Starlight’s 39th Annual Gala with Sutton Foster Sets a New Record!
Starlight has always been a place where Kansas Citians come together to experience live performance, celebrate shared traditions, and create lasting memories. On Saturday, October 17, that spirit was on full display as supporters and friends gathered for Starlight’s 39th Annual Benefit Gala with Sutton Foster, an evening dedicated to celebrating the people and stories that have shaped Starlight’s past and will help define its future.
The evening was one for the record books! Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Kansas City’s philanthropic community, the Gala raised $1.2 million, setting a new fundraising record for Starlight. Chaired by longtime supporters Howard and Debbi Cohen, this year’s celebration, A Stage for Every Story, was a reminder of the important role the community continues to play in sustaining one of Kansas City’s most treasured institutions.
The celebration began with a red-carpet reception on Starlight’s Applause Club Patio before guests gathered in the Stage House for dinner and a program honoring the people whose generosity, leadership, and talents continue to shape the organization. Among the evening’s special moments was the induction of two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster into Starlight’s Walk of Stars, adding her name to the many artists who have contributed to the theatre’s remarkable history.
That appreciation for Starlight’s history extended to the presentation of the 2026 Star Award to Roshann Parris, founder of Kansas City-based Parris Communications, Inc. As longtime friend Steve Doyal shared while presenting the award, the Star Award recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and generosity have made a lasting impact on Starlight. These are people who have given their time, shared their talents, opened doors, and helped shape what Starlight has become. Roshann has done exactly that, and her recognition was a celebration of both her longstanding commitment to Starlight and the difference she has made throughout Kansas City.
While the evening honored those who have helped make Starlight what it is today, guests also had the opportunity to see what that support makes possible for the next generation. Early in the program, students from Disney Musicals in Schools, one of Starlight’s newest initiatives, took the stage to share a glimpse of a program that introduces elementary school students to musical theatre through hands-on learning and performance.
Later in the evening, students from the Blue Star Awards and Vincent Legacy Scholarship programs joined Sutton Foster for a special performance that brought the evening’s theme, A Stage for Every Story, to life. From young students discovering musical theatre for the first time to emerging artists performing alongside a two-time Tony Award winner, these moments reflected the range of opportunities Starlight creates for young people across Kansas City and the impact of the community’s continued support.
Following the evening’s program, guests returned to the Applause Club for an After Party sponsored by Beth Benedict Borders, where live music, dancing, and conversation continued the celebration.
As Starlight looks toward the future, there is much to celebrate and much still to accomplish. The organization continues to invest in its home, expand opportunities for young people, and consider how live performance can best serve a changing community. That work is possible because generations of Kansas Citians have believed Starlight is worth caring for, preserving, and improving. The generosity demonstrated at this year’s Gala helps ensure that Starlight can honor the traditions that have made the theatre special while leaving room for new experiences and new stories to become part of its history.
Thank You to Our Supporters
To Howard and Debbi Cohen, Starlight’s generous sponsors, donors, volunteers, community partners, Board of Directors, staff, and everyone who helped make the evening possible, thank you. This record-breaking achievement belongs to the entire Starlight community, and the impact of that generosity will be felt beyond the event itself.
Here’s to the stories that brought us here, the people who make Starlight possible today, and all that is still to come.
Relive the Magic! View the full 2026 Gala photo album
SAVE THE DATE!
Looking ahead to next year! Starlight’s 40th Annual Gala will take place on October 23,2027! Keep an eye on our website for details (coming soon!).
