Rodeo, “Anna in the Tropics,” Poetry, Music & Two Great Exhibits
-NEWS ROUNDUP-
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is back, which means it’s time to pull out those boots from the back of the closet and celebrate one of Texas’ greatest traditions. For music lovers of all ages, the rodeo once again offers a strong lineup of country and rock artists, and for those looking for great date night possibilities, this year’s rodeo offers plenty of opportunities. Cody Johnson kicks off the event with a performance on Thursday night. CoJo has been one of the hottest tickets in the country and is also a Texas native and former bull rider, which makes him the perfect act to lead off.
Saturday, February 8, offers country fans the chance to listen to the newlyweds, Carly Pearce and Michael Ray, performing at 1:00 followed by David Lynch at 7:00. For a Valentine’s date, consider spending time with ZZ Top, a trio that epitomizes loyalty and longevity? The band has been together for nearly 50 years and is still rockin’ and going strong. Other highlights include Keith Urban on Saturday, February 15 at 1:00 and at 7:00 p.m., and KC and the Sunshine Band closing out the Rodeo on Saturday February 22.
For a complete listing of all the rodeo entertainment, visit the official event website at https://www.sarodeo.com/entertainers/category/rodeo-concert.
Shows are nightly at 7:00 p.m. at the AT&T Center with additional 1:00 p.m. performances on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.sarodeo.com/tickets or on ticketmaster.com. Various packages are available.
The rodeo may be the big event in town but for theater lovers the most significant event is the San Antonio premiere of Anna in the Tropics, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by the Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz that depicts a Cuban-American community just before the Great Depression. The “Anna” of the title is Anna Karenina, the heroine of Leo Tolstoy’s eponymous masterpiece. To see how that Anna became part of the cigar-making little community in 1929, see feature story on this site. (Opens tonight and runs through March 1; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays; Classic Theater of San Antonio, 1924 Fredericksburg Rd; tickets $20-$34 by calling 210-589-8450 or www.classictheatre.org
For kids, there’s The Magical Pinata at the Magik Theater, the story of Cucha, a selfish and lonely girl, who gets magically transported from her hometown in Mexico to a mysterious jungle inhabited by all sorts of eccentric characters. Needless to say, Cucha learns a lot and discovers a few important truths. What’s more, the show also features mariachi music directed by Gino Rivera, the founder of Mariachi Azteca. Recommended for ages 5-8 but all are welcome. There will be a special free performance on Valentine’s Day at 9:45 a.m., and a sensory-friendly one Fe. 8 at 10:30 a.m. (through Feb. 15, Magik Theater at Hemisfair, 420 S. Alamo St., 210-227-2751 or go to www.magiktheatre.org)
Poetry readings are staged performances, too, and some can be quite theatrical. One worth checking out, Urban Wild, is scheduled for Feb.11 at the Urban Ecology Center Gathering Hall in Hardberger Park. It is being promoted as a celebration of nature, poetry and photography as nature photography will also be part of the presentations. Respected San Antonio poets, Wendy Barker, John Phillip Santos, Frances Trevino and Mobi Warren will share their poems inspired by the great outdoors. Sponsored by the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy in partnership with Gemini Ink and the Rivard Report, the event will also include refreshments and wine and beer from Dorćol Distilling. (Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.; 8400 NW Military Hwy.; tickets $25 but free for members of the sponsoring organizations. To register go to www.philhardbergerpark.org/cart
Like almost every weekend, there are several concerts to choose from, though the choice may be difficult given the caliber of San Antonio chamber ensembles, choirs, soloists and even orchestras. So, let’s begin with the latter. The Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, known as YOSA, invite you to spend this Sunday afternoon “at the movies” with their talented young musicians and the members of the San Antonio Chamber Choir. Since it’s Oscars Sunday, the program focuses on the music from Oscar-winning movies and a few other beloved films, including the well-known Star Wars score, and the music from The Lord of the Rings, Schindler’s List and more. (Feb. 8 at 4 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts; tickets $16-$22, 210-223-8624, or go to www.tobincenter.org/box-office
The innovative Agarita Chamber Players quartet is partnering with poet Laura Van Prooyen to bring you Stanzas of Sound Feb.8 at the Woman’s Club of San Antonio. Not much information is available about the music that will be played beyond the names of composers, including Brahms, Kenji Bunch, Jessica Meyer, Steven Stucky and Charles Ives. (Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Woman’s Club of San Antonio, 1717 San Pedro Ave., free admission.)
For a different musical experience, head to the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for a Noche de Romance, a pre-Valentine’s Day concert with the terrific Mariachi Azteca who will serenade you with Mexican love songs. What’s more, the local musicians will be joined for the occasion by Arturo Vargas, a member of the world-famous Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. The concert’s proceeds benefit the Traditional Music Program of the Guadalupe Academy. (Feb. 7 & 8 at 8 p.m., Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St.; tables for four are $250, which includes tapas, desserts, wine and beer. Other tickets $25-$35. For info call 210-271-3151 or go to www.guadalupeculturalarts.org)
On the visual arts fronts, two significant exhibits opened in the past few days: Fashion Nirvana: From Runway to Everyday at the McNay Arts Museum, and Texas Women: A New History of Abstract Art at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Both are interesting but we found the SAMA show more educational as it gathers in one place the work of female abstract artists the public doesn’t know much about. And some of the art is stunning! On the other hand, you may find the McNay show more fun as it showcases garments created by well-known fashion designers, from super elegant gowns to T-shirt dresses and grunge chic. (McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels, through May 17; admission charged though it’s free for children under 12, the military and a few other groups. SAMA, 200 W. Jones Ave., through May 3, admission charged but free for children under 12. During free admission hours on Tuesday and Sundays, there is a $5 charge to see the exhibit.) To learn more about “Fashion Nirvana” see feature story on this site. Also, watch for the upcoming story on “Texas Women.”