February 13, 2025

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Arts and entertainment: year in review

Arts and entertainment: year in review
Terry Loftis

SAYING SO LONG: DSO’s Terry Loftis appointed CEO of New Jersey Symphony

In early December, the New Jersey Symphony announced that Terry D. Loftis has accepted the position of president and CEO for the symphony. He will assume the role in early March. Loftis has most recently been chief advancement and revenue officer for Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Prior to the DSO, he was the Donna Wilhelm Family president and executive director of The Arts Community Alliance.

Loftis is also a Tony-nominated producer of the shows Bandstand and The Visit, which starred the Broadway legend Chita Rivera.

PHILANTHROPY DONE RIGHT: James Williams donates to area arts organizations with ties to Dallas’ LGBTQ community

James Williams

In August, Uptown Players and Michael Urie announced the Fund Our Future grant challenge offered by local philanthropist James Williams. This was Williams’ second grant to an arts organization in the name of his late partner, Charles Longcope, after his initial grant to Turtle Creek Chorale in June. He then followed up with a third grant, this one to Bruce Wood Dance Dallas 

“We probably should have done this earlier, but it’s important to contribute to these and get others in our community to contribute as well, because these are the organizations that are telling our stories,” Williams said. “My late partner Charles Longcope and I always went to these shows and volunteered, and now I can do this to honor him.”

NEW LEADERSHIP: Turtle Creek Chorale names a new executive director
In late August, the Turtle Creek Chorale Board of Directors announced Dr. Dawson B. Taylor as the new executive director of the Turtle Creek Chorale. He assumed the role at the beginning of November.

Dr. Dawson B. Taylor

Dawson, a former singing member of TCC, previously served as designated minister of Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ in Bethesda, Maryland, and he sang as baritone in the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.

Taylor served at Naples United Church of Christ in Florida, and, prior to that, he served as executive minister of Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas.

MILBOURN RISING: (top) A huge ceiling-breaking year for actor Captain Milbourn
Captain Milbourn had a big year in theater, first with a focus on the story of Julie d’Aubigny. Milbourn created and premiered the movement piece La Maupin: The French Abomination based on d’Aubigny’s life at Hamon Hall and the Latino Cultural Center. Additionally, they played the title role in Dallas Theater Center’s Dracula: A Comedy of Errors, which was the AFAB transmasc nonbinary lesbian’s first time being cast as a male character. Milbourn was specifically sought after by director Blake Hackler for the role, and they later told Dallas Voice the role was a career milestone. 

TRUE COLORS: TCC surprises time after time, announcing Cyndi Lauper as ‘Rhapsody’ gala headliner

Cyndi Lauper

For a different vibe at its annual fundraising event Rhapsody, the Turtle Creek Chorale moved to the Omni Dallas Hotel and, instead of choosing a legendary Broadway diva to headline as usual, TCC went for a pop music icon.

Cyndi Lauper headlined TCC’s 2024 gala held on June 1. The night was a sold-out success for the organization, also surpassing a matching grant goal.

Previous Rhapsody headliners include Patti LuPone, Idina Menzel and Audra McDonald. 

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