Smashing Philanthropy

Dallas Theater Center lures wicked hot Smash star to headline 2015 gala

Dallas Theater Center has announced its headliners for Centerstage 2015, and anyone who misses Smash is sure to want a seat. Blonde bombshell Megan Hilty, who played Ivy Lynn on the NBC musical drama, will share the spotlight with performer Seth Rudetsky for the May 9 fundraising gala at Wyly Theatre.

In addition to her work on Smash, Hilty earned acclaim as Glinda in Wicked and as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5: The Musical. Recently she starred alongside Sean Hayes in NBC’s 2014 comedy Sean Saves the World. On June 8 she will appear in a one-night-only concert of Smash’s original musical Bombshell in New York for the Actors Fund.

Rudetsky, the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s On Broadway as well as the host of Seth Speaks on Sirius/XM Stars, has played piano for more than a dozen Broadway shows, including Ragtime, Les Miz and Phantom. He was the artistic producer/music director for the first five annual Actors Fund fall concerts, including Dreamgirls with Audra McDonald and Hair with Jennifer Hudson.

In addition to talent, these two have a sense of humor.

“I’m so excited to play Dallas,” Hilty said in a release. “The last time I was there, I was 12 and bought cowboy boots and a bunch of fake hair. I’m running low on both of those things, so I can’t wait to go back! Oh yeah — it’ll be fun to sing too!”

“Megan Hilty is a rare combination of beautiful and funny and an amazing singer,” Rudetsky added. “Even though I’m jealous of her, I can’t wait to perform our show in Dallas. I’ve done Dallas shows before and that town loves theater!”

Centerstage 2015 supports DTC’s innovative artistic programming as well as its award-winning education programs like Project Discovery. The gala begins with cocktails at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner and a special performance from Hilty and Rudetsky. DJ Lucy Wrubel is spinning at the after party, naturally.

Individual tickets are $1,000; underwriting levels start at $2,500. For more information, email Robin.Rose@DallasTheaterCenter.org or call 214-252-3915.

Season Announcement

Kitchen Dog Theater unleashes immersive 2025 season in new Dallas space

Kitchen Dog Theater presents Safe at Home

Photo by Jordan Fraker

undefined

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.

kitchen dog theater theater

Loading...