Winspear Opera House

The Winspear Opera House, a part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, is one of the biggest theaters in Dallas. Putting a modern spin on a traditional design, the theater can seat 2,200 patrons for ballets, operas, and other performances. The vision for the venue began more than two decades ago when plans were drawn to refresh and renew the Dallas Arts District.

The entire complex is made up of the Winspear and other performance spaces, wrapped around an urban park. The Dee and Charlies Wyly Theatre has 600 seats, with many of the smaller concerts are staged at the City Performance Hall. The outdoor Annette Strauss Artist Square is the fourth concert space at the AT&T Performing Arts Center that hosts an array of events throughout the various seasons.

Opened in fall 2009, the Winspear Opera House joins the list of distinctive architecture throughout downtown Dallas. Like the Dallas Museum of Art, the theater was designed by an award-winning architect. In this case, Prizker Prize winner Norman Foster supervised his team from Foster + Partners. The architects designed the space especially for Winspear Opera House events, adding state-of-the-art acoustics and many more features.

Throughout the year, a diverse number of Winspear Opera House events take to the custom-designed stage. The theater serves as the home to two ensembles—the Texas Ballet Theater and the Dallas Opera. Other performing arts groups and special events appear on stage as well; you'll also have the chance to book Winspear Opera house discount tickets for Broadway productions that tour around the country.

Even before you step into the Winspear Opera House, you'll notice the striking exterior, especially the Annette and Harold Simmons Signature Glass Façade. At 60 feet high, the glass wraps around most of the building. Once you're inside, you'll have the chance to enjoy views of the city's skyscrapers as well as the red glass-clad Margaret McDermott Performance Hall and the northern portion of Performance Park.

When the weather is nice and the sun is shining, a giant portion of the facade can be retracted, opening up the lobby with the connecting Sammons Park. The solar canopy's louvers follow can follow the path of the sun, providing the perfect amount of shade. In the middle of summer, visitors won't have to worry about the extreme heat at this arts oasis. The retractable facade also covers some of the most scenic and finest dining experiences in the arts district. You'll can enjoy a casual meal (and great views) at the cafe or a more involved meal at the restaurant.

Inside, the many Winspear Opera House events take to the stage in a theater equipped with an orchestra pit and fantastic acoustics. Smaller performances are staged in the Nancy Harmon Education and Recital Hall, which offers 200 seats and space for classes and smaller recitals. The theater complex also has a box office, one option for Winspear Opera House discount tickets, and two underground parking garages.

With your Winspear Opera House discount tickets secure, you might want to plan some extra time to explore. A wide variety of restaurants and shops are located within a short distance of the performing arts center. Many hotels are a part of the arts district, providing a place to relax after you've enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Winspear Opera House.

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