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Arts & Entertainment

The Dallas Arts District Makes History

The much-anticipated AT&T Center for the Performing Arts is now open. There’s an event for every taste and every budget, so come see what the fuss is about.
By Sarah Eveans |
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photography by Elizabeth Lavin

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photography by Elizabeth Lavin

It is finally here–the grand opening of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, formerly known as the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, or DCPA. (We don’t know about you, but we’re still calling it that, anyway.) Whether you spend big bucks or no bucks, there are plenty of opportunities to take in performances and peek inside the stunning new Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre and the Bill and Margot Winspear Opera House. In addition, there are special events at neighboring Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Dallas Center for Architecture. Big-name talent such as Bruce Willis, Greg Kinnear, and Kristin Chenoweth are coming in for the A-list festivities, and architects Rem Koolhaas, Normal Foster, and Joshua Prince-Ramus are giving free lectures about their projects. On Sunday, there’s an all-day, family-friendly party in the park, with free tours of the buildings, performances of all kinds, and a fireworks show to cap off the star-studded week. We’ll see you down there.


For a full list of opening-week festivities, visit www.dallasperformingarts.org/grandopening.
For an Arts District slideshow and the latest coverage, go here.


10.14.09


ACT III Gala. Yes, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the new AT&T Performing Arts Center for free. However, some of you are willing to spend some serious cash ($5,000) to support this exciting milestone in Dallas history. For those very special arts patrons, Act III is perfect. For three nights, the new Wyly Theatre and Winspear Opera House are on display. The first night features an intimate stage performance (reprised on Friday night); the second night features opera and ballet; and the third night focuses on Broadway, followed by a black-tie gala. Tonight, Bruce Willis hosts a staged theater production featuring hip-hop theater pioneer Will Power, Tony Award winner Debra Monk, and multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken. Oct 14, 8 pm. The Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org.


10.15.09


ACT III Gala. Yes, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the new AT&T Performing Arts Center for free. However, some of you are willing to spend some serious cash ($5,000) to support this exciting milestone in Dallas history. For those very special arts patrons, Act III is perfect. For three nights, the new Wyly Theatre and Winspear Opera House are on display. The first night features an intimate stage performance (reprised on Friday night); the second night features opera and ballet; and the third night focuses on Broadway, followed by a black-tie gala. Tonight, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and baritone Thomas Hampson perform, along with international contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and his Morphoses company. It’s all set to music by the Dallas Opera orchestra and chorus. Oct 15, 8 pm. The Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org


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photography courtesy of the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Free Architecture Forum with Rem Koolhaas. Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, one of the Wyly Theatre designers, discusses his work during this public forum. Koolhaas is a Pritzker Prize winner and was named one of the world’s most influential people by Time, so design fanatics don’t want to miss this. Oct 15, 4 pm. The Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org.


Free Thursday Night at the Nasher. Explore the Nasher Sculpture Center at the best possible time–when it’s free! The exhibit “The Art of Architecture: Foster + Partners” is very relevant these days (this architectural firm designed the Winspear Opera House) and includes models, drawings, photographs, and videos of their projects. Yoga in the Garden sounds very zen to us, and a DJ and curator-led tours should fully complete our dream Nasher experience. Oct 15, 5–9 pm. 2001 Flora St. 214-242-5100. www.nashersculpturecenter.org.


10.16.09


ACT III Gala. Yes, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the new AT&T Performing Arts Center for free. However, some of you are willing to spend some serious cash ($5,000) to support this exciting milestone in Dallas history. For those very special arts patrons, Act III is perfect. For three nights, the new Wyly Theatre and Winspear Opera House are on display. The first night features an intimate stage performance (reprised on Friday night); the second night features opera and ballet; and the third night focuses on Broadway, followed by a black-tie gala. Tonight, Greg Kinnear hosts a staged theater production featuring hip-hop theater pioneer Will Power, Tony Award winner Debra Monk, and multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken. (This is a reprise of Wednesday night’s performance.) Oct 16, 6:30 & 9 pm. The Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org.


Free Architecture Forum With Joshua Prince-Ramus. Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus, president of REX, discusses the design of the Wyly Theatre, as well as his other projects, including the Museum Plaza in Louisville, Kentucky, and the new Central Library and Music Conservatory in Kortrijk, Belgium. Oct 16, 2 pm. The Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org.


Free Architecture Forum With Norman Foster. Foster’s company, Foster + Partners, designed the gorgeous Winspear Opera House. Other notable designs include the Hearst Tower in New York City and The Gherkin in London. Don’t miss this chance to see the Pritzer Prize winner. Oct 16, 10:30 am. The Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org.


Free Concert From Wanda King and David Sanborn. It’s Friday afternoon. You’re not really working, anyway. So hop on the DART Rail or walk from your office to the new Sammons Park in the AT&T Performing Arts Center for this free inaugural concert featuring blues artist Wanda King and pop saxophonist David Sanborn. Oct 16, 4 pm. Sammons Park, Leonard St. @ Flora St. www.attpac.org.


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photography courtesy of the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Late Night at the Dallas Museum of Art. There’s a lot going on in the Arts District this weekend. If you’re not going to the Wyly Theatre tonight, we recommend going to the Dallas Museum of Art for its Late Night event. Watch the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, catch a movie on Ross Avenue Plaza (Top Hat and South Pacific), take a tour of the museum, or sing karaoke. And those are only a few of the options. $10; free for children 12 and under. Oct 16, 6 pm–midnight. 1717 N. Harwood St. 214-922-1200. http://dallasmuseumofart.org.


‘Til Midnight at the Nasher. The Nasher Sculpture Center is staying open extra-late in honor of the AT&T Performing Arts Center opening, so let’s all take advantage, shall we? Among the activities: a DJ in the garden, a tour of Tending (Blue), a photography challenge, and more. We think doing anything at midnight is more fun than doing it at noon, so strolling through the sculpture garden surely applies to that, too. Oct 16, 11 am–midnight. 2001 Flora St. 214-242-5100. www.nashersculpturecenter.org.


10.17.09


ACT III Gala. Yes, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the new AT&T Performing Arts Center for free. However, some of you are willing to spend some serious cash ($5,000) to support this exciting milestone in Dallas history. For those very special arts patrons, Act III is perfect. For three nights, the new Wyly Theatre and Winspear Opera House are on display. The first night features an intimate stage performance (reprised on Friday night); the second night features opera and ballet; and the third night focuses on Broadway, followed by a black-tie gala. Tonight, Dallas welcomes Tony Award winners Kristin Chenoweth and Patti LuPone. Oct 17, 8 pm. The Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St. 214-880-0202. www.attpac.org.


Zen in the City. If you haven’t checked out the Crow Collection of Asian Art lately, you really should; there’s some interesting stuff going on there, including two exhibits: “Yeohlee: Design for Now” and “Wild Flowering.” Need more reasons to hit the Crow on a Saturday night? How about food tastings, gallery tours, and performances until midnight. Oct 17, 6 pm–midnight. 2010 Flora St. 214-979-6430. www.crowcollection.org.



10.18.09


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photography courtesy of the AT&T Performing Arts Center
AT&T Performing Arts Center Spotlight Sunday. Today is the day to check out the new AT&T Performing Arts Center. This all-day extravaganza is chock full of activities, including tours of the new buildings; free admission to the Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas Center for Architecture, Dallas Museum of Art, and Nasher Sculpture Center; and free performances from flutist Nestor Torres, instrumentalist virtuoso Ellis Hall, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (reservations are required), 40-voice choir Gloriæ Dei Cantores, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts; and culturally diverse dance performances such as African drum and dance, flamenco, and folklorico. Fireworks are the finale. Oct 18, 11 am- 8 pm. Various locations. For a complete schedule of the day’s events, visit www.attpac.org.

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