After hearing rumors firsthand and seeing the occasional Tweet or Facebook status update regarding the alleged inability of local booking organization Denton County Proper to fulfill its financial obligations, today it appears to be official: The big triple headliner show that was announced for New Year’s Eve featuring HEALTH, John Maus, Quintron and Miss Pussycat has been canceled, leaving a gaping hole in Denton’s options for the biggest entertainment night of the year. And that’s just one of what appears ..read more

The Dallas Film Society and TXU Energy are teaming up again for a student film competition that challenges high school and college students to create films about energy and energy conservation. Winners win cash, video editing software, and some other perks courtesy of the Dallas International Film Festival. The submission period begins today, October 31, and continues through February 12. Here’s more info.

FrontRow Live – the one night high brow, low brow blowout – will take place this Thursday, November 3, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Dallas Contemporary, and I’ll be headed to the event the Chevy Sonic that our sponsors have graciously lent me in advance of the event. The car is compact, handles well, and would easily slide into the lifestyle of a 20-something who spends his or her weekends popping from music event to music event in Dallas.

So this weekend I decided to give it another test: throw my three kids (all six-and-under) in the back and head to the grocery store to stock up. First off, the kids loved being snuggled up in the back, but what is remarkable is despite the Sonic’s very park-able build, the thing hides a trunk that managed to swallow two week’s worth of groceries. Not bad.

Latter on we took the Sonic out for a quick dinner at Mai’s and a night of gallery hopping. The onboard satellite radio (now that I refuse to turn on the MLB Network) toggled between 50s on 5 and the Studio 54 channel (that’s right: all disco, all the time), as we rounded the city. Quick, versatile, and smooth, it will be hard to give this car back.

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Rags comes with an impressive pedigree: music by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie), lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell), and book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof). So why does this musical—which premiered on Broadway in 1986 and closed after only four performances—feel so amateurish?

The tangled saga of Eastern European immigrants arriving inNew York Citycirca 1911 plays out like an overly long education play, the sort you would view at theEllis IslandMuseumto learn a quick and entertaining overview ..read more

For my money, no one can do Theresa Rebeck smart-manic-ditz-lady equal to or better than the actress Julie White. This is especially apparent watching a production of Bad Dates— after all, Rebeck wrote Haley, the leading and only role, for White. It’s hard to envision anyone else with the right combination of neurosis and pluck and comedic timing and facial expressions— everything that makes the character sympathetic and funny rather than obnoxious (we do, after all, have to listen to ..read more

FrontRow Live already has dance music, classical music, acoustic music, dancers, art, movies, coffee, drinks, and food. Now you can add theater to the list. Upstart Productions will be staging a spontaneous theater piece at FrontRow Live on November 3 at the Dallas Contemporary. We’re not going to give you details on exactly what Upstart has in store because that’s part of the fun of the idea. But according to artistic director Josh Glover, the Upstarts are working on an original piece for the evening.

Your FREE tickets to FrontRow Live are right here.

Also, FrontRow will have a promo table tonight at Aurora (Flora btwn Crockett and Leonard) and then Sunday from 12-4 (Flora between Pearl and Olive). If you stop by you can score VIP tickets to the event.

The new film Martha Marcy May Marlene has already secured a few top honors, including taking home the director’s prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Indeed, young director Sean Durkin’s first feature film is a wonderful acted, meticulously paced thriller held together through a combination of Durkin’s efficient style and leading lady Elizabeth Olsen’s performance. This won’t be the last we hear of Olsen, who threatens to break out from the shadows of her older sisters, the famous Olsen ..read more

Last week, Dallas Symphony co-concertmaster Nathan Olson grabbed laughter, applause, and national attention by striding onstage at Meyerson Symphony Center wearing a bright red Texas Rangers cap. Olson walked on capless this week, but the reason for the letdown became obvious seconds later when Italian-born guest conductor Carlo Rizzi came onstage in the famous red baseball cap.

The concert itself was clearly designed to fit comfortably; programming by the DSO throughout October, with the exception of guest conductor Marin Alsop’s presentation ..read more

This edition of Take Five should probably come with a “parental advisory” sticker, but I didn’t have one on me.

B-Hamp, “My List” (listen) – The slow-and-in-control Dallas rapper made his name on hip-hop radio with “Do the Ricky Bobby” and “Fooly.” He also put out one of the best Mavs spirit tracks during the playoffs. Now he’s in a big ol’ bragging mood, which means there’s a new track on which he lays out all the areas he’s got it ..read more

In terms of war photography, the guts have always been there. People like Don McCullin and George Strock risked not just life and limb, but withstood the debilitating mental horror of battle, to capture in exquisite photographs the banal madness of 20th century conflict on film. But our 21st century conflicts – Afghanistan, Iraq – are producing some of the most compelling, wrenching, and harrowing war documentaries ever made. People like Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger (Restrepo), Ian Olds and ..read more