Dallas Children's Theater (DCT) is a professional theater organization based in Dallas, Texas, that focuses on producing theater for youth and families. It reaches an audience of 250,000 youth annually with its nine main stage productions, national touring company, and education programs. In 2004 Time magazine named it one of the top five theaters in the country performing for youth.
Description
Robyn Flatt and Dennis Vincent founded DCT, a 501(c)(3) organization, in 1984. Since its opening, it has become the largest not-for-profit family theater in the Southwest, operating on an annual budget of more than $3 million. Its 11 annual productions are staged in the Rosewood Center for Family Arts. The Rosewood Center also houses its youth programming, including its theater academy and education programs such as Curtains Up on Reading.
DCT's staff works to increase the body of theater for youth. Its artistic staff has written, adapted, and/or staged more than 40 world premier plays and musicals since its opening in 1984. As of April 8, 2018 Dallas Children's Theater has presented 76 world premiers, performed 212 distinct tiles, 356 individual productions, 12,944 performances for 4,866,327 people. Notable productions include Yana Wana's Legend of the Bluebonnet, Teen Brain: The Musical, EAT (It's Not About Food), Treasure Island: Reimagined!, and Mariachi Girl. (All titles listed in "Production history" below.) In addition to new works, its repertoire also includes well-known literary works, histories, biographies, fables, and other familiar stories.
DCT has been recognized by both Time and American Theatre magazines as one of the leading professional theaters in the United States. DCT is affiliated with the Actors' Equity Association, the Theatre Communications Group, ASSITEJ International (Theater for Young Audiences/USA), and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE).
2019-20 season sponsors were: Texas Instruments, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, The Shubert Foundation, TACA, The William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Anonymous Family, The Carlson Foundation, March Family Foundation, and Hoblitzelle Foundation.
General sponsors include: The Rosewood Corporation, Vibeke Jarnum & Niels Anderskouv, Karen & Ken Travis, Anonymous Family, Lisa K Simmons, Elizabeth & Bart Showalter, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Theodore and Beulah Beasley Foundation, Inc., The Estate of Caroline Rose Hunt, and The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation.
Additional support is provided by: Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, TXU Energy, Capital for Kids, Legacy Texas Bank, Frost Bank, Stephen M. Seay Foundation, Orien Levy Woolf & Dr. Jack Woolf Charitable Trust, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Karen & Jim Wiley, The Hersh Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef, Mickie & Jeff Bragalone, Holly & Tom Mayer and Maile & Charles Shea, Maintenance Inc., The Perot Foundation, Strake Foundation, Which Wich?, and Green Mountain Energy, DCT's official renewable energy partner.
Sensory friendly sponsors include: The Melinda & Jim Johnson Family Charitable Fund, Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Chi Omega Christmas Market, The Sapphire Foundation, and DCT's Fall Family Party Contributors.
DCT's national touring sponsor is Neiman Marcus.
DCT offers educational and enrichment programs for children and teens in the Dallas Community. Programs include an annual national touring production that visits more than 50 cities every year; a student matinee performance series that allows underprivileged children and school programs to attend theater performances at a reduced rate; an arts-in-education program entitled "Curtains Up on Reading"; academy classes for kids and teens; after school programs; and programs created for teens.
To engage young people in transformational theatrical experiences, DCT provides a professional season of diverse, quality productions for youth and families, year-round education and outreach programs, and a national touring company that travels to over 52 cities and 26 states each year.
DCT enriches the lives of over 250,000 children and families annually.
Executive Artistic Director Robyn Flatt
Robyn Flatt has served as the executive artistic director of DCT since she co-founded the organization in 1984. In November 2008, she established the Baker Idea Institute, which holds annual symposia to address creativity and artistic expression in education.