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.
Join the next generation of arts advocates! Young Friends of Starlight (YFS) is looking for Kansas City young professionals to join its Steering Committee for the upcoming term (April 2022 – March 2024). YFS Steering Committee members work closely with Starlight staff, leadership and board members to champion our historic theatre in Swope Park. If … Continued
On this week’s episode, Young Friends of Starlight Steering Committee applications are now available, Anything Goes heads to cinemas, and an Annie sequel hits airwaves. YFS Steering Committee Applications
With the New Year comes new executive leadership at Starlight! This month, Bess Wallerstein Huff joined the team at the historic theatre in Swope Park as Starlight’s new Vice President of Marketing and Sales. Cindy Jeffries held the position for 18 years. Starlight’s hiring committee, including its board of directors, conducted a nationwide search to … Continued
Starlight is excited to welcome its new Vice President of Marketing and Sales to the team. Wallerstein Huff brings nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit performing arts industry and we’re thrilled for her to lead Starlight’s marketing and sales team in its next chapter. Learn more about Starlight’s newest VP! What attracted … 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
After 18 years at Starlight, Cindy Jeffries, Starlight’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales, will retire later this month. She recalls many memories of the amazing shows and performers at Starlight Theatre throughout the years and has been an integral part of changes, improvements and new programs launched in her tenure. She’s proud to have … Continued
What was your best memory working at Starlight? I will take with me so many special memories of Starlight. I think some of my very best include the first time I brought each of my daughters to a Broadway show and watched their faces as they took it all in. They were so young, but … 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
It may be getting chilly outside—but we’re already dreaming of next summer and beautiful nights under the stars at Starlight Theatre. A number of fantastic artists have already been announced—with more announcements coming soon! Check out the line up so far and stay tuned as we fill the calendar for an especially great summer under … Continued
In our second episode of season two’s Raise Our Voices video performance series, Artistic Advisor Chioma Anyanwu selected Ahafia Jurkiewicz-Miles to feature. “Ahafia is unflinchingly open to artistic collaboration, masterfully flexible to evolving ideas, genuinely kind, and exhibits an almost saintly patience in stressful situations,” Chioma said. “They are what I think of when I … Continued
Hosted in partnership with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Van Gogh Alive opened at Starlight just over a month ago and has already drawn thousands of visitors to this unique, multi-sensory experience. Among those visitors were more than 800 middle and high school students from Kansas City Public Schools, who received free access to the exhibit thanks to the generosity of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation and generous donor patrons. Great Day … Continued
Two of Starlight’s biggest supporters were honored with special awards at this year’s National Philanthropy Day Awards on Thursday, November 11. The ceremony was put on by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Kansas City Chapter, and honored Kansas City individuals and companies that embody the spirit of philanthropy. Amy Guerich was the recipient of this year‘s award for Spirit of Philanthropy – Individual/Family, which honors … Continued
As 2021 draws to a close, we’re increasingly grateful for the more than 3,000 donors that stepped up this year in support of the arts and our community with a gift to Starlight. Thank you! Beyond our stage, thousands of people each year are touched by Starlight’s community engagement programs that provide need-based performing arts scholarships to BIPOC students, promote healing and hope … Continued
The Starlight family was saddened to learn of the passing of Robert (Bob) Kipp late last month. “Bob was an intelligent leader and a man of great integrity,” Bob Rohlf, Starlight’s former President and Executive Producer, said. “He was results-focused but never wanted to be in the spotlight, he just wanted what was best for … Continued
Avoid frustrating shipping delays and gift a memory-making night at Starlight to your friends and family this holiday season. A Starlight gift certificate fits everyone on your list. Gift certificates can be used on Broadway, concerts, dining or parking. The best part? They don’t expire for five years! Here are just a few events coming … Continued
Thanks to a partnership between Kansas City Public Schools, Starlight, and the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, more than 800 students from Kansas City Public Schools have had the opportunity to experience Van Gogh Alive at Starlight Theatre since mid-November. “The exhibit at Starlight is a brand-new way to experience the works of one of the … Continued
For the first time since March 2020, Starlight’s Just Imagine program was able to perform again in front of a live audience in November with Kids’ Safari in Independence. Comprised of a group of four professional actors, the Just Imagine troupe leads each performance, bringing with them props and specially designed costumes to take children … Continued
Starlight’s first foray into art exhibitions has been a hit with Van Gogh Alive. Presented by Starlight and The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Van Gogh Alive opened at Starlight Theatre October 23 and critics and patrons have both loved the multi-sensory experience. By popular demand, Van Gogh Alive has now been extended by two … Continued
On this week’s episode, Disney’s “Encanto” comes to theatres and Disney+, Starlight’s Raise Our Voices makes its season two premiere, and A Very Boy Band Holiday celebrates the season on ABC. Encanto Comes to Theatres/Disney+
In the second season of Starlight’s video performance series Raise Our Voices, Starlight assembled an Artistic Advisory Committee comprised of community artists and art educators, who then search and select artists to collaborate with. The pairs work together to decide on the material, concepts, messaging and technique for their performance. For the season two premiere, … Continued
On this week’s episode, a Vincent Legacy Scholar attends a prestigious puppetry workshop, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will once again feature Broadway performances, and Annie LIVE is set to premiere on NBC. Zachery Garner Attends Puppetry Training Initiative
In 2020, with Starlight’s stage dark and a call for social justice rising across the nation, a new Starlight performance series, Raise Our Voices, was born. Season one featured ten students, each with a connection to at least one of Starlight’s community engagement programs, performing a student-selected piece. In December, season two of Raise Our … Continued
On this week’s episode, Van Gogh Alive is open at Starlight, a Blue Star Awards student opens a show off-Broadway, and Tick, Tick, Boom is released. Van Gogh Alive Opens at Starlight
Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to Starlight’s 34th Annual Benefit Gala. On Saturday, October 2, hundreds of Kansas Citians came together to celebrate the arts, our vibrant creative community and a shared appreciation of a beloved cultural landmark. Chaired by Kelly and Joe Privitera, the event raised more than $500,000 thanks to … Continued
Have you ever wanted to work at one of Kansas City’s oldest and most iconic venues? Now is your chance! Starlight is currently hiring five positions, in addition to a number of subcontracting positions. Volunteer opportunities are also available for those looking to donate their time to this historic nonprofit organization (and see some really … Continued
Do you know of a college student looking to gain hands-on experience in the theatre industry next summer? Look no further than Starlight! Since 1984, Starlight has provided paid summer internships in a number of departments, ranging from accounting to graphic design, landscaping/grounds, operations and more. Starlight’s interns are an integral part of the historic … Continued
Van Gogh Alive, the multi-sensory experience presented by Starlight Theatre and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, opened last month inside the Cohen Community Stage House at Starlight and runs through December 31 of this year. It’s an entirely new way to experience Starlight, as it takes place in the same stage that Broadway shows and … Continued
Thanks to all who voted for Starlight in The Pitch’s Best of KC! We’re proud to have been awarded Best Live Music Venue (1,000+), Best Live Theater and Best Outdoor Venue. This is the fourth year in a row that Starlight has been honored with Best Live Theater and Best Outdoor venue. The Pitch’s Best … Continued
Where did you first get your passion for Starlight? We have a long history with Starlight Theatre. One of our fondest memories is of our first concert together - James Taylor in the 90s! Since then, we have attended numerous concerts, events, and Broadway shows; Starlight has always been part of our Kansas City history! When … Continued
In case you missed it, last month we announced the 2022 AdventHealth Broadway Series lineup at Starlight, and we couldn’t be more excited! This series will feature a wide selection of shows designed to satisfy the varied tastes of Kansas City theatre-goers. As you consider renewing your Broadway subscription or becoming a new subscriber, keep … Continued