Art is proud to present the 29th annual "Achievement in Art Exhibition" featuringa collection of genre and impressionist paintings by important French artists such as Alfred Sisley, Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, and Eugène Louis Boudin, among others.

The exhibit opened Jan. 14 and is on display through April 9.

In addition to luminous land and seascapes, the exhibition also includes a number of exquisitely rendered French pastoral scenes by Daniel Ridgeway Knight and Julien Dupré, as well as Parisian scenes by Edouard Léon Cortès. Viewing this exceptional collection will transport viewers into an enchanting and idyllic late-19th to early 20th century French countryside.

The Amarillo Museum of Art is located at 2200 S. Van Buren on the Washington Street campus of Amarillo College. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 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).

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo entertainment in brief