ABOUT
In 1980, two guys (Rodney Dobbs and Joe Dickinson) who had worked together at Dallas Repertory Theatre decided to start a theatre of their own. They found a space in a struggling pocket sandwich shop in a rather questionable area on lower Greenville. Their goal was to manage to last long enough – a couple of years, maybe – to produce perhaps a dozen shows which they both had long wished to do. Their venue would consist of unabashedly “entertainment” theatre – comedies and melodramas. They began with the old American chestnut, “The Drunkard,” with hero to cheer, heroine to sigh for, and villain to jeer and toss popcorn at.
Other American “melodramas” followed, such as “No Mother To Guide Her,” “Ten Nights In A Bar-room,” “From Rags To Riches,” etc. These were a challenge to adapt, since they were usually four of five acts long, with huge casts. The writing was florid, the plots pretty ridiculous. They attracted pretty good audiences, but – unfortunately – they were primarily interested in drinking beer and throwing popcorn than they were with watching a play. The popcorn tossing was encouraged, as was the booing, hissing, cheering, and sighing associated with a “melodrama.” It was, after all, what made the melodramas unique – audience-participation. So – to encourage a little more listening, and a little less beer drinking, they decided to try changing the subject matter. They discontinued the old American melodramas, and began spoofing such things as classic horror stories (“Jekyll and Hyde,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Jack The Ripper,” “Dracula,” etc.) or genres (slasher movies, great-bad science fiction, Sherlock Holmes, etc.). They found that when there was an interesting plot, the audience was more likely to pay attention. They still tossed popcorn, hissed and booed, etc., but at least they listened. And still could drink a little beer.
They also decided they were overdoing melodramas – so they adopted their current format – i.e., alternating their popcorn-tossing spoofs with “regular” comedies, such as “The Nerd,” “Arsenic And Old Lace,” “Barefoot In The Park,” etc. They have even tossed in a few “heavier” shows (although still chosen for high entertainment value) such as “Camelot,” “Inherit The Wind,” “Deathtrap,” “Vikings,” etc. Their musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” has been performed for 40 consecutive holiday seasons, we don't count 2020. Our main stage plays are performed four times a week (Thursday through Saturday at 8:00; Sunday at 2:00.)
The Pocket is the last of the Dallas dinner theatres (although the food and beverage service is optional). We are very proud of the theatre’s large and faithful patron base and of the fact that almost half of our shows are productions of comedies by local playwrights.
In 1990, just shy of their tenth year of existence, Dobbs and Dickinson moved to this larger space in a shopping strip on Mockingbird Lane, and there they have been ever since. Over the years, five additional partners were acquired with Dobbs and Dickinson remaining the majority stockholders, but now have some partners/friends willing (and a few unwilling) to share the work.
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In 2022, our 42nd year and after 32 years on Mockingbird Lane, we lost our lease because we didn't fit their "vision for the future" but have been so fortunate to have found a wonderful new home in the Historic Downtown Carrollton Square.
In its 40+ years, the theatre has produced over 350 shows. Five of its original plays have been nominated for Leon Rabin Awards for Best Play (three have won). In 2000, Dickinson received the Leon Rabin Best Actor Award, and in 2004, Dobbs and Dickinson were given the Dallas Theater League Standing Ovation Award (“Contribution to the advancement of theater in the Dallas Area which has been extraordinary and deserving of special recognition”), just to mention a few of the numerous awards we have humbly received. It seems that the Pocket may have become a little more acceptable to the theater community (at least it seems resigned to the fact that it’s not going to go away).
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A FEW NIFTY FACTS ABOUT THE POCKET SANDWICH THEATRE
In Nov. of 2023, the Theatre celebrated its 43rd birthday.
It is the 3rd oldest theater in Dallas.
It is the 2nd longest continually operated theatre in Dallas.
It has produced over 390 shows.
It has provided over 5200 roles for actors, over 2100 technical theatre jobs.
It has gone through over 1million patrons, about 200,000 pounds of popcorn, and 25+ critics.
Shortly after the Theatre was established in November 1980, a noted local Theatre Critic, who honored the theatre with his presence, said: “If the Pocket Sandwich Theatre is ‘The most fun you can have in a Dallas Theatre,’ we must leave the area as quickly as possible...”
The theatre is still here. Don’t know where he is. So there.
*Active current partners: Co-founder Joe Dickinson passed away in April 2010 but will forever be our “partner,” Co-founder Rodney Dobbs- retired in 2021 but will always be a part of the Pocket family, Jeff Vance, Brad Dickinson, Shanon Dickinson, Kim Winnubst (new partner 2021), Nick Haley (new partner 2021), and two phantom partners, Tom Alleman & Jim Baudhuin.
