September & October Pop-Up Grant Recipients October 13, 2023

Meet the Pop-Up Grants Recipients for September and October

The 2023 Pop-Up Grants continue celebrating engaging events that shared history, poignant tales, and unforgettable experiences. These Pop-Up Grants recipients produced compelling art that delighted audiences everywhere.

Dallas Children’s Theater’s Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters – Photo by Lawrence Jenkins

Dallas Children’s Theater

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters

LEARN MORE ABOUT DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER

Unrestricted Grant: $2,500 Pop-Up Grant
Artist Bonus Funds: $5,000 Artist Bonus Funding

Dallas Children’s Theater recently presented a heartwarming adaptation of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, a captivating Zimbabwe-based Cinderella tale set in Africa. The story follows Mufaro, an African villager with two daughters, Manyara and Nyasha, who differ in character. When Mufaro sends both daughters to meet the King in search of a worthy and beautiful wife, the play unfolds as a celebration of goodness, generosity, and love, accompanied by traditional dancing, rhythmic drumming, and glorious African songs. The production received glowing feedback, with praise for Michelle Gipson’s choreography, S-Ankh Rasa wonderful new musical direction, the captivating presentation, and the impressive set. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters left a lasting impression on both young and old, highlighting the magic of theater and storytelling, while inspiring the next generation of theater-makers to sign up to continue their theater training at Dallas Children’s Theater.

Since its co-founding by Robyn Flatt in 1984, Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) has embodied its mission to inspire young people to creative and productive lives through the art of theater. With over 35 years of developing and implementing exceptional arts-in-education programs, DCT has discovered that an effective way to reach children at all stages of life is through exposure to and participation in the arts. Through arts-in-education classes, sensory-friendly programming, community outreach, in-school and after school programming, and mainstage performances, DCT strives to serve the children and families of North Texas, especially underserved populations who have the greatest need for the essential social and emotional benefits of theater. Keep in touch with DCT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Dallas Theater Center’s The Rocky Horror Show – Photo by Kim Leeson

Dallas Theater Center

The Rocky Horror Show
LEARN MORE ABOUT DALLAS THEATER CENTER

Unrestricted Grant: $2,500 Pop-Up Grant

Dallas Theater Center‘s recent production of The Rocky Horror Show took audiences on a wild and unforgettable ride through this cult classic. Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stranded during a storm, stumble upon the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, setting the stage for a night of elaborate dances, rock songs, and outlandish characters. This deliberately kitschy rock ‘n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical was a thrilling celebration of the Halloween season. Audience members were wowed by the innovative use of technology, including live projections and the performance of all of the dynamic performers on stage. The production successfully blended hilarious irreverence with modern relevance, appealing to both loyal fans and first-timers. With outstanding choreography, music, and a talented cast, “The Rocky Horror Show” was an artistic triumph and a night to remember.

Dallas Theater Center’s mission is to engage, entertain, and inspire our diverse community by creating experiences that stimulate new ways of thinking and living. They do this by consistently producing plays, educational programs, and other initiatives that are of the highest quality and reach the broadest possible constituency. As one of the leading regional theaters in the country and the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award® Recipient, Dallas Theater Center produces a six-play subscription series of classic, musical, and new plays with annual productions of A Christmas Carol and a Public Works Dallas participatory theater production each season. Keep in touch with Dallas Theater Center on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Junior Players Shakespeare with Henry – Photos by Albert Cervantes and Abby Stigler

Junior Players

Shakespeare with Henry

LEARN MORE ABOUT JUNIOR PLAYERS

Unrestricted Grant: $2,500 Pop-Up Grant
Artist Bonus Funds: $5,000 Artist Bonus Funding

Junior Players‘ Shakespeare with Henry is a groundbreaking project that invites young residents of the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center to engage in a transformative exploration of Shakespeare’s King Henry V. This innovative initiative unfolds through immersive 15 to 18-week sessions, guided by dedicated teaching artists, as they worked toward a final performance. Participants not only delve into Shakespeare’s literary works but also incorporate stage movement, music, and choreography, acquiring valuable life skills that promote nonviolent communication, problem-solving, and creative thinking. Through this remarkable theatrical experience, Junior Players successfully fulfills its mission to promote intellectual development, creative expression, and mental well-being, all while demonstrating exceptional creativity, artistic merit, accessibility, and inclusion. The dedication and persistence of Junior Players in bringing art and Shakespeare to incarcerated youth is both touching and impactful, and it is evident that their commitment to the project is unwavering, with plans to continue this partnership into the future. The audience feedback highlights the significance of this endeavor, emphasizing the dedication of the teaching artists, the project’s resilience in the face of challenges, and the community’s support for this vital initiative.

Junior Players is the oldest, longest running arts programming nonprofit in Dallas. Since 1955, they have provided innovative arts education for FREE to children and youth in North Texas and beyond. Through their programming, youth are transformed. The mission of Junior Players is to encourage intellectual growth, mental well-being and the development of life skills in youth through mentoring, creative expression, and participation in the fine arts. Junior Players engages children and youth through the arts, providing them with the tools they need to navigate real life challenges confidently and competently. Follow Junior Players on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

WHAT’S A POP-UP GRANT?
We started our Pop-Up Grant program to shine a light on arts organizations creating programming that demonstrates exceptional quality, innovation, and accessibility safely, without skimping on the creative impact.

HOW DO YOU PICK THE RECIPIENTS?
Grant recipients are meticulously selected via a nomination process that incorporates 70+ anonymous volunteers. Nominations are made each month and a selection committee meets afterward to determine grantees based on our criteria above.

To learn more about Pop-Up Grants, please click here.