Longer: Fromleft, Carlos Strudwick, Micah Green and Quintin Jones return to Uptown Players annual fundraiser revue Broadway Our Way: Fractured Fairy Tales, written and directed by B.J. Cleveland. (Courtesy photo)
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
It’s baaaaack!
Uptown Players’ annual fundraising revue returns with its signature, irreverent take on popular showtunes mixed with a campy narrative. The show opened on Thursday, but Broadway Our Way 2026: Fractured Fairy Tales continues its frolicky fun through Sunday at the Kalita Hum-phreys Theater.
Each year, B.J. Cleveland is tapped to write and direct the gender-flipping musical jukebox show. And as he was heading home from a rehearsal, Cleveland offered these thoughts: “Some-times I feel like this is the last time I do this, and then I get an email from Jeff with a description of next year’s show,” Cleveland said. “For next year!”
Jeff Rane is Uptown’s co-founder and co-producer, alongside Craig Lynch for Uptown Players. And since the beginning, Cleveland has been right there with them. This year marks a quarter century that he has been crafting the annual fundraiser.
He may feel like hanging up his hat, but without Cleveland’s creativity, Broadway Our Way (BOW) would not have become what it is now.
“It is now a tradition and landmark show for North Texas theater,” Cleveland said. “Everyone wants to be in it; it’s a big party, and it’s always something new and fresh to see.”
Of all the theater companies in North Texas, and outside of annual festivals or similar runs, Up-town’s BOW, Dallas Theater Center’s A Christmas Carol and Pegasus Theatre’s Black and White Show, seem to be the only stage events that are also staples each season.
Like, if they didn’t happen, many theater fans would be scratching their heads.
“Jeff and Craig created this grassroots fundraiser to raise money for Uptown Players’ second season. Back then it was six men and Denise Lee in this cabaret revue,” Cleveland said. “It just kind of stuck, and then we’d add to it and have themes.
“When it moved to the Kalita, it became a monster in itself.”
Cleveland’s story lines have run from backstage antics to questionable cruise ships and, now this year, his take on our favorite fairy tales.
He often finds inspiration on the road as he makes the drive from Fort Worth to Dallas when working on a show here. But also …
“They come from my own warped mind,” he said with a laugh.
But there is a slight formula to it all.
“In the past we used to let the songs navigate a theme, but lately, if we have a concept, it’s easi-er to start thinking of songs that lend themselves to that theme,” he said.
Actors submit songs. The creative team considers songs from current Broadway shows. And sometimes, a deep dive into old classics will result in a song selection.
This year, selections include songs from Death Becomes Her, 9 to 5, Hair, Beetlejuice, The Wedding Singer, Big Fish and others.
Once the songs are chosen, Cleveland and Music Director Adam C. Wright and Choreographer Alli Betsill get to work.
Cleveland not only writes and directs the show, he also stars in it. This year’s cast includes Cleveland and Erin Bowman, Tim Brawner, Sophie DeYoung, Peter DiCesare, Stepha-nie Felton, Micah Green, Quintin Jones, Jr., Elizabeth Kensek, Linda Leonard, Laura Lites, Gena Loe, David Lugo, Geoff Lutz, Seth Paden, Kylie Stewart, Carlos Strudwick, Arya J Valley, Ally Van Deuren, L. Walter, Brett Warner and Clayton Younkin.
With all his roles and still a cheery disposition, Cleveland clearly has a love for this show — and not just because he’s volun-told into writing and directing each year.
At the time of this interview, the cast and crew just had a tech rehearsal and Cleveland was happy with what’s to come. By the time this article runs, there will be one show done already.
What he appreciates is the commitment people give to this show.
“This is an all-volunteer show,” Cleveland said. “They really care about the organization, and we have this BOW family that keeps coming back each year.
“We aren’t hired to do this. We’re asked with limited time to put it on, and what happens is this core community of extraordinary talent comes together with a lot of heart and love for Uptown Players.”
For tickets visit UptownPlayers.org.