Undermain Theatre

Undermain Theatre

Address	3200 Main Street Dallas, Texas United States of America
Designation	Small Professional Theatre
Capacity	90 seat house
Opened	1984
Years active	30

The Undermain Theatre is an 80-seat regional theater, home to the professional theater company, Deep Ellum Theatre Group, is located in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas. Deriving its name from the actual location of the basement space “under Main Street”, this ensemble group of theatre artists perform new and experimental works throughout Dallas, New York, and Europe and have become known for producing many contemporary writers.

Undermain Theatre History

In the fall of 1983, Katherine Owens and Raphael Parry arrived in Dallas. Both were interested in presenting new and experimental material with an ensemble company in the Deep Ellum area. They began producing together at Stage Number One's Greenville Avenue Theater, in association with Dallas Actor’s Theater, on a triple bill of Action, Killer’s Head and Icarus's Mother by Sam Shepard. In early 1984 they found the vacant basement space of the now historical Interstate Forwarding Company building on 3200 Main Street. By the spring of 1984, they had their first production, Excavations: Killer’s Head, Twirler, Waking Up, in the Main Street space.

Excavations was part of a Gallery Walk event and was presented in a promenade style due to the lack of seating in their basement/theater space. This show was a series of one-acts that both Ms Owens and Mr. Parry directed and performed in. By the end of their first season they were on their way to building their ensemble. In April 1985, Bruce DuBose joined the cast of Dario Fo’s Can’t Pay/Won’t Pay, beginning a longtime relationship that would eventually take Mr. DuBose to the position of Executive Producer of Undermain Theatre.

With each season, Undermain continued to thrive and grow. By its third season, the Dallas critics began to take notice and by the end of the 4th season, in the spring of 1987, Undermain flew in playwright John O’Keefe to develop his play, All Night Long. In September of that year Undermain developed a relationship with Jeff Jones while producing Seventy Scenes of Halloween. This friendship proved to be quite advantageous leading to Undermain’s long standing relationships with playwrights Len Jenkin, Mac Wellman, and Eric Ehn and the subsequent productions of Poor Folks Pleasure, Harm’s Way, A Murder of Crows, and The Red Plays, among other shows, establishing Undermain Theatre’s name among the language playwrights in New York City and around the country.

Milestones

1984 Undermain established in the legendary Deep Ellum area of Dallas

1986 Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) contract signed

1995 Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia invited the Undermain to perform Goran Stefanvovski’s play Sarajevo in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. Undermain performed in Roman Amphitheaters and on the steps of orthodox cathedrals.

2000 Toured Serbia to perform at the DAH Eater celebration

2000 Began the production of plays in New York (6 to date) including in the original adaptation of Neil Young’s GREENDALE

2002 Established an archival website in partnership with Texas Humanities which provides on-going production information to theaters and audiences.

2008 Performed GREENDALE at the Ohio theatre’s SoHo Think Tank Ice Factory Festival

2009 The Dallas Public Library produced Beneath the Surface, an exhibit celebrating 25 years of design at Undermain Theatre

2010 Completed restoration of the historical Frank Lloyd Wright audience chairs

2011 Collaborated with David Rabe on his play, The Black Monk and on Port Twilight with Len Jenkin. The Black Monk was published by Simon and Schuster. Port Twilight was published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc..

2013 Produces the first full theatrical production at the Dallas City Performance Hall with Enda Walsh’s Penelope, opening the space to capacity houses and rave reviews.

Travel

In 1995, Undermain Theatre traveled to the Republic of Macedonia to perform Goran Stefanvovski's Sarajevo in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Undermain also performed at the ancient Roman Theatre at Bittola and at the Ohrid Theater Festival. In 2000 the theater company traveled to New York City for the first time, producing three shows in NYC (Coaticook by Lenora Champagne, Gold Into Mud and Swedish Tales of Woe by Erik Ehn) as well as four shows in Dallas. In 2001 the company returned to the Balkans with a new work and performed at the DAH Teatar Anniversary Celebration in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

The Building

This unique building, built in 1913 by B.D. Milam and E.C. Connor as the first US Customs warehouse in Dallas, is a six-story, Chicago-style building billed as absolutely fireproof with an exterior that was made with red and ironspot bricks and concrete. Jim and Michelle Herling, the owners of the building in the early 1980s, were patrons of the arts, already housing an art gallery on the first floor of the building, and were willing to allow both Ms. Owens and Mr. Parry to rent the entire basement floor at a very low price. From that, Ms. Owens and Mr. Parry transformed this warehouse basement located in the legendary Deep Ellum area of Dallas into a unique performance space that was to become the home of Undermain Theatre. In 1989 Undermain Properties bought the building on 3200 Main Street. It was adapted for residential use in 1991 by Graham Greene & RTHL to include 28 residential units, keeping both the theatre and the art galleries in their perspective places. The building became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1991 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It is also a City of Dallas Landmark.

The Chairs

The 90-seat house at Undermain Theatre is also unique. These chairs, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, were originally housed in the Kalita Humphreys Theater. Obtained by the Undermain from the Dallas Theater Center in 1989, the seating was designed by Taliesin architects, the firm that completed many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s projects after his death in 1959. Its design was based on a variety of ideas promoted by Wright himself and by Paul Baker (Director of the Dallas Theater Center in 1957).

Critical Acclaim

“One of the best small theaters in America” – San Diego Union-Tribune

“An unsung American treasure” – Backstage Magazine

“Undermain Theatre seeded the ground for a writer friendly town” – American Theatre Magazine

“Dallas’ cutting-edge theatrical flag bearer for more than two decades” – Dallas Morning News by Lawson Taitte

Neil Young’s GREENDALE as “practically breathless with the beauty, hope, pathos and power of the music and the story” New York Times by Neil Strauss

“As presented by Undermain Theatre, Neil Young’s GREENDALE is a hellacious piece of rock ‘n’ roll. This baby kicks, you’re not likely to hear a livelier performance in any area theater” KERA by Jerome Weeks

Awards

1994 500 Inc’s Ken Bryant Vision Award – “the most significant form of recognition for fostering creativity and innovation in the cultural arts of Dallas”

1992 to Present Dallas Morning News and Ft. Worth Star Telegram Included Undermain in the “Top Ten Productions of the Season”

2005-2006 “Margo Veil” acclaimed number one of the “Top Ten” in the Dallas Morning News

2006-2007 Bruce DuBose critically acclaimed Waiting for a Train received the Dallas Ft. Worth Critics forum award for “Best New Play”

2008 Artistic Director, Katherine Owens, received the Texas Woman of Distinction Award in the Arts and Culture category of the American Association of University Women

2009 Eurydice and Neil Young’s GREENDALE chosen as “Top Ten” productions by the Dallas Morning News

2010 “Port Twilight and The Black Monk tied for “Number One Production “ by the Dallas Morning News. Undermain productions receive six citations from the Dallas Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum Awards for: Direction (2), Actor, Ensemble, Design, and Touring Production.

2010 “Best Theater” and “Best Actor” – DMagazine “Best of Culture”

2011 Five citations of excellence from the Dallas Fort Worth Critics Forum: Direction (2), design (2), and acting.

2012 Two citations of excellence from the Dallas Fort Worth Critics Forum: Direction and Ensemble Cast

2013 Three citations of excellence from the Dallas Fort Worth Critics Forum: Acting (2) and Design.

Production History

Arabian Nights ed. by Stephen Foglia

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation about the Herero of Namibia Formerly Known as Southwest Africa from the German Sudwestafrika between the Years 1884-1915 by Jackie Sibblies Drury

Abraham Zobell’s Home Movie: Final Reel... by Len Jenkin*

The New Frontier: Landmark Speeches of JFK by Ted Sorensen-Undermain Reads at the DMA

Profanity by Sylvan Oswald*

Sacrifice by Rabindrinath Tagore

The Ghost Sonata by August Strindberg

The Conference of the Birds by Farid Ud-din Attar-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

Penelope by Enda Walsh

Burying Our Father: A Biblical Debacle by Fred Curchack

An Iliad by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare

Joyce’s Ulysses by James Joyce-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter

Colorstruck by Zora Neale Hurston-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

Time In Kafka by Len Jenkin*

A Child’s Christmas In Wales by Dylan Thomas-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

Ages Of The Moon by Sam Shepard

Ilira by Thomas Riccio-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

The Shipment written by Young Jean Lee

Easter by August Strindberg translated by Michael Meyer*

Two Noh Plays by Yukio Mishima-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

The Golem by H. Leivick-Undermain Reads at the Dallas Museum Of Art

The Dog Problem by David Rabe

Endgame by Samuel Beckett

The Be(a)st of Taylor Mac written and performed by Taylor Mac

Port Twilight by Len Jenkin*

The Black Monk by David Rabe*

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl

Monkey: The Quest To The West by Laura Jorgensen and Fred Curchack

Neil Young’s Greendale adapted for the stage by Bruce DuBose*

Noh: Angels, Demons & Dreams created & performed by Laura Jorgensen & Fred Curchack

The Snow Queen by Lynn Alvarez*

Shining City by Conor McPherson

The Appeal by Young Jean Lee

Waiting for a Train (expanded) by Bruce DuBose*

Waiting for a Train: The Life and Songs of Jimmy Rodgers by Bruce DuBose*

Margo Veil by Len Jenkin

A Number by Caryl Churchill

A Man’s Best Friend by Jeffery M. Jones (Dallas & Ohio Theatre, New York)*

Blasted by Sarah Kane

Two September by Mac Wellman

The Late Henry Moss by Sam Shepard

Silence by Moira Buffini

Glamour by John O’Keefe (Dallas & Ohio Theatre, New York)*

Cats Paw by Mac Wellman

Judges 19: Black Lung Exhaling by Ruth Margaff (Belgrade, Dallas, Austin)*

St. Nicholas by Conor McPherson

Swedish Tales of Woe by Erik Ehn (Dallas & Ohio Theatre, New York)*

Gold Into Mud by Erik Ehn (Dallas & New York)*

Coaticook by Lenora Champagne (ICE Factory Festival, New York & Dallas Video Festival)*

Live Love Acts written and performed by Fred Curchack

Pericles: Prince of Tyre by William Shakespeare

Shiner by Erik Ehn and Octavio Solis*

Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka

Wallpaper Psalms by Ruth Margraff

A Por Quinley Christmas by Quincy Long (1997 & 1998)*

Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola adapted by Neal Bell

Babbler by John O’Keefe

The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite by Quincy Long

Homework by Franz Xavier Kroetz

Uncle Bob by Austin Pendleton

The Seagull by Anton Chekhov

The Sound and The Fury by Erik Ehn*

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare

Tattoo Girl by Naomi Iizuka (University of Texas, Dallas)

The Deatherians by John O’Keefe*

The Puppets Delirious: Two Iphigenia Plays by Ellen McLaughlin

All He Fears by Howard Barker

Camino Real by Tennessee Williams

Sarajevo by Goran Stefanoski (ORCHID, Bitola, Skopje, Macedonia)*

Beginner by Erik Ehn*

Tiny Dimes by Peter Mattei

The Fever by Wallace Shawn (Chimera Festival, Addison)

The Hyacinth Macaw by Mac Wellman

Two Saints (DASHBOARD and LOCUS) by Erik Ehn*

Love Trouble by Jeffrey M. Jones*

Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The Castle by Howard Barker

Imperceptible Mutabilities In the Third Kingdom by Suzan-Lori Parks

The Red Plays (Red Sheets and Moira McOc) by Erik Ehn*

Almost Asleep by Julie Herbert*

Seagulls by Caryl Churchill (Chimera Festival, Addison)

The Poet and the Rent by David Mamet

Laughter! by Peter Barnes

A Murder of Crows by Mac Wellman*

Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare

The Possibilities by Howard Barker

The Anger in Ernest and Earnestine by Leah Chemick and Martha Ross

Cabaret Epiphany developed by Undermain Theatre*

Harm’s Way by Mac Wellman

Poor Folk’s Pleasure by Len Jenkin

Disgrace by John O’Keefe

Night Coil by Jeffery M. Jones

Cosmetic Surgery by Paul Rudnick (Deep Ellum Clubs)

Goose and Tomtom by David Rabe (1989 & 1991)

Two Small Bodies by Neil Bell

Request Concert by Franz Xavier Kroetz

Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill

Bloody Poetry by Howard Benton

Ghosts by John O’Keefe

Seventy Scenes of Halloween by Jeffery M. Jones (Dallas & Canada)*

Blood on the Cat’s Neck and Bremen Coffee by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

All Night Long by John O’Keefe*

Rough For Theatre 1 (Three One-Act Plays) by Samuel Beckett

Traps by Caryl Churchill

Security Anxiety Developed by Undermain Theatre (Dallas Museum of Art)*

Criminal Minds by Robin Swicord

Fen by Caryl Churchill

Other Places: Three One Act Plays by Harold Pinter

Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay by Dario Fo

Two Plays (Act Without Words & Imagination Dead Imagine) by Samuel Beckett

In Fireworks Lie Secret Codes by John Guare

Excavations: Killer’s Head by Sam Shepard

Twirler by Jane Martin

Waking Up by Franca Rame

Notable Authors

Mac Wellman, Jeffrey, M. Jones, John O’Keefe, Erik Ehn, Susan Lori-Parks, Lenora Champagne, Howard Baker, Caryl Churchill, Goran Stefanovski, Octavio Solis, Lynne Alvarez, David Rabe, Connor McPherson, Young Jean Lee, Len Jenkin, Dario Fo, David Ray, Sam Shepard, Samuel Beckett,

Collaborations

The Dallas Museum of Art – Undermain Reads at the Museum

The Dallas Foundation – Undermain holds it Undermain Theatre Endowment Fund at the Dallas Foundation

The Dallas Public Library – The Dallas Public Library houses the Undermain archives

Nasher Sculpture Center – Undermain Theatre presents at the Nasher Gallery Lab

Southern Methodist University – Undermain Artistic Director Katherine Owens is a guest seminar lecturer for the theater division of the Meadows School of the Arts

The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs – With support from the City of Dallas, OCA, Undermain provides free and discounted rehearsal space to performing arts groups.