November
A Drag Queen Christmas: Some of the world’s best queens, who’ve found global fame on RuPaul’s Drag Race, hit town Nov. 29 for a holiday extravaganza in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 501 S. Buchanan St. Other November events include the Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo from Nov. 10 to 13 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St.; Grant Freeman’s An R-Rated Magic Show, which certainly does sound descriptive, on Nov. 4 in the Globe-News Center; comedian George Lopez’s OMG Hi! tour on Nov. 5 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; and Amarillo Wranglers hockey games on Nov. 5-6 and 19-20 in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum.
Amarillo Symphony: The orchestra welcomes Metropolitan Opera soprano Susanna Phillips for Johann Strauss’ “Four Last Songs,” along with familiar works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Pyotr Tchaikovsky; the concerts are set for Nov. 18 and 19 in the Globe-News Center. Other arts highlights for November include an exhibition by Marcia Tippit from Nov. 3 to 30 in West Texas A&M University’s Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; the Harrington String Quartet on Nov. 4 in WT’s Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; WT Opera’s Postcard from Morocco on Nov. 9, 11 and 13 in Northen Recital Hall; the Amarillo Symphony Youth Orchestra on Nov. 6 in the Globe-News Center; Amarillo Little Theatre’s premiere of the highly acclaimed new drama Clybourne Park from Nov. 10 to 20 in its Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle; Chamber Music Amarillo’s Five Winds concert on Nov. 12 at Sharpened Iron Studios, 1314 S. Polk St.; and WT Dance’s Falling into Dance from Nov. 17 to 20 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre.
Lindsey Stirling: The violinist/dancer brings her Snow Waltz Tour Nov. 19 to the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; her Warmer in Winter album, with her version of “Carol of the Bells,” was a smash hit. Other concert offerings in November will include the long-awaited return of Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas show on Nov. 25 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; Texas country up-and-comers Corey Hunt & The Wise on Nov. 11 at The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave.; Americana singer-songwriter and former Amarillo star Charlie Shafter on Nov. 19, also at Golden Light; and Texas rockers The Dirty River Boys on Nov. 11 at Hoot’s Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road.
Christmas Roundup: Amarillo Museum of Art’s annual shopping extravaganza—set for Nov. 4 to 6 in the Civic Center Complex—leads off a month full of mostly holiday-themed fundraisers. Also on tap: Friends of the Amarillo Public Library’s Books to Broadway night on Nov. 3 in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Room; Window on a Wider World’s WOWW Factor: 1940s USO Variety Show on Nov. 4 in the Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza; the Amarillo NAACP’s Dr. R.W. Jones Freedom Fund Banquet on Nov. 5 at Four Points by Sheraton, 1911 E. Interstate 40; the Texas Panhandle Veterans Ball on Nov. 5 in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom; the Veterans Honor Banquet celebrating North Heights neighborhood vets on Nov. 12 at United Citizens Forum, 901 N. Hayden St.; the National Philanthropy Day luncheon on Nov. 16 in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom; Lone Star Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Ball on Nov. 19 in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom; and the Original Toy Run on Nov. 20 from Skooterz, 410 Bushland Blvd., to Tripp’s Harley-Davidson, 6040 I-40 West.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: This one, opening Nov. 11, could be one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest hits, with anticipation at a fever pitch to see how the franchise bounces back after the tragic death of star Chadwick Boseman. Also scheduled in theaters in November: critically acclaimed drama Armageddon Time, opening Nov. 4; #MeToo drama She Said on Nov. 18; and animated adventure Strange World, war drama Devotion, cannibal romance Bones and All and Steven Spielberg memoir The Fabelmans, all on Nov. 23.
December
Black Tie Affair: Get gussied up for an evening of dinner, dancing, cocktails and casino games at the Northside Toy Drive’s smash-hit annual fundraiser, set for Dec. 16 in the Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom. (See page 46 for a feature about this nonprofit.) Tables are sold out, but limited free admission, without reserved seating, is available. Other community holiday events include Center City of Amarillo’s Electric Light Parade on Dec. 2 in downtown Amarillo; and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum’s annual Christmas Open House on Dec. 3 at the museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon.
Elf the Musical: Buddy comes to singing and dancing life from Dec. 1 to 18 on ALT’s Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Other December arts offerings will include Three Redneck Tenors on Dec. 2 in the Globe-News Center; WT Chamber Singers’ Christmas Concert on Dec. 3 in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall; the WT Symphony Orchestra’s Music of the Christmas Season on Dec. 4 in Northen Recital Hall; Lone Star Ballet’s mainstay The Nutcracker on Dec. 9 to 11 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; and Amarillo Symphony’s Happy Holiday Pops concert on Dec. 17 in the Globe-News Center.
Nate Bargatze: The Grammy-nominated comedian brings his family-friendly Raincheck Tour on Dec. 18 to the Civic Center Complex Auditorium. Other December events include Colorado country band The Barlow on Dec. 3 at Rounders Club; and Amarillo Wranglers vs. the Lone Star Brahmas on Dec. 9 and 10 in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum.
Avatar: The Way of Water: I know I’m supposed to care about this sci-fi sequel, opening Dec. 16, but I’m struggling. Thankfully, there are several other movie options in December, including comedic horror film Violent Night on Dec. 3; period romance Empire of Light and (in limited release) Brendan Fraser comeback drama The Whale on Dec. 9; romantic drama Spoiler Alert, also on Dec. 16; animated sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody on Dec. 21; and searing drama Women Talking on Dec. 25.
