We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Shaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Dallas Theatre Journal began in order to meet the needs of the Theatre community in Dallas Fort-Worth. And, like many businesses, it was developed in response to the COVID pandemic. Beginning in March of 2020, local theaters were canceling productions and shutting their doors, without reassurance that they would be able to open them again. I began Dallas Theatre Journal to encourage theatergoers and artists to keep the faith. Reviews encourage artists in the value of their performance and are especially important in encouraging patrons to buy tickets to see them perform. As financial priorities shifted after the pandemic, and more individuals were considering their budgets, I wanted to inspire them to consider keeping Theatre as their entertainment preference, thus boosting ticket sales, and helping theaters recover. I also have a passion for journalism and a passion for Theatre! Theatre has been my companion for most of my life and using words to critically consider each production that I see became a very enticing, so I developed a platform in which to do that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a thinker and always have been. I love stories and I want to know people’s stories. I love to break down a story into all of its bits and pieces and put it back together, in order to see the bigger picture. I believe that we can learn a lot from one another and our experiences. Theatre tells the stories of those who’ve gone before us, and those who are around us, from their perspective. When I look at life through my own lens, and ONLY my lens, I miss out on a lot of important detail. In the world of Theatre, our eyes are opened to seeing major issues from the perspective of the individual(s) experiencing it, which forces us, as a society, to re-evaluate our values. Developing Dallas Theatre Journal gave me a platform to dissect these stories and the people behind them to, hopefully, expand our thinking about big social issues. Theatre is a progressive art form and many of our local theaters do an amazing job of pushing society forward. It’s my job to shed light on their work, just as much as it is to do the work myself. Dallas Theatre Journal is more than just a place to find reviews about shows. It’s a place for artists to network, find jobs, feel accepted and included and a place in which they can tell their stories. Like any great creation, it’s a work in progress. There are new ideas being implemented and formulated to expand the experience of the Theatre community. I’m most excited about my Dallas Theatre Journal Patreon creation, where actors, artists, directors and producers can find networking resources, such the “Artist Access List” and the “Pro-Focus” list. These lists highlight up-and-coming and professional artists and their talents. Another feature on Patreon is “Let’s ‘Play’ Pretend,” which gives actors a chance to be cast in a pretend play, one in which I would hypothetically cast them, as a means to generate the interest of local directors. Often, these are actors who are versatile, character actors, whom I’ve chosen to advocate for in our community. Dallas Theatre Journal offers a lot of resources, and it is my desire to make it a one-stop-shop for every Theatre lover in our community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many awesome Theatre venues in DFW, and I have a list of a few who never disappoint! First, is Theatre Arlington. I have yet to see a show there that was a let down. A few others are Undermain Theatre, Stage West Theatre, Firehouse Theatre, and Allen Contemporary Theatre. I can always count on them to have something poignant, thought provoking, or just plain fun! Aside from live theaters, I always enjoy visiting the Dallas Arboretum and the local shops in Deep Ellum. I’m a big coffee fanatic, and like my Starbucks like the next person, but one of the best coffee shops in DFW is “Cuppa” inside Irving Bible Church. I enjoy cooking with the “Tasty” app, so finding fun recipes would probably be my go-to for food planning. However, I also enjoy places like Twisted Root, Cane Rosso and Bread Winner’s Cafe and Bakery.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to especially thank my husband, Andrew and my two sons, Ian and Elijah for their encouragement and support as I return to life in performance arts! Many, many hours are spent on this journalism work and their patience, understanding, and acceptance has helped spur me on. I also want to thank my friends, Julie and Albie Robles for always being a big supporter of my work and for recommending me for this Shoutout!

Website: dallastheatrejournal.com

Instagram: @dtjnatalieshaw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/286597713571869

Other: Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=78511886&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Image Credits
Julie Robles

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