Dallas Children’s Theater Names Philanthropic Veteran as Its New Interim Executive Director

Michael Meadows, a leader in the North Texas philanthropic community, will serve as the executive director of Dallas Children’s Theater on an interim basis, succeeding Samantha Turner, who will transition to the role of chief operating officer for a period of months to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

“Michael’s deep understanding of Dallas’s philanthropic landscape and his track record of strategic leadership will be invaluable as we work to build a sustainable future for Dallas Children’s Theater,” said Leah Mora, president of the Dallas Children’s Theater board of directors. “We could not have asked for a more gifted person to lead our theater through this next stage.”

Meadows brings almost four decades of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to Dallas Children’s Theater.

His background includes roles as president and CEO of the Dallas Zoological Society, where he led the transformation of the Dallas Zoo into one of the nation’s premier zoological parks. He also has held leadership positions at Southwestern Medical Foundation and The University of Texas at Dallas.

“The best way to ensure Dallas continues to grow as a national leader in the theatrical arts is to create the next generation of theatergoers,” Meadows said in a statement. “Dallas Children’s Theater is building the foundation for a cultural landscape that will determine the character of this city for decades to come. I am honored to join this team and support the work that has an immeasurable and uplifting impact on the young people in our community.”

Fostering a lifelong appreciation for the arts

Dallas Children’s Theater provides the Dallas and broader community with artistic and educational experiences, serving as an important resource for professional family-friendly theater, arts education for schools, and community enrichment. By producing engaging performances and a range of educational programming, Dallas Children’s Theater said it inspires young people and fosters community engagement, cultural understanding, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Turner, who served as Dallas Children’s Theater’s first new executive director in its 40-year history following the retirement of founder Robyn Flatt, championed Meadows for the role.

“Michael has the skills, relationships and knowledge to lead Dallas Children’s Theater into the future. His experience serving performing arts and children-centered nonprofits is exactly what is needed,” Turner said.

Dallas Children’s Theater will begin its 42nd season this fall with a co-commissioned world premiere of a new holiday show from Mo Willems, The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! and a newly appointed Artistic Director, Emily Ernst.

Co-founded by Flatt in 1984, Dallas Children’s Theater serves over 90,000 young people and their families annually with professional productions and a robust arts-in-education program.

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.

R E A D N E X T

Calendar: Not-to-Miss Events for Innovators in Dallas-Fort Worth
North Texas has plenty to see, hear, and watch. Here are our editors' picks. Plus, you'll find more selections to "save the date."
The Cedars Union Gets $500K Grant, Names Former Dallas Zoo and DMA Exec as Executive Director
The Cedars Union, a hub for emerging and mid-career artists in North Texas, is setting its sights on the next level of growth with the appointment of Emma Vernon as executive director. The North Texas nonprofit artist incubator’s upcoming cohort, launching this month, will be its largest ever, chosen from the most competitive applicant pool since its founding in 2015.
AI Tinkerers Now Has a Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter: 'This Is for People Who Are Actually Using AI'
Data scientist Anmolika Singh put Dallas on the global AI Tinkerers map. At the first meetup, more than 30 pros—founders to Fortune 500 technologists—showed up to trade ideas, projects, and solutions.
The Last Word: On the New Brand Look of the 2025 BMW Dallas Marathon
The BMW Dallas Marathon is gearing up for its 2025 race weekend, to be held in a long, winding course around White Rock Lake December 12–14. One way it's doing that is by unveiling "a bold new logo" featuring a modern take on the Pegasus—Dallas' celebrated icon—stretching its neck out toward victory. Along with a refreshed merchandise collection, the updated visual identity "reflects the organization’s evolution as a premier running event and its deep connection to the Dallas community," organizers said.
Beyond Gaming: How Minecraft Became a Platform for Scientific Learning and AI Research
UT Dallas researcher Dr. Walter Voit transformed Minecraft’s 170-million-player universe into an advanced virtual training ground—for students and for AI agents tested by DARPA. His team’s Polycraft World uses gameplay to turn classroom theory into real-world expertise, covering topics from synthetic organic chemistry to nuclear plants to semiconductor facilities. Their new startup company, Pedegree Studios, has licensed the core technologies from the university to create a scalable digital pipeline for education and workforce development.