Plano theater hosts first Texas country music concert series

Would you head to Plano to see a country concert?

Courtyard Theater in Plano

PLANO — Move over honky tonks, Plano's got a new music venue that will attract Texas country fans.

The Courtyard Theater in east Plano is new to country music, but it's played host to dance recitals, improv comedy shows, plays -- even Bar Mitzvahs. It was a schoolhouse for Plano's earliest students and was built in the late 1930s. Now, it will be the site of a once-a-month music series featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard, Cory Morrow, James McMurty, and others.

An unofficial citizens group called the Friends of Courtyard wanted to see an "opry" at the Courtyard. Michelle Burdeaux, venue supervisor for Plano Stages, answered that request by teaming up with KHYI-FM 95.3 to program Texas country acts on the first Thursday of each month from March to November.

"It's kind of this underground music feel, and you can get big names that don't necessarily get the national radio play," said Burdeaux, who is employed by the city of Plano. "It's incredibly interesting, and also affordable." General admission tickets are $19; reserved seats are $25. Burdeaux said she hasn't sold a single general admission ticket because everyone so far has paid the extra money to pick a seat. Season ticket packages are also available. Love & War in Texas is providing food and drinks.

With seating for only 324 people, Burdeaux calls the shows "intimate." The first show on March 1 is 75% sold out, she said.

If the first year is successful, Burdeaux said she hopes the series will become a yearly event. "I would love for it to be one of those destination things where after this season, people are excited and waiting to buy seats to next season," she said."Our job is really just to break even. If the series is successful, we'll just roll that into next year."

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