Cynthia Smoot
Event Applauds Unsung Heroes Of The Stage, Raises Funds And Voices For Dallas Theater Center’s Community Programs
By Cynthia Smoot Photography by Tamytha Cameron and Thomas Garza
THE SCENE: Dallas Theater Center recently hosted its 41st annual CENTERSTAGE Gala, presented by Texas Instruments, at the stylish Fashion Industry Gallery (FIG). Themed “Take a Bow,” this year’s celebration honored not only the performers who shine under the lights but also the artisans, educators, and visionaries behind the scenes whose devotion brings each production to life.
Upon arrival, attendees ascended FIG’s staircase and were transported into a theatrical reimagining of a contemporary New York supper club, with pristine white linens and a rich wash of violet light setting the stage. Lavish private salons featured displays of theatrical wigs from past DTC productions, a gallery showcasing artworks by Public Works participants, and a vivid visual archive of DTC’s Project Discovery legacy.
Returning event chair Hamilton A Sneed led the festivities, which unfolded as a sweeping tribute to the theater’s enduring impact on Dallas’s cultural landscape. Nearly 300 guests gathered for a night of equal parts spectacle and sentiment. Notables in attendance included Linda Custard, Jon and Dawn Mellon, Kimberly Alexander, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, Diane and Hal Brierley, Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Melinda Johnson, and Grace Cook.
Jon and Dawn Mellon
Guests mingled with crafted cocktails provided by ROXOR Artisan Spirits, Sagamore Whiskey, Casa Obsidiana Tequila, and Disaronno and Tia Maria-laced espresso martinis. The immersive evening paid tribute to the holistic ecosystem of theater—from set carpenters to storytellers—underscoring DTC’s commitment to community and creativity.
As dinner was announced, Sneed welcomed Dallas’s arts patrons, philanthropists, and civic leaders, reminding everyone that the evening was not just a celebration, but a call to action—to sustain and expand the reach of the Tony Award®-winning company’s transformative education and outreach efforts.
THE VIBE: A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Linda and Bill Custard Award, DTC’s highest honor, bestowed upon Joel Ferrell—renowned actor, director, choreographer, educator, and former Associate Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center. The moment was made especially poignant by the recent passing of Bill Custard, a stalwart of DTC since its inception. In tribute, Executive Director and CEO Kevin Moriarty announced that the 2025–2026 season will be dedicated to Custard’s memory.
After the award presentation, guests enjoyed a three-course meal by Vestals Catering, with wine pairings from Bezel by Cakebread and St. Francis Winery. The spirited live auction, conducted by Morgan Hopson, offered luxury travel and culinary experiences from Milan Fashion Week, to San Miguel de Allende, Cabo San Lucas, and Palm Springs.
The gala reached a crescendo in an emotionally charged musical revue featuring selections from Cabaret, Rocky Horror Show, Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, and more—productions shaped by Ferrell’s creative legacy. Performers included Resident Acting Company members and surprise guest stars David Coffee, Julie Johnson, and Denise Lee, punctuating the evening with joy, memory, and reverence.
THE NON-PROFIT: Dallas Theater Center believes in creating theater, learning experiences, and associated programs that are consistently of the highest quality and reflect theatrical art’s breadth and depth. In so doing, we will engage, entertain, educate, and inspire our patrons. Proceeds from CENTERSTAGE enable DTC to continue producing bold, inclusive theater and to deepen its engagement through initiatives like Project Discovery and the Public Works Pageant, ensuring that future generations of artists and audiences may continue to take the stage.
CENTERSTAGE 41 was generously supported by “Company” level sponsors Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Diane and Hal Brierley, Clare and Cal Chaney, Linda and Bill Custard, Deedie Rose, Donna M. Wilhelm, and FERRAGAMO. “Cast” and “Director” level sponsors included Hamilton A Sneed, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, HALL Group, PNC Bank, Haynes Boone, and others.
