Kalita Humphreys Theater, Theater in Turtle Creek, Dallas, United States.
Kalita Humphreys Theater is Frank Lloyd Wright's only theater, completed in 1959 on land along Turtle Creek donated by Sylvan T. Baer. Wright eliminated the proscenium so stage and auditorium form one unit, and nearly every angle in the building is 30 or 60 degrees. Above the revolving stage hangs a cantilevered concrete drum 40 feet high and 8 inches thick, weighing 127 tons and counterbalanced by the three-flight dressing room area behind the stage.
The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1955, building upon a concept from 1915, and was completed in late 1959 following Wright's death. The delayed construction reflected the architect's evolving vision over several decades before realization.
The theater is named after actress Kalita Humphreys, who died in a 1954 plane crash; her parents gave $120,000 as a memorial. Uptown Players, a gay-focused company, has performed here since 2010, and Second Thought Theater works at adjoining Bryant Hall. The building stays in use about 50 weeks a year.
The venue is located on Turtle Creek Boulevard with free parking available at William B. Dean Park nearby. Access is convenient from the Blackburn Street intersection, making it straightforward to find and park before attending a show.
Above the stage hangs a cantilevered concrete drum 8 inches thick, 40 feet high and weighing 127 tons, counterbalanced by the three-flight dressing room structure behind the stage. Because Wright's plan follows nature, nearly every angle in the building is 30 or 60 degrees; the only right angles are where walls meet the ceiling and floor.
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