Recovery and Rebuilding at the Dallas Symphony and the City’s Other Performing Arts Groups

“April marks the arrival of Dallas Arts Month, with the 2023 version looping groups across the city in an ongoing drama of reassessment and recovery,” writes Michael Granberry in Wednesday’s (4/6) Dallas Morning News. The article reports on Dallas’ seven largest performing arts groups. “Some have weathered the storm better than others, but all are recovering from [the pandemic] crisis … Kevin Moriarty, the executive director of Dallas Theater Center, said … ‘We tended to think that once COVID became less prevalent, everything would return to normal—in terms of audience behavior … It’s now clear that … people are going out less often, and they are staying home more often.’ Kim Noltemy, president and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, which is faring better than most of its neighbors, sums it up … ‘Yes, the worst is over, but it is still a slow road to full recovery…. Though fall 2022 sales were challenging, sales from January through March of 2023 are approaching pre-pandemic levels. The 2022 holiday season sales were the best the DSO has had in 10 years….  Tickets have been selling late and very close to concert performances, which requires a pivot to our forecasting and marketing rollout plans.’ ”