A theater director in Texas is struggling to recover after being brutally attacked in a Target parking lot Saturday night.

Derek Whitener, artistic and education director of The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch, had stopped by the store on his way home from performing in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He noticed two suspicious men in the parking lot on his way in, and reported them to store security.

A representative for the Dallas police says an officer spoke with the suspects and they left the premises. But when Whitener left the store at about 11pm that night, the men were waiting for him with masks on.

The duo threatened Whitener and one hit him on the head with a wooden rod, fracturing his skull. He was taken to Baylor Hospital, where he underwent surgery to stop bleeding on his brain. The young performer is currently in ICU and faces a long recovery.

Police are investigating whether the assault was a hate crime. The suspects did not steal anything from Whitener, but surveillance video showed them looking for unlocked cars in the parking lot.

"I don't know if they were looking for property, looking for a victim or a crime of opportunity," said Deputy Chief Thomas Castro. "Once we get them into custody, we can ask those questions."

A $5,000 reward has been announced for information aiding the investigation and arrests. At the same time, A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover medical expenses.

Family members say they are focused on Whitener’s recovery: “We want to do everything in our power to help him heal and, likewise, all that is possible to support the police in their investigation.”

The Sunday matinee of Spelling Bee was canceled, and an understudy will take Whitener’s place for the remainder of the run.

The 33-year old had just started his role at Firehouse, about 15 miles outside Dallas, at the beginning of the year. Yesterday he was nominated yesterday for a local theater award for his direction of Billy Elliott.

Colleagues say they hope he will recover in time to direct the company’s next production, Bye Bye Birdie, which opens February 23.