Undermain goes beneath the surface

By Theresa Webster

For its 38th season, Undermain is creating an exciting array of diverse performance opportunities to inspire and enrich the community and support artists in North Texas. As the COVID-19 pandemic and the fluctuating infection rate continue, the theater hopes to be able to offer live performances in addition to the virtual streaming videos for each production.  

Opening the season will be a coproduction with the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group (DGDG), “Stronger Than Arms,” an adaptation of Aeschylus’s “Seven Against Thebes” done in the inimitable style of DGDG. Next the company revives Conor McPherson’s “St. Nicholas,” our most viewed streaming production, which brought national acclaim last fall. This year, in addition to the streaming video production, Undermain will present a full, live production with an enhanced soundscape and lighting environment as the unnamed narrator of McPherson’s chillingly entertaining play weaves a story of modern day vampires in London. March will bring the return of the “Whither Goest Thou America” festival of new play readings with works by up-and-coming playwrights Zander Pryor and Erin Malone Turner, as well as a new play from Undermain company member Len Jenkin. In June we’ll feature our long postponed production of “Lonesome Blues,” a meditation on the life and songs of blues legend Blind Lemon Jefferson by Alan Govenar and Akin Babatundé. 

New this season, the In Concert Undermain series offers single Saturday night concerts by Ryan Berg and the Velvet Ears, singer/songwriter Jess Garland and Open Classical. Each concert will also be offered as a streaming video. 

While it is the hope to be able to offer live performances to a reduced capacity of socially distanced audiences, the theater will evaluate putting on live performances based on the status of the pandemic. The health and safety of the audience, cast, crew and staff is the theater’s top priority. 

Each production will offer a streaming alternative for those who don’t feel ready to return to live performance. Undermain will continue to monitor CDC, Dallas County, and its own health and safety consultants on safety protocols throughout the season. Masks will be required in the theater as well as temperature checks upon arrival.