Fifteen years ago, Uptown Players became Dallas’ first theater company expressly dedicated to producing shows by, about and for North Texas’ LGBT community; five years ago, Uptown started its Dallas Pride Performing Arts Festival, a week long of one-acts and cabaret shows set to coincide with Dallas Pride and expand its mission. Three years ago, TeCo in Bishop Arts launched its own gay pride play contest … once again, in September. Now even gay-run Theatre 3’s bonus show, The Sum of Us packs in the queer content, again this month. Here’s what you need to know to see them all:
The Sum of Us. Performed at Theatre Too, 2900 Routh St. in the Quadrangle. Sept. 3–25. Theatre3Dallas.com.
Third Annual PlayPride LGBT Competition Fest. Performed at Bishop Arts Theatre Center, 215 S. Tyler St. Sept. 15–25. Winners are selected by audience voters. All plays performed each night, and include: Stall Tactics by Ruth Cantrell; Honestly by Caroline Cole; Copeville by Addison DeWitt; It Fate Steps In by Sierra McCarley; You Hear That? by Ben Schroth; and Widgets by Shane Strawbridge. BishopArtsTheatre.org.
Fifth Annual Dallas Pride Performing Arts Festival. Performed on the Kalita Humphreys campus, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Sept. 16–24. Shows include: Boomer Tyro Is Coming Home by Bruce R. Coleman and Stigmatic by Ness Everett (both in competition); Mom’s Guitar or Leave the Latchstrings Out by Carol Young; The Necessary Luxury Company by Marty Martin; The Drama Department by James Hindman; and Say You Love Satan by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Also showing: cabaret from Amy and Freddy, pictured; and William Blake. UptownPlayers.org.
— A.W.J.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 2, 2016.