Theater Underground

Uptown Dallas theater banks on local writers with homegrown new season

Theatre Three presents I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

Calvin Scott Roberts, Allison Bret, Janelle Lutz, and Trey West in the 2016-17 production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Photo by Linda Harrison

Less than two months after teasing it during Theatre Three's season announcement, Theatre Too's full 2017-18 season has also been revealed. And like its above-ground counterpart, the basement space will see a dramatic shift in programming during artistic director Jeffrey Schmidt's first year on the job.

We were previously promised new plays by local artists Matt Lyle and Jessica Cavanagh, along with a new work by local movement company PrismCo., and that's exactly what we're getting. This season will also see the final run of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, which has been a Theatre Too staple for the past 18 years.

All three of the new works have been commissioned by Theatre Three, proving with cold, hard, cash Schmidt's dedication to nurturing local talent.

"The arts scene in Dallas has an obligation to local artists including writers, and every organization should play a role in fostering their development from readings and workshops to full productions with professional actors," says Schmidt in a release. "I’m proud to include Theatre Three as part of the local resources writers have access to."

First up is a new play by Matt Lyle, whose hilarious Barbecue Apocalypse received a smashing world premiere by Kitchen Dog Theater in 2014. Titled Cedar Springs or Big Scary Animals, it centers on an older white couple from the country that unknowingly moves to "the gayborhood" to be closer to their granddaughter in Dallas. It has had multiple staged readings and is now "ripe and ready" for its premiere production. It will run September 7-October 1, 2017, with Schmidt directing.

Lear, PrismCo.'s wordless interpretation of Shakespeare's King Lear is next, using dance theater to focus on the relationship between the aging king and his daughters. This innovative company uses dance choreography, stage combat, mime, weight sharing, clowning, and simple, everyday actions to "plunge even further into the complex depths of the human subconscious, all without uttering a single word.” It will run October 26-November 19, 2017

Shifting forward a bit from its usual New Year's Eve opening, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will welcome back B.J. Cleveland to direct the final run of Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts' crowd-pleaser. Theatre Too promises some surprises and special events to mark the occasion and help Dallas say goodbye to the long-running musical. It runs January 11-March 4, 2018.

Jessica Cavanagh has turned her unexpected real-life experiences into Self Injurious Behavior, a play about a woman raising an autistic son. This very personal account is a reminder that life never turns out the way you plan it, but that it can turn into a life you love. Marianne Galloway will direct, and Cavanagh plans to continue developing the play at Theatre Three in preparation for a production next spring. It runs May 17- June 10, 2018.

"In the coming years, patrons will have the opportunity to witness all phases of the creation process. It gets to the heart of the meaning behind Theatre Three’s name: actors, authors, audience," says Schmidt. "T3 is proud to claim some Pulitzer Prize winners amongst its alumni. It’s time to discover the next one."

Single tickets will be available for purchase at a later date, and subscribers get half off tickets to all Theatre Too shows.

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Ballet news

Texas Ballet Theater executive director leaving for new gig in Northeast

Photo courtesy of Texas Ballet Theater

Vanessa Logan joined Texas Ballet Theater in 2016.

Vanessa Logan, who has served as Texas Ballet Theater executive director since 2016, is leaving TBT for a new role in the Northeast, the company says. Her final day with TBT will be June 30, 2025.

The move will allow Logan to be closer to her family, the organization says. Her new position has not yet been announced.

"While we will greatly miss Vanessa and her leadership at TBT, we support her decision to do what is best for her and her family and wish her well in her new pursuit," says TBT board of governors chair Anne T. Bass in a May 19 release. "Throughout her tenure at TBT, Vanessa has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism. It has been a delight to have worked closely with Vanessa over the last nine years, and I am most grateful for her unstinting efforts that have advanced TBT in so many respects."

Logan joined North Texas' largest ballet company before the 2016-17 season; she previously had worked at the American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey and Boston Ballet.

"Being part of TBT has been an immensely enriching and transformative experience. Partnering with Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe, working alongside such talented artists, and collaborating with a dedicated administrative and school staff has been a true privilege," Logan says in the release. "I am also deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our committed Board Chair and the Board of Governors, whose vision and leadership have been instrumental. Contributing to productions that bring beauty and artistry to our audiences and nurturing ballet education for countless children in Dallas-Fort Worth has been incredibly rewarding."

During her tenure with TBT, Logan helped the company navigate through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 followed by a catastrophic winter storm of 2021; she helped smooth the transition of artistic director from Ben Stevenson to Tim O'Keefe in 2023; and she oversaw new school facilities in Richardson and Dallas. TBT has also begun a 65,000-square-foot renovation of its Fort Worth facility to support future growth.

"Vanessa’s support and partnership during the transition was phenomenal. I cannot imagine another leader better equipped to guide TBT seamlessly through such a transformational change," O’Keefe says. "Her steadfastness instilled confidence and built trust with staff, students and subscribers as she ensured that we held true to TBT’s mission of honoring classical ballet while embracing a new chapter of artistic evolution."

TBT’s Board of Governors will immediately start searching for Logan’s successor and will quickly name an interim executive director to oversee operations until a permanent leader is in place, they say.

Texas Ballet Theater, which is a resident company of both Winspear Opera House in Dallas and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, just closed its 2024-25 season with O'Keefe's all-new staging of the beloved ballet Giselle.

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