09/06/2025
Pocket Sandwich Theatre
Jeff Vance
Jeff Vance was introduced to the Pocket in the early 1980s when he worked on an independently produced play that performed on the late-night stage, “When You Comin Back Red Ryder.” The title role was played by Tracey Letts, who would go on to win a Tony Award for Best Actor, and the Pulitzer Prize as a playwright. In 1985, Jeff worked on his first Pocket show as propmaster for “Ebenezer Scrooge.” After working on a few more shows, he paused to finish his theater degree at St. Edward’s University in Austin. Upon returning to Dallas in 1988 he began working at the Pocket again and has been there ever since.
In those early days Joe Dickinson directed many of the plays. Jeff worked with him as his stage manager or assistant director for years studying under his tutelage. With Rodney Dobbs designing every set, Jeff started designing the lights to accompany them. In the earl 1990s Jeff was hired to direct that year’s production of “Ebenezer Scrooge.” He cast in the title roll a 28-year-old David H.M. Lambert. David H.M. Lambert has now played Ebenezer Scrooge at the Pocket for two dozen or more productions and over 600 performances. Jeff went on to direct the show a dozed or so times including the final production at our Mockingbird location and as the opening production of our current space in Carrollton.
In 1995, Jeff joined the Pocket as a partner. He continued to design and direct at the Pocket through this time. In addition to “Ebenezer Scrooge” he directed other shows such as “T Bone and Weasel” and “Never Too Late.” Jeff acted in a few shows. He played Old Joe in the last “Ebenezer Scrooge” at the old Greenville Ave. location and was in “Hot L Baltimore” on that stage. At the Mockingbird location, he appeared in “The Return of the Phantom of the Opera,” “Light Up the Sky,” and “Death the Musical.”
Through the years Jeff has done just about every job there is on a show that doesn’t involve music. He learned Joe Dickinson’s style of designing the programs, a role jeff has now assumed. With Rodney’s retiring at the time we moved to Carrollton, Jeff has had the opportunity to design more set including “Spider’s Web” and “I Hate Hamlet.” The Pocket has afforded Jeff many opportunities over the years. He is most proud of how many DFW theater artists the Pocket has provided with similar opportunities.
