DSM’S NEW SEASON: Dallas Summer Musicals has announced the eight touring shows that will make up its 2013-14 season. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas gets things going Dec. 17-29, followed by Ghost: The Musical in January. Then comes Disney’s The Little Mermaid, We Will Rock You, The Wizard of Oz, Evita and Mama Mia. The season wraps in September 2014 with Nice Work if You Can Get It. A pair of mini runs – Lord of the Rings in Concert (Nov. 8-10) and Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles (Nov. 23-34) are also included. The dates for all the shows plus ticket information is up on the DMS website.

LOCAL MUSIC BITS: The Polyphonic Spree will release Yes, It’s True – it’s first album since 2007, on Aug. 6. Rolling Stone has an early stream of one of the songs, “Hold Yourself Up.” (rollingstone.com) … Denton’s Baptist Generals recently played Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee up in Seattle. Front Row’s got a report from the road. (Front Row) … Who are the best metal guitarists in North Texas? So glad you asked. (DC9 at Night)

A HELPING HAND: Congratulations to University of North Texas student Melissa Hatheway, who took home the Alice G. Brandfonbrener Young Investigator Award at the recent Performing Arts Medicine Association annual symposium. Hatheway earned the award for her research into overuse injuries sustained by marching band musicians. She got the idea after suffering from pain related to playing the clarinet. And she’s one of five UNT students who made presentations at the conference.