Yarn Bombing

AT&TPERFORMING ARTS CENTER

CELEBRATES ARRIVAL OF

TONY WINNER “HAIR ”

WITH MASSIVE “YARN BOMBING”


The AT&T Performing Arts Center today unveiled a massive“Yarn Bombing” public art installation in its Sammons Park to celebrate the upcoming arrival of the Tony Award Winning Musical HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.

In collaboration withlocal knitting groups, much of Sammons Park, located around the Winspear Opera House, has been overtaken by knitted art. Trees have been wrapped,benches adorned, and parking balusters covered with colorful yarn – all in celebration of the “peace and love” era of the 1960’s depicted in the forthcoming HAI Rproduction.

In all, the installationis made up of more than 100 individual pieces of art produced by more than 70 artists from local knitting groups The Dallas Yarn Bombers, The Lakewood Library KnitWits, Sistersof the Wool – Fort Worth, and MAFIA of Mansfield.

The HAIRYarn Bombing was produced under the artistic direction of Sally Ackerman(A.K.A. K Witta). The projectcoordinator was Ronda Van Dyke (A.K.A. SheepNanny). The volunteer coordinator was Ann Gaspari(A.K.A. TejasMom). The project was sponsored by TheShabby Sheep Yarn Boutique & Knitting Workshop.

"The Center is thrilled to provide a home for Dallas'first yarn bombing of this scale, and by how perfectly it coincides with HAIR," said AT&T Performing ArtsCenter CEO Mark Weinstein. "The whole yarn bombing phenomenon is reminiscent of the creative turmoil and vibrancy of the 60's. I hope everyone in Dallas comes to the Center to see this free display of guerilla art they won't find anywhere else.'

HAIRappears at the Winspear Opera House for a limited engagement from Tuesday,September 20 through Sunday, October 2. HAIR kicks-off the exciting 2011-2012 Lexus Broadway Seriesseason. The “Yarn Bombing” will be on display through theentire HAIR engagement and is freeto the public.

Tickets for HAIR range from $30 to $150 and can bepurchased online at www.attpac.org/hair, by phone at 214.880.0202, or in personat the AT&T Performing Arts Center Box Office at the Winspear Opera House,2403 Flora Street (Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday 11 am– 4 pm), or at the remote Box Office at Park Place Lexus Plano at 1025 PrestonRoad.

HAIR depicts the birth of a cultural movement in the 60’s and 70’s that changed America forever. The musical follows a group of hopeful, free-spirited young people who advocate a lifestyle of pacifism and free-love in a society riddled with intolerance and brutality during the Vietnam War. As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draftcards, the show resonates with an irresistible message of hope more than 40 years after it first opened on Broadway.

HAIR won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival as well as the DramaDesk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical. HAIR was also nominated for an additional seven Tony Awards including Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. The cast recording was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

The New York Times says "Diane Paulus's THRILLING, EMOTIONALLY RICH production deliversINTENSE, UNADULTERATED JOY",Time Out New York says "HAIR SPEAKS TO A WHOLE NEWGENERATION!” and The Washington Postcalls it “IRRESISTIBLE…THE BEST VERSION YET!”.

Directed by Diane Paulus and choreographed by Karole Armitage, HAIR features a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot.



The HAIR National Tour is produced by ThePublic Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, ExecutiveDirector), Nederlander Productions, Inc., Carl Moellenberg/WenlarbarProductions, Rebecca Gold/MylaLerner, Rick Costello, Joy Newman & David Schumeister, Paul G. Rice/Paul Bartz, Debbie Bisno,Christopher Hart Productions, John Pinckard, Terry Schnuck, Joey Parnes and byspecial arrangement with Elizabeth Ireland McCann.



Additionalshow information can be found at www.HairOnTour.com.




About the AT&T Performing Arts Center

Opens ince October 2009, the AT&T Performing Arts Center is a vibrantdestination for entertainment in the heart of the downtown Dallas ArtsDistrict. The Center presents a variety of programs, including its LexusBroadway Series, Brinker International Forum and, in association with TITAS,contemporary dance and music, and other performances. The Center also providesperformance space for The Dallas Opera, Dallas TheaterCenter, Dallas BlackDance Theatre and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, in unparalleled venuesset within a 10-acre urban park.

Celebrate dreams that come true: Billy Elliot The Musical

Billy Elliot The Musical, featuring an original score by music legend Sir Elton John, is a joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dream come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community.

Based on the international hit film, Billy Elliot is brought to life by a phenomenal cast,including Faith Prince, who has been dazzling Broadway audiences since she swept the theatre awards, winning The Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Adelaide in the revival of Guys and Dolls.

Faith guest starred on the Lifetime hit series, Drop Dead Diva, and also has appeared in guest starring roles this year on Ugly Betty, Medium and CSI. She had a recurring role for five seasons on Spin City and has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, House, Monk and Law and Order.

Her other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells are Ringing, Nick & Nora, Little Me, Noises Off and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. She was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her performances in Bells are Ringing and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.

Billy Elliot The Musical was created by – director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall – along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls “His best score yet.”

Time Magazine has declared Billy Elliot “the best musical of the decade” and the show won 10 Tony Awards in 2009.

The show will run from June 8 through June 19 at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Performances of Billy Elliot The Musical will be at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays;2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. There will be additional performances on Sunday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 9 at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, June 15 at 2:00 p.m.

Single ticket prices range from $30 to $150 with prime location orchestra seats available for $90 for select performances.

Due to changes in national touring plans, the run of Billy Elliot The Musical has been shortened to a limited, two-week engagement at the AT&T Performing Arts Center with 16 performances.

About the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Open since October 2009, the AT&T Performing Arts Center is a vibrant destination for entertainment in the heart of the downtown Dallas Arts District. The Center presents a variety of programs, including its Lexus Broadway Series, Brinker International Forum, JAZZ ROOTS and, in association with TITAS,contemporary dance and music, and other performances.

The Center also provides performance space for The Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, in unparalleled venues set within a 10-acre urban park.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loves musicals. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateAtlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com

SCARY, FUNNY AND BREATHTAKING

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (January 4-23, 2011) at Dallas Winspear Opera House

Mad Genius Mel Brooks creates a show that is Scary and Funny at the same time
This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster--but not without scary and hilarious complications.

The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony® winner Mel Brooks himself--who wrote the music and lyrics and co wrote the book- along with his record-breaking team from The Producers: five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman and three-time Tony-winning writer, Thomas Meehan.

Tickets can be purchased at www.attpac.org/broadway, by phone at 214.880.0202, at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Box Office at the Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street (Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday 11 am – 4 pm), or at the remote Box Office at Park Place Lexus Plano at 1025 Preston Road.


And it is performed in the BREATHTAKING AT&T Performing Arts Center


The AT&T Performing Arts Center, a new multi-venue Center for music, opera, theatre and dance opened `in October 2009, completing the 30-year vision of the Dallas Arts District. Located at 2403 Flora Street, the Center serves as a gateway from downtown Dallas’s business center to the Dallas Arts District. Featuring multiple state-of-the-art facilities that are woven together by a ten-acre urban park, which creates a dynamic cultural destination that is unparalleled in the world, the Center includes:
• The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, designed by Foster + Partners in a modern horseshoe configuration, seats 2,200 (with capacity up to 2,300).
• The Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus (partner in charge) and Rem Koolhaas, seats up to 600 and uses a superfly system to rapidly change the performance hall’s configuration to proscenium, thrust or flat floor, depending on the nature of the performance.
• The Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Park, designed by Michel Desvigne, is a lush urban park that unifies the AT&T PAC’s venues with the Arts District and surrounding neighborhoods of Dallas.
• The completely new Annette Strauss Artist Square, designed by Foster + Partners, is the Center’s outdoor entertainment venue. (Opening 2010.)
• The City Performance Hall, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, provides main stage production space for many of Dallas’ smaller performing arts organizations. (Opening 2011.)
• Two underground parking areas that accommodate more than 850 vehicles.

The Dallas Fort Worth Lexus Dealer Association is the title sponsor of the Center’s Lexus Broadway Series. Lexus is the official vehicle of the Center and its resident companies, the official valet sponsor and the naming rights holder for the Center’s two underground parking areas.

More information on the AT&T Performing Arts Center is available at www.attpac.org

photo by Steven R Stack