Dallas Children's Theater facts for kids

The Dallas Children's Theater (DCT) is a special theater group in Dallas, Texas. It creates amazing plays and shows just for kids and families! Every year, about 250,000 young people get to enjoy their nine main shows, national tours, and fun education programs. In 2004, Time magazine even called it one of the top five theaters for youth in the whole country!

What is the Dallas Children's Theater?

Robyn Flatt and Dennis Vincent started DCT in 1984. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to put on shows and help the community, not to make a profit. Since it began, DCT has grown into the biggest family theater in the Southwest!

All of DCT's shows happen at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts. This center also has classes and programs for young people, like their theater academy.

Creating New Plays

The team at DCT works hard to create new and exciting plays for young audiences. Since 1984, their artistic staff has written or helped create over 40 brand-new plays and musicals! They have presented 76 world premieres (first-ever performances) and put on thousands of shows for millions of people. Some famous plays they've done include Yana Wana's Legend of the Bluebonnet and Teen Brain: The Musical. Besides new plays, they also perform well-known stories, histories, and fables.

DCT is recognized as one of the best professional theaters for kids in the United States. They work with important theater groups like the Actors' Equity Association and ASSITEJ International, which focuses on theater for young audiences.

Programs for Everyone

DCT offers many educational programs for kids and teens in Dallas. These include:

• A national touring show that visits over 50 cities each year.
• Special student shows where kids from schools can watch plays at a lower price.
• "Curtains Up on Reading," an arts-in-education program.
• Theater classes for kids and teens.
• After-school programs.
• Programs just for teenagers.

DCT wants to give young people amazing theater experiences. They offer a professional season of different, high-quality shows for families. They also have year-round education and outreach programs, and their national touring company travels to many cities and states. DCT helps make the lives of over 250,000 children and families better each year!

Meet Robyn Flatt, Artistic Director

Robyn Flatt has been the Executive Artistic Director of DCT since she helped start it in 1984. In 2008, she created the Baker Idea Institute. This institute holds yearly meetings to talk about creativity and art in education.

Robyn Flatt studied theater at Baylor University. Before starting DCT, she was a member of the Dallas Theater Center's professional acting company for 20 years. She has received many awards and honors for her work in theater.

Fun DCT Programs

DCT has many exciting programs for young people.

DCT's Production Season

The main season offers about nine plays for families. These shows cover many different topics and themes. You might see favorite stories like Disney's Beauty and the Beast or Schoolhouse Rock Live!. They also perform classic children's books like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. DCT often starts the holidays with popular shows like The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas Show and Little Women. They offer musicals, dramas, puppet shows, and more for all ages. DCT also presents plays about important issues for teens and their families.

DCT on Tour

The "DCT on Tour" program travels all over North America! They bring professional shows to over 100,000 students and families in 60 cities. In 2006, the tour even went to Shanghai, China, and in 2014-2015, they visited Canada. They have performed in famous places like the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The tour helps bring theater to kids in many different places, including smaller towns. Their first touring show was in 1996. Popular touring shows include Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters and Flat Stanley.

Student Matinee Performance Series

This program helps 50,000 students and teachers see DCT's main shows during the week. While tickets usually cost $15 to $30, schools pay no more than $9.50. Teachers can also get free online guides to help students connect the play to what they are learning in school. DCT gives free or very cheap tickets to kids and families who might not be able to afford them otherwise.

DCT Academy for Theater Arts

The DCT Academy offers theater classes all year long for over 2,000 young people, from age 3 ½ to 18. Classes are taught by theater professionals. They help students develop their imagination, communication skills, teamwork, and acting techniques. There are classes for beginners and advanced students. They also have a "Showbiz Summer" with many classes and special opportunities for older students in the Teen Conservatory. Scholarships are available to help students attend.

Curtains Up on Reading

This program brings drama into elementary schools. DCT artists work with teachers to use drama to teach reading, language arts, social studies, and history. They design hands-on activities to help students understand school material better, get excited about learning, and feel more confident. This program is especially helpful for students who are learning English or have learning difficulties.

Teen Scene

"Teen Scene" helps young people learn about theater and even become future theater professionals. It helps teens talk with theater experts and the community. It also gives teens chances to see DCT shows and get involved in professional theater. Teen Scene is a place for young adults to work together and create, helping them learn throughout their lives.

Sensory-Friendly Performances

Many children with autism or other developmental disabilities find it hard to go to live theater because of crowds, loud noises, or bright lights. Dallas Children's Theater offers special "sensory-friendly" shows. These shows have a calm and welcoming environment, friendly staff, lower ticket prices, and special activities before and after the show. The sound is reduced, and the lights in the seating area are kept on a bit. The stage lighting is also changed to be less harsh. DCT also has special drama classes for students with developmental disabilities. These experiences help children understand emotions, learn, and interact positively with others.

Kathy Burks Theater of Puppetry Arts

The Kathy Burks Theater of Puppetry Arts started in 1973 and has been part of DCT since 1996. They use all kinds of puppets, like marionettes (puppets on strings), hand puppets, shadow puppets, and Black Theater rod puppets. Kathy Burks' puppets are often seen in other DCT main shows.

The Kathy Burks Theater of Puppetry Arts keeps its huge collection of over 1,000 puppets at DCT's Rosewood Center for Family Arts.

Where DCT Performs

DCT first started performing at El Centro Community College in 1984 and stayed there until 2003. In 1987, they moved their offices and some shows to the Crescent Theater in Dallas.

In 2003, DCT moved into its current home, the 58,000 square foot Rosewood Center for Family Arts. This amazing center has two theaters: the Baker Theater (which seats 400 people) and the Studio Theater (which seats 150). It also has five classrooms, a community room, and space for costumes, sets, and storage.

Awards and Recognition

The Dallas Children's Theater has received many awards and honors over the years:

• 1986: Won the Winifred Ward Award for "Outstanding New Children's Theater."
• 1992: Ranked #1 among Dallas cultural groups by the Cultural Affairs Commission.
• 1993: Honored as Professional Children's Theater of the Year by the Southwest Theater Association.
• 1994: Voted "Best Arts Group in the City" by DallasChild magazine readers.
• 2004: Rated one of the top five children's theaters in the nation by Time magazine.
• 2007: Executive Artistic Director Robyn Flatt was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.
• 2013: Chosen as the Best Theater for Children by DallasChild magazine readers.

Production History Highlights

Since 1984, the Dallas Children's Theater has put on hundreds of different plays and musicals. They often perform classic stories and create new ones. Here are just a few examples of the many shows they have presented over the years:

• A Wrinkle in Time (1984-1985)
• The Wizard of Oz (1985-1986)
• Peter Pan (1986-1987)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1987-1988)
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988-1989)
• Charlotte's Web (1990-1991)
• The Little Mermaid (1991-1992)
• Beauty and the Beast (1992-1993)
• The Wizard of Oz (1993-1994)
• Tuck Everlasting (1995-1996)
• Peter Pan (1996-1997)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1997-1998)
• Babe, the Sheep Pig (1998-1999)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1999-2000)
• Honk! (2001-2002)
• Holes (2002-2003)
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2003-2004)
• Charlotte's Web (2005-2006)
• James and the Giant Peach (2006-2007)
• A Year with Frog and Toad (2007-2008)
• The Neverending Story (2008-2009)
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2009-2010)
• Tuck Everlasting (2010-2011)
• Anne of Green Gables (2011-2012)
• Pinkalicious: The Musical (2012-2013)
• Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat (2013-2014)
• Miracle on 34th Street (2014-2015)
• Fancy Nancy (2015-2016)
• Seussical (2016-2017)
• Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium (2017-2018)
• Treasure Island: Reimagined! (2018-2019)
• Disney's Beauty and the Beast (2019-2020)
• Paddington Saves Christmas (2021-2022)