Theater Critics' Picks

Dallas-Fort Worth theater critics declare standouts from 2014-15 season

The members of the Dallas-Fort Worth Critics Forum gathered on September 12 to nominate and debate their picks for the most outstanding performances, productions, designs, and new plays of the past season.

Eleven critics duked it out (myself and Jan Farrington of TheaterJones.com were absent due to prior commitments, but sent our lists in early) before finally deciding on the winners. There are several for each category — rather than only one — that are listed alphabetically, and this year for the first time we demolished the gender separation in best performance. Shows that opened between September 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015 were eligible.

This list is the consensus of the group. There are several honorees that I did not vote for, and several more I submitted that did not garner enough votes to make it to the final round. Look for my own list of this year's best as we close out 2015.

Without further ado, these are the critics’ picks for 2014-15:

Outstanding Direction:

Akín Babatundé, Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope and The Color Purple, Jubilee Theatre
Bruce R. Coleman, The Nance, Uptown Players
Cheryl Denson, Catch Me If You Can, Uptown Players
Jeremy Dumont, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Uptown Players
Blake Hackler, The Flick, Undermain Theatre
Katherine Owens, Tomorrow Come Today and The Testament of Mary, Undermain Theatre
Matthew Posey, The Egg Salesman, The Ochre House
vickie washington, Mississippi Goddamn, South Dallas Cultural Center

Outstanding New Play/Musical:

Mississippi Goddamn by Jonathan Norton, South Dallas Cultural Center
The Show About Men by Danielle Georgiou, Justin Locklear and Trey Pendergrass, DGDG, Festival of Independent Theatres
Standing Eight Count by Van Quattro, Rite of Passage Theatre Company, Out of the Loop Fringe Festival and Dallas Solo Fest

Outstanding Acting Performance:

Stephanie Cleghorn Jasso, Lydia, Cara Mía Theatre Company
B.J. Cleveland, The Nance, Uptown Players
David Coffee, King Lear, Trinity Shakespeare Festival
Hassan El-Amin, Radio Golf and A Soldier's Play, African American Repertory Theater
Anthony Fortino, Catch Me If You Can, Uptown Players
Kyle Igneczi, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Uptown Players
Shannon Kearns, The Testament of Mary, Undermain Theatre
Jenny Ledel for:
- The Arsonists, Kitchen Dog Theater
- Belleville, Second Thought Theatre
- Othello, Second Thought Theatre
- Wilde/Earnest, Kitchen Dog Theater
David Lugo, Catch Me If You Can, Uptown Players
Janelle Lutz, Lady in the Dark and South Pacific, Lyric Stage
Ebony Marshall Oliver, In Real Life and The Color Purple, Jubilee Theatre
Sally Nystuen Vahle, Medea, Dallas Theater Center
Allison Pistorius, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence, Stage West
Paul Taylor, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Stage West; and The Hot Mikado, Theatre Three
Lulu Ward, The Two-Character Play, WingSpan Theatre Company
Sherry Jo Ward, Precious Little, Echo Theatre
Pat Watson, Streamers, L.I.P. Service

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble:

The Brothers Size, Jubilee Theatre
The Egg Salesman, The Ochre House
The Flick, Undermain Theatre
Hands on a Hardbody, Theatre Three
Mississippi Goddamn, South Dallas Cultural Center
Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Stage West
The Nance, Uptown Players

Outstanding Achievement in Design or Creative Contribution:

Robin Armstrong, fight choreography, Lovers and Executioners, Circle Theatre
Clare Floyd DeVries, set design, The Explorers Club, Stage West and WaterTower Theatre
Danielle Georgiou, choreography, NICE and The Show About Men, DGDG
Bob Lavallee, set design, The Rocky Horror Show, Dallas Theater Center
Joshua L. Peugh, choreography/movement, Colossal, Dallas Theater Center
Adam C. Wright, original composition, The Nance, Uptown Players

Outstanding touring production:

Buyer & Cellar, AT&T Performing Arts Center
Endurance, Split Knuckle Theatre, The Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts
The Last Two People on Earth: An Apocalyptic Vaudeville, The Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts
Once, AT&T Performing Arts Center and Performing Arts Fort Worth
Pippin, Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth

Special Citations:

To Lyric Stage and musical director Jay Dias for their contributions to the musical restoration of The Golden Apple and Lady in the Dark, and for the first cast recording of the complete score of The Golden Apple.
To Audacity Theatre Lab and Brad McEntire for bringing quality local and national performances to the second annual Dallas Solo Fest at the Margo Jones Theatre, and for advancing the art of solo performance in North Texas.
To the producers of Shakespeare in the Bar for attracting new and large audiences to non-traditional spaces and reminding us that Shakespeare can be unexpected and fun.

Participating Critics:

Lindsey Wilson, CultureMap Dallas
Alexandra Bonifield, CriticalRant.com
Nancy Churnin, The Dallas Morning News
Jan Farrington, TheaterJones.com
Martha Heimberg, The Dallas Weekly and TheaterJones.com
Arnold Wayne Jones, Dallas Voice
Elaine Liner, The Dallas Observer
Mark Lowry, TheaterJones.com and Fort Worth Star-Telegram
David Novinski, TheaterJones.com
Punch Shaw, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Lauren Smart, The Dallas Observer

Kyle Igneczi was rewarded for his star-making turn in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Uptown Players, directed by winner Jeremy Dumont.

Photo by Mike Morgan

Kyle Igneczi was rewarded for his star-making turn in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Uptown Players, directed by winner Jeremy Dumont.

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A Familiar Face

Dallas Theater Center names Jaime Castañeda as new artistic director

Photo courtesy of Dallas Theater Center

Jaime Castañeda is the Tony-winning theater's new artistic director.

The Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center has found its next artistic director: Jaime Castañeda, who has a long history with both DTC and North Texas, will become the regional theater's sixth artistic director beginning July 2026. The 2026-27 season will be the first chosen by him.

Jonathan Norton, DTC’s resident playwright, is currently serving as interim artistic director and will continue to lead the remainder of the 2025-26 season, which culminates in the world premiere of his play Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem in May.

“DTC is committed to artistic excellence and community engagement, and we believe Jaime’s experience, creativity, bold vision, and proven leadership, coupled with his dedication to innovation, will guide DTC into an exciting new chapter in the life of the theater," says board chair Lynn Pride Richardson in a release.

In 2012, Castañeda directed DTC’s production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz. But he began his career more than 20 years ago in Dallas-Fort Worth by founding Firestarter Productions while still attending Texas Christian University. In addition to directing at DTC, other local theater credits include Kitchen Dog Theater, Amphibian Stage, and Circle Theatre. Castañeda is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Drama League Directing Fellowship, and holds a BFA from Texas Christian University and an MFA in Directing from University of Texas at Austin.

Most recently, Castañeda directed at such leading theaters across the country as American Conservatory Theater, South Coast Repertory, Huntington Theatre Company, and La Jolla Playhouse, where he previously served as associate artistic director from 2014-2018. He was also artistic associate at Off-Broadway's Atlantic Theater Company from 2009-2014.

"Jaime brings a bold, visceral artistic vision, a deep commitment to new voices, and a collaborative leadership style that inspires artists and audiences alike,” says DTC executive director Kevin Moriarty. “With his Texas roots and national experience, I am thrilled to welcome him home as DTC’s new Enloe/Rose artistic director. I have known and admired his work since 2007, when he was already one of the most exciting emerging directors in North Texas, and I later saw him create unforgettable work for DTC on the Wyly stage and at leading theaters nationwide.”

As artistic director, Castañeda will lead the theater’s artistic vision, direct and produce plays and musicals, oversee DTC’s Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, and partner with Moriarty, the staff, and the board of trustees to advance DTC’s mission, vision, and values.

Castañeda joins a distinguished line of artistic leadership at Dallas Theater Center, including founding artistic director Paul Baker, Adrian Hall, Ken Bryant, Richard Hamburger, and Moriarty, who served as artistic director from 2007-2022.

“We are extremely pleased with a successful national search that brings Jaime to Dallas Theater Center,” says DTC board member Chris Luna. “His energy is contagious and he understands Texas and Dallas. We look forward to collaborating with Jaime as he continues his innovative approach to regional theater.”

Castañeda was selected for the role following a national search led by Management Consultants for the Arts. The search committee was co-chaired by Luna and Richardson, and included Moriarty, Norton, Jennifer Altabef, Diane Brierley, Lauren Embrey, Sam Holland (Dean, SMU Meadows School of the Arts), Sharron Hunt, Randy Kender, Julie Kosnik, Deborah McMurray, Sam Megally, Liz Mikel (DTC Brierley Resident Acting Company member), Andy Smith, Lily Weiss (executive director, Dallas Arts District) and Donna Wilhelm.

“Growing up in Texas, Dallas Theater Center was one of the first places where I saw what professional theater and excellence looked like,” Castañeda says. “I’m thrilled to come back and build on the history of artists and leaders who have been a part of this organization. I’m eager to join Kevin, the board, and our staff to create lasting theatrical experiences for our audiences.”

Dallas Theater Center's current production of A Christmas Carol runs through December 27 at the Wyly Theatre.

dallas theater center jaime castañeda kevin moriarty theater