ANN WILLIAMS TO RETIRE: Ann Williams, the founder and artistic director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, will retire in May. Williams has been at the helm of the company for the last 37 years. And she says it’s the dancers she’s coached – some 300 by her count – that have mattered the most. “Many have their own companies, their own dance schools,” she tells dallasnews.com. “Many dance in Broadway shows, many are at colleges and universities. I feel good about the experience I’ve been able to give them. I call them all my kids.”

SUPER VOICES: Over the weekend, Disney XD debuted Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, an animated series featuring the characters from the comic books. And as it turns out, three of the seven super heroes are voiced by actors from North Texas. Travis Willingham, who grew up in Dallas, plays Thor; Laura Bailey of Allen is Black Widow; and Troy Baker of Plano is Hawkeye. You can get to know the three actors in a dfw.com profile.

CTD SEASON 12: Contemporary Theatre of Dallas has announced the five shows that will make up its 2014 season. Kicking things off on Jan. 24 is Working: The Musical, featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda of In the Heights fame. It’s followed by the play The Diviners in April, Noises Off in June, A.R. Gurney’s Sweet Sue in August and Little Women: The Musical in October. Details on each show are at theaterjones.com.