Theater Critic Picks

These are the 4 can't-miss shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for May

Matt Lyle's new play is getting a free livestreamed reading from Theatre Three.

Photo courtesy of Theatre Three

UPDATE: Luckenbooth Theatre's streaming production of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. was canceled on May 5.

---

COVID-19 can stop a lot of things, but it can't stop the performing arts. Though some movies theaters and restaurants have opened back up, live stage shows still aren't happening. But that doesn't mean you can't watch some plays at home and support your local theaters.

These Dallas-Fort Worth theater companies have found creative ways to still deliver their programming, and some are even free (though we highly suggest donating the ticket price — or more — if you're in a position to do so).

Here are four local shows to stream this month:

The Texas Devil
Theatre Three, livestreaming May 5 at 7 pm
In honor of North Texas Giving Tuesday Now, T3 is hosting a free livestream on Facebook of award-winning local playwright Matt Lyle's new work. The working reading, featuring local actors, will also have the playwright and director (Jeffrey Schmidt) answer questions and participate in discussion during the reading. The plot: A statue of Robert E. Lee. A small-town lawyer doing the right thing. A fumbled football. A Daughter of the Confederacy and her idiot husband. Some Oxycontin. A fair and balanced television news personality. A crippling existential crisis. Two Satanists. And one Texas Devil.

The Dreams of Our Youth
The Classics Theatre Project, livestreaming May 1-2, 8-9, 15-16
Just like last month, when actor Van Quattro stepped up to perform The Imaginary Invalid via free solo livestream from his house, TCTP has another venerable local actor tackling a play alone. Chris Messersmith will take on literary legend Mark Twain with ruminations on his life and career, performed for free on the theater's YouTube channel.

Shelter in Place: A Quarantined New Play Festival
Taphouse Theatre, streaming May 16-17
This new-ish Fort Worth theater company normally performs in local bars and businesses — so it's readjusting right now, just like all of us. Last month it invited local playwrights to send in their quarantine-inspired new works for online readings, and now it's time for round two. All the readings will be livestreamed on TT's Facebook page and then be saved to its YouTube channel (where the round one readings already live).

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.
Luckenbooth Theatre, streaming May 1-31
A rehearsal was filmed of this group's second show of its fifth season, so now audiences can enjoy a stage adaptation of Judy Blume's classic novel about growing up. Tickets to the virtual show are $25, and once you purchase on the website you will receive a link and instructions on how to view (and can only play the show once).

---

Looking for other arts-related events and activities you can enjoy online? This list is constantly being updated with new virtual happenings.

theater music

Museum News

National Medal of Honor Museum offers preview at downtown Dallas event

AT&T

The AT&T Discovery District hosted a mobile museum pop-up.

A high-profile museum opening in 2025 offered a preview in downtown Dallas: It's The National Medal of Honor Museum, slated to open in Arlington, at Nolan Ryan Expressway and AT&T Way in the Stadium district in spring 2025.

To give folks a preview of coming attractions, the institution dispatched a mobile museum to make a visit to the AT&T Discovery District on November 20, during lunchtime when foot traffic is brisk.

Imagine the sense of wonder and amazement that downtown Dallas denizens must have felt upon the sight of a double decker bus, parked in the District, equipped with video and historical information about the Medal of Honor award, stories of the recipients, and a rendering of how the museum in Arlington will look.

The National Medal of Honor MuseumCourtesy rendering

The goal of The National Medal of Honor Museum is to inspire Americans by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat.

They hope it will serve as a national landmark, illustrating the historical thread of sacrifice and patriotism that runs through all U.S. military service members, past and present.

Beyond its state-of-the-art, interactive experiences, a critical part of the Museum’s mission will be to use the stories of Medal of Honor recipients to inspire their fellow Americans.

It will incorporate the AT&T Virtual Recipient Theater, an augmented reality experience where visitors can interact with with Medal of Honor recipients. The space will be equipped with cutting-edge conversational AI technology complete with voice recognition to allow museum goers to have a conversation in a 3D format with medal of honor recipients living and past.

It will also have AT&T Branded Wi-Fi throughput the museum.

Interior of the mobile Medal of Honor Museum.AT&T