by ROALD DAHL
APRIL 19 - MAY 24 2025
Adapted by DAVID WOOD
DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATE R
by ROALD DAHL
LIGHTING
MARCH FAMILY FOUNDATION
DALLAS
TEXAS TRAVEL INDUSTRY RECOVERY PROGRAM
GENERAL SPONSORS INCLUDE
Dallas Tourism and Public Improvement District
Anonymous
Jane and Bill Travis
Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts
TXU Energy
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY SPECIAL CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY BUILDING FUND SUPPORT O
Becky and Everett Spaeth
TACA, Inc.
Holloway Family Foundation
Laurie Sands Harrison
Ellen and Jim Markus
Harry S. Moss Foundation
Melinda and Jim Johnson
Sarah Freedman and Chris Skoog
Anonymous Donor
Joan Becker
Central Market
The Stephen M. Seay Foundation
Karen and Ken Travis
Green Mountain Energy
DCT’s official renewable energy partner
Hoblitzelle Foundation
Hillcrest Foundation
The Carlson Foundation
March Family Foundation
Laurie Sands Harrison
The Rosewood Corporation
Anonymous Family
Elizabeth and Bart Showalter
Karen and Ken Travis
The Hersh Foundation
Everett and Becky Spaeth
SENSORY-FRIENDLY SPONSORS
FICHTENBAUM
CHARITABLE TRUST
Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts
The Cast
Aunt Sponge / Ensemble ..........................
Aunt Spiker / Ensemble ..............................
Mysterious Old Man / Ensemble .................
Ladybug / Ensemble / Dance Captain LILY GAST
Centipede / Ensemble
Miss Spider / Ensemble ........................
Earthworm / Ensemble ................................ CARSON WRIGHT
Old Green Grasshopper / Ensemble .................. PAUL TAYLOR*
Tour Director / Ensemble....................
Understudies
Female Swing Ania Lyons
Male Swing Logan Dolence
Production Staff
Production Manager
Assistant Production Manager
Janel Villatoro
CaitLyne Martin
Technical Director Josh Smith
Assistant Technical Director Nolan Moralez
Staff Carpenter
Jesus Gonzalez
Master Electrician Vinchenzo Locascio
Sound Engineer Brian Christensen
Scenic Artist Michelle Mackey
Costume Shop Manager Lyle Huchton
Asst. Costume Shop Manager Glory Sprinkle
Run Crew Sophia Lang
Carpenters Laura Claycamp, Alaina Galasso, Marc Kidwell, Alex Lorrain-Hill, Danelle Morrow, Ziggy Renner
Electricians Austin Bender, Allie Butemeyer, Laura Claycamp, Kat Fahrenthold, Alaina Galasso, Noel Hawthorne, Nolan Moralez, Ash Wilson
Stitchers Mabeline Hoang, Violet Nassri
Production Apprentices Ronnie Jackson
Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, is the U.S.
union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors' Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions.
A Message from our Executive Director
I am thrilled to welcome you to another exciting season for young audiences!
Kicking off our season is Grace for President, which presents valuable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and the importance of every voice in a community through the trials and tribulations of running for class president.
Next, we will celebrate the holiday season with A Charlie Brown Christmas. Join Charlie Brown and his friends as they discover the true meaning of Christmas amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This beloved classic will remind us all of the joys of friendship, love, and the spirit of giving.
New this season is Dino-Light, presented by Lightwire Theater. This immersive experience will captivate audiences and create incredible visual landscapes, providing a magical atmosphere for families to enjoy together.
We will also continue our long tradition of presenting plays based on cherished books. This year audiences will get groovy with Pete the Cat and go on an adventure with James and the Giant Peach.
We are excited to embark on this journey with you and your children, and we look forward to seeing you at the theater! Thank you for your continued support, and let’s make this season a memorable one.
Samantha Turner DCT Executive Director
About the Author and Playwright
ROALD DAHL was a spy, ace fighter pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor. His first moment of inspiration came when he was at boarding school when a local chocolate factory invited pupils to trial new chocolate bars - 35 years later, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was published.
He went on to write many more stories, including Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and Fantastic Mr. Fox, all from a hut in his back garden in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. By the time he published The Minpins, he had written a total of 16 stories for children, which have been translated into 68 languages and read all over the world. He remains one of the world’s greatest storytellers.
Excerpted from: roalddahl.com/about/
DAVID WOOD began writing as a student at Oxford University in the sixties. He wrote his first play for children in 1967 and has since written about 50 more. They are performed all over the world and include The Gingerbread Man, The See-Saw Tree, The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner, Save the Human (from the story he wrote with Tony Husband) and The Selfish Shellfish. He has directed many of his plays for his touring company, Whirligig Theatre. His stage adaptations include five Roald Dahl books: The BFG; The Witches; The Twits; Fantastic Mr. Fox and James and the Giant Peach; HRH the Prince of Wales’ The Old Man of Lochnagar; Dick King-Smith’s Babe, The Sheep-Pig; Eric Hill’s Spot’s Birthday Party and Michael Foreman’s Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish. His adaptation of Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden was commissioned by Unicorn Theatre and won the Theatre Managers’ Association Best Show for Children and Young People in 2001 before playing a season on Broadway. Dubbed “The national children’s dramatist” by The Times, he has recently published Theatre for Children: Guide to Writing, Adapting, Directing and Acting (Faber & Faber, and published by Ivan Dee in the States), which is already becoming a set text on the subject.
Excerpted from: dramaticpublishing.com/authors/profile/view/url/david-wood
Other Books by Roald Dahl That Have Been Adapted for the Stage by David Wood
Danny the Champion of the World
Fantastic Mr. Fox
George’s Marvellous Medicine
The BFG
The Magic Finger
The Twits
The Witches
CHRISTINA CRANSHAW Tour Director / Ensemble
This is Christina Cranshaw’s first show with Dallas Children’s Theater, and she’s so grateful to be here. Both an actor and director in the DFW area, Christina is forever passionate about bringing theater to younger audiences. She holds a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting from Texas Christian University, and she’s had the privilege of studying clowning, mask work, and movement with Pig Iron Theatre in Philadelphia. You may have seen her work at local theater companies such as: Ochre House Theater, Undermain Theatre, Casa Mañana, Stage West, and Hip Pocket Theatre. What a joy it is to be able to share this story of James and The Giant Peach with everyone; a magical story that has meant so much to her in her youth, as it still does to this day. She’d like to thank her close support system for their endless love and Artie Olaisen for the opportunity. Enjoy the show!
ELLEN EBERHARDT*
Aunt Sponge / Ensemble
Ellen Eberhardt, Actor/Singer, will be making her debut at Dallas Children’s Theater. She has been seen throughout many of the DFW theaters and was last in Mary Poppins Jr. at Casa Mañana. She received her BFA in Theater, emphasizing Musical Theatre at Hardin Simmons University and has worked on and off for the past 20 years professionally. She loves embracing creativity whenever it comes her way, and she loves working with amazing actors who share the same passion of theater. Some of her credits include Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Casa Mañana; Manic Monologues (Actor 1) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Herod) at WaterTower Theatre; Men on Boats (John Colton Sumner) at Circle Theatre; Broadway or Bust (Molly) at Pegasus Theater; and Aida (Ensemble) and Disaster, The Musical (Ensemble) at Uptown Players.
SAVANNAH ELAYYACH
Miss Spider / Ensemble
Savannah Yasmine Elayyach is over the moon to make her Dallas Children’s Theater debut! Some of her favorite DFW credits include Clue at Dallas Theater Center; Heroes of the Fourth Turning at Second Thought Theatre; Baba at Amphibian Stage; In The Heights at Theatre Arlington; One Man, Two Guvnors and Artemisia at Circle Theatre; FIT Fest at Theatre Three; Medea at Shakespeare Everywhere; El Rey Del Pollo at Echo Theatre; PUFFS at Imprint Theatreworks; Redeemer Mine at Lily & Joan; and Dog Sees God at AMOC. Other credits: The Crucible, Watbanaland, Fefu and Her Friends, etc. Congrats to the cast, crew, staff, and creative team on their beautiful work; and shoutout to her family and friends for their endless support!
LILY GAST
Ladybug / Ensemble / Dance Captain
Lily holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from The University of Northern Iowa. Her select credits include: Cinderella (Joy) at Casa Mañana, Athena (Jamie) at Undermain Theatre, Seussical the Musical (Gertrude McFuzz) at Casa Mañana, A Charlie Brown Christmas (Sally) at Dallas Children’s Theater, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia) at St. Croix Festival Theatre, The Mousetrap (Miss Casewell) at St. Croix Festival Theatre, and His Story The Musical (Mary Magdalene) at Visceral Entertainment. Trademark: The redhead with one lung.
JOCELYN HANSEN Aunt Spiker / Ensemble
Jocelyn Hansen, she/her, is delighted to make her DCT debut! She frequently works in musical theater and opera; recent performing highlights include the title role in Mary Poppins and the world premiere of Goin’ Hollywood at WaterTower Theatre (Nancy Karinski), La traviata (Annina) and Elektra (The Confidant) at The Dallas Opera, and The Sound of Music (Elsa Schroeder) at MiOpera. She’s also an active voice teacher and teaches for the MT program at the University of Texas at Arlington. When not singing, she can be found road-tripping with her husband Taylor and huskies Yuna and Meeko. More info about Jocelyn’s performing and teaching can be found at
BRIAN HATHAWAY* Mysterious Old Man / Ensemble
Hansen
Brian is thrilled to be back at Dallas Children’s Theater, having last been seen in Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” (Elephant Gerald). He has also been seen locally in productions at Uptown Players, WaterTower Theatre, Theatre Arlington, Lyric Stage, Circle Theatre, and Theatre Three, among others. Favorite past credits include Goin’ Hollywood (Garson The Producers (Leo Bloom), The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), Crazy For You (Bela Zangler), Gypsy (Herbie), and Little Women (Professor Bhaer). Brian is also a frequent collaborator with MusicalWriters.com, which fosters the development of new original musicals. Brian is also a voice actor for Crunchyroll and has been heard in series such as One Piece and Attack On Titan. Much love to Elisa, whose constant support knows no bounds. For Nancy and Karl.
JUDE LAINE LEWIS*
James
Jude is over the moon to be back at Dallas Children’s Theater! You may have seen them last in A Charlie Brown Christmas (Pig-Pen) or Grace for President (Sam). Other credits include Seussical (Jojo) at Casa Mañana, Charlotte’s Web (Avery) at Dallas Children’s Theater, Alice in Wonderland (Alice) at Theatre Arlington, and The Diary of Anne Frank (Anne) at Plaza Theatre Company. “I would like to thank director Artie Olaisen and the production crew for all their hard work, my fellow castmates who always amaze me with their talent, and most of all my family for always showing me so much love and support!”
TOMMY STUART*
Centipede / Ensemble
Tommy Stuart is delighted to return to Dallas Children’s Theater after appearing in Pete the Cat, Grace for President, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Charlotte’s Web. He holds a BFA in Drama from the University of Oklahoma. As an actor, he has performed locally with Casa Mañana, Cara Mía Theatre Company, Shakespeare Dallas, Circle Theatre, and regionally with The Alley Theater, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Oklahoma Shakespeare. Tommy has worked as a Teaching Artist in Independent School Districts all over Texas. He thanks his family for their never-ending support.
PAUL TAYLOR*
Old Green Grasshopper / Ensemble
Paul has been a DFW theater artist for 40+ years and has appeared at Dallas Theater Center, Circle Theatre, Amphibian Stage, New Arts, Lyric Stage, Casa Mañana, Second Thought Theatre, Undermain Theatre, and many others. His most recent role at DCT was in Tuck Everlasting (The Man in the Yellow Suit). His DCT credits also include Miracle on 34th Street (Sawyer) and How I Became a Pirate (Captain Braid Beard). Other DFW roles include The Importance of Being Earnest (Lady Bracknell) and Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (Sam/Mr. Burns) at Stage West, Hot Mikado (Koko) and Dracula (Renfield) at Theatre Three, Urinetown the Musical (Officer Lockstock) at WaterTower Theatre – Leon Rabin Award, The Rocky Horror Show (Frank N. Furter) at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, and The Normal Heart (Ned Weeks) at Uptown Players – DFW Theater Critics Forum Award. Paul played the iconic “Pinhead” in Hellraiser Judgment. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and is represented by The Horne Agency.
CARSON WRIGHT Earthworm / Ensemble
Carson Wright is grateful to be returning to Dallas Children’s Theater after performing in A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Magician’s Nephew. Other regional credits include Measure for Measure, The Odyssey, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Macbeth, and Othello with Shakespeare Dallas; Venus in Fur with Theatre Three; Imposter! Hypocrite! Tartuffe! and Artemisia with Circle Theatre; One Flea Spare with Second Thought Theatre; Harvey with WaterTower Theatre; and The Thrush and the Woodpecker with Kitchen Dog Theater. His voiceover work can also be heard in The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic, Black Butler: Public School Arc, Fruits Basket, Kingdoms of Ruin, Kaiju No. 8, and other anime distributed by Crunchyroll. He holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from Southern Methodist University and is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency. You can follow Carson’s work at www.carsondwright.com and on Instagram at @carsondwright.
LOGAN DOLENCE Understudy / Male Swing
Logan Dolence is delighted to be returning to the DCT stage after recently being seen in Pete the Cat (Jimmy Biddle)! He was born and raised in Zeeland, MI, but now calls Dallas, TX home. Logan was recently seen performing as a vocalist with Princess Cruises aboard the Island Princess. Other credits include originating the role of Joseph in His Story the Musical, Newsies (Finch/Jack Understudy) at Casa Mañana, and Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince) at Timber Lake Playhouse. Additionally, Logan has performed at Cedar Point and Six Flags over Texas Amusement Parks, as well as performed as a puppeteer with the Dallas Puppet Theatre. “I’m so grateful for all the friends and family in my life that surround me with love and support. And special shoutout to Matty & Petey!”
ANIA LYONS
Understudy / Female Swing / Choreographer
Ania Lyons is a local theater artist and is excited to collaborate with Dallas Children’s Theater once again after playing Grace in Grace for President. They have performed, choreographed, and assistant stage managed all over the DFW Metroplex. Previous experience includes work at Dallas Theater Center, Casa Mañana, WaterTower Theatre, Prism Movement Theater, Theatre Three, Lyric Stage, and more. Notable favorite credits at Dallas Children’s Theater include Dragons Love Tacos (Blue Dragon); Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” (Squirrelle #2); The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (Susan); Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School (May); and more. Much love to the DCT team for the incredible opportunities! Catch Ania’s adventures @lyons.dance543.
Meet the Artistic / Production Staff
SAMANTHA TURNER
Executive Director
Samantha Turner is a leader in both the non-profit and corporate sectors with expertise in performing arts administration, business management, and marketing. In June 2023, she was named Executive Director for Dallas Children’s Theater after serving as Executive Director for Ballet Arizona for six years. During her tenure, the professional ballet company achieved its greatest levels of financial and creative health. Before Samantha was appointed Executive Director, she served three years as Ballet Arizona’s Director of Marketing, achieving record earned revenue for several productions. Prior to joining Ballet Arizona, Samantha held leadership roles in both non-profit and Fortune 500 companies. She served as Head of Business Operations and Finance for CAP21, a New York-based musical theatre conservatory and theatre company. Samantha moved into that role after a year-long sabbatical immersed in acting, singing, and dance training that allowed her to gain a deep understanding of the arts and artists. She integrated those insights with her 20 years of Fortune 500 leadership experience to transition to a career focused on the strategic management of arts organizations. Samantha’s for-profit career includes high-level marketing and business management roles at Aflac, Assurant, and other organizations of national and regional scope. In addition to her professional experience, Samantha holds MBAs in marketing and international business/ecommerce, and an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism.
EMILY ERNST
Artistic Director
Emily Ernst is an actor, director, and movement coach. Prior to her role at DCT, she was the co-founder and Artistic Director of Fair Assembly and Associate Artistic Director at the River & Rail Theatre, founded by SMU Alumni, in Knoxville, TN. As an educator, Emily has taught at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Advanced Acting), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cistercian Preparatory School, and Junior Players, among others; and led the Theatre Arts Academy at the Lincoln Playhouse. For the past two years with Junior Players, Emily has led the female cohort of Shakespeare with Henry: the first youth-focused Shakespeare in Prison program in Texas and the third in the nation. Emily has held staff positions with Teatro Dallas, Cry Havoc Theater Company, The Lincoln Community Playhouse, TACA, Flatwater Shakespeare Company, and Theatre for a New Audience in New York City. Recent directing projects include Fiddler on the Roof at UNT, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at River & Rail Theatre, Mame at The Lincoln Playhouse, The Little Prince at River & Rail Theatre, The Music Man Jr. at Cistercian Prep, and King Lear at Fair Assembly. Emily is a graduate of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, L’École internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq (2017-2018), and is a fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
ARTIE OLAISEN
Production Director; Associate Artistic Director
A DCT staff member since 1988 and a former member of Dallas Theater Center’s Resident Acting Company, Artie’s work is familiar to Dallas audiences. As an actor he has portrayed a wide variety of characters from Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars and The Hound of the Baskervilles to Fagin in The Adventures of Oliver Twist to The Moose in If You Give a Moose a Muffin. He has directed numerous DCT productions including The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane; Charlotte’s Web; A Wrinkle in Time; Tuck Everlasting; The Neverending Story; The Giver; The Emperor’s New Clothes; The Secret Garden; The Magician’s Nephew; Treasure Island; Holes; Frankenstein; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Jungalbook; Grimm Tales; The Hobbit; and Dracula: the Vampire Play. He has been honored as an Outstanding Alumnus by Florida State University and has received two Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum Awards for Outstanding Direction, a Leon Rabin Award nomination for Best Director, and was a Dallas Observer ’s Reader’s Pick as Best Theater Director.
B. WOLF Composer
Ms. Wolf has composed and orchestrated music and served as musical director for many DCT productions including Madeline’s Christmas, A Year with Frog and Toad, Pinkerton!!!, If You Give a Pig a Party, The Velveteen Rabbit, Jack & the Giant Beanstalk, Pecos Bill, and James and the Giant Peach. An award-winning playwright, Ms. Wolf has authored several children’s plays that have been performed nationwide, including the original adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Since 1976, as resident playwright and composer with Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts, she has written more than 30 puppet plays and musicals, the last being Frosty & Friends presented at DCT in December of 2014. Ms. Wolf has worked with numerous other theaters throughout the Dallas area and she was honored with a DallasFort Worth Theater Critics Forum Award for her unique musical underscore of Bootstraps Comedy Theater’s The Boxer. She was most recently seen (and heard) providing the live sound track to The Curse of Castle Mongrew; Goodnight Moon; and Go, Dog. Go! She composed the music and lyrics for Little Women, performed in 2014 by the Teen Scene Players of DCT.
ADAM C. WRIGHT Music Director
Adam C. Wright is a prolific pianist, composer, accompanist, and director who has maintained a lengthy and abundant career across North Texas. His primary home is Dallas Children’s Theater, but he also music directs productions at Uptown Players, WaterTower Theatre, and Circle Theatre, to name a few. He rarely finds a moment when his fingers are away from the keys. Completed original works include Imposter! Hypocrite! TARTUFFE!; A Taste of Beauty; Mama: a musical; If a Frog Had Wings; and The Starlight Lounge. He also worked as Betty Buckley’s rehearsal pianist for her show The Other Woman – The Vixens of Broadway. You can find him collaborating with vocalists at various cabaret venues and piano bars across the Metroplex.
JEFF
FRANKS ^ Scenic / Video Designer
Jeffrey is a freelance designer happy to be working with DCT once again. Previous DCT work includes sets and projections for The Magician’s Nephew, The Island of the Skog, Treasure Island Reimagined!, Tomás and the Library Lady, A Year with Frog and Toad, Jackie and Me, Charlotte’s Web, and A Wrinkle in Time; and projection work for The Neverending Story. He holds an MFA in Stage Design from Southern Methodist University and has taught for UNT and UT-Dallas. Proud member of USA Local 829. jfranksdesigns.com
JOSH SMITH
Associate Scenic Designer
Josh Smith is a UT Arlington alumnus, where he graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in design. He has been involved in the design and build of theatrical productions since 2003 with experience in a variety of styles from straight plays to surreal to light opera. He is proud to serve as part of this fantastic company and to be a part of the wonderful family at DCT.
AARON JOHANSEN
Lighting Designer
Aaron Johansen is pleased to be returning to Dallas Children’s Theater!! Previous collaborations have included: Dallas Theater Center, Second Thought Theatre (Artistic Associate/Resident Lighting Designer), Kitchen Dog Theater (Company Member), Stage West, Uptown Players, Cry Havoc Theater Company, Theatre Three, and Sweet Tooth Hotel Art installation. Aaron recently became the colighting director for The Drone Racing League where he lights drone races for television around the country. Follow my work and me on Instagram: @Famoustrendywizard. Enjoy the show!
SALLY FIORELLO
Props Designer
Sally began her association with Dallas Children’s Theater in 1984 and has served as a director, designer, actor, and consultant for numerous DCT productions. She is a master puppeteer and senior designer with the critically acclaimed Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts and has designed and performed in over 40 original puppet productions including such DCT favorites as The Nutcracker and The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She most recently designed props for this season’s A Charlie Brown Christmas and Grace for President. Sally is a recipient of the Dallas-Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Award.
MARCO SALINAS
Sound Designer
Marco has designed many, MANY shows for DCT over the last 22 years. He is also a recipient of numerous awards for his sound design work in the Dallas/Fort Worth theater scene and has designed for shows as far away as New York City and even Ireland. He is also the Director of Educational Tours with Shakespeare Dallas where he writes and directs local area tours that teach children and teens about William Shakespeare.
GLORY SPRINKLE
Costume
Designer
Glory Sprinkle is the new Assistant Costume Shop Manager and is grateful for the opportunity to design such a colorful show! Since graduating with her Theatrical Costume Design degree from Stephens College, she’s mainly been a stitcher but last season dipped her toe into the designer role for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! Beyond this, she is known for her hand in building shows like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Charlotte’s Web.
CAITLYNE MARTIN*
Stage Manager
CaitLyne is the Assistant Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager at Dallas Children’s Theater. Recent DCT productions include A Charlie Brown Christmas 2023 and 2024 (Stage Manager), Charlotte’s Web (Stage Manager), Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! (Deck Manager), and Last Stop on Market Street (Deck Manager). She was also a Production Apprentice during the 2021-2022 season. CaitLyne has a BFA from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
BECCA BONGIORNO*
Assistant Stage Manager
Becca is excited for her 10th season with Dallas Children’s Theater and being ASM for James and the Giant Peach. Becca graduated in 2014 with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Hendrix College. She completed an internship with Dallas Children’s Theater from 2014-2015 and has worked professionally on production teams around DFW since 2015. Recent productions include The Little Dog Laughed (Deck Crew and A2), Kinky Boots (Spot Op), Broadway Our Way (Spot Op), and The Prom (Spot Op) at Uptown Players; Jesus Christ Superstar (ASM), Goin’ Hollywood (Deck Crew), and Ann (ASM) at WaterTower Theatre; Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (Deck Crew Head/ASM), A Charlie Brown Christmas (ASM), Life Doesn’t Frighten Me (Deck Crew Head/ASM), Grace For President (ASM), and Pete the Cat (ASM) at Dallas Children’s Theater; and Death Express! (Deck Crew) at Pegasus Theatre. She would like to take this opportunity to thank her family, theater families, and friends for their encouragement, love, and support. A special shout out to her dad, hoping he is watching and proud of all she has accomplished.
DCT Academy classes are taught by DCT professional artists; our classes help develop children with an interest in drama and performing arts in a hands-on environment where participation is encouraged and essential for learning.
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Photos by Sylvia Elzafon, DCT staff, and Danny Hurley
DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER THANKS YOU!
Reflects gifts received through March 18, 2025.
On behalf of the 90,000 children and families served annually, we gratefully acknowledge our donors who through their contributions made it possible for DCT to present over 500 performances of high quality, professional theater for youth and families. Although program space limits our ability to publicly recognize only donors of $500 and above, we deeply and sincerely appreciate every contribution. As ticket sales cover a small percentage our costs, your annual financial support is critical to introducing North Texas children to the magic of live theater. Should you wish to be added to this extraordinary list of donors or suggest corrections to our list, please contact the DCT Development Department at 214.978.0110 and THANK YOU!
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
$100,000 +
City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture
Hoblitzelle Foundation
March Family Foundation
Texas Instruments Foundation
PRODUCING PARTNER
$50,000-$99,999
Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee Hillcrest Foundation
The Rosewood Corporation
The Shubert Foundation
Texas Instruments
The Theodore and Beulah Beasley Foundation
Karen & Ken Travis
CENTERSTAGE SPONSOR
$25,000-$49,999
Anonymous
Crawley Family Foundation
Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District
The Rosewood Foundation
Texas Commission on the Arts
Texas Travel Industry Recovery Program
Jane & William B. Travis
SEASON BENEFACTOR
$10,000-$24,999
Anderskouv Jarnum Family
Anonymous
Joan Becker
Central Market
The Communities Foundation of Texas North Texas Giving Day Fund
Sarah & Michael DeLuke
Ernst & Young LLP
Kristy & Raymond Faus
Jane & Greg Greene
Harry S. Moss Foundation
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Lauren & Ryan Herrington
The Holloway Family Foundation
Melinda & Jim Johnson
Ellen & Jim Markus
Mary Price Womack, LLC
Medical City Dallas
National Endowment for The Arts
Julie & John Parolisi
Patrick & Beatrice Haggerty Foundation
Margot B. Perot
Kara & Todd Ranta
Debbie & Michael Rasa
Laurie Sands Harrison
Jennifer & Andrew Scripps
Rachael & Evan Singer
Becky & Everett Spaeth
Stephen M. Seay Foundation
Strake Foundation
TACA
TXU Energy
LEADING PLAYER
$5,000-$9,999
Joe B. Brooks
Richard & Mary Covington
June Dales
Licia and Chris Dawe
Alencia DeAnda-Gregg & Tony
Gregg
DePasse Family Giving Fund
Kelly & Gregory Fijolek
Robyn Flatt
Fred Jones Family Foundation
Sarah Freedman & Christopher
Skoog
Jennifer Garratt
Goldman Sachs
Meagan & Daniel Hemenway
Carolyn Holloway
Houlihan Lokey
Emily Jefferson
Stephanie & Ben Jeffery
Jones Day
Tara Lewis & John Swords
Louise W. Kahn Endowment Fund of The Dallas Foundation
Tanya & Ken McDonald
The McGee Endowment Foundation Fund at The Dallas Foundation
Nancy Miller
Leah & Adam Mora
The Orien Levy Woolf and Dr. Jack
Woolf Charitable Foundation
Prosperity Bank
Francis Ryburn
Lacy & Clayton Sands
Janet Spencer Shaw
Camelia & Ted Shoemaker
Lisa K. Simmons
Melissa & John Szczsponik
Retta Van Auken
DIRECTOR
$2,500-$4,999
Anderson Family Philanthropic Fund
Jean Aoki
Mickie & Jeff Bragalone
Betsy & Rick Fijolek
Lorelei Garratt
The Ryan Goldblatt Foundation
Holland & Knight
The Hudson Family Charitable Fund
Carole & Chris Jordan
Robin A. Ladd
Lisa Lee
Jacqui & Ray Mackewicz
Corale & Mitchell Madden
Make It Count Family Foundation
Sarah & Tim Salmon
Brooke & Aaron Shelby
Wilson Tarver
PRODUCER
$1,000-$2,499
Barbara & Daniel Anderson
Billie & William Aylesworth
Capital One Services, LLC
Kendra Clark
Collins Interiors
Kerrie & Ross Forbes
Frost Bank & Frost Insurance
Carol & Don Glendenning
Mark Grover
Ryan Gummer
Dane Hoang
Rocky Howard
Nicole and Scott Hudson
Huntington Bank
Suki & Paul Jarzemsky
Jennifer Karol
Bridget Lopez
Kathy & Charles Miller
Danielle Mullen
Deborah & Jim Nugent
Rachel & Garth Orr
Kate & Eric Pfeifle
Carrie Rief
Amy & Jeremy Rosenthal
Nancy and David Saustad
Amanda & David Schnetzer
Sally Schopmeyer
Diana & Sam Self
Elizabeth & Bart Showalter
Katie & David Shutler
Mimi Slater
Patty & Joe Smith
Mike & Eva Smith
Deborah & Richard Stanford
Deborah & Craig Sutton
Swiss Avenue Historic District
TBK Bank
Jasmine & Chris Tobias
Ben Wheeler
Rachel & Brad Williams
Rachel Ybarra
PATRON
$500-$999
Debbie & Robert Barrer
Martha Barrios
Audrey Bines
Denny Cassidy
Elizabeth Dacus
Angela Downes
Amy Green
Ann & Jim Hambleton
Jonathan Helm
Kalais & L B Jeter
Rae & Lloyd Marquis
Frances Mitchell
Lydia & Dan Novakov
Stacy & Dennis O’Riley
Karol and Larry Omlor
Keri Rardon
Liliana Rivera
Alicia Duque & Nima Rohani
Maureen & Robert Royer
Christa & Ketric Sanford
Sunie & Steve Solomon
Natalie R. Swan Revocable Trust
Cheri & Bart Thomas
Samantha & Joel Turner
Harianne & David Wallenstein
Charlotte & Wade Wiles
D.I. Wilkinson
Alex Winslow
IN-KIND
Anonymous
AT&T Stadium & The Star
Dr. Evan Beale
Joe B. Brooks
CiCi’s Pizza
Michael DeLuke
Erth Hotels
Golden Egg Creative
Miron Crosby
Nayarit Tourism Board
The Ritz Carlton
The Rosewood Corporation
Rosewood Ranches
Lacy Sands
Southwest Airlines
TXU Energy
Vestals Catering
Virgin Hotels Dallas
DCT Board
Board of Trustees
Leah Mora* PRESIDENT
Todd Ranta* CHAIRMAN
Meagan Hemenway* VP DEVELOPMENT
Evan Singer* VP EDUCATION
Everett Spaeth* VP FACILITIES
Sarah Freedman* VP FINANCE/TREASURER
Martha Barrios* VP GOVERNANCE/NOMINATING
Julie Parolisi* SECRETARY
Alencia DeAnda-Gregg
Michael DeLuke
Bonnie DePasse
Angela Downes
Kelly Fijolek
Jennifer Garratt
Brooks Hall
Tiffini Hall
Helen Harris-Allen
Lauren Herrington*
Mar Howard
L B Jeter Jr.
Robin A. Ladd
Lisa Lee
Jacqueline Mackewicz
Corale Madden
Jim Markus*
Adam Mora Jr., MD
Rachel Orr
Liliana Rivera
Sarah Salmon
Lacy Sands
Amanda Schnetzer*
Camelia Lopez Shoemaker
Deborah Stanford
Jasmine Tobias
Shanti Shahani Venegas
DCT Staff
Samantha Turner
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Emily Ernst
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Artie Olaisen
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Coy Covington
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR
Robyn Flatt
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
Roxie King
BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER
Development
Joey Hamilton
GRANTS MANAGER
Artist-in-Residence
Karl Schaeffer
ACTING / VIDEO
Board of Advisors
Lorlee Bartos
Mickie Bragalone
Joan Becker
Nancy Carlson
Mary Covington
Yvonne Crum
Paul Daugherty
Betsy Fijolek
Jane Kennedy Greene
Rocky Howard
Scott Hudson
Sharron Hunt
Vibeke Jarnum
Josh Johnston
Emily Jefferson
Margaret Keliher
Tara Lewis*
Peter Martin
Teresa Parravano
Christa Sanford
Sally Schopmeyer
Elizabeth Showalter
Laurie-Jo Straty
Craig Sutton
Bill Travis
Karen Travis
Emeritus Members
Robyn Flatt FOUNDER
Melissa Deakins CHAIR EMERITUS
Laurie Sands Harrison CHAIR EMERITUS
Julie H. Kosnik CHAIR EMERITUS
Carole Jordan CHAIR EMERITUS
Carol March* CHAIR EMERITUS
Board Liaison
Mickie Bragalone OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
* Executive Committee
Education
Julianna Wright
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Terry Feagin
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Gina Waits
PROJECT INCLUSION COORDINATOR
K. Doug Miller
MUSICAL THEATER CONSERVATORY DIRECTOR
Raven Lanuza-Brown ACADEMY COORDINATOR
Marketing & Public Relations
Mallory Coulter
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Steve Jones
DIRECTOR OF TICKETING AND PATRON SERVICES
Jazmine Hill
SENIOR MANAGER OF DIGITAL AND GROWTH MARKETING
Rachel Wells
MARKETING AND TESSITURA ASSOCIATE
Douglass Burks
BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATE
Joanna Coogan
FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR
Facilities
Aaron Rodriguez
NETWORK SYSTEMS ADMIN. / IT / FACILITIES
Production
Janel Villatoro
PRODUCTION MANAGER / RENTAL COORDINATOR
CaitLyne Martin
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER / RESIDENT STAGE MANAGER
Josh Smith
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Nolan Moralez
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Lyle Huchton
RESIDENT COSTUME DESIGNER / COSTUME SHOP MANAGER
Brian Christensen SOUND ENGINEER
Marco Salinas
RESIDENT SOUND DESIGNER
Vinchenzo Locascio MASTER ELECTRICIAN
Jesus Gonzalez STAFF CARPENTER
Glory Sprinkle
ASSISTANT COSTUME SHOP MANAGER
Sally Fiorello
DIRECTOR OF DESIGN