A popular theater previously located in Dallas has returned in a new location.
The Pocket Sandwich Theatre officially reopened in historic downtown Carrollton last week. The theater announced its intention to open in this new location in December 2022.
Although shows have played at the Carrollton location for months, a ribbon cutting for the theater was held on March 15.
The Pocket Sandwich Theater was founded by Rodney Dobbs and Joe Dickinson in 1980 on Greenville Avenue. The pair later moved their business to a new location on Mockingbird Lane in 1990.
The institution is the last of Dallas’ dinner theaters and the second longest continuously operated theater in the city.
The Pocket Sandwich Theatre remained in the Dallas area until the business’ lease was lost in 2022. The owners of the theater claim that the lease was terminated because the theater was no longer in line with the owner’s “vision of the future,” per NBC 5 DFW.
At the time, the theater had been in its 42nd year of operation, occupying its place on Mockingbird Lane for 32 years.
“After a small freak-out period and many tours of places that just didn’t feel right, we were so fortunate that mayor Steve Babick felt that were part of Carrollton’s vision and gave us a call,” said the owners in a statement, as reported by NBC 5.
The theater specializes in comedies, musicals, dramas, and melodramas. It has produced over 350 shows, including The Nerd, Arsenic And Old Lace, and Barefoot In The Park.
Three out of five of its original plays have won “Leon Rabin Awards” for Best Play. The Leon Rabin Award is a Dallas theater award modeled on New York City’s “Tony Award” and Chicago’s “Joseph Jeff Award.”
“Over the last 41 years, we were privileged to come to be considered an East Dallas institution,” said the business on its website. “This is an honor we did not take for granted and we remain forever thankful to all our neighbors who became Pocket regulars, friends, and part of our extended family.”
Theater-goers can catch the comedy Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, rated PG-13, until March 25. This play will be followed by a “popcorn tosser,” Captain Phantasm vs. the Nefarious Dr. Noir, rated PG, from March 31 until May 13.