Today we’d like to introduce you to Stevie Dawn Carter.
Hi Stevie Dawn , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved storytelling. Whether it was in the classroom or onstage, I’ve been drawn to spaces where people connect through shared experience. I have been a motivational speaker, professional dancer, and college professor, but through it all it has always been about connecting people through stories.
Theater has always been a part of my story, from doing community theater with my parents to roles through college and beyond. During 2020, I felt so disconnected and lone that I knew I had to make some changes in my life. Even though every job was about people, it wasn’t necessarily about connection and that needed to change. So I convinced my husband that once the world opened up again, I wanted to start a community theater. One based on connection and community. A safe space for artists to create amazing stories and have a lot of fun doing it.
That’s how The Fleetwood Project was born. What started as an idea has grown into a full season of productions, hundreds of patrons each show, and a creative home for so many artists across the Metroplex.
At the core, my story is pretty simple: I care deeply about building spaces where people belong. Fleetwood is where my love of leadership, education, and storytelling all come together.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not smooth. If anything, it’s been a constant learning curve.
Starting and growing a community theater means you’re wearing every hat at once — creative director, fundraiser, marketer, conflict manager, budget analyst, therapist, you name it. In the beginning especially, there were moments of wondering if we had the resources, the people, or the energy to keep building at the pace we wanted.
There have been financial pressures. There have been tough leadership decisions. There have been seasons where growth stretched us. And anytime you’re building something rooted in people and creativity, emotions are part of the equation.
But honestly, the struggles have shaped us. They’ve forced me to grow as a leader, to set clearer expectations, to build stronger systems, and to protect the culture we care about. I’ve learned that vision is important — but sustainability and boundaries matter just as much.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But it has absolutely been worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Fleetwood, I oversee the big picture and the small details. I handle season planning, organizational strategy, community partnerships, board development, fundraising, and often creative direction. I’m involved in everything from choosing shows to building rehearsal culture to thinking through long-term growth.
What I really specialize in is building systems that support people. I care deeply about culture. I want our artists to feel safe, valued, and challenged in the right ways. I’m known for being organized, forward-thinking, and very clear about expectations — but also for protecting the heart of what we do.
I think what sets me apart is that I approach theater like both an artist and a strategist. I don’t just think about the show; I think about sustainability, structure, and long-term impact. I’m always asking: How do we grow without losing who we are?
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the productions — it’s the community. Seeing artists return season after season. Watching someone audition for the first time and then step into leadership. Building a board that believes in the mission. That’s the part that means the most to me.
Fleetwood isn’t just a theater company. It’s something we’re intentionally building — and I’m proud of how far we’ve come.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in a musical family. Born of two musicians, named after a famous rock star, music was in my blood. From an early age, I knew the stage was where I belonged, especially in dance. I enjoyed connecting movement to music and telling stories through dance. At the age of 8, I got my first job teaching dance at the local community center to kids my own age, because it was a small town and nobody else was doing it. At age 14, I auditioned for my first professional show dancing in Country Tonite, a show on the Aladdin Hotel stage in Las Vegas. After that journey, I continued to travel the world teaching and judging dance in all forms. After a serious injury disrupted that plan, I had to find new dance forms that I could enjoy. While in Albuquerque, New Mexico I found a love for West Coast Swing and become a champion dancer and judge through the early 2000s.
While age and injury have taken away my ability to make dance my full time career anymore, I have found other ways to share that love of music and storytelling from the karaoke bar to the community theater stage.
Pricing:
- Tickets for our shows range from 14-20$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefleetwoodproject.org
- Instagram: thefleetwoodproject
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefleetwoodproject
Image Credits
Photography by Matt Carter, Keith Warren, and Tim Brestowski
