Theater Critic Picks

Here are the 12 must-see shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for November

Undermain Theatre presents Exit the King

'Exit the King' at Undermain Theatre.

Photo by Paul Semrad

Grocery and department stores might want us to believe it's already the holidays, but at least local theater companies are (mostly) holding off until around Thanksgiving.

November starts with absurdism, moves along to a movie-turned-Broadway musical, and even throws a creepy thriller in the mix before it's time for Grinches, Scrooges, and Charlie Brown's sad Christmas tree.

In order of start date, here are 12 local shows to watch this month:

Exit the King
Undermain Theatre, through November 24
Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist comedy is set in the crumbling throne room of the palace in an unnamed country, where King Berenger the First has only the duration of the play to live. Once, it seemed he ruled over an immense empire and commanded great armies; now his kingdom has shrunk to the confines of his garden wall. Refusing to accept his end, he is attended by his present and former Queens, who must help him face the final inevitable truth of life.

Patti & Theo
Ochre House Theatre, November 2-23
The dark comedy with music that's written and directed by artistic director Matthew Posey returns. Patti and Theo are struggling artists in Brooklyn, New York. They are big boozers, and time will tell if the Drinking Religion outlives them. Song, music, and shadow play highlight this story of two lovers who hold each other passionately at arm’s length.

Mrs. Doubtfire
Broadway at the Bass, November 5-10
Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny comes to Fort Worth in the musical based on the beloved film, which tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids.

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
WaterTower Theatre, November 6-17
Jane Wagner’s ever-timely one-woman show examines American society, art, and human connectivity, and explores the feminist movement. As one actor transforms into a series of other archetypal characters, they become the play’s guiding conscience for the audience. Under the guidance of the narrator, a role originated by Lily Tomlin, the audience is treated to a mischievously clever observer of the society around her.

A Tuna Christmas
Casa Mañana, November 9-17
It's 24 hours before Christmas and all comic hell is about to break loose. Tuna’s delightfully eccentric characters attempt to cope with seasonal traumas, like a disaster-prone production of A Christmas Carol and a yard-decorating contest that’s being sabotaged by a mysterious Christmas phantom.

Sleuth
Theatre Three, November 14-December 15
A cunning mystery writer, Andrew Wyke, invites his wife's lover, Milo Tindle, to his secluded English manor, setting off a deadly game of manipulation and deceit. As the tension rises, surprising twists keep the audience guessing the dramatic end. Presented in the Theatre Too space.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Performing Arts Fort Worth, November 19-24
Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is "two sizes too small," decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Dallas Children's Theater, November 23-December 22
Discover the meaning of Christmas — or experience the nostalgia of childhood — while sharing laughs with the Peanuts Gang along the way. As a live combo fills hearts with music, merriment, and warmth, the story based on the Charles Schulz classic special is here just in time for the holidays.

Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings
Lyric Stage, November 29-December 22
The holiday classic by Stewart Ross opens Lyric Stage's 31st season. At first, Francis, Jinx, Smudge, and Sparky aren't sure why they've returned to Earth for another posthumous performance, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney lets them know that they're needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world.

The Play That Goes Wrong
Stage West, November 29-December 22
At opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor, things are quickly going from bad to horrible. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), the whole evening is a disastrous smash.

A Christmas Carol
Dallas Theater Center, November 29-December 28
Three spirits have come to visit the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and take him on a fantastic journey through Christmases past, present, and future. Brimming with joyful songs, magical spirits, and holiday cheer, this holiday classic embodies a story of joy, redemption, and the spirit of Christmas.

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Theatre Three, November 29-December 29
The vibrant musical spectacle set in 19th-century Russia, and based on a 70-page segment of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, lets romance and intrigue unfold amid glittering ballrooms and tumultuous relationships. Its score features a unique blend of electro-pop and Russian folk-inspired music.

musicals opening plays theater

Encore, Encore

Proposed new arts center would bring Broadway touring shows to Frisco

Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

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Far North Dallas residents might soon not have to drive all the way to Fair Park to see touring Broadway shows — that is, if a newly introduced proposal goes through.

The City of Frisco has announced plans to partner with the Prosper Independent School District (PISD) on a proposed Frisco Center for the Arts (FCFA) and collaborate with Broadway Across America/Broadway Dallas to create a "Broadway Frisco" series to reside in the facility.

The vision for the FCFA includes a 2,800-seat performance hall that's capable of accommodating Broadway and large touring and community productions, as well as a 300 to 400-seat community hall to be used primarily by Prosper ISD while also providing access to community organizations and events.

The proposed facility also includes support spaces, rehearsal areas, and visual arts creative spaces.

“The City of Frisco has envisioned a performing arts hall for two decades,” says Mayor Jeff Cheney in a release. “Last year, we discovered an opportunity to partner with the Prosper Independent School District on such a facility. We’re really excited about the possibilities. Ultimately, the decision to participate will be up to Frisco voters if the proposed project is placed on a ballot by the City Council in 2025.”

Ultimately, Frisco voters will decide whether to fund the project.

School spirit
On October 21, PISD Board of Trustees were provided a report about the proposed partnership.

“We are excited about the possibility of partnering with the City of Frisco to provide a world-class educational opportunity for our students," says Dr. Holly Ferguson, Prosper ISD Superintendent of Schools, in the same release. "This collaboration would allow our teachers and students to produce campus and district concerts, musicals, and theatrical productions while also participating in Broadway-level productions with outside partners."

The City of Frisco has finalized a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Broadway Across America/Broadway Dallas, which would be the presenter of touring Broadway shows at the new facility as an annual "Broadway Frisco" series. (See Broadway Dallas' current season here.)

“Reflecting the population growth and interest in arts and culture across North Texas, we look forward to creating a new Broadway Frisco series for the community while we continue to present Broadway Dallas at the Music Hall at Fair Park and the AT&T Performing Arts Center,” says Broadway Dallas president Ken Novice.

More than seven square miles of Prosper ISD is located within the City of Frisco. More than 2,900 PISD students currently live in the City of Frisco. A location for the proposed facility has not been determined; however, it will be built within overlapping boundaries.

The timeline
The City of Frisco has been studying the possibility of a new center for the arts for more than six years and has completed several studies and assessments to support the future planning of the project.

On September 17, 2024, Theatre Projects and Keen Independent Research presented the findings of Phase 1 to City Council.

City of Frisco City Council has authorized a 10-month continued project planning process (Phase 2), led by Theatre Projects in collaboration with Turner & Townsend Heery.

A Community Engagement Session will take place November 2024, with the City Council presentation scheduled for January 2025 and a final presentation set for July 2025.

The FCFA, as proposed, has a total maximum project budget of $340 million. Prosper ISD intends to contribute $100 million from its 2023 Performing Arts Center bond funds. The City of Frisco is considering private and philanthropic funding sources, which would not increase property taxes, should voters approve the proposed facility.

More information about the project status is available here.

schools tours broadway touring musicals propser isd theater