# How to Start Acting in Dallas-Fort Worth: Texas' New Incentives, Local Theater, and Your First 90 Days > Why North Texas is busier in 2026, the Texas-resident hiring rule that favors local actors, DFW's theater generals and Equity houses, where to train, where casting is posted, why Texas doesn't license agents, and a first-90-days plan. - URL: https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-start-acting-in-dallas - Published: 2026-11-11 - Last updated: 2026-11-11 A few years ago, telling people you were an actor in Dallas-Fort Worth got you a polite nod and a question about when you were moving to LA. Now the trades write about Fort Worth studios, Texas passed a ten-year film incentive, and someone in your class just booked a day on a series shooting twenty minutes from their apartment. North Texas has become a real place to start. It still isn't LA, and a new actor's first jobs are often commercials, corporate videos, and theater. But the state's new incentive comes with a rule that pushes productions to hire Texans, and that includes actors. The short version: understand the 2025 incentive and its Texas-resident rule, because it's the biggest change for local actors in years. Get into DFW theater through the city-wide general auditions and the Equity houses. Train somewhere you can stay. Know that Texas doesn't license talent agents, so the checking is on you. Keep your self-tapes sharp, and follow a 90-day plan. ## Why North Texas is busier now In 2025 the Texas Legislature passed SB 22, which, according to the [bill's official history](https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB22), became law without the governor's signature and took effect September 1, 2025. The [bill text](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00022F.htm) has the state put $300 million into the film incentive fund at the start of each two-year budget period, a provision that runs through August 31, 2035. Texas Standard summed it up as [$1.5 billion over ten years](https://texasstandard.org/stories/texas-film-incentives-new-funding-grant-rebate/), with rebates of up to 31%. Fort Worth has felt it most. Fox 4 reported in October 2025 that [five Taylor Sheridan shows were filming in Fort Worth](https://www.fox4news.com/news/sheridan-texas-law-fort-worth-film) that year, according to the city's film commission, and that the second season of *Landman* hired more than 3,850 people across cast, background, and crew. TheWrap reported that Sheridan's [SGS Studios campus at AllianceTexas](https://www.thewrap.com/taylor-sheridan-paramount-fort-worth-texas-production-studio), a 450,000-square-foot facility, is the largest operating studio in Texas. The [Fort Worth Film Commission](https://www.fortworth.com/film/) lists *Landman*, *Lioness*, *1883*, and *The Madison* among the productions it has hosted, and says it has supported more than 1,000 projects since 2015. Dallas has its own film commission at [Film Dallas](https://filmdallas.org/), which runs permits, locations, and a crew and vendor directory. ## The Texas-resident rule that favors local actors Here's the part of SB 22 that matters most to you. To qualify for the incentive, the [bill text](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00022F.htm) requires that at least 35% of a project's production crew, actors, and extras be Texas residents for projects starting principal photography on or after September 1, 2025. That floor rises to 40% for projects starting on or after September 1, 2027, 45% from 2029, and 50% from 2031. The state can waive it if it certifies that enough qualified workers aren't available. In plain terms, productions chasing the Texas incentive need Texans, and actors count toward that share. That's a reason to keep your Texas address current on every casting profile, to establish real residency if you're moving here, and to never claim to be local when you aren't. Our guide on [moving to LA or New York](https://www.offbook.com/blog/move-to-la-or-new-york-for-acting) explains how local hire works and why lying about it backfires. ## Unions: a DFW Local, and Equity run from LA The [SAG-AFTRA Dallas-Fort Worth Local](https://www.sagaftra.org/dallas-fort-worth/about-our-local-dallas-fort-worth) represents members working in Northern Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, from an office on Quorum Drive in Dallas. Houston and Austin have a separate Local. You don't need to be a member to start; our guide on [how to become SAG-AFTRA eligible](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-become-sag-aftra-eligible) covers the three ways in and when joining makes sense. Actors' Equity is the surprise. Texas sits in Equity's [Western Region](https://www.actorsequity.org/aboutequity/howweoperate), which the union says covers 14 states from Texas to Washington, served from its office in North Hollywood, California. In 2026, Dallas Theater Center held its Equity Principal Auditions in both Los Angeles and Dallas. ## Get seen in DFW theater Theater is where local directors and casting people see you work, and DFW has more of it than newcomers expect. Start with the one audition that puts you in front of many companies at once: [Echo Theatre's city-wide general auditions](https://www.echotheatre.org/generalauditions) at the Bath House Cultural Center. You perform a one-minute monologue, take an adjustment, and join a directory the participating producers can use. More than a dozen companies take part, including Kitchen Dog Theater, Undermain Theatre, Jubilee Theatre, and Shakespeare Dallas. The 2027 dates were still to be announced when we checked. Then learn the individual houses: - **Dallas Theater Center** held its Dallas [Equity Principal Auditions](https://dallastheatercenter.org/auditions/) on July 15, 2026. Only Equity members could book appointments, and non-union actors were seen when no Equity members were waiting. It also posted some local non-union roles for its holiday show. - **Stage West** in Fort Worth says its [roles are open to both Equity and non-union actors](https://www.stagewest.org/auditions), and that non-union performers are paid for rehearsals and performances. - **Casa Mañana** in Fort Worth holds [auditions for Equity and non-professional contracts](https://casamanana.org/auditions/), most recently on November 7 and 8, 2026. - **Kitchen Dog Theater** in Dallas has no open call right now, but invites actors to [email a headshot and resume](https://www.kitchendogtheater.org/job-opportunities) for its 2026-27 casting book. - **WaterTower Theatre** in Addison is in its [31st season](https://www.watertowertheatre.org/); watch its site for auditions. Our guides to [theater general auditions](https://www.offbook.com/blog/theater-general-auditions) and [Equity Principal Auditions](https://www.offbook.com/blog/what-is-an-equity-principal-audition) explain both formats, and a one-minute piece from our [monologue library](https://www.offbook.com/monologues) fits the Echo format. ## Where to train in DFW Some places to train, all operating as of November 2026: - **KD Conservatory** in Dallas offers degrees in acting, filmmaking, and musical theatre, all [accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre](https://kdstudio.com/), plus evening workshops for adult actors. - **Stage West** runs [adult classes](https://stagewest.org/education) in acting, improv, and voiceover, taught at a working professional theater. - **Four Day Weekend** has theaters in Dallas and Fort Worth and offers [improv classes](https://www.fourdayweekend.com/) starting at Level 1. For degrees, [SMU's Meadows School](https://www.smu.edu/meadows/areasofstudy/theatre) has a BFA and an MFA in acting, [UT Arlington](https://www.uta.edu/academics/schools-colleges/liberal-arts/departments/theatre/areas-of-study/bfa-acting) has a BFA in acting, and [TCU](https://finearts.tcu.edu/theatre/), UNT, and UT Dallas all have theatre programs. [Collin College](https://www.collin.edu/department/theatre/), a community college, offers acting and acting-for-camera courses. Our guide to [choosing an acting class](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-acting-class) helps you compare. ## Where casting and background calls live The Texas Film Commission has a page for [people who want to work as actors and extras](https://gov.texas.gov/film/page/filming_extras). It points to the state's [Job Hotline casting calls](https://gov.texas.gov/film/hotline/casting), though that board is thin: when we checked, it had been last updated September 14, 2026, with one listing, in the Rio Grande Valley. The page also points to the [Texas Production Directory](https://gov.texas.gov/film/page/texas-production-directory-support-services), which has a casting and talent category; listing requires a Texas address and at least one paid professional credit. In Fort Worth, the film commission sends background actors to Legacy Casting through [MyCastingFile](https://mycastingfile.com/), which is free to join, and links Brock Allen Casting for *The Chosen*. Note that Central Casting's [offices](https://www.centralcasting.com/offices/) are in Burbank, New York, Atlanta, and New Orleans, not Texas. Principal roles go out through the national casting sites and to agents. Our roundup of [casting sites for actors](https://www.offbook.com/blog/best-casting-sites-for-actors) compares them, and our guides to [commercial auditions](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-a-commercial-audition) and [corporate and industrial videos](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-audition-for-corporate-and-industrial-videos) cover two kinds of work worth preparing for. ## Texas doesn't license talent agents This one catches people. In 2011, Texas passed HB 3167, whose caption reads "relating to the abolishment of the state regulation of talent agencies," and it took effect September 1, 2011, according to its [official history](https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB3167). Unlike California, New York, or Illinois, there's no state license list to check. So use the union's list instead. SAG-AFTRA's [franchised agents list](https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/agents-managers/about-professional-representatives/franchised-agents-list) lets you pick Dallas-Fort Worth and search, and the union says an agency must be on its "All Franchised Agencies" list before a member can engage it. Even if you're non-union, a franchised agency has agreed to the union's rules. The money rule matters even more without a state regulator. A legitimate agent earns a commission when you book, not a fee to sign you, and doesn't require you to buy photos or classes from them. Our guides to [spotting acting scams](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-spot-an-acting-scam) and [getting an agent with no experience](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-get-acting-agent-no-experience) cover what to ask. ## Self-tape like the rest of the country is watching Self-taped auditions became [the norm rather than the exception](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/sag-aftra-self-tape-regulations-explained-76781/) after the pandemic, Backstage reported, and SAG-AFTRA added self-tape guidelines to its November 2023 TV and film agreement. The DFW Local has noticed: in June 2026 it opened a [Self-Tape Studio](https://www.sagaftra.org/new-self-tape-studio-empowers-performers) at its Dallas office that members can book for auditions. If you're not a member yet, a corner of your apartment works. Our guides to [a self-tape setup on a budget](https://www.offbook.com/blog/self-tape-setup-on-a-budget) and [how to slate](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-slate-for-a-self-tape) cover the technical side. Learning the sides fast is the other half. Offbook handles the rehearsal: upload the sides, pick your role, and realistic voices read every other character, waiting for you to finish your line before cueing the next. Rehearse on your laptop with the full script on a big screen, listen to the scene on your phone while you drive to work, and once it's close, hide your lines and run it from the cues. Then bring in a live reader for the take; our guide to [finding a self-tape reader](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-find-a-self-tape-reader) helps. ## Getting around a two-city market DFW is spread out, so plan on driving to much of it. Between the two downtowns, the [Trinity Railway Express](https://trinityrailwayexpress.org/), run by Trinity Metro and DART, runs Monday through Saturday, with Sunday trains only during the State Fair. A trip that crosses Dallas and Tarrant counties needs a regional ticket; DART cut its [Regional Day Pass to $9](https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-announces-regional-fare-adjustments-effective-march-1--2026) on March 1, 2026. ## Your first 90 days in Dallas-Fort Worth 1. **Days 1 to 14:** Build an honest one-page resume with our free [acting resume builder](https://www.offbook.com/tools/acting-resume-builder), and set up casting profiles with your Texas address. 2. **Days 1 to 14:** Join MyCastingFile for background calls if you want set experience. 3. **Days 7 to 30:** Prepare a one-minute monologue and submit to Echo Theatre's general auditions; email Kitchen Dog for its casting book. 4. **Days 14 to 45:** Take an adult class at a studio or theater and commit to a full session. 5. **Days 14 to 60:** See shows on both sides of the metro, from Dallas Theater Center to Stage West, so you know the companies. 6. **Days 30 to 90:** Tape a practice scene from our [free acting scripts](https://www.offbook.com/acting-scripts) every week and log every audition in our free [audition tracker](https://www.offbook.com/tools/audition-tracker). 7. **Days 60 to 90:** With credits and footage, research agents on SAG-AFTRA's list for the Dallas-Fort Worth Local, and walk away from anyone who asks for money up front. Comparing cities? See the same guide for [Los Angeles](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-start-acting-in-los-angeles), [New York](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-start-acting-in-new-york), [Atlanta](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-start-acting-in-atlanta), [Chicago](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-start-acting-in-chicago), and [New Orleans](https://www.offbook.com/blog/how-to-start-acting-in-new-orleans), or read about [building a career outside LA and New York](https://www.offbook.com/blog/acting-career-outside-la-and-new-york). ## Questions actors ask ### Is Dallas-Fort Worth a good place to start acting? It's a growing market. Texas' 2025 law funds the film incentive with $300 million every two years through 2035, Fort Worth hosted five Taylor Sheridan series in 2025, and the incentive requires productions to hire a rising share of Texas residents as crew, actors, and extras. Add a solid theater scene and commercial work, and there's a real way in. ### Do productions in Texas have to hire Texas actors? To qualify for the state incentive, yes, in part. Projects starting principal photography on or after September 1, 2025, must fill at least 35% of their crew, actors, and extras with Texas residents, rising to 40% in 2027, 45% in 2029, and 50% in 2031, unless the state waives it for lack of qualified workers. ### Are talent agents licensed in Texas? No. Texas abolished its state regulation of talent agencies in 2011. Check any agency on SAG-AFTRA's franchised list for the Dallas-Fort Worth Local, and never pay a fee to be represented. ### Which SAG-AFTRA Local covers Dallas-Fort Worth? The Dallas-Fort Worth Local, which represents members in Northern Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Houston and Austin have their own Local. For stage work, Actors' Equity places Texas in its Western Region, served from North Hollywood. ### How do I get into Dallas theater auditions? Start with Echo Theatre's city-wide general auditions, where one monologue puts you in front of more than a dozen companies. Then follow individual theaters such as Dallas Theater Center, Stage West, Casa Mañana, and Kitchen Dog, which post auditions on their own sites and accept headshots for future casting.