DALLAS THEATER CENTER ANNOUNCES 2025-26 SEASON
Dallas Theater Center announces titles for the 2025-26 season, including Noises Off, a classic British farce and a play-within-a-play; Fat Ham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning hit Broadway comedy that reinvents Shakespeare’s Hamlet; Where We Stand, where a lone storyteller puts their fate in the audience’s hands; Ragtime, a Tony Award-winning musical about chasing the American Dream; and Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem, a world premiere by Interim Artistic Director and Resident Playwright Jonathan Norton. Additionally, DTC will present its annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol and will partner with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth for “Shakespeare at the Symphony,” a concert featuring scenes from Shakespeare interspersed with symphonic music as add-ons to the subscription series. Productions will take place at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre inside the AT&T Performing Arts Center, the Kalita Humphreys Theater and Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys campus. Subscriptions for the 2025-26 season are available now. To reserve the best seats at the best prices, subscriptions can be purchased online at DallasTheaterCenter.org or by calling the DTC Box Office at 214-522-8499.
The full season will be presented as follows: in the Kalita Humphreys Theater, Noises Off (Oct. 3-26, 2025); in the Kalita Humphreys Theater, Fat Ham (Jan. 30-Feb. 8, 2026); in Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys campus, Where We Stand (Feb. 27 - March 22, 2026); in the Potter Rose Performance Hall at the Wyly Theatre, Ragtime (March 27-April 19, 2026); and in the Wyly Studio Theater, Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem (May 8-June 7, 2026). A Christmas Carol (Nov. 28-Dec. 28, 2025) in the Potter Rose Performance Hall is not included in season tickets but will be available as an additional holiday production.
This season highlights DTC’s longstanding commitment to collaboration with other arts organizations. It includes the launch of a three-year partnership between Dallas Theater Center and Stage West Theatre of Fort Worth, which will co-produce two regional premieres in the 2025-26 season: Fat Ham and Where We Stand. DTC is also embarking on a multi-year partnership with SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts and the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre, which will include presenting Ragtime in the first year of its partnership. The season also marks the ongoing collaboration with TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Ark., who previously supported the development of Norton’s I AM DELIVERED’T, commissioned Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem, and will co-produce the world premiere in the 2025-26 season. In Fort Worth, DTC will collaborate with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra on Shakespeare at the Symphony, a concert which will be performed at Bass Performance Hall featuring FWSO, conducted by Robert Spano, and actors from DTC’s Brierley Resident Acting Company, directed by Kevin Moriarty. The performance will feature selections from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, interspersed with scenes from Shakespeare.
ABOUT THE 2025/2026 SEASON
Noises Off
By Michael Frayn
Directed by Ashley H. White
October 3 - 26, 2025, at the Kalita Humphreys Theater
Witness the ultimate theatrical meltdown with Michael Frayn's uproarious classic British comedy, Noises Off. This play-within-a-play plunges you into the chaotic world of "Nothing’s On," a fictional touring production tormented by backstage romances and onstage blunders. From flubbed lines to slamming doors, witness the hilarious unraveling of a troupe of eccentric actors. Noises Off guarantees an evening of pure, unadulterated hilarity. Don't miss this beloved farce that The New York Times legendary theater critic, Frank Rich, called, “the single funniest play I ever saw.”
Fat Ham
Pulitzer Prize Winner and Regional Premiere
By James Ijames
Directed by vickie washington
A Co-Production with Stage West Theatre
January 30 - February 8, 2026, at the Kalita Humphreys Theater
In this regional premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning, hit Broadway comedy, Juicy’s got a lot on his plate - his mom just married his uncle. All he wants is to make his own way as a queer Black man in a Southern family. But here’s the rub - his father’s ghost just turned up at a backyard barbecue demanding vengeance. In this delicious and sizzling reinvention of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, a young man vows to break the cycles of violence in service of his own liberation and joy.
Where We Stand
Regional Premiere
By Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Directed by Akin Babatunde
A Co-Production with Stage West Theatre
February 25 - March 22, 2026, at Bryant Hall, Kalita Humphreys Theater Campus
Your town stands at a crossroads. A neighbor — desperate and out of options — has struck a dangerous bargain. Now, their fate lies in your hands. In this interactive play presented as a town hall gathering, the audience must choose: mercy or justice? Broadway actor and Dallas legend Liz Mikel plays a lone storyteller who weaves a world through music and magic - part fable, part call-and-response. The future of the town - and the fate of a soul - hang in the balance. This isn’t a game. It’s your choice.
Ragtime
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Terrence McNally
Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow
Directed and Choreographed by Joel Ferrell
Partnership with SMU Meadows School of the Arts and the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre
March 27 - April 19, 2026, at the Potter Rose Performance Hall, Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre
In 1902 New York, anything is possible! Ragtime bursts to life with a soaring, Tony Award-winning score that tells the intertwined stories of three families from different walks of life, all chasing the American Dream. Based on E.L. Doctrow’s acclaimed novel, Ragtime is a thrilling, powerful portrait of hope and perseverance in a time of tumultuous change. This beloved, epic musical theater classic creates a powerful portrait of America’s past—and a stirring reminder of its future.
Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem
World Premiere
by Jonathan Norton
Directed by Dexter J. Singleton
A Co-Production with TheatreSquared
May 8 - June 7, 2026, at the Studio Theater, Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre
In the sweltering summer of 1943, two young men – Little & Foxy – forge an unlikely bond over leftover fried chicken and dirty dishwasher. But as the world outside erupts in chaos, their friendship is tested by betrayal, ambition, and the call of history. Inspired by a true story, this gripping world premiere written by DTC’s resident playwright and Interim Artistic Director Jonathan Norton, imagines the moments that shape legends and the friendships that define them.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTIONS:
A Christmas Carol
Adapted by Kevin Moriarty
Directed by Alex Organ
Choreography by Joel Ferrell
Musical Direction by Cody Dry
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens
November 28 - December 27, 2025, at the Potter Rose Performance Hall, Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre
Embark on a magical Christmas Eve adventure with Ebenezer Scrooge as three otherworldly spirits whisk him away on a breathtaking journey of hope and redemption. From the nostalgic warmth of Christmases past to the stark truths of the present and the ominous shadows of the future, Scrooge's journey is a spectacle of wonder. Prepare for dazzling visuals, enchanting melodies, and a heartwarming tale that celebrates the transformative power of the holiday spirit.
Shakespeare at the Symphony
Directed by Kevin Moriarty
Conducted by Robert Spano
A Collaboration with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
February 27 - March 1, 2026, at Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth
Under the direction of Robert Spano and Kevin Moriarty, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Theater Center collaborate to bring musical drama and theatrical intrigue center stage in the FWSO's newest "Theater of a Concert" concept: Shakespeare at the Symphony. Featuring Mendelssohn's Selections from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Prokofiev's Selections from Romeo and Juliet, experience a world where music and acting intertwine bringing "The Bard" to life. Don't miss this special weekend of enchanting musical moments, timeless love stories, and true artistry from two premier performing arts organizations.
“In curating Dallas Theater Center’s 2025-26 season, I chose to follow my mission as a playwright - which is to break down barriers through the shared joy of great storytelling.” Interim Artistic Director Jonathan Norton said. “And the five shows in our upcoming season will do just that. There is nothing like the rejuvenating sensation of rollicking laughter spreading through packed houses at Noises Off and Fat Ham. Where We Stand will inspire rich conversations about forgiveness and redemption. Ragtime will send audiences home lifted by the stirring music and feeling ever more hopeful in these changing times. And Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes At Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem, will leave you empowered with the knowledge that true friendship can change the world. I can’t wait for October when I get to welcome audiences at the start of our new season. We will throw open our doors and become Dallas’ town hall - a place for the community to gather for conversation, celebration and ultimately connection.”
“I’m thrilled to share with our community this exciting season of plays and musicals curated by DTC’s Interim Artistic Director, Jonathan Norton” Executive Director Kevin Moriarty said. “I can’t wait to see members of DTC’s Brierley Resident Acting Company join with artists from North Texas and across the country to create these exciting productions for our Dallas audience. From the world premiere of Jonathan’s deeply personal take on a moment in history in which a young Malcolm X and Redd Foxx worked alongside each other as dishwashers in Harlem, to the regional premiere of Fat Ham and Where We Stand to fresh productions of the beloved classics Noises Off and Ragtime, it’s a season filled with laughter, joy, history and ideas.”
Dallas Theater Center’s season tickets include Noises Off, Fat Ham, Where We Stand, Ragtime and Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem. Prices start at $246 with subscription benefits including priority seating, priority access to single tickets with a 20% discount, and unlimited free exchanges. To reserve the best seats at the best prices, subscriptions can be purchased online at DallasTheaterCenter.org or by calling the Dallas Theater Center Box Office at 214-522-8499.
“Noises Off” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com. “Fat Ham” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com. “Where We Stand” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com. Ragtime is licensed by Music Theatre International (MTI).
“Collaboration is at the heart of DTC’s mission,” Moriarty said. “It’s wonderful to join with TheaterSquared to support Jonathan’s brilliant playwriting and introduce his work to a national audience. Further, by partnering with Stage West Theatre, SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts and the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, we are able to expand opportunities for artists, introduce new audience members to the arts and enrich our artistry. I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many talented, visionary artists and arts leaders here in North Texas and honored to be partnering with them this season.”
DTC’s Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company members will be featured throughout the 2025-26 season. Company members include Christina Austin Lopez, Tiana Kaye Blair, Blake Hackler, Bob Hess, Liz Mikel, Alex Organ, Molly Searcy, Tiffany Solano, Sally Nysteun Vahle, Esteban Vilchez and Zachary J. Willis.
“The talent and collaborative spirit of my colleagues in the Brierley Resident Acting Company constantly inspires me,” Norton said. “And later this spring I look forward to announcing a new company member who will further enrich our artistry.”
DALLAS THEATER CENTER is one of the leading regional theaters in the country and the recipient of the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Dallas Theater Center (DTC) is committed to producing theater with resident artists that illuminate diverse experiences and spark collaboration and dialogue. Founded in 1959, DTC is a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its annual season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas. DTC also performs at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Kevin Moriarty and Interim Artistic Director Jonathan Norton, DTC produces a year-round subscription series of classics, musicals, and new plays and an annual production of A Christmas Carol for more than 100,000 North Texas residents annually. Additionally, the theater produces extensive education programs, including the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award-winning Project Discovery, a partnership with SMU Meadows School of the Arts; and many community collaborations. DTC is also the home of the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, which features twelve resident artists who perform in every season.
Throughout its history, Dallas Theater Center has produced many new works, including The Texas Trilogy by Preston Jones in 1978; Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men, adapted by Adrian Hall, in 1986; and recent premieres of I Am Delivered’t and penny candy by Interim Artistic Director Jonathan Norton; The Supreme Leader by Don Nguyen; Miller, Mississippi by Boo Killebrew; Stagger Lee by Will Power; Giant by Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson; Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure by Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn; Bella: An American Tall Tale by Kirsten Childs; Clarkston by Samuel D. Hunter; The Fortress of Solitude by Michael Friedman and Itamar Moses; and Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical by Robert Horn, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.
JONATHAN NORTON is the Interim Artistic Director and Resident Playwright at Dallas Theater Center, where his plays penny candy, Cake Ladies, and I AM DELIVERED’T have made their world premiere. His work has also been produced or developed by Actors Theatre of Louisville, LaJolla Playhouse, TheatreSquared, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Primary Stages, PlayPenn, National New Play Network, National Performance Network, Jacob’s Pillow, Pyramid Theatre Company, Black and Latino Playwrights Conference, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, African American Repertory Theater, Soul Rep Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theater, Undermain Theatre, Theatre Three, and the South Dallas Cultural Center. Jonathan’s play Mississippi Goddamn was a Finalist for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and won the 2016 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award given by the American Theatre Critics Association. Other awards include: the Artistic Innovations Grant from the Mid-America Art Alliance, South Dallas Cultural Center Diaspora Performing Arts Commission, and the TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund. He is also the recipient of the 2019 Eastman Visionary Award given by Jubilee Theatre. His play penny candy is published by Deep Vellum Publishing.
KEVIN MORIARTY is Executive Director of Dallas Theater Center. From 2007-2022 he served as DTC’s Enloe/Rose Artistic Director, during which time DTC opened the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center and won the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater. Before joining DTC, Kevin served as artistic director of Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY; head of the MFA directing program at Brown University; and an associate artist at Trinity Rep Company. Kevin has directed plays, musicals, and operas nationwide. He has served as Chair of the Dallas Arts District; President of Theatre Communications Group; and Vice-President of National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Kevin was a recipient of a Drama League directing fellowship and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.