Liz Mikel Brings 'Where We Stand' to Dallas Audiences

Mikel's emotional play invites the audience to participate in deciding the fate of a neighbor in this immersive morality tale.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Veteran North Texas actress Liz Mikel is starring in the Dallas Theater Center production of 'Where We Stand,' a play by Donnetta Lavinia Grays that runs from February 25 to March 22 at Bryant Hall. In this unique theatrical experience, Mikel is the lone storyteller, weaving together the story of a neighbor who has made a dangerous bargain. The audience is then asked to come together in a town hall-style setting to determine the moral direction of the community and the fate of this neighbor.

Why it matters

This production challenges traditional theater norms by making the audience active participants in the storytelling process. It explores the power of community and the moral dilemmas we face as neighbors, inviting the audience to reflect on their own values and beliefs.

The details

In 'Where We Stand,' Mikel portrays all the characters in the play, a departure from her previous acting roles. The show is described as an 'immersive morality tale' that demands the audience consider the theater as a shared civic space where they will determine the outcome of the story. Directed by Akin Babatunde, the production was co-produced by the Dallas Theater Center and Stage West in Fort Worth, where Mikel performed the show earlier this year.

  • The show runs from February 25 to March 22, 2026 at Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys campus.
  • Mikel previously performed the show at Stage West in Fort Worth earlier this year.

The players

Liz Mikel

A member of the Dallas Theater Center's Brierley Resident Acting Company, Mikel has been a fixture in the North Texas theater scene for over 30 years, creating memorable characters on stage, screen, and television.

Donnetta Lavinia Grays

The playwright of 'Where We Stand,' which is the third production of the Dallas Theater Center's 2025-2026 season.

Akin Babatunde

The director of 'Where We Stand,' who co-produced the show with the Dallas Theater Center and Stage West in Fort Worth.

Bryant Hall

The intimate venue on the Kalita Humphreys campus where 'Where We Stand' will be performed, chosen for its ability to foster a communal, town hall-style atmosphere.

Stage West

The Fort Worth theater company that co-produced 'Where We Stand' with the Dallas Theater Center.

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What they’re saying

“In Where We Stand, the audience is the community. It is a community gathering. They are my scene partner. The audience is being asked to take the journey as a participant in this theatrical piece. They're not here to simply watch but to be involved because ultimately, they decide my outcome.”

— Liz Mikel, Actress (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

“Bryant Hall is the perfect space for this "gathering" because of the uniqueness of this show. It's not your typical theater offering where you sit and watch. It is intimate and you will be connected to each person in the space as we take this journey together.”

— Liz Mikel, Actress (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

“Where We Stand is a completely different experience for me because I play ALL of the characters! I've played multiple characters in plays before, but this is the first time I've played them alone in one piece of theater. It's very challenging but extremely rewarding when the audience sees and feels each character and becomes invested in the outcome.”

— Liz Mikel, Actress (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

“In the Stage West run, I was deeply moved by the willingness of the community to engage and the outpouring of positive responses to what they experienced.”

— Liz Mikel, Actress (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

“There's a line in the show that says, "Friendship is community, the folks that stay around." I believe theater deepens our understanding of not only ourselves, but our fellow human beings. It is a chance for us to reflect and grow together. Nothing brings us closer than taking a journey together through the gift of storytelling that we call theatre.”

— Liz Mikel, Actress (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

What’s next

Tickets for 'Where We Stand' at the Dallas Theater Center are on sale now, with performances running from February 25 to March 22, 2026.

The takeaway

This production of 'Where We Stand' challenges traditional theater norms by making the audience active participants in the storytelling process. It explores the power of community and the moral dilemmas we face as neighbors, inviting the audience to reflect on their own values and beliefs through an immersive and thought-provoking theatrical experience.