Nice to Meet You! Introducing Steven D. Morris, Downtown Arlington Board of Directors

As the governing body for the Downtown Arlington Business Improvement District (BID), our Board of Directors represents the diverse interests found within our vibrant community. Each member of our Board brings incredible insights to our planning and programming, and we're proud to serve beside them.

Through our Q&A series, Nice to Meet You, we're proud to introduce you to the members of our Board. This week, we're chatting with one of our new Directors.

Meet Steven D. Morris, Executive Producer of Theatre Arlington.

Steve is currently overseeing the theater’s largest renovation to date. The theater will get a new stage, seats, dressing rooms and classrooms, as well as state-of-the-art lights and expanded backstage wing space. Other improvements include a new exterior, expanded entryway, new box office, expanded lobby and a concessions and bar area.The theater’s education building will gain an updated rehearsal hall and meeting spaces, as well as improvements on three of its current classrooms.

Downtown Arlington:  What are the top things you like most about Downtown Arlington?

Steve:  I love all the wonderful places to eat and drink in Downtown. So many good choices and so much good food! I also love that the Arlington Cultural District is located in Downtown and that I can walk from Theatre Arlington to the Arlington Museum of Art, the Downtown Library, City Hall, and so many great places that are easily accessible. 

DA:  Name a leader in our community who inspires you.

Steve:  Tillie Burgin inspires me with her mission to help people and what she has been able to accomplish at Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex.

DA:  What is your favorite Downtown building or place?

Steve:  Theatre Arlington is my favorite place Downtown because of all of the wonderful people I have met and experiences I have had here. I also love that is it located between the Arlington Life Shelter and Mission Arlington and down the street from the Arlington Art Museum. These organizations all provide much needed services to the community.

DA:  What's your favorite thing about your job?

Steve:  I love collaborating with talented, smart, funny, creative people to share stories that can enlighten and entertain. As a former High School theatre teacher, I love that Theatre Arlington has a wonderful partnership with the AISD and that I have the opportunity to continue to share my love of theatre with Arlington’s young people. 

DA:  What inspires you as you look ahead to the opening of your renovated space in Downtown? 

Steve:  The “new” Theatre Arlington is focused on inclusion and celebrating the amazing diversity in Arlington. We look forward to telling stories that reflect the heart of our community. We have several new programs to go along with the renovated building. We will have a Comedy Club series bringing improvisation, sketch comedy and stand-up the second Sunday of every month. We will also have a Play Reading Club series that will explore contemporary works with a talk-back for discussion afterwards. The renovations will create a much better patron experience with new comfortable seating, state of the art lighting and sound equipment and a wonderful new cabaret theatre in the expanded lobby. The new building will also help us bring more people to enjoy Downtown. 

DA: Outside of your business, tell us about some of your personal interests.

Steve:  I really enjoy my serving my community and encouraging others to do the same. I prepared and served meals at Samaritan House (a facility for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS) in Fort Worth for over 20 years as a part of their supper club program. I have volunteered at the Arlington Life Shelter and Arlington Animal Shelter. I am also very active in my church, Unity of Arlington, where I have served as a small group leader, director of a theater ministry (Illuminations) and as a platform leader.

DA: When you're out for drinks in Downtown, what is your favorite cocktail and where is your favorite spot to order it?

Steve:  It is really hard for me to pick just one place because I eat at JR Bentley’s, J Gilligan’s, Flying Fish, Twisted Root, Tipsy Oak and Cane Rosso fairly regularly.  

DA:  When you think about a bright future for Downtown, what one thing do you think will contribute most to its long-term success?

Steve:  I feel the continued success for Downtown Arlington is the collaboration between city leaders in government, local business owners and developers who understand what a wonderful investment a vibrant downtown is for the entire city. I am thrilled to be a part of the growth and revitalization of Downtown. 

DA:  Most important, what's your Texas Rangers walk-on song? 

Steve:  Pour on the Power sung by Sandi Patti.
 

Theatre Arlington 
305 W. Main St.
Arlington, TX 76010
theatrearlington.org
 

About Downtown Arlington   

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington is where creativity, authenticity, and hometown pride thrive and drive what's next. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, a Tier One public research university, plus prolific visual and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate. downtownarlington.org

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