Mission + Vision
Since 1950
Starlight is dedicated to excellence in the performing arts.
MISSION
Connect our community through live arts experiences that entertain, inspire, and engage.
VISION
Be the home for accessible live arts experiences for all generations.
Get Involved
Donate
Charitable gifts are critical to enhancing the experience for audience members of all economic means and help sustain our community engagement programming that impacts nearly 25,000 Kansas Citians each year.
Volunteer
Without volunteers during Broadway show and concert nights, it would be impossible to provide our patrons with the exceptional experiences they have come to expect.
History
By the mid-1940s, discussions of an “outdoor stage” for Kansas City had been under way for two decades. While an outdoor theatre was low on the city’s list of priorities, plans for a ceremony to celebrate Kansas City’s 100th anniversary added urgency.
City officials selected Swope Park as the site for the performance and, with bond money held up in litigation, the city’s Centennial Association contributed $135,000 to begin construction in December 1949.
On June 3, 1950, in a facility not yet fully complete, the historical revue, Thrills of a Century, opened at Starlight Theatre in celebration of Kansas City’s 100th birthday. The show played nightly through July 10. Hundreds of local citizens participated in the pageant, and thousands turned out each night. Show highlights included the staging of the Battle of Westport, a Gay ‘90s revue, and the original locomotive that crossed the Hannibal Bridge 81 years before chugging across the stage on specially built rails.
The pageant’s success prompted the Park Board to move ahead with plans to complete Starlight. In 1951, a not-for-profit organization was created to activate and run the theatre going forward.
Keep Reading
Decade by Decade
Read more about each decade in Starlight’s almost 75 years in our special ongoing blog series.
Walk of Stars
In 2001, Starlight proudly introduced its Walk of Stars to recognize the greats who have appeared on our stage.
Values
Our values guide our actions, initiatives, and organizational culture as we work to advance our mission and vision.
Collaboration: We communicate with honesty, empathy, and respect and value different perspectives to work together and achieve our goals.
Accountability: We make thoughtful, purpose-driven choices that are guided by our mission, vision, and values, take responsibility for our actions, and share results transparently.
Service: We apply a people-first mentality in all interactions and deliver programming that positively contributes to our community.
Creativity: We celebrate the transformative power of live arts by committing to continual learning, improvement, and innovation that strengthen our work and legacy.
Access: We foster a safe and welcoming environment by addressing barriers to participation for people of all backgrounds and abilities who seek to engage with Starlight.
Value Recognition Award
Starlight’s Value Recognition Award was created to acknowledge employees who exemplify the organization’s core values. Each quarter, Starlight selects one core value to highlight and asks our staff to nominate an employee who has demonstrated the core value through their work and activities. The winner is given a trophy and provided a number of prizes to chose from- as well as being highlighted at our all-staff meetings and on the Starlight website.
Previous Winners
