Dallas — To celebrate two decades of the Festival of Independent Theatres, the organization has launched a #MyFITStory campaign, and is highlighting the 20 Faces of FIT. These are 20 people, or groupings of people, who have made a significant impact on the festival—as the festival has had on them. Each made a video focused on their FIT story at a media day event on June 5.
TheaterJones is showcasing one of the Faces each day through the beginning of the festival, which runs July 13 to Aug. 4 at the Bath House Cultural Center. The videos were shot by FIT.
Next up: Marty Van Kleeck.
Van Kleeck is the manager at the Bath House Cultural Center, and toward the end of the previous century managed the Granbury Opera House, where she often collaborated with Gene Raye Price and Larry Randolph.
When she relocated to Dallas, she and Price decided this city needed a theater that catered to an age group frequently ignored when producers talk demographics: senior citizens. As in producing work specifically targeted at that age group. So they formed One Thirty Productions, named so because the group performs only matinees, at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, and often hosts busloads of audience members from nearby retirement communities.
One Thirty produced a few times at FIT, realizing it was a way to expand the audience and do edgier work. The highlight of that was The Madness of Lady Bright in 2011, starring the now-late Randolph in the title role.
In the video above, she talks about One Thirty, FIT, and the cultural gem that is the Bath House Cultural Center. One Thirty hasn't produced at FIT in several years, but don't count that out in the future.
» The shows in the 2018 Festival of Independent Theatres and a grid schedule are below. You can read descriptions and see a full schedule here.
Camp Death Productions: Jimmy Pine by Ben Schroth
Danielle Georgiou Dance Group: Just Girly Things by Danielle Georgiou, Justin Locklear, Ruben Carrazana, Trey Pendergrass and Cory Kosel
Eccentric Bear Productions: The Book of Gabe by Isaac Young
Echo Theatre: Bible Women by Elizabeth Swados and Vicki Caroline Cheatwood
Imprint Theatreworks: Suckers by Devin Berg
Laughter League: Where Do I Sit? by Dick Monday
Prism Movement Theater: BruNO and lOUIe by Jeffrey Colangelo
WingSpan Theatre Company: Landscape by Harold Pinter

The 20th Festival of Independent Theatres
July 13- August 4, 2018
Bath House Cultural Center,
521 E. Lawther Drive, Dallas
Tickets and passes go on sale in late June
Call 800-617-6904 or visit www.festivalofindependenttheatres.org

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