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Worthy Convos: Katherine Curtis on All Things Casa Mañana
We started Worthy Convos to highlight people doing good and interesting things in our community. Katherine Curtis has been a Tanglewood Moms Friend for years, so we were extremely excited when Casa Mañana announced that they had hired her as their Vice President of Marketing. Katherine graciously made time to talk to me just weeks after she started the job, and boy, was it worth it!
Tanglewood Moms: Congratulations, Ms. Vice President of Marketing! You’re a longtime friend of Tanglewood Moms and Madeworthy, but I would love to introduce you to our members and readers who might not be aware of your awesomeosity. Can you tell us a little bit about your personal and professional background?
Katherine Curtis: Thanks, Lee. I’m blushing. First and foremost, I’m a Horned Frog! TCU is how I first arrived in Fort Worth in the late 1900s (as the kids say today), and I absolutely fell in love with the city. I officially called Fort Worth home in 2005 and have worked in the non-profit world in both fundraising and marketing ever since. I’ve had the honor of being a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth’s Leading Edge program, a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Fort Worth Metro Chapter, Junior League Fort Worth, TCU Alumni Association Fort Worth Chapter, and, most recently, Laundry Love Fort Worth. I also serve as a BuildStrong Ambassador for Trinity Habitat for Humanity and as a member of the Fort Worth Advisory Council of The Salvation Army. Growing up in Memphis, TN, my mom volunteered (and still does) and would often take me with her, so giving back to my community is ingrained into who I am. The fact that I also get to give back through my professional career is simply the icing on the cake. When I’m not at work or volunteering, I’m at the soccer field with my husband, watching our 15-year-old son play goalie for his club team, where I’m also the team manager. I really don’t know how not to be busy.
TWM: I know that you’re not even a month into your role, but what do you think your biggest challenge will be in marketing live theater in an increasingly digital world?
KC: The biggest challenge, I think, is encouraging people to put down the screen and come see the show live! So much can be viewed digitally now, including theatre. But the experience of sitting in the audience and watching the actors live will never be replaced by a screen. Emotions hit differently when in person, plus live theatre makes a great date night or family outing. The energy that fills the Dome during a live performance – the music, the acting, the audience – brings the stage to life in a way that never happens on screen, even in a movie theater. Plus, supporting your local theatre supports the local community, which, for me, is always a big win.
TWM: You are in charge of promoting all of Casa Mañana’s programs – Broadway, children’s theater, the programs at the Reid Cabaret, and all of the educational programs. How different are your approaches to promoting each program?
KC: The beauty of Casa Mañana is that there is a show for every type of theatre patron. Our Cabaret offers an intimate evening performance of live music, great for a girls’ night out or date night. Our Broadway Season brings actors from New York to Fort Worth, teams them with local actors, and creates local productions of award-winning shows. And our Children’s Theatre Season is a fantastic introduction to the theatre, with shorter shows that are always family-friendly. When promoting our various seasons, I don’t think about the different audiences as much as I think about the different experiences patrons will have.
One of the components of Casa Mañana that I’ve truly loved learning more about is the School for Musical Theatre. The classes offered throughout the year welcome students as young as pre-K. Whether you are interested in acting, dancing, or singing, there is a class for all aspects of musical theatre, led by industry professionals. Marketing these programs to schools, theatre departments, and our patrons with children brings Casa Mañana full circle, as children enjoying shows on the main stage can become the actors on it.
TWM: What is Casa Mañana doing to make theater more accessible to all of Fort Worth?
KC: I love this question because I had no idea we offered any of this until I started on staff – and I want everyone to know.
We are currently in the process of becoming sensory-friendly-certified through Kulture City for our Children’s Theatre productions. Certain Sunday morning performances of the Children’s Theatre shows are sensory-friendly. There are certain aspects of each show that can be adjusted to make the experience more enjoyable for children and adults with sensory sensitivity, whether in sound, lighting, or stage actions, as well as the lobby experience, which creates a sensory-friendly environment from the moment patrons walk through the doors.
For our Broadway productions, Tuesday evening performances are ASL-interpreted. Knowing that more individuals use ASL to communicate means we are reaching a new group of patrons by offering ASL interpreted shows.
My favorite aspect of our accessibility program, which is part of our School for Musical Theatre, is the All Abilities Class. This year-long class brings together a variety of ages and abilities to learn musical theatre and wraps up with a production of their own. My second week on the job, I attended this year’s All Abilities Class production of The Sound of Music. I was blown away. Their friends and family filled the theatre. The actors were in full costume, singing, dancing, and acting out the well-known show. I still smile when I think of this performance. Many of the students in this class return year after year
TWM: Next season’s Broadway shows are pretty amazing! What is something that you want our readers to know about the season?
KC: I am excited about next season and my first full season at Casa Mañana! Season tickets are on sale now, and it’s the easiest way to guarantee your seat to Frozen. The season starts with Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of Temptations in September, Frozen in November, and 2027 brings us Dear Evan Hansen in February and Beautiful: The Carol King Musical in May. Our Broadway shows mix New York Broadway actors with our local talent, bringing the show to life on a set created right here in Fort Worth. Casa Mañana has its own scene production crew, costume department, and props department. The team behind each of our shows lives and works right here in Fort Worth. It’s a beautiful blend of New York and Fort Worth’s finest, bringing the magic of the stage to life.
TWM: Can you give us a peek at the 2026-2027 Children’s Theater season?
KC: Our Children’s Theatre includes four shows starting in October with Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale. Our holiday show, A Christmas Carol, is a new musical production created by Casa Mañana based on the holiday classic. We kick off 2027 with Shrek the Musical in January and wrap up the season with Finding Nemo in March. And those who purchase season tickets now have the option to add on Frozen before individual tickets go on sale, which is the best way to secure your seat.
The beauty of the Children’s Theatre Season is that the shows truly are created with children in mind. They are, on average, an hour and a half with an intermission – perfect for a young theatre patron. And, with our Children’s Theatre shows, squirming in your seat is fully allowed.
TWM: Why should someone buy season tickets instead of purchasing tickets for a single show?
KC: Here are my top three reasons to purchase season tickets this year:
- Season tickets guarantee your seat for each show. If you like a schedule, you know when your show will be and where you will be sitting.
- There are special add-on shows you can purchase before they go on sale to the general public. For Broadway Season tickets, you can add on the one-night only The Music of Elton John (with tickets selling quickly) and our Apprentice Program production of Blood Brothers. For Children’s Theatre Season tickets, you can add Frozen, which is the best way to secure seats for this Disney favorite.
- By supporting Casa Mañana with season tickets, you are supporting your local Fort Worth theatre- the artists, the crews, and the community that comes together to bring theatre to life.
TWM: Is there anything new for the 2026-2027 season that our readers should know about?
KC: The fun new part of the Children’s Theatre this year is our Casa Mañana Kids Club. With a $250 or more donation, your family can enjoy the Casa Carnival, bringing the magic of the stage into the heart of the building, as well as select benefits themed around each Children’s Theatre show. Through these events, we are creating a new generation of theatre patrons who will grow up to one day support their local theatres themselves.
photo credit: Chip Tompkins
TWM: And finally, you don’t just work for a theater, you’re a theater lover. What do you say to someone who says that they don’t think live theater is very interesting?
KC: I grew up going to the local theatre in Memphis with my family. My first Broadway show in NYC was The Phantom of the Opera when I was in sixth grade. I have vivid memories of holiday shows in Memphis and the first time watching the chandelier crash during Phantom. These are priceless memories that come to mind every time I think about the theatre.
I also hear people say they don’t believe they would like live theatre or that it’s “not their thing.” What I say to them: “Make the memories. See the shows.” Pick something that interests you and go see that show. Are you a fan of Motown? Get tickets to see Ain’t Too Proud. Do you have kids who love Shrek? Take them to see Shrek the Musical. The beauty of the theatre is that every production is unique to that particular show. Not every show is for every patron, but every potential patron will find a show they truly enjoy.
