What happens when you mix King Lear with a Latino family-run restaurant business? Pure theatrical magic that’ll have you laughing, thinking, and maybe craving some crispy chicken afterward.
El Rey del Pollo: A Family Recipe for Drama
Echo Theatre is serving up something completely fresh this Hispanic Heritage Month with “El Rey del Pollo” (The Chicken King) – a world premiere comedy that takes Shakespeare’s family drama and transforms it into a story that feels both timeless and totally today.
Meet Reymundo Lear, who’s built a fried chicken empire with three restaurants and three daughters: Gisela, Raquel, and Cordelia. When it’s time to retire and pass on the business, everything seems perfectly planned… until youngest daughter Cordelia falls out of favor. Sound familiar? It should, but this nuevo comedy stands completely on its own.
You don’t need to know Shakespeare to love this show – though if you do, you’ll catch all the clever nods and twists that make this adaptation brilliant.
Perfect Timing for Hispanic Heritage Month
Running September 12-27, 2025, this world premiere lands right in the heart of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating the stories, culture, and voices that make Dallas so vibrant. It’s the kind of programming that shows why representation matters – taking classic stories and making them speak to our community’s experience.
What makes this special: This isn’t just Shakespeare with different names. It’s a completely reimagined story that uses the framework of King Lear to explore family loyalty, business succession, and the complicated dynamics that happen when love and money mix in a family enterprise.
Why Echo Theatre Gets It Right
Echo Theatre has been Dallas’ premier women’s theater since 1998, originally founded by Linda Marie Ford England alongside colleagues Pam Myers-Morgan and Suzy Blaylock. Their mission from day one: break barriers, open eyes, and give voice to stories that need telling.
Now in their 27th season, they’ve expanded that mission to produce works by women and women+ playwrights, continuing to demand gender parity in theater production. They’re not just putting on shows – they’re changing who gets to tell stories on Dallas stages.
This year’s theme is “FAMILY” – exploring the ties that make us and break us. “El Rey del Pollo” fits perfectly, looking at chosen family, blood family, and business family through the lens of comedy that hits close to home.
All Ages Welcome (Really!)
Here’s something you don’t hear often about Shakespeare adaptations: this one is suitable for ALL ages. Bring the kids, bring the grandparents, bring that cousin who “doesn’t like theater.” This is family-friendly comedy that works for everyone while still being smart enough for theater lovers.
New matinee times make it even easier: Saturday shows now start at 3:00 PM, perfect for families who want to catch dinner afterward and discuss all the family drama they just witnessed (the good kind).
Show Details You Need
When: September 12-27, 2025
Times: Thursday/Friday/Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM, NEW Saturday matinee at 3:00 PM
Where: Bath House Cultural Center (City of Dallas venue)
Tickets: On sale now
Best for: Anyone who loves family stories, comedy, or just wants to try something new
The Bigger Picture
Supporting Echo Theatre means supporting the kind of bold, diverse storytelling that makes Dallas theater special. This is the theater that takes risks, nurtures new voices, and creates space for stories you won’t see anywhere else.
When you buy a ticket to “El Rey del Pollo,” you’re not just getting a night of entertainment (though you’re definitely getting that). You’re supporting:
- World premiere productions
- Diverse voices in theater
- Women+ playwrights getting their stories told
- Local theater that reflects our community
Why This Show Matters Now
In a time when family businesses are changing hands, when generational differences feel bigger than ever, and when questions about loyalty and fairness hit every family table, “El Rey del Pollo” offers both laughter and insight.
It’s Shakespeare for the 21st century, Latino family dynamics with universal themes, and comedy that doesn’t shy away from the complicated truths about love, power, and family legacy.
Ready to Laugh and Think?
“El Rey del Pollo” promises to be the kind of show that starts conversations – about family, about business, about what we owe each other and what we owe ourselves. Plus, you’ll walk away with some great one-liners and maybe a new appreciation for both Shakespeare and good fried chicken.
Get Your Tickets:
Visit echotheatre.org or call the box office
Shows run September 12-27, 2025
Bath House Cultural Center
Perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations
This is Dallas theater at its best – local, diverse, smart, and completely entertaining. Come find your people at Echo Theatre.
About Echo Theatre:
Dallas’ women’s theater since 1998, now in their 27th season, producing works by women and women playwrights. Supported in part by the Dallas Office of Arts & Culture.
