In Memoriam

Dallas theater community mourns passing of Theatre Three pioneer Jac Alder

The Dallas-Fort Worth theater community lost a legend on May 22, when Jac Alder passed away from respiratory failure at age 80. Alder was the co-founder, executive director and producer of Theatre Three, which he formed in 1961 with his future wife, Norma Young, who died in 1998.

At the time of his passing, Alder was the longest-serving artistic director of any regional theater in the United States. Theatre Three announced its 54th season on May 12.

Besides his contributions with acting, designing, directing and producing, Alder will also be remembered for his pre-show welcome speeches, in which his excitement for the theater's current and upcoming shows was palpable. His presence — and look — was so iconic that when Theatre Three produced its long-running Avenue Q in the Theatre Too basement space, a Jac Alder puppet was constructed to deliver the speech on video.

"Jac Alder was a friend to me, as he was to so many of us in the Dallas theater community," said Dallas Theater Center artistic director Kevin Moriarty in a statement. "His death is a cause of great sorrow for everyone who loved him, but it is also an opportunity for us to reflect upon his life. Because of Jac's remarkable leadership, Theatre Three has provided outstanding art for our community for more than 50 years. He is irreplaceable."

Many took to Facebook to express their sorrow and share memories of working with and knowing Alder.

T3's current production, The Liar, will continue through May 31. According to the theater's Facebook page, a celebration of Alder's life is in the works.

"His final wish was the for the continued success of Theatre Three," the post read. "And, as Jac would say, 'See you at the theatre!'"

Jac Alder passed away on May 22.

Photo courtesy of Theatre Three

Jac Alder passed away on May 22.

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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