DALLAS — For 68 years, Dallas Summer Musicals has presented Broadway shows at the Fair Park Music Hall and the Majestic Theater downtown. But as of Thursday night, it has competition.

“The threat is there are fewer shows. And so there is not going to be twice as many shows, there's going to be two organizations splitting up the current available number of shows,” said Michael Jenkins, Dallas Summer Musicals.

The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, scheduled to open in Fall 2009, says it will put on its own Broadway shows.

The two groups talked about DSM doing shows at the center, in addition to Fair Park, but couldn't agree on money and show selection.

“And the idea is that we're bringing healthy competition and hopefully an increased appetite for this, for this market in Broadway,” said DCPA spokeswoman Jill Magnuson.

But there's more at stake here than just competition — ticket affordability for the 600,000 people who attend the musicals each year is an issue.

Taxpayers have a financial interest in both venues. The city owns the 3,400 seat Fair Park Music Hall, and it will subsidize the performing arts center $2.5 million annually after it opens.

Mayor Tom Leppert couldn't get the arts groups to agree. “I'm disappointed," he said. "You've got two organizations, both contribute a lot to this community, and it's too bad they couldn't come together.”

Dallas Summer Musicals presents about 20 shows a year, with an average ticket price of $45. The Center says it will stage four to five Broadway shows a year in the Winspear Opera House with 2,300 seats. News 8 has been told they would average $75 a ticket.

“I'm sure we'll be competitive in our ticket pricing,” Magnuson said.

Dallas City Council member Mitchell Rasansky doesn't like the idea of higher ticket prices or fewer attractions at Fair Park. “I'm also concerned about the damage that will be done to Fair Park, big damage of moving our musicals out of Fair Park,” said Rasansky.

“We're absolutely confident that healthy competition won't damage the impact that that wonderful organization has made on this community,” Magnuson said.

But DSM says it will be hurt financially and theater customers will be the losers. “There'll be fewer shows, obviously fewer attendance, fewer people at Fair Park,” said Jenkins.

For now, there's no happy ending.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com