Dallas Performing Arts Center

Last night we attended "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!" at the amazing new Wyly Theater in Dallas.  The Dallas engagement is the first for this new revival featuring lots of young Broadway actors.  The cast features Matt Cavenaugh as Clark Kent / Superman, Zakiya Young as Lois, and Patrick Cassidy as Max Mencken. DFW theater fans will recognize Bob Hess in the ensemble, most recently from the Uptown Players' Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Last night, Cassidy was not in good voice, missing several high notes; Cavenaugh's numbers probably should be rearranged in a better key for him. No matter, though..it's a fun evening in an amazing new theater. This entertaining musical runs through July 25 and tickets are available here.

The Wyly is one venue within the new Performing Arts center taking shape in downtown Dallas.  It is the only "vertical" theater in the world and is completely configurable, allowing different house layouts for innovative productions.  Different "components" of the theater can be moved using hydraulics, including the stage, seating areas, and the proscenium. Even the exterior walls are retractable, allowing both indoor and open-air performances to be staged. This video page features an interesting depiction of the concept behind the Wyly.  The Performing Arts center is the largest group of performing arts facilities to be built in the US since Lincoln Center in the 1960s.