KC’s performing arts scene is energetic, accessible and teeming with talent.
By Addie Linn | Photo by Cody Boston
KC’s nonprofit arts and culture sector has a $600 million impact on the local economy, supports nearly 9,000 jobs and inspires 4.5 million audience members annually. It may be unexpected for a mid-sized, “secondary city” — but KC is accustomed to overdelivering.
The numbers say a lot, but what really speaks is the caliber of talent gracing stages across the region. The city’s symphony, opera and ballet troupes attract top performers, conductors and choreographers from around the nation, forming a powerhouse of artistic prestige.
Homegrown virtuosos emerge from area schools including William Jewell College, Park University and the highly-regarded University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance.
Rooted in KC but performing worldwide, Quixotic Fusion stuns with a dynamic mixture of live music, dance, aerial stunts and technical mastery that blend into an immersive cirque experience you can’t miss.
The city is also filled with venues that are sure to take your breath away. Most notably, the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts — which has cemented itself as a destination for world-class performers and as an iconic piece of the KC skyline.
Starlight Theatre brings Broadway outside with its open-air amphitheater, while Overland Park’s New Theatre and Restaurant dazzles indoors with LED panels that give life to a unique auditorium atmosphere.
Our storied jazz legacy lives on today in historic venues — The Blue Room, Green Lady Lounge and The Phoenix, to name a few. There’s also the Mutual Musician’s Foundation, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as the world’s longest-running jazz venue.
These striking locales make KC an attractive place for touring acts, including concerts, comedy shows, Broadway musicals — you name it. Variety is undoubtedly a strength of the market and there’s no shortage of events available to fill your calendar.
Perhaps what’s most unique about the arts in KC: accessibility. Like an unspoken rule, the importance of arts exposure is collectively understood, and patrons of all ages, backgrounds and tax brackets can be a part of the scene in KC.
Kansas City Symphony goers can snag a ticket for as low as $37, or catch its Mobile Music Box to see a performance at no cost. Sprawling into suburban and rural communities, this outdoor concert series brings free chamber music to zip codes across the region.
The Drop, an ArtsKC program, works to remove barriers to the arts, while ArtsKC Go, an online platform, curates a calendar of free and low-cost events throughout the year.
Art as Mentorship connects young artists to seasoned musicians with a deeper goal of combating the youth mental health crisis. Founded by Enrique Chi, lead guitarist and vocalist of local Grammy-nominated band Making Movies, the program offers a variety of camps, workshops and the annual Celebrate Ameri’kana festival.
Far more than a “highbrow” pastime, KC’s performing arts scene aims to connect, engage and bridge gaps between neighbors. It’s an essential part of the region’s cultural heartbeat, reverberating across the Midwest.