AT&T PAC’s Elevator Project is so good. It could be bigger and better The series should expand its lineup of music, dance, theater and multidisciplinary performances by up-and-coming groups. By Manuel Mendoza, Special Contributor | Aug. 8, 2023
Lauren Kravitz appears in a scene from Agora Artists' "The Eldert Lofts," one of the productions from the 2023 Elevator Project series. (Corey Haynes)
The Elevator Project is a worthy endeavor. In a city lacking venues for small local groups without a home, the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s annual series in the Arts District has since 2014 presented music, dance, theater and multidisciplinary shows that might not otherwise have been produced at all. But the series could be bigger and better. Dozens of up-and-coming Dallas companies are constantly searching for places to perform. They tend to take on more adventurous subject matter than the big, established groups and often employ experimental approaches that broaden the perspective of audiences. Over the years, the number of productions in the Elevator Project has ranged from five to eight per season. Applications open in January and are reviewed by a panel of artists. Final decisions are made by officials from AT&T PAC and the city’s Office of Arts and Culture.