Centerstage Gala | Dallas Theater Center

On Friday, May 2, 2025 Dallas Theater Center’s annual fundraising event, CENTERSTAGE 41: TAKE A BOW, will take place at Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.) in the Dallas Arts District.

CENTERSTAGE 41 celebrates and invites all working behind the scenes and on stage to TAKE A BOW for making theater happen! The highly anticipated fête marks the 41st year for the annual Centerstage gala. The cabaret-jazz-inspired evening of multimedia and fine dining includes a champagne cocktail reception highlighting the Public Works education and community engagement programs, seated dinner honoring the 2025 Linda and Bill Custard Award recipient, vibrant live auction & paddle raise, and ends with musical performances by the Diane & Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company and celebrated members of the theater community.

More exciting announcements are to come for the upcoming CENTERSTAGE 41 event!

Funds raised from Centerstage make it possible for DTC to continue the inclusive and creative work of our organization. Join us!

PURCHASE SPONSORSHIPS & TICKETS

DOWNLOAD THE SPONSORSHIPS & TICKETS FORM

Unable to attend but would like to donate?

DONATE

LINDA AND BILL CUSTARD AWARD

The Linda and Bill Custard Award, the most prestigious award given by the Dallas Theater Center, celebrates a Dallas Theater Center board member, staff member, community representative, artist or organization that shows extraordinary, distinguished and long-time service and support to the theater.

Joel Ferrell is the recipient of the 2025 Custard Award for his three decades of contributions to DTC as a director, choreographer, actor and artistic leader. Joel has also done groundbreaking work at nearly every theater and educational institution in North Texas.

Joel’s contributions to Dallas Theater Center began in 1992, when he was cast as an actor in A Christmas Carol. Working with artistic director Richard Hamburger, Joel acted in The Front Page, choreographed My Fair Lady, and directed his first production at DTC (Cotton Patch Gospel in 2003). In 2009 he joined DTC’s staff as an associate artist and served as associate artistic director from 2011 – 2019. During his tenure at DTC, Joel’s many critically lauded productions have included A Christmas Carol (2005-2012 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater), Dividing the Estate, Cabaret, Frankenstein and reasons to be pretty. In 2015 he returned to the DTC stage as an actor in Colossal.

Beyond DTC, Joel served as artistic director at Casa Manana in Fort Worth from 1996-2001 and has worked with the Denver Center Theater, Portland Center Stage, North Shore Music Theater, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and most professional theaters and educational institutions in North Texas. He is known for his creative vision, artistic excellence and generosity as a collaborator.

Now as the Inaugural Director of the newly created Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, Joel continues his work building the next generation of artists in the musical theatre space. With over 40 years in the theater industry, Joel is a theater-maker who continuously challenges his audiences through fresh and passionate storytelling creating a perspective changing shared experience.

Dallas Theater Center is honored to recognize Joel Ferrell with the 2025 Linda and Bill Custard Award for making theater happen!

LUXURY RAFFLE

STAY TUNED FOR LUXURY RAFFLE UPDATES!

Proceeds from the Luxury Raffle benefit Dallas Theater Center’s Public Works Department. Dallas Theater Center’s Department of Public Works partners with community-based organizations, schools and government to invite people of all ages to take theater classes, attend performances and events, and join in the creation of ambitious works of participatory theater. Deep and sustained relationships with organizations and individuals who share our collective vision are the bedrock of our work throughout our diverse community.

Through this process, strangers become neighbors – creating a region that is welcoming for all. Public Works embodies DTC’s belief in theater of, by and for the people; rooted in the values of equity, imagination and joy.

CONTEST INFORMATION: Must be a legal resident of Texas, age 18 or older. No limit on ticket purchases by one person. All major credit cards, cash, and checks accepted. Winning names will be drawn Friday, May 2, 2025. Need not be present to win. Ticket price is not deductible as a charitable contribution. Winners will be notified on Monday, May 5, 2025, and must claim prizes within 30 days of drawings. Prize recipient is responsible for all taxes and any IRS tax implications.

GALA CHAIRS

EVENT CHAIR
Hamilton A Sneed

DALLAS THEATER CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kevin Moriarty

HOST COMMITTEE

Troy C. Alley III
Jennifer and Peter Altabef
Stephanie and Todd Anderson
Stacey Jones Angel
Tiffany Ferris & Daniel Bennett
Meredith and Rick Bjorck
Mickie and Jeff Bragalone
Calvert Collins-Bratton and Vince Bratton
Diane and Hal Brierley
Dwight Burns
Stephanie and Michael Byrd
Zenola Campbell
Gail Plummer and John Cattaneo
Linda and Bill Custard
Claudia and Scott Davis
Deborah McMurray and Glen Davison
Lacy L. Durham, Esq.
Bess and Ted Enloe
Susie and Curt FitzGerald
Rebecca and Barron Fletcher
Kathleen Foley
Michelle Lenoir Gaulding
Carol and Don Glendenning
Sarah and Frank Hamlin
Craig Haynes
Renda Mathew & Russell Hayward
Kitty and Michael Hinojosa
Angela and John Howell
Melinda and Jim
Kate Juett
Josey and Craig Kennington
Sarah and Alan Losinger
Lynn McBee
Chris Luna and Kent Mecklenburg
Paula and Scott Orr
Holly and Andy Payne
Cyndi Phelps
Holly and Kelvin Reed
Lynn and Elvenn Richardson
Helen and Frank Risch
Sarah Rodriguez
Deedie Rose
Stephanie and David Russakov
Rob Russell
Cheree and Kelvin Sellers
Teri and John Shaffer
Venise and Larry Stuart
Edwin D. Tatum
Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld
Sarah and Don Warnecke
Donna Wilhelm

Current as of 12/10/24

WITH GRATITUDE

We’d like to express our sincere gratitude to all of our event partners for their generosity and support! CENTERSTAGE 41 would not be possible without your partnership.

Auction & Event Solutions
Buford Resources / Morgan Hopson
Fashion Industry Gallery
Gangway Advertising
HAS Events
Murray Media
Posh Couture Rentals
Reed Creative Group
Shag Carpet Prop Rentals
Tamytha Cameron Photography
Think Three Media
Thomas Garza Photography