Stage Notes: Review of DTC's 'Clue'; DSO's upcoming gala and first Friday Night OUT concert

The cast of ‘Clue’ at Dallas Theater Center. (Courtesy photo by Imani Thomas)

Stage Notes is a weekly aggregate post about theater, classical music and stage news, events, reviews and other pertinent information.

ICYMI: DSO and the North Texas LGBT Chamber teamed up for concert package

Back in June, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra joined in on the Pride festivities with a perforamnce at Centennial Hall during the Dallas Pride Festival. On Friday, the DSO continues its support of Pride with the first of its Friday Night OUT concert.

“We are thrilled to be out the in the community and meeting our patrons and neighbors,” Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO said in a press release. “Inclusivity is one of the main priorities of the DSO, and I am proud that we are continuing to find ways to include all citizens of Dallas.”

New for this season is DSO’s collaboration with the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the DSO introduced a new sampler concert package. Friday Night OUT is specifically curated with a diverse range of concerts throughout the 2022/23 season. This concert package includes one ticket to three Friday night concerts with the first one tomorrow night.

The concerts include Fridays’ Holst’s The Planets; Christmas Pops on Dec. 9 and Decades: Back to the ‘80s on April 14.

The Friday Nights Out package runs from $99-$199 based on seat selections. Audience members will have the opportunity to enjoy a post-concert reception after each performance. Find more info here.

The organization will host its annual DSO Gala and After Party at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Oct. 1. Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and baritone Thomas Hampson will perform operatic selections from The Merry Widow alongside the orchestra led by music director Fabio Luisi.

The DSO Gala will feature a cocktail reception, an elegant, seated dinner, and Gala Concert followed by the Gala After-Party featuring savories, desserts and live DJ. The black-tie affair is one of the symphony’s largest annual fundraisers, benefitting its music and education programs, which “touch the lives of more than 243,000 North Texas residents annually, including more than 30,000 children.”

Ticket includes both the concert and the after party and can be purchased here.

REVIEW: DTC’s Clue is a marvelous romp of color and comedy

Last week, Dallas Theater Center kicked off its 2022/23 season with the play Clue based on the classic board game. Characters such as Colonel Mustart and Miss Scarlet come to life in this hilarious whodunit. With its colorful characters, an epic set and remarkable choreography and movement, the play made for a magnificent start to the new season.

Upon first glimpse at the show, Jo Winiarski’s set made a striking impression and from beginning to end, it proved to be the gift that kept on giving with surprising shifts and reveals that opened up into lush new rooms or creepy hallways. With gorgeous luxe details and clever use of stage, Winiarski’s design was its own star. This was also helped by Christina Watanabe’s on-point lighting. Forboding darkness was key as was the dramatic storm outside and all the noir shadows that gave the show its appropriate mystery.

Director Alan Muraoka crafted a masterpiece of comedy. The show was paced with high energy that kept the story moving. Clue has lots of details to keep track of but Muraoka wrangled the material to always be clear and understandable as well as funny.

The creative team also included strong work by costume and hair designer Jen Caprio, sound designer Sharath Patel, dialect coach Anne Schilling and movement consultant Carter Gill. In addition to the incredible design elements and smart direction was the equally amazing cast.

A hefty number of characters made up the story. The games familiar, colorful characters have responded to an invitation to the mysterious Boddy mansion and are greeted by the manor’s butler Wadsworth (Blake Hackler) and the house staff that includes the French maid Yvette (Christina Austin Lopez) and the off-centered cook (Savannah Elayyach). As the crowd is gathered, the mystery begins along with the laughs.

The opening night cast included Sally Nystuen Vahle as Mrs. White (dress in all black), Greg White as Colonel Mustard, Gena Loe (Miss Scarlett u/s), David Lugo as Professor Plum, Alex Organ as Mr. Green and Tiffany Solano as Mrs. Peacock. As a unit, the cast was a complete and well-oiled machine. The rapport was wonderfully bewildering as lines are volleyed back and forth among the entire cast without missing any beats. Outside of those colorful characters, Hackler brought incredible stamina to his character’s lengthy monologues and animated action and Lopez delivered sly comedy as the sexy maid.

Clue was gloriously fun and going without an intermission was a great touch to stay engaged with the story. The show runs through Sept. 25 at the Wyly.

Opening this week: