Dallas is about to truly have an empathetic moment. Second Thought Theatre is kicking off its 20th season with a lineup meant to elicit more than just a casual nod from its audience. The renowned company is bringing three premieres to the stage – two regional debuts and an American first – alongside a new program for local playwrights in 2024, as reported by NBC DFW.
Launching into the election year, the season starts with the regional premiere of "Heroes of the Fourth Turning" by Texas' very own Will Arbery. It's a strategic choice aimed to resonate with a Dallas audience, especially those ready to quickly reconsider both their political and personal convictions in these polarizing times. "Heroes is intentionally selected for a Dallas audience in an election year," Second Thought Theatre's Executive Director, Parker Gray, stated in an announcement. On the flip side, Theatre Three is raising the curtain on love and relationships with its long-running musical headed up by Alejandro Saucedo, Theatre Too's romantic comedy, "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change," as revealed by Dallas Voice.
Second Thought isn't just putting on shows but also forging a new path with the Thought Process: A Playwriting Cohort. The initiative is designed to be a "safe, low-stakes space" for local writers to get feedback and encouragement, expanding opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth theater community. "There are so many incredible writers we know here in DFW, and many, I’m sure, we have not been introduced to yet," remarked Gray in cheerful defiance of norms, per NBC DFW.
Snatching American premieres is no small feat, and Second Thought is doing just that with "Hang" by Debbie Tucker Green, described as "a shattering play about one woman’s unspeakable decision." Directed by Sasha Maya Ada, the production looks to leave audiences as breathless as 2022's hit production of "Pass Over." "This play is a punch," Gray said in a bold declaration of the theater's ambitions, as per NBC DFW.
