This Week's Hot Headlines

Coronavirus crisis dominates this week's 5 most-read stories in Dallas

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, and the news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic changed rapidly each day in Dallas. Here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines.

1. Texas governor finally issues statewide shutdown of restaurants and bars. After avoiding the inevitable for more than a week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott finally shut down dining in restaurants and bars across the state of Texas, in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Abbott declared a public health disaster, also imposing statewide closures of schools, gyms, nursing homes, and retirement centers.

2. Dallas shuts down bars, gyms, theaters, to curb coronavirus spread. Going out for a cocktail is off the table: Days before the Texas governor's declaration, the city of Dallas closed all bars, as well as gyms, health clubs, and other venues that accommodate large groups.

3. These Dallas restaurants forced to close temporarily due to coronavirus. The coronavirus has had a horrid effect on every part of our lives, but perhaps the most horrifying impact has been felt by the food and beverage world, with the sudden and abrupt shutdown of an entire industry. Here are some of the Dallas restaurants that have already closed.

4. Kick COVID-19 to the curb by ordering takeout from these Dallas restaurants. Many Dallas restaurants offer food to-go, which you can pick up at the restaurant. Some are doing curbside delivery, where you pull up and they bring your order to your car. And many are using a third-party app, such as Uber Eats. Here's a list of restaurants by neighborhood, with more to come.

5. Dallas restaurants are doing good deeds even during COVID-19 crisis. Dallas' food and beverage industry is not only supremely hospitable, it's also consistently generous, always ready to rally 'round with charitable acts of kindness. That's even true during these cataclysmic times of the coronavirus, when thousands of people have suddenly lost their jobs. Here are some initiatives and random acts of kindness that have already surfaced in the DFW restaurant world.

The temporary closure of Dean Fearing's restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas is a major loss.

Photo courtesy of Dean Fearing

The temporary closure of Dean Fearing's restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas is a major loss.

New Theater

Premieres lead the way in Dallas Theater Center's 2026-27 season

Aigner Mizzelle and Okieriete Onaodowan in the off-Broadway production of The Monsters

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The Monsters, which started off-Broadway, will make its regional premiere as part of Dallas Theater Center's 2026-27 season.

The 2026-2027 season for Dallas Theater Center will feature six productions, including three world premieres, a regional premiere, a returning favorite, and a to-be-determined sixth production.

The inaugural season of incoming Enloe/Rose Artistic Director, Jaime Castañeda, will be marked by a renewed commitment to new work at Dallas Theater Center.

That starts with with the world premieres of three new shows:

The Cold War thriller Reykjavik86 by Gabe McKinley, which brings the 1986 nuclear summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev to life on stage. It will be the initial production of the season, running September 11-27, 2026 at Wyly Theatre.
The dark comedy musical Kill Local, with a book by Mat Smart and music and lyrics by Liza Anne, is about Sheila and her sister, Abigail, who work together for their mother’s small family business, which just so happens to be assassins. It features killer songs about blood ties, revenge, and how hard it is to get unstuck. It will run March 26-April 11, 2027 in the Wyly Studio Theatre
The Making of a Saint by KJ Sanchez is theatrical exploration of faith and family in which KJ, a documentary writer/performer, sets out to understand the story of Sister Blandina, whom KJ's brother is helping to canonize. It will be the final scheduled show of the season, running May 14-June 6, 2027 in the Wyly Studio Theatre.

Joining them will be the regional premiere of The Monsters by Ngozi Anyanwu, about a scrappy young fighter named Lil who is ready to enter the ring. She reconnects with her brother Big, an accomplished fighter in the local MMA scene and tries to earn his respect.

The production, which just finished a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run on March 22, runs October 9-November 1, 2026 in the Wyly Studio Theatre.

A yet-to-be-named fifth production, which will be announced on June 1, will run February 5-21, 2027 in the Kalita Humphreys Theater.

All of those productions will be part of the season subscriptions. Dallas Theater Center's annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol, running November 27-December 27, 2026 at Wyly Theatre, can be added on.

“New work is the engine of the American Theater, and Dallas Theater Center will be a laboratory for artists who have something urgent and honest to express today,” said Enloe/Rose Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda in a statement. "These plays are about the now, and they are events for the stage that are in direct conversation with the audience."

DTC’s Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company members will be featured throughout the 2025-26 season, including Christina Austin Lopez, Tiana Kaye Blair, Blake Hackler, Bob Hess, Liz Mikel, Alex Organ, Molly Searcy, Tiffany Solano, Sally Nysteun Vahle, Esteban Vilchez, Zachary J. Willis, and Bri Woods, who is the Linda and Bill Custard SMU Meadows Actor.

Subscriptions for the 2026-27 season are available now, and can be purchased online at DallasTheaterCenter.org or by calling the DTC Box Office at 214-522-8499.

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