City celebrates Music Hall’s rich history

By Haley DiFonzo

The Music Hall at Fair Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this week, marking a full century of artistry and community in the heart of Dallas, Texas. Since opening on October 10, 1925, the Music Hall has been a cherished cultural cornerstone presenting world-class entertainment for generations of North Texas audiences, welcoming millions of guests over the last century. The historic venue now enters its centennial year with vigor and a continued commitment to the arts.

 Originally built as part of the Texas Centennial Exposition, at its grand opening the Music Hall debuted with Sigmund Romberg’s “The Student Prince.” Throughout the decades, the Music Hall has hosted key performing arts institutions including The Dallas Opera, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and since 1951 has been home to Broadway Dallas, presenting the best of Broadway, concerts and community programming.

 Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and City Councilman Adam Bazaldua presented Broadway Dallas with a Proclamation formally recognizing the Music Hall’s Centennial and the significance that the venue has had over the last century. City Council and members of the Broadway Dallas leadership team sang happy birthday to the Music Hall to mark the very special moment. 

• Broadway Dallas invited patrons to share their cherished Music Hall memories on camera and collected over 100 Centennial Stories that span decades of performances, laughter and unforgettable moments. These personal reflections paint a vivid picture of the Music Hall’s rich history and its lasting impact on our community. 

• Broadway Dallas and The Dallas Opera have partnered to bring audiences a surreal, one-night-only concert event, Maria Callas in Concert: The Hologram Tour on Friday, Oct. 31 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Tickets are on sale now. In November 1957, the Dallas Civic Opera (now The Dallas Opera) officially opened with a headlining concert starring Maria Callas at the State Fair Music Hall (now Music Hall at Fair Park). This special event will pay homage to that historic moment in Music Hall history.

• Dallas ISD Day & Dallas County Schools Day – Broadway Dallas, Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD), The Moody Foundation, and a consortium of generous underwriters expanded the annual district-wide STEAM education program themed around Broadway musicals. 

• The annual Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) program recognizes and spotlights talented student performers from throughout the region through a formal adjudication process and a celebratory TONY Awards-style performance and awards ceremony. More than $65,000 in scholarships are awarded each year, and the program has proven to be a springboard for local talent in the world of professional theatre. 

• This year, Broadway Dallas’ annual gala holds special significance as it celebrates two cultural milestones: the centennial anniversary of both the Music Hall at Fair Park and the original publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel “The Great Gatsby. Together, these timeless institutions will converge in one unforgettable evening of music, storytelling, and community impact. The 2026 Gala celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Music Hall at Fair Park will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Music Hall.