About

Mission

WaterTower Theatre’s mission is to create innovative, diverse theatre that builds community by fostering empathy and dialogue.

Vision

WaterTower Theatre’s vision is to connect the world to Addison and Addison to the world through developing and presenting innovative theatre that is artistically vital to our community locally and beyond.

We will be a development center and laboratory for theatre creation that pushes the boundaries of our art-form to find new, essential expressions of theatre. Our creative laboratory will develop art and artists, and incubate new productions that will excite and engage theatergoers and make WaterTower a sought-after and relevant artistic voice to DFW and the national theatre community.

WTT is committed to being a supportive home for diverse artists. We will cross-pollinate our spaces with artists who: work in different styles, forms and genres; range from emerging to experienced; are from DFW and around the world; and that speak from different backgrounds, genders, sexualities, abilities, and countries of origin.

We will also connect with theatres locally, nationally, and internationally, exchanging work and ideas that will resonate not only in our artistic forms, but in the conversations, we have within and around our work.

WTT is a place where audiences can trust that each show at our theatre will bring something different to our audience: a new point of view, genre of theatre, or experience. WTT’s productions will take our audiences on a journey in their imagination and hearts without leaving our Addison home.

We are committed to producing work that aligns with our core values of diversity & inclusivity, community & connectivity, innovation, and honesty & integrity.

Equity Diversity & Inclusion Statement

History

Founded in 1996, WaterTower Theatre (WTT) is one of Texas' leading professional theatre companies and a flagship arts institution in North Texas, having played an important role as a leader in developing new talent, new work, and encouraging the growth of the DFW artistic community through its commitment to hiring local artists.

WTT traces its origins back to Addison Community Theater (ACT) of the 1970’s which began performing at the Old Stone Cottage, a 1930’s WPA project which still stands adjacent to WTT’s current home at the Addison Theatre Centre. Addison Theatre Centre, completed in 1992, is an award-winning 32,000-square-foot space, including a Main Stage – a flexible black box space with seating for approximately 200 – and a smaller Studio Theatre. WTT is the resident theatre company of the Addison Theatre Centre, which also houses WTT’s administrative, artistic, and production offices.

Throughout its history, WaterTower’s artistic vision, service to the community and growing audience has led to a unique partnership with the Town of Addison, one aimed at the development of an exciting destination for residents and non-residents to experience the best in theatrical arts.

Building on its reputation for being an intrepid producer of new works, WTT has garnered numerous accolades through the years. WTT’s commitment to new work is reflected in its history of world premieres including Song of Motherhood (1998), Blind Lemon: Prince of Country Blues (2001), A Country Life (2005), Creep (2015), The Spark (2015), The Great Distance Home (2017), Bread (2018), Goin’ Hollywood (2023), WTT’s Out of the Loop Festival (2002-2016), and DETOUR: a Festival of New Work, beginning in 2018. At the conclusion of the 2023-2024 Season, WTT will have produced 196 plays and musicals, including 12 World Premieres and 44 Regional Premieres.

From 1999 to 2016, WaterTower Theatre was under the artistic leadership of Terry Martin. During his tenure, Martin oversaw the presentation of more than 130 productions in WTT's Main Stage and Studio Theatre. The Company was then led by Artistic Director Joanie Schultz from January 2017 to December 2018. In March 2019, Shane Peterman was selected as the Company's new Producing Artistic Director. Peterman built the company back with an exceptional team and worked with the Board of Directors, generous donors and friends of the theatre, including the Town of Addison, to re-build the company. During the COVID pandemic WaterTower Theatre became one of the first in the country to switch to filmed theatrical productions beginning with Doug Wright’s TONY Award Winning production of I Am My Own Wife for the first time for video on demand. Many successful filmed productions followed including original world premiere works. In the summer of 2021, WaterTower Theatre again pioneered efforts by becoming one the first in the DFW area to reopen with an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association by presenting an indoor play.

WTT is proud to include in its alumni many actors whose careers include Broadway, West End, national tours, film, and television credits, including Major Attaway (Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin); John Campione (First National Tour: School of Rock; The Bridges of Madison County); Anthony Fortino (First National Tour: Fun Home); Brian Gonzales (Broadway: Mr Saturday Night, One Man, Two Guvnors; Disney’s Aladdin); Clinton Greenspan (First National Tour: Disney’s Aladdin); Traci Lee (Broadway: Shucked; First National Tour: Beautiful); Liz Mikel (Broadway: Lysistrata Jones, 1776; TV: Friday Night Lights; Sordid Lives); Cedric Neal (Broadway: Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess; After Midnight); Stacey Oristano (TV: Friday Night Lights; Bunheads; Shameless); and Akron Watson (Broadway: The Color Purple; The Play that Goes Wrong).

WaterTower Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre organization, proudly operating under an SPT6 license with Actors’ Equity Association.

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The Play That Goes Wrong

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The Play That Goes Wrong

Phantom: In Concert

A Streetcar Named Desire

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About

Mission

Vision

See Our Work

Now that you know who we are, see what we do on stage!