Best Little Playhouses in Dallas for Original Theater Productions (2024)

If there is one thing that Dallas is really good at, it’s keeping its most interesting offerings under the radar— it’s an "if you know you know" kind of city. If you know and love theater, then you already know that Dallas and its surrounding suburbs have an amazing theater scene with a rich history. If you don’t, you’re about to find out all about it.

The foundation of North Texas’ regional theater scene was laid in the late 1940s by the absolutely legendary Margo Jones, who was aptly nicknamed the Texas Tornado. Jones was born in Livingston, Texas, in 1911. She began her career in the early 1930s as a stage director and producer working in community and professional theaters all over the map: California, Houston, Austin, New York. She helped to shape the careers of some of the most important playwrights of the modern era— Tennessee Williams, Joseph Hayes and William Inge are among the most notable.

Even with all that success under her belt, her real dream was to open her own theater. She came to Dallas to do just that. Jones opened Theater ’47 in the still very cool Magnolia Building in Fair Park. It was a “theater-in-the-round,” with a layout that seats the audience on all sides of the stage. At the time, in 1947, there were virtually no professional American theater companies in existence outside of New York.

Theater ’47 was experimental and cutting edge, staging new plays rather than the tired, commercialized Broadway hits of the time. It was here that William Inge and Robert E. Lee debuted the world premiere of Inherit the Wind, which later became a massive hit on Broadway and on the big screen.

Jones had a vision for American theater: She wanted it to be decentralized and accessible to people all over the country. She really loved her craft, and was going to do her damnedest to share it. Jones was the first person in Dallas to take the risk of opening her own company, hoping that her initiative would inspire others to do the same. Her Theater ’47 eventually became the model for all aspiring theater companies outside New York. A book she wrote served as an instruction manual that outlined cost-effective strategies and was a general guide to running startup theater companies. You can see why she was nicknamed the Texas Tornado.

Since Margo Jones’ tragic death in 1955 and the subsequent closing of Theater ’47 in 1959, the North Texas theater community has really taken off. There was a wave of culturally diverse and avant-garde theater in the 1970s and 1980s, and another revival of theater in the 1990s.

As for our next scene, let us shine the spotlight on some smaller, independent theaters that you may not have visited yet but should, as soon as possible. These unique venues have much cultural enrichment to offer.

Artstillery

723 Fort Worth Ave.
This Oak Cliff performance arts space has become a prime destination for the best in Dallas' imaginative, provocative and straight-up weird theater. From founder Ilknur Ozgur's original plays (with giant puppets) through its recent, excellent political satire The Life of AFJ, Artstillery leaves theatergoers stuffed with food for thought. Its plays often spill out onto the streets— take place outside altogether, such as in 2021's Family Dollar, where viewers peeked into three shotgun houses to watch the scenes happening inside the homes. It also hosted band The Helium Queens' brilliantly bonkers Space Opera, so there's absolutely no telling on what to expect.

Bishop Arts Theatre Center

215 S. Tyler St.
In the heart of Oak Cliff lies the Bishop Arts Theatre Center, a historic venue built as a silent movie house in 1914. Now it's a beautifully renovated space that serves as an important cultural venue for the area, constantly seeking to platform a widely diverse array of voices and perspectives through plays, concerts, seminars, films and conferences. Bishop Arts Theatre Center has also thrown a banned books festival three years in a row, continuously cementing its legacy as a vital cultural institution of Dallas.

Cara Mía Theatre

2600 Live Oak St.
Cara Mía Theatre is dedicated to its mission to uplift Latinx stories and showcase the diverse experiences of the community. It's the largest Latinx theater in the whole of Texas, producing uniquely engaging plays season after season. The org is located inside the Latino Cultural Center, which, if you don’t know, is the eye-catching orange and purple building on the corner of Live Oak and Good Latimer. You have some time to buy tickets to its next production, El Viaje de Tina, which will be performed in Mexican folk masks.It's about a young girl and her journey to the United States from Mexico. The first performance is Feb. 8, 2025.

Kitchen Dog Theater

2600 N. Stemmons Freeway
Kitchen Dog Theater draws its name from Samuel Beckett’s famous play, Waiting for Godot. The term symbolizes society’s endless cycle of ignorance and injustice, and Kitchen Dog Theater takes on this concept through an array of distinctive productions. The company aims for its plays to challenge the audience and spark conversations long after the curtains have closed, encouraging people to think deeply and critically about societal problems. Itdoes a pretty good job through its incredible roster of talent and commitment to showcasing new and interesting works. It has received over 400 awards; you just can’t argue with that.

Ochre House

825 Exposition Ave.
Ochre House, the self-proclaimed (and trademarked) pioneer of the Suavant Garde™, is well known for its immersive, experimental and alternative approach to theater. The theater is tiny, 55 seats to be exact, and you should count yourself lucky if you can get one of the few tickets to its acclaimed shows. Matthew Posey, founder and artistic director of Ochre House, and his team know how to create strange worlds and characters that completely transport the audience to an alternate reality. The original and award-winning productions at Ochre House are truly something you just have to see for yourself, as standard descriptors do not apply here.

Pocket Sandwich Theater

1104 Elm St., Carrollton
Pocket Sandwich Theater claims to be “the most fun you can have in a live theater.” It's certainly a place where the normal rules of theater are regularly bent, if not entirely erased. For one thing, you can eat dinner while watching the show. The longtime Dallas staple relocated to Carrollton in 2021but kept its focus on entertainment first and foremost, ensuring that the audience leaves happier than when they came in. This is the spot to catch a comedy, spoofs, musical theater and its signaure melodramas. To top it all off, you're encouraged to throw popcorn at the actors.

Soul Rep Theater

Varied locations
Soul Rep Theater has been highlighting Black American and African diasporic stories through bold storytelling for 30 years, and it's ready to celebrate this incredible legacy in the upcoming 2025 season. Soul Rep has a reputation in the Dallas arts community for being thought-provoking, impactful and highly dedicated to the craft, having produced over 65 plays and cultivating generations of theater artists and patrons while continuing to uplift Black voices and stories. The first show of the 2025 season is The African Company presents Richard III, Feb. 7–23, 2025.

The Core Theatre

518 W. Arapaho Road, Richardson
The Core Theatre was founded by James Hansen Prince in 2012. Its stated mission is to produce plays that entertain, educate and artistically elevate society. The theater provides a range of productions, from classics to Prince’s originals, most notably the historically inspired Inferno! Fire at the Cocoanut Grove: 1942. The Core Theater also does a good job of highlighting local stories and bringing to light some of the history of the city of Richardson. It may be a bit of a hike if you live in Dallas, but The Core Theater is undoubtedly one of the suburb’s many unexpected surprises.

Theater Three

2800 Routh St.
Theater Three was established in 1961 in the Quadrangle in Uptown. This means it's within walking distance of all the good bars in the area, so you can make an entire night of drinking and a show. It was founded by Norma Young, who was inspired by none other than our old friend Margo Jones. Theater Three is a theater-in-the-round, just like Theater 47, so you are guaranteed to have an up close and personal experience with the performers. This playhouse focuses on artistry and innovation, always nurturing new talent within the theater community.

Undermain Theatre

3200 Main St.
Undermain Theatre is located, well, under Main Street in Deep Ellum. This true Dallas landmark is arguably one of the coolest venues in town. Everything there has a story, even its seats (which are restored original Frank Lloyd Wright chairs). Undermain Theater is truly cutting-edge, known for its impressive and critically acclaimed productions. Having been at the forefront of Dallas theater for decades, Undermain has made a huge impact nationally, receiving tons of recognition for its original works.

WaterTower Theatre

15650 Addison Road, Addison
You probably don’t immediately think about theater when you think about Addison, but WaterTower Theatre is one of Texas’ leading theater companies. Since its founding in 1996, it's been committed to community connection and thought-provoking art. WaterTower's plays are dynamic and filled with local talent, pushing creative boundaries through unique productions that offer audiences nothing like they've ever seen before. After the play you can check out one of those Addison bars where you can still smoke cigarettes.