“AMON! will renew a love for the state of Texas!”
‘Let’s Bring Amon Home’ Project A Success
After 30 performances within a half-year span, it’s safe to say that AMON! The Ultimate Texan about Fort Worth’s founding father Amon G. Carter Sr. was one of Dallas/Fort Worth’s, er, excuse us, Fort Worth/Dallas’ (you’re welcome, Amon) top theatrical events of the year.
We’ve only just begun. After 21 shows at Artisan Center Theater, three shows at the Fort Worth Club (which Amon Carter ran for 35 years) and six shows at the Scott Theatre next to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, we are taking this show everywhere.
Throughout Tarrant County and even a soon-to-be-announced trip to Amon’s beloved West Texas — “the prettiest backyard a city ever had” as he called it.
This is the play and the companion book’s official website. You can buy tickets here, and ask questions. You can visit the NEWS tab up top and see what audiences and the press say about our play that when you’re not laughing, you’re crying.
The play features actor Kelvin Dilks as Amon. The play is directed by Connie Sanchez, who also did stage and costume design as well script supervision. Rick Blair, a co-founder of Artisan Center Theater with his wife Dee Ann, produces the show. The play was written by The Dallas Morning News Watchdog columnist Dave Lieber.
Stay tuned for more AMON! play news.
“We’re calling this the ‘Let’s Bring Amon Home’ project,” play producer Rick Blair of Artisan Productions says.
The play, written by newspaper columnist Dave Lieber of The Dallas Morning News, stars Kelvin Dilks as Amon. Directed by Connie Sanchez, the new play had its world debut with 17 shows in 17 days at Artisan’s Hurst theater in May. Tickets were hard to come by, even after the show expanded from its original schedule of eight shows.
“This play earned its way downtown,” producer Blair says. “I am overwhelmed with comments from patrons begging us to carry this story forward. Never in our history have we seen such an outpouring of love and passion for a show.”
He added, “We are most excited to have Lockheed Martin as a title sponsor, showing its commitment to the legacy of economic development exemplified by Mr. Carter.”
Carter was a media tycoon unlike most. He ruled his town for a 50-year run. His holdings included the local newspaper, the Star-Telegram, as well as the region’s largest radio station (WBAP-AM), the first TV station, now KXAS/NBC5, and an oil strike that all these years later keeps on giving.
But Carter didn’t put himself first. He cared about Fort Worth and Texas, and spent his life working to make both better. Carter is credited with luring a trillion dollars’ worth of business to his town.
Playwright Lieber says, “I think he was our Alexander Hamilton, our most consequential figure who’s been forgotten. No other city has an Amon Carter.” Lieber added, “The play is a point of pride for Texans. And it’ll change the way you think about Texas.”
Call: 817-284-1200 for reservations. Or use this website.
Kelvin Dilks brings Amon G. Carter back to life in a fun and funny way.
Meet Connie Sanchez, the director who brought AMON! to the stage.
Director Connie Sanchez combines her love of teaching and directing to bring Amon “Mr. Fort Worth” Carter back to life.
Read this fabulous interview with her here.
The Book
When Amon G. Carter Sr. visited Ireland, he was hailed as “the mighty Carter, son of the Lone Star State.” Quite fitting.
Texas is what it is today – a leader in industry, especially aviation – in part because of the work Carter did in the first half of the 20th century. A one-man economic development department for Fort Worth and vast West Texas, Carter is credited with luring a trillion dollars’ worth of businesses to his beloved state.
Flashy, excessive, impulsive and powerful, the pretend-cowboy manipulated presidents with gifts and hobnobbed with celebrities. At every turn, he fought arch-rival Dallas.
In this book, a companion to the new theatrical production of the same name, Amon Carter tells how he built one of the great media empires of the land – and what he did with it. The book also presents 100 classic photographs from the era that bring Amon’s words to life.
“Amon Carter really is our Alexander Hamilton. He’s our consequential figure that we’ve forgotten who he is and what he did for us. “”
AMON! The Ultimate Texan is the story of one of the most amazing Texans who ever lived. Born in a log cabin and with only an eighth grade education, Amon G. Carter Sr. became Texas’ most powerful media overlord. Presidents put up with him because he owned the largest newspaper, radio and television station in Texas. He had a big heart, but a bigger sense for business and for the future. He was one of a kind and this play – and its companion book – by popular newspaper columnist Dave Lieber bring the story of this remarkable Texan back to life.
Kelvin Dilks is a legendary Birdville ISD drama teacher who now directs and acts. In his free time, he’s also a Birdville ISD school board member. Here he’s testing costumes to perform as Amon Carter. (Photo by Alan D. Smith)
Longtime newspaperman Dave Lieber is now a playwright.
Dave Lieber
DAVE LIEBER has worked as a Texas newspaper columnist for more than 26 years – first at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and now at The Dallas Morning News where he writes the twice-weekly investigative “Watchdog” column. The author of eight books, Dave is also a certified professional speaker, one of only a thousand in the world. He specializes in teaching strategic storytelling to businesses, groups and individuals. AMON! The Ultimate Texan is his first play.
His latest columns are available on The Dallas Morning News Watchdog page. He fights for Americans and shows you how to save time, money and aggravation. He works to expose corruption and make positive change. In 2019, he received top prize in the nation’s largest column-writing contest. A judge stated, “Through a lively combination of consumer advocacy and investigative reporting, Lieber’s columns were models of suspenseful storytelling and public service.”
He is founder of a consumer rights movement — WatchdogNation.com — which shows Americans how to protect themselves from thugs, thieves, scammers, and corporate skulduggery.
His heart is in the non-profit world. He’s co-founder of Summer Santa, one of North Texas’ largest children’s charities. For this, he won the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award. This honor goes to the U.S. newspaper columnist whose work produced positive effects on the lives of readers.
Motivational speaker Dave Lieber is one of America's top storytelling experts for businesses. He quickly trains your team on how to jump to the next skill level with humor and fun.
AMON! The Ultimate Texan is playing at the historic Haltom Theater on January 30, 2020 @ 7:30 PM. Starring Kelvin Dilks as Amon G. Carter, Sr. and directed by Connie Sanchez, this play is based on the sensational play and book by Dave Lieber.
Talk show Host Bryan Weatherford of BizTV interviews Kelvin Dilks about his role as Amon G. Carter, Sr. in Dave Lieber's smash hit production of AMON! The Ultimate Texan. This interview shows the amount of effort going into creating the play including the memorization of over 50 pages of dialogue.
“Amon Carter is “by far Texas’ most public-spirited man”
When Amon G. Carter Sr. visited Ireland, he was hailed as “the mighty Carter, son of the Lone Star State.” Quite fitting.
Texas is what it is today – a leader in industry, especially aviation – in part because of the work Carter did in the first half of the 20th century. A one-man economic development department for Fort Worth and vast West Texas, Carter is credited with luring a trillion dollars’ worth of businesses to his beloved state.
Flashy, excessive, impulsive and powerful, the pretend-cowboy manipulated presidents with gifts and hobnobbed with celebrities.
At every turn, he fought arch-rival Dallas. Legend has it that he carried a sack lunch to Big D because he didn’t want to spend any money there.
