Kitchen Dog Theater

Kitchen Dog Theater was formed in 1990 by five graduates of the MFA Theatre Program at Southern Methodist University. The co-founders' decision to remain in Dallas represented their commitment to the city and the valuable role of regional theaters in our society. KDT has a resident company of 35 of the area’s best theater artists, from playwrights and designers to actors and technicians, and over 76% have been members for at least 10 years. Committed to cultural diversity, in the past five years 63% of KDT's mainstage shows were written by BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ playwrights. Over the last 3 seasons, over 58% were paid to Global Majority artists. KDT has staged over 160 productions and received over 400 awards and honors. 

KDT impacts the development of new works both locally and nationally. KDT is a founding core member of the National New Play Network (NNPN), an alliance of 37 core member and 95 associate member theaters nationally recognized for championing new work. Thus far, KDT has produced 40 world premieres, including 15 plays written by artistic company members, seven of which were company developed. In the last 5 years, 100% of KDT productions were regional or world premieres. 

In 1994, KDT was invited to become the resident theater at The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC), which ended up being the company’s home for twenty years. In 2015, The MAC was repurposed and KDT initiated a capital campaign for a new home. In October 2016, KDT purchased a 10,000 SF property. KDT is now 1 of only 4 theaters in Dallas to own their own space. KDT will soon break ground on renovations to add a black box theater, rehearsal hall/cabaret space, and scene shop to the property and plans to open its next season in its new, permanent home. Once completed, KDT's permanent home will lower occupancy overhead, generate new revenue streams, and allow for expanded artistic and educational programming.