(Edgar, the Earl of Gloucster's son and heir) is a member of the Brierley Resident Acting Company and co-founder of Second Thought Theatre. DTC: Next Fall; A Christmas Carol; The Tempest; Henry IV; The Beauty Plays and The Good Negro (a co- production with The Public Theatre in New York). Theatrical credits: King Lear (Trinity Rep); Love’s Labour’s Lost; The Cherry Orchard (Peterborough Players); Proof; Arcadia (Lost Nation Theatre); Jesus Hates Me (Kitchen Dog Theater); Thom Pain (based on nothing); King Ubu, The Glory of Living, Humpty Dumpty (Second Thought Theatre); Romeo and Juliet; As You Like It; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare Dallas). TV: Chase; My Generation; Friday Night Lights; Trauma; Prison Break. 

Taking a look at Dallas arts’ first string

The nation’s eyes might be focused on North Texas to see large men chase each other around a field. But when the teams from Pittsburgh and Green Bay have come and gone, the area will still be a magnet for artists, writers and performers who also are at the top of their games. Here’s a sampling:

STEVEN WALTERS: CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, SECOND THOUGHT THEATRE

Why he’s at the top: Eight years ago Steven Walters, barely out of Baylor University, burst onto the Dallas scene as an actor and as one of the founders of Second Thought Theatre — which quickly became the hottest young theater company in town. As Second Thought’s playwright in residence, Walters turned out provocative scripts. He also continued to deliver prize-winning performances on area stages and in a continuing role on NBC’s Friday Night Lights.

During a stint acting and writing in Hollywood, Walters periodically returned to Dallas to take on increasingly important roles at Dallas Theater Center — notably in last year’s Beauty Plays and as Prince Hal in Henry IV. Meanwhile, Second Thought had been sliding downhill because of lack of leadership. Last fall Walters moved back to Dallas to become (in partnership with Chris LaBove) Second Thought’s first-ever artistic director. He just finished a brilliant performance in the one-man play Thom Pain (based on nothing) to inaugurate Second Thought’s new era.

What’s ahead: In addition to running Second Thought and performing a continuing role in NBC’s Chase, Walters is putting the finishing touches on a screenplay that is scheduled to begin shooting in the fall.

—Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News

BEST OF BIG D 2011: CULTURE
The notable locals who made this year in Dallas one to remember.

Best Actor Steven Walters Walters kicked off this season by ably anchoring the Dallas Theater Center’s Henry IV, then followed up that success with a Woody Allen-meets-Dennis Hopper performance in the offbeat one-man show Thom Pain at Second Thought Theatre. His success was rewarded with a spot in the DTC’s acting company, and it is a good thing, too. Walters is participating in a developmental workshop in New York. We wouldn’t want him to get lost up there. Photography by Billy Surface D Magazine, July 20, 2011