Lots of cool stuff is on the books for 2023, including Pink at the Alamodome, Tyrannosaurus rexes at the Witte Museum, and immersive opera and Disney experiences.
There’s also the opening of Stable Hall, the latest reinvention of the Pearl Stable. There’s no opening date yet, but Elizabeth Fauerso, CEO of Potluck Hospitality, expects the venue to be up and running by the end of next year. The first concert announcements should roll out in late spring or early summer, she added.
Potluck Hospitality develops restaurant and hospitality concepts at Pearl. Stable Hall is going to be a biggie: The building, which was built as a home for the Pearl Brewery’s draft horses in the days before motorized vehicles, is being transformed into a state-of-the-art music venue meant to evoke Texas’ historic dance halls.
“I think it will be both a place that will feel like this very hometown venue for us to all come and enjoy music, but also a place where visitors to San Antonio can go to hear our South Texas sound and get acquainted with our artists,” Fauerso said. “And it will draw artists from all over to come and play there as well.”
Here’s a look at 23 more 2023 events to get excited about.
January
“The Cast That Goes Wrong”: The Miscast Theatre Company, which aims to create opportunities for performers who often are overlooked in casting calls, is introducing itself with this cabaret. The company will be in residence at The Public Theater of San Antonio, where it will present its first full show in the fall. Jan. 5-8, Cellar Theater, The Public Theater of San Antonio.
“Crystal City 1969”: This play tells the true story of the civil rights protest of Latino students in Crystal City. They had grown weary of racist measures, and a lack of representation on the school board and in classes. Dallas’ Cara Mía Theatre created the play. This will mark the first time the company has taken it to San Antonio. Jan. 19-22, Guadalupe Theater.
Angel Olsen: Singer-songwriter Olsen’s latest album, “Big Time,” is one of the best reviewed releases of 2022, landing in the Top 10 of 16 year-end critics’ lists. Atmospheric and melancholic songs such as “All the Good Times” and “Right Now” sound like Patsy Cline produced by David Lynch at the end of a long night. Jan. 23, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
San Antonio Philharmonic: The Philharmonic’s first Pops program, a musical tribute to the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., is a part of DreamWeek. The program will feature bass-baritone Timothy Jones and will be conducted by Charles Floyd. Jan. 27-28, First Baptist Church of San Antonio.
On ExpressNews.com: SA Philharmonic debuts to standing ovations
February
“Aladdin”: The musical adapted from Disney’s 1992 animated classic is making its San Antonio debut three years later than originally planned because of the pandemic. The show has won praise for its energy and visual spectacle. Feb. 7-12, Majestic Theatre.
“Fences”: Classic Theatre is tackling August Wilson’s powerful 1985 play about a once-gifted athlete in the Negro Leagues whose baseball career was derailed right before integration, leaving him with a bitterness that he takes out on his family. Antoinette Winstead is directing — very good news for anyone who caught her memorable 2007 staging for the Renaissance Guild. Feb. 9-26, Carver Community Cultural Center.
“Maria de Buenos Aires”: Opera San Antonio is planning an immersive staging of the opera, which tells the story of a sex worker obsessed with tango. The piece has music by Astor Piazzolla and a libretto by Horacio Ferrer. Feb. 10-11, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
“Fabulous Monsters:” Chicana punk band Fea is writing music for The Public Theater of San Antonio’s world premiere of Diana Burbano’s play. It follows the friendship between two Latinas forged when punk rock was starting to become a force on the Los Angeles music scene. Feb. 24-March 19, The Public Theater of San Antonio.
“Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii”: The 65 works in this exhibit delve into ancient landscapes created between 100 B.C.and A.D. 250. The images depict countryside scenes in which humans bump elbows with gods and mythological beings. It is the first in the United States to explore this imagery. Feb. 24-May 21, San Antonio Museum of Art.
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas: The famed Spanish classical guitarist, whose playing has drawn comparisons to Andrés Segovia, will perform with the Agarita chamber ensemble as part of its series of free concerts. Feb. 25, San Antonio Botanical Garden.
John Mellencamp: Heartland rocker Mellencamp’s 76-city “Live and In Person” tour will begin and end in his home state of Indiana. His artifacts, including a ’76 Fender Telecaster, have a home, too, in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Legends of Rock exhibit. Mellencamp, known for hits like “Jack and Diane” and “Small Town,” released his 24th studio album, “Strictly a One-Eyed Jack,” this year. Feb. 26, Majestic Theatre
“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience”: San Antonio will be the first Texas city to host this installation, which surrounds patrons with scenes from such classic films as “Encanto” and “The Lion King.” It is the product of a partnership between Lighthouse Immersive, which made its San Antonio debut in May with “Immersive Van Gogh,” and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Feb. 28-March 29, Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio.
March
“Womanish: Audacious, Courageous, Willful Art”: The McNay Art Museum’sbig spring exhibit features works by women that have been added to its collection since 2010, including pieces by Vanessa German and Katie Pell. March 3-July 2, McNay Art Museum.
On ExpressNews.com: McNay Art Museum names new director
“Ragtime”: The company based at the Woodlawn Theatre will change its name to the Wonder Theatre in January in advance of its big move to Wonderland of the Americas in the summer. One of the last shows in its home on Fredericksburg Road will be the musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel. The show is a snapshot of life at the turn of the 20th century, depicting civil unrest, racial tensions and life-changing innovations. March 3-26, Woodlawn Theatre.
“Alice in Wonderland”: Ballet San Antonio will bring Lewis Carroll’s tale to life through Brian Enos’ choreography, which blends classical and contemporary movement, as well as surrealist projections by visual artist Luis Grané. March 3-5, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
Camille A. Brown & Dancers: Brown, an award-winning Black choreographer based in New York, draws on ancestral stories and contemporary culture in her work. March 11, Jo Long Theater, Carver Community Cultural Center.
Sabrina Carpenter: Actress and pop singer Carpenter starred in the Disney sitcom “Girl Meets World,” a spinoff of the ’90s hit “Boy Meets World.” For consumers of teen beat gossip, her 2021 single “Skin” was widely seen as a response to Olivia Rodriguez’s “Driver’s License.” But she moved on with her album “Emails I Can’t Send” and it’s buzzy track “Nonsense.” March 25, The Espee
Amythyst Kiah: Singer-songwriter Kiah is a student of traditional music, and the banjo is one of her primary instruments. But she’s a fan of alt-rock, too, covering Tori Amos, Green Day and Joy Division on a recent EP. Everything comes together on Kiah’s 2021 album “Wary + Strange,” which includes her Grammy-nominated song “Black Myself.” March 25, Carver Community Cultural Center.
April
Maná: Since releasing its self-titled debut album in 1987, Maná has sold millions of albums, sold out countless venues and won four Grammy Awards, sealing its reputation as one of the most popular and influential Latin rock acts of all time. Its big hits include “Oye Mi Amor,” from the classic 1992 album “¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños?” April 1, AT&T Center
Amy Cutler: The heart of this exhibit is “Fossa,” an immersive installation Cutler created for SITE Santa Fe in 2015 alongside musician Emily Wells and hair stylist Adriana Papaleo. Visitors will step inside the work, which resembles an old-fashioned parlor and includes ambient sound as well as more than 800 feet of braided and synthetic hair. Opens April 26, Studio at Ruby City.
May
“Southwest Rising: Contemporary Art and the Legacy of Elaine Horwitch”: Bob Wade, the late artist who created the enormous cowboy boots at North Star Mall, along with a slew of other oversize public works, is among the artists featured in the show. It digs into the influence of Horwitch, a powerful force in the art world as Southwest pop took hold as a movement. May 26-Sept. 4, Briscoe Western Art Museum.
“Tyrannosaurus: Meet the Family”: The touring exhibit from the Australian Museum explores the gigantic predators, including early Asian tyrannosaurus. The show includes life-size models as well as fossils and interactive elements. May 27-Sept. 4, Witte Museum.
September
Pink: Pop star Pink has a new album, “Trustfall,” out in February. She’ll almost certainly have a few new stunts to show off, too, when her Summer Carnival tour hits town. The music — including older hits like “So What” and “Just Give Me a Reason” — may even compete with the spectacle. Sept. 25, Alamodome.
dlmartin@express-news.net; jkiest@express-news.net
