The Dallas Children’s Theater has announced an interim executive director months after it was announced the organization was facing dire financial challenges.
The Dallas Children’s Theater is located at the Rosewood Center for the Family Arts.
On Sept. 3, the Dallas Children’s Theater announced Michael Meadows as interim executive director. Samantha Turner, the DCT’s outgoing executive director, will transition to a chief operating officer role in the coming months.
The news comes as the organization faces an uncertain future. In June, the Advocate reported the DCT would shorten its season and lay off staff due to financial difficulties. Two shows, Junglebook and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, were cancelled and 45% of staff were laid off. DCT leadership told the Advocate rising costs and low revenues led to the cuts.
Meadows has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector in Dallas. He has previously served as president and CEO of the Dallas Zoological Society, in addition to roles at the Southwestern Medical Foundation and The University of Texas at Dallas.
Turner was named CEO in 2023, following the retirement of DCT co-founder Robyn Flatt, who started the organization in 1984.
In addition to its regular performances, the Dallas Children’s Theater organizes field trips for local schools and academy classes for area youth. However, academy classes were suspended following the end of the summer.
