Stage Notes is a weekly aggregate post about theater, classical music, dance, comedy and stage news, events, reviews and other pertinent information.
Stage Notes Calendar
Opening this week:
Second Thought Theatre: Bull in a China Shop, opened Wednesday-through April 18 at Bryant Hall.
Improv Addison: Monét X Change, today-Saturday, pictured.
The Confessional, today-April 11 at Artstillery.
UT Arlington Department of Theatre and Dance: Hair, today-April 12.
Garland Symphony Orchestra: Shannon Lee, violinist, 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Granville Arts Center.
Pegasus Contemporary Ballet: Common Language, Friday and Saturday at the Kalita Humphreys Theater.
Soul Rep Theatre: Madam Queen, today-May 2 at the South Dallas Cultural Center.
Upright Theatre Co.: The Play That Goes Wrong, Friday-May 3.
Our Productions Theatre: Songs for a New World, Friday-April 10 at Lewisville Grand Theater.
Pocket Sandwich Theater: The Legend of DeadEye Mary, Friday-May 16.
TITAS/Dance Unbound: Complexions Contemporary Ballet, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Winspear.
Lucy Darling: Simply Darling Tour, 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Winspear.
ATTPAC/TITAS: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Winspear.
Onstage now:
Reid Cabaret Theatre: The Music of Fleetwood Mac, through Saturday at Casa Manana.
NTPA: Hello, Dolly!, through Saturday at Willow Bend Center for the Arts.
Pegasus Theatre: Rehearsal for Murder!, through Sunday at Addison Performing Arts Center.
Amphibian Stage: Did You Eat? (ë°¥ 먹́—ˆë‹ˆ?), through April 12.
Broadway Dallas: Some Like it Hot, through April 12.
The Core Theatre: Charley’s Aunt, through April 12.
Fever: SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of SAW, through April 12 at Theatre Too.
Onstage in Bedford: Sylvia, through April 12, pictured.
Runway Theatre: Young Frankenstein, through April 12.
Theatre Coppell: Mama Won’t Fly, through April 12 at the Coppell Arts Center.
WaterTower Theatre: Goodnight Oscar, through April 12.
Dallas Theater Center: Ragtime, through April 19.
Jubilee Theatre: Test to Testimony, through April 26.
Former Texas Ballet Theater Artistic Director Ben Stevenson, OBE, passed away at 89
Ben Stevenson, OBE, the decorated and acclaimed ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026. He was the former artistic director of Texas Ballet Theater and had a profound impact on dance that spanned decades and continents, shaping careers and elevating ballet companies to global prominence.
“Ben was more than a mentor to me—he was family. His artistry, his generosity, and his vision shaped not only my own journey as a dancer and leader, but also the very heart of Texas Ballet Theater. I will miss his wisdom, his humor, and his boundless passion for storytelling through dance. While my heart is heavy with grief, I am profoundly grateful for the decades of inspiration and love he shared with me and with this company. His spirit will live on in every performance, every dancer, and every audience moved by his work,” Tim O’Keefe, Artistic Director of Texas Ballet Theater said in this week’s announcement.
Born on April 4, 1936, in Portsmouth, England, Stevenson trained at London’s Arts Educational School and was awarded the prestigious Adeline Genee Gold Medal, the highest honor from the Royal Academy of Dancing. By 18, he joined Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet (now The Royal Ballet) and later, became a principal dancer with London Festival Ballet.
He arrived in the United States in 1968 where he led Harkness Youth Dancers in New York and co-directed National Ballet in Washington, D.C., choreographing works for the inaugural season of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
In 1976, Stevenson became Artistic Director of Houston Ballet. Over 27 years, he transformed it into one of the world’s leading companies, founding Houston Ballet Academy. His promotion of Lauren Anderson to principal dancer—the first Black dancer to receive the title at Houston Ballet—in 1990 was a landmark moment in American ballet. He later led Houston Ballet’s 1995 tour of China, with opening night televised to more than 500 million viewers.
In 2003, Stevenson became Artistic Director of Texas Ballet Theater (TBT). His acclaimed productions—including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Dracula, and the parody The Nutty Nutcracker — were noted for his storytelling, wit and theatrical flair.
In 2022, Stevenson was named Artistic Director Laureate in honor of his tenure as TBT’s longest serving artistic director and his role in elevating the company as an internationally recognized ensemble.
For his lifetime of achievement, Stevenson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. He also received three gold medals at the International Ballet Competition (1972, 1982, 1986), the Dance Magazine Award in 2000, and the Texas Medal of Arts in 2005.
Bruce Wood Dance Dallas posts tributes to Stevenson
On Thursday, Bruce Wood Dance Dallas remembered Stevenson following his passing.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Artistic Director Laureate of Texas Ballet Theater, Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.
A legendary artist, director, choreographer and mentor, Ben Stevenson left an immense mark on the dance world with his generous contributions to the art form. Known for his magnificent gift of storytelling, his choreographic works have been highly esteemed and sought after across the globe.
We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Ben last spring in his creation of “Make Love, Not War” for our company. We will forever cherish his passionate and generous spirit, his wealth of knowledge, and his gift of directing that he brought into the studio. We celebrate his remarkable legacy that will live on for generations to come.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his extraordinary life.
BWDD Executive Director Gayle Halperin posted a personal memory with the company’s note.
“Last year Ben created a new work for us, “Make Love, Not War,” which premiered at our show in June 2025.
I’ll always cherish watching Ben create—he transformed as he worked. He was so happy in the studio, expressing his images clearly and poetically to the dancers.
He mentored with a beautiful, kind, and clear touch. Sharing personal stories about WWII, he painted a picture of two individuals who meet by chance and fall in love, even as bombs explode around them.Ben felt every note of the music, translating that emotion into movement. What a truly magnificent, gentle, and sensitive choreographer.”
—Gayle Halperin
Texas Ballet Theater will host a virtual celebration of life for Stevenson
Texas Ballet Theater announced Thursday that, while Stevenson’s memorial service will be held privately, the company invites people to join the livestream celebrating his life and legacy.
“We know many of you felt deeply connected to Ben and his choreography,” the company stated in today’s announcement.
The service will be held Saturday, April 4 at 3 p.m. CST. Click here to join the livestream.
In lieu of flowers, TBT’s invite’s people to make an honorary gift in support of the new Texas Ballet Theater Ben Stevenson Campus set to open Spring 2026.
“This new state-of-the-art facility will allow us to carry Ben’s legacy forward for generations to come.”
To make a donation, click here.
–Rich Lopez