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    Viva la revolution

    New Smithsonian food exhibit showcases mementos from El Chico and the Cuellarfamily

    Teresa Gubbins
    Nov 7, 2012 | 10:51 am
    • John Cuellar with members of Smithsonian team.
      Photo courtesy of John Cuellar
    • Julia Cuellar's China Poblana skirt caught the attention of the Smithsoniancurators.
      Photo courtesy of John Cuellar

    After its hugely successful exhibit last year on Julia Child, The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., goes back to the table again with a broader exhibit on food culture called FOOD: Transforming The American Table 1950-2000.

    The good news for Dallas: We are represented with artifacts from El Chico and a nod to our most famous invention, the frozen margarita machine.

    The 3,800-square-foot exhibit, which opens November 20, has seven parts that hit everything from Teflon and TV dinners to the American wine industry and celebrity chefs. Dallas gets its 15 minutes in a section called the "Mexican Food Revolution," which includes memorabilia provided by the Cuellar family, of the famed El Chico chain, including a stunning sequinned "China Poblana" dress that belonged to Julia Cuellar, wife of El Chico co-founder Frank.

    The Smithsonian curators became especially enamored with a colorful piece of clothing that had historical significance to the Cuellar family: a sequinned China Poblana skirt.

    The Smithsonian worked with John Cuellar, one of Julia's five sons, and John's cousin Carmen Cuellar Summers.

    "We've been gathering material for over a year," John says. "Smithsonian's curators first came to Dallas to interview Kaleta Doolin, whose father Elmer founded the Frito corn chip in the 1920s. When the curators said they wanted to explore the history of Tex-Mex, Kaleta suggested they contact us."

    El Chico's roots date to a taco stand founded by Adelaida Cuellar in Kaufmann County in 1926, giving John and Carmen a wealth of material, which they amassed after El Chico was purchased by Consolidated Restaurant Operations in 1998: historical menus, recipe books, archival photos from when El Chico served Tex-Mex to Princess Grace at the White House and more.

    But the curators became especially enamored with a colorful piece of clothing that had historical significance to the Cuellar family: Julia's beautiful sequinned China Poblana skirt.

    "When we used to have El Chico restaurant openings, the five Cuellar brothers and their wives would go to the openings and mix and mingle," John says. "The women would wear their sequinned skirts. The China Poblana is the native dress of the state of Puebla in Mexico, usually artfully designed. They became emblematic of Mexican apparel."

    After Julia died, John kept her skirt, which has a design reminiscent of the Mexican flag.

    "The flag has green, red and white bands and an eagle holding a snake in his mouth. My mother's dress has an eagle holding a snake in its mouth, all in sequins," he says. "We had been keeping it in a Neiman Marcus box since she died in 1990. We wondered, 'What are we going to do with this dress? Nobody is going to want to wear this.' But the curator thought it was really neat and took it back to D.C."

    John went back to explore its history more thoroughly.

    "The China part of the name is because the Chinese brought silk to Mexico. The blouse of this outfit — it's a blouse and skirt — is silk with silk embroidery on it," he says. "I assumed the whole base of it was cotton. The skirt is cotton, but the blouse is silk. I think that's why the curator was intrigued. When she did a little research, she realized it's probably quite old, because it has the silk blouse."

    The Smithsonian is hosting a preview party on Sunday, November 18, and John and his family have been invited to attend.

    "My wife Susan, my daughters Catherine and Laura, their husbands — we're all going to Washington," John says. "This is exactly the kind of thing the Smithsonian exhibits want to focus on. Mexican food fits in with their theme and vision and mission. We felt very flattered, and I'm glad I got to talk about our favorite subject."

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    Budget Cuts

    Funding cuts force Dallas Children's Theater to trim 2025-26 season

    Lindsey Wilson
    Jun 3, 2025 | 1:38 pm
    Dallas Children's Theater presents James and the Giant Peach
    Photo courtesy of Dallas Children's Theater
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    The upcoming 2025-26 season for Dallas Children's Theater is shrinking, according to a new communication from its leadership.

    A June 2 email signed by executive director Samantha Turner, board president Leah Mora, and recently appointed artistic director Emily Ernst informs supporters that due to "the significant financial challenges of the current environment," DCT will be reducing the upcoming season from five mainstage shows to three.

    The email doesn't specifically call out the government's cuts to arts funding, but it is heavily implied, especially since other theaters have recently experienced financial difficulties due to the federal cuts.

    "We remain deeply committed to artistic excellence and to the 90,000 young people and families we serve annually," reads the email. "Though we will have fewer performances, we will continue to provide meaningful theatrical experiences that inspire children, nurture their imagination, and encourage connection with the world around them."

    The 2025-26 will retain the previously announced world premiere of The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! (November 22-December 21, 2025), as well as The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (January 24-February 22, 2026) and Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey (March 27-29, 2026), and add a new developmental workshop envisioned by Ernst.

    The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley and Jungalbook will no longer be produced, and ticket-holders will be receiving instructions on ticket options.

    DCT Academy classes, a vital part of the theater’s work, will continue through the summer, concluding August 8. After that, Academy sessions will be temporarily paused. Families enrolled for the fall semester will receive a separate email with next steps.

    "Although our performances are well attended and our community support is strong, ticket sales cover only a small portion of the true cost of producing theater," the email explains. "At the same time, our operating costs have steadily increased while funding levels have remained flat. This financial pressure requires immediate action to keep DCT viable — not just for this season, but for the years ahead."

    Tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now.

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