From musicals to art exhibits, Fort Worth is set for an exciting 2020
Leon Bridges came home, George Strait christened Dickies Arena, Monet brought record crowds to the Kimbell, and local artist Linda Little transformed a footbridge into a chilling reminder of migrant child detention.
It was a spectacular year of cultural events in Fort Worth. We cannot cover every single venue in this list and expect to be flooded with announcements in the next few months, but here is a list of 2020 events that have our attention so far.
Hamilton at Bass Performance Hall, June 9—28
After exceeding all expectations in Dallas this year, Hamilton marches into Fort Worth this summer. Based on the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, this 2015 musical received a record-setting number of Tony nominations as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Hamilton is also known for amazingly high box office receipts, so we recommend securing your tickets right now.
Fort Worth Rodeo at Dickies Arena, January 17—February 8
It is hard to imagine, but next month the legendary Fort Worth Rodeo will not be held at the Will Rogers Coliseum for the first time since 1944. (The Stock Show portion, however, will still be at Will Rogers.) The new venue has better technology, obviously, and 3,600 more seats. We expected some resistance to this surprising change of venue, but strong ticket sales are indicating excitement.
Fortress Festival at Will Rogers Memorial Center, April 25—26
The lineup for year four has not yet been announced, but we expect Fortress Festival to keep getting bigger and better. The festival brought great lineups of local and national acts in its first two years, but it hit pay dirt in 2019 by bringing Leon Bridges home. Houston’s Khruangbin also wowed the crowd at Fortress Festival this year and they collaborated with Bridges for an upcoming EP, so we would love to see these two performing together in April.
KISS at Dickies Arena, October 2
Love them (or hate them), this money-grubbing rock band has sold over 75 million records and every imaginable type of merchandise since they started in 1973. As of this writing, the elderly group is scheduled to wear their makeup and costumes onstage for the last time in Fort Worth. This is a historical event that longtime fans will no doubt travel to see, at least until someone offers the band another dollar.
To Be Young, Gifted & Black at Jubilee Theatre, January 24—February 23
All of the productions at Jubilee Theatre have been essential for a longtime and To Be Young, Gifted and Black is no exception. From 1968, this legendary play was adapted into an important autobiography as well as a movie. Young, Gifted and Black is based on the letters, interviews, and journals of Lorraine Hansberry, the first African American woman to have a play on Broadway, A Raisin in the Sun.
Mark Bradford: End Papers at Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, March 8—August 9
Mark Bradford is an abstract mixed media artist who has been profiled on 60 Minutes and compared to Jackson Pollock. Next year, the Modern is bringing some of his most important works to Fort Worth for a major exhibition.
The Color Purple at Bass Performance Hall, January 5
Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award nominated film, this musical was revived on Broadway in 2015 by producers including Oprah Winfrey. Now touring after a two-year run on Broadway, the production won Tony Awards and has a Grammy-winning score.
Flesh and Blood at Kimbell Art Museum, March 1—June 14
On a roll with celebrated exhibits on Monet and Renoir, The Kimbell will keep the momentum going next year by bringing masterpieces from Italy to Fort Worth. Flesh and Blood will feature nearly 40 Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings from the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.
George Orwell’s 1984 at Circle Theatre, October 22—November 21
Dystopian novels have never seemed so relevant in America. With that in mind, we can hardly wait for this stage adaptation of this iconic story of totalitarianism, repression, and government surveillance that added several terms to the English language.
Darkness Shall Cover Me, Fort Worth Community Arts Center
Originally planned for early next year, artist Katherine Akey’s exploration of strategic bombing in World War One is now expected in the fall. Known for photography, printmaking and fiber art, Akey will also use personal reminisces of both bomber aircraft pilots and their intended targets in this upcoming exhibit.