Camille and Rich sit down with Dallas legend Liz Mikel to talk about her extraordinary career and her powerful new role as the lone performer in Where We Stand at the Dallas Theater Center.

A Texas native, Liz has been performing since childhood. Trained from age six by Ann Williams of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre and later mentored by Curtis King of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, she has built a career that spans local, national, and international stages. Dallas audiences know her well. She has appeared in more than 20 productions at the Dallas Theater Center since 1990 and recently completed her 14th year in the annual production of A Christmas Carol. Over the years she has performed at Theatre Three, Dallas Children’s Theater, WaterTower Theatre, Casa Mañana, The Majestic Theatre, Jubilee Theatre and more. She has toured nationally, performed at The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts, and even taken productions to Geneva, Paris and New York.

Her accolades include the Dallas Theatre League’s Leon Rabin Award in 1998, the Dallas Theater Critics Forum Award in 2004, Best Actress by D Magazine in 2004, and recognition as Queen of the Arts, The Face of Black Theater in Dallas by The Dallas Weekly in March 2006.

Now, Liz takes center stage alone in Where We Stand, running February 25 through March 22, 2026 at Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys Theater Campus. Written by Donnetta Lavinia Grays and directed by Akin Babatunde, this co production with Stage West Theatre is an intimate, interactive theatrical experience where the audience decides the outcome. Mercy or justice. Redemption or consequence. The choice belongs to you.

The 70 minute production has no intermission and is suitable for all ages, with audience members 12 and up most likely to fully appreciate the experience. Stay Late conversations after every performance will be led by Liz herself.

This is a conversation about art, discipline, legacy, and what it means to stand alone on stage and trust the audience to shape the story.

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What does it take to become a Master Sommelier? In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, we sit down with James Tidwell, one of the few Master Sommeliers in the country—and he happens to live right here in East Dallas.

With fewer than 300 Master Sommeliers worldwide, earning this prestigious title requires years of dedication, deep expertise, and an extraordinary ability to understand and communicate the complexities of wine. James shares his journey into the world of wine, what makes a great sommelier, and how wine is more than just a beverage—it’s an experience, a craft, and a story waiting to be told.

Whether you're a seasoned collector, an aspiring wine enthusiast, or someone who simply enjoys a good glass, this episode is packed with fascinating insights into the art and science of wine. Join us as we explore the nuances of taste, terroir, and what truly makes wine special.

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What started with a couple Highland Park high school kids quietly putting boats in the water has grown into one of the most unique athletic communities in Dallas.

On this episode, Camille and Rich sit down with Austin Brooks, better known as AJ, Executive Director of Dallas United Crew. We talk about the surprising history of rowing in Dallas, how the sport found its home here, and why White Rock Lake became the backdrop for something much bigger than competition.

AJ’s story alone is wild. Undefeated collegiate career at the University of Washington, world record in the Varsity 8+, Team USA appearances, and a Henley Royal Regatta championship. Now he’s in Dallas building a program designed for everyone, not just elite athletes.

Dallas United Crew has grown from a single high school team into a full nonprofit urban water sports center serving athletes of all ages and backgrounds. The mission is simple but powerful. Build character, resilience, and community through movement on the water.

This conversation goes way beyond rowing. It is about access, opportunity, and how a city builds identity around something most people never expected to be part of Dallas culture.

You will never look at the lake the same way again.

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For Part 2 of our field trip to Bonton Farms, Camille and Rich sit down with Melissa Metoyer, the Senior Director of Health Equity and Community Impact, to talk about what it really looks like when a neighborhood takes care of each other.

This conversation goes deep into health and wellness, but not in the abstract. We talk about real systems. Real people. And real outcomes. From medical and dental care to behavioral health, nutrition, financial stability, and workforce development, Melissa walks us through how Bonton Farms has built an integrated model where everything works together under one roof.

What stood out most is how intentional it all is. This isn’t charity. It’s dignity. It’s accountability. It’s neighbors supporting neighbors in ways that actually change lives long term.

Bonton Farms already had a national reputation for community transformation, but Melissa shares how the work has evolved into something scalable, measurable, and deeply human. This episode is about health equity, but more than that, it’s about what happens when a community decides it deserves better and builds the systems to make it happen.

If you care about health, wellness, community, or just seeing what’s possible when people stop talking and start building, this one is worth your time.

Check them out!

https://www.bontonfarms.org

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In this episode, we’re joined by director Vickie Washington to talk all things Fat Ham, the Pulitzer Prize winning comedy making its regional premiere at Dallas Theater Center.

We dig into Vickie’s journey as an artist, what drew her to this bold reinvention of Hamlet, and how Fat Ham uses humor, family tension, and truth to explore liberation and joy. Centered around a queer Black man caught between generational expectations and his own freedom, the play challenges cycles of violence while delivering laugh out loud moments and emotional depth.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on the show, the themes, and why Fat Ham is a must see production this season.

Show dates January 30 through February 8, 2026
Kalita Humphreys Theater
Written by James Ijames
Directed by Vickie Washington
A co production with Stage West Theatre

Mature content and adult language apply.

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Today on What In East Dallas Is Going On? we took a field trip to Bonton Farms and spent time with their CEO, Mark Jones. Mark is no ordinary CEO, and what’s happening at Bonton Farms is nothing short of remarkable.

This was our first time truly being on the ground out there, seeing the work, feeling the energy, and understanding just how powerful this model really is. What they’ve built should absolutely be duplicated across the country.

We had an inspiring, honest, and eye opening conversation about community, leadership, food access, dignity, and what real change actually looks like when people decide to do the work. Rich and Camille host this special field trip episode, and it’s one you’ll be thinking about long after it ends.

If you believe communities can be transformed when people show up with intention, this episode is for you.

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We’re kicking off the first episode of the year the right way. With purpose, heart, and community at the center of it all.

This episode was recorded live at Bonton Farms, a place that embodies what it means to lift people up and create real change. Our guest is Stormy Pecchioni, Director of Philanthropy, Engagement, and Business Development for Dallas Trinity FC.

Stormy’s story is one rooted in service. From leveraging sports as a tool for good to showing up in the community and doing the work, his life has been about giving back and creating access for others. We talk about how sports can unite people, open doors, and create moments that matter far beyond the scoreboard.

We also dive into how the community can get involved with Dallas Trinity FC. Whether that means volunteering alongside the front office team, joining the loudest and proudest supporters at the Cotton Bowl, donating tickets to local families and nonprofits, or inviting DTFC into your organization or event.

This conversation is about more than soccer. It’s about showing up, building something bigger than yourself, and proving that when sports and community come together, real impact follows.

A perfect way to start the year.

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On this episode of the East Dallas Podcast, Camille and Rich sit down with Dr. Ashley Agan to talk about something simple, powerful, and surprisingly life changing. Walk with a Doc is a global movement that started with one frustrated cardiologist who just wanted his patients to get moving. What began as a Saturday stroll in an Ohio park has grown into more than 500 chapters around the world.

Dr. Agan shares how the East Dallas chapter is giving our neighborhood a chance to get outside, get answers, and feel connected. There is no pressure. No pace requirement. Just real conversations with a doctor who cares, and a community taking small steps toward better health.

If you want an easy way to move your body, learn something useful, and meet your neighbors, Walk with a Doc might be exactly what you need. Come join us.

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