Kessler Theater Tour

It’s finally here. The Kessler Theater is all fresh, shiny and ready to throw open its doors, with a total renovation and a few months’ worth of splendid shows and events already on the books. If you didn’t get a chance to see the place post-renovations, you can get somewhat of an idea as to how far the venue has come since Art&Seek visited with Jeff Liles and Bucks Burnett at the Kessler, just few short months ago. You can check it out here.

In anticipation of a month-long series of events marking the theater’s  “soft opening,” Art&Seek spent the day with the Kessler Theater’s owner, Edwin Cabaniss and artistic director, Jeffrey Liles. First he took us on a pre-opening tour of the theater. And THEN we got a driving tour of Oak Cliff’s X+ neighborhood. During the tour portion [see the video above], I was literally chasing after the very busy Liles with a video camera, so it’s a little bumpy.

Just a few quick notes about opening night on Saturday:

DJ Mr. Rid will be spinning early in the evening.

6 p.m.-8 p.m. – Photographer James Blands’ exhibit, A Photographic History of Music in Dallas

7 pm.-8 p.m.: Josh Alan Friedman book signing for his new book, Black Cracker

7:30 p.m:Mark Growden performs

8:30 p.m.: Slam poet Jason Carney

10 p.m: Josh Alan Friedman performs

There will be a full bar and no cover.

You can check out more upcoming shows and events here, including Raided X+ on March 28 that celebrates the X+ area of Oak Cliff (watch the below driving video tour) with performing bands Tartufi, Darktown Strutters, Telethon, the Great Tyrant, along with guest DJs. There will also be plenty of visual art with subversive painters, photographers, video artists and entertainment from slam poets.