The dawning of a new year traditionally marks the halfway point of the Amarillo arts calendar, and the first two months of
2023 are packed full of options, from theatrical favorites to symphonic masterworks. And the rest of the entertainment scene looks just as busy, with major concerts from big-time stars, notable movie releases and tons more fun. Here are some highlights of the next two months, and make sure to subscribe to the Brickly and Flavorillo newsletters for weekly and biweekly picks.
January
Jesus Christ Superstar: Civic Amarillo and the Broadway Spotlight Series opens its season with a fresh take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rocking version of the gospels on Jan. 3 and 4 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium. Other arts highlights include a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 by Chamber Music Amarillo on Jan. 7 at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; Chinese dance company Shen Yun at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; a screening of the rarely performed opera Fedora on Jan. 14 as part of The Met: Live in HD series at Cinemark Hollywood 16; the uproarious murder comedy Clue from Jan. 19 to 29 on the Amarillo Little Theatre Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle; Amarillo Symphony’s performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto and Franz Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 and 21 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.; Lone Star Ballet’s educational dance concert Rainforest on Jan. 26 and 27 in the Globe-News Center; West Texas A&M University’s Faculty Grand Recital at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; and WT Opera’s A Night at the Opera gala on Jan. 28 in the Alumni Banquet Hall.
Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black: The married country stars bring their Mostly Hits & the Mrs. tour to town on Jan. 28 for a show with daughter Lily Pearl Black in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Other concert highlights for the month include country acts Don Stalling & The Divided on Jan. 13, Palmer Anthony on Jan. 14 and Tanner Lane on Jan. 21, all at the Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Tri-State Open Chili Championship: The annual fundraiser for Make-A-Wish returns, with cook teams vying for your tastebuds at noon, Jan. 14, in the Rex Baxter Building on the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds. Hopefully, your appetite will rebound a few days later for The Big Cheese, a mac-and-cheese cook-off for The Hope & Healing Place at 6 p.m. Jan. 19, also in the Rex Baxter Building. Other events to watch out for include Amarillo Wranglers home games on Jan. 6 and 7 and
Jan. 13 and 14 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum.
M3gan: An AI doll develops an extraordinarily strong bond with its creator’s young niece in this hotly anticipated new horror film opening Jan. 6. Also scheduled to hit theaters are action-thriller Plane and Tom Hanks-starring drama A Man Called Otto on Jan. 13; thriller Missing on Jan. 20; and sci-fi comedy Distant on Jan. 27. Watch for expansions of Oscar hopefuls throughout the month, too, as well as special theatrical engagements of Japanese action film Shin Ultraman on Jan. 11 and 12 and Pinkfong Sing-Along Movie 2: Wonderstar Concert, featuring the musical … geniuses behind Baby Shark, on Jan. 28 and 29.
February
Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Tour: One of the best singer-songwriters in the state returns to the Globe-News Center for an intimate concert Feb. 1. Other concert highlights include Tejano stars Los Tigres del Norte on Feb. 11 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; country singers Jacob Stelly on Feb. 10 and Hunter Lamberth on Feb. 11, both at the Golden Light Cantina; and Texas country-rocker Joey Green on Feb. 18 at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road.
Amarillo Symphony: The orchestra goes celestial with its Star Wars and Beyond: An Evening of John Williams at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 and 25 in the Globe-News Center. Other arts performances and events to watch for include contemporary musical drama If/Then from Feb. 2 to 12 in the ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle; an art exhibition by Marcus Melton from Feb. 2 to 24 in WT’s Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; Amarillo Opera’s Sounds for the Soul featuring Grammy-winning baritone Reginald Smith Jr. on Feb. 5 at First Baptist Church, 1208 S. Tyler St.; WT Theatre’s performances of Stephen Sondheim’s morbid classic Sweeney Todd from Feb. 10 to 12 and Feb. 16 to 18 in the Branding Iron Theatre; Chamber Music Amarillo’s Handel: Great Keyboard Suites on Feb. 11 in the Amarillo College Concert Hall Theatre; the WT Symphonic Band on Feb. 12 in Northen Recital Hall; the Harrington String Quartet on Feb. 17 in the AC Concert Hall Theatre; the WT Chorale on Feb. 19, also in Northen Recital Hall; historical drama These Shining Lives from Feb. 23 to March 5 on the ALT Mainstage; WT’s Grace Hamilton Piano Festival on Feb. 24 and 25; and Broadway Spotlight Series’ Legally Blonde: The Musical on Feb. 28 and March 1 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium.
The Mardi Gras Party: Family Support Service’s ragin’ Cajun party returns at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom, with a spicy dinner, casino games and more. Other events to ink on your calendar include the Amarillo Tattoo Expo from Feb. 9 to 12 at the Fifth Season Inn, 6801 W. Interstate 40; the Jordan World Circus on Feb. 15 at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds, and Amarillo Wranglers home games on Feb. 10 and 11, Feb. 17 and 18 and Feb. 24 and 25, all in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: The Marvel Cinematic Universe simultaneously shrinks and expands Feb. 17 when the tiny heroes take on one of the universe’s biggest villains. Other films to watch for, along with continued expansions of awards hopefuls, include comedy 80 for Brady and horror film Knock at the Cabin on Feb. 3; a Titanic rerelease and horror flick Consecration on Feb. 10; romantic comedy What About Love on Feb. 14; and unbelievable true story Cocaine Bear and ’70s-era religious drama Jesus Revolution on Feb. 24.
