Lake Highlands - Lakewood | January 2023

NONPROFIT

From left: Nancy Schaeer and Sandra Session-Robertson hold puppets that Dallas Children’s Theater performers will use in the production of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!” that is scheduled to run in January and February.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Dallas Children’s Theater Nonprot serves children in Lake Highlands W hen Robyn Flatt and Den- nis Vincent founded the Dallas Children’s Theater we were diverse casting when people weren’t thinking about it,” she said. A season at the DCT features six productions, she said. There are 30 to 40 performances of each production. BY KAREN CHANEY

UPCOMING PRODUCTION

Dallas Children’s Theater presented “Dragons Love Tacos” in January 2021.

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!”

COURTESY KAREN ALMOND

in 1984, it was done to ll a void, according to Artistic Director Nancy Schaeer. “We needed a professional theater for youth and families,” she said. Her and her husband Karl Schaeer have been with the DCT since 1984. “I was in the very rst play and started teaching the very rst classes,” she said. “My husband... was the rst actual employee.” The nonprot organization moved into its current location, which was previously a Don Carter Lanes bowling alley, in 2003. Upon purchasing the 58,000-square- foot building, renovations such as raising the roof and adding a y loft for the stage were done. “Robyn ... always said she created a home for artists here,” Schaeer said. “We were one of the rst theaters who paid nonunion actors, and we still do.” Sandra Session-Robertson, DCT senior director of communications and philanthropy, said the organiza- tion has also always had a commit- ment to diversity and inclusion. “If you look at our history, Robyn has always been fundamentally com- mitted to ensuring that even in 1984

“A huge customer for us is public, private and community schools who come to our eld trips,” Schaeer said. “A lot of times these are children whose parents cannot take them on the weekend. We don’t do a dierent show on the weekend than we do in the week. We want all our audiences to have a great show.” Because the DCT has been open for over 38 years, there are some relation- ships that span decades. “I have parents who bring their child to my classes and say, ‘Ms. Nancy, you taught me, and now you’re teaching my child,’” Schaeer said. “Some came as children and now are actors in the shows.” The DCT oers academy classes for students starting as young as 3.5 years old. The schedule includes sub- jects such as acting, musical theater, movie making, improv and more. “We serve a very important role because we are a professional theater for children; it’s not an afterthought,” Schaeer said. “We serve the people I think need us the most.”

When: Jan. 28-Feb. 19

Who: age 3 and up

Show themes: humor, purpose, independence, condence, exploration, jobs, puppetry Sensory-friendly performance: Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. American Sign Language performance: Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m.

The organization is housed in a former Don Carter Lanes bowling alley.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Tickets: $17-$40

Dallas Children’s Theater has a large production room for building sets.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Dallas Children’s Theater 5938 Skillman St., Dallas

214-740-0051 www.dct.org Hours: vary by show

THEATER WAY

LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • JANUARY 2023