A Lure for Broadway: Frisco Partners with Prosper ISD on Proposed $340M Frisco Center for the Arts

The city said the vision for the center includes a 2,800-seat performance hall, capable of accommodating Broadway and large touring and community productions, as well as a 300- to 400-seat community hall that would be used primarily by Prosper ISD while also providing access to community organizations and events.

The Prosper Independent School District and the city of Frisco plan to partner on a proposed $340 million Frisco Center for the Arts—and to collaborate with Broadway Across America/Broadway Dallas to create a “Broadway Frisco” series at the facility.

“The city of Frisco has envisioned a performing arts hall for two decades,” Mayor Jeff Cheney said in a statement. “Last year, we discovered an opportunity to partner with the Prosper Independent School District on such a facility. We’re really excited about the possibilities. Ultimately, the decision to participate will be up to Frisco voters if the proposed project, Frisco Center for the Arts, is placed on a ballot by the City Council in 2025.”

The city said the vision for the center includes a 2,800-seat performance hall, capable of accommodating Broadway and large touring and community productions, as well as a 300- to 400-seat community hall, to be used mostly by Prosper ISD while also providing access to community organizations and events.

The proposed facility includes support spaces, rehearsal areas, and visual arts creative spaces.

Project to be presented to Frisco voters

More than seven square miles of Prosper ISD is located within the city of Frisco and more than 2,900 PISD students live in the city of Frisco. No site for the proposed facility has been determined; however, it will be built within overlapping boundaries.

The potential project requires the Frisco City Council to put the proposed measure on a ballot and ultimately, Frisco voters will decide whether to fund the project, the city said.

As proposed, the center has a total maximum project budget of $340 million.

Prosper ISD intends to contribute $100 million from its 2023 Performing Arts Center bond funds. The city of Frisco is considering private and philanthropic funding sources that would not increase property taxes, should voters approve the facility.

Earlier this month, the PISD board of trustees was provided a report about “proposed partnership with the city of Frisco to build a new state-of-the-art Center for the Arts that will serve the learners, educators, and community.”

“We’re excited about the possibility of partnering with the city of Frisco to provide a world-class educational opportunity for our students,” Holly Ferguson, Prosper ISD superintendent of schools, said in a statement. “This collaboration would allow our teachers and students to produce campus and district concerts, musicals, and theatrical productions while also participating in Broadway-level productions with outside partners.”

“The potential for our students to learn from and work alongside industry professionals in a state-of-the-art facility aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences,” Ferguson added. “This partnership represents a unique opportunity to maximize resources and create something special for our school community and the broader area.”

The city said it has finalized a letter of intent with Broadway Across America/Broadway Dallas, which would be the presenter of Broadway shows at the new facility as an annual “Broadway Frisco” series.

“Reflecting the population growth and interest in arts and culture across North Texas, we look forward to creating a new Broadway Frisco series for the community while we continue to present Broadway Dallas at the Music Hall at Fair Park and the AT&T Performing Arts Center,” Broadway Dallas President Ken Novice said in a statement.