Keep up with the latest from Starlight including details about Broadway shows, new programs, history, and more.
Claire joins Starlight’s Philanthropy team to support all philanthropic efforts including events management, gift processing, donor cultivation, ticket coordination, and prospect research. She comes directly from the Kansas City Repertory Theatre with a passion for ensuring all members of Kansas City have access to experience the arts. Read on to learn more about the newest … Continued
Join us in congratulating Andrew Lang, Starlight’s new Director of Philanthropy! We sat down with Andrew to discuss his history with Starlight and plans for his new role. Tell us about your history with Starlight. When I was a Junior in High School in Columbia, my sister, Cortney, had just moved to Kansas City and … Continued
Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to Starlight’s 35th Annual Benefit Gala: It Starts at Starlight. On Saturday, October 1, more than 400 patrons and benefactors came together to celebrate the Starlight tradition and Kansas City’s vibrant creative community while acknowledging the impact and importance of the arts. Chaired by Cathy and Rick … Continued
National Arts in Education Week takes place in September every year. We’re celebrating by taking a look back at our recent partnership with Kansas City Public Schools as well as sharing a little about programs at Starlight that help make the arts more accessible to our community. In 2021, Starlight partnered with Kansas City Public … Continued
Starlight welcomed around 100 residents from the Center for Neighborhoods and the Swope Park area for dinner, a show, and an important community conversation before the Tuesday, August 16 performance of Sister Act. For several months leading up to the event, Starlight visited with representatives from numerous neighborhood associations, schools, social service agencies, health facilities, … Continued
Supporting arts education in Kansas City, Starlight hosted the 2022 Kansas/Missouri Arts Integration Symposium July 26 and 27 at its historic theatre in Swope Park. More than 100 educators from 15 counties in the Kansas City Metropolitan area received training on utilizing arts integration techniques in their community classrooms. Faculty trained by the John F. … Continued
Starlight’s own Blue Star Award winners, Maddox Bane and Georgia Barge, made their Broadway debut at the Minskoff Theatre stage on Monday, June 27, in the 2022 Jimmy Awards. Bane and Barge won the 2021-22 Blue Star Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role and Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role, respectively, earning them … Continued
Starlight is proud to offer its Bob Rohlf interns a variety of professional development opportunities throughout their internship experience. Some of these events and opportunities include networking events, industry informational sessions, and volunteer opportunities with Young Friends of Starlight. In July, Starlight’s interns attended a networking event with GenKC, called Grow to GenKC: Why Kansas … Continued
Since its inception of the Broadway series in 1951, Starlight has collaborated with hundreds of local community partners to ensure that all Kansas Citians can enjoy, support, and participate in the arts through the Community Tickets program. This year, Starlight Theatre has partnered with 168 organizations to provide thousands of children and adults with the … Continued
Do you love watching your favorite shows under the stars at our historic venue? We need your help nominating Starlight Theatre for The Pitch’s 2022 Best of KC awards! With your support, we won the categories of Best Live Music Venue, Best Live Theatre, and Best Outdoor Venue in 2021. In 2022, we hope to … Continued
Each year, thousands of high school students across the Kansas City metro celebrate their accomplishments at the annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony. This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Blue Star Awards, and 49 schools and more than 3,700 metro area students participated. For those that may be unfamiliar, Starlight launched the Blue Star … Continued
Starlight Theatre welcomed the 2022 Bob Rohlf interns in May. Interns are an essential part of the success of Starlight’s summer season, and we are so excited to have them join us. Interns gain hands-on experience in all departments while providing support for key programs. “I have loved diving in and learning about sales … Continued
A passion for the arts. The pursuit of a dream. Family tradition. A lifetime of memories. It starts at Starlight. The 35th Annual Benefit Gala raises funds that are critical in enabling Starlight to touch the lives of 30,000 residents through community engagement programs. In addition, support helps to bring world-class Broadway productions and concerts … Continued
Last year’s Blue Star Awards celebrated more than 90 students involved in musical theatre from area high schools in our community, and local Olathe East graduate Justin Cooley took home the award for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role. His win led him to the Jimmy Awards, presented in New York by the Broadway League … Continued
Each year, thousands of high school students across the Kansas City metro wait in anticipation for the announcement of the annual Blue Star Awards nominations. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, Starlight leadership, staff, and board members returned to in-person presentations to reveal this year’s nominations on Thursday, April 28. This year is the … Continued
Registration is now open for Starlight’s middle school performance troupe—Starlight Stars of Tomorrow! Designed to help students in grades 6-8 build a foundation of performance skills, the program’s activities take place throughout the summer, with additional fall and winter opportunities. Students attend four exploratory theatre and performance sessions led by industry professionals. Not only do … Continued
We want to hear from those who live and/or work in the Swope Park area. You can help us advance our mission to better serve our audiences and enrich our relationship with our surrounding neighbors by taking a 5 to 10-minute survey. Those who complete the survey by the deadline will be entered to win … Continued
Each year, the Starlight Stars performance troupe prepares company members to pursue arts careers by honing the skills of high school performers. Last month, the 2021 troupe gathered for their annual wrap party, and Starlight awarded four participants scholarships for their exceptional work throughout the year. This year, program supporters Howard and Ro Jacobson funded … Continued
Starlight is searching for the newest class of Vincent Legacy Scholars! Established in 2006, the Vincent Legacy Scholarship program provides $2,500 for performing arts training to BIPOC youth in the Kansas City community. More than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception. To qualify for application, students in grades 6, 7 or … Continued
Did you know? Starlight offers paid summer internships throughout a number of departments at our nonprofit theatre. Since 1984, the Bob Rohlf Internship program has provided college students with the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to bring live Broadway musicals, popular concerts and education programming to Kansas City audiences. … Continued
In mid-December, Vincent Legacy Scholars, their families, Starlight staff and board members gathered together in person to celebrate the holiday season for the first time in two years. The annual holiday reunion is always a favorite, as current scholars and alumni share life updates and reconnect with one another from the past year. This year’s … Continued
Inspired by so many Broadway stars sharing songs from their living rooms, our 2019 Starlight Stars recently took to Zoom to create a rendition of “Found/Tonight”—a mashup of two popular songs from Broadway’s hit musicals Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. Released in 2018, “Found/Tonight” combines “The Story of Tonight” from Hamilton with Dear Evan Hansen’s … Continued