Fencing, fighting, true love, revenge, miracles… and a full symphony orchestra! On April 25-27, Dallas Symphony Orchestra is proud to present The Princess Bride© in Concert, bringing Rob Reiner’s beloved classic to life in an unforgettable way. For the first time, composer Mark Knopfler’s iconic score is performed live-to-picture by a full symphony orchestra.

Relive the epic tale of Buttercup and Westley, dastardly villains, swashbuckling heroes, and miracle men played by an all-star cast – now with the added magic of a cinematic concert experience. With an all-star cast and narration by Peter Falk, this is a fairytale adventure the whole family will cherish.

“Missing it would be inconceivable!”

Tickets start at $52 and are available at dallassymphony.org.

Meyerson Symphony Center is located in Downtown Dallas at 2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201.

Turtle Creek Chorale presents its 45th season, 45 LIVE: The Best Moments Live Here, including new mainstage concerts and ensemble concerts, special guest appearances from widely recognized performers, and the fifth annual Rhapsody Gala. 

For 45 years, Turtle Creek Chorale has brought music to life, transforming moments into memories through the power of live performance. From its humble beginnings in 1980 to becoming a world renowned chorus, the Chorale has faced triumphs, endured challenges, and reached profound milestones, all guided by music. 

“Live performance is not only something you hear, but something you feel,” Turtle Creek Chorale Artistic Director Sean Baugh said. “The Chorale’s 45th season is a tribute to the transformative power of live music and shared experiences. By showing up, you are not just supporting the arts community, you are championing the values that bring us all together and welcoming all identities and backgrounds, especially our LGBTQ+ family.” 

Season 45 performances include: 

• Disney PRIDE in Concert: This summer, Turtle Creek Chorale will perform iconic Disney songs alongside a 30 piece orchestra, celebrating themes of love, LGBTQ+ pride, and family ties. Disney PRIDE in Concert will honor Disney’s globally acclaimed musical legacy and provide Chorale members the opportunity to share their personal journeys and reflect on how this music has shaped their lives. Prepare to be enchanted by songs from The Lion King, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and more in two spectacular performances on June 26 and 27 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. 

• Guys & Dolls: A tribute to the classic show in partnership with Lyric Stage, Guys & Dolls will be performed at Moody Performance Hall on August 15, 16, and 17. Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys & Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desks, and Oliviers. This production is licensed by Music Theatre International (MTI).

• Groundless Ground: Alongside the Women’s Chorus of Dallas and a 30 piece orchestra, the Turtle Creek Chorale will perform a powerful concert that explores how to find strength, hope, and resilience when the world feels uncertain. Groundless Ground will honor women, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and immigrants, amplifying voices that deserve to be celebrated. To honor the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking work Sing for the Cure, the Chorale will showcase selections from this beloved piece alongside the powerful Unbreakable song cycle. Groundless Ground will be performed on Wednesday, September 17 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. 

• Rhapsody: The fifth annual gala benefiting the Chorale’s mission to entertain, educate, unite and inspire will be held on Saturday, September 20, at The Statler Dallas and will feature a special guest performer to be announced this spring.

• All is Calm: It was Christmas Eve in 1914 when British and German troops laid down their arms and gathered in song, drink, and warmth to celebrate the holiday. This event, now known as the “Christmas Truce,” continues to be a heartwarming and powerful story of shared humanity. This December, the Turtle Creek Chorale will not only  tell this story through the power of music but will also present songs that remind us that the holiday season is, above all, a time for peace, understanding, love, family, and friendship. All is Calm will be performed in a series of concerts on the Chorale’s second “Holiday Tour,” spreading peace and joy across the DFW Metroplex this holiday season. 

“It’s hard to believe that the 45th season of the Turtle Creek Chorale is here,” Turtle Creek Chorale Executive Director Dr. Dawson B. Taylor said. “I remember originally joining the Chorale as a singer just after celebrating its 25th anniversary. This season will be accustomed to all the laughter, tears, and chill bumps you have felt all these years at TCC shows, but we will be focused on the part that makes that possible — being together to enjoy the music, artistry and beauty of the Turtle Creek Chorale. Stay tuned for dates for our small ensemble feature show as well as the resurrected cabaret show.” 

Tickets for each concert will be available for purchase on TurtleCreekChorale.com during the months leading up to the performance. For the latest news on ticket sales, additional guest performer announcements, Rhapsody updates, and information about Turtle Creek Chorale’s community involvement, follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TurtleCreekChorale.

Merriman Anderson Architects (MAA) is proud to introduce Theresa Zavala as the firm’s Interiors Hospitality Lead. With 25 years of experience in global hospitality and high-end residential design, Zavala brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to MAA’s growing interiors division. 

In this role, Zavala will lead MAA’s hospitality interior design team, overseeing the design and execution of world-class interior spaces in the hospitality sector. She will be responsible for ensuring projects meet the highest design standards, align with client goals, and stay within budget. 

“Theresa’s experience and creative vision make her an invaluable leader to our interiors team,” says Milton Anderson, President, MAA. “Her guidance will further enhance our ability to deliver exceptional and thoughtfully-designed spaces for our clients.” 

Over her career, Zavala has worked on high-end hospitality projects, blending luxury and functionality to create immersive guest experiences. Her extensive international travel and significant on-site experience bring a strategic and inspired approach to design.

“I am thrilled to join the talented team at MAA and contribute to the firm’s exceptional portfolio of projects,” says Theresa Zavala, Interiors Hospitality Lead, MAA. “I look forward to collaborating with and leading the hospitality interior design team to create memorable experiences in unique spaces.” 

MAA is an architecture and interior design firm based in Downtown Dallas with offices also in Fort Worth, Austin, and Charlotte. MAA has a significant hospitality interior design portfolio of projects, including AC Hotel Fort Worth Downtown, Cambria Hotel Houston, Dallas Petroleum Club, Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa, Marriott Hotel Redmond, The National, The Statler Hilton, and The Woodlands Resort. 

Sheraton Dallas Hotel is proud to recognize Senior Sous Chef Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez as the winner of the Vegetarian Division and one of the 12 finalists in the 2024 World Food Championships. Chef Ricardo faced over 300 teams of competitors from more than 35 states and 20 countries to take home titles across 12 different categories. Chef Ricardo won the Vegetarian Category with his dish, Smoked Vodka Sauce, and earned the chance to compete at the World Food Championships Final Table this March in Bentonville, Arkansas, where he will battle against the other 11 category winners. Chef Ricardo has been Senior Sous Chef at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel for two years.

Since its debut in 2012, the World Food Championships (WFC) has amassed a tremendous worldwide following, providing a one-of-a-kind culinary experience at its events, as well as numerous live and made-for-TV shows. In addition to popularizing competitive cooking, the WFC platform has had an undeniable impact on the food industry, facilitating the creation of more than 10,000 new dishes and supporting communities via partnerships with various local non-profits, charities, and food banks throughout the United States. In short, the WFC platform has given birth to "Food Sport" by providing a level playing field, a fair judging system, innovative culinary programming, ambassador opportunities, TV visibility and a process that allows talented culinary teams to compete in ways never seen before.

The decision to join the competition was not difficult for Chef Ricardo, who also competed at last year’s World Food Championship in Dallas, where he gained the necessary experience to bring home the trophy from Indianapolis, back in November. He eagerly seeks creative challenges to test his culinary skills and knowledge. Chef Ricardo’s journey at the World Food Championship was supported by his devoted partner Marielle Ramos, who is the Sous Chef in the Dallas Marriott Downtown across the street from the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Together, they practiced all day and night to refine the dish, balancing work with practice for the competition.

Born in Mexico City, Chef Ricardo wanted to explore the difference between home-prepared dishes and restaurant-quality cuisine. Armed with extensive knowledge of flavors, he attended culinary school at Superior de Gastronomia in Mexico City and Escuela Superior de Hosteleria de Sevilla in Seville, Spain to polish his technical skills. Chef Ricardo’s travels continued, as he lived in many states across the United States and in multiple countries, working in luxury hotels and Michelin-star restaurants.

Chef Ricardo’s creativity is palpable, as dishes are often introduced to the Sheraton Dallas Hotel menu, straight from his home kitchen, where he spends time developing elevated dishes that are also “warm and comforting” – including the winning dish, Smoked Vodka Sauce. “I draw inspiration from my Mexican heritage, travels, and home [Texas] to create beautiful, delicious comfort food that brings joy. I love eating good food and know what I want to see on a restaurant’s menu as a consumer.” He continues, “My experience at Sheraton Dallas has been rewarding. They have given me complete liberty to be creative in the kitchen and push the envelope.”

The Smoked Vodka Sauce pays homage to Texas with Texas-founded Tito’s Vodka as the base and the utilization of Sheraton’s industrial-sized smoker to smoke the tomatoes and imitate the smokiness of iconic Texas barbecue. 

The Smoked Vodka Sauce is featured in the Pappardelle Allá Vodka dish available to order at Open Palette in the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, located at 400 Olive St, Dallas, TX 75201. 

For more information about the Sheraton Dallas, visit www.SheratonDallas.com.

Kitchen Design Concepts recently completed a kitchen transformation that balances aesthetic appeal and functionality for a busy family of six. With a focus on practicality and an appreciation for personal style, the design brings together unique features like a bold yellow backsplash, innovative storage solutions, and smart tech elements. 

Design Highlights and Solutions

• Island Redesign: The original kitchen featured a large, square island that did not use the space to its full potential. The new island design became a focal point of the renovation, with a split-level island introduced to differentiate the prep/cooking area from the kids' homework and dining area. The triangular shape with waterfall edges allowed for a full seating area with space for four stools, which a traditional straight island could not accommodate. 

• Storage Innovation: With storage being a top priority, the kitchen design was focused on maximizing every inch of the space. One standout feature is the two custom roll-out trays designed for easy access to essentials. 

• Bold Use of Color: The family had a strong connection to the color yellow. The design team chose a striking yellow backsplash to bring color into the space without overwhelming the whole kitchen.

• Tech-Savvy Details: Understanding the family’s busy lifestyle, the design integrated smart features like outlets lined under the island, one for each child. This thoughtful addition makes it easy for the kids to charge their devices while doing homework, all while keeping the kitchen organized during busy family dinners.

• Mudroom Upgrade: To accommodate the family’s love for outdoor activities and the kids' involvement in multiple sports, Kitchen Design Concepts prioritized creating a highly functional mudroom. The space was transformed into a practical mudroom with true “lockers,” complete with individual cubbies and drawers for each child’s shoes, sports gear, and outdoor equipment. 

The home had original hardwood floors that the homeowners wanted to patch, sand, and smooth. The existing hand-scraped finish felt outdated, especially given the contemporary direction of the new design. To modernize the look, the design team removed the hand scraping and re-stained the floors, giving them a sleek, polished finish. The homeowners loved the new floors so much that they decided to continue it through to the stairs and upstairs, creating a cohesive flow throughout the whole home.

This home renovation is a great example of how a well-thought-out design can turn everyday challenges into an opportunity for creativity. From the bold backsplash to the storage solutions, every detail was tailored to enhance the family’s everyday life, making the space not only more beautiful but also more usable.