The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts to bring in touring shows

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 11:52am

Dallas will soon have two separate groups presenting Broadway shows.

The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts will announce today that it has hired Shorenstein Hays Nederlander (SHN) as the consultant to bring touring musicals to the new Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, which is set to open in the downtown Arts District late next year.

I'm glad this ended up being independent of Dallas Summer Musicals.
Story at DMN

[DWalk]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 4:05pm

I'm not happy about this at all. I think it's naive to think our market can support two presenters. I have subscribed to DSM for more than 10 years and people constantly complain about the lack of product to fill their seasons.

Also, I heard on the radio (so I don't know if it's true or not) but supposedly the average ticket price at the new hall will be almost twice the average price for the Music Hall/Majestic shows.

I seriously believe only the largest theater markets (which, despite its population, Dallas is not) can support competing presenters.

However, StickToPriest, I would be interested in hearing why you're glad they will be independent. You may have reasons I hadn't considered.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:06pm

I'm so incredibly excited to hear that the Dallas PAC will be indepedent of DSM.

I think our market can support two presenters IF the product is different at each center. I would love to see the more current, more "risque" shows hosted at a Dallas PAC venue. DSM tends to shy away from these types of shows for fear of offending their subscribers. They are also concerned with being family entertainment... There is wonderful theatre that isn't particularly family entertainment, and those types of shows are pretty much ignored in this area.

DSM always seems to be a year behind on bringing shows in unless they were part of the producing team in New York. I also really dislike the sound system at Music Hall. The Majestic is a bit better. When I pay to see a show, I'd like to be able to hear it regardless of the area of the theatre.

I'm hoping this competition will bring better, more current shows to the Dallas area that appeal to all different types of people. While I appreciate MANY musicals that are considered family musicals, I want the chance to see ALL types of theatre in Dallas.

I would much rather have two theatrical companies produce a few shows each. DSM is clearly upset that their monopoly is about to end, but I think it will be a better for theatre fans in the long run!

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:31pm

DWalk: Hermione covered a lot of my reasons. I think DSM will now have to do better, now that they no longer have a monopoly on the market. Plus, as she said, they shy away from a lot of great shows that aren't family shows. It may very well be that the market cannot support another presenter of this size, but I don't think that will be the case. And the less consolidated the power is, the better it is for the consumer.

Updated On: 3/28/08 at 05:31 PM

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 9:49pm

Is there really enough touring shows out there to be able to support two full touring seasons? Houston has Broadway Across America and Theatre Under the Stars but TUTS produces most of their shows and then brings in 2 or so touring shows to augment their season.

I think breaking the monopoly is better in theory than in practice. And what new shows are touring this year anyway? Color Purple, Drowsy Chaperone Sweeney Todd and Jersey Boys are the ones I can think of off the top of my head and those are all coming to Dallas this year. Wicked also came through the first year of it's tour, Dallas was one of the first cities for the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels tour last year. Any other new shows that I'm missing? Otherwise I'm not sure how anyone can make the argument that Dallas is getting shows later than everyone else. Also, don't forget that geography plays a role, most big shows play Houston and Dallas back to back and some of the smaller shows add San Antonio and Austin.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 11:29pm

DSM is doing better as of late, but there were some really horrible seasons mixed in. They also bring in their biggest musicals only in the summer which delays the shows a bit. I have a feeling we miss some shows because they don't fit within the scheduled showing times.

I would much prefer a set-up that allows shows to pass through when it suits the schedule of the tour. I have a feeling that is why we missed shows like Light in the Piazza. And the Dallas Center for Performing Arts is only bringing in 4 or 5 shows anyway, so it's not like we are going to need 30 shows in the metroplex.

I just like the knowledge that there two organizations obtaining shows, so if Jenkins turns his nose up at a show there is still a chance that we could get in in Dallas.

[kkyman]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 1:17am

Competition can be good for the marketplace and there will be excitement around the new building and presenters, but be prepared to pay Broadway prices for tickets. The costs to bring the shows in is the same, but the venue is much smaller meaning the money has to come from somewhere. (Hint, hint: it's the patrons)

Should be interesting to see how it all works out once the venue is open and the new has worn off.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 2:14am

I'm super excited for the venue in general. Can't wait to see it once it is completed.

[DWalk]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 12:35pm

I'm still not too excited about this. Most seem to be of the opinion that competition can't help but make things better. The flip side is it could put everyone out of business and everyone might end up having to travel to Fort Worth to see any tours.

I certainly agree about having a desire to see some of the edgier shows. Dallas didn't even get the tours of Urinetown and Full Monty (Fort Worth did) and I, too, would have liked for Light in the Piazza to come to town.

My fear with edgier shows is that the market isn't here to fill theaters of that size. Dallas has a large population but not a large theater-going population, especially when compared with some smaller cities. I think places like Uptown Players will probably remain the venus of choice for those types of shows for the near future.

As for Dallas not getting the shows fast enough, I believe that sometimes it's because the shows are stalled in the larger markets (L.A., Chicago, etc...) and the smaller markets just have to wait a bit. There have been several shows that have actually started their tours in Dallas.

We'll just have to wait and see but I suspect it could be difficult for the new presenters. If producers want DSM to show their less popular shows they will have to give DSM their popular shows, as well. I'm not sure what that will leave for the new theater...probably a LOT of non-equity tours.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 12:43pm

We'll see what happens. But in general, I'm so excited. This venue will be amazing for arts in Dallas in general. Maybe it will expand the Dallas theatre-going population.

You should go to their website and see all the renderings of the different buildings and spaces. This Arts Center will be about as impressive as Lincoln Center.

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 12:43 PM

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 5:16pm

I'm excited that the new Arts Center is going to be bringing in their own shows as well but I just hope that DSM won't suffer too badly and have to shut down or anything like that. I mean, let's face it, most people are going to choose to go to a brand new state of the art theatre over the old, worn down Music Hall. I like DSM and I don't want to see them hurt financially.

[DWalk]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 9:23pm

My hope is that DSM ends up presenting some of their shows at the new venue.

I believe you're mistaken about people picking the newer venue over Music Hall. Believe me, I am no fan of Music Hall (especially the sound system) but people will go to whichever one is hosting the show they want to see.

Put Wicked back at Music Hall and On The Record at the new site and Wicked will still be the one people want to see.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:04am

I still don't see how anyone thinks there's enough shows out there to maintain two separate touring seasons. Say each one wants to bring 5 shows a season and that will pretty much wear out the supply. Let's take this year for example. We had Sweeney during the Contemporary season, then we're getting Wedding Singer, Drowsy Chaperone, Jersey Boys and The Color Purple. Say there was a second presenter this year, what else is available that's not already being brought to Dallas? Next year, new touring shows are Mary Poppins, Curtains and Legally Blonde, besides the revivals of shows like Fiddler, Wizard of Oz, etc that's already been announced for Houston/San Antonio. There's just not enough new touring shows before we get Rent and Mamma Mia in town yet again.

And as for Light in the Piazza, it just didn't come anywhere near Texas, even Houston didn't get it. I definitely would have loved to have seen it, but how well would it have done in Dallas anyway?

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 2:09am

Wait - DSM has something crazy like 16 shows coming in between the contemporary series and the summer series. And yet, they still tend to ignore shows like Avenue Q (never part of BCS or DSM series) and Rent (DSM hasn't brought this show in since 1997 or so? though it has hit Ft. Worth and Richardson lately). So each venue could easily do 5 shows, and DSM will always have the State Fair Musical which bring in TONS of money.

I'm fine with non-eq shows, I'd just like to get the new shows in a timely manner without the pre-screening.

And as for Light in the Piazza, beautiful show, and probably would have done fine with a little publicity from the Dallas Morning News. Even if it didn't do well, I would have loved to have seen this show in a half empty theatre and trust me DSM has had plenty of shows that only fill half of the theatre.

There are plenty of options for possible shows. DSM used to produce their own productions a couple times a year, they could go back to that. The more theatre the better in my opinion.

And I'm really not sure what the panic is about both going under. That's not going to happen. Someone will win out- and if the new performing arts venue is bringing in someone related to the Nederlander productions, then I'm betting it will be them.

I'm comparing our season to a city like St. Louis or San Diego. They only have one venue for touring shows and yet ALWAYS seem to get the shows before

Another new musical would be Spring Awakening which starts their first tour very soon. Yet another show which would NEVER make the DSM line up. BCS ---maybe.

I just think it will be interesting to shake things up. And it very well could be nothing - the Eismann tried to bring in touring shows a while back, and that ended pretty quickly. DSM has a very loyal base - so we think.

It will be interesting to see what that base does given a choice.

Updated On: 3/30/08 at 02:09 AM

[MissJenna]

Posted: 3/31/08 at 5:12pm

If possible, I really hope this new center gets some sit-down productions and/or out-of-town tryouts in the future. And personally, I'll just be glad to see a show that doesn't involve driving down to the seedy Fair Park area. Not a big fan of that.

[dfwtheatreguy]

Posted: 3/31/08 at 7:03pm

Touring shows aren't going to be a huge part of the Dallas PAC.

The Dallas Theater Center will have it's home in the Wyly Theatre (a flexible space), but the more traditional proscenium Winspear Opera House will be shared by the Dallas Opera, Texas Ballet, Dallas Children's Theatre, and other local organizations. The Winspear holds under 2300 seats.

I can't wait for the PAC to open, not just because I will be working there, but because it looks like a great space.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/31/08 at 7:29pm

I had no idea Dallas Children's Theatre was going to have shows there!

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 3/31/08 at 7:36pm

It also said that other local venues would play shows their but the theatre seats 750 people. I can't imagine all the theatres in Dallas and the surrounding area having that much space available. It kind of takes away from the intimate appeal of the local theatres.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 3/31/08 at 9:04pm

I'm just so excited to have a new arts venue. Hopefully, the downtown area will grow, too. I'd love to have some nice restaurants to visit before the show and a few bars for after!

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 3/31/08 at 11:09pm

I think it will really help Dallas grow. I mean, like everybody is saying, it is the largest arts structure to appear since the Lincoln Center which is so infamous. Everybody knows about the Lincoln Center. So I don't see how it can not do anything but help Dallas grow. And that excites me because we will have so much more to offer and more artistic endeavors to go see.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 2:19pm

From today's (Sunday) Dallas Morning News:

Drama over musical theater in Dallas worries city officials

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 5:52pm

I think that this is exactly what needs to happen to spice up the musical theatre choices in Dallas. Broadway is business first and foremost, and it seems that, from this article, the Dallas musical theatre scene has been tied up in politics and the success of a whole area for a long time.

I personally will go to the venue with the shows I want to see- new building or not.

Thanks for the link.

[DWalk]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 9:53pm

That was an interesting article. Thanks for posting it. I didn't know there was that much behind-the-scenes drama going on.

As I have stated before, I'm very leery about this. The assumption that only taking five shows a year still leaves plenty of product sounds naive to me. We all know that the DSM Seasons are built around the one or two shows a lot of people want to see and other shows that have limited audiences.

If the new Performing Arts Center is successful in putting DSM out of business it looks like Dallas would be left with 5 touring shows a year. I don't see how that would benefit the status of musical theater in the city.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/6/08 at 10:52pm

The real musical theatre powerhouse in Dallas isn't DSM. It's Lyric Stage. DSM doesn't really produce local shows any more. A city gets a reputation for being a good theatre city by what is locally produced, not by the tours that come in.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 12:44am

Good article, I am not a huge fan of the Music Hall but it is historic and the thought that competition is good for the city is misguided. I agree with DWalk, there is simply not enough tours to go around. And if DSM is forced to compete with a for profit company on price, not to mention a company who's tied in with the Nederlanders in NYC, it stands to reason that DSM is not going to win that contest. For those of you who are happy with this development, what do you think of an empty Music Hall because I could very easily see that happening. Take a look at the specials that DSM has this year and imagine what it would be like if that was DSM's main season and I think that's a very good chance that's what could happen if someone beats them out on price.