Starting June 30 through July 26, the entrance from 63rd Street will be closed to all traffic. Starlight guests should use the Elmwood or Meyer/Swope Parkway entrances to Swope Park.
Keep up with the latest from Starlight including details about Broadway shows, new programs, history, and more.
If Starlight Theatre runs like a well-oiled machine on summer nights, it’s due in large part to the many Starlight Ambassadors who volunteer their time and talents all year long. So, on the evening of Oct. 6, Starlight gave its generous volunteers a big round of applause, awards, prizes and a tasty meal at the … Continued
Starlight Theatre staff rolled up their sleeves for a great cause this week. Participating in the United Way’s Care4KC campaign, we made and served dinner to families staying at the local Ronald McDonald House. Mashed potato bowls and warm apple crisp were on the menu on a cool fall night. We chopped, peeled, sliced, diced, … Continued
A decade of selflessness and support for Kansas City youth was honored Saturday night, Sept. 26, when Greg and Rebecca Reid were presented the 2015 Star of Touring Broadway Award at Starlight’s Annual Benefit Gala. The Reids, benefactors of the now decade-old Vincent Legacy Scholarship program at Starlight, received the award from The Broadway League based on a … Continued
Starlight Theatre’s 29th Annual Benefit Gala, Prism: Reflecting Forward, was a record-breaking night in Starlight history. Thanks to the support of more than 100 generous donors, Starlight raised more than $705,000, all of which will help to fund construction of Starlight’s new education building and support 11 education programs. The previous Gala fundraising record of $700,800 … Continued
It has been a milestone year for Starlight’s Vincent Legacy Scholarship program. The scholarship program for ethnically diverse middle-school youth, established by benefactors Greg and Rebecca Reid, marked its 10th anniversary and awarded a record five scholarships in 2015. Since the program began in 2006, a total of 27 Vincent Legacy Scholarships have been provided … Continued
The 15 artists of Cirque Éloize iD fill the Starlight stage with eye-popping spectacle this week. Two of the show’s dancers – Forty N’Guyen of Canada and Maria Pandora of the U.S. – shared insights into their personal routines. The show plays at Starlight on Sept. 8-13 and is the final production of the 2015 … Continued
Starlight Theatre associates put their money where their mouths are when it comes to supporting Kansas City’s arts community. Recognizing that local arts organizations are stronger together than separate, each spring Starlight staff members financially support the arts by contributing to the citywide ArtsKC Fund through its employee giving campaign. At Starlight, ArtsKC Fund week … Continued
We went backstage to learn more about our two youngest stars of the show, Fiona Scott and Maddox Carter Bane who play the roles of Jane and Michael Banks! Take a look and discover more about some of these performers’ favorite things! Favorite movie Fiona: Inside Out Maddox: In to the Woods Favorite singer or band Fiona: Taylor … Continued
The Starlight STARS of Tomorrow are taking their show on the road. Starlight’s youth performance troupe will entertain audiences this Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Kansas City Ballet’s Fifth Annual KC Dance Day. The STARS take the stage at 10:10 a.m. to perform their 2015 Broadway season medley, including numbers from Cinderella, Pippin, Mary Poppins and more. … Continued
As the 1980s concluded, Starlight Theatre had returned to financial solvency. Determined to grow and thrive as a new decade dawned, the theatre’s leadership and Board of Directors undertook efforts to bring continued improvement and positive change to the Starlight venue and operations throughout the 1990s. Helping to fuel the activity was significant growth in … Continued
Parents, children and dolls experienced the magic of Starlight Theatre this summer at American Girl’s exclusive group outings to three Broadway shows (Annie, Cinderella and Mary Poppins). Starlight, in turn, coordinated a number of activities for these special guests. Working with Starlight’s Group Sales department, American Girl Kansas City offered its customers a unique theatrical experience, including … Continued
The seventh and final show of Starlight Theatre’s 2015 Broadway season promises to delight audiences with a performance that is equal parts art, adventure and awe-inspiring skill. With the creative vibe of a modern circus, Cirque Éloize iD is set to transport Starlight audiences to a vibrant urban streetscape in the heart of a city. Starlight’s Cohen … Continued
The past month has been a very busy one for Starlight Theatre company manager Caroline Gibel. She took on a myriad of management duties for the 34-person cast and multi-member creative team for Starlight’s production ofMary Poppins, which was the only Broadway show rehearsed and produced locally this season. Caroline deftly led tasks ranging from … Continued
Starlight Theatre concludes its 65th anniversary season in September, and the theatre’s biggest annual fundraising event will put a crowning touch on another successful summer of Broadway and concert entertainment. Under the leadership of co-chairs Bonne and Cliff Illig, the Starlight Theatre Annual Benefit Gala will mark its 29th year on Saturday night, Sept. 26. … Continued
Our continuing Q&A series allows Rich Baker, Starlight president and CEO, to share his thoughts and insights about topics related to our Broadway season, venue, industry trends and more. Q. Why does Starlight add fees onto its ticket prices? A. I’d like to try to clear up some common misconceptions about fees or, as you might call … Continued
With 10 concert events completed and more than a dozen yet to come, Starlight Theatre is heating up August with rebels, rock stars, Broadway beauties and comedians as the 2015 Capitol Federal Concert Series continues. Phish Performed Wednesday, August 5 Noted for musical improvisation, Phish is an American rock band best known for blending music … Continued
Starlight Theatre was thrilled to welcome nearly 100 Girl Scouts, troop leaders and parents to a special Mary Poppins educational workshop on July 29. The girls, all members of Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri, gathered at the theatre to explore the inner workings of musical theatre. With help from Mary Poppins cast members and Starlight staff, … Continued
It was a Jolly Holiday of a Tuesday on July 21 when supercalifragilistic tunes could be heard ringing through the Starlight campus. The talented Mary Poppins orchestra musicians arrived early and began their five-hour practice of the whimsical score for this show-stopping production. The Mary Poppins cast will have the privilege of singing along to the beautiful instrumentals of … Continued
As part of the 2015 Fairy Tale Festival, Starlight Theatre took the opportunity to help a fellow not-for-profit organization that makes a big impact in the greater Kansas City Area. Guests attending Cinderella at Starlight were invited – and encouraged – to bring a pair of children’s shoes to the show to donate to Operation Breakthrough. Committed … Continued
Rehearsals began Monday, July 13, for Starlight Theatre’s upcoming production of Disney and Cameron Macintosh’s Mary Poppins. The cast features 34 actors, including 16 who are either Kansas City natives or who now call Kansas City home. In addition, several out-of-town professionals are returning to the Starlight stage after performing here in the past. The … Continued
At the pre-show Fairy Tale Festival before each performance of Cinderella, Starlight Theatre is partnering with Operation Breakthrough to collect shoes for Kansas City children. Everyone knows the glass slipper is pivotal to the plot of Cinderella, so Starlight picked up on the shoe theme with its “If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Bring It!” campaign. Guests attending … Continued
Starlight Theatre and all of Kansas City lost a valued friend and selfless supporter with the passing of Jack Steadman on July 5. While most widely recognized locally for his leadership of the Kansas City Chiefs and Hunt Midwest Enterprises, Jack also made a huge impact on Starlight Theatre for the entirety of the 43 … Continued
Two area high school students, honored by Starlight Theatre’s Blue Star Awards for their theatrical achievements, are in New York City through Tuesday to compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA). Maggie Marx and Austin Dalgleish are graduates of Shawnee Mission Northwest and Shawnee Mission East, respectively. They were recognized at the … Continued
When Starlight Theatre welcomes the high-flying, Tony Award®-winning production of PIPPIN to its stage beginning June 30, one cast member is likely to have plenty of hometown fan support in the audience. Lisa Karlin, one of the Players in touring musical, is an Overland Park native with deep family roots in the community. In advance of her … Continued
National list-makers continue to shine the spotlight on Starlight Theatre as one of the best places in the country to spend a summer night. A recent USA Today and 10 Best readers’ poll placed the theatre fourth in the Best Outdoor Music Venue category. The competition included 20 sites across the United States as selected by a … Continued
The dog days of summer are here at Starlight Theatre as the 2015 Broadway season is in full swing! Annie, a brand-new incarnation of one of the best-loved Broadway musicals, will grace the Starlight stage June 19-21. Did you know the cherished K9 companion who plays Sandy was specifically trained to perform theatre? Annie producers … Continued
Fun Home was the big winner at the 2015 Tony Awards, receiving the trophy for Best Musical and four others, including Best Score and Best Leading Actor for Michael Cerveris. The new musical, based on Alison Bechdel’s memoir of the same name, was nominated for a total of 12 awards (including three featured actresses in the … Continued
The 2015 Tony Awards are just hours away and we have everything you need to put on the perfect last minute party. Download our Printable Party Decorations and bring Broadway to your living room. Broadway Decorations: Broadway is all about presentation. Decorate your party with bright flowers, fun tablecloths, themed goodies and make sure to … Continued
This year’s Tony Award nominees for best musical include, Something Rotten!, The Visit, Fun Home and An American in Paris. Who do you think will take home the Tony? Something Rotten! Opened at the St. James Theatre on April 22. The musical is set in London in the 1590’s and tells the story of two brothers who set … Continued
The 2015 Tony Awards are just around the corner, and if you’re like us, you’ve been rocking out to Broadway cast recordings nonstop for the last few weeks. As the countdown to Sunday’s show continues, Starlight Theatre is bringing you a Tony Award playlists, available to stream and share for free on Spotify. We’ve created … Continued