Bruce Willis hosts Scene 1 on Wednesday, October 14

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves performs in Scene 2

OptIn to receive Newsletter   Email: socialwhirl.com's eBuzzNewsletter is about getting your news and press releases out to media, public relations professionals, business and social leaders. Read the current eBuzz.

Dallas Arts District built on patience and persistence 11:52 PM CDT on Saturday, September 26, 2009 By DAVID DILLON / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News Link here.

That page also links to much more information, videos. Great reading and details.

Three nights of once-in-a-lifetime performances from October 14 – 17

“Act III was truly an experience of a lifetime with performances created exclusively for the opening of the Center – many never to be seen again.  Whether you witnessed all three evenings or enjoyed just one, we thank you for being a part of this historical event,” said Jeanne Marie Clossey, Act III chair.  

Each night, or “Scene,” of Act III showcased one or more of the performing arts that will be presented at the AT&T Performing Arts Center: 

Jeanne Marie Clossey, Act III Chair and producer Kevin Duncan	Appearing in Scene 2 was international contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and his company, Morphoses. It looked just like this. Amazing.

Scene 1 (October 14, reprised October 16 in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre) an intimate staged theatrical experience that celebrates the creative spirits that bring an evening of theatre into being. Scene 1 featured Will Power, a pioneer in Hip Hop Theater who has created his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling work. Italso showcased the composer, with multiple Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors). Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/director James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, The 25th Annual County Spelling Bee), also introduced his newest project, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, starring Tony Award-winning actress Debra Monk (Steel Pier, Curtains). Scene 1 is produced by Lou Adler and Kevin Duncan and is hosted by Bruce Willis (Wednesday, October 14 event only).

Scene 2 (October 15 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House) was a showcase of opera and ballet featuring opera legends mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and baritone Thomas Hampson along with international contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and his company, Morphoses, to premiere specially commissioned work all set to music provided by The Dallas Opera orchestra and chorus, under the direction of Graeme Jenkins.

Scene 3 (October 17 in the Winspear Opera House) was a Broadway musical evening featuring multiple Tony Award-winning actors of stage and screen Patti LuPone (Gypsy, Evita, Sweeney Todd), George Hearn (La Cage Aux Folles, Sunset Boulevard), Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot) and Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown), directed by Tony Award-winning director John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, A Catered Affair, Company) and produced by Kevin Duncan.

Immediately following Scene 3, under the extraordinary design direction of Neiman Marcus, the nearly 2,200 guests had a chance to be entertained into the night at a black-tie gala.  Patrons indulged in a moveable feast of the finest cuisine from The Ritz-Carlton Dallas throughout the Center’s venues.  Late night entertainment in “Club Alon” in the Wyly Theatre featured renowned performers Ellis Hall, Eden Espinosa and Mindi Abair.

Patti Lupone Photo by Ethan Hill	Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot)	Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown),

Act III is the culmination of the nine-year campaign to build the AT&T Performing Arts Center, which has raised more than $335 million to date, with 130 gifts of $1 million or more—an unprecedented number for a capital campaign for the arts.  Act I, presented in 2002, launched the campaign’s public fund-raising phase.  In 2006, the Center hosted Act II to celebrate the beginning of construction of the Center.

About the AT&T Performing Arts Center:

The AT&T Performing Arts Center, a new multi-venue Center for music, opera, theatre and dance will open in October 2009, completing the vision of the Dallas Arts District. The Center will provide multi-state-of-the-art facilities woven together by an urban park covering more than ten acres to create a dynamic cultural destination that will be unparalleled in the world. The Center will feature the following:

·         The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, designed in a modern horseshoe configuration, will seat 2,200 (with capacity up to 2,300), designed by Foster + Partners.

·         The Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre will serve as a gateway to the Dallas Arts District from the downtown Dallas business center and will seat 600, designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus (partner in charge) and Rem Koolhaas.

·         The completely new Annette Strauss Artist Square will be the Center’s outdoor entertainment venue, designed by Foster + Partners.

·         The City Performance Hall will provide main stage production space for many of Dallas’ smaller performing arts organizations, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

·         The Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Park will unify the venues within a lush urban oasis and will create a dynamic cultural destination in downtown Dallas, designed by Michel Desvigne.

·         Two underground parking structures that will accommodate more than 850 vehicles.

More information on the AT&T Performing Arts Center is available at www.attpac.org.