The Man Behind the Plays

Jerry Ayers was an award-winning Texas playwright, director, educator, designer, and lifelong advocate for the power of theatre. For more than three decades, he devoted himself to educational theatre as a teacher, playwright, director, adjudicator, designer, and administrator, inspiring generations of students and artists through his creativity, mentorship, and leadership.

Jerry's plays have been produced by middle school, high school, community, and professional theatres across North America, from Dallas and Atlanta to Toronto and Misawa, Japan. His work, known for its vivid, unforgettable characters and its blending of everyday life with touches of magical realism, has been featured at the Texas UIL One-Act Play State Meet, the International Thespian Festival, and on stages throughout the United States and abroad. Throughout his career, he contributed to more than 125 theatrical productions, and his play Martha Elizabeth and the Angel received the Dallas Media Association's Crystal Award for Best Entertainment.

In addition to his work as a playwright and director, Jerry was an accomplished costume and scenic designer whose award-winning designs appeared in numerous productions throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He served as Theatre & Dance Coordinator for Grand Prairie ISD, where he championed new works, arts education, and opportunities for young theatre artists. He also served as a board member and director with Duncanville Community Theatre, remaining a passionate advocate for community theatre throughout his life.

His legacy lives on through the plays he wrote, the productions he shaped, and the countless students, colleagues, and audiences whose lives were enriched by his generosity, imagination, and enduring love of theatre.