Del Shores directs the hilarious and heartfelt new comedy inspired by true events
Dallas, TX – May 2026 – North Texas audiences are in for a wickedly funny and heartfelt Southern family reunion when acclaimed playwright, filmmaker and director Del Shores brings the world premiere of Momma Won’t Die to the stage this June. The dark Southern comedy was written by Dallas actress and first-time playwright Patty Pell and her daughter Laurie Grigsby.
Presented by Clark, Pell & King Productions, Momma Won’t Die runs June 12-28 at Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys campus. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 at www.mommawontdie.com.
Inspired by true events, Momma Won’t Die follows three generations of Southern women navigating death, dysfunction and long-buried family tensions as their 108-year-old matriarch refuses to let go. Packed with sharp humor, emotional honesty and eccentric small-town characters, the play blends Southern Gothic charm with heartfelt family storytelling.
The ensemble cast features several familiar faces from the Dallas theater scene including Morgana Shaw, Katie King, Cynthia Louise Sanders, Nancy Chartier, Bruce Melena, Kishor Ryan, Cathy Fithian and Becca Spencer.
Pell, 80, developed the script through a workshop with Del Shores. What began as a personal story about Pell’s late mother evolved into a collaboration with her daughter and ultimately into a full-length stage production.
“Del heard me say, ‘but Momma just won’t die,’ and told me, ‘That’s your title. That’s your play,’” said Pell. Though the story is inspired by true events, she adhered to one guiding principle: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”
A native of the tiny West Texas town of Winters, Shores is best known for Sordid Lives, Southern Baptist Sissies and Showtime’s Queer as Folk, Dharma & Greg, and Ned & Stacey. His celebrated career spans film, television and theater, earning honors including a GLAAD Award, NAACP Award, LA Weekly Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award from Celebration Theatre for groundbreaking achievements in LGBTQ+ playwriting and arts advocacy.
“When Patty and Laurie shared this story with me, I immediately wanted to be part of bringing it to life, especially in North Texas, ” said Shores. “Dallas has long been one of my favorite places for theater and one of my favorite cities to visit.
There’s a real appreciation here for stories that are character-driven, emotional and unapologetically Southern, which makes this the perfect place for Momma Won’t Die to make its debut.”Momma Won’t Die is a new Southern Gothic comedy by Patty Pell and Laurie Grigsby, directed by Del Shores.
Inspired by true events, the world premiere production runs June 12-28 at Bryant Hall, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, TX 75219, on the Kalita Humphreys campus. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Runtime is approximately two hours, including intermission. Tickets are $38 and available at Momma Won’t Die. Stay updated on socials at “MommaWontDie.”
Submitted by Susan Friedman, Friedman Publicity
