Celebrating 50 Years in the Limelight

Downtown Arlington was designated a Cultural District by the State of Texas in 2016, however, the cultural arts thrived in this community long before then. Theatre Arlington dates its humble beginnings back to 1973, when a group of talented dreamers, called The Potluck Players, turned their passion for the theater arts into reality. Though the group would find themselves performing in several temporary venues over the years, they eventually found their forever home on W Main Street, right in the heart of Downtown Arlington in 1991.

Fast forward to today, Theatre Arlington is now celebrating its 50^th Anniversary, making it the second longest-operating live theater in Tarrant County. Their story and the stories they tell on that stage serve as motivation to never stop fighting to achieve your goals and to always keep dreaming, making “The American Dream City” the perfect place to call home for decades.

“We have loved spending the last 32 years in Downtown Arlington, as an anchor to the Cultural Arts District and seeing the tremendous growth and changes over the decades,” said Executive Producer Steven Morris.

When COVID-19 shook the arts community to its core, Theatre Arlington capitalized on their time away from the public to undergo a $2 million renovation, with funding provided by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. This perseverance and commitment to keeping the arts alive is the driving force behind Theatre Arlington’s initial opening and their ability to remain open all this time.

“It can be challenging for any nonprofit business to last 50 years and even more so in the arts,” said Morris. “We are thrilled to be a long-time leader in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.”

The renovation included all-new technology, an expanded lobby, new seating, a green room, a dedicated box office, and a new revolving stage. These upgrades to their space help Theatre Arlington accomplish their goal of “providing young people with the gift of confidence, self-esteem, and empathy for others” through the arts.

By partnering with the Arlington Independent School District and various Downtown Arlington organizations, Theatre Arlington has encouraged a thriving creative environment for artists to grow and connect with one another. With half a century under their belt, Theatre Arlington is not slowing down anytime soon.

“We are committed to another 50 years of excellence, continued growth, and representing and telling stories of our diverse community,” said Morris.

This year’s season includes an array of incredible programming such as “Noises Off,” “On Golden Pond,” “Superior Donuts,” “Avenue Q,” and currently “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” regarded by many professionals as the finest musical ever created. Be sure to check the Theatre Arlington website and the Downtown Arlington event calendar and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know!