THUMB AWARD TWO NEW ARTS CENTERS FOR DALLAS

Thumbs Up to Peter Chantilis of the University Park Foundation and kjehl Rasmussen, executive director of the Manhattan Clearing House, for furthering the city’s arts stronghold. When the lease ran out on the triple X-rated Fine Arts Theatre in Snider Plaza, Chantilis secured the lease hoping to promote culturally richer entertainment. He found the perfect new tenant in 23-year-old Kjehl Rasmussen, who is converting the 900-seat movie house into a legitimate stage theater. Adding to the Clearing House’s Greenville Avenue Theatre and Addison Summer Theatre, the newly named Plaza Theatre will offer professional productions. Plans include bringing big-name talent to Dallas. On November 17, the Plaza marquee will light up with the musical Sullivan and Gilbert or the Show Might Go On. With the option to move the show to Broadway, that’s a far cry from Garters and Lace. And Thumbs Up to the Dallas Water Utilities Department for designating the Turtle Creek Pump Station as the new home of the Turtle Creek Center for the Arts. The 73-year-old pump station, located at Harry Hines Boulevard and Oak Lawn Avenue, will, after a 10-month renovation, be home base for the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and the Gifted Students Institute for Research and Development, and will house the offices for the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas.