The Dallas Opera announced today that it will simulcast its opening night performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Annette Strauss Square. The Oct. 22 simulcast, a first for the company, will be free and begin at 5 p.m. with pretaped segments that will be shown on the screen. The live performance begins at 7:30.

Keep reading for the full news release:

DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 – The Dallas Opera and the AT&T Performing Arts Center will launch the 2010-2011 Season (“Dangerous Desires”) with a free public simulcast of the live, Opening Night performance of Mozart’s thrilling comedy-drama, Don Giovanni. This special event begins Friday, October 22nd at 5:00 PM in the newly rededicated Annette Strauss Square (the latest addition to the AT&T Performing Arts Center) centrally located at 2403 Flora Street between the Winspear Opera House and the Meyerson Symphony Center in Downtown Dallas.

In an historic first for the company, the Dallas Opera and ATTPAC will work with WFAA Television to bring all the excitement of the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance to eager audiences outside the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall. This landmark event is sponsored by Smartwater and charlieuniformtango.

“This is an important moment for the Dallas Opera,” explains General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, “an amazing opportunity to connect with music and theater lovers from across the spectrum and to work closely with AT&T Performing Arts Center on a project in which we can all believe.

“I am confident the October 22nd simulcast will not only raise the company’s profile and introduce our work to patrons who might never have given a previous thought to opera, it may also prove the first step in taking the Dallas Opera places we never imagined we could go. It’s time to lay to rest the old, dull stereotypes and reach out to all the people of North Texas with this incredible, accessible art form.”

“The Opening Night simulcast of Don Giovanni is a perfect expression of everything the AT&T Performing Arts Center was intended to be, from sparking new collaborations among arts groups, to making the performing arts more accessible to new audiences, to creating vibrant outdoor spaces in the Dallas Arts District,” says ATTPAC Interim CEO Doug Curtis. “We are pleased to work with the Dallas Opera to present this free event as one of the first performances in the new Strauss Square, and hope that it will be just the first of many collaborations.”

Beginning with pre-recorded segments (edited by charlieuniformtango, one of the event sponsors) and red-carpet arrivals, the evening will include live backstage interviews, a look behind the curtain and special intermission features, as well as the hotly anticipated Dallas Opera debut of Tony Award-winning baritone Paulo Szot in his company debut.

“Paulo is an unbelievably magnetic performer and a very gifted artist who captivates audiences from the moment he steps onto the stage,” says Artistic Director Jonathan Pell. “However, in order to create a believable production, we had to assemble an equally strong cast around him—in particular, strong women artists like Claire Rutter, Georgia Jarman and Ailyn Pérez—in order to create the explosive chemistry that a work like Don Giovanni requires.”

Seating is General Admission: first come, first served. However, a limited number of free reserved seats, consisting of chairs in the front third of the lawn area, are available. RSVP at dallasopera.org/simulcast. Patrons are not permitted to bring their own lawn chairs into the venue.

The Annette Strauss Square Opening Night at the Dallas Opera audience is encouraged to arrive early (doors open at 5:00 PM, the performance is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM), dress comfortably, bring a blanket to sit on if you do not have a reserved seat, and leave your picnic basket at home. Food, drink and wine will be available for purchase onsite in Annette Strauss Square.

Water will be provided in Sammons Park, free of charge, by Smartwater, one of the evening’s sponsors. Annette Strauss Square is fully equipped with handicap accessible public restrooms.

And the show must go on—rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the presenters will be standing by with a tent and stacks of waterproof ponchos.

Children are welcome, but be aware that the performance will run over three hours and Don Giovanni (“Don Juan”) contains adult themes and situations that may not be suitable for youngsters. Use your parental discretion. No children will be allowed into Strauss Square unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Parking onsite will be available in the Lexus Red Parking beneath the Winspear Opera House and the Lexus Silver Parking adjacent to the Wyly Theatre. Should those reach capacity, additional paid parking is available at nearby One Arts Plaza and in several surface lots. Prices range from $5 to $25 per vehicle.

Please note: The opera will be sung in the original Italian with English subtitles projected on the outdoor screen (or screens).