We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mackeon (Mac) Welch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mackeon (Mac) below.
Mackeon (Mac), so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
There were two moments that really clarified my mission to me.
First, when I was 15, I was starting to get more involved in the arts after having spent my life an athlete up to that point. I wouldn’t say I was the best at any sport, but I definitely spent more time on that than the arts.
Also, forewarning, I was a deeply existential child. I would ponder the meaning of life and really try to solidify what I found important. That didn’t make me the best person, but it made me really consider what was worth living for. I want to make the most positive change for the world while I’m alive, and I think the most long-lasting change is social. If I can socially impact as many people as possible in a majorly positive way, then my life will have been worth it.
Second, when I was 21, I had an epiphany about the type of art I wanted to be involved in. I struggled a lot with my artistic identity in college, since all the art I was seeing and loved was art that was anti-establishment. And I, being a straight white man, embody a lot of the establishment. Finally, at some point in my final year of college, I found Will Arbery. By reading his work, I realized that I wanted to be making theatre for people that look that me who I also happen to disagree with.
That is why I’m in Dallas: there a lot more people that need to be impacted by art here than places that already have an arts scene.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have a lot of pots and pans on the stove, but the spine of my career is serving as Artistic Director of Teatro Dallas. This journey with the company has been a life changer. I started as a freelancer with them, producing one show at a time, thanks to Emily Ernst. Then went full-time with them in the summer of 2024. We have lots of new programming that changes the game for us.
We just tried our first festival for new directors, which was received with glowing reviews. We are working with 4 directors under 30 this year, which is definitely a record for us. That is unheard of in DFW.
We have a regional premiere of a show coming up in May: El Otro by Octavio Solis, directed by Alyssa Carrasco.
We have a full season of craziness coming up in 2025-2026.
I also freelance on the side! I just got off a crazy year of working with 5 companies outside of Teatro Dallas as an actor/director. I hope to do more work soon with other companies.
Lastly, a big passion of mine: Bolt! A 24-Hour Musical Game.
This is something that a producing partner (Ally Van Deuren) and I produce twice a year. It is a fast-paced 24-hour musical. It is written using song suggestions from the general public. Then writers have 12 hours to write, actors and directors have 12 hours to rehearse, and we perform to a riotous crowd that night. The last one we did gained a full house and we nearly had the cops called on us. So… it’s a blast.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Patience. Every time that I’ve worked with someone that makes everyone go, “oh my gosh, they’re insane, I hate working with them”, they’re usually just people who want to be heard. 9 times out of 10, if you let that person say their idea, try it, then decide on something else, they’re fine. Then you end up with a happy/healthy group, everyone feels they got to contribute, and the best idea won.
2. Generational Responsibility. This is a phrase I picked up from Tiana Kaye Blair. This is the idea that you and your actions not only have a responsibility to yourself, not only to your future family, but also all those that came before you. Acting in this way presents a different framework for morals. It’s more of an Eastern way of thinking about good/bad than the Western good/bad.
3. Staying Friends With Opposition. If you disagree with someone, keep them in your life. If you don’t like someone, keep them in your life. How are you supposed to change someone you can’t talk to?
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Lie. Crazy, I know. I love them. They are great parents.
But being able to see them change their opinions and codeswitch based on who was in the room was extremely valuable. They are socially polar opposites in the way the attract friends. It was nice learning about both and being able to diagnose social situations from both lenses.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.macwelch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_mac_welch/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mac.welch.737
Image Credits
Frederick Ezeala, Mac Welch, Sasha Maya Ada, Ben Torres
