Review: Amon Carter is the Greatest Showman…of Fort Worth! Theatre Arlington hosts AMON CARTER: THE ULTIMATE TEXAN

Amon Carter: The Ultimate Texan

By David Lieber
Directed by Connie Sanches
Produced by David Lieber and Theatre Arlington

Audience Rating: PG-13 for mature subject matter, mild language
Run Time: 2 Hours with on 15-minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Show: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable Volume Level
Audio/Visuals to Prepare For: None of note

Reviewed by Michael Winters

Amon Carter says several times in the one-man show Amon: The Ultimate Texan, which played over the weekend at Theatre Arlington, “Fort Worth is where the West begins and Dallas is where the East peters out.” I can say that this show never peters out. Kelvin Dilks, in the title role, keeps the performance rolling from start to finish. Finding the spirit of Amon Carter, Dilks takes the audience—under the thoughtful direction of Connie Sanchez—on a journey through time and emotion. As a native of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I knew of Amon Carter but hadn’t realized how deeply he cared for Fort Worth. He helped bring major businesses—Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter, American Airlines, Sinclair Dino, and the world’s largest bomber plant—to the city. Equally, he disliked Dallas, a running joke in the show that underscores his fierce passion for Fort Worth.

Carter loved a specific hat made by the Peter Brothers. The Shady Oaks hat was given to celebrities, presidents, important friends, and even football teams—though only when they won. This hat becomes the catalyst for the story. When Amon takes the audience on his journey, he raises the hat, snaps his fingers, and lighting and thunder transport us to another unique and fascinating moment in his life, beginning in 1922. One of the most memorable elements of the show is the use of video as scenery. Real artifacts—letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs are projected to bring Amon’s story to life. During the segment about his son being held as a Prisoner of War in Poland from 1943 1945, the images of his son and other prisoners convey the fear and worry of a father separated from his child. Dilks channels the anger and frustration of this moment so strongly that the audience easily connects with his emotions. 

Another standout moment reveals Carter’s friendship with Will Rogers. He reflects, “we were brothers,” and Dilks delivers a heartrending account of his grief when Rogers died in a plane crash. A single pro —a silver horse statue on Carter’s desk—takes on significance here. It represents the full-size statue of Rogers’ horse, one of only three in existence, with one displayed in front of the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth. The prop becomes a touching symbol of friendship, creating a powerful and intimate moment for the audience.

The show also delivers plenty of laughs. With audience interaction—including jokes aimed at those from Dallas—Dilks demonstrates quick thinking and keeps everyone engaged. It also highlights that Carter was a man who acted on impulse, like the time he supposedly shot at an elevator during the 1928 Democratic Convention in Fort Worth. Some call it a tall tale, but Carter insists it really happened, which only makes it funnier.

Dave Lieber has poured his heart into the script, giving a full picture of Carter—not just as a visionary entrepreneur, but as a devoted husband, father, and loyal friend. Reyes Sanchez’s work as Technical Director is seamless, and the use of modern Texas country music keeps the story of a man who died in 1955 feeling fresh and relevant. One area that could have elevated the production further would have been lighting that shifted with the emotion of each scene, helping the audience connect even more deeply with Carter’s joys, frustrations, and triumphs.

Amon: The Ultimate Texan makes you proud to be from Fort Worth—a city shaped by a man who valued community. “A man cannot live off his community. He must live with it.” Carter truly lived with it, helping shape the city into what it is today. So, let’s tip our Peter Brothers hats to Amon Carter and to the cast and production team for delivering a remarkable night of theatre. While this production at Theatre Arlington was only a one-weekend engagement, keep an eye out as Amon: The Ultimate Texan heads to Dallas. I, for one, cannot wait to see how the folks from Dallas react.

Don’t be afraid to take the journey theatre offers. It’s worth the trip.

Michael Winters