While others will review the Texas-sized earring (aka chandelier) rising to the ceiling and the Broadway babes’ performances on the Shannon and Ted Skokos stage of the Winspear Opera House, let’s focus our attention on the cast that filled the individually air-conditioned seats and the activities that kept them occupied.

THE ARRIVAL: As guests dropped off their vehicles at the valet, they walked by the grand old lady of the Arts District, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Nobody was at home, but she was still all lit up as if to honor her newest neighbors, the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House and the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Throughout the evening, diva Mother Nature was on her very best behavior, sorta. (After the concert, she decided to create a slight chill to the scene, but then she knew some of the ladies wanted an excuse to bring out their politically-challenged fur pieces.)

Staff members welcomed the very black-tied set to a red carpet leading to the Winspear. You know formal wear just begs for a red carpet.

THE RECEPTION: Once inside the C. Vincent Prothro Lobby, it did get a little cozy with the sweeping gowns, but the champagne helped ease the squeeze. Tamara Johnson with her long blonde ponytail, black, short evening gown by Oscar de la Renta and four-inch heels (loved the red soles) admitted that her black-and-white, look-alike Judith Leiber purse actually came from Sam Moon’s. Well, smart gals know how and where to shop.

Then, like good children, patrons moved to their seats within the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall. Charles Wyly with his “child bride” of 54 years, Dee, walked up to the box level. Dee was wearing a “four- or five-year old Oscar de la Renta.” She admitted that she had considered other and newer frocks, but then laughed that after building the Wyly, she wanted to cut down on spending.

When asked what he thought about the new Wyly Theatre, Charles smiled like a proud papa: “It exceeds all expectations. It’s so futuristic and flexible.”

PRE-PERFORMANCE: Opera-loving John Gallant and wife Denise Dittmer, along with hundreds of others, settled back in their comfy chairs for a night of Broadway. John did admit he was surprised that the program had absolutely everything in it, except for a listing of the tunes to be performed. Guess the producer wanted to surprise all of us. Of course, there was the admonishment about no photos being taken and cellphones being turned off. Did they really think this crowd needed that warning? Oh, please, we’re not at the movies. Oops, don’t tell anyone, but a couple of the patrons slipped drinks in. That’s so no-no. They’ll have to stay after school.

INTRODUCTIONS: Board Chairman Howard Halam welcomed the group. He was followed by the evening’s Chair Jeanne Marie Clossey (pictured), clad in a royal blue (pictured) Oscar de la Renta (trust me—this was brand, spanking new) with a diamond choker. (Did Oscar offer a discount for ACT III frocks? Hopefully, somebody hit Oscar up for a donation.) With her freckles and blonde hair Jeanne Marie looked like Doris Day’s granddaughter or Kristen Chenoweth’s sister.

PERFORMANCE: Speaking of Kristen, you’ve probably already heard that this gal from Oklahoma knew how to make a great first impression by entering the stage in a UT jersey due to the loss of a bet. At one point, she finally took the shirt off to reveal a beautiful pink short dress that set off her “I hate her” figure and rhinestone slippers that sparkled all the way to the Dress Circle. One person was heard to wonder, “Do you think she did that because of the Komen?” Who knows, but it didn’t matter. She had already scored with the crowd.

As we said, others will critique George Hearn’s telegraphed-in performance, the whirling dervish Kiril Kulish, and Patti “Diva with a Heart of Gold” LuPone.  The audience was eager to reward with applause and bravos. Perhaps they were just plain thrilled that you could actually hear the performances and see the performers from any seat in the house. Suggestion to the Dress Circle crowd: bring binoculars!

Note to the Summer Musicals and Majestic: The Winspear is no longer the TWIT (Trophy Wife In Training). She’s here to stay and to elevate the sounds of music to an all-time high.

POST-PERFORMANCE: Following a SO from the audience and no curtain calls, the guests broke into two groups. Shall we call them the “Swells” and the “Fun Folks”? Well, the Swells adjourned to the second-level private dining area for a seated dinner. The guards, or rather, the hosts did everything but a body search before letting patrons in. The ones who passed inspection included Diane and Hal Brierley (Wyly esplanade is named after them), Linda and Bill Custard, Ken and Ruth Altshuler, Cindy Rachofsky (pictured) in a hot pink top with feathered skirt with best bud Marguerite Hoffman, Nancy Hamon, Caren Prothro, Nancy Dedman, Tincy and Vance Miller with Patsy Donosky, and Mayor Tom “Terrific” Leppert. Jeanne Marie swept in to hugs and air kisses.

The wildest activity in this group was the checking of Blackberries. Could they have been looking  for the SMU/Navy score throughout the multi-course dinner? Those overtime games can drive you nuts even at a formal dinner.

On the other hand, the Fun Folks were in store for an evening of a different type. The first sign was Neiman’s Sandy “Event Empress” Marple walking through the Winspear and pointing toward Flora–“Wait til you see what’s over there.” When it comes to knowing where things are happening, Sandy is the best bird dog this side of hunting season.

Because Mother Nature had decided to be prickly, the temperature outside had dropped a bit, so it was the perfect excuse for politically-challenged furs to come out and to showcase the veteran planners preparations—heating lamps throughout the area.

First stop for the FF’s was the it-goes-on-forever tent with a cornucopia of foods from the Ritz that boggled the mind and killed the best diets. NM maestro-of-what’s-in-and-out Ken Downing (pictured) with a new hairdo and the skinniest trousers this side of anorexia seemed as relaxed as the most comfortable guest. He should. He orchestrates these things in his sleep.

Speaking of male fashion, there was one fella (pictured) who forgot to wear his sock and his pants looked more like ankle waders. Oh, what’s that you say? That’s the hot trend. Think it needs to be reconsidered and let the hems out.

Thank heaven the ladies were on their best behavior and not all were wearing Oscar.  It’s so nice to see ballgowns out in full force (pictured). Short skirts are great, but there’s just something so darn elegant about the way a full-length gown flows.

Jeremy Halbreich and wife Nancy were acting like kids on a date. He’s been commuting between Dallas and Chicago since February when he became CEO/chairman of the Sun-Times Media Group, as in Chicago Sun-Times. When asked how things were going, he smiled and said, “We’ve managed to save a number of jobs and I think we’re doing a good job.” Nancy, on the other hand, said that she was going to stay put in Dallas to head up the “I Stand for Parkland Campaign.” Besides, our Nancy is a smart gal and knows how cold that wind can be coming off of Lake Michigan.

Another couple appearing to all the world as if they were just dating were Spencer de Grey and his wife Lucy. You know Spencer was the chief designer of the Winspear, which meant that he and Lucy were doing a commuter marriage, too. Spencer admitted that even he was amazed at the ability of the construction team to complete the building on time. “Just two months ago it was just a building under construction and now. . . !”

Then rumors started floating about the action at the Wyly. It had been turned into Club Alon with Ellis Hall, Eden Espinosa, and Mindi Abair (pictured), whose sax was as hot as her sequined dress. Between Mindi tonight and David Sanborn Friday, we’ve heard more sax than our days in the high school band.

Those who had toured the Wyly and attended talks there in past days were shocked (and they shouldn’t have been if they’d been listening to experts talk about the versatility of the Wyly) to find the place all on one level with a stage for the performers. The joint was jammed with both the Swells and the Fun Folks, but the dancing got off to a slow start. After all, when you’re in such a drop-dead gorgeous crowd, the main activity is people watching.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW: As the guests toddled home with commemorative paperweights and goodies, hopefully they read the last note in the program from Board of Directors Chair Halam and President/CEO Mark Nernhausen.

“Thank you also for your support of tonight’s ACT III Gala. The funds generated by tonight’s event have underwritten our free-to-the-public Spotlight Sunday Grand Opening celebration this Sunday, October 18^th at the Center.”

Translation:  Because the Swells and the Fun Folks paid hefty sums to party Saturday night, a wide array of famed entertainers and family-friendly programs were to be available at Dallas’ newest hot spots to all for absolutely nothing today.

Now that’s sweeter than a piece of chocolate on your pillow.

• Cathedral Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe- A concert will be performed by the 40-voice choir from Cape Cod at 6 p.m. and with a pre-concert lecture at 5 p.m.

• 

  Art by Pamela Nelson

  The Catholic Foundation Plaza – Yes, it’s open year-round and always free for the standing and sitting, but the newest art wall, Music on Parade (pictured) was just unveiled last week.

• The Crow Collection of Asian Art (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) - Its amazing Asian collection including music, dance, theater, and art activities for artists of all ages. There is a $10 charge if you want to observe the Tibetan monks dismantle the sand mandala, that they’ve been constructing for the past six days. Why tear it apart? Because it represents the impermanence of all that exists.
• Dallas Center for Architecture (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)– A living museum featuring important buildings of civic history plus the work of PAC architects Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaas.
• Dallas Museum of Art(11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)– Three exhibitions tell the remarkable history of the Arts District, illustrating the dynamic connections between all the arts. Did you know that it was just 25 years ago that the DMA opened in its downtown location?
• Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center (2:30 p.m.)– Hustle on this one since there’s a limited number of tickets. A free performance of Beethoven’s Symphony #9 under the direction of Jaap van Zweeden.
• Nasher Sculpture Garden(11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)– Numerous activities highlighted by Foster + Partners: The Art of Architecture, the first major U.S. retrospective to explore Foster’s major architectural achievements in the past four decades. Remember, class, they’re the ones who designed the Winspear.
• One Arts Plaza (6 to 10 p.m.) – A concert by Hunter Sullivan and his 14-piece jazz band. They’ll take a break during the fireworks show.

Now, that’s what we call a neighborly welcome to the ‘hood.

This afternoon at 4, a jazz concert featuring David Sanbornwill take place in Sammons Park. We’re not telling you to leave work early, but if there is an errand that needs running. . . well. Suggestion: bring a chair and perhaps a sweater. We always want you prepared.

On Sunday everything from family-friendly activities, venue tours, and indoor and outdoor “spotlight performances” by the the finest dancers, musicians, and theatricals types will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You just might catch a performance by Aaron Kurz, ACME Swing Company, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Arts District Chorale, Ballet Center of Fort Worth, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, Bloom – Dallas Black Dance Academy Jr. Performing Ensemble, Chamberlain School of Performing Arts, Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, Dallas Ballet Center, Dallas Black Dance Academy Ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, Dance Industry Performing Arts Center, Dallas Uptown Youth Orchestra, Fine Arts Chamber Players, Flame Foundation, Gocha & Shorena Center of Dance, Kitty Carter’s Dance Factory, Maguire Academy of Irish Dance, Mistura String Quartet, Revelation Dance Studio, Rhythm Junkies, Richmond Punch Jazz Quartet, Texas Ballet Theater, Texas Ballet Theater School Dallas Academy, Texas Ballet Theater School Fort Worth Academy, Turtle Creek Chorale, and Tuzer Ballet.

And what would a celebration be without Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts? So, expect to experience the African Dance Ensemble, LunaSol Folklorico Dance Company, Rhythm and Blues Band, African Dance Ensemble and Drums, Mimes Troupe, Austin Goodwin & Ida Saki Dance Duet, Repertory Dance Company I, Repertory Dance Company II, and Bailey Mason-Harpist.

The evening will finish off with a fireworks display launched from the rooftop of the Wyly and Winspear. Watch out below!

9:30-10 — 150+ of the media entourage (left) convene at the Wyly for coffee and credentials. Oops, no sweet rolls and the coffee is running low at 9:45. Not a good sign. Media without coffee can turn into an angry mob scene. Horrors, visions of Les Miserables! Quickly, coffee urn is refilled.

An animated Howard “The Jacket” Rachofsky is walking between the Wyly and Winspear with landscape architect Michel Desvigne. Planters in the Hal and Diane Brierley Esplanade take turns tipping over due to the wind. Wyly architect (aka Michael Bolton look-alike) Joshua Prince-Ramus (pictured right with Rem, left) and his former partner Rem Koolhaas sit outside looking a bit dejected, like football players warming the bench. Is the reason for their down mood because they’ve read The New York Times article by Nicolai Ouroussoff about their “divorce” over the Wyly? By divorce, we mean professional divorce. The Times claims that the two haven’t spoken at all since the breakup. Must have been an interesting time completing the Wyly. But here they are together looking friendlier than Jon and Kate or Bill and Hillary on 60 Minutes. Is a reconciliation in the future? Ah, come on, kids. Let’s try a little counseling. After all, you have a bouncing baby Wyly.

PAC Board Chair Howard “Happy” Halam arrives bright and chipper; Winspear designers Norman Foster and Spencer de Grey are greeted like rock stars and the anticipation is starting to build; Mayor Tom Leppert, like so many others, tries to enter through a door that won’t open; and PAC pr staff or media wranglers are getting their ducks in a row. All these media types corralled in the lobby of the Wyly is an intimidating prospect. Would they be user-friendly or useless brats?

10:10- The media is headed up and moved upstairs to the Potter Rose Performance Hall. Everyone is mooing gently, or rather behaving nicely so far. Who said media tours were like herding cockroaches? Howard H, AT&T PAC President/CEO Mark Nerenhausen, and Mayor Tom talk to the group. It’s sorta a repeat of the congratulatory words spoken at Monday’s dedication. Caren Prothro (pictured), who was instrumental in gearing up the funds, and Anita Martinez, of Ballet Folklorico, sit way in the back among the regular folks. Everyone applauds at the appropriate times. Now the big media herd is broken into smaller groups (green, yellow, red, etc.) for tours of the facilities. Ah, these PAC organizers are crafty. They know that by breaking the media mob up into smaller pods, they’re more manageable.

10:45 – As the green group hikes up the esplanade from the Wyly to the Winspear, Mark Lowry of Theater Jones tells his fellow journalists that it will be interesting to see the vertically-challenged esplanade in a rain storm. “It’ll be a big whoosh!” Laughter. Another media types adds, “An ice storm will turn this into a skating rink.” Still another chimes in with, “Wonder who’ll get the naming rights to it?” Don’t think these comments were in the media wranglers’ scripts (aka bibles).

Two groups are put together in the C. Vincent Prothro Lobby to hear the Winspear architects describe the facility. Norman (pictured left with Spencer) is a cross between Stanley Tucci and Patrick Stewart. Very natty and upper brow. You can just imagine him having tea with the royals. Spencer is a bit more casual with shaggy blonde hair and glasses. He seems like a fish-and-chips kind of fellow. As they start their discussion, three things become quite apparent. First, they should have their own talk show. Everything is interesting. Second, the two of them—though they’re the designers of this amazing opera house–have a very soft spot for rock and roll. Third, they prove that a British accent just elevates any discussion to a new level of intelligence and sophistication.

In the theater itself, it becomes apparent that KERA’s Bill Zeeble has claimed squatter’s rights on the Brits. Hello? There are other people who want to talk with the boys, too.

Ah, but it’s the theater that’s the story. Each of the seats has its own “ventilation” system, much like air-conditioned seats in a Lexus. Speaking of seats, Spencer tells the group that the Winspear is slightly larger than that Royal Opera House and that the plush seats are a bit bigger, too. The reason is because “we have to accommodate anatomically larger people than those who sat in the gilded seats of old.” What a lovely way of saying we Texans are wide in the get along.

Then there’s the mammoth chandelier. No punter is going to hurt that baby. You see, the chandelier with its 300+ lights is suspended beautifully from the ceiling as people arrive. Then just as the performance is about to begin, the whole lighting spectrum rises flush to the ceiling. Now that alone is worth the price of a ticket.

Ah, but the wranglers are starting to look nervous. We’ve got a schedule to keep and we have dallied too long. The two groups go their separate ways, one passing ABC Channel 8’s Gary Cogill, who is sipping coffee inside the theatre with one of the staff. He’s the BMOC (Big Media On the Center). Guess he’s got his own media tour going.

11:25–Group goes up to the level where the boxes are. No time to see the boxes; time’s a-wastin’ and we must make it to the next level before another group is upon us. We’re now at the top level but have lost Norman and Spencer with Zeeble sticking with them.

11:30 — Now it’s time to scramble back to the Wyly. As we cross Flora, a large group of uniformed schoolchildren is seen touring the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. They walk neatly in single lines appearing to be much more orderly and well-behaved than the rag-tag media.

11:35 – Our group is on the very tip-top of the Wyly in an “outdoor” entertainment area. Wranglers tell the group that we can buy tickets to a New Year’s Eve party that will be held there. Media chuckles. Don’t know if it’s over the potential price of the ticket, or the idea of a chilly New Year’s Eve atop a building.

One of the two architects is to meet the group here and discuss the facility, but no one appears. Wrangler reads from prepared script. Ah, the tubing surrounding the building is a total of 9 miles long, or from here to the Galleria. Next door the underground parking garage is being built that will protect patrons going from their cars to the theaters. Right now it’s a very big, muddy hole in the ground.

Wranglers are looking a bit aggitated as the media starts chattering among themselves about the lack of activity and the waiting for the no-show architect. Are we, the media, being stood up?  Seamlessly, the wranglers announce that the group will talk with Joshua at the next stop. Into the elevators.

11:40 – At the Bess and Ted Enloe Terrace, Joshua talks with us about the multi-form Wyly. It’s every man’s dream woman. Whatever you want her to be, by jingo, she can transform herself into it.  Thank heaven Josh can project because he’s standing under a tremendous exhaust fan causing quite an uproar. He reminds the group of the old days when “the shed” (aka the Dallas Theater Center’s barn-like facility in the arts district) was flexible for various types of staging but still a barn. Had everything but pigs oinking and roosters crowing. Is this New Yorker artiste saying that our old rickety shed was downright rural? Ah, but the Wyly took the best parts of the shed, eliminated the problems, and added the ability to lift and lower staging, seats, and practically the roof. While some of the media hold out their iPhones and flip cameras, others bend down to feel the cushy Astroturf floor.

Any questions? No, the group has learned its lesson. They have a schedule to keep or they might not get their milk and cookies.

11:50- The group peers down into the costume shop and around the Education Center. Still no questions. They head to the elevator for the 6^th floor and the patron lounge.

11:55 – Rem Koolhaas, Wyly architect #2, talks to the group. (Remember, he’s Joshua’s former partner. Guess it’s a good thing that they’re on separate floors.) Unlike his former partner, he looks more like Al Bundy in a windbreaker.

Any questions? Yes! We have a winner. Someone is going to ask a question.

“Were you intentionally trying to go against what was expected for Dallas by the design of this building?”

(After all, the Wyly is rather unique looking: a silver corrugated box with a big, old rectangle cut out of one side and see-through elevators on the other.)

Good question. Better answer.

Rem, without missing a beat, replies, “Dallas is such a flat pancake that it was significant to add a vertical look.” Hmmm, pancake?

Are these architects telling us that we were nothing but artistic pigs in a blanket?

Wranglers are going to reward the group by allowing them to see the “Grid Room,” the brain center for all the mechanisms for raising and lowering the staging, seats, etc. It’s a tight fit, so only a few at a time are allowed in. Looks like a huge, gloriously green loom or the world’s most convoluted backstage for a puppet show.  

Noon – Back into the elevator, which someone notes can be seen from the outside. Wrangler adds that if the door on that side of the elevator opens, people will fall out. Voice from the back of the elevator says, “Like Jennifer Jones.” Overall chuckling at that one. Think Towering Inferno. Only the art-oriented media would think of that.

Now it’s on to lunch in the Winspear café. Media needs no direction on this one. They cue up with the grace of Texas Ballet ingénues. Wranglers immediately get on walkie-talkies and cellphones to coordinate the arrival of the other groups. You just don’t want these groups coming together like the Discovery Channel’s episode on the colliding of two universes. Smash! PAC benefactors and management look on in relief that the media is so cordial and happy. The media is always happy when it’s fed.

Congratulations, AT&T PAC, you seemed to have passed with flying colors your first mammoth media tour. Your wranglers brought the herd home with no damage.

First on the roster was this morning’s rise-and-shine dedication of the AT&T PAC. Despite the damp chill, the crowd of well-knowns and well-wishers seemed oblivious to the weather as they convened in Sammons Park to hear the likes of AT&T PAC President/CEO Mark Nerenhausen, Board chair Howard Hallam (pictured), Mayor Tom Leppert, Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano, City Councilwoman Angela Hunt and AT&T Global Marketing Officer Cathy Coughlin give their blessings on the 30-year project. Even U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson sat on the front row just to watch the proceedings. If an award were to be given out for happiest person among the speakers, Howard would have walked away with it. He was just smiling and smiling seeing his baby officially taking its first steps.

Another proud fellow who wasn’t on stage but was receiving pats on the back and being queried by local reporters was Bill Lively (pictured with City Manager Mary Suhm). He was the one who oversaw the fundraising efforts for the center. That was no miniscule task. There are 130 folks and companies who wrote million-dollar-plus checks after chatting with Mr. Lively for the creation of PAC. Now that the center is complete, Bill has taken on another daunting job–president and CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.  No, that does not mean he’s in charge of having cookies and milk served to Super Bowl visitors. According to D CEO, his group has already nailed down “more million dollar sponsors than any other Super Bowl Host Committee in history.” Not bad for a guy who used to be a high school band leader. 

Ah, but back to PAC. Following the speeches and the reading of the proclamation on the outdoor stage, the backdrop panels turned to reveal performers from all the venues–everything from Folklorico dancers (pictured) to powder-wigged opera types (pictured). The costumes were breathtaking as they created a mammoth performing arts tableau with dignitaries looking a bit out of place in their business suits.

Then the guests headed off to their day jobs, while the PAC behind-the-scenes minions checked their cell phones (hopefully, they were using AT&T) for messages and prepared for the next activity on their schedule, while the finishing touches were completed on the Winspear Opera House and the Wyly Theatre. (If you can’t remember which is which, just think that Winnie is the one that looks like a big, old red lacquered hat box and Willy appears to be a mammoth bar code.) 

If you haven’t gotten tickets to some of the big hoop-la events or you’re trying to save pennies, the PAC organizers have got a deal for you. They have various activities and performances that are absolutely free during this opening period. If you think the two buildings are something from the outside, just wait til you see them inside. Stampede over and take them up on the opportunity to see these beauties in action. Dallas, you may have really outdone yourself this time.

Now it’s up to the performers to live up to the financial investment and personal dedication of the community which provided such facilities.

So far, it’s not available on iTunes. When it is, we’ll let you know.

Now everyone rest up for a week of PAC mania with the likes of Bruce Willis (Die Hard, Sixth Sense, and former Mr. Demi Moore) and just announced Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine and As Good As It Gets). Start time is Monday (Columbus Day)at 8 a.m. in Sammons Park (Flora at Leonard). Mayor Tom “Terrific” Leppert will be on hand. Don’t know if Oprah will be.

Dallas, brace yourself. We’re going big time!

PS – No, Wick, all this activity is not a “Welcome to downtown Dallas” celebration in honor of D’s moving its international headquarters to 750 North St. Paul. At least, I don’t think it is.

Folks, that just one of the activities that the organizers have in store for the opening year. 

If you have the $$ to buy a ticket, you’re oh-so lucky. But if you want to save some cash and do a very good deed, volunteer to help out. There’s a shout out for volunters. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll be asked to help Bruce offstage?

Interested? Check with Kelly.Mccracken@attpac.org. Hey, Kelly, did you know that you’ve just become the most popular person in town?