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THE EXCITEMENT
BUILDS
STAGES – spring 2007
Behind The Scenes Normally this space is dedicated to reporting on the progress of the campaign to build the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. However, since the last publication of this newsletter, Dallas lost one of its cultural giants with the death of Raymond Nasher. Ray’s contributions to the quality of Dallas’ cultural landscape were so significant I thought it was important to remember them in this way. How many times while visiting distinguished museums throughout the world did we encounter extraordinary sculptures on loan from the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection? How many times have we walked the corridors of NorthPark Center enjoying glimpses of great art interspersed among the throngs of shoppers? And, how many times have we visited the Nasher Sculpture Center to be inspired by the remarkable Nasher Collection and to stand at the north end of its beautiful garden to see Dallas at its finest?
THE EXCITEMENT By the end of this summer, two of the major venues of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts will be rising dramatically in the Dallas Arts District. The unmistakable horseshoe shape of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House Margaret McDermott Performance Hall is already visible, and the striking vertical tower of the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre will soon begin to take shape.
Photograph by Stewart Cohen
Raymond D. Nasher with Tony Smith’s Ten Elements
Ray Nasher will always be remembered for his success in business, banking, education and the arts, but his extraordinary legacy is the Nasher Sculpture Center. By building the Sculpture Center in Dallas and making it the permanent home of the distinguished Collection of 20th century sculpture that he and his wife, Patsy, built together, Ray sent a resounding message that Dallas is an emerging cultural leader among the cities of the world. He could have given his Collection to museums in cities already known as great centers for the arts—London, New York, Washington, D.C. or others, but Ray chose to make a difference in Dallas, the place where he lived, worked and raised his family. Ray was a giant in many ways. He helped educators understand that the arts should be an essential component in our schools’ curricula. He inspired our nation’s and the world’s leaders to understand the power of the arts to encourage and even to heal. And, he understood that through the arts, humanity experiences life in its most beautiful and creative form. We will miss Ray Nasher and his remarkable entrepreneurial spirit but we will not forget him. The Nasher Sculpture Center will always remind us of a great man whose contributions to our city’s cultural fabric make Dallas a better place in which to live, learn and appreciate the beauty of life as portrayed through the spectrum of the visual arts. Ray Nasher was special and his commitment to the highest quality was an inspiration to those who founded the campaign to build the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts and the renowned architects who designed the Center’s venues. When the Center opens in October 2009 and our city and the world celebrate its distinctive architecture and the quality of the productions presented therein, we will be reminded of the spirit of Ray Nasher and his lifelong commitment to excellence.
The most significant new performing arts
carefully planned and executed. Today, there are
complex to be built since New York’s Lincoln
approximately 300 workers from Linbeck and
Center more than 50 years ago, the construction
McCarthy Construction working on the garage,
of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
the Winspear Opera House and the Wyly Theatre.
is a very carefully orchestrated project. With
Over the coming months, this number will grow
innovative buildings designed by world-renowned
until it reaches a peak of 1,000.
architects and construction managed by two
different contractors, every detail must be
project to date. Below are a few of the highlights:
1
Excavation for the Wyly Theatre was finished earlier this year, and crews are now completing
These photographs present a snapshot of the
2
Nearly half of the concrete structure of the Winspear Opera House McDermott Performance Hall is now
the foundation of the building. This summer,
complete, to the height of approximately where
work will commence on the superstructure of
the Tier Two balcony, just above the Mary Anne
the 12-level building.
and Richard Cree Box Circle, will ultimately be. The building will be topped out in November 2007.
Bill Lively President and CEO Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
View of the construction site looking north; foundation of Wyly Theatre in foreground
Workers installing reinforced steel for the concrete construction of the stagehouse
Photograph by Tim Hursley
Photograph by Tim Hursley
In The Wings
Design & Construction
Potter Rose Performance Hall Naming Reception
Good Fulton & Farrell Named Architect of Record for Annette Strauss Artist Square
On February 6, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Dallas Center and Rusty Rose. In recognition of their $10 million gift to the for the Performing Arts and the Dallas Theater Center gathered to Center, the performance hall of the Dee and Charles Wyly celebrate the generosity and leadership of philanthropists Deedie Theatre has been named the Potter Rose Performance Hall.
Cindy Rachofsky; Deedie Rose, member of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors; and Howard Rachofsky, Center board member
Caren Prothro, vice chair of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors ; Rusty Rose ; and Bess Enloe, Center board member and chair of the Wyly Theatre Facilities Committee
The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts recently selected Dallas-based Good Fulton & Farrell as the architect of record for Annette Strauss Artist Square. The Good Fulton & Farrell team will work closely with Foster + Partners, the design architect for both Strauss Square and the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, to complete all of the design drawings for Duncan Fulton Strauss Square. Good Fulton & Farrell already has strong ties to the Center. In addition to its work on Strauss Square, the f irm also designed the Center’s 600-car underground parking garage, and the f irm’s founder and managing partner, Duncan Fulton, is a member of the Center’s President’s Advisor y Council. “Strauss Square is an important piece of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. Because of its proximit y to the Winspear Opera House, the design must be
www.dallasperformingarts.org
BUILDS 3
Naming Gift Donors Donors Name Key Components of Center Venues
North view of the Winspear Opera House Audience Chamber (above)
The concrete structure of the 3-level, 600-car
Aerial view of the Center construction site (below)
underground parking garage was completed in April. The garage will open to the public when the Center opens in fall 2009. View live construction progress via Web cams at www.dallasperformingarts.org.
For years to come, when audiences attend performances at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, they will see reminders of the historic contributions made by many Dallas families and companies to the campaign to build the Center. The names of these visionary families will become part of the Center itself, like the Annette and Harold Simmons Harold and Annette Simmons Signature Glass Façade and the Mary Anne and Richard Cree Box Circle, two areas of the Winspear Opera House named in honor of the generous gifts from these families. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons and Mr. and Mrs. Cree supported the campaign for different reasons, but both couples are committed to ensuring that Dallas will have one of the f inest performing arts centers in the world. When Annette and Harold Simmons gave $5 million to the Center, their gift was, like the gifts from many other donors to the campaign, the largest gift they have ever made supporting a Dallas cultural institution. They supported this project because they strongly believe in the impact the Center will have on the communit y and the region. “The Center is going to be an enormous asset for Dallas and a major addition to its cultural landscape, and we are pleased to be a part of such a great project for our cit y,” said Mrs. Simmons. For the Crees, it was their long-time love of opera that ultimately led to their $3 million gift to the campaign. “I have fond memories of attending the opera Medea, starring Maria Callas, with my Mary Anne and Richard Cree mother at the Music Hall in Fair Park. The performance was spectacular, and Ms. Callas received a one-hour standing ovation,” said Mrs. Cree. “It is our pleasure to ensure that, through our participation in the completion of the magnif icent Winspear Opera House, future generations of North Texas art lovers can continue to hear and see the very best in opera, ballet and musical theatre.” The Crees and the Simmons’ are among the f irst to contribute through the Naming Gift Program. From now until the Center opens in 2009, others will join them, and all who pass through the Center will recognize their leadership and generosity.
Development
'&&
Center Surpasses 100th $1 Million Gift Wyly Theatre foundation work in progress
Cover: Photograph by Tim Hursley
Photograph by Tim Hursley
consistent with that venue, but also ver y functional for the kinds of performances that will take place there,” said Mr. Fulton. “We are pleased to team with Foster + Partners on this project, and to expand our relationship with the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts.” One of the major venues of the Center, Annette Strauss Artist Square will be a premier outdoor performance space for a broad spectrum of entertainment experiences, from popular and classical concerts to theatrical and dance performances to multi-day festivals. In a serene open-air setting just under the Grand Portico of the Winspear Opera House, Strauss Square will accommodate audiences of up to 5,000 in lawn and terraced seating. The new Strauss Square will also have a large stage fully equipped with a sound system and lighting infrastructure suitable for a range of performances. The f inal concept design for Strauss Square will be unveiled later this year.
GESI Selected for Parking Garage Electrical Installation Ask Leah Gentzler about the keys to success for her company and she quickly responds safet y, qualit y work and an invaluable set of employees. “Our employees are a very important part of what we do,” said the president and majorit y owner of Dallasbased Gentzler Electrical Services, Inc. “They know we [management] have their backs at all times.”
GESI was selected to install the electrical systems for the multi-level underground parking garage for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. This includes all the power for the lighting and permanent power connectors. GESI provides electrical services in every stage of construction, including new construction for industrial, institutional and medical facilities, electrical maintenance, repair and restoration of existing facilities and upgrades, among others. Less than f ive years ago GESI had roughly t wo dozen employees. It now boasts a Leah Gentzler staff of more than 200, t wo warehouses, off ice space and offsite storage. GESI is recognized by the State of Texas as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and as a Disadvantaged Minority Owned Business Enterprise (D/MBE). Its clients and projects include Texas A&M Commerce, El Centro, 7-11, Inc. and DISD, in addition to the Center. GESI also believes in giving back to the communit y and regularly donates its money, resources and time to various charities such as the Red Cross. The company also engages in pro bono work.
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The campaign to build the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts has reached another signif icant milestone: the Center has raised more than 100 gifts of $1 million or more from 97 Dallas families and organizations. This fund-raising achievement demonstrates the depth of support for the project within the community. For many of the $1 million donors, their gifts to the Center are either the largest gift they have made to a single organization or their f irst contribution to an arts organization. “This level of support for the campaign demonstrates that this project is not only for people who love one art form or another. It is about creating a world-class Center for performances of all kinds, and about creating something that will benef it the entire cit y,” said Caren Prothro, vice chair of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors. “These donors understand the impact this Center will have on our cit y, and we thank all of the families and organizations for their generosit y and their commitment to Dallas.”
Leading Roles Robert H. Dedman, Jr.
Robert H. Dedman, Jr. is continuing his family’s tradition of leadership and generosity towards the arts and culture in Dallas. Mr. Dedman and his wife Rachael are involved in numerous projects that are changing the face of Dallas, including the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. “Right now we have a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life in Dallas. With the addition of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts to the city’s cultural scene, we will have the ability to attract and retain executives, world-renowned physicians and other talented individuals that previously might not have come here,” said Mr. Dedman, who currently serves as CEO of both the Dedman Family Interest and Pinehurst. “This kind of concentration and focus on the arts in the Dallas Arts District is not happening anywhere else in the world at this time. The Center will help Dallasites not just make a living but make a life, too.” In addition to his role as a member of the Center’s Board of Directors, Mr. Dedman also serves as a trustee for SMU, the Dallas Museum of Art and Southwestern Medical Foundation.
Paul Stoffel
Paul Stoffel, along with his wife Gayle, is an avid collector of contemporary art, and has been named one of the Top 100 Collectors of contemporary art by ARTnews magazine. A long-time supporter of both the visual and performing arts, Mr. Stoffel followed the progress of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts from the early days of the campaign. Understanding the enormous impact that the Center will have on the city, he added his support to the project and joined the Board of Directors. “The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts will transform the Dallas Arts District into a magnificent neighborhood for all kinds of arts,” said Mr. Stoffel, chairman of Triple S Capital Corporation. “The Arts District already has a reputation for its excellent museums and the superb Meyerson Symphony Center. With the addition of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, the District now also will be known for some of the finest opera, theatrical and dance productions in the world.” Mr. Stoffel also serves on the boards of Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Foundation and AFI Dallas International Film Festival.
Center Board of Directors Howard Hallam, chair* Caren H. Prothro, vice chair* Elaine B. Agather Denny Alberts Lisa Arpey Dolores G. Barzune Ron Beneke David Biegler Daniel D. Boeckman Harold M. Brierley Doug Brooks Donald J. Carty Jeanne Marie Clossey* John T. Cody, Jr. Mary McDermott Cook Mary Anne Cree Linda Pitts Custard* John Dayton* Robert H. Dedman, Jr. John R. Eagle* Matrice Ellis-Kirk* Bess Enloe* Roger Enrico* Ruben E. Esquivel* Trevor Fetter Richard A. Freling Nancy Halbreich Frederick B. Hegi, Jr.* Doug Houser John Howell Gene Jones Robert L. Kaminski* Jim Keyes Barbara Thomas Lemmon William H. Lively* Nancy Cain Marcus Jay Marshall Thomas H. McCasland, Jr. Maribess Miller* Jeff D. Morris D. Roger Nanney* Nancy A. Nasher Chuck Norris Erle Nye Sarah Perot* Howard Rachofsky* Leonard Riggs, Jr., MD Dr. Marvin E. Robinson Deedie Rose*
Ken Schnitzer Lynn Flint Shaw* Roger Staubach Ronald G. Steinhart Paul Stoffel John Tolleson Dr. R. Gerald Turner Martin J. Weiland* Laura B. Whitley Dr. Kern Wildenthal William W. Winspear* Charles J. Wyly, Jr.* * Center Executive Committee Members
President’s Advisory Council Linda Pitts Custard, chair Lindalyn Adams Janet H. Albers Mary Anne Alhadeff Allie Beth Allman Ruth Altshuler Charlotte Jones Anderson Giselle Antoni Marilyn Augur Scott Austin Norman P. Bagwell Alice W. Bass Sally B. Berry Gil J. Besing Lucy Billingsley Kathryne S. Bishop Nancy Bittner Jan Hart Black Laura Boeckman Bill Bogart Marla Boone Talmage Boston Denis J. Boulle Delilah H. Boyd Eric Brauss Gillian M. Breidenbach William A. Brewer III Diane Brierley Norman Brinker Toni Brinker Dr. Anne Bromberg Bob Buford Stuart M. Bumpas Mary Frances Burleson
Bruce Calder Nancy Carlson Sis Carr Ana M. Carty Darlene Galassi Cass Elliot R. Cattarulla Joleen Chambers George V. Charlton Brent E. Christopher Nita Prothro Clark Patti Cody Cynthia Comparin Gail B. Cook Mary Lee Cox Trammell S. Crow Sally G. Cullum Allen Custard Levi H. Davis Arlene Dayton Patricia Miller Donosky Lowell C. Duncan, Jr. Jane C. Dunne Sally Dunning Jennifer Eagle Fran Eichorst Charles W. Eisemann Molly Engles James R. Erwin Alina E. Esquivel Laura V. Estrada Vernon E. Faulconer Melissa Fetter Edward M. Fjordbak Rebecca Enloe Fletcher I. D. “Nash” Flores III Nita Ford Leah Fullinwider Duncan T. Fulton III Judith Gausnell Gina Ginsburg Gloria McCall Godat Randall G. Goss Dr. Joseph M. Grant Charles L. Greco Kelly Green Candice J. Haas Jeremy L. Halbreich Fanchon Hallam Donna D. Halstead Sam T. Hamra M.D. Paul W. Harris
Tom D. Harris Orrin Harrison Paula B. Harrison Jess Hay Amy D. Hegi Jan Hegi Libby Hegi Jennifer Houser Sydney Huffines Angela Hunt Caroline Rose Hunt Gregory Hustis Mary Jalonick Graeme Jenkins Michael A. Jenkins Phillip Jones Richard L. Jones Kim Hiett Jordan Kate Crosland Juett Sue R. Justice Margo R. Keyes Jack M. Kinnebrew John J. Klein Ben D. Kohnle Mary Noel Lamont Ann M. Lardner Patti LaSalle Alexandra Lavie Stan Levenson Richard Levin Veletta Forsythe Lill Liz Minyard Lokey Sarah Losinger David M. Love II Michael Lunceford Dr. Bobby B. Lyle Gail Madden Joy S. Mankoff Cheryl Unis Mansour Sara T. Martineau Anita N. Martinez Carol Marvin Holly Mayer Gray Mayes P. Mike McCullough Margaret McDermott Clint McDonnough Linda B. McFarland Janie Strauss McGarr Nancy C. McGee Ellen McStay
Michael J. McWay Patricia B. Meadows Su-Su Meyer Jan Miller Joyce Mitchell Ruth Ann Montgomery Robert H. Mow, Jr. Maria Munoz-Blanco Scott Murray Charlene Nanney Dana Nearburg Todd R. Nordeen Lydia Haggar Novakov Rev. Elzie Odom, Jr. Jay Pack Patricia M. Patterson Marshall Payne Virginia Payne Connie Pearcy Rena Pederson Margot Perot Jan R. Pickens Nelda Cain Pickens Dr. Alfonso E. Pino III Charles H. Pistor Maria Martineau Plankinton Judy Pollock Ann Pomykal Patricia A. Porter Darryl D. Pounds Cindy Rachofsky Robert S. Rendell Peggy Riggs Angela Berry-Roberson Marcy Sands Lisa Schnitzer Howard Schultz John M. Scott III Diane Scovell Carl Sewell Shelle Bagot Sills Judy Skinner Henry J. “Bud” Smith William T. Solomon Jackie M. Stewart Gayle B. Stoffel Donald J. Stone Dr. Joanne Stroud Diana Strauss Theodore H. Strauss Sara Stroud
Mary K. Suhm Emily Summers Jack D. Sweet Barbara Sypult Lisa Y. Thierry Dr. Gail B. Thomas Debbie Tolleson Gail Turner Annette Vaughn Bea Wallace Sarah Warnecke Tucean Webb Patty A. Weiland Herbert D. Weitzman Julia C. Wellborn Jimmy Westcott Kimberly Schlegel Whitman David Wiessman Marnie Wildenthal Donna Wilhelm Ann Williams J. McDonald Williams Rex H. Wooldridge J. Michael Wylie The complete list of Standing Committees for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts can be found on our Web site at www.dallasperformingarts.org
Preview Center Schedule of Events Preview Center First Look Days Be among the first to get an inside look at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts! The Preview Center will be open to the public on the following days:
Laura B. Whitley Prior to her career in banking, Laura Whitley spent much of her time studying or teaching ballet. Her interest in the arts extends to dance, theatre and more, making her involvement with the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts a natural fit. The new president of business banking for Bank of America, Ms. Whitley initially learned about the Center when Bank of America became involved in the campaign. “The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts will pull together in one Center all of the world-class art assets—like Texas Ballet Theater and the Dallas Theater Center—that we currently enjoy,” said Ms. Whitley. “Dallas is becoming an increasingly important tourist destination, and by 2009, will be known as the center for arts in the Southwest.” Ms. Whitley’s philanthropic interests are in the areas of the arts, business, women’s issues and downtown improvements. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts and also serves on the Dallas Chamber, Dallas Citizens Council and the Texas Tech Advisory Board. She is the founding chair of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Women of Tocqueville.
CityArts Celebration The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Preview Center will be open as part of the CityArts Celebration in the Dallas Arts District. Friday, June 8: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, June 9: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, June 10: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
August First Look Days Friday, August 24: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, August 25: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Dallas City Councilwoman Angela Hunt’s
Update On The Arts
As we celebrate the incredible transformation and growth of the Dallas Arts District, we must also plan for future challenges. How will we accommodate parking for all of the events that will soon be happening in the Arts District? What can we do to make the Arts District more pedestrian-friendly and develop connections to surrounding neighborhoods? How can we reduce Pearl Street’s bifurcation of the Arts District? What are the best ways to integrate Woodall Rodgers Park into the Arts District? To help answer these questions, we engaged John Fregonese of Fregonese Associates,
in Portland, Oregon who oversaw our city’s comprehensive plan, ForwardDallas! For the last several months, Mr. Fregonese and his team have worked closely with Arts District organizations and stakeholders to listen to our concerns, analyze our challenges and propose solutions. The process will result in a strategic assessment and action plan to be unveiled this summer. By planning now, we will be able to meet any future challenges with confidence, and ensure the successful transformation of our Arts District into a premier destination for arts and entertainment. The results of the study will be made available later this summer on the City of Dallas Web site, www.dallascityhall.com.
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