A Message from Our Executive Director
Welcome to the Dallas Children’s Theater’s 2026-27 season! We are so excited to have you here. This year, we are thrilled to present five exciting shows that have never before been produced on our stage. This season’s theme is “brave enough to be yourself”, and our artistic team has chosen an outstanding selection of stories to share with you that teach this empowering message. Four of these stories originate from children’s books!
To kick off the season, we have Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience where Wilbur, the naked mole rat, challenges his colony’s expectations by dressing with his own special style. This holiday season, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will save Christmas by embracing his own unique shining light. Coming in January, we will meet Corduroy, a courageous teddy bear who will tumble his way into your heart. In Marooned! A Space Comedy, puppeteers Alex and Olmsted bring their world class puppetry to the Baker Theater for an out-of-this-world adventure. Finally, in The Secret Garden: The Musical, a classic work of children’s literature comes to life in this Tony Award winning musical that is sure to delight and inspire audiences of both young and old. Regardless of which show you are attending today, you can be assured that our talented team of artists has worked hard to present these wonderful tales of courage and self-expression in a way that truly engages you and your family.
Thank you so much for joining us at DCT. We hope you enjoy all of our shows and that the lessons they provide will remain with you for many years to come.
Henri Sudy (they/them) is dressing to impress for their return to the DCT stage (and revisit the wonderful world of Mo Willems after last year's big-time holiday extravaganza)! They've performed across Dallas, New York, and their home state of Ohio, most recently with Universal Kids Resort, Crunchyroll, DCT, Arts Mission Oak Cliff, Plague Mask Players, Shakespeare Everywhere, and are looking forward to taking part in the inaugural production of Witches 3 Productions this fall with Taming: A Folktale. Learn more about their art at your leisure on HenriSudy.com. Now... it's time to get dressed and ROCK OUT!
Brian Gibson is a Houston native, Navy veteran, and graduate of the University of North Texas where he earned his BA in Theatre. He has been featured in several productions with various theatres and companies around DFW including Fair Assembly, Soul Rep Theatre, Inkspark Theatre, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, WaterTower Theatre, Undermain Theatre and most recently Jubilee Theatre. He is excited to be making his debut at Dallas Children’s Theater and looks forward to many more future endeavors.
Karrington Sneed is a Dallas-based singer, songwriter, and performer who is thrilled to be making her Dallas Children’s Theater debut as Grande in Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. She made her theatrical debut as Roberta Flack in The Voices of Donny Hathaway at Jubilee Theatre, followed by her debut in her dream show, Rent, as Joanne Jefferson at Circle Theatre in April. When she’s not on stage, Karrington performs throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area as an independent recording artist under the name KAAYSNEED, sharing her passion for music through live performances and original songs. She is incredibly grateful to continue this exciting new chapter in theater and is honored to join the Dallas Children’s Theater family. Enjoy the show!
Via Rubio is excited to be returning to Dallas Children’s Theater as Tall in Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience! Last seen on the DCT stage in the staged reading of The Penumbra, Via Rubio is a recent graduate from the University of North Texas where she earned her degree in Theatre with a concentration in acting. At UNT, Via was an active member in her department and participated in many shows in her four years. Some credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowels), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), and Great God Pan (Paige). Via is so excited to be back on stage in this rock experience and would like to thank her parents for all their support and her two cuddly kitties for all their love!
Jonah Moon is thrilled to be returning to the DCT stage! Jonah's previous shows with DCT include The Magician's Nephew and Pete The Cat, which was also directed by the fabulous, Alli Betsill. To get to return to this stage is always a dream for him, and he is so happy to kick off the school year with such a rockin' show!
Elena Rosales (Secret Service, U/S Grande & Tall) is thrilled to be burrowing her way into her DCT debut! Previous missions include Natalie in Next To Normal at SigPro Studio, Mayor in SpongeBob at Casa Mañana, and Diana Morales in A Chorus Line. Endless thanks to her parents, brothers, and vocal coach David Gaschen for supporting her in all of her endeavors, no matter how exposed. Alias: @elena.grace.rosales
Logan Dolence (he/him) is a Dallas-based actor originally from Zeeland, MI, holding a BFA in Musical Theatre from Western Michigan University. Recent credits include Mouse/Tweedledum in Alice in Wonderland at Shakespeare Dallas, Ensemble/Scarecrow & Tin Man cover in The Wizard of Oz at Casa Mañana, Jimmy Biddle in Pete the Cat at Dallas Children’s Theater, and Production Vocalist with Princess Cruises. Other notable credits: originating Joseph in His Story the Musical, Finch in Newsies at Casa Mañana, Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods at Timberlake Playhouse, and Swing in James and the Giant Peach at Dallas Children’s Theater. Much love to his spouse Matty and Maltipoo Petey.
For more than 38 years, Michael Meadows has dedicated his professional career and personal life to serving others through a wide array of charitable organizations. Michael has served as the Director of Development for The University of Texas at Dallas, Executive Vice President for Southwestern Medical Foundation, CEO/Executive Director of the Dallas Zoological Society, and Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor at Westwood Trust, a division of Westwood Holdings Group, a publicly-traded asset management firm. In late 2019, Michael launched Meadows Family Consulting Group LLC. Through his practice, he has served as the interim CEO of Dallas County Heritage Society, the nonprofit organization that managed Old City Park, Dallas’ oldest public park, and as interim Executive Director of Encore Park, a multi-purpose, social impact facility that was founded by First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. He currently serves on the boards of The Meadows Foundation, the Mike A. Myers Foundation, and TACA (The Arts Community Alliance), and on the advisory boards of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at The University of Texas at Austin and the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas. In September 2025, he became the Executive Director of Dallas Children’s Theater.
Emily Ernst is an actor, director, and movement coach. Prior to her role at DCT, she was the co-founder and Artistic Director of Fair Assembly and Associate Artistic Director at the River & Rail Theatre, founded by SMU Alumni, in Knoxville, TN. As an educator, Emily has taught at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Advanced Acting), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cistercian Preparatory School, and Junior Players, among others; and led the Theatre Arts Academy at the Lincoln Playhouse. For the past two years with Junior Players, Emily has led the female cohort of Shakespeare with Henry: the first youth-focused Shakespeare in Prison program in Texas and the third in the nation. Emily has held staff positions with Teatro Dallas, Cry Havoc Theater Company, The Lincoln Community Playhouse, TACA, Flatwater Shakespeare Company, and Theatre for a New Audience in New York City. Recent directing projects include Fiddler on the Roof at UNT, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at River & Rail Theatre, Mame at The Lincoln Playhouse, The Little Prince at River & Rail Theatre, The Music Man Jr. at Cistercian Prep, and King Lear at Fair Assembly. Emily is a graduate of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, L’École internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq (2017-2018), and is a fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
Alli Betsill is a Dallas/Fort Worth-based director, choreographer, and actor. Recent credits include: Something Rotten! (Choreographer) at Utah Shakespeare Festival; Pete the Cat (Director/Choreographer) and the Rolling World Premiere of The Pigeon Gets a Big-Time Holiday Extravaganza (Director/Choreographer) at Dallas Children’s Theater; Cabaret (Director) at University of North Texas; The Sound of Music (Assistant Director/Understudy), Clue (Assistant Director/Understudy), and Into the Woods (Associate Director) at Dallas Theater Center; Seussical (Cat in the Hat) and Charlotte’s Web (Wilbur) at Casa Mañana; Manic Monologues (Co-Choreographer/Associate Director) and Mary Poppins (Dance Captain) at WaterTower Theatre; Broadway Our Way ‘24, ‘25, ‘26 (Choreographer) and Star of Wonder (Choreographer) at Uptown Players; Bright Star (Choreographer) and Sister Act (Choreographer) at Texas Christian University; A Chorus Line (Judy Turner) and Black Comedy (Carol) at Theatre Arlington; The Addams Family (Director/Choreographer), Beauty and the Beast (Associate Director/Choreographer), Legally Blonde (Associate Director/Choreographer) and Matilda (Acrobat/Dance Capt) at The Firehouse Theatre; and Puffs (Sally/Others) at Imprint Theatreworks. She choreographed Six Flags' Holiday in the Park, as well as completed Frantic Assembly's TRAIN movement program. Other credits include: Circle Theatre, Amphibian Stage, Garland Summer Musicals, and Prism Movement Theatre. Alli has a BFA in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis from TCU, where she focused her honors thesis on Musical Theatre Dance and Choreography. Love to Billy and Frankie. allibetsill.com @alli.betsill
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