Lyric Opera to move offices, rehearsal space to Crossroads

Date: June 11, 2007

Author: Kauffman Center

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City recently announced the purchase of three neighboring buildings in the Crossroads Arts District.  The 50,000 square feet of space will be renovated to house the Lyric Opera’s administrative offices, its scenic design and paint shop and rehearsal space.

“Consolidating many of the Lyric’s operations under one roof has been a paramount goal for the board,” said Thomas Flowers, Lyric Opera board president (and senior vice president, US Bank).  As part of this process, the organization has sold the 81-year old Lyric Theatre to DST Realty.  The Lyric Theatre has been home to the opera since 1972.

Lyric Opera General Director Evan Luskin is excited to find facilities close enough to the Kauffman Center and with enough room for offices, a rehearsal hall and space to build paint sets and backdrops, with loading docks to handle the large sets.  “There are relatively few such spaces available in Kansas City,” Luskin says.

As plans for the construction of the Kauffman Center were being finalized several years ago, the Lyric began looking for one building to house its non-performance activities. 

“Most people are not aware that, while our office space and theater are at the Lyric Theater,” Luskin shares, “we also operate a scene shop and storage space in the East bottoms and rent rehearsal space in the basement of Trinity United Methodist Church on Armour Boulevard.”  The Lyric has long wanted to have all operations under the same roof.  This would both to minimize costs and synergize the Lyric’s artistic and administrative functions.  Luskin estimates a $200,000 annual operating cost savings in the new joint space.

Luskin envisions that it will take three years of work to turn the three separate buildings in the Crossroads into a model opera center.  The buildings will immediately serve as the Lyric’s paint shop, but architects and builders will be hired to make major transitions to the space.  “I am pleased that the new site enables the Lyric Opera to remain in the center of Kansas City.” Luskin says.

According to Artistic Director Ward Holmquist, “This building epitomizes our dedication to continuous artistic growth. This will allow us, for the first time, to create and supervise the construction of all sets, props and costumes.” 

DST has agreed to lease back the theater for opera, symphony and ballet productions until the Kauffman Center opens three years from now.  Tom McDonnell, DST president and CEO stressed that the company wants to help the opera and other arts groups that perform there during the transition period before the Kauffman Center opens.  As quoted in the Kansas City Star, McDonnell says, “I don’t think the long-term use is likely to be theater.  Once it’s clear that they’re in their new home, we can rethink how to use the property.”  McDonnell projects that the impact of the Sprint Center and Power & Light District will be clearer in the near future and, “there may be some use we don’t anticipate that could develop.”

More details can be found in the Business Section of the Kansas City Star, Friday, June 1, 2007 in an article written by Kevin Collison and Paul Horsley.