Cynthia Smoot
More Than 250 Dallas Arts Patrons Gathered At The Dee And Charles Wyly Theatre For An Emotional And Star-Powered Evening Celebrating The Legacy And Future Of Dallas Theater Center, Where Unforgettable Performances, Heartfelt Tributes, And Philanthropic Passion Helped Raise Over Half A Million Dollars For Arts Education And Community Programming
By Cynthia Smoot Photography By Tamytha Cameron and Chase Hall
THE SCENE: Dallas’ most passionate arts advocates gathered at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, and the city reminded itself, once again, why it is one of America’s great theater towns. CENTERSTAGE 42, the annual gala benefiting the Tony Award®-winning Dallas Theater Center (also known to locals as DTC), raised $545,000 in a single extraordinary evening, a testament to the deep well of generosity and belief this community holds for the performing arts. More than a fundraiser, it was a love letter to everything Dallas Theater Center has built over six decades, and a bold declaration of where it is headed next.
As the sun shone over the Diane and Hal Brierley Esplanade, guests gathered for an outdoor reception filled with conversation, anticipation, and a shared excitement to be back at the Dallas Theater Center home. Familiar faces, including Diane and Hal Brierley, Lynn McBee, Jeff Netzer, Donna Wilhelm, Gayle Halperin, Grace Cook, D’Andra Simmons-Lock and Jeremy Lock, and Laura (Custard) Burcham and Richard Burcham, set the tone for an evening rooted in both celebration and community.
Dinner was served in the Potter Rose Performance Hall, an intimate, theatrical setting that set the tone for an evening of genuine feeling. The night’s centerpiece was the presentation of Dallas Theater Center’s most prestigious honor, the Linda and Bill Custard Award, to Larry Angelilli, whose more than thirty years of financial stewardship, strategic leadership, and unwavering advocacy have quietly shaped the cultural infrastructure of Dallas.
A moment was then taken to honor the enduring legacy of two of Dallas Theater Center’s most beloved community members, Linda Custard and Sarah Warnecke, who left us this past year. For decades, Custard and Warnecke were pillars of support for the Dallas arts community. It was noted that Linda was co-chair for three CENTERSTAGE galas, including the inaugural gala in 1984, and Sarah co-chaired twice, including the 50th anniversary gala. Dallas Theater Center will continue to tell its story of love, beauty, and selflessness.
THE VIBE: When original headliner Michael Urie was called away for commitments with his acclaimed Apple TV+ series Shrinking, Dallas Theater Center leaned into its greatest asset: the depth of talent that calls North Texas home. Broadway powerhouse Tiffany Mann stepped in and owned the room. A DFW native whose musical journey began in the church and was shaped by the legendary Texas Girls’ Choir, the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, and the concert halls of Oklahoma City University, Mann has since become one of New York City’s most celebrated performers, originating roles on Broadway in Be More Chill and gracing the stage of Waitress the Musical. Seeing her return to Dallas was a full-circle moment that had the audience on its feet.
Joining Mann were guest artists Bri Woods and Akron Watson, fresh from Dallas Theater Center‘s acclaimed production of Ragtime. Woods, an SMU Meadows graduate finishing her first year as the Linda and Bill Custard Meadows Actor in the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, represents the next generation of Dallas theater. Watson, a GRAMMY® and Emmy-winning artist whose Broadway credits span The Color Purple, Hamilton, and The Play That Goes Wrong, brought the kind of star power that belongs on any stage in the world, and chose to share it with Dallas.
This year’s gala also broke new ground in how it was led. Rather than naming a single chair, Dallas Theater Center welcomed back event chairs from the past ten years to lead collectively, which was an unprecedented reunion of philanthropic champions whose dedication helped build CENTERSTAGE into one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events. Gala leadership included Peter Altabef, Mickie & Jeff Bragalone, Stephanie Byrd, Scott Davis, Melinda Johnson, Brett Levy, Michelle Lockhart, Ann Mahowald, Deborah McMurray, Scott Moore, Scott Orr, Andy Smith & Paul Von Wupperfeld, Hamilton A Sneed, and Krista Farber Weinstein. This gesture was as meaningful as it was strategic: honoring the community that made Dallas Theater Center what it is, while rallying them around what comes next.
THE NON-PROFIT: Proceeds from CENTERSTAGE 42 will directly fund initiatives like Project Discovery, Summer Stage, Saturday Sessions, and Community Workshops, programs that ensure the stage belongs to everyone. One of the leading regional theaters in the country and the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award Recipient, Dallas Theater Center performs to an audience of more than 100,000 North Texas residents annually. Founded in 1959, Dallas Theater Center is now a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its Mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, and at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Dallas Theater Center is one of only two theaters in Texas that is a member of the League of Resident Theatres, the largest and most prestigious non-profit professional theater association in the country.
Our Favorite Standout Highlights From Dallas Theater Center’s CENTERSTAGE 42 Gala…
The Wyly Theatre Became The Heart Of Dallas’ Arts Community
More than 250 theater patrons and philanthropists gathered in the Dallas Arts District to celebrate Dallas Theater Center’s impact and future.
An Outdoor Reception Set The Stage For The Evening
Guests mingled on the Diane and Hal Brierley Esplanade before heading inside for an elegant night dedicated to the performing arts.
Larry Angelilli Received Dallas Theater Center’s Highest Honor
The evening’s centerpiece was the presentation of the prestigious Linda and Bill Custard Award, recognizing Angelilli’s decades of leadership and advocacy.
Heartfelt Tributes Honored Linda Custard And Sarah Warnecke
Guests reflected on the extraordinary legacies of two beloved champions of the Dallas arts community whose impact shaped CENTERSTAGE for decades.
Tiffany Mann Delivered A Triumphant Homecoming Performance
The Broadway star and DFW native captivated the audience with a powerful performance that brought guests to their feet.
Bri Woods And Akron Watson Added Star Power To The Gala
Fresh off Dallas Theater Center’s acclaimed production of Ragtime, the performers showcased the depth of North Texas theatrical talent.
The Gala Raised $545,000 To Support Arts Access And Education
Proceeds from the evening will fund programs including Project Discovery, Summer Stage, Saturday Sessions, and Community Workshops serving North Texas audiences of all ages.
