Dallas Theater Center’s Artist Director on TACA Surprises, Neighborhood Pride and Guilty Pleasures

A number of creative individuals are coming together to create this year’s TACA Lexus Party on the Green and it’s time to get to know them better. In addition to the on-staff team at TACA, this annual event brings together talented chefs, top minds from the performing arts world and visual artists to create a truly magical evening.

Today, PaperCity is spotlighting Joel Ferrell. (For last week’s story on visual artist Carmen Menza, click here.)

Ferrell is the associate artistic director at Dallas Theater Center, where his directing/choreography credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cabaret, and A Christmas Carol (2005-2009, 2011, 2012). His prowess as a director was also seen in Romeo and Juliet, Driving Miss Daisy, Clybourne Park, Red, God of Carnage, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, and Cotton Patch Gospel (starring its creator Tom Key). We could go on and on about his numerous other acting achievements and accolades, but I suggest you just meet him in person at the TACA party and ask him yourself.

For this year’s TACA, Ferrell is producing quite a program for guests. Kicking off the evening, one of the stars of Dallas Theater Center’s current hit production of In The Heights, Tiffany Solano DeSena, will perform “Breath” for party-goers.

The Grays, three remarkable siblings from Dallas with several years of versatile experience in creative and performing arts, will also be seen throughout the night. Kierra, KJ and Kwinton Gray are frequent musicians at the Dallas Theater Center. There also will be a surprise performance later in the evening that Ferrell promises is sure to make you “wish upon a star” in the Dallas Arts District.

In advance of the hot ticket event, which takes place this Friday, October 4 in the Dallas Arts District, we emailed Ferrell PaperCity’s preferential treatment questionnaire.  

Where are you right at this moment: My bed. 

The zip code you call home: 75208 Oak Cliff proud baby! 

Style of residence: ’80s townhouse, but I’ve done my best to de-’80s it. 

Pajamas or in the buff: Briefs and a T-shirt.

Early or late riser: LATE! 

Coffee or tea: COFFEE! 

Morning beauty/grooming ritual: Aloe vera under the eyes and out the door. 

Evening beauty/grooming ritual: Wine, because then I don’t really care. 

Go-to daytime ensemble: Jeans, button-down, CVS reading glasses. 

Ideal evening look: Add heels. 

One thing you always keep in mind when getting dressed: I could be in a car accident. 

Your happy place destination: Portland Oregon or Hudson Valley New York.

The hotel you call your home-away-from-home: The Inn at Manzanita on the Oregon Coast.

Travel bag: Overstuffed 

Last person you cocktail’ed with and what was your poison: Blake Hackler (head of acting at SMU) — cabernet, and a lot of dish.

Dream concert: Francis Faye

Store where you wish you had an unlimited charge account: Apple 

Items currently on your coffee table: Unread American Theatre magazines. 

Last movie you saw: Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles — documentary. I cried. 

Hall pass for a dalliance: Idris Elba 

Who would play you in the movie of your life (living or dead actor is fine): Dick Van Dyke 

If you weren’t in your current profession what would you be doing: Community organizer. 

Secret skill: Disarming homophobes. 

Guilty pleasure: Ice cream. 

Your current playlist: A lot of Beyoncé, some Tony Bennet, Miami Sound Machine.  . . way too many musicals.

Your dream role: To play Dick Van Dyke in his life story. 

Best production you’ve seen in the past year: “What The Constitution Means To Me“

The 2019 TACA Lexus Party on the Green is Friday, October 4 at 6:30 pm, Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.