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Junior Players pauses park Shakespeare run after venue-fee jump; will present shows at Theater 3
Summary
Rosaura Cruz of Junior Players told the Parks and Recreation Board the nonprofit will pause its long-running park Shakespeare production because venue-rental fees charged through a contract with Shakespeare Dallas rose from about $14,000 to $21,000, and the group will stage its summer production at Theater 3.
Rosaura Cruz, executive director of Junior Players, used the public-comment period to tell the Parks and Recreation Board the youth arts nonprofit will pause its in‑park Shakespeare production after a sustained increase in venue-rental fees tied to a contract with Shakespeare Dallas.
Cruz said Junior Players has served the North Texas area for 70 years and that its Shakespeare production has been a cultural cornerstone for roughly 33 years in collaboration with the city’s Park and Recreation Department and Shakespeare Dallas. She told the board that rental fees rose about 42% under the current contract and that the organization’s venue costs increased from about $14,000 to $21,000, which made the production financially unsustainable for a nonprofit operating at a deficit the prior year.
As a result, Cruz said Junior Players will pause the park-based production and present the planned summer Shakespeare production at Theater 3 in July and the first weekend in August while continuing other programs. She emphasized the decision was financial and said the group would welcome further discussions with Park and Recreation leadership.
Ending: Junior Players will continue its season at Theater 3 and indicated it remains open to talks with park department leadership about future park collaborations.
