In our journey to learn more about the 70-year history of Dallas Summer Musicals, an interesting fact was discovered.  The musicals, throughout their history, have had only three “show” men lead the organization. 

Those three men were Charles R. Meeker, Jr. and his two assistants, Tom Hughes (pictured left) and Michael Jenkins.

Read the story here.

Pictured left: Charles R. “Charlie” Meeker, Jr., DSM’s managing director through 1960, standing in front of the Band Shell, where the musicals began. Click on the image to see the invitation and read more.

The band shell at Fair Park was gloriously lit for the kick off party celebrating Curtain Call 2010 and Dallas Summer Musicals’ 70th Anniversary, where Michael Jenkins, President and Managing Director of DSM and co-chair of Curtain Call 2010 with his wife, Wendy, made some exciting announcements.
         
“We chose the Band Shell for the kick off because it was the location of the first showing of Opera Under the Stars, which has since become Dallas Summer Musicals,” Michael Jenkins said. “DSM has come a long way since the first show in 1941 and we have a bright and entertaining future ahead.”

Read the press release.

Curtain Call 2010 Celebrating DSM’s 70th Anniversary
presented by Park Place Motorcars Dallas
benefitting Dallas Summer Musicals and their Outreach and Educational Programs

Benefitting:             Proceeds from Curtain Call support Dallas Summer Musicals' mission to bring the best of Broadway to Dallas and provide for children's education and               outreach programs. Sponsors support will bring the magic of musical theater to so many children who otherwise would never experience it — magic created through programs such as Seats for Kids, DSM Academy of Performing Arts, Kids Club, and Stage Right.

When:           Saturday, May 1, 2010
         
Where:                 The Music Hall at Fair Park
                             909 1st Ave
                             Dallas, TX 75210               

Chairs:                   Wendy and Michael Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas                                   Summer Musicals

Honorary Chairs:    Rocco Landesman, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts;
                             James M. Nederlander, Chairman, Nederlander Organization;
                             Philip J. Smith, Chairman, The Shubert Organization

The Evening: Cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, gourmet seated dinner followed   by the show: Stars of Broadway and musical theatre perform vignettes of song and dance (details below); dessert, cocktails and dancing to the sounds of Dallas Unlimited at the Curtain Call Cabaret late night party.
 
The Stars:               The lineup includes such luminaries as Mitzi Gaynor, David Cassidy, Tom Wopat, Ben Vereen, Cathy Rigby, Sandy Duncan and a special finale by Sutton Foster, who, among her many roles, currently plays Princess Fiona in SHREK, THE MUSICAL. Although Sutton has played several lead roles on Broadway, she captured the hearts of theater patrons when she debuted as an understudy after the lead actress broke her foot in THOROUGHLY  MODERN MILLIE and won Best Actress in a musical that year.   
                                      
This exceptional once-in-a-lifetime experience will be directed by Jeff Calhoun, well known for his direction of BIG RIVER, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, BROOKLYN and is currently directing BONNIE AND CLYDE.

Tickets:                      Sponsorships and underwriting available.
                             Individual tickets are also available.          

Chance Tickets:        $70 each for a chance to win a SMART car, donated by Smart Center                                Dallas, part of the Park Place Dealerships

Contact:                 Meredith Ford, Special Events & Outreach Manager at DSM,
                             214-413-3959 and email at mford@dallassummermusicals.org

Sponsors:                  Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Comerica Bank. Season sponsors are American Airlines and WFAA Channel 8. Park Place Motorcars Dallas is      Official Automotive Sponsor. Curtain Call 2010 is presented by Park Place                            Motorcars. Curtain Call 2010 media sponsors are Modern Luxury Dallas and Park Cities News/The Waters Family.

 About Dallas Summer Musicals
Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent non-profit presenter of Broadway theatre in North Texas.  DSM produces, presents and promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through community outreach and education and enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org

• The DSM Academy of Performing Arts:

The first component of Dallas Summer Musicals’ outreach initiatives, DSM Academy of Performing Arts extends the legacy of former DSM Managing Director Tom Hughes’ vision, to create the broadest possible avenue for dramatic expression within his community.  In 1999, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts was established to provide training for students ages 7 – adult, as well as continuing education for adults in theater arts.  Professional instruction helps students integrate the disciplines of singing, dancing, and acting into the unique genre of musical theater.  To ensure access and availability, the school offers limited scholarships to promising students with limited financial resources. Instruction includes classes, workshop and performance. When possible, workshops are provided by cast members of productions playing at Dallas Summer Musicals.

• Seats for Kids: Created in 2003 to provide a meaningful theatre arts experience to low-income, at-risk and special needs children, Seats for Kids serves approximately 2,000 children each year.  Non-profit youth agencies and Title 1 schools are eligible to participate in the program. DSM provides children, their teachers and chaperones with free tickets as well as a professionally drafted study guide to support attending the performance.  In 2009 DSM provided this program to coincide with productions of HAPPY DAYS, THE WIZARD OF OZ and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.

• Kids Club: This free membership program for kids was created to develop tomorrow’s musical theatre audience.  Through exciting activities, special events, backstage tours and informational       exchanges about shows included in the Kids Club membership, children gain an interest, knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts.

• Stage Right: In 2005 the Stage Right program to introduce at-risk youth ages 12-15 to arts and cultural events were created in partnership with the Dallas Police Department.   Together, DSM and DPD are “Raising the curtain for education and spotlighting the appreciation of the arts through experience and positive quality lifestyles.” The students entering the program are recommended by Dallas area teachers and counselors and other youth programs including Boys & Girls Clubs, Girls Inc. and Dallas Recreation Centers as part of their ongoing efforts to keep students from joining gangs, getting involved in drugs and crime, or engaging in other activities that prevent their enjoying success in school.  Stage Right seeks to raise awareness of the arts, increase appreciation for different lifestyles and also increase self esteem.

• Discover Theatre:  In 2007 Dallas Summer Musicals added a program specifically for children in grades K-6.  The inaugural year included DISNEY’S CINDERELLA KIDS and THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS.  Building on its year’s initial success, DSM brought in FRANKLY BEN, FROG AND TOAD and FLAT STANLEY to the Majestic Theatre to entertain, educate and empower young people in elementary school. Over 10,000 students participated in this program in 2008.

The public can play a part in bringing the Best of Broadway
to the young people in our community!

Charitable contributions are vital to the sustainability of these initiatives at Dallas Summer Musicals.  Please assist DSM in its mission to build awareness for the enjoyment and educational values of musical theatre as it does so through its ongoing outreach programs.

For more information including sponsorships, booking or program details, please contact DSM Development Department at 214.413.3959 or outreach@dallassummermusicals.org