Dallas Summer Musicals at Fair Park Music Hall

• Dallas Summer Musicals celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2010. The theater in Fair Park presents Broadway-style productions in the Music Hall, which DSM began managing in 1998. The company is host of shows all year, including concerts, but its main focus is a summer musical program. DSM produces some of its own shows and is host of touring national shows.

History of DSM

• Dallas Summer Musicals began in 1941 as an outdoors-only theater. A group of businesses in cooperation with the Schubert organization in New York City wanted to bring live theater to the community in an outdoor environment. The first show was Sigmund Romberg's "Blossom Time," which is based on the life of Franz Schubert. Productions moved indoors during the 1950s when the Music Hall became air-conditioned. The Music Hall has seating for 3,420.

Shows at Dallas Summer Musicals

• A variety of musicals and theater productions have appeared on stage at DSM. Earlier shows in the 1940s included "Anything Goes," "Last Waltz," "Show Boat" and "The Desert Song." In the 1950s and 1960s, shows included classics such as "The King and I," "Oklahoma!," "South Pacific" and "Bye, Bye Birdie." Since 2005, "Mamma Mia!," "Mary Poppins," "Legally Blonde," "Rent" and "Wicked" have appeared during DSM seasons. A four-show ticket package for the 2010 season began at $48 for balcony seats. A six-show ticket package started at $115 and went up to $457.

Academy of Performing Arts

• Dallas Summer Musicals sponsors the Academy of Performing Arts with locations at the Majestic Theatre, Park Cities, Frisco, Town North and Southlake, all in the Dallas area. These year-round camps led by theater professionals teach theater skills to seventh through 12th graders. The students eventually perform in self-produced plays and musicals.