Thank you for sharing your beautiful stories about how impactful Diane Simons was to you personally and how important she was to the DFW theatre community and beyond. In this time of sorrow it gives us great joy to share this very exciting news.

Hip Pocket Theatre, in conjunction with New-York based CultureHub, is proud to announce The Diane Simons Mentorship Program, a collaborative mentorship program that will benefit Fort Worth-based high school and college students interested in technical theater.

This pilot program will serve students from 17-22 who are interested in developing their skills in stage management, lighting design, scenic design and costume design. Each mentee will receive hands-on training from Fort Worth industry professionals on a mainstage show during Hip Pocket's 49th Season, as well as a stipend for their work.

This program is named after the late Hip Pocket Theatre co-founder Diane Simons, who mentored generations of young theatre artists throughout her more than 40-year career as an educator, costume designer and theatre producer. Her generous spirit fuels our desire to welcome our 2025 cohort.

Please share the news with anyone that might benefit from this opportunity.

Here is the link to get more information and to apply: