The AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas, preliminarily referred to as the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, is a $354-million multi-venue center in the Dallas Arts District for performances of opera, musical theater, classic and experimental theater, ballet and other forms of dance. It opened with a dedication by city leaders on October 12, 2009.
- Venue
- AT&T Performing Arts Center
- Town
- Dallas, US
The AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas, preliminarily referred to as the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, is a $354-million multi-venue center in the Dallas Arts District for performances of opera, musical theater, classic and experimental theater, ballet and other forms of dance. It opened with a dedication by city leaders on October 12, 2009. Three major architectural firms Foster and Partners (based in London), Office for Metropolitan Architecture (based in Rotterdam and New York City), and REX (based in New York) each designed portions of the center. The AT&T Performing Arts Center includes four venues and an urban park: Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, named for Margot and Bill Winspear, who donated $42 million to the center, is a 2,200 seat opera house (with capacity up to 2,300) and the new venue for the Dallas Opera and Texas Ballet Theater. Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, named for Dee and Charles Wyly, who donated $20 million to the center, is a twelve-story building containing 80,300 sq ft (7,460 m2) of space. The theatre holds about 600 people, depending upon the stage configuration and is the new home for the Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico. The redesigned Annette Strauss Square is an outdoor performance space with lawn seating for 2,500. The Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Park, named for Sammons Enterprises, Inc., who donated $15 million to the center, is a 10-acre (40,000 m2) urban park unifying the venues. Designed by Michel Desvigne of Paris with JJR, Sammons Park was the most significant public park in downtown Dallas until the 2012 debut of Klyde Warren Park. The AT&T Performing Arts Center provides homes for five resident companies: the Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center, Texas Ballet Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico. In addition, the center will also produce original programming and partner with local and national organizat