Today we’d like to introduce you to Tron Sutton.
Hi Tron, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Tron Sutton and I have been involved in theater in North Texas for 40 years. A circle of families built a deep connection through the performing arts — sharing meals, cheering for each other’s kids, and discovering the confidence that comes from being surrounded by people who believe in you.
In 2024, the theatre space they had been part of closed. Instead of scattering, this group gathered on July 4th, 2024, with a shared sense of possibility. They believed their community still needed a place to create, belong, and grow. Out of that conversation came a vision for something new — a creative home built on warmth, collaboration, and the belief that everyone has a voice worth hearing.
From that founding spark, MAC has grown quickly and intentionally. MAC positioned itself as a nonprofit theatre company focused on family-oriented, redemptive stories and empowering young people to lead and create. Their mission emphasizes community, collaboration, and the transformative power of the arts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not even close — and honestly, that’s part of what makes the Mid Cities Arts Collective compelling. MAC was born because the road wasn’t smooth.
A community lost its creative home. Kids lost their stage. Families lost their gathering place. And instead of dissolving, they gathered on July 4th with a sense of possibility and a need to rebuild from scratch. Ours is a story of resilience.
MAC didn’t just create a theatre.
They created a theatre that:
• Centers young people
• Prioritizes community over competition
• Tells redemptive, family‑oriented stories
• Builds belonging as much as productions
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Executive Director of MAC. I have deep roots in the arts in North Texas. I am a visionary arts leader whose career spans more than three decades of shaping creative communities across North Texas. With a rare dual background in Theatre (Sam Houston State University) and Business Administration (Texas Christian University), I blend artistic insight with strategic discipline — a combination that has defined my leadership in every organization I have touched.
I first emerged as a force in youth arts education as the founder of Act One Children’s Theater and School, where I built a generation of young performers through a culture of belonging, imagination, and personal growth. Today, I continue that legacy as the Executive Director of the Mid Cities Arts Collective, a nonprofit I helped establish in 2024 following the closure of a beloved community theatre space. MAC has become a thriving creative home known for its family‑centered values, redemptive storytelling, and commitment to youth leadership.
I am widely recognized for my ability to translate complex ideas — philosophical, historical, and faith‑informed — into accessible, emotionally resonant experiences for audiences and students alike. My leadership style is marked by warmth, collaboration, and a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts. Rather than simply directing productions, I build ecosystems where people feel seen, valued, and capable of more than they imagined.
What sets me apart is my gift for synthesis: I unite business strategy, artistic direction, community psychology, and educational design into a cohesive vision that elevates both people and programs. My work is not driven by ego but by a commitment to cultivating spaces where creativity becomes a catalyst for connection, confidence, and community renewal.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Dallas brings ambition, scale, and a sense of possibility.
Fort Worth brings soul, heritage, and a slower, more grounded rhythm.
I appreciate that the Metroplex holds both — the boldness to dream big and the humility to stay connected to real people. As someone who builds belonging through storytelling, I am drawn to the cultural mix of DFW. Every neighborhood has its own flavor, history, and artistic voice. It gives me endless material to draw from and endless communities to serve.
Least? DFW is enormous — physically, culturally, and psychologically.
The arts community can feel scattered, siloed, or disconnected across cities and suburbs. I am someone who builds unity, so fragmentation naturally frustrates me. Driving across the Metroplex can feel like crossing a small country.
But more importantly, the emotional distance between communities can be just as wide. I am always trying to bridge that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.midcitiesartscollective.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mid.cities.arts.collective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mid-Cities-Arts-Collective/61566532600244/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@midcitiesartscollective
