The renowned theatre continues its 49th season with a tragicomedy for all ages
FORT WORTH, Texas (June 11, 2025) – Hip Pocket Theatre continues its 49th season with The Billy-Club Puppets by Federico Garcia Lorca, directed by Yvonne Duque Guerrero. The show will be performed in the Hip Pocket Theatre’s amphitheatre at 1950 Silver Creek Road in Fort Worth. Showtimes are at 9pm, Fridays through Sundays June 20 through July 13. An American Sign Language interpreted performance is scheduled for June 27. The Billy-Club Puppets is a fun and raucous production for all audiences. A troupe of traveling players rolls onto the stage and, with great fanfare, presents The Tragicomedy of Don Cristobal and Miss Rosita. The play pays tribute to archetype characters of commedia dell’arte (“Italian comedy”), with the beautiful heroine Rosita, the poor boy Cocoliche and Don Cristobal, the rich, lazy man with a big billy club. This broad tragicomedy includes colorful characters, physical comedy, stage fighting, puppetry and music with a sprinkling of the Spanish language.
The cast features Ron Fernandez, Grace Hays, Liam Markland, Coleman Hahn, Corina Sosa, Kristi Ramos Toler, Amanda Merrill and Paul Heyduck, with original music composed by Darrin Kobetich.
The Diane Simons Mentorship Program was launched this year in partnership with CultureHub and honors one of Hip Pocket Theatre’s founders, the late Diane Simons. It allows young technicians to work in a professional environment with the guidance of working industry professionals. The program consists of four tracks for high school and college students looking for experience in stage management, costume design, lighting design and scenic design. Each track is tailored to the experience of each mentee, and puts them in an assistantship position on the show.
“This program is designed by the artist and for the artist,” Program Coordinator and Stage Management Mentor Gianina Lambert said. “What better way to teach a technician than to give them a position on a show that is tailored to their specific skills and experience level, and pair them with a professional who does this for a living? It shows them that it’s possible to get integrated into the Fort Worth theater scene and advocate for payment for their work, and encourages them to pursue opportunities outside of an educational setting.”
Tickets for all performances are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, military, teachers, first responders and students; and $15 for children 12 and under. They are available through Tickets to the City, on the Hip Pocket Theatre website or by calling 817-246-9775. A Pay-What-You-Can Preview will be offered Thursday, June 19. Tickets for this performance will only be sold at the door with a $15 suggested donation.
Hip Passes provide 10 tickets that can be used throughout the season. Adult Hip Passes are on sale at a discount for $175 for adults and $150 for seniors, military, teachers, first responders and students. Hip Passes may be purchased here.
The Box Office and The BackYard open at 7:30 p.m. Live music begins at 8 p.m. and is also performed after the show. Get the full music schedule here. The Hip Cafe offers beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for purchase before and after the performance. No outside food or beverages are permitted. Late seating is not permitted.
About Hip Pocket Theatre
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Hip Pocket Theatre is a unique, alternative theatre company known for its imaginative, experimental productions and its rustic outdoor setting. Established in 1976, the theatre combines an unconventional approach to storytelling with original scripts, scores, drama, humor, puppetry, mime and movement. Hip Pocket produces a wide variety of works, including original plays, adaptations, musicals and multimedia performances. Often incorporating elements of fantasy and fable, the theatre creates an immersive experience filled with creativity and artistic exploration.