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Mixmaster presents “100 Creatives,” in which we feature cultural entrepreneurs of Dallas in random order.
Susan Sargeant is a force in the Dallas theater scene. As the founder and artistic director of WingSpan Theatre, a company dedicated to producing plays by women or featuring strong female roles, she’s an advocate for female actresses. She’s also a scholar with an extensive knowledge of all things Albee or Beckett. And she shares her smart approach to the stage in productions either fully realized or in staged readings and festival productions each year. Her company is a founding member of the Festival of Independent Theatres and is one of the mainstays at Lakewood’s Bath House Cultural Center. Keep an eye out for a sparkling production of new work, adaptations, or a well-oiled take on a classic.
Can you give us a brief history of your personal theater history?
I am from Lynn, MA, very close to Boston and was bitten by the theatre bug at an early age. I was surrounded by a rich cultural environment and exposure to a wide range of the arts – both performing and visual. My husband, Lowell, and I moved to Dallas in the early 1980s. Lowell had just completed five years in the United States Military (Army) and we both wanted to find a place that nurtured both of our careers. For Lowell, a new career in the field of technology and for myself, a professional career in the theatre.
The focus at the start of my career in Dallas was as an actress. Dallas was the perfect place for me to find the right opportunities and build my resume. Eventually, I acquired my Actor’s Equity Association Membership and was proud to be a working professional actor.
In the early 1990s, I was lucky enough to be an Artistic Associate with a new company at The Bath House Cultural Center called — New Horizons Theatre Company. New Horizons Theatre Company was helmed by Beverly Jacob Daniel. The Mission of New Horizons Theatre Company, like WingSpan Theatre Company, was also a woman-centric theatre company. At New Horizons Theatre Company I learned what it takes to run a small “indie” company. I was involved with all aspects: producing, marketing, development, acquisitions, etc. My main artistic focus during this time was still in the acting arena. However, when I was with New Horizons Theatre Company I did take on several directing projects. The doors closed at New Horizons Theatre Company in 1996. If not for my six years with New Horizons Theatre Company, I don’t believe I would have had the impetus for starting my own independent theatre company. WingSpan Theatre Company was launched in 1997.
What was the impetus for starting WingSpan Theatre Company?
After New Horizons Theatre Company closed I continued to work as an actress both on stage and in the broadcast industry. However, I was left with a loss of an artistic home and I yearned to continue the investigation and journey of being an independent theatre. There were several scripts in the New Horizons possible pile that never were produced. I decided that I had enough hands on producing experience and it was now time for me to take the helm. I formed WingSpan Theatre Company in 1997 with a similar mission statement to New Horizons Theatre Company.
How do you apply this idea of woman-centric theater to each play you choose?
The plays I choose must have a key role and/or roles for women. The play can be written by a male playwright but the female role/s must be a driving force and/or focus of the play. A great example: Happy Days – By Samuel Beckett, the role of Wini (produced in 2013). The play can also be written by a woman where male relationships are the focal point. Language driven plays are also a key element.
What are a few highlights of WingSpan’s history?
The biggest highlight is still being a vital part of the cultural landscape of Dallas. Many independent companies don’t make it past the five year mark. WingSpan Theatre Company is now in its eighteenth season. Another highlight is being a founding member of The Festival of Independent Theatres – now in its seventeenth season.
On an artistic level, I try to bring high quality lesser known and or infrequently produced plays to a Dallas audience. Here are a few, The Two Character Play by Tennessee Williams, Happy Days, and Edward Albee’s The Play About the Baby. All of these plays were directed by me. Plus all these plays have hallmark roles for women.
The other highlight has been developing new works in WingSpan’s Development Workshops over the years including many local female playwrights: Isabella Russell-Ides, Vicki Caroline Cheatwood, Valerie Powell, Angela Wilson; to name a few.
Any plays that you really wanted to produce that you haven’t yet?
There is quite a list! Some plays I can’t produce because of scale and/or budget. The good news, there are gems to be found in either newer material and or in the canons of established playwrights.
How has the role WingSpan plays in the Dallas theater community grown or changed during its history?
Over the years, WingSpan Theatre Company, has produced many World Premieres in The Festival of Independent/FIT venue. The two most recent endeavors: Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve, edited and adapted by Susan Sargeant. Also, Lydie Marland in the Afterlife by Dallas playwright, Isabella Russell-Ides at FIT. The collaboration of not only FIT (eight indie companies in rotating rep) but the nurturing/development of a new play going into a full production has become a noteworthy expansion of WingSpan Theatre Company’s Mission Statement.
100 Creatives:
100. Theater Mastermind Matt Posey
99. Comedy Queen Amanda Austin
98. Deep Ellum Enterpriser Brandon Castillo
97. Humanitarian Artist Willie Baronet
96. Funny Man Paul Varghese
95. Painting Provocateur Art Peña
94. Magic Man Trigg Watson
93. Enigmatic Musician George Quartz
92. Artistic Luminary Joshua King
91. Inventive Director Rene Moreno
90. Color Mavens Marianne Newsom and Sunny Sliger
89. Literary Lion Thea Temple
88. Movie Maestro Eric Steele
87. Storytelling Dynamo Nicole Stewart
86. Collaborative Artist Ryder Richards
85. Party Planning Print maker Raymond Butler
84. Avant-gardist Publisher Javier Valadez
83. Movie Nerd James Wallace
82. Artistic Tastemakers Elissa & Erin Stafford
81. Pioneering Arts Advocates Mark Lowry & Michael Warner
80. Imaginative Director Jeremy Bartel
79. Behind-the-Scenes Teacher Rachel Hull
78. Kaleidoscopic Artist Taylor “Effin” Cleveland
77. Filmmaker & Environmentalist Michael Cain
76. Music Activist Salim Nourallah
75. Underground Entrepreneur Daniel Yanez
74. Original Talent Celia Eberle
73. Comic Artist Aaron Aryanpur
72. Classical Thespian Raphael Parry
71. Dance Captain Valerie Shelton Tabor
70. Underground Culture Mainstay Karen X. Minzer
69. Effervescent Gallerist Brandy Michele Adams
68. Birthday Party Enthusiast Paige Chenault
67. Community Architect Monica Diodati
66. Intrepid Publisher Will Evans
65. Writerly Wit Noa Gavin
64. Maverick Artist Roberto Munguia
63. Fresh Perspective Kelsey Leigh Ervi
62. Virtuosic Violinist Nathan Olson
61. Open Classical’s Dynamic Duo Mark Landson & Patricia Yakesch
60. Rising Talent Michelle Rawlings
59. Adventurous Filmmaker Toby Halbrooks
58. Man of Mystery Edward Ruiz
57. Inquisitive Sculptor Val Curry
56. Offbeat Intellect Thomas Riccio
55. Doers and Makers Shannon Driscoll & Kayli House Cusick
54. Performance Pioneer Katherine Owens
53. Experimental Filmmaker and Video Artist Mike Morris
52. Flowering Fashioner Lucy Dang
51. Insightful Artist Stephen Lapthisophon
50. Dallas Arts District
49. Farmer’s Market Localvore Sarah Perry
48. Technological Painter John Pomara
47. Progressive Playmakers Christopher Carlos & Tina Parker
46. Purposive Chef Chad Houser
45. Absorbing Artist Jeff Gibbons
44. Artistic Integrator Erica Felicella
43. Multi-talented Director Tre Garrett
42. Anachronistic Musician Matt Tolentino
41. Emerging Veteran Actor Van Quattro
40. Festival Orchestrator Anna Sophia van Zweden
39. Literary Framer Karen Weiner
38. Man Behind the Music Gavin Mulloy
37. The Godfather of Dallas Art Frank Campagna
36. Rising Star Adam A. Anderson
35. Artist Organizer Heyd Fontenot
34. Music Innovator Stefan Gonzalez
33. Triple Threat Giovanni Valderas
32. Cultural Connector Lauren Cross
31. Critical Artist Thor Johnson
30. Delicate Touch Margaret Meehan
29. Fashion Forward Charles Smith II
28. Dedicated Artist Carolyn Sortor
27. Political Cyber Banksy Wylie H Dallas
26. Dance Preserver Lisa Mesa Rogers
