Theater Critic Picks

Dallas-Fort Worth theater critics bestow honors on 2015-16 standouts

Members of the Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum convened on September 3 for their annual volley of voting, determining who deserves recognition for the 2015-16 season.

In categories covering new works to stellar performances, the six critics fought for their favorites. Not everyone's picks made it through the voting process, which needed either 50 percent of the votes or a unanimous decision if only two or three critics had seen the production, so look out for personal favorites to pop up in those end-of-year lists.

Dallas Theater Center had a stellar year, as did Stage West and Undermain Theatre. Some artists scored both on and off the stage, earning nods for their performances as well as directing and design contributions. Without further ado, here are the awards:

Outstanding Direction

Akín Babatundé, Bootycandy, Stage West, and The Mountaintop, Dallas Theater Center
Emily Scott Banks, The Big Meal, WaterTower Theatre
David Lozano, Blood Wedding, Cara Mía Theatre Company
Katherine Owens, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Undermain Theatre
Artie Olaisen, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Dallas Children’s Theater
Len Pfluger, Grand Hotel, Lyric Stage
Susan Sargeant, Play, WingSpan Theatre Company
Ryan Mathieu Smith, Trainspotting, L.I.P. Service
Garret Storms, The Nether, Stage West
Regina Washington, Harriet Jacobs, African American Repertory Theater

Outstanding New Play or Musical

Clarkston by Samuel D. Hunter, Dallas Theater Center
Deferred Action by David Lozano and Lee Trull, Cara Mía Theatre Company and Dallas Theater Center
Faust by Michael Federico, Lydia Mackay, and Jeffrey Schmidt, The Drama Club
Stacy Has a Thing for Black Guys by Ruben Carrazana, The Tribe
Temple Spirit by Susan Felder, Echo Theatre

Outstanding Touring Production

Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs, AT&T Performing Arts Center Off-Broadway on Flora Series
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, AT&T Performing Arts Center Broadway Series
Eric Bogosian’s Bitter Honey: The Best of 100 (Monologues), AT&T Performing Arts Center Off-Broadway on Flora Series
Cabaret, AT&T Performing Arts Center Broadway Series
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, AT&T Performing Arts Center Broadway Series
Ghost Quartet, AT&T Performing Arts Center Off-Broadway on Flora Series
The Sound of Music, Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth

Outstanding Performance by an Actor

Christopher J. Deaton, Grand Hotel, Lyric Stage
Bruce DuBose, The Night Alive, Undermain Theatre
Hassan El-Amin, A Christmas Carol, Dallas Theater Center, and The Mountaintop, Dallas Theater Center
Ivan Jasso, Deferred Action, Cara Mía Theatre Company and Dallas Theater Center
Jason Leyva, The Whale, L.I.P. Service
Barry Nash, I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard, Kitchen Dog Theater
Alex Organ, Constellations, Dallas Theater Center
Brandon Potter, Richard III, Shakespeare Dallas and Shakespeare in the Bar
Garret Storms, The Big Meal, WaterTower Theatre
Terry Vandivort, The Fantasticks, Theatre Three

Outstanding Performance by an Actress

Emily Scott Banks, Jacob Marley’s A Christmas Carol, Stage West
Jessica Cavanagh, Outside Mullingar, WaterTower Theatre
Amber Devlin, Picnic, Theatre Three
Frida Espinosa-Muller, Blood Wedding, Cara Mía Theatre Company and Deferred Action, Cara Mía Theatre Company and Dallas Theater Center
Tiana Johnson, The Mountaintop, Dallas Theater Center
Jenny Ledel, I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard, Kitchen Dog Theater
Denise Lee, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Jubilee Theatre
Janelle Lutz, End of the Rainbow, Uptown Players, and Miracle on 34th Street, Dallas Children’s Theater
Karen Parrish, Blackberry Winter, Kitchen Dog Theater
Allison Pistorius, Constellations, Dallas Theater Center
Joanna Schellenberg, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Undermain Theatre
Diane Worman, The Thrush and the Woodpecker, Kitchen Dog Theater

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast

The Big Meal, WaterTower Theatre
Bootycandy, Stage West
Faust, The Drama Club
Grand Hotel, Lyric Stage
Long Day’s Journey into Night, Undermain Theatre
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Dallas Children’s Theater
The Nether, Stage West
Play, WingSpan Theatre Company
The Toxic Avenger, Uptown Players
Under the Skin, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Design or Creative Contribution

Jeffrey Colangelo, fight choreography, Christina Valentine, fight assistant, and Bobby Garcia, martial arts consultant, Animal vs. Machine, PrismCo
Design team, Faust, The Drama Club
Design team, Jonah, Undermain Theatre
Jay Dias, musical direction and orchestration restoration, Anything Goes, Lyric Stage
John M. Flores, sound design, The Thrush and the Woodpecker, Kitchen Dog Theater
Richard Gwozdz, orchestra conducting, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Artes de la Rosa
Kyle Igneczi, puppet design and direction, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Amphibian Stage Productions
Benjamin Lutz and Dillon White, video design, Trainspotting, L.I.P. Service
Lynn Mauldin and Rebekka Koepke, properties design, The Adventures of Flo and Greg, Echo Theatre
Scott Osborne, set design, The Fantasticks, Theatre Three
Karen Perry, costume design, Dreamgirls, Dallas Theater Center
Gil Pritchett, musical direction, Harriet Jacobs, African American Repertory Theater
Ryan Rumery, original music and sound design, Constellations, Dallas Theater Center
Garret Storms and Nate Davis, set design, The Nether, Stage West

Special Citations

Rose Pearson, co-founder of Circle Theatre, for a lifetime of visionary leadership of professional theater in Fort Worth and support of female theater artists.
Kurt Kleinmann, for his creation of Pegasus Theatre’s Living Black & White productions and 30 years as bumbling noir detective Harry Hunsacker.
Dallas Children’s Theater for providing sensory friendly performances for kids with special needs.

Critics

Lindsey Wilson, CultureMap
Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News
Martha Heimberg, TheaterJones.com and Dallas Weekly
Arnold Wayne Jones, Dallas Voice
Mark Lowry, TheaterJones.com and Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Punch Shaw, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum is an organization of professional, paid critics that recognizes outstanding theatrical contributions in North Texas. Members see 50 or more productions per season (September 1-August 31) and are not practicing theater artists.

The joint production between Dallas Theater Center and Cara Mía Theatre Company, Deferred Action, was one of the year's best new works.

Deferred Action at Dallas Theater Center

Photo by Karen Almond

The joint production between Dallas Theater Center and Cara Mía Theatre Company, Deferred Action, was one of the year's best new works.

theater awards

Dance News

Dallas Black Dance Theatre makes interim artistic director permanent

Photo by Aleah Pilot

Richard A. Freeman Jr. became the new artistic director October 24, 2025.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) has officially named Richard A. Freeman, Jr. as its new artistic director, ushering in a new era of leadership for the dance company as it approaches its 50th anniversary season.

Freeman, a longtime member of the DBDT family, has served as interim artistic director through the company’s recently completed 48th and current 49th seasons. His appointment, effective October 24, 2025, marks a natural progression for the former lead dancer, resident choreographer, and artistic project coordinator, whose career within DBDT spans more than a decade of creative and organizational leadership.

“Richard has been an integral part of Dallas Black Dance Theatre's artistic fabric for years, and his extraordinary leadership during his time as interim artistic director made this decision clear,” says Heidi K. Murray, a member of DBDT’s board of directors, in a release. “His dedication to artistic excellence, his deep understanding of our mission, and his vision for the future of contemporary modern dance make him the ideal person to lead DBDT into this exciting new chapter.”

DBDT founder Ann M. Williams echoed the sentiment, calling Freeman’s appointment a full-circle moment for both artist and company. “Richard embodies everything Dallas Black Dance Theatre stands for: artistry, excellence, and a deep commitment to uplifting our community through dance,” she says in the release. “I have had the privilege of watching him grow from a gifted dancer into an inspiring leader and visionary artist. His dedication to preserving our legacy while boldly charting new artistic territory gives me tremendous confidence in DBDT’s future.”

During his tenure as interim artistic director, Freeman guided DBDT through seasons marked by artistic innovation and expanded community engagement, but also staff shake-ups and legal issues.

In October 2024, accusations of retaliation surfaced after 10 DBDT dancers, its entire main company, were fired following their decision to unionize in May and demand better working conditions. This led to an unprecedented "Do Not Work" order by the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Dallas City Council ultimately voted to withhold $248,000 in city funding due to labor violations, and DBDT later settled for $560,000 with the National Labor Relations Board.

In response, DBDT formed a 17-member advisory stakeholder task force co-chaired by Jennifer Scripps, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc., and Shawn Williams, vice president of public affairs at Allyn. The group has been working with DBDT leadership to review the organization’s policies and practices, propose changes that foster an accountable environment, and put in place safeguards to prevent future concerns related to talent.

In September 2025, executive director Zenetta Drew announced her retirement after nearly four decades with the company. A national search for her replacement will start in early 2026. Williams retired in 2014.

As artistic director, Freeman will oversee all aspects of DBDT’s artistic operations, from performances to educational initiatives, and continue to expand its reach throughout Dallas and beyond.

“I am deeply honored to accept this role and to continue building on the incredible foundation established by the vision of Ann Williams,” Freeman says. “This company has a unique power to move, inspire, and unite communities through dance. I look forward to working with our talented dancers, staff, and board to create unforgettable artistic experiences and to nurture the next generation of dance artists.”

A native of Washington, D.C., Freeman began his training with the District of Columbia Youth Ensemble and the Washington Ballet before graduating from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Virginia Commonwealth University. His performance credits span acclaimed companies and productions, including Elisa Monte Dance, Houston Grand Opera, Porgy and Bess, and The Wiz.

Freeman’s choreographic works have been featured by leading institutions such as Texas Ballet Theater School, Texas Christian University, and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He has also shared his expertise through master classes and workshops nationwide, reinforcing his commitment to DBDT’s educational mission.

Founded in 1976, Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the oldest and largest professional dance company in Dallas and one of the most acclaimed Black dance institutions in the U.S.

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