An experimental arts ensemble, committed to producing original scripts and pieces, relies on the imagery of fantasy and fables, original adaptations and scripts that mainly draw their inspiration from the legends and history of Fort Worth and the Southwest. The performance focus is interdisciplinary, utilizing traditional theatrical elements along with music, mime, dance, puppetry and projected images.

The Hip Pocket Theatre was founded in 1976 by Johnny and Diane Simons and Douglas Balentine but its “grass roots” origins go back much earlier. Johnny and Diane, both MD Graduates from Texas Christian University have been through many creative arrangements before, with Casa Mañana and Alley Theatre to name a few.

Hip Pocket Theatre is acclaimed for its dedication to a unique vision of theatrical staging. But just as important is the quiet determination of the Theatre to make a difference in the lives of our area young people. Hip Pocket Theatre continues to have one of the strongest and most diverse outreach programs in the region. Over the past twenty-three years, the theatre has provided hundreds of hours of workshops and performances through outreach programming in Tarrant County for a wide variety of children and adults. Hip Pocket Theatre shares relationships with a wide variety of organizations serving our young people. They contribute to the community through collaborations with several community museums, theatres, school districts, community centers, and hospitals while continuing to pursue new collaborations.

For its 33rd season, Fort Worth’s Hip Pocket Theatre has announced a collection of shows that reflect founder Johnny Simons’ long-held interests, including Beat poetry, pulp fiction and pop prophecy. Notable this season will be a bigger theater venue and a new five-year lease on the city-owned property on Silver Creek Road.

Among the offerings is something quite small and delicate: White Elephant, a puppetry-music-and-Super 8 film project by Simons’ daughter Lake and musician John Dyer. A poetic tale of a wicker elephant that is tossed into a bonfire and is transformed. Also, Howl by Allen Ginsberg, adapted for the stage by Johnny Simons. Originally published by City Lights Books in the fall of 1956, and subsequently seized by US Customs and the San Francisco police, HOWL was the subject of a long court trial at which a series of poets and professors persuaded the court that the book was not obscene. An ensemble of actors performs Ginsberg’s poem unexpurgated. The Ugly Brothers Present A Perfectly Lovely Play featuring The Quiver Sisters And Their Pretty Little Ways, by Johnny Simons. A gentle burlesque with music. Tad and Buck Ugly join forces with Minnie Quiver and her saucy sisters in this pantomimic romp. A Princess Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs where John Carter after being projected to Mars, finds himself captive of the savage green men of Thark. With him is Dejah Thoris, lovely princess of Helium. Between them and rescue, a thousand miles of deadly enemies and unknown dangers await. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran which was published in 1923. This masterpiece has been translated into more than 20 languages, and the American editions alone have sold more than nine million copies. Cadenced and vibrant with feeling, the words bring to one’s ears the majestic rhythm of Ecclesiastes.

Majestic through and through.