Nestled among the greatest concentration of genuine exposition art deco architecture in the world, the Music Hall at Fair Park made it's grand theatrical debut on October 10, 1925, with the musical premiere of Sigmund Romberg's, The Student Prince. However the real star of the show was the grand Hall itself which was dedicated "to the good, the true and the beautiful".
Designed in Spanish Baroque style with Moorish architectural influences, the Music Hall's design theme is embodied in six soaring stair towers capped with cast drum and dome and five great arcade porches overlooking panoramic views of Fair Park. In 1954 the Music Hall underwent its first major renovation by installing much-needed air conditioning.
In 1972 the Hall was remodeled again by expanding the lobby areas to create a grand foyer for the ticket office and space for the Crystal Terrace Restaurant. This project also enlarged the backstage area, providing a spacious annex and ample dressing rooms. The final touches included acoustical improvements and the installation of more comfortable seats creating a seating capacity of 3,420. In 1999 a refurbishment of all 3420 seats was completed, the theatre was re-carpeted, the interior repainted and a permanent gift store, infrared headset station and guest relations center were created. Other improvements and amenities, including booster seats, were added. The accommodating and spacious nature of the Music Hall make it a nationally recognized venue for Broadway musical touring companies, grand opera, ballet and other dance productions, concerts including live global television broadcasts, national pageants and a myriad of other large and small-scale public and private functions. The Music Hall is home to the Dallas Summer Musicals and seasonal performance of The Dallas Opera and Fort Worth Dallas Ballet.
More than just a cultural center, the Music Hall provides a refined venue for corporate meetings, black tie affairs, luncheons and banquets. Combining the elegance of fine dining with the beautiful views of Fair Park, the Crystal Terrace dining room offers a gourmet buffet prior to summer musical, opera and ballet seasonal performances and is the ideal location for dinners, receptions, meetings and private parties. The Crystal Terrace can accommodate up to five hundred guests for a seated dinner and larger numbers for receptions and special events. With full catering capabilities, valet service available and a professional service staff, the Crystal Terrace can give personalized attention to the needs of tenants, making each event a memorable one.
With multiple loading docks at stage level, an orchestra pit which can house a full orchestra, ample backstage dressing rooms and property storage area, the Music Hall is unique in its ability to accommodate full-scale opera and musical touring productions. Broadway favorites including "Les Miserables", "Miss Saigon" and the Southwest Premier of "The Phantom of the Opera" and grand opera productions such as "Aida", "Madama Butterfly" and "The Barber of Seville" are just some of the presentations having appeared on the spacious Music Hall stage.
Under the careful management of DSM Management Group, Inc., an affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals, the professional expertise of the Music Hall management staff and backstage personnel combine to offer friendly and efficient management of any show or event from load-in to load-out.
