Major Dallas Arts Centers to Merge

Motivated by the need to reduce coasts and enhance program offerings, the AT&T Performing Arts Center (ATTPAC) and the Dallas Theater Center (DTC) have announced their intention to merge in early 2027. "There's no question that the finances of producing theater have gotten more difficult over time,” ATTPAC President and CEO Warren Tranquada told the Dallas News. “This will be a more efficient way for us to keep the investment focused on actors, productions, and the quality of shows.”

Once approved by the two organizations’ governing boards, DTC would become the producing division of ATTPAC, with redundancies in marketing, accounting, and ticketing eliminated. Between 12 to 15 members of the fulltime staffs—39 for DTC and 85 for ATTPAC—will be laid off. And Kevin Moriarty, a 19-year veteran of DTC, will see his position as the organization’s executive director eliminated.

The financial imperatives motivating the merger are stark, particularly for DTC. The company lost $2.2 million in fiscal 2025, and in each of the preceding three years its expenses exceeded its revenue by about $600,000. In fiscal year 2025, ATTPAC lost $1.5 million, following three years in which it netted $1.6 million (2024), broke even (2023), and netted $3.7 million in 2022, presumably helped by pandemic relief funds.

“By coming together,” Moriarity suggested, “we can move from maintaining the status quo to entering a period of growth and opportunity that would be nearly impossible individually. Together, we can actually think about a larger, more expansive future.”

The ATTPAC operates a campus in the Dallas Arts District that includes three venues—the Winspear Opera House, the Wyly Theatre, and the outdoor Annette Strauss Square. Its resident companies include the Dallas Opera, Texas Ballet Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico: These longtime contractual relationships will not change following the merger.

Among the anticipated benefits are a wider range of program offerings that can be packaged for subscription sales. Patrons can create bundles with original productions from the DTC as well as ATTPAC national touring shows. The merger will also enable ATTPAC to expand its educational outreach.

A capital campaign under ATTPAC’s leadership will target past donors for funds to cover the merger’s transition costs, including severance pay for laid-off employees and funds for programming during the early years following the merger.

On July 27, the board executive committees of both organizations authorized leaders to sign a letter of intent. “Now we enter the months long period of due diligence and integration planning,” Moriarity said. “Then hopefully by January, we would be ready for our full boards to do a thorough review and take the formal votes.”

Dallas News