On the evening of Friday, May 2, 2025, Dallas Theater Center hosted its 41st annual CENTERSTAGE Gala, presented by Texas Instruments, at the stylish Fashion Industry Gallery (FIG). Themed “Take a Bow,” this year’s celebration honored not only the performers who shine under the lights but also the artisans, educators, and visionaries behind the scenes whose devotion brings each production to life. Returning event chair Hamilton A Sneed led the festivities, which unfolded as a sweeping tribute to the theater’s enduring impact on Dallas’s cultural landscape. Nearly 300 guests gathered for a night that was equal parts spectacle and sentiment—beginning with a champagne reception and culminating in stirring musical performances by members of the Diane & Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company alongside beloved guest artists.

Upon arrival, attendees ascended FIG’s staircase and were transported into a theatrical reimagining of a contemporary New York supper club, with pristine white linens and a rich wash of violet light setting the stage. Lavish private salons featured displays of theatrical wigs from past DTC productions, a gallery showcasing artworks by Public Works participants, and a vivid visual archive of DTC’s Project Discovery legacy. Notables in attendance included including Linda Custard, Jon and Dawn Mellon, Kimberly Alexander, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, Diane and Hal Brierley, Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Terri Provencal, Melinda Johnson, and Grace Cook. Guests mingled with crafted cocktails provided by ROXOR Artisan Spirits, Sagamore Whiskey, Casa Obsidiana Tequila, and Disaronno and Tia Maria-laced espresso martinis. The immersive evening paid tribute to the holistic ecosystem of theater—from set carpenters to storytellers—underscoring DTC’s commitment to community and creativity. As dinner was called, Sneed welcomed Dallas’s arts patrons, philanthropists, and civic leaders, reminding all that the evening was not just a celebration, but a call to action—to sustain and expand the reach of the Tony Award®-winning company’s transformative education and outreach efforts.

“Tonight, is about celebrating everyone who makes theater happen at DTC — from wig makers to dressers, costume designers to technicians, woodworkers to musicians, ushers to actors, and everyone in between. DTC’s impact goes beyond the stage. It reaches into classrooms, neighborhoods, and communities across Dallas. I couldn’t be more excited to support the next generation of storytellers, theatergoers, and dreamers,” said Sneed. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Linda and Bill Custard Award, DTC’s highest honor, bestowed upon Joel Ferrell—renowned actor, director, choreographer, educator, and former Associate Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center. The moment was made especially poignant by the recent passing of Bill Custard, a stalwart of DTC since its inception. In tribute, Executive Director and CEO Kevin Moriarty announced that the 2025–2026 season will be dedicated to Custard’s memory.

“On December 27^th, 1959, on Dallas Theater Center’s first opening night, Linda & Bill were at the brand-new Kalita Humphreys Theater on a date, 8 months before their 65-year marriage would begin,” Moriarty said. “It’s impossible to think of DTC’s history without thinking of Bill Custard. He and Linda have given so much of their time, their wisdom, their leadership and their financial support to ensure that DTC will thrive for generations to come.” Of Ferrell, Moriarty spoke with reverence: “Joel’s artistry and his mentorship is an extension of his family’s deepest values: grounded in justice, respect, and a deep awareness of our shared humanity Joel empowers others to express themselves truthfully. He provides opportunity for those who others attempt to marginalize. To come in for an audition. To be included in a rehearsal room. To lift up their voice and sing. To act – to take action. To stand up. To dance. To be seen and heard. This is what I love about Joel, and about the countless theater artists with whom he has formed a tribe for so many decades, creating outstanding productions.”

Following the award presentation, guests enjoyed a three-course meal by Vestals Catering, with wine pairings from Bezel by Cakebread and St. Francis Winery. The spirited live auction, conducted by Morgan Hopson, offered luxury travel and culinary experiences from Milan Fashion Week to San Miguel de Allende, Cabo San Lucas, and Palm Springs. The program continued with remarks from Brandi Giles, DTC Director of Public Works, who captured the soul of the evening: “Public Works is more than just a community engagement initiative—it’s a lifeline. It’s a door flung open wide, inviting people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences to step into the world of theater not as spectators, but as storytellers. People who have never acted before—some who have never even been in a theater—find themselves singing, dancing, laughing, and creating side by side with professional artists.” The gala crescendoed in an emotionally charged musical revue featuring selections from Cabaret, Rocky Horror Show, Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, and more—productions shaped by Ferrell’s creative legacy. Performers included Resident Acting Company members and surprise guest stars David Coffee, Julie Johnson, and Denise Lee, punctuating the evening with joy, memory, and reverence.

CENTERSTAGE 41 was generously supported by “Company” level sponsors Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Diane and Hal Brierley, Clare and Cal Chaney, Linda and Bill Custard, Deedie Rose, Donna M. Wilhelm, and FERRAGAMO. “Cast” and “Director” level sponsors included Hamilton A Sneed, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, HALL Group, PNC Bank, Haynes Boone, and others, with media support from PATRON Magazine and PaperCity.  Proceeds from CENTERSTAGE enable DTC to continue producing bold, inclusive theater and to deepen its engagement through initiatives like Project Discovery and the Public Works Pageant—ensuring that future generations of artists and audiences may continue to take the stage.

Photos by Tamytha Cameron and Thomas Garza

Uptown Dallas, Inc. has hired Kelem Butts to serve as the organization’s new executive director beginning July 1. An Uptown Dallas resident for 24 years, Butts brings extensive corporate and nonprofit expertise to the role, including serving on the UDI Board of Directors as Public Safety Chair for the last five years.

Noelle LeVeaux has served as the interim UDI Executive Director.

Ramsey March, Chairman of Uptown Dallas Inc. and Executive Managing Director at Stream Realty, said, “As we reviewed candidates for this position, it became clear that Kelem’s career experience, his board credentials and his love for Uptown made him the perfect candidate. He starts at an exciting time for the district and will play a key role in finishing out and opening our recently announced Safety Headquarters, which is located at the southern end of Uptown.”

Kelem Butts said, “I am honored to be selected for this role as it’s the intersection of everything that’s important to me—economic and urban development done strategically, a safe walkable community that feels like a small town, and being able to take an organization to new heights.”

Butts is known for his hands-on leadership and a career with major organizations like AT&T, where he worked on national philanthropic and educational initiatives. At AT&T he helped lead transformational change, serving lastly as Director of Charitable Operations. He led many facets of charitable operations, with a focus on overseeing the AT&T Aspire philanthropic program, a $100M initiative to promote high school success and workforce readiness. He also co-managed AT&T Connected Learning, which guides investments into connectivity and technology, digital literacy, and digital learning solutions to support student success. He also previously worked for a local nonprofit organization and held other corporate positions.

In addition to serving on the Uptown Dallas, Inc. board, Butts contributes to several boards including The National Mentoring Partnership: MENTOR (Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee); Dallas Independent School District PTECH Advisory Committee; Educate Dallas; and Region 10 Education Service Center. He graduated from Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and The University of Texas with a Master of Business Administration. He has spoken at various education and workforce conferences. In his spare time, Butts rows with the Dallas Rowing Club and can be seen walking with his girlfriend, Lori, and his bulldog through Uptown, reflecting his commitment to engagement and cleanliness (picking up trash on his street every Sunday).

Uptown Dallas, Inc.

Founded in 1993, Uptown Dallas, Inc. (UDI) is a nonprofit organization and a public improvement district spanning one square mile as one of the first live/work/play communities in Dallas. UDI aims to increase the quality of life for the 19,000 residents Uptown, hundreds of businesses and property owners, and more than 50,000 workers. On any given weekday, as many as 100,000 people pass through the district. The organization also has a safety team working to keep people safe along with its maintenance team responsible for enhancements such as street lighting and landscaping. UDI hosts Pilates in the Park and Movies in the Park (at Griggs Park) and sponsors other community-wide events. For more information on Uptown Dallas, Inc., visit https://uptowndallas.net/.

Do you want to achieve lifelong employability but are not sure how to go about it? If so, come join the St. Jude Career Alliance at its comprehensive, faith-based job search workshop on Saturday, July 12, 8:45 AM to 3:00 PM, at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 North Greenville Avenue in Allen, TX  75002. Titled Empowering Your Career Journey, One Step at a Time, this workshop reflects the post-Pandemic changes in the job search market as well as feedback from Career Alliance workshop attendees over the past 20 months.

The Empowering Your Career Journey, One Step at a Time workshop will integrate interactive exercises such as S.T.A.R (Situation. Task. Action. Result.) stories, targeting specific companies, and crafting a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to enable attendees to differentiate themselves from competitors. Attendees are encouraged to network during breaks and practice skills learned during the sessions.

This workshop is ideal for:

• People who are unemployed and want an effective job search process.
• People who want to get back into the job market after an extended career break.
• People who are looking to do a career shift but are not sure just where to begin.

Parties interested in participating in this job search workshop will need to register online and pay a $25 fee. The fee will cover the cost of a full-color, spiral-bound copy of the program presentation, as well as lunch, drinks, and snacks. Registered attendees also need to bring a printed copy of their resume to the workshop. The link for Online Registration appears below: 

https://www.osvhub.com/stjudeparish/forms/career-alliance-quarterly-workshop-7-12-2025

This link connects to a registration form that includes a payment button. Registration forms cannot be submitted until payment is made.

The July 12 comprehensive job search workshop will take place in the Lecture Hall on the St. Jude parish campus. Participants should park in the northeast parking lot on Greenville Avenue, enter through the church office doors, and follow the signs inside to the Lecture Hall location. This event is open to all job seekers, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or age.

For more information:

• Visit the St. Jude Career Alliance website at https://stjudecareeralliance.com;
• Email careeralliance@stjudeparish.com;
• Call the St. Jude parish office at 972-727-1177.

Sheraton Dallas is excited to announce a significant upgrade in building management systems with adaptation of new, state-of-the-art Direct Digital Control (DDC). This investment underscores our commitment to enhancing guest comfort, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

Investment Details

Sheraton Dallas Hotel is investing $1.7 million in the hotel’s conference center heating and cooling controls and air handler equipment. The investment will serve to improve air cooling and heating regulation and air quality in the meeting space for customers. As part of this initiative, air handlers and air damper controllers will be renovated. New control valves, heating coils and thermostat/room sensors, along with additional piping, will play a key role in this upgrade. This project is part of a broader initiative to modernize our facilities and provide an unparalleled guest experience.

Benefits of Direct Digital Control Enhanced Efficiency

DDC offers precise monitoring and control of HVAC, lighting and other building systems, leading to optimized performance and significant energy savings. This technology allows the hotel to better control the comforts and effectiveness of these powered systems from a centralized command center, delivering rapid results.

• Cost Savings: Reduced maintenance requirements and lower energy consumption will result in substantial cost savings over time.

• Improved Comfort and Safety: Guests will enjoy enhanced temperature, humidity and lighting conditions, enriching their overall comfort and satisfaction. Additionally, DDC systems improve safety by quickly detecting and responding to issues.

• Future-Proofing: Direct Digital Control systems are scable and can integrate with new technologies, ensuring our hotel remains at the forefront of innovation.

Commitment to Sustainability

By improving energy management, DDC systems help minimize the environmental impact of our operations. This upgrade supports hotel and customer sustainability goals and contributes to a greener future.

Providing more than 230,000 square feet of versatile event space, Sheraton Dallas features the perfect backdrop for any type of gathering. Offering the latest in technology with a functional and updated style, the versatile venues accommodate events of all sizes, from motivational team meetings, training sessions, and annual conferences to intimate social gatherings and large galas. With customizable catering options designed to complement any event's tone and scale, Sheraton Dallas’ culinary team is dedicated to delivering memorable dining experiences tailored to every guest’s taste and dietary preferences.

Sheraton Dallas is the largest hotel in Texas featuring 1,841 guest rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center with five Peloton bikes, an outdoor rooftop pool with stunning city views, and Club Lounge, in addition to the meeting and convention space and four dining outlets. Located right off the DART Pearl/Arts District station, Sheraton Dallas offers guests and employees a convenient location in the epicenter of Downtown Dallas. Dare to Discover Our Dallas.

For more information about the Sheraton Dallas, visit www.SheratonDallas.com.

Sheraton Dallas is located at 400 Olive St.

This Fourth of July, Fairmont Dallas is turning up the heat and the beats! On Friday, July 4, from 1 PM to 5 PM, guests and locals alike are invited to kick off the holiday weekend with the ultimate poolside celebration.

Visit the terrace rooftop, where a Junior Olympic-sized Pool overlooks Downtown Dallas’ iconic skyline, and a lush garden provides a serene getaway. A live DJ will keep the energy high, while attendees cool off with frozen cocktails, handcrafted mocktails, bubbly, and seasonal light bites like Watermelon Salad with Tajin and Chicken Caesar Wrap, available for purchase.

Access to the event is complimentary for hotel guests. For non-hotel guests, ResortPass offers the Day Pass, starting at $10 per child and $25 per adult. Enjoy full access to the Junior Olympic-sized pool, complete with chaise lounges, towels, shaded cabanas, WiFi, and friendly poolside service.

Happy Hour. Weekdays from 4 to 6 PM

Keep the party going! The Pyramid Bar at the Fairmont Dallas offers a vibrant weekday Happy Hour, perfect for unwinding after a busy day. Sip on specially priced staple cocktails, like espresso martinis, mojitos and margaritas, draft beers, house wines, and select spirits. Choose from a variety of delicious bites, including Fairmont’s signature wings, short rib tostada, truffle fries, and poutine – a tribute to Fairmont's Canadian roots!

The Pyramid Bar's sleek design, lively vibe, and big-screen TVs create a welcoming environment. Don't miss the great deals and refreshing drinks! Visit the Pyramid Bar for Happy Hour in the heart of Downtown Dallas.

Fairmont Dallas is located at 1717 N Akard St.