Since the campaign to build the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts began in 2000, the Center has hosted many notable events, both for fund-raising and to educate the general public about the project.
Concept Design Unveiling
On the evening of June 8, 2004, at an elegant black-tie event at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the first public introduction of the concept design images of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House and Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre was unveiled. With a capacity audience of 2,000 business and cultural leaders from Dallas and throughout the world to attend the event, Academy award-winner Sydney Poitier served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing the internationally renowned architects designing the Center’s primary venues, Lord Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaas.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts were held Thursday, November 10, 2005 signaling the beginning of construction of the $275 million project. The ceremony at the Center's future site included remarks by Academy Award-winning actor and Texan Tommy Lee Jones, State Representative Dan Branch and Dallas Mayor Laura Miller. In addition, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia greeted the audience in Spanish and English and described the significance of the performing arts center to future generations. The invocation was given by the Reverend Charles Stovall, Senior Minister of St. Paul United Methodist Church, located in the Dallas Arts District.
The celebration also featured a 24-herald trumpet and 12-piece brass choir performing a new proclamation fanfare and the Booker T. Washington High School for Visual and Performing Arts Concert Choir performing two anthems.
Dirt used to break ground was collected from throughout Dallas and other cities in the area to symbolize the many communities that will benefit from construction of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. Six schoolchildren joined others in the groundbreaking as representatives of future generations who will enjoy the Center. Tommy Lee Jones led the children, donors, Foundation board members and dignitaries in breaking ground for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts.
Spotlight Presentation Series
The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts developed the Spotlight Presentation Series to inform and educate the Dallas public on the progress of the design of the Center's venues. Featured speakers included Spencer de Grey, deputy chairman, Foster + Partners; Joshua Prince-Ramus, partner in charge, REX; Richard Pilbrow, chairman, Theatre Project Consultants; Robert Essert, president, Sound Space Design; Renz van Luxemburg, Managing Director, dorsserblesgraaf.
Brinker International Lecture Series
The Brinker International Lecture Series, produced by the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, is Dallas' only lecture series devoted exclusively to the performing arts. Presented by Dallas-based Brinker International, the lecture annually brings to Dallas the world's most distinguished performing artists representing theater, opera, film, musical theater, music and dance. All proceeds generated by The Brinker International Lecture Series are used to help design and build the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts.
The four-year series began in 2003 with Mary Tyler Moore. The second installment in 2004 featured the highly acclaimed and Golden Globe-winning actor John Travolta. Robert Redford, acclaimed film star, director, producer and environmentalist, was the featured artist in 2005. The grand finale of the Brinker International Lecture Series was the ACT TWO gala presented in the Meyerson Symphony Center on October 25, 2006 and featuring a performance by Sir Elton John with Academy Award-winner Dame Julie Andrews as Mistress of Ceremonies.