Today we’d like to introduce you to Davina Gazo Stampfel.
Hi Davina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey in theatre began in 8th grade when I was cast as Alice in Alice in Wonderland. I fell in love with the magic of storytelling on stage and continued performing through college. After school, I pursued acting professionally but quickly discovered that the intense competition took the joy out of it for me. I shifted my focus behind the camera and built a 15-year career in video content marketing, working with companies like Island Def Jam Records, Magnet Media, Bank of America, and Music Audience Exchange. When I moved to Texas in 2019, I found my way back to community theatre with McKinney Repertory Theatre (MRT), performing a small role in A Christmas Carol and instantly falling in love with the people and the spirit of the community theatre. That experience led me to join the MRT board of directors. After the pandemic, I stepped away from my corporate career to stay home with my son. Soon after, I was asked to take on the role of Executive Director to help MRT rebuild and thrive in a post-COVID world. Since stepping into that role in 2022, our audience has grown by an incredible 222%, a reflection of how much passion, teamwork, community, and creativity can accomplish together.
MRT is truly a community theater, with all of our casts and crews made up of volunteers and local talent. We welcome anyone to audition, even if they have no previous experience on stage. There are countless ways to get involved, from acting to technical production such as lighting, sound, costumes, and set building, as well as producing, ushering, and concessions. We also have committees for marketing, play reading, membership, special events, and more, giving everyone an opportunity to contribute to the theater in a way that suits their interests and skills.
Our annual production of A Christmas Carol holds a special place in my heart since it was the first show I got involved with at MRT. This year’s performances are coming up on 11/21–11/22, 11/28–11/29, and 12/12–12/13. Our special one-hour version of this Charles Dickens classic was written by McKinney local Dr. Andrew Harris. Perfect for families with young children, it has been delighting audiences for 19 years. It has become a beloved holiday tradition for many families and is truly not to be missed!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When we returned to the stage after COVID, our audience average dropped to just 54 people per performance. Many in the community had forgotten about us, and several of our longtime volunteers had either moved out of the area or found new passions during our time away. I was tasked with rebuilding our audience, securing funding, and reintroducing MRT to the community. Like most nonprofit theaters, we face ongoing challenges—limited resources, not enough volunteers, and an endless list of things to do with only so many hands to help.
More recently, we’ve encountered a new hurdle: our beloved home, the Courtroom Theater at the McKinney Performing Arts Center, will be closed for renovations from January through October of next year. While we’re thrilled about the improvements to come and can’t wait for the new space, it leaves us without a venue and facing a tough year ahead, especially since 68% of our budget relies on ticket sales. In the meantime, we’re embracing the challenge creatively by planning smaller, meaningful collaborations with community partners like the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts and Chestnut Square Heritage Village. We’ll also be piloting the first McKinney New Works Play Reading Festival featuring the Schulte Prize – a play writing competition for young playwrights in the North Texas area. These projects will help sustain our mission and keep the spirit of theatre alive in McKinney until we return to the stage in November 2026.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One of my favorite aspects of my job at MRT, is being able to create meaningful, impactful experiences that connect our community through storytelling. I love producing programs that extend beyond the stage, combining artistic excellence with community engagement. One of my proudest contributions was championing and supporting our production of The Diary of Anne Frank (2024). I produced a post-show talkback between the show’s director, Nathan Autrey and Rabbi Michael Kushnick, as well as developed a free student ticket program (sponsored by H-E-B) that brought nearly 200 students to the show—including an entire 8th grade class who were reading the book in school. Over 80 audience members attended the special Sunday performance and stayed for the discussion, sparking important conversations about empathy, understanding, and respect at a time when antisemitism is rising in North Texas.
I believe programs like these strengthen our community by fostering understanding across race, religion, political views, age, and gender. What sets me apart is my focus on using theatre not only to entertain but to engage audiences in meaningful dialogue and to cultivate empathy. Hearing community members reach out to express how deeply the program resonated with them has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like most about the Dallas area is the incredible variety of things to see and do. There’s always something happening, whether it’s arts, music, or community events, which makes it an exciting place to live and work. And McKinney itself is a gem… with its charming historic downtown, unique shops, local artists and galleries, great restaurants, local history museums, and plenty of unique events on the weekends, it offers a rich, small-town feel right inside this growing metro.
What I like least, hands down, is the traffic. Navigating the roads can be frustrating, especially with all of the construction, and it’s easily the biggest downside to living in such a fast growing region.
Pricing:
- $14.50 for adults
- $11.50 for seniors 55+
- $9.50 for children & students age 3-25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mckinneyrep.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckinneyrepertorytheatre/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckinneyrepertorytheatre/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mckinney-repertory-theatre
- Other: https://tickets.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent1333.html
Image Credits
Photo of 12 Angry Jurors by: Jess Harley Photography
Photo of Scrooge: Rebekah Ussery
All other production photos by: Dave Gazo Photography
Photo of Davina Gazo Stampfel by Steve Zak
