New Leadership Takes the Stage: Woolly Mammoth & Dallas Theater Center Announce Artistic Directors
(Published December 18, 2025)
The American theatre landscape is poised for exciting new chapters as two prominent companies, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., and Dallas Theater Center in Texas, have announced their incoming artistic directors. These appointments signal a commitment to dynamic artistic vision and continued community engagement.
Reggie D. White to Lead Woolly Mammoth into its Next Era
[Image of Reggie D. White and Jaime Castañeda – Top Row L-R: Reggie D. white, Jaime Castañeda]
Woolly Mammoth Theatre company has tapped the multi-talented Reggie D.White as its third artistic director in its 46-year history. White, a seasoned actor, director, playwright, educator, and arts strategist, will officially assume the role in spring 2026, succeeding Maria Manuela Goyanes, who stepped down in September 2025, and building upon the legacy of co-founder Howard shalwitz.
White brings a wealth of experience to Woolly Mammoth, most recently serving as the senior director of artistic strategy and impact at Arena stage. His play, Fremont Ave, premiered at Arena and garnered notable recognition with an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, and is slated for a production at South Coast repertory.
His impressive resume also includes roles at Atlantic Acting School (as artistic director), Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (as associate artistic director), and Vineyard Theatre (as a resident artist). Broadway credits include Matthew López’s The Inheritance, and he directed Goddess at the Public Theater.
White’s vision for Woolly Mammoth centers on deep engagement with the theatre’s community. He plans to connect with staff, artists, audiences, and fellow D.C. theatre professionals, while also focusing on strengthening commissioning opportunities, deepening community partnerships, and furthering the theatre’s dedication to antiracism and equity. A key focus will be collaborative strategic planning as Woolly Mammoth approaches its 50th anniversary.
Jaime Castañeda Returns to His Roots as Dallas Theater Center’s New Artistic Director
[Image of Jessica Francis Fichter and Gary Grossman – Bottom row L-R: Jessica Francis Fichter, Gary Grossman]
Dallas Theater Center (DTC) is welcoming Texas native Jaime Castañeda as its sixth artistic director. Castañeda will begin his tenure in July 2026,partnering with executive director and former artistic director Kevin Moriarty. He succeeds interim artistic director and resident playwright Jonathan Norton, who will complete the 2025-26 season, which includes his play Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem.
Castañeda’s extensive directing credits include work at American Conservatory Theater,South Coast Repertory,Huntington Theatre Company,and La jolla Playhouse,where he served as associate artistic director from 2014-2018.He also spent five years as an artistic associate at Atlantic Theater Company.
Notably, castañeda has a history with DTC, having directed a production of Kristoffer Diaz’s The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity in 2012. His career began over two decades ago in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he founded Firestarter Productions while attending Texas Christian University. He also boasts local directing credits with Kitchen Dog Theater, Amphibian Stage, and Circle Theatre.
A recipient of the Princess Grace Award and the Drama League directing fellowship, Castañeda holds a BFA from Texas Christian University and an MFA in Directing from[UniversityName-[UniversityName-[UniversityName-[UniversityName-information missing from original article].
These appointments mark a