Arboretum news

To the delight of Dallas, the Arboretum extends Chihuly

The Chihuly exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum has been extended until December31.
The exhibit has been incredibly popular since it started May 5.
Photo by Rod Lindley
More than 460,000 people have visited the arboretum since the Chihuly exhibitopened.
Photo by Rod Lindley

As expected, the Dallas Arboretum announced this morning that the popular Chihuly exhibit will continue through December 31.

Chihuly, which survived a hail storm this past summer, was scheduled to end its six-month run November 5, but the exhibit has been so wildly successful for the arboretum that an extension seemed all but inevitable. In a statement, chairman of the board Brian Shivers called the extension the board's "holiday gift to the city."

More than 460,000 have visited since May 5, and membership to the arboretum has grown by more than 30 percent.

Dale Chihuly's spectacular glass sculptures have brought in an expected $4.5 million in gross revenue for the arboretum, according to Cheryl Hall of the Dallas Morning News. More than that, the elaborate and colorful exhibit has gotten people excited. More than 460,000 have visited since May 5, and membership to the arboretum has grown by more than 30 percent.

"We have seen visitors from all over Texas, the country and the world," Shivers said. "The response was so great, and we were hearing that people needed more time to visit and wanted to bring family and friends during the holidays."

With this extension, the arboretum should receive a boost during a time not normally known for its foliage. In November and December, the arboretum will keep the exhibit open Monday-Wednesday, 6-9 pm, and every night from December 26-30.

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Season Announcement

Kitchen Dog Theater unleashes immersive 2025 season in new Dallas space

Kitchen Dog Theater presents Safe at Home

Photo by Jordan Fraker

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Seven years after announcing it had purchased a building in the Design District, Kitchen Dog Theater is finally ready to move into its new home.

The third and final production of its 2025 season — the theater company's 34th — will take place all around the new "Doghouse." The other two productions will follow the immersive format at non-traditional performance spaces that was established last season.

With three fully produced events that each run the gambit from captivating and gutsy to heartfelt and hilarious, the monthly New Works Festival Staged Readings Series returns, as does the 23rd annual PUP Fest, nurturing high school talent from all over DFW.

First up is the area premiere of Will Eno's Wakey, Wakey, directed by KDT's artistic director Tina Parker and starring KDT co-artistic director Christopher Carlos.

"Is it now? I thought I had more time." These first words in Will Eno's play are spoken by Guy, a man who knows, like all of us on some level, that he is about to die. The play questions why we are here and the journeys that everyone takes to eventually get to the same place. Performances will take place at Expo Park, 840 Exposition Avenue, and run February 7-23, 2025.

Production No. 2 is full of mystery: The title and performance location will be announced soon and run in March/April 2025.

The Happiness Gymby Ken Weitzman closes out the season in August 2025 (exact dates TBA).

This regional premiere is a joyous, experiential event based on the science of well-being. Participants take part in a curated theatrical experience meant to boost their sense of happiness, joy, and feelings of connection. This one-of-a-kind project will be the soft opening to Kitchen Dog’s new theater and will take place all over the entire facility, giving patrons unparalleled access to KDT’s new home.

From March to July 2025, the 26th annual 2025 New Works Festival will showcase four-to-five staged readings of the newest and most exciting local and regional playwrights working in contemporary theater today. Each reading will feature some of DFW's most accomplished actors and directors and will take place at different venues across DFW.

For its 23rd annual event, PUP Fest will feature six staged readings of jury-selected plays written by DFW high school students, featuring student actors directed by area professional directors. PUP Fest is the culminating event of Dallas Playwriting Arts Collective (D-PAC), a partnership with Dallas ISD and Junior Players. Performance location is TBA, but the event will happen June 7, 2025.

For more information, visit kitchendogtheater.org or call 214-953-1055.

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