Bruce Wood Dance Dallas will perform “My Brother’s Keeper” in its upcoming season. (Photo by Sharen Bradford)
Stage Notes is a weekly aggregate post about theater, classical music and stage news, events, reviews and other pertinent information. Season announcements came in hot and heavy this week.
Stage Notes Calendar
Opening this week:
NTPA Repertory Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, opened Wednesday-Sunday.
Rover Dramawerks: Wrong Turn at Lungfish, today-Aug. 17 at the Cox Playhouse., pictured.
Circle Theatre: Imposter! Hypocrite! Tartuffe!, today-Aug. 24.
Artisan Center Theatre: Anastasia, Friday-Sunday at Birdville High School.
Casa Manana: Pippin, Friday-Sunday.
Resolute Theatre Project: The Way He Looks at You, Friday-Aug. 11.
Theatre Denton: Towards Zero, Friday-Aug. 11.
Art Centre Theatre: Bat Boy the Musical, Friday-Aug. 18.
Runway Theatre: Silent Sky, Friday-Aug. 18.
Lakeside Community Theatre: Rent, Friday-Aug. 24.
Broadway Dallas: Funny Girl, Wednesday-Aug. 18.
Onstage now:
Dallas Theater Center: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, through Sunday.
Repertory Company Theatre: Sister Act, through Sunday.
Theatre Denton: The SpongeBob Musical, through Sunday.
The Classics Theatre Project: True West, through Aug. 24 at the Stone Cottage.
Pocket Sandwich Theatre: Herbbits, Wizards and Borks, through Aug. 24.
McKinney Repertory Theatre: Forever Plaid, through Aug. 10.
Bucket List Productions: Long Day’s Journey Into Night, through Aug. 11 at Lewisville Playhouse.
Theatre Coppell: Greater Tuna, through Aug. 11.
Theatre Frisco: She Loves Me, through Aug. 11.
Amphibian Stage: The Handless King, through Aug. 18, pictured.
Artisan Center Theatre and W.E. Scott Theatre announce closures
Fort Worth Community Arts Center
After this weekend’s performances of Anastasia, Hurst’s ACT will permanently close its doors. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, co-founder Richard Blair detailed ACT’s history along with the news of its closing. The company has endured setbacks since its efforts to bounce back from the height of the pandemic and financial troubles. In 2021, the company lost its co-founder Sanders followed soon after by the loss of founder and visionary DeeAnn Blair.
In a financial dispute with its landlord, the company has been locked out of its space with no access to its equipment, costumes and other inventory. According to Blair, the building’s management intends to sell the location’s contents to help cover some $57,000 allegedly owed by ACT.
Anastasia opens Friday and runs through Sunday at Birdville High School.
After 22 years of arts initiatives in Fort Worth’s historic Cultural District, Arts Fort Worth will wind down its management of and close the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. The space was home to offices, theaters, galleries and studios that featured performances, exhibitions and more. Stolen Shakespeare Guild and KWC Performing Arts are among the companies that performed there.
While the building may be closed, Arts Fort Worth stated that it is not ending its services and advocacy.
“While changes like this can feel surprising and concerning, Arts Fort Worth isn’t turning its back on the local arts community. We will focus on leading the growth of our arts ecosystem into an even more accessible, sustainable, and vibrant future,” said Wesley Gentle, Executive Director and President of Arts Fort Worth.
Bruce Wood Dance marks 15 years with new name and new season
Bruce Wood Dance announced last week on its 15th year it has a new name: Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, now reflecting the company’s deep connection to Dallas. That’s just the beginning of BWDD’s latest news. At the same time, the company announced its new season that will feature a major premiere.
Artistic Director Joy Bollinger said in the press release, “As we celebrate 15 years of thriving in Dallas, we honor the people and places who supported Bruce’s maverick spirit and inspired the company’s growth. This season, we are thrilled to celebrate our 15th Anniversary. We are excited to introduce a Jirí Kylián masterwork into our repertoire. Kylián, one of the greatest contemporary choreographers of our time, profoundly influenced Bruce. His work has led to new artistic innovations worldwide.”
The season features a world premiere by former BWDD Artistic Director Kimi Nikaidoh with an all-female cast. The company will also collaborate with the Verdigris Ensemble inspired by the poetry of Rumi. BWDD’s new season will launch in November.
The season includes:
Nov. 15-17: Touch. The company performs “Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen (Songs Of A Wayfarer)” by choreographer and former artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater, Jirí Kylián; “Dvorák Serenade” by legendary American choreographer Lar Lubovitch; and the return of Bruce Wood’s audience favorite, “RED” at Moody Performance Hall.
Feb. 21-23: WOOD/SHOP—New Works By Company Dancers. This up–close dance experience in the BWDD Gallery studios features new creations by company dancers.
March 29: 15th Anniversary Performance & Gala. This Texas–sized party features the return of “Cowboy Songs,” Bruce Wood’s festive tribute to the spirit of Texas. The event also includes performances, live music, line-dancing, and more at Gilley’s Dallas.
May 23-25: SHAMS. Produced by Verdigris Ensemble, pictured, this event draws inspiration from the poetry of Rumi, translated by Zara Houshmand. The collaboration features vocal arrangements performed by Verdigris Ensemble, led by Artistic Director Sam Brukhman, and choreography by Joy Bollinger at Moody Performance Hall.
June 6-8: Echoes: The season’s finale features Bruce Wood’s landmark all–male, multigenerational work, “I’m My Brother’s Keeper;” a reprise of “Concerto Six Twenty–Two” by Lar Lubovitch; and the world premiere of “Love Songs,” a choreographic collaboration between Kimi Nikaidoh, Nycole Ray, and Jennifer Mabus. The all–female creation team and cast pay tribute to Bruce Wood’s legacy and vision at Moody Performance Hall.
Me actor Amanda Reid returns to her home stage at NTPA in Plano for one weekend show
North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre announced the cast and creative team for Jesus Christ Superstar which opened Wednesday-Aug. 4. The cast of 22 professional actors includes NTPA alumna Amanda Reid, a 2023 graduate of the NTPA Academy currently starring in the Apple TV+ family series, Me. Reid returns from Los Angeles to the NTPA stage to portray the role of Mary Magdalene.
The cast includes Sawyer Bell, Apollo Harris, Tristan Rolater, Paris Batjer, Ed Kless and Troy Murray in principal roles along with Reid. The cast of the Apostles includes Evan Arnold, Dakota Britvich, Giovanny Castro, Qwali Chatman, Taylor Fujihara, Tony Lopez, Jack Manno, Beau Mills, Paige Price, Paige Wenger and Ethan Yang. The ensemble company includes Hannah Hoffman, Rachel Moes, Lauren Santaella and Madelyn Arriola.
The creative team includes Director Nick Mann, Choreographer Braxton Riddles and Music Director Billy Veer.
The show runs for one weekend only. For tickets, click here.
Cara Mia Theatre to host inauguaral arts symposium as part of its Latinidades festival this October
Cara Mía Theatre announced its 2024-25 season, beginning with Dallas’ largest international Latino theatre festival, the 5th annual Latinidades Festival and Symposium from Sept. 26 – Oct. 13 at the Latino Cultural Center.
Cara Mía Theatre’s International Latinidades Festival will expand from three productions to 11 that includes live theater, dance, music and poetry. Productions hail from Dallas; San Francisco; Miami; Barcelona; Mexico City; Bogotá, Columbia and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
New to the Festival will be the inaugural Latinidades Arts Symposium: Sustaining the Arts through Community Development from Oct. 3-5. The event will explore how arts can thrive during turbulent times, with emphasis on local community engagement and dynamic partnerships. Topics include audience building, collaborations, community as a campus, working with your city government, and how funders can partner with artists and arts organizations.
“We are certainly living in turbulent times, and Cara Mía Theatre’s 2024-2025 season emphasizes the importance of building alliances with local, national and international cultural partners,” David Lozano, Executive Artistic Director of Cara Mía Theatre said in a press release. “Our Latinidades Festival and Symposium aims to capitalize on Cara Mía Theatre’s recent growth by becoming a convener of diverse people from the Americas and support our communities during these volatile times.”
See she full symposium schedule here.
The 2024/25 season lineup:
5th annual Latinidades Festival and Symposium
Sept. 26-28: Ghostly Labour by La Mezcla from San Francisco. This multidisciplinary performance will explore the labor history in the US-Mexico borderlands.
Sept. 27-29: Yo No Estoy Loca from Bogota’s Teatro Petra. Performed in Spanish with English subtitles, this solo comic performance is about a woman’s unexpected reaction to infidelity, exploring societal expectations of women.
Oct. 3 and 5: RESONANCIAS…algo que no se ha agotado by ASYC El Teatro de Movimiento. A reconstruction of memories growing up in Mexico City is told through dance and storytelling.
Oct. 4 and 6: Las Jevas from San Juan, Puerto Rico. A comedic theatrical show with themes of the Puerto Rican diaspora.
Oct. 6: El Primer Abrazo by ASYC. This free event features poetic dance and movement piece about a young man’s journey and connections with his origins.
Oct. 10 and 12: A Skin Poem for a Cosy House by Los Escultores del Aire. This unique dance company from Barcelona will feature a dance and mime duo exploring the stages of grief through daily life and emotional struggles.
Oct. 11 and 12: AMAL by The Combat Hippies. From Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, this company’s performance examines the impact of war through humor and urgency.
Oct. 12 and 13: Yemaya Flamenco. This work in progress isccreated by Cara Mía Theatre and three other companies from Ticumán, Morelos, Mexico; Malagá, Spain, and New Orleans. The show is the exploration of the Yoruba goddess Yemaya through dance, music, poetry, and storytelling.
Feb. 8-23: Tina’s Journey/El Viaje de Tina by Berta Hiriart. Performed with contemporary and Mexican folk masks, this encore production is a visually stunning, heartfelt and moving production for all ages.
July 26: Mariachi staged reading. A new play-in-progress inspired by the oral histories of mariachi living in Texas, recorded by Voces Oral History Center at the University of Texas in Austin.
Passes are available to the Festival with access to seven shows or a flex pass for four shows. Tickets are available here.
—Rich Lopez