For more than 30 years, the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra has provided the city with an impressive classical music program. The all-volunteer orchestra performs six times each season, focusing on a different theme in each performance. The Holiday Show, presented twice in December, is a celebration of the season with classic carols as well as selections from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Home Alone, among other films. It also includes youth choirs from surrounding school districts. Shows in the 2018/2019 season included Into the Wild, which has a wildlife theme and features music from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” and Elgar’s “The Wand of the Youth Suite No. 2,” in addition to offerings from the films King Kong and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
The Carnivale! Show will celebrate the Latin America festival with Leroy Anderson’s “Blue Tango” and Gershwin’s “Cuban” Overture, among other performances. There will also be selections from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack. Show tickets are remarkably affordable (most tickets start at just $12), and the orchestra is a fun way to introduce young people to live classical music.
Mesquite Community Theatre
Do you dream of taking the stage or would you prefer to sit in the audience and watch a great play? Either way, you’ll want to keep an eye on the Mesquite Arts Theatre. This local group of community-based players has been around since 1983. Since then, they’ve put on classic performances such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Fiddler on the Roof and The Importance of Being Earnest along with contemporary plays. You can catch a play at the Black Box Theatre at the Mesquite Arts Center. The 2019 season includes Savannah Sipping Society, 100 Years of Broadway, Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, The Elephant Man and Fruitcakes. For those who wish to get involved, auditions are open to the public.
Corner Theatre
The trendy Corner Theatre is part love letter to Mesquite, part community gathering space and part cultural destination. The historic venue, located in Downtown Mesquite, is the site of monthly independent short films, concerts, art exhibitions and church gatherings. Many events are free.
Painting with a Twist