• Home
  • popular
  • Events
  • Submit New Event
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • News
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Home + Design
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Innovation
  • Sports
  • Charity Guide
  • children
  • education
  • health
  • veterans
  • SOCIAL SERVICES
  • ARTS + CULTURE
  • animals
  • lgbtq
  • New Charity
  • Series
  • Delivery Limited
  • DTX Giveaway 2012
  • DTX Ski Magic
  • dtx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Your Home in the Sky
  • DTX Best of 2013
  • DTX Trailblazers
  • Tastemakers Dallas 2017
  • Healthy Perspectives
  • Neighborhood Eats 2015
  • The Art of Making Whiskey
  • DTX International Film Festival
  • DTX Tatum Brown
  • Tastemaker Awards 2016 Dallas
  • DTX McCurley 2014
  • DTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • DTX Beyond presents Party Perfect
  • DTX Texas Health Resources
  • DART 2018
  • Alexan Central
  • State Fair 2018
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Zatar
  • CityLine
  • Vision Veritas
  • Okay to Say
  • Hearts on the Trinity
  • DFW Auto Show 2015
  • Northpark 50
  • Anteks Curated
  • Red Bull Cliff Diving
  • Maggie Louise Confections Dallas
  • Gaia
  • Red Bull Global Rally Cross
  • NorthPark Holiday 2015
  • Ethan's View Dallas
  • DTX City Centre 2013
  • Galleria Dallas
  • Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Homes in Dallas Texas
  • DTX Island Time
  • Simpson Property Group SkyHouse
  • DIFFA
  • Lotus Shop
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Dallas
  • Clothes Circuit
  • DTX Tastemakers 2014
  • Elite Dental
  • Elan City Lights
  • Dallas Charity Guide
  • DTX Music Scene 2013
  • One Arts Party at the Plaza
  • J.R. Ewing
  • AMLI Design District Vibrant Living
  • Crest at Oak Park
  • Braun Enterprises Dallas
  • NorthPark
  • Victory Park
  • DTX Common Desk
  • DTX Osborne Advisors
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • DFW Showcase Tour of Homes
  • DTX Neighborhood Eats
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • DTX Auto Awards
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2017
  • Nasher Store
  • Guardian of The Glenlivet
  • Zyn22
  • Dallas Rx
  • Yellow Rose Gala
  • Opendoor
  • DTX Sun and Ski
  • Crow Collection
  • DTX Tastes of the Season
  • Skye of Turtle Creek Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival
  • DTX Charity Challenge
  • DTX Culture Motive
  • DTX Good Eats 2012
  • DTX_15Winks
  • St. Bernard Sports
  • Jose
  • DTX SMU 2014
  • DTX Up to Speed
  • st bernard
  • Ardan West Village
  • DTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Taste the Difference
  • Parktoberfest 2016
  • Bob's Steak and Chop House
  • DTX Smart Luxury
  • DTX Earth Day
  • DTX_Gaylord_Promoted_Series
  • IIDA Lavish
  • Huffhines Art Trails 2017
  • Red Bull Flying Bach Dallas
  • Y+A Real Estate
  • Beauty Basics
  • DTX Pet of the Week
  • Long Cove
  • Charity Challenge 2014
  • Legacy West
  • Wildflower
  • Stillwater Capital
  • Tulum
  • DTX Texas Traveler
  • Dallas DART
  • Soldiers' Angels
  • Alexan Riveredge
  • Ebby Halliday Realtors
  • Zephyr Gin
  • Sixty Five Hundred Scene
  • Christy Berry
  • Entertainment Destination
  • Dallas Art Fair 2015
  • St. Bernard Sports Duck Head
  • Jameson DTX
  • Alara Uptown Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival fall 2017
  • DTX Tastemakers 2015
  • Cottonwood Arts Festival
  • The Taylor
  • Decks in the Park
  • Alexan Henderson
  • Gallery at Turtle Creek
  • Omni Hotel DTX
  • Red on the Runway
  • Whole Foods Dallas 2018
  • Artizone Essential Eats
  • Galleria Dallas Runway Revue
  • State Fair 2016 Promoted
  • Trigger's Toys Ultimate Cocktail Experience
  • Dean's Texas Cuisine
  • Real Weddings Dallas
  • Real Housewives of Dallas
  • Jan Barboglio
  • Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
  • Hearts for Hounds
  • Okay to Say Dallas
  • Indochino Dallas
  • Old Forester Dallas
  • Dallas Apartment Locators
  • Dallas Summer Musicals
  • PSW Real Estate Dallas
  • Paintzen
  • DTX Dave Perry-Miller
  • DTX Reliant
  • Get in the Spirit
  • Bachendorf's
  • Holiday Wonder
  • Village on the Parkway
  • City Lifestyle
  • opportunity knox villa-o restaurant
  • Nasher Summer Sale
  • Simpson Property Group
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2017 Dallas
  • Carlisle & Vine
  • DTX New Beginnings
  • Get in the Game
  • Red Bull Air Race
  • Dallas DanceFest
  • 2015 Dallas Stylemaker
  • Youth With Faces
  • Energy Ogre
  • DTX Renewable You
  • Galleria Dallas Decadence
  • Bella MD
  • Tractorbeam
  • Young Texans Against Cancer
  • Fresh Start Dallas
  • Dallas Farmers Market
  • Soldier's Angels Dallas
  • Shipt
  • Elite Dental
  • Texas Restaurant Association 2017
  • State Fair 2017
  • Scottish Rite
  • Brooklyn Brewery
  • DTX_Stylemakers
  • Alexan Crossings
  • Ascent Victory Park
  • Top Texans Under 30 Dallas
  • Discover Downtown Dallas
  • San Luis Resort Dallas
  • Greystar The Collection
  • FIG Finale
  • Greystar M Line Tower
  • Lincoln Motor Company
  • The Shelby
  • Jonathan Goldwater Events
  • Windrose Tower
  • Gift Guide 2016
  • State Fair of Texas 2016
  • Choctaw Dallas
  • TodayTix Dallas promoted
  • Whole Foods
  • Unbranded 2014
  • Frisco Square
  • Unbranded 2016
  • Circuit of the Americas 2018
  • The Katy
  • Snap Kitchen
  • Partners Card
  • Omni Hotels Dallas
  • Landmark on Lovers
  • Harwood Herd
  • Galveston.com Dallas
  • Holiday Happenings Dallas 2018
  • TenantBase
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2018
  • Hawkins-Welwood Homes
  • The Inner Circle Dallas
  • Eating in Season Dallas
  • ATTPAC Behind the Curtain
  • TodayTix Dallas
  • The Alexan
  • Toyota Music Factory
  • Nosh Box Eatery
  • Wildflower 2018
  • Society Style Dallas 2018
  • Texas Scottish Rite Hospital 2018
  • 5 Mockingbird
  • 4110 Fairmount
  • Visit Taos
  • Allegro Addison
  • Dallas Tastemakers 2018
  • The Village apartments
  • City of Burleson Dallas

    Actor Spotlight

    This cosplaying Dallas actor doesn't shy away from outrageous characters

    Lindsey Wilson
    Jul 28, 2016 | 2:28 pm

    Dressing up and becoming other people is a way of life for Andi Allen — and we don't just mean onstage. The Dallas-based actor, director, and playwright has established herself on the cosplay scene, appearing as everyone from Wonder Woman to Doctor Who to one of the blade-wielding Bennett sisters from the film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

     

    Right now, however, Allen is preparing to wrangle another kind of horde: small children. She's playing ballet instructor Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot, the stage musical based on the popular movie. Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch is presenting the regional premiere from July 28 to August 14.

     

    Before she dons the legwarmers, Allen took the time to fill out our survey of serious, fun, and sometimes ridiculous questions.

     

     Name: Andi Allen

     

     Role in Billy Elliot: Mrs. Wilkinson, the dance teacher

     

     Previous work in the DFW area: Actor/director for many theaters around town, most recently seen as Yente in Fiddler on the Roof at Garland Summer Musicals, Joanne in Company for Brick Road Theatre, and Jessica Cranshaw in Curtains for MainStage Irving/Las Colinas.

     

     Hometown: Dallas

     

     Where you currently reside: Dallas

     

     First theater role: I did roles in elementary school for school presentations, but in ninth grade I ventured out to audition for Junior Players and was cast in a production of Snow White (can’t remember the character).

     

     First stage show you ever saw: I don’t remember specifically, but we had season tickets to the Dallas Summer Musicals when I was in a kid. What actually made me fall in love with theater, and musicals in particular, were the movie musicals I watched as a kid: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, and so many others.

     

     Moment you decided to pursue a career in theater: Not really a moment, but by high school, I knew I wanted to have a career in theater.

     

     Most challenging role you’ve played: Different roles have presented different challenges. Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (because of all those tongue-twisting words) and Veronica in God of Carnage (because it’s an emotional roller coaster for 90 straight minutes onstage that feel like running a marathon with the three other actors).

     

     Special skills: I still remember a smattering of sign language from my days working with Callier Theater of the Deaf.

     

     Something you’re REALLY bad at: Ironing. I always burn myself when I iron.

     

     Current pop culture obsession: Anything Doctor Who and cosplay-related. I’m becoming a familiar face in the local cosplay community.

     

     Last book you read: The Disaster Artist, a first-hand account of the making of the "worst movie ever" called The Room.

     

     Favorite movie(s): Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, Batman vs. Superman

     

     Favorite musician(s): A.R Rahman, a Bollywood composer

     

     Favorite song: "The Ladies Who Lunch." I loved it for a long time before I actually got to do it.

     

     Dream role: I’ve been lucky to play some of my dream roles. I would love to do Dolly in Hello Dolly! and the title role in Mame.

     

     Favorite play(s): Psycho Beach Party. I love Charles Busch.

     

     Favorite musical(s): Xanadu, Nunsense, Mame

     

     Favorite actors/actresses: Katherine Hepburn, Alex Kingston, David Tennant, Patrick Stewart

     

     Favorite food: Mexican

     

     Must-see TV show(s): Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones

     

     Something most people don’t know about you: I’m a DC girl all the way, though I like Marvel.

     

     Place in the world you’d most like to visit: The U.K.

     

     Pre-show warm-up: I usually do a speed through of all my lines and songs on my way to the theater.

     

     Favorite part about your current role: Performing the song "Shine" with my ballet girls and Billy.

     

     Most challenging part about your current project: Being consistent with the Geordie accent.

     

     Most embarrassing onstage mishap: Didn’t know the back of my dress was caught up in my pantyhose. Got the biggest laugh when I turned to exit the scene and found out backstage why. The show was Reefer Madness, so I’m sure the audience just thought my character was stoned.

     

     Career you’d have if you weren’t in theater: Something working with animals.

     

     Favorite post-show spot: Buzzbrews
     
     Most memorable theater moment: Hearing audible gasps from the audience when I hit the high operatic note in "Gooch’s Song" in Mame after singing in the nasal character voice. They never expected that sound to come out of Gooch.

    Westin Brown as Billy and Andi Allen as Mrs. Wilkinson in Firehouse Theatre's production of Billy Elliot.

    Billy Elliot the musical
      
    Photo by Jason Anderson, Pendleton Photography
    Westin Brown as Billy and Andi Allen as Mrs. Wilkinson in Firehouse Theatre's production of Billy Elliot.
    qatheaterinterview
    news/entertainment
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Brooklyn-based Italian ice shop debuts in Dallas and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jul 12, 2025 | 10:00 am
    Uncle Louie G's
    scontent-dfw5-3.xx.fbcdn.net
    Uncle Louie G's

    Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week is brimming with restaurant openings, from ice cream to Tex-Mex to burgers and more. Get the scoop on our five most popular stories below, then head to our event planner to find the best things to do this weekend.

    1. Brooklyn Italian ice & ice cream shop makes Texas debut in North Dallas. A small, artisan frozen dessert shop from Brooklyn has made its Texas debut. Called Uncle Louie G's Italian Ice & Ice Cream, it's now open at 7522 Campbell Rd. #115 in Dallas, where it's scooping up Italian ice, ice cream, and related frozen desserts with a real authentic East Coast vibe.

    2. New Dallas Tex-Mex Texano Cocina opens in former El Fenix space. The name may change but the Tex-Mex goes on. A new concept called Texano Cocina has opened at 5622 Lemmon Ave., taking over the space that was most famously El Fenix, but has seen a series of Tex-Mex concepts open and close in recent years.

    3. Buzzy burger joint with Michelin ties to open in Uptown Dallas. An ultra-buzzy burger joint is opening in Uptown Dallas. Called NADC Burger, it's a chef-driven cheeseburger concept serving Wagyu burgers that will open at 2908 McKinney Ave., in the former Playground Bar, which closed in 2024.

     NADC Burger NADC Burger is coming to Uptown.  Courtesy of NADC Burger  

    4. Italian restaurant Sicilian Butcher preps meatballs for North Dallas. The meatballs are about to land. The Sicilian Butcher, the modern-casual restaurant known for meatballs, house-made pastas, and butchery-inspired Italian fare, has circled a date for the opening of its Addison-adjacent location.

    5. Dudley's Sports Grill to open on Dallas' hot-hot Henderson Avenue. A new sports bar is joining the mix on Dallas' hot-hot Henderson Avenue. Called Dudley’s Sports Grill, it'll open at 2927 N. Henderson Ave., in the space previously occupied by Smithy, a gastropub that closed in June after seven years.

    top storiesopeningstex-mexice creamburgersitalianuptownnorth dallashot-headlines
    news/entertainment
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Dallas intel delivered daily.
    Loading...