Here’s a holiday gift idea. You can now buy a ticket package to seven different Dallas performing arts groups for shows running February through April. The ticket packages are called DPASS, which stands for Dallas Performing Arts Sampler Series. The shows are: The Fortress of Solitude by the Dallas Theater Center, Godspell at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, The Barber of Seville from Dallas Opera, Bernadette Peters performing with the Dallas Symphony, Disney’s Little Mermaid presented by the Dallas Summer Musicals, the Cultural Awareness series by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Motionhouse presented by TITAS. Ticketbuyers can choose three shows, four shows, all the way up to seven. Each show costs $25, and that can be a bargain when the lowest price currently available for Bernadette Peters is $36.

Chris Heinbaugh is vice president for external affairs for the AT&T Performing Arts Center. He says the purpose of DPASS was to make the arts affordable for people who might not attend otherwise. “We’re also looking at people who may be dance aficionados and get them to try Broadway,” he says. “That’s what we’re looking at is kind of getting people engaged in different art forms or getting them engaged in the arts at all. ”

DPASS packages are on sale only through Jan. 15, but we can expect more of these collaborations from area arts groups. In fact, Heinbaugh says, an arts festival, spearheaded by the Dallas Symphony, will be announced in January. DPASSes can be purchased by phone or through the box offices of the different organizations.

Go to dpass.org for more info.

Here’s the full press release:

DALLAS PERFORMING ARTS SAMPLER SERIES LAUNCHED

Sample 3 to 7 Shows From

Dallas’ Finest Performing Arts Institutions

Holiday Pricing with Performances at $25 Each

(DALLAS) Mayor Mike Rawlings joined today with seven of the city’s finest performing arts

institutions to announce a diverse package of performances that give people a taste of the

performing arts. DPASS – Dallas Performing Arts Sampler Series, encourages people to

sample from Broadway, theatre, opera, music and modern dance.

“These packages are a creative way to share great performances with new audiences,” Mayor

Rawlings said. “This collaboration among some of our city’s finest performing arts organizations

shows what can be accomplished by working together.”

Mayor Rawlings was the first person to purchase a DPASS. Immediately following the news

conference he bought five DPASS 7-packs with plans to give the complete series as gifts.

“Whether you’re a long time arts patron, or someone who has never been to one of our shows,

you can dip your toe into the arts or try out new art forms, and at a very affordable price,” said

Roger Nanney, chair of the AT&T Performing Arts Center Board of Directors.

For a limited time, patrons can choose from the select shows each organization has

chosen for

the DPASS packages. Starting with a 3-pack minimum for $75, the patrons can add shows for

$25 each, up to a 7-pack for $175. Fees are included. DPASS is on sale from Monday, December

2 through Wednesday, January 15. The participating organizations include the AT&T

Performing Arts Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Summer

Musicals, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center and TITAS.

The mission behind the DPASS is to enrich the community through a diverse selection of arts

that promotes, nurtures, and supports the performing arts in North Texas.

“We each have a tremendous base of subscribers who regularly support what we do year in, year

out,” said Darrell Jordan, former board chair for Dallas Summer Musicals. “But each of us here

wants to reach out and get new people excited about the performances we present. This DPASS

helps us do that.”

DPASS Programming Selection:

 The Barber of Seville (The Dallas Opera)

 Bernadette Peters (Dallas Symphony Orchestra)

 Cultural Awareness (Dallas Black Dance Theatre)

 Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Dallas Summer Musicals)

 The Fortress of Solitude (Dallas Theater Center)

 Godspell (AT&T Performing Arts Center)

 Motionhouse (TITAS)

(Details on select dates, times and venues are listed below.)

All DPASS packages must be purchased and the performances and dates chosen by January 15,

2014. DPASS packages can be purchased in person at the box office in the AT&T Performing

Arts Center Information Center in front of the Winspear Opera House or by phone at 214-8800202.

The packages can be purchased through each organization’s box offices as well. Tickets

will be mailed to the patron. Each organization has some restrictions. More information can be

found at www.dpass.org.

DPASS is the product of the Dallas Performing Arts Collaborative, which consists of five

performing arts institutions – AT&T Performing Arts Center, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Summer

Musicals, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Theater Center. For the past year, these

organizations, along with the City of Dallas and expert support from Dallas-based AT&T, have

been exploring ways to reduce costs and improve service through collaboration, finding

efficiencies and consolidating back-of-house operations where it makes sense. Progress has been

made in areas of ticketing, calendar, health care and benefits, shared services and purchasing

and artistic collaboration. More successes may be announced soon.

“Perhaps the most important thing to come from this collaboration is a stronger working

relationship between these organizations, focused on building both healthier arts organizations

and more support for the arts in Dallas,” said AT&T Regional Vice President for External Affairs

Holly Reed. “We are pleased to be supporting this discussion.”

DPASS Details:

Purchase Period:

Monday, December 2 – Wednesday, January 15

 

Purchase Points:

 By phone at 214-880-0202

 In person at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Information Center

2353 Flora Street (In front of the Winspear Opera House)

Dallas

 Or through the box offices of participating organizations.

More information: www.dpass.org

Package pricing: (3-pack minimum, fees included)

 3-pack $75

 4-pack $100

 5-pack $125

 6-pack $150

 7-pack $175

SCHEDULE:

AT&T Performing Arts Center

Godspell (1st four performances)

Venue: Winspear Opera House

 Tues, Feb. 18, 8 p.m.

 Wed, Feb. 19, 8 p.m.

 Thurs, Feb. 20, 8 p.m.

 Fri, Feb 21, 8 p.m.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Cultural Awareness

Venue: Wyly Theatre

 Fri, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.

 Sat, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

 Sun, Feb. 9, 2:30 p.m.

The Dallas Opera

The Barber of Seville

Venue: Winspear Opera House

 Fri, April 11, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas Summer Musicals

Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Venue: Music Hall at Fair Park

 Thurs, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.

 Fri, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.

 Sat, Feb. 15, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.

 Sun, Feb. 16, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.

 Tues, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m.

 Wed, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.

 Thurs, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.

 Fri, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.

 

 Sat, Feb. 22, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.

 Sun, Feb. 23, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.

 Tues, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.

 Wed, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.

 Thurs,

 Fri, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.

 Sat, March 1, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.

 Sun, March 2, 1:30 p.m.

Dallas Theater Center

The Fortress of Solitude

Venue: Wyly Theatre

 March 8, 8 p.m.

 March 9, 7:30 p.m.

 March 11, 7:30 p.m.

 March 12, 7:30 p.m.

 March 13, 7:30 p.m.

 March 15, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

 March 16, 2 p.m.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Bernadette Peters

Venue: Meyerson Symphony Center

 Thurs, Feb. 6, 8 p.m.

 Fri, Feb. 7, 8 p.m.

 Sun, Feb. 9, 2:30pm

TITAS

Motionhouse

Venue: Dallas City Performance Hall

 Sun, April 13, 2 p.m.

Press Contact:

Chris Heinbaugh

[email protected]

214-978-2877

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