All Debra and Theo Washington wanted to do was find an activity to do together at their neighborhood Beckley-Saner Recreation Center. The couple signed up for Public Works Dallas, thinking they'd be planting flowers or picking up trash. As workshops began for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, "We looked at each other and went, 'Oh, is this what we want to do?'" says Debra Washington, 65.

"The instructors grabbed our attention and we kept coming back."

Now the Washingtons are delighted to play peddlers Dorcas and Mopsa in Dallas Theater Center's second annual Public Works Dallas event. The program, conceived by Lear deBessonet for Public Theater's Public Works project in New York in 2013, calls for 200 members of the community to be supported by a core of five professional actors, a professional design team and director.

"It was a joy we found that we weren't looking for," Debra Washington says.

Theo and Debra Washington attend a script reading session for Public Works Dallas. (Louis DeLuca / Staff Photographer)

The Winter's Tale, a play about the out-of-control jealousy that separated a king from his beloved queen and led to the king's ultimate repentance and redemption, features music and new lyrics by Todd Almond. Dallas Theater Center presents the show Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the Wyly Theatre in collaboration with SMU Meadows and AT&T Performing Arts Center. Tickets are free.

Shakespeare's story is ultimately about the healing of bitter divisions. For Dayron J. Miles, director of Public Works Dallas, that message underscores the larger purpose of the program, which is to bring people together across age, race, ethnicity, language and socioeconomic lines. It's a mission, he says, that's taken on more urgency in divisive political times.

"We started this project a couple of years ago, with the thought it was a nice aspiration for a future utopian society," he says on the phone from the Wyly Theatre.

Then the political climate grew increasingly divisive, Miles says.

"Suddenly this goal of a creating a warmer community became a mission to connect us."

The first show for Public Works Dallas was The Tempest. Modeled on the Public Theater's program, it took place at the Wyly Theatre in March 2017. Seattle Repertory Theater followed Dallas with its Public Works Seattle production of The Odyssey in September 2017. London's National Theatre is up next with a Public Acts program, modeled on Public Works, of Pericles Aug. 26-28.

DTC trained and recruited cast at Beckley-Saner Recreation Center, Bachman Lake Together Family Center, Jubilee Park and Community Center, Literacy Achieves, Literacy Instruction for Texas and Janie C. Turner Recreation Center.

Patricia Vega, 39, and her son, Francisco, 9, are members of the Bachman Lake community. Francisco loves acting, singing and dancing, his mother says. After performing in The Tempest last year, he couldn't wait to do The Winter's Tale. Theater classes can be expensive, Vega says. She's grateful that Public Works Dallas makes the learning and the performances free.

Maria Reza, Rosaura Martinez, Oceano Reza, Luna Reza and Ruben Reza listen to instructions at a rehearsal for The Winter's Tale. (Louis DeLuca / Staff Photographer)

This time, the company includes Francisco's younger brother, David, 8, who is autistic. Vega says everyone has been welcoming.

"It's hard for him sometimes to calm down," Vega says of David, "but he's good, so good. And he's excited for the costume."

Mayte Natalio is one of the professionals behind the scenes. She has performed at DTC in Stagger Lee and Hair and has worked as the assistant choreographer and part of the ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert for NBC in April.

She cleared her schedule to choreograph The Winter's Tale because "There's no question that this is one of my favorite things. I turned down shows to do it; that's how special it is," Natalio says. "You cannot help but be inspired by seeing the community work so hard to make this amazing. You cannot help but be inspired by them. Everyone has beautiful and interesting stories, and everyone has amazing talent. We are giving them actual choreographers, directors and lighting designers who have worked at the highest theater level, and they deserve it."

Natalio, whose parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic, is bilingual. She's enjoyed seeing kids translate for Spanish-speaking adults and help the English-speaking cast master pronunciation for Spanish words in the script.

Vega says her kids have improved their English while helping others with Spanish. Most important, the act of helping has helped "make better relationships," she says.

"We didn't know them a couple of months ago," she says, referring to the rest of the cast and company. "Now, they don't look like strangers. They look like friends."

For Debra Washington, it's been empowering to see how ordinary people can work together to put on a big show like this.

"It changes the community, and it changes the neighborhood," she says. "Before this, when we thought of things that would enrich our center, we we would leave it to someone else to do it. Now, we say, 'No, I think we can do this. Let's take the initiative and make it work."

Liz Mikel in the role of Ariel in The Tempest, Dallas Theater Center's inaugural Public Works Dallas project, presented in March 2017. (Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor)

Details

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St., Dallas. Free admission. Limited to two tickets per person, available by phone at 214-880-0202 or online at DallasTheaterCenter.org. Limited tickets available the day of the performance on the standby line.