(DALLAS, TX) – Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) continues its 2019-2020 season with LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, running from March 21 through April 5 at the Rosewood Center for the Arts. Based on The New York Times bestseller that won a Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and a Caldecott Honor, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is a compassionate tale filled with both the mature joy of a grandparent and the pure wonder of a child.
The story follows young CJ and his Nana on their journey as they board the public bus for their weekly trip across town to help out at a soup kitchen. Along the way, CJ notices the many differences among people and asks tons of curious questions: Why don’t we have a car? How come that man can’t see? How come it’s always so dirty over there? How? Why? With Nana’s fearless and compassionate guidance, CJ discovers that everyone and everything has a unique rhythm and purpose; that the world’s got answers if CJ listens with more than his ears and sees with more than his eyes.
Directed by vickie washington (North Texas director, actress, and teacher at Booker T. Washington for the Performing Arts) LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET carries the poignant message of the picture book without ever losing the fun. “While riding the bus with CJ and Nana, we learn the value of meeting people where they are, and the joy of opening our hearts and minds to the experiences of others.” washington says, smiling. “With all that is happening in our city and in our world today, these are very important lessons for all of us.”
Playwright Gloria Bond Clunie will be in Dallas for three weeks working with the team to further develop the play. Dallas is one of the first cities to get to host the play. According to Clunie, “Dallas Children’s Theatre’s commitment to bringing me to Dallas to continue working on the play after the initial work done in Charlotte, North Carolina, creates the opportunity to further explore this all important story for young people. Our work will be fueled by the knowledge gained in an excellent first production coupled with the insight generated from a new creative team at Dallas Children’s Theatre. “She adds, “This type of commitment helps to ensure the development of compelling theatre for the young, which will strengthen the canon of theatre for children with works that have ongoing relevance.”
Imaginative and hopeful in its capture of the genuine struggles of the everyday, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is a gentle journey recommended for ages 4 and up. In the spirit of true kindness, these funders have stepped up to make this collaboration with the playwright a reality: Jean Baptists(Tad) Adoue III Fund of The Dallas Foundation; TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund; The M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation; Capital One; The Howard Family in loving memory of Eleanor “Gammy” Howard and Southwest Airlines.
LOBBY FUN:
Who’s on your bus? With the help of our friends at Oil and Cotton, young patrons will have a chance to fill their own bus with interesting and intriguing people. Also, take a photo in the dragon bus cutout in the lobby, and then stop by the store to check out some amazing show-themed items. Kindness bracelets are available for free for young patrons to give to anyone they catch in an act of kindness. As is tradition, there will be a meet-and-greet with the actors and autographs after every public performance. The DCT staff dedicates this production to the amazing Ms. Bonnie Jean Stoner who introduced us to this book almost five years ago. While she is no longer with us, Bonnie Jean will forever live in our hearts because of the gifts of advice, support and kindness that she gave to us over the years.
LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET
By Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
Adapted by Gloria Bond Clunie
Directed by vicki washington
March 21 – April 5, 2020
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Cast:
Nana – M. Denise Lee*
CJ – Jori Jackson*
Reverend / Guitar Man / Ensemble – Randy Pearlman*
Mr. Dennis / Blind Man / Ensemble – Nik Blocker
Butterfly Lady / Ensemble / Dance Captain – Monalisa Amidar
Woman with a Lovely Hat / Ensemble – Nancy Bartke
Mumford / Tattoo Man / Ensemble – Austin Hines
Musician / Ensemble – Gabriel Ethridge*
Production Team:
Director – vickie washington
Musical Director – Steven A. Taylor
Scenic/Video Designer – Kristina Miller
Lighting Designer – Jason Lynch
Props Designer – Lauren Wheat
Sound Designer – Marco Salinas
Costume Designer – Cat Dillon
Stage Manager – Ashley Newman*
Production Manager – Justin A. Miller
Assistant Production Manager – Janel Villatoro
Technical Director – Josh Smith
Staff Master Electrician – Jason Monmaney
Sound Engineer – Brian Christensen
*Denotes member of Actors Equity Association.
^Denotes member of United Scenic Artists – Local USA 829.
Performance Dates and Times:
- Saturday, March 21, 1:30 PM
- Sunday, March 22, 1:30 PM
- Sunday, March 22, 4:30 PM (ASL)
- Saturday, March 28, 1:30 PM (Sensory-Friendly)
- Sunday, March 29, 1:30 PM
- Saturday, April 4, 1:30 PM
- Saturday, April 4, 4:30 PM
- Sunday, April 5, 1:30 PM
Ticket Prices:
$15-$28 for single tickets. Prices subject to change. Group rates available for parties of 10 or more. Phone reservations required for Sensory-Friendly performances. Call the Box Office for details, 214-740-0051. General tickets are available online at dct.org
Weekday Student Matinee shows also available Tuesdays through Fridays. Call Dallas Children’s Theater at 214-978-0120 or visit dct.org/fieldtrips
Photo by Karen Almond. Models: Denise Lee, Gerald Taylor II, Isaiah Harris, Marianne Kolar.
2019-20 Season Sponsors are: 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, 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, The Sapphire Foundation, and DCT’s Fall Family Party Contributors. DCT’s National Touring Sponsor is Neiman Marcus.
Dallas Children’s Theater
Rosewood Center for Family Arts
5938 Skillman Street
Dallas, Texas 75231
About Dallas Children’s Theater
Dallas Children’s Theater features professional actors performing for an annual audience of 250,000 young people and their families through mainstage productions (9 in the 2019-2020 season), a national -touring company, and an arts-in-education program. As the only major organization in Dallas focusing solely on youth and family theater, DCT builds bridges of understanding between generations and cultures, instilling an early appreciation of literature, art, and the performing arts in tomorrow’s artists and patrons.
LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is produced by special arrangement with GURMAN AGENCY, LLC, a theatrical literary agency. gurmanagency[dot]com. World Premiere Produced by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte November 2018. Adam Burke Artistic Director.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
