Puppets with pep
You could say that puppets are enjoying a theatrical revival. Puppetry is an artform cherished by many cultures. But in America, puppets were long associated with children’s television and programming.
Square roots
Jeff Glover, Joe Pat Hennen and Brian Houser are the featured artists at this week’s Thursday Twilight Tunes on the Square.
One-track soul
Before there was any such thing as True Blood and the mother of all deep-fried Southern opening credits (hat tip to Jace Everett and his drawling “Bad Things”), there was Wayne “The Train” Hancock.
Tacos with a side of punk
At Taqueria El Picante, one of Denton’s longest running taquerias, you can pick up a vegan taco — and if you’re a lucky fan of punk rock music, you can leave with a bruise to brag about.
Into the rehash zone
Star Trek Into Darkness is like fan-boy fiction on a $185 million budget. It’s reverential, it’s faithful, it’s steeped in Trek mythology.
Fly true
Ayoung princess isn’t ready to accept the restraints of royal behavior in the 2012 animated Pixar feature Brave. The film is the second screening in the free Movies in the Park series this summer. The series presents movies that are suitable for all ages in May and June.
Lawn songs
Alittle Texas heat — OK, a lot of it — hasn’t kept the crowds from gathering outside the historic Courthouse on the Square on Thursday evenings for 20 years now.
T-shirt revival
Well-worn clothing will find new life during Tuesday’s workshop at SCRAP Denton, “Re-use and Re-Fresh With Natural Dyes.”
Some more shaking going on
“All Shook Up” continues this weekend at the Campus Theatre, 214 W. Hickory St. Music Theatre of Denton presents this jukebox musical, which features 28 songs made famous by Elvis Presley with a book by Joe DiPietro.
Bag claim
Clutches. Hobo bags. Cross-body messenger bags. There’s probably a purse for every taste and purpose under the sun, and a creative cluster of Denton dames have dreamt up their own designs for the annual Greater Denton Arts Council fundraiser “It’s in the Bag.”
This one goes out to the moms
The Denton Bach Society celebrates the art of the Elizabethan and Jacobian eras in its Mother’s Day concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Denton, 2200 N. Bell Ave.
Big band, big dreams
The Tyler Mire Big Band gets its turn on the patio at Sweetwater Grill & Tavern on Sunday night.
Wreck it again, Ralph
What happens when, inside of an arcade game villain, beats the heart of a hero?
Good enough ‘Gatsby’
While never taking his eyes off what made the original work of art so enduring, director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann delivers a film for today. In his new The Great Gatsby, the visually alert Australian director understands he is dealing with an American treasure, while also recognizing its cinematic appeal for a modern audience.
Musical patriarch
Cenobio Hernandez left Mexico at the end of the Mexican Revolution. He came to Texas. He arrived in San Antonio with some family and the music within him. Hernandez would write more than 100 compositions, many of them in the style of the orquestra tipica — a sort of musical hybrid in which composers took folk music of Mexico and set it to the higher style of a chamber orchestra. Cenobio died eight years before the birth of his grandson, two-time Grammy Award-winning Denton musician Cenobio “Bubba” Hernandez.
Fifth on the fourth
Several events are planned this weekend in Denton to commemorate Cinco de Mayo. Denton’s 25th Cinco de Mayo celebration will kick off with a 5K run and one-mile walk at 8 a.m. Saturday at North Lakes Park, 2001 W. Windsor Drive.
In living color
There’s something about Music Theatre of Denton’s staging of All Shook Up that feels like the 1998 film Pleasantville. There is a whiff of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, too. Oh, and a dash of Footloose, too.
Moms in mind for First Friday
A Creative Art Studio is offering a special music and shopping event for First Friday Denton from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday.
Worldly folks
A group of friends and professional musicians from around the globe will present a chamber music recital at 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2200 N. Bell Ave.
Sanctuary jazz
Jazz musicians Jiri Levicek on piano, Denton artist Jeffry Eckels on double bass and drummer Matt Young will join forces Friday for the final concert of the Lewisville Lake Symphony’s 2012-13 International Chamber Series. The free event starts at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5500 Morriss Road in Flower Mound, and is presented in cooperation with the University of North Texas College of Music. For more information, visit www.lewisvillesymphony.org .
Cinema verity
Tonight, the University of North Texas Department of Radio, Television and Film will screen five films created by students earning their Master of Fine Arts in documentary film.
The horror
Ridley Scott’s critically acclaimed film Alien will be screened Wednesday with two separate show times at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Denton’s Cinemark, 2528 Wind River Lane. Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film that finds Sigourney Weaver (pictured), Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto as the crew of a commercial deep-space mining ship, investigating a suspected S.O.S. Then they learn it was a warning — not a cry for help. For a full list of participating Cinemark locations, advance ticket purchases and more information, visit www.cinemark.com.
Metal and mettle
Billionaire industrialist and inventor Tony Stark takes a beating in Iron Man 3. Unfortunately, so does the audience. In this third feature based on the Marvel Comics character, director Shane Black treats his viewers as if they were attention-starved adolescents. And while that may indeed mark the targeted demographic, those not in that select grouping might find this Iron Man 3 a loud, garish, brainless assault on the senses. And it will probably gross a couple billion dollars.
Jam-packed
It’s just what college kids dreading dead week need and everything work-whipped grown-ups in Denton look forward to: Denton Arts & Jazz Festival. It unfolds on Friday — and it doesn’t matter that, as of Wednesday, there was rain in the opening-day forecast. The festival happens rain or shine. Bring a poncho and some old shoes.
Four trombonists walk into a gallery...
UNT on the Square wraps ups its spring Thursday night music series today.
Boris to play show in Denton
Japanese experimental rock outfit Boris hits Denton just three days into a big U.S. tour.
Concert to celebrate ‘power of dance’
University of North Texas dance students and guests take flight this weekend during the annual faculty dance concert at the University Theatre on campus.
Bowling for art
Who knew a heaping helping of noodles and marinated beef could help a local gallery print the catalog for an upcoming art exhibit?
Mayhem buffet
It’s too bad that Pain & Gain comes out at a time when drive-in theaters are all but extinct. Michael Bay’s comedic drama wouldn’t be negatively affected by tinny speakers, scenes missed during make-out sessions or long walks to the nacho stand. Distractions are actually a plus when watching this film. Is there a cineplex that allows patrons to bring in a lawn chair?
Grad studies
Cinemark continues its film series on Wednesday with 1967’s The Graduate, starring Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman.
