Dallas Theater Center Kicks Off $12 Million "Bringing the Wyly Theatre to Life" Advancement Campaign

Dallas Theater Center Kicks Off $12 Million "Bringing the Wyly Theatre to Life" Advancement Campaign

Eight million dollars already pledged to advancement campaign aimed at dramatically elevating the theater company's artistic and educational initiatives

A steady stream of good news has been flowing from the Dallas Theater Center in recent weeks - popular artistic director Kevin Moriarty's contract was renewed through 2014; the company ended 2010, a particularly difficult year for most arts organizations, in the black; and fundraising powerhouse Heather Kitchen was hired as its new managing director. Now, Dallas Theater Center has launched a $12 million advancement campaign, with $8 million already committed.

The "Bringing the Wyly Theatre to Life" campaign aims to advance and elevate Dallas Theater Center's artistic and educational initiatives, as well as ensure long-term financial stability for the company.

"Live theater has the power to spark imaginations, encourage dialogue and transform lives," said Rebecca Fletcher, campaign chair. "Our new home in the architecturally and technologically amazing Wyly Theatre has allowed us to dramatically raise the quality of our productions and make what happens inside this state-of-the-art facility as outstanding as the building itself."

The campaign will fund new plays and musicals, as well as a variety of artistic and community initiatives, including the establishment of a resident Acting Company, subsidizing the popular "Pay What You Can" program and forging partnerships with local arts programs at Southern Methodist University and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. During the life of the campaign, as programming and staff grows to achieve the plan's objectives, Dallas Theater Center will build earned and contributed revenues to replace campaign funds and establish an $800,000 cash reserve.

Major donations so far include a $1 million gift from Diane and Hal Brierley to establish the Brierley Resident Acting Company; a $1 million gift from Deedie and Rusty Rose to name the Potter Production Studio; three $500,000 gifts from Helen and Frank Risch, Donna Wilhelm and Dee and Charles Wyly; a $250,000 gift from Shannon and Ted Skokos to fund the DTC/Booker T. Washington High School Learning Lab; and a $250,000 gift from Kimberly and Scott Sheffield to establish a musical theater series.

Additionally, the campaign has achieved 100-percent participation from Dallas Theater Center's board of trustees.

"The fact that we've already raised two-thirds of our fundraising goal during our quiet phase shows the enthusiasm and confidence that Dallas' arts patrons have, as well as the potential that they see, in our Dallas Theater Center," said Frank Risch, Dallas Theater Center board chairman. "We hope that our bold vision will command the attention of patrons throughout North Texas and inspire others to follow and give in lasting ways."

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