Theater Critic Picks

These are the 14 can't-miss shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for October

I know, I know, we were all hoping for a scary 13 this month. But each one of these shows looks so good, I couldn't bear to leave any of them out. It's spooky season onstage, with creepy takes on the classics and frighteningly good new works.

Here are the 14 shows to see in order by start date:

The Seagull
Eccentric Bear Theater Co., October 3-6
Tensions are running high at a sleepy country estate as esteemed actress Irina Arkadina introduces her son to an unexpected new lover in Anton Chekhov's classic play about jealousy, unrequited love, and large birds.

Macbeth
Shakespeare Dallas, October 3-13
While keeping true to Shakespeare's original bloody script, this classic tale of power, ambition, and tragic downfall moves to an alternative near-future Silicon Valley, where tech companies bid for ultimate control in a dynamic and changing industry. Following a prophecy from three witches that he will be king, Macbeth — at the urging of his wife — plots King Duncan's murder to secure the throne.

Two By Beckett: Footfalls and Not I
WingSpan Theatre Co., October 3-19
These hauntingly beautiful plays investigate the "undiscovered country" that Samuel Beckett and his characters yearn for and how we all must go on. Jennifer Kuenzer stars in Footfalls and Susan Sargeant in Not I — Sargeant also directs.

A Love Offering
Kitchen Dog Theatre, October 3-27
Jonathan Norton's newest play follows T'Wana Jepson and Miss Georgia, two nurse's aides who care for patients with Alzheimer's and dementia. It's not a glamorous job, but the women find support in each other — until T'Wana is attacked by the patient in E 204.

Dracula
Theatre Three, October 3-November 3
Vampires, but make it feminist. This fresh adaptation of the Bram Stoker Gothic horror novel takes a deeper look into the Romanian folklore with an update on the undead. You've long heard the story of Dracula, everyone's favorite blood-sucking Transylvanian; but what stories might we learn through the eyes of his mysterious mistress Mina?

Disturbance
Sweet Tooth Hotel and Arts Mission Oak Cliff, October 4-26
Each Friday and Saturday night in October, you can party like it's 1999 at a Y2K New Year countdown with the permanent residents of Sweet Tooth Hotel. This immersive theater experience (that means you're part of the show, too) challenges you to alter the show's ending or become trapped in a never-ending enigma while you solve different pieces of the puzzle.

Villa
Teatro Dallas, October 11-November 2
In this slyly surprising and gripping play, Guillermo Calderon puts the audience in the room with three women charged with deciding the future of the Villa Grimaldi, an infamous detention camp of Chile’s Pinochet government.

Ann
Dallas Theater Center, October 15-November 10
Written by Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor and starring Friday Night Lights' Libby Villari, Ann is a no-holds-barred portrait of Ann Richards, the legendary governor of Texas.

Bright Colors and Bold Patterns and Cooties
Uptown Players, October 18-27
For Gay History Month, Uptown Players is presenting two special shows. The first, Bright Colors and Bold Patterns by Drew Droege, is a solo play starring Paul J. Williams as Gerry. It’s the eve of Josh and Brennan's picture-perfect Palm Springs wedding, and their old friend Gerry arrives car-cranky and a few beers in, furious that the invitation demands that he "refrain from wearing bright colors or bold patterns." The second, Cooties by Alexandrew Recore, is a fast-paced-sitcom-romcom variety show about truly ugly love, examining all the things we'd rather not talk about when it comes to sex, love, and happiness.

She-Wolf
Amphibian Stage Productions, October 18-November 10
Despite being taken prisoner of war, then ransomed off by her father to the feckless king of a foreign country, Margaret of Anjou went on to command armies. Shakespeare was so entranced with her that he included her in four of his plays. Stephan Wolfert used Shakespeare as his inspiration for this play.

Side Show
The Firehouse Theatre, October 24-November 10
Based on the true story of conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton, who became stars during the Depression, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. Told almost entirely in song, the show follows their progression from England to America, around the vaudeville circuit and to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 movie Freaks.

Sister Act
WaterTower Theatre, October 24-November 10
After witnessing a murder, disco diva Deloris Van Cartier is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be found: a convent. Finding herself at odds with a rigid lifestyle and the uptight Mother Superior, Deloris uses her unique flair and singing talent to inspire the choir, breathing new life into the church and community. In doing so, however, she blows her cover and soon her gangster boyfriend and his cronies are giving chase.

The Bippy Bobby Boo Show
Theatre Too and Danielle Georgiou Dance Group, October 25-November 2
Dazzling with glitz and glamour of a 1960s musical variety show, this new work is a two-week haunting of Theatre Too, the delightful downstairs space at Theatre Three. Bippy Bobby, the crooning, cocktail-toting ne'er-do-well, hosts this late-night limited engagement featuring performances by the six ghosts living in the belly of the Uptown basement. Inspired by the plays they saw performed by Norma Young, Esther Ragland, Robert Dracup, and Jac Alder, the ghosts of Theatre Too bring the works of Pirandello, Pinter, Albee, and Beckett into their acts.

Razz
Ochre House Theatre, October 26-November 16
Hot on the heels of Fosse/Verdon's big Emmy win, this season opener follows the life of Bob Fosse, who finds himself fighting for life after his third heart attack. Wrapped in song, dance, vaudeville, and spectacle, Razz explores how artists survive in a fickle world.

Two Samuel Beckett plays will be performed together at WingSpan.

WingSpan Theatre Company presents Two By Beckett: Footfalls and Not I

Photo by Lowell Sargeant

Two Samuel Beckett plays will be performed together at WingSpan.

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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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