Season Announcement

Shakespeare Dallas declares its love for rom-coms this summer

Just a few days before William Shakespeare's birthday, Shakespeare Dallas revealed its 2019 summer season. Taking place at Samuell Grand Amphitheater, 1500 Tenison Pkwy., the two productions will alternate in repertory, all with 8:15 pm start times.

Its 48th season looks to a popular movie from 1998: Shakespeare in Love. Based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, and adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, the story follows a young Will Shakespeare, suffering from writer's block with the deadline for his new play fast approaching. Then he finds his muse: Viola, a beautiful young admirer of Will's who will stop at nothing (including breaking the law) to appear in his next play. Apparently this production will also have musical numbers.

The romantic comedy favorite As You Like It is filled with mistaken identities, intrigue, and romance. The heroine Rosalind flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia, to find safety and, eventually, love in the Forest of Arden.

"This summer season will offer some crowd favorites, with one of the most popular romantic comedies from Shakespeare's repertoire, as well as a popular Shakespeare-inspired movie on the Bard's inspiration for Romeo and Juliet," says executive and artistic director Raphael Parry. "We feel this program lineup will offer something for everyone, and we can't wait to share it with our members and new audiences alike."

Shakespeare in Love will perform on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 12-July 21 (with preview performances June 12-13), and will be directed by Parry. As You Like It will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from June 19-July 19 (with previews June 19-20), and will be guest directed by Elizabeth Kirkland.

Tickets are $10 on Thursdays and Sundays and $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. Students and seniors pay reduced rates, and military personnel and their families are free. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are pay-as-you-can evenings. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or online, and additional information is available on the website or by calling 214-559-2778.

Montgomery Sutton as William Shakespeare and Stephanie Oustalet as Viola in Shakespeare in Love.

Photo by Jordan Fraker

Montgomery Sutton as William Shakespeare and Stephanie Oustalet as Viola in Shakespeare in Love.

Season Announcement

Kitchen Dog Theater unleashes immersive 2025 season in new Dallas space

Kitchen Dog Theater presents Safe at Home

Photo by Jordan Fraker

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Seven years after announcing it had purchased a building in the Design District, Kitchen Dog Theater is finally ready to move into its new home.

The third and final production of its 2025 season — the theater company's 34th — will take place all around the new "Doghouse." The other two productions will follow the immersive format at non-traditional performance spaces that was established last season.

With three fully produced events that each run the gambit from captivating and gutsy to heartfelt and hilarious, the monthly New Works Festival Staged Readings Series returns, as does the 23rd annual PUP Fest, nurturing high school talent from all over DFW.

First up is the area premiere of Will Eno's Wakey, Wakey, directed by KDT's artistic director Tina Parker and starring KDT co-artistic director Christopher Carlos.

"Is it now? I thought I had more time." These first words in Will Eno's play are spoken by Guy, a man who knows, like all of us on some level, that he is about to die. The play questions why we are here and the journeys that everyone takes to eventually get to the same place. Performances will take place at Expo Park, 840 Exposition Avenue, and run February 7-23, 2025.

Production No. 2 is full of mystery: The title and performance location will be announced soon and run in March/April 2025.

The Happiness Gymby Ken Weitzman closes out the season in August 2025 (exact dates TBA).

This regional premiere is a joyous, experiential event based on the science of well-being. Participants take part in a curated theatrical experience meant to boost their sense of happiness, joy, and feelings of connection. This one-of-a-kind project will be the soft opening to Kitchen Dog’s new theater and will take place all over the entire facility, giving patrons unparalleled access to KDT’s new home.

From March to July 2025, the 26th annual 2025 New Works Festival will showcase four-to-five staged readings of the newest and most exciting local and regional playwrights working in contemporary theater today. Each reading will feature some of DFW's most accomplished actors and directors and will take place at different venues across DFW.

For its 23rd annual event, PUP Fest will feature six staged readings of jury-selected plays written by DFW high school students, featuring student actors directed by area professional directors. PUP Fest is the culminating event of Dallas Playwriting Arts Collective (D-PAC), a partnership with Dallas ISD and Junior Players. Performance location is TBA, but the event will happen June 7, 2025.

For more information, visit kitchendogtheater.org or call 214-953-1055.

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