Season Announcement

Deep Ellum theater turns the spotlight on women for 2020-21 season

Gracie Gardner's Athena opens the season.

Photo courtesy of On The Verge

Right now — especially now — it feels like we need a hero. Undermain Theatre heard our pleas and is doing one better by declaring its 37th season the year of the feminine hero.

The four central productions are all about women, with ladies also getting the spotlight as playwrights and directors.

"Undermain is looking past the pandemic, affirming the well-being of our audience, our company, and our community and looking forward to presenting the season of the feminine hero," says producing artistic director Bruce DuBose.

First up is the Dallas premiere of Athena by Gracie Gardner. Mary Wallace and Athena are brave, and 17, and fencers training for the Junior Olympics. They practice together, they compete against each other, they spend their lives together. They wish they were friends. Undermain associate artistic director Danielle Georgiou directs a searing look into two young women driven to make their way through the ranks of competitive fencing and their fascination with each other. It runs September 9-October 4, 2020.

Undermain favorite Black Hackler is up next, directing his own adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. Ibsen's masterpiece of realism permanently changed the face of world drama — this world premiere version is the story of an extraordinary woman trapped in a conventional life of secrets and lies that fuel her own personal explosion. It runs November 11-29, 2020.

The centerpiece workshop production of the Whither Goest Thou America: New American Plays festival is Lenora Champagne's Feeding on Light. Based on the playwright's personal relationship and discussions with Undermain Theatre's late founding artistic director Katherine Owens, to whom the play is dedicated, it's directed by Owens' partner DuBose. Nora is a curious writer who seeks to understand her friend and collaborator Katherine's obsession with 20th-century French philosopher and activist Simone Weil. As their discussion deepens, Nora and Katherine embody scenes from Simone's life in an attempt to communicate with her across time and space. It runs March 4-21, 2021.

The festival itself will run weekends from March 5-28, 2021.

Finishing out the season is a new adaptation by Danielle Georgiou and Justin Locklear of Aeschylus' ancient Greek tragedy Seven Against Thebes. The climactic battle for control of Thebes is told from the perspective of Antigone and Ismene and the women of the city. Deadly threatening enemies are standing outside the fragile walls of a city in a country unknown. The citizens continue to live their (miserable) comfortable lives. Military campaigns are rising, monies are being spent. But when iron and steel turn to dust and there is nothing left but empty promises, tragedy ensues. The world premiere runs April 28-May 23, 2021.

Tickets are available by visiting Undermain Theatre online or calling the box office at 214-747-5515.

theater deep-ellum

A Familiar Face

Dallas Theater Center names Jaime Castañeda as new artistic director

Photo courtesy of Dallas Theater Center

Jaime Castañeda is the Tony-winning theater's new artistic director.

The Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center has found its next artistic director: Jaime Castañeda, who has a long history with both DTC and North Texas, will become the regional theater's sixth artistic director beginning July 2026. The 2026-27 season will be the first chosen by him.

Jonathan Norton, DTC’s resident playwright, is currently serving as interim artistic director and will continue to lead the remainder of the 2025-26 season, which culminates in the world premiere of his play Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem in May.

“DTC is committed to artistic excellence and community engagement, and we believe Jaime’s experience, creativity, bold vision, and proven leadership, coupled with his dedication to innovation, will guide DTC into an exciting new chapter in the life of the theater," says board chair Lynn Pride Richardson in a release.

In 2012, Castañeda directed DTC’s production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz. But he began his career more than 20 years ago in Dallas-Fort Worth by founding Firestarter Productions while still attending Texas Christian University. In addition to directing at DTC, other local theater credits include Kitchen Dog Theater, Amphibian Stage, and Circle Theatre. Castañeda is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Drama League Directing Fellowship, and holds a BFA from Texas Christian University and an MFA in Directing from University of Texas at Austin.

Most recently, Castañeda directed at such leading theaters across the country as American Conservatory Theater, South Coast Repertory, Huntington Theatre Company, and La Jolla Playhouse, where he previously served as associate artistic director from 2014-2018. He was also artistic associate at Off-Broadway's Atlantic Theater Company from 2009-2014.

"Jaime brings a bold, visceral artistic vision, a deep commitment to new voices, and a collaborative leadership style that inspires artists and audiences alike,” says DTC executive director Kevin Moriarty. “With his Texas roots and national experience, I am thrilled to welcome him home as DTC’s new Enloe/Rose artistic director. I have known and admired his work since 2007, when he was already one of the most exciting emerging directors in North Texas, and I later saw him create unforgettable work for DTC on the Wyly stage and at leading theaters nationwide.”

As artistic director, Castañeda will lead the theater’s artistic vision, direct and produce plays and musicals, oversee DTC’s Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, and partner with Moriarty, the staff, and the board of trustees to advance DTC’s mission, vision, and values.

Castañeda joins a distinguished line of artistic leadership at Dallas Theater Center, including founding artistic director Paul Baker, Adrian Hall, Ken Bryant, Richard Hamburger, and Moriarty, who served as artistic director from 2007-2022.

“We are extremely pleased with a successful national search that brings Jaime to Dallas Theater Center,” says DTC board member Chris Luna. “His energy is contagious and he understands Texas and Dallas. We look forward to collaborating with Jaime as he continues his innovative approach to regional theater.”

Castañeda was selected for the role following a national search led by Management Consultants for the Arts. The search committee was co-chaired by Luna and Richardson, and included Moriarty, Norton, Jennifer Altabef, Diane Brierley, Lauren Embrey, Sam Holland (Dean, SMU Meadows School of the Arts), Sharron Hunt, Randy Kender, Julie Kosnik, Deborah McMurray, Sam Megally, Liz Mikel (DTC Brierley Resident Acting Company member), Andy Smith, Lily Weiss (executive director, Dallas Arts District) and Donna Wilhelm.

“Growing up in Texas, Dallas Theater Center was one of the first places where I saw what professional theater and excellence looked like,” Castañeda says. “I’m thrilled to come back and build on the history of artists and leaders who have been a part of this organization. I’m eager to join Kevin, the board, and our staff to create lasting theatrical experiences for our audiences.”

Dallas Theater Center's current production of A Christmas Carol runs through December 27 at the Wyly Theatre.

dallas theater center jaime castañeda kevin moriarty theater