WALTER DALLAS

DIRECTOR – MUSICIAN – PHOTOGRAPHER – PLAYWRIGHT – PROFESSOR 

*~  September 15, 1946 – May 3, 2020  ~*

By Dale Ricardo Shields

Walter Dallas (September 15, 1946 – May 3, 2020) was an acclaimed African American theater director, playwright, educator, and musician. Widely considered a “genius” and a giant of American theater, he left a profound legacy through his leadership at prominent Black cultural institutions and his commitment to nurturing generations of creative talent.

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In his career, Dallas was the recipient of countless awards, including an Emmy Award, an Audience Development Committee Inc. National Achievement Award for Excellence in Black Theatre, and two Creative Genius Awards from the Atlanta Circle of Drama Critics. He was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for his direction of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Best Director for Having Our Say at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. 

Winner, Best Director Award, of the New York “Viv” Award – Richard Wesley’s “Autumn,” at Billie Holiday Theatre, Brooklyn. 2017.  

Honored as one of “Philadelphia’s 100 History Makers of the 20th Century.”   

Recipient, New York AUDELCO Special Pioneer Award for Excellence in Black Theatre, 2016. 

BA, Morehouse College; Music and Theology Studies

Studied Theology at Harvard University Divinity School Harvard University

MFA, Acting/Directing at  Yale School of Drama

Theatre in Traditional African Society at the University of Ghana at Legon

Member of the Negro Ensemble Company, New York

Member of The Acting Company, New York    

Key Highlights

• Leadership at Freedom Theatre: From 1992 to 2008, he served as the artistic director of Philadelphia’s New Freedom Theatre. Under his guidance, it transformed into a professional Actors’ Equity house and put Philadelphia theater in the national spotlight.
• August Wilson’s Seven Guitars: Dallas directed the critically acclaimed 1995 world premiere of August Wilson’s “Seven Guitars” at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. The production was named one of the Top Ten Best Theatre Events of the year by Time Magazine and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
• Prolific Directing Career: He directed more than 25 world premieres and worked extensively off-Broadway and regionally with prominent groups like the Negro Ensemble Company, Alliance Theatre, and the Mark Taper Forum.
• Distinguished Education: His deep artistic and intellectual foundation came from attending Morehouse College (B.A., 1968), studying music and theology at Harvard Divinity School, earning an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama (1971), and studying traditional African society at the University of Ghana.
• Accolades & Legacy: Over his career, he earned an Emmy Award, New York’s prestigious AUDELCO National Achievement Award for Excellence in Black Theatre, an Obie Award (for directing Clarice Taylor in Moms), and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts where he also ran the theater program.
He passed away at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 73 from pancreatic cancer. He was survived by his husband, Paul Siler.

“I am an African man trying to exist in America, and that terrifying proposition affects my health. I have high blood pressure and diabetes and, being as inescapable as that reality is, racism is not just something I experience; it’s a minute-to-minute fact of life that all African Americans, those who remain sane, come to terms with. These political and social issues cannot be separated from my work.” –  The Cultural Critic

Walter Dallas, 73, a giant of African American theater and former artistic director of the Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, died on Sunday, May 3, 2020. Dallas succumbed to pancreatic cancer while in-home hospice care in Atlanta, Georgia.

*~* 

Although I had started this article on October 28th, 2019…  

On November 9th, of 2019, Walter contacted me with a request, that I write a book about his life and career. Upon seeing its first version. Sadly, he became too ill for us to fully create that book, but this in-depth profile is the foundation of what was created.

His words “I am counting on you” haunts me… lovingly. – DRS

11/9/19, 2:06 AM

Walter – Dale… Have you ever written a full biography, a book?

Dale – No… I have not.
11/9/19, 2:07 AM

Walter – Is it beyond your consideration? For years, people have been asking me to write mine. I wanted to do it when I slowed down toward retirement. The stories/ experiences just kept piling up! Now that I have slowed down, it’s for serious medical reasons, and I find time and focus are out of my control. I had surgery this morning. Waiting to go into surgery, I told one of the prep doctors how I ended up at Yale School of Drama, (I never applied) and how, for $200, I spent a week in Rio assembling late Baldwin’s just completed script (The Welcome Table), a gesture reflecting something we said we would like to do together. He shouted, “damn, I’d buy that book!” He asked for another story. I started on how, thanks to Lloyd Richards, I ended up in Russia directing an Irish farce, that he had translated into Russian with a Russian-only speaking cast. And the only word I knew in Russia, was “vodka.” Then I had to go into surgery. As I was rolled toward the OR, he shouted, “I’m going on my lunch break: I’m gonna google you.” That’s a roundabout, wordy way of asking if you would consider a discussion about writing mine. 

Dale – Okay… let’s start slow with a profile for Iforcolor? 

11/20/19 at 1:18 AM

Dale – Yes. No pressure. I was not going to start until after my production of For Colored Girls is down at the end of November.  We have time… I will keep at it. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Tue 11/26/2019 – 7:35 PM

Walter- Dale:
Sorry, I’ve been in hospital since last Friday. Hopefully, I’m going home tomorrow. I love your work and your attention to detail. I am counting on you.

Bravo, Good work! 

Dale – Yes. Thank you! I…Going into tech’s tomorrow. We open on Saturday. I will be back in action by next Tuesday. I have been adding things to your profile as we go along.

2/16/2020, 11:51 PM

Dale – Walter how does it look so far? 

Walter – Dale, Bravo. Beautifully done! I love your attention to detail! 

REST IN PEACE…, DEAR WALTER – May 3rd, 2020 

*~* 

“We should believe in each other’s dreams.” – Walter Dallas 

(1946–2020) 

A prominent and celebrated director, playwright, musician, and teacher in American theater, particularly for his contributions to Black theater.

Walter Dallas

A Giant of Black Theater

Key highlights of his career:

Artistic Director of Freedom Theatre: From 1992 to 2008, he served as the artistic director for the Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, a major African-American company. His leadership helped elevate the Philadelphia theater scene to national acclaim.

Founding of the School of Theatre: In 1983, he created the School of Theatre for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. 

Educator: He was known as a beloved teacher and mentor, working with students and other artists throughout his career. Later in life, he became a resident faculty member at the University of Maryland.

Respected Director: Dallas directed dozens of world premieres, including August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. He also earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his direction of that play.
Playwright and Musician: He was also an award-winning playwright, with his play Lazarus, Unstoned premiering at the Freedom Theatre in 2002. Growing up with many musical relatives, he was a skilled musician who played multiple instruments.