Inside the mind of the brilliant actor who has played Amon Carter Sr. in 54 performances.

Meet Kelvin Dilks

Come see Kelvin perform Feb. 23, 2024 and Feb. 24, 2024 at The Texas Theater in Waxahachie.

Seconds count: I’m driven to do my best at everything that I do. Most people who know me will tell you that I will outwork just about anyone out there. I strive for perfection at everything I do, and I’m hard on myself when I don’t achieve it. 

 Growing up in Ft Worth: My favorite memory is riding the M&O Subway down to Leonard Brother’s Department Store at Christmas.  When the train reached its destination, the smell of fresh, hot donuts filled the air.  We would talk to the Magic Talking Christmas Tree which was a little frightening for a 3-year-old and then over to tell Santa our Christmas wish.  (I always asked for a live monkey and never got it).  Then Mom would take my sister and me over to the cartoon booth to leave us with other unmonitored children while she and the other moms shopped.  Times have changed. 

 From my parents: I get my ability to do this show. My father was a great storyteller.  He and his brothers often gathered on Thanksgiving and shared their family’s life as growing up poor dirt Oklahoma farmers in the Depression.  My mother was a slapstick comedian.  Her comedy relied on her facial expressions and comedic timing.  

 The hardest part about doing the show: The rehearsal process.  I’m so thankful for Connie Sanchez, the director.  She was so patient with me as I was learning the lines as we blocked the show.  We taught theater together at Haltom High and we’ve directed shows together at the Artisan Theater..  We balance each other’s strengths.  Of course everyone who knows her loves her.  Almost after every practice session, I would say, “Do you think anyone will really want to see this show?”  (My self-doubt can be overwhelming).  She always said that they would.  Now that thousands of people have seen the show I know she was right

AMON Director Connie Sanchez in an Amon Carter Shady Oak hat.

 My favorite part of the show: A hard question because I love doing all of it; the bomber plant, bank panic, the Frontier Centennial, 1928 political convention.  However if I must pick, it would be the ending.  Not because it’s the end, but rather because there are those moments when prose transcends itself and it almost becomes poetry.  That’s what I feel every time I perform this section.  With these words about his legacy, we transform Amon from a forgotten individual to the American, Texan, Fort Worth hero that he truly became. 

 The characteristics that you and Amon share: We are strategic, and we are achievers. You see a few years back when I was teaching I took Gallup’s StrengthsFinder. Two of my top characteristics were strategic and achiever. Examples are learning the entire 52-page script or when I ran for school board, on which I still serve. As a candidate, I had to run against the established machine. It was hard running against the powers that be, but I put my full efforts into my campaign.  I won against two opponents with 53% of the vote. When Amon set his mind to do something, he got it done, too. Think of the bomber plant, Texas Tech and Fort Worth Frontier Centennial.  

 Audience members tend to see the show multiple times: Because it is a great story of rugged individualism.  Like the Westerns that many of us grew up watching, Amon was like the sheriff who came into town -- and before he was done, the whole place was better because of his presence.  Once a person sees our show, they will understand the city of Fort Worth in a whole new light.  

 The greatest compliment you have received:  Not only do people from Fort Worth like the show, but people from everywhere imaginable love the show.  We had some people who were visiting from Ireland that came to the theater to see another show.  That show was canceled, and the house manager talked them into seeing Amon instead.  After the show, Irish folks came up to me and could not stop talking about it.  I’ve had patrons who saw James Whitmore do Give Them Hell Harry and Hal Holbrook do Mark Twain Tonight, tell me they like our show better.  Surprisingly, everyone from Dallas that sees the show loves it too, and we are HARD on Dallas. 

 One interesting thing that most people don’t know: We think that Robert Duvall has seen the show. When the director of  Twelve Mighty Orphans was casting his show, he originally wanted Duvall to play Amon Carter in the film.  He called producer Rick Blair and asked him to send a video of the play for Duvall to watch. Rick sent the video.  After all the years of me watching Duvall, he was watching me.  Well apparently, the role was too small for Duvall.  Therefore, they got Treat Williams to play Amon instead.  

 Note: Come see Kelvin perform. Find out why thousands love AMON! The Ultimate Texan. Tickets on sale for Feb.. 23 and 24, 2024,