Stage Notes is a weekly aggregate post about theater, classical music and stage news, events, reviews and other pertinent information.
Stage Notes Calendar
Opening this week:
Broadway Dallas: Come From Away, opened Tuesday-Sunday at the Winspear.
MainStage ILC: Deathtrap, Friday-Feb. 1, pictured.
The Core Theatre: A Life in the Theater, Friday-Feb. 2.
Ballet Papillon: Metamorphosis: La Saison à la Seconde, Saturday at the Moody Performance Hall.
Basically Beethoven: Hallam Concerts, 3 p.m. Saturday at Central Commons.
Chamber Music International, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church.
Plano Symphony Orchestra: The Beat Goes On!, 8 p.m. Saturday at Robinson Fine Arts Center.
Fort Worth Opera: The Elixir of Love, Saturday and Sunday at I.M. Terrell Academy.
Dallas Winds: Carmina Burana – Go Big or Go Home!, Tuesday.
Onstage now:
WaterTower Theatre: The Play That Goes Wrong, through Sunday.
Rover Dramawerks:Â The Shakespeare Conspiracy, through Jan. 25, pictured.
Shakespeare Dallas: Measure for Measure, through Jan. 27 at Theatre Three.
Pocket Sandwich Theatre: Camp Death, through Feb. 15.
Hip Pocket Theatre honors late co-founder with new mentorship program
On Jan. 12, Hip Pocket Theatre posted that it’s co-founder Diane Simons passed away. A private service for Simons will be held in spring. Husband and Hip Pocket co-founder Johnny Simons posted the following message on Facebook:
After a lengthy illness, Mary Diane Simons has come to the end of her artful journey. Born in 1944 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she and her brother Clem moved to Dallas with parents Dr. E.C. Rowand and Mary Louise Rowand, both of whom were ministers in the Disciples of Christ Church. Diane met her future husband, Johnny Simons at TCU. Together they worked at Casa Mañana and later at the Alley Theatre in Houston.
Further on down the road, the Simons’ taught theatre at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Along the way they became parents of two talented daughters, Lorca and Lake, both of whom are theatre artists.
Diane was herself a brilliant costume designer, becoming the first living artist to have her designs exhibited at The Kimbell Art Museum.
In 1976 she, Johnny, and their friend Douglas Balentine, created the Hip Pocket Theatre in Fort Worth, where she served as producer and costume designer until her untimely retirement due to serious health issues. In her day, Diane was a phenomenal artist, creating beautiful costumes out of scraps and unusual materials.
This uncommonly gifted woman was a devoted wife, mother, and a superb example of a soulfully, loving human being.
She is survived by the aforementioned family, plus grandchildren River Barley and Cy Dyer.
Their daughters Lake and Lorca currently serves as Hip Pocket’s artistic directors.
On Wednesday, to commemorate Simons’ life and contributions, the company announced The Diane Simons Mentorship Program, a collaborative mentorship program that will benefit Fort Worth-based high school and college students interested in technical theater. The program is held in conjunction with CultureHub out of New York.
From the announcement:
This pilot program will serve students from 17-22 who are interested in developing their skills in stage management, lighting design, scenic design and costume design. Each mentee will receive hands-on training from Fort Worth industry professionals on a mainstage show during Hip Pocket’s 49th Season, as well as a stipend for their work.
This program is named after the late Hip Pocket Theatre co-founder Diane Simons, who mentored generations of young theatre artists throughout her more than 40-year career as an educator, costume designer and theatre producer. Her generous spirit fuels our desire to welcome our 2025 cohort.
For those interested in applying for the program, click here for more information.
Review: Broadway Dallas’ Come From Away keeps its hopeful heart through its history lesson
I have to say, I was happy that Come From Away was coming back around. I first saw the show in 2021 when the tour came through Bass Hall in Fort Worth. I distinctly remember how charming the boisterous musical was. The songs were infectious but not showtuney. The acting was sharp and impressive. The breadth of emotions tapped into all the feelings.
Would it be that way again? With this touring cast, the answer was “absolutely.” The musical opened Tuesday at the Winspear Opera House.
Come From Away tells the story of the small Canadian town of Gander and its small population the played host to all the planes and passengers diverted to Newfoundland from New York on Sept. 11. The city came together to feed and shelter enough people the doubled the population overnight. The story has deep Dallas ties, too.
I went back to read my first review and I may even be more enthusiastic about Come From Away. I could practically repost that review here. But I would change a couple of things.
I wrote “The story and songs may have sometimes swung a bit too sentimental or catchy. Moments that were more tender or melancholy were perhaps easy to forecast.” I would totally rescind that because those elements were crucial to the story. Come From Away never felt inauthentic in its heart-tugging and through song, the show ranged from exhilirating to wrenching.
Different from last time were the actors who played the gay couple of Kevin and Kevin. The two were played by Ryaan Farhadi (Kevin J.) and Richard Chaz Gomez (Kevin T.) I couldn’t help but chuckle how similar in appearance they looked with their dark hair and beards much like many a gay couple who “date themselves.” Their chemistry worked well with Farhadi’s Kevin a bit more uptight than the easygoing Kevin T. The realization of landing in the “gayest town” was a delightful laugh across the audience.
Come From Away isn’t your typical musical. I mean, it’s based on a true story, but that the writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein could craft such a powerful but joyful piece about 9/11 that resonated beyond the stage was special to experience. The cast then superbly delivered on all their characters (all played multiple roles) along with their choreography and blocking allowing the show to run like a well-oiled machine.
And at the risk of sounding lazy, I’ll simply stand by my first review for the show because it held up as equally as then, but applaud the new cast members for bringing this story back to North Texas and conveying it with heart, soul and love that had the audience on their feet so fast as if waiting the whole time to give a standing o.
The show runs through Sunday.
Donald Fowler Theater Arts Memorial Fund opens applications for 2025 grant award
The application process for grants by The Donald Fowler Theater Arts Memorial Fund is now open. For the current cycle, one grant is expected to be awarded in the amount of $5,000. Completed applications will be accepted through March 28, 2025. A grant award will be announced in May 2025.
The 2025 grant application, eligibility requirements, and other information about the Fund may be found on the Fund’s website.
The Fund was created in the memory of Dallas actor, composer and playwright Donald Fowler, provides support in the form of seed grants to artists living in the Dallas Metroplex, supporting their creation of new works of theater, including plays and musicals. The grants assist with early costs of creation for individual artists whose work-in-progress is not yet financially supported by a theater or presenter.
–Rich Lopez