AIRLINE HIGHWAY Will Come to Dirt Dogs Theatre Co.
Performances will run May 22 – June 6, 2026.
Celebrating the closing production of its 10th anniversary season, Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. (DDTCo.) will present the regional premiere of Airline Highway, written by Lisa D'Amour and directed by Malinda L. Beckham and Curtis Barber. This vibrant, poignant, and darkly comedic dive into the gritty underbelly and vibrancy of New Orleans follows a group of people living on the fringes of society as they face personal struggles and chase elusive dreams. Performances will run May 22 – June 6, 2026.
Set in a dilapidated motel off the bustling Airline Highway, a group of misfits has formed their own unconventional family. They come together to honor and celebrate the life of Miss Ruby, a beloved community figure and former exotic dancer, as she nears the end of her life. With a palette of raw honesty and unapologetic humor, the play paints a portrait of those who inhabit the edges of the city's allure, offering a mix of humor and heart as they navigate life's complexities, and create a family in the most unexpected and overlooked places.
About The Playwright
Lisa D'Amour is an American playwright, performer, and interdisciplinary artist known for innovative, collaborative theater work. Born in Minneapolis and raised in New Orleans, she earned a BA in English and Theater from Millsaps College and an MFA in playwriting from the University of Texas at Austin. D'Amour is an alumna of New Dramatists whose work includes notable plays such as Anna Bella Eema, The Cataract, Detroit, finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and Airline Highway, which earned multiple Tony Award nominations. In addition to her playwriting, she co-leads the OBIE Award–winning performance company PearlDamour, creating large-scale interdisciplinary works that blend theater, installation, and collaboration.
About The Director
Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. Artistic Director, Malinda L. Beckham and Artistic Associate, Curtis Barber, co-direct Airline Highway. Beckham has directed Venus in Fur, Blackbird, Race, The Pillowman, Coyote on a Fence, A Steady Rain (in 2016 and 2022), The Boundary (world premiere), Glengarry Glen Ross, The Exonerated, the streaming production of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, and co-directed A Lie of the Mind. Barber has directed The Minutes, The Birds, Misery, and The Revolutionists for DDTCo. Last season, the pair co-directed the award-winning Bug. On staging this production, Beckham says, “At a time when many are questioning what it means to belong or be seen, Airline Highway invites audiences into the world of a group of outcasts and dreamers who, despite their struggles, find ways to support and love one another. The vibrant, unflinching look at New Orleans and its inhabitants provides a powerful and relatable examination of resilience, hope, and the human spirit.”
Beckham also serves as costume and properties designer. Rounding out the creative team are Ash Parra on lighting design, Trevor B. Cone on sound design, Mark A. Lewis on scenic design and as technical director, Charly Topper as scenic artist, John Baker as production manager, Barbara Alicea-Aponte as production stage manager, and Valerie Lerma Puente as assistant stage manager.
Airline Highway features an ensemble cast of Ashlyn Evans, Brad Goertz, Morgan Taylor Hughs, Elizabeth Marshall Black, Kyle Clark, Todd Thigpen, Dave Osbie Shepard, John Patterson, Deborah Hope, Adina Opalek, Justin Morgan Brown, Amira Judeh, Avery Vonn Kenyatta, Helen Rios, and Valerie Lerma Puente.
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