Tony Time

Dallas Theater Center wins this year's coveted regional Tony Award

On June 11, the rest of the country will join in giving Dallas Theater Center a much-deserved round of applause when the company is presented with the 2017 Regional Theater Tony Award.

The Tony Awards are America's highest theatrical honor, and each year they single out one nonprofit professional regional theater company in the United States that "has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theater nationally." The award is nominated and voted on by the American Theatre Critics Association (of which I am a voting member).

“The Tony Award is one of the most coveted honors in the American theater, and receiving it is a cause for great celebration throughout Dallas,” says DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty in a release. “This award is in recognition of DTC’s nearly 60 years of achievement. It’s a testament to the artistry of the theater’s previous artistic directors: Paul Baker, Adrian Hall, Ken Bryant, and Richard Hamburger. It’s an honor for the many talented artists whose work has graced our stages. It’s an acknowledgement of the deep relationship between DTC and our community here in North Texas, for whom we produce plays that inspire meaningful conversations. It’s a tribute to the diversity of artists who seek to create art that mirrors the glorious diversity of our community. And it’s a validation of our city’s shared belief that a great city requires great art to bring us together, ask vital questions, and inspire us to build a more perfect union.”

Dallas Theater Center is the resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres. The Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company demonstrates DTC’s abiding commitment to supporting a core group of resident artists.

Several of its world-premiere shows have gone on to enjoy productions in New York City: Bella will play off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons this May and June, while Lysistrata Jones (titled Give It Up! in Dallas) played Broadway in 2011. That same playwright, Douglas Carter Beane, will premiere his new musical Hood at DTC this summer.

“This is a unique Tony Award because it does not honor a single play, performance, director, or design, it honors a body of work over a number of years,” says DTC managing director Jeff Woodward in a release. “This award honors our terrific and talented staff and our dedicated board of trustees, led by Julie Hersh and Jeff Bragalone. It honors our adventurous audience, especially our subscribers. It honors the strong and consistent support we receive from our donors, and it honors the great city of Dallas.”

Some of DTC's significant innovations include the launching of Public Works Dallas, a groundbreaking community engagement and participatory theater project designed to deliberately blur the line between professional artists and community members, and receiving a 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award for Project Discovery, a program that provides in-depth theater experiences for thousands of teens from 30 North Texas high schools.

“DTC is one of the oldest regional theaters in the country,” says Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, in a release. “They truly embody the importance of bringing live theater to audiences and educational programs to schools and youth throughout the community. Arts education is one of the most vital programs we can offer today’s youth, and as it continues to be threatened, theaters around the country are stepping in to fill the voids that the cuts have created. We are proud of the community of theater, and DTC, that are stepping in to provide this vital form of education.”

The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing present the Tony Awards, which will be broadcast live on CBS June 11 from Radio City Music Hall. Kevin Spacey is this year's host.

Dallas Theater Center's immersive, site-specific production of Electra runs through May 27. It's next play, Inherit the Wind, opens May 16 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater.

Dallas Theater Center artistic director Kevin Moriarty and managing director Jeff Woodward.

Photo by Karen Almond

Dallas Theater Center artistic director Kevin Moriarty and managing director Jeff Woodward.

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Dance News

Dallas Black Dance Theatre makes interim artistic director permanent

Photo by Aleah Pilot

Richard A. Freeman Jr. became the new artistic director October 24, 2025.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) has officially named Richard A. Freeman, Jr. as its new artistic director, ushering in a new era of leadership for the dance company as it approaches its 50th anniversary season.

Freeman, a longtime member of the DBDT family, has served as interim artistic director through the company’s recently completed 48th and current 49th seasons. His appointment, effective October 24, 2025, marks a natural progression for the former lead dancer, resident choreographer, and artistic project coordinator, whose career within DBDT spans more than a decade of creative and organizational leadership.

“Richard has been an integral part of Dallas Black Dance Theatre's artistic fabric for years, and his extraordinary leadership during his time as interim artistic director made this decision clear,” says Heidi K. Murray, a member of DBDT’s board of directors, in a release. “His dedication to artistic excellence, his deep understanding of our mission, and his vision for the future of contemporary modern dance make him the ideal person to lead DBDT into this exciting new chapter.”

DBDT founder Ann M. Williams echoed the sentiment, calling Freeman’s appointment a full-circle moment for both artist and company. “Richard embodies everything Dallas Black Dance Theatre stands for: artistry, excellence, and a deep commitment to uplifting our community through dance,” she says in the release. “I have had the privilege of watching him grow from a gifted dancer into an inspiring leader and visionary artist. His dedication to preserving our legacy while boldly charting new artistic territory gives me tremendous confidence in DBDT’s future.”

During his tenure as interim artistic director, Freeman guided DBDT through seasons marked by artistic innovation and expanded community engagement, but also staff shake-ups and legal issues.

In October 2024, accusations of retaliation surfaced after 10 DBDT dancers, its entire main company, were fired following their decision to unionize in May and demand better working conditions. This led to an unprecedented "Do Not Work" order by the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Dallas City Council ultimately voted to withhold $248,000 in city funding due to labor violations, and DBDT later settled for $560,000 with the National Labor Relations Board.

In response, DBDT formed a 17-member advisory stakeholder task force co-chaired by Jennifer Scripps, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc., and Shawn Williams, vice president of public affairs at Allyn. The group has been working with DBDT leadership to review the organization’s policies and practices, propose changes that foster an accountable environment, and put in place safeguards to prevent future concerns related to talent.

In September 2025, executive director Zenetta Drew announced her retirement after nearly four decades with the company. A national search for her replacement will start in early 2026. Williams retired in 2014.

As artistic director, Freeman will oversee all aspects of DBDT’s artistic operations, from performances to educational initiatives, and continue to expand its reach throughout Dallas and beyond.

“I am deeply honored to accept this role and to continue building on the incredible foundation established by the vision of Ann Williams,” Freeman says. “This company has a unique power to move, inspire, and unite communities through dance. I look forward to working with our talented dancers, staff, and board to create unforgettable artistic experiences and to nurture the next generation of dance artists.”

A native of Washington, D.C., Freeman began his training with the District of Columbia Youth Ensemble and the Washington Ballet before graduating from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Virginia Commonwealth University. His performance credits span acclaimed companies and productions, including Elisa Monte Dance, Houston Grand Opera, Porgy and Bess, and The Wiz.

Freeman’s choreographic works have been featured by leading institutions such as Texas Ballet Theater School, Texas Christian University, and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He has also shared his expertise through master classes and workshops nationwide, reinforcing his commitment to DBDT’s educational mission.

Founded in 1976, Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the oldest and largest professional dance company in Dallas and one of the most acclaimed Black dance institutions in the U.S.

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