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<\/p>\nSince June 1, JC Schuster has been serving as WaterTower Theatre\u2019s Interim Producing Artistic Director, following Shane Peterman\u2019s move to Augusta, Georgia. Beginning Oct. 1, Schuster will be the Addison Theater Company\u2019s permanent Producing Artistic Director.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince stepping into the role of Interim Producing Artistic Director, JC has led with clarity, decisiveness, and heart. He moved quickly to assess the organization’s needs, make prudent decisions, and outline a solid plan for the future. His track record and steady, proactive leadership have given the Board full confidence in the path ahead,\u201d wrote WaterTower Theatre\u2019s Board of Directors in an announcement of the appointment.<\/p>\n
The Dallas native joined WaterTower Theatre as its Associate Producing Director in February 2025. Schuster is a former performer and choreographer with more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, having worked in film, television and theater in Los Angeles and New York. His film and television credits include\u00a0Fosse\/Verdon\u00a0on FX,\u00a0Annie, HBO\u2019s\u00a0Vinyl,\u00a0Glee,\u00a0Gossip Girl, and\u00a0Nurse Jackie. His Broadway credits include the original Broadway company of\u00a0The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical, the 2015 revival of\u00a0Fiddler on the Roof,\u00a0Soul Doctor, and American Repertory Theater\u2019s\u00a0Finding Neverland.<\/p>\n
Working at WaterTower Theatre was a homecoming for him and this new job is an opportunity for him to contribute to the community that first nurtured him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaterTower has a 30-year history and deep roots in Addison. As a Texan who grew up just down the road in Plano, it feels especially meaningful to return home and invest in the community that helped shape me as an artist. After working in New York and Los Angeles, I\u2019m excited about being a bridge between what\u2019s happening in those larger entertainment cities and the incredible work already happening here,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cDallas feels like it\u2019s at the beginning of something new creatively. My wife, Allison, is also in the arts here, and we both feel called to be boots on the ground, helping build on what DFW already does so well, while bringing a fresh perspective to what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Schuster with Dallas native and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Doug Wright in spring 2026 during WaterTower Theatre’s production of Wright’s Good Night, Oscar.<\/p>\n
Overall, the nonprofit theater industry has been under strain following the pandemic. While WaterTower Theatre is representative of those struggles, Schuster is determined to navigate the complicated environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the challenge facing WaterTower is really the same challenge facing nonprofit theatres across the region and the country. The tide is changing. We are seeing theatres struggle, companies merge, subscribers increasingly become single ticket buyers, and donors and sponsors being more selective about where and how they give. The broader economic climate is affecting the arts just as it is businesses of every size,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cOur job is to adapt without losing sight of why we are here and what we do best, making beautiful work and creating joy. Especially when the world can feel heavy, people need places to come together, laugh, and simply be entertained.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond the current industry-wide complexities, Schuster has ambitious plans for the theater company.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to broaden our audience, build on the incredible 30 year foundation that already exists, and continue making Addison a destination for professional theatre in North Texas. I want to grow not only the number of people coming through our doors, but the number of nights the Addison Performing Arts Centre is alive with theatre,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cI know who WaterTower is and what our audience loves, but my bigger dream is to give back what the theatre community gave me. I want to inspire the next generation, build meaningful education programs, create more opportunities for local artists and designers, and give audiences more reasons to come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a few years, he hopes WaterTower Theatre is significantly contributing to the overall well-being of the North Texas arts community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn five years, I want WaterTower to feel bigger in its impact and deeper in its community. When one theatre succeeds, it strengthens the entire arts community. We all rise together, and that work starts now,\u201d Schuster said.<\/p>\n