‘Giant’ means big, of course – as in the biggest world-premiere the Dallas Theater Center has ever attempted. And composer Michael John LaChiusa’s musical adaption of Gient certainly looks and sounds splendid. It’s the story that’s the trouble – always has been.

There’s sixty years of history behind Giant,, the big-budget musical opening at the Dallas Theater Center. When it came out, Edna Ferber’s novel angered many Texans. Four years later, the movie version became Warner Brothers’ biggest hit. It always helps if you make us look like Elizabeth Taylor or James Dean.

Today in the roundup: A major Chihuly show coming to town, the making of Giant and a comedy duo for classical music.

Conservative Christians are forcing the interrogation of a freethinker. It’s 1656 in Amsterdam. And the fate of the city’s entire Jewish population is at stake. Did we mention that David Ives’ New Jerusalem can be pretty funny?

The devoted fans of Lonesome Dove and Last Picture Show may not know it, but author Larry McMurtry has been a terrific essay-writer and reviewer. They certainly wouldn’t know it from his latest gig.

This week, we discuss the adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s Sept. 11 novel and analyze Sunday’s Golden Globes and next week’s Oscar nominations.

We’re starting a new weekly feature to spotlight family-friendly events. Up first: Come join the Children’s Center at the downtown Dallas Public Library as they host a special event to celebrate Charles Dickens’ 200 birthday!

. . . was a non-fiction book about Texas politics and Texas oil money coming out in June. Expect to hear more about it — especially if Rick Perry and Ron Paul continue their campaigns.

Today in the roundup: Van Zweden’s new post, reviewing ‘Anne Frank’ and a generous gift from local theater actors.

Today in the roundup: FW Opera’s new venture, DTC’s giant Giant and the value of musical instruments.