This week’s Stage Notes highlights an array of exciting theater openings and performances while also covering significant developments in the Dallas arts community.
Opening this week, audiences can look forward to several noteworthy productions across various theaters. Theatre Arlington is welcoming patrons to its Play Reading Club featuring ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ today and Saturday.
Theatre Off the Square is hosting ‘Dorothy Meets Alice’ from today until August 3, while McKinney Repertory Theatre presents ‘Barefoot in the Park’ through August 9.
Disaster! The Musical is now showing at Theatre Frisco until August 10, and Runway Theatre brings the drama with ‘Kodachrome,’ also ending on August 10.
For audiences seeking a unique cultural experience, Cara Mia Theatre is holding a Mariachi staged reading this Saturday at the Latino Cultural Center.
In a highlight for the weekend, the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players will perform ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Coppell Arts Center.
Music lovers can enjoy the Basically Beethoven series featuring the Septet on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Moody Performance Hall.
As we transition to ongoing productions, Second Thought Theatre is showcasing ‘Your Wife’s Dead Body’ through Saturday, while Shakespeare Dallas continues its run of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheater, also through Saturday.
Other notable performances include ‘Buzzed!’ at T3’s Theatre Too through Sunday, and the Garland Summer Musicals presenting ‘Catch Me If You Can’ until this Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mesquite Arts Theatre is staging ‘Grease,’ and Stolen Shakespeare Guild continues with ‘Hairspray,’ both concluding Sunday.
Theatre Denton invites audiences to enjoy ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ through this weekend, while MainStage ILC showcases ‘Noises Off’ until August 2.
Repertory Company Theatre’s ‘Something Rotten’ runs until August 3, and Uptown Players are set to entertain with ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ through August 3.
Lastly, Pocket Sandwich Theatre presents ‘Star Trip: A Tale of Two Captains’ until August 23.
In a significant update for the arts sector, the Moody Fund for the Arts has announced substantial grant awards totaling nearly half a million dollars to 66 nonprofit arts organizations in Dallas for this year’s funding cycle.
The grants, ranging from $3,500 to $12,000, will support various forms of art, including theater, music, dance, visual arts, and film.
Francie Moody-Dahlberg, Chairman of the Moody Foundation, expressed the importance of this funding in a press release: “For small arts groups, finding financial support is hard, especially in those early years. These grants help support their programs, their operations, and their vision so they can continue their impactful work and contribute to the vibrant cultural tapestry across the city.”
The fund offers flexible grants within five categories, including General Program and Operating Cost Support, New Works, Commissions and Unique Presentations, Community Focus Performances/Artist-in-Residency Programs, Cultural Equity, New Initiatives, and Capacity Building.
Recipients of this year’s grants include notable organizations such as Arts Mission Oak Cliff, Beckles Dancing Company, Echo Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theater, OK2BX, Soul Rep Theatre Company, and Uptown Players.
For a complete list of the 66 recipients, more information can be found via the Moody Fund’s official website.
In other exciting news, Undermain Theatre has announced its 42nd season under the theme ‘The Season of Solace.’ This season will spotlight relationships and companionship amid the absurdity of disasters.
Launching in November, the lineup includes four productions and an added staged reading for next year. The season kicks off with Sam Shepard’s ‘Action,’ running from November 6 to 30, where four friends seek solace after a catastrophic event that transforms their world.
February 12 to March 8 sees Thornton Wilder’s ‘The Skin of Our Teeth,’ a three-part allegory depicting a New Jersey family surviving an Ice Age, world war, and devastating flood.
Next, from March 20 to 22, a staged reading of Jarrett King’s ‘St. Miles’ will premiere, focusing on the Ellis family’s tragedy and their quest for recognition for their lost son, Miles.
The season ends with Gracie Gardner’s ‘Saturn Return’ from April 30 to May, a world premiere comedy about friends turning 30 and navigating their paths to adulthood.
Finally, from June 11 to 28, Jane Wagner’s ‘The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe’ will showcase Marianne Galloway in a series of engaging character studies.
Subscriptions for the upcoming season are now available, with single ticket sales to be opened at a later date. Detailed information can be found by visiting Undermain.org.
In review highlights, Repertory Company Theatre’s ‘Something Rotten’ is notable for its comedic value, though the production faced technical challenges.
The musical features an engaging narrative set in 16th-century London where Nick and Nigel Bottom aspire to outshine William Shakespeare with their own production. The show’s lively and sharp cast delivers strong performances filled with humor.
Directed by Debra Carter, the pacing of the show resonates with audiences, with standout performances by Phillip Slay as Nick and Molly Grace Robinson as Beatrice Bottom, showcasing impeccable comic timing.
Jack Agnew’s portrayal of the fortune teller was another comedic highlight, while Alex Bigus brought a unique edge to the Puritan character.
Young love was also a sweet subplot with compelling performances by Timothy Crisp and Brooke Bishop as they navigated their budding romance.
Even with these strong performances, the production faced challenges with its lighting and sound design. Inconsistent lighting and abrupt shifts caused distractions, while sound mixing issues hindered some performances, affecting clarity in lyrics and dialogue.
Despite these technical drawbacks, the musical’s energy and humor were captivating, especially the fast-paced numbers directed by Music Director Byron Holder.
Although production technicalities faltered, ‘Something Rotten’ provided a delightful theatrical experience—definitely a good time for the Bottoms involved.
The show continues its run until August 3, promising laughs and memorable moments for those in attendance.
image source from：dallasvoice
