Since 1958, live theater has thrived under the Casa Mañana dome

Published on December 15, 2025

Casa Mañana, the Jiffy Pop-looking silver dome anchoring the eastern edge of Fort Worth's Cultural District, is actually the second live theater venue on that corner.

At the well-traveled intersection of University Drive and Lancaster Avenue, today's Casa Mañana was built on the site of a theater that held outdoor productions starting in 1936.

After Dallas was selected to be the site of the official Texas Centennial Celebration in 1936, newspaper publisher and Cowtown promoter Amon G. Carter began making plans for a celebration in Fort Worth that would rival the event to the east. At the center of the celebration was to be a large outdoor amphitheater and restaurant called Casa Mañana, "The House of Tomorrow."

The Texas Frontier Centennial, Fort Worth's special observance of the Texas Centennial, portrayed the culture and atmosphere of the Old West. Carter and other downtown bigwigs paid showman Billy Rose of New York City $1,000 a day to stage the entertainment.

The spectacle covered 162 acres and cost $5 million. The most publicized part of the celebration was Casa Mañana, in which seats and tables to accommodate 3,500 spectators faced a revolving stage on which Rose presented his musical revue. So popular was the celebration that it was presented again in 1937.

The original Casa Mañana outdoor theater was eventually dismantled.

Casa Mañana magic lives on

In the fall of 1957, Fort Worth Opera Association President James H. Snowden Jr. and manager Melvin O. Dacus approached the City of Fort Worth to build a theater complex focused on Broadway musicals. With a budget of $500,000, the City Council approved the project on Jan. 14, 1958.

Construction began on March 13. A record-breaking 114 days later, Casa Mañana Theatre was completed as a fully enclosed, air-conditioned, aluminum-domed theater.

A black-tie opening on July 5, 1958, entertained audiences with a production of "Can-Can" and introduced them to the 1,805-seat house and theater-in-the-round. With no backstage area, the actors and stagehands used the surrounding concourse and aisles to move set pieces, props and other materials on and off stage. With the back row only 36 feet from the stage, audiences fell in love with the unique and intimate setting of Casa Mañana Theatre.

The building, designed by A. George King, features a geodesic dome designed by aluminum industrialist Henry Kaiser and Richard Buckminster Fuller. It was the second building built in the U.S. with a Kaiser dome.

Broadway classics, kid-friendly shows and homegrown stars

Besides offering a full repertoire of renowned Broadway shows, Casa is also home to the Children's Theatre, which caters to kids and families. Upcoming productions include "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "The Wizard of Oz" and "The SpongeBob Musical."

Casa Mañana is also a pro-grade training ground for young aspiring thespians. Not only do the classes provide an authentic theater/stage experience, but some students also get to hone their acting chops with roles in the venue's performances.

One notable alumnus is legendary actress Betty Buckley, who grew up in Fort Worth and attended Arlington Heights High School. She later studied acting more formally at TCU before launching her professional career. Buckley's most famous project is widely considered to be her role as Grizabella in the original 1982 Broadway production of "Cats," for which she won the Tony Award for best featured actress in a musical.

Setting the stage for tomorrow

The theater-in-the-round setup was changed in 2003 with a major renovation project to become a more traditional theater setting. The renovation provided a modified thrust stage, a new lobby and new restroom facilities.

Today, Casa Mañana continues to house live, professional theater for the enrichment and education of a diverse Fort Worth.

Photo at top: Postcard of the second Casa Mañana theater, circa 1976. Pioneer Tower, also built for the 1936 Texas Centennial Celebration, is in the background. (Photo courtesy of Portal to Texas History.)

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• Arts & Culture