José González, Boyz II Men, and Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin
coming to Kauffman Center this fall
José González will perform at the Kauffman Center on August 29 at 7 p.m. with special guest Bedouine, as part of the 2019-2020 Kauffman Center Presents series. González will perform an acoustic set of his indie-folk music in Helzberg Hall.
Throughout his career, the Swedish singer-songwriter has released three solo albums, all while touring the globe and performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, including television programs like Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. González’s music is inspired by 1970s Brazilian productions, American folk and West African desert blues.
“Sonically, I think it is the sound of softness and comfort that people mostly connect with my music. It happens quite often that people come up to me to tell me that they’ve used my music to calm their kids,” González said when asked what he thinks draws people to his music.
Azniv Korkejian was born in Aleppo, Syria and took on the name Bedouine as a representation of her nomadic life, which landed her in Los Angeles, California. Bedouine has a degree in sound design and works professionally in dialogue editing and music editing. The singer and guitarist’s unique sound is described as 1960s folk meets 1970s country funk. Her music represents minimalism motivated by travel and establishes a sustained and complete mood, reflecting on the unending reverberations of displacement. Bedouine’s new album Bird Songs of a Killjoy will be released June 21.
To get tickets for this must-see performance, call the Kauffman Center Box Office at (816) 994-7222 or visit www.kauffmancenter.org. Ticket prices range from $29-$59, plus fees.
R&B trio, Boyz II Men, will be at the Kauffman Center on October 2 in Muriel Kauffman Theatre, as part of the 2019-2020 Kauffman Center Presents series. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. and will feature their timeless hit songs from the past two decades.
Boyz II Men has solidified their spot as one of R&B’s most iconic groups. On their long list of achievements are four GRAMMY awards and nine American Music Awards. Throughout their 25-year career, they have earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time with 60 million albums sold.
Tickets range from $59-$129 plus fees. To purchase, call the Kauffman Center Box Office at (816) 994-7222 or visit www.kauffmancenter.org.
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin are bringing their vast catalog of songs to the Kauffman Center’s Helzberg Hall on October 10, as part of the 2019-2020 Kauffman Center Presents series. This acoustic performance will start at 7 p.m. and features the lifelong friends’ hit songs as well as some of their favorite stories.
Mary Chapin Carpenter has sold more than 14 million records and won five GRAMMY awards throughout her long career. Her songs speak to the most universal of life stories and have earned her a spot as one of the 15 female members of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Shawn Colvin has been a constant of the contemporary folk music scene since her first GRAMMY award in 1989. In addition to her memoir, Diamond in the Rough, she has released 12 albums that inspire fans with her enduring talent. Coming in September, she will release a special all-acoustic version of her first GRAMMY-winning album, Steady On.
Tickets range from $39 to $89 plus fees. VIP tickets are available for $175, plus applicable fees, and include:
- One premium reserved ticket located in the first 10 rows
- Collectible tour lithograph autographed by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin
- Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin journal notebook and pen
- Specially designed Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin tote bag
- Exclusive Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin bookmark
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Kauffman Center Box Office by calling (816) 994.7222 or by visiting www.kauffmancenter.org.
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Photo by Christina Valdez
Future Stages Festival Performance Group Gains International Attention
Crescendo in Motion to perform Yuzuru Hanyu tribute at the Kauffman Center on Sunday, June 16 at 2:30 p.m.
Crescendo Conservatory, a school performing at the Kauffman Center’s upcoming Future Stages Festival has gone viral for their ballet tribute to Yuzuru Hanyu, a renowned Japanese figure skater and two-time Olympic gold medalist.
The co-artistic director of the conservatory, Christina Valdez, first became a fan of Hanyu after watching him in the 2018 Winter Olympics. She was drawn to his athleticism and also found many similarities between his skating and ballet.
As a tribute to the consecutive Olympic gold medalist, Valdez choreographed a piece inspired by his performance at the PyeongChang figure skating gala. After tweeting a photo from a rehearsal of the ballet, Crescendo in Motion quickly attracted attention from Hanyu fans around the world.
After posting the tweet, Crescendo then shared a video of their piece, Notte Stellata – A Ballet Tribute to Yuzuru Hanyu which now has over 25,000 views on YouTube. Viewers can even spot a Winnie the Pooh bear in the background which fans traditionally throw on the rink after Hanyu’s performances.
The story went worldwide when The Japan Times and the Olympic Channel covered the tribute. The Olympic Channel noted how Hanyu is now a muse for artists in all different mediums across the world.
The Kauffman Center is thrilled that Crescendo in Motion will perform Notte Stellata – A Ballet Tribute to Yuzuru Hanyu in Muriel Kauffman Theatre at Future Stages Festival on June 16,2019 at 2:30 p.m.
For more information on all there is to do, see, hear, and make at the 6th annual Future Stages Festival, visit: kauffmancenter.org/futurestages
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Crescendo in Motion performs in Helzberg Hall. Photo by Rachel Nyhart.
More than 700 youth performers will be featured on four stages at this year’s festival.
Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce performance groups and arts partners presenting at the 6th Annual Future Stages Festival. On June 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids from 4-18 years of age will present their talents to the Kansas City audience. To RSVP to this FREE event and get up-to-date information on the day’s activities, visit kauffmancenter.org/futurestages.
See highlights of last year’s Future Stages Festival.
As part of the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors Spotlight on Youth program, the Future Stages Festival is a celebration of the arts and youth performers. It is a chance for emerging artists to showcase their talents and passions on the Kauffman Center’s stages. Not only will guests be able to see the talented youth representing many parts of the Greater Kansas City metro area, they can enjoy activities and crafts throughout the day. Activities, such as drawing on the Kauffman Center’s windows and the Selfie Scavenger Hunt, will keep attendees of all ages busy having fun inside and outside of the performance halls.
See all of the fun activities at the 5th Annual Future Stages Festival.
This FREE festival is presented by Kauffman Center’s premier partner Saint Luke’s Health System and will showcase performances by 34 local community arts organizations listed below. Throughout the day, groups will perform on four stages: Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Helzberg Hall, the Saint Luke’s Outdoor Stage, and the Community Stage on the south lawn. Performing arts genres featured at this year’s festival range from ballet and hip-hop to acrobatics and jazz bands.
Featured Performance Groups at the 6th Annual Future Stages Festival Include:
Soundz of Africa performs in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Photo by Jillian Shoptaw.
5 Star Jazz Band
AileyCamp the Group
Ballet Folklorico de Topeka
Bharathanatyam from Chilanka School of Dance
Caruthers Dance Studios – The Hot Steppers
Chinese School Dance Group
Crescendo in Motion
Dynamic Dance Competition Team
Harmony Project KC
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival: Team Shakespeare
HK Chinese Folk Dance Group
House of Dance Company
Ice Studios School of Dance
Kansas City Aerial Arts Training Company
Kansas City Boys Choir and Kansas City Girls Choir
Kansas City Dance Company
Kansas City Jazz Academy – Advanced Combo
KC Homeschool Dance
KC Youth Percussion Ensemble
KCYA Community School of the Arts Dancers
Lily Zhang Li Taylor Dance Academy
Los Bailadores de Kansas City
Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Frost High School Honors Artists
Metropolitan Conservatory Orchestra
Miles Swaminathan
Miller Marley School Show Biz Performers
Mudra Dance Academy
School of Rock Kansas City House Band
Starlight STARS
Street Styles Academy’s “Elite Team”
String Sprouts KC
TeamEXCEL! (Take the Stage Program)
The A-Flat Youth Orchestra
The Charlie Parker Memorial Jazz Ensemble
The Last Carnival Circus School
Dancers perform a modern dance piece in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Photo by Ellie Fehlig.
Activities Provided by:
American Institute of Architects – Kansas City
College Basketball Experience
Folk Alliance International
Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri
Great American Kites & Events
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival
Kansas City Ballet
Kansas City Broadway Series
Kansas City Chalk and Walk Festival
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City Zoo
KCPT Kids
Latino Arts Foundation
Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Mattie Rhodes Center
Museum at Prairiefire
Sporting KC
StoneLion Puppet Theatre
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Vania Soto – Visual Artist
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2019
Where: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Cost: FREE and open to the public.
More information: Registration is not necessary as tickets will not be issued. Once registered, attendees will automatically be entered to win two tickets to an upcoming performance at the Kauffman Center. All ages are welcome; programming is suggested as most suitable for families with children ages 4-15.
ABOUT THE OPEN DOORS PROGRAM
The Kauffman Center Open Doors program connects young people to the arts through three major components:
– The Open Doors Spotlight on Youth initiative offers year-round programs and engagement opportunities that connect young people with the Kauffman Center.
– The Open Doors Community Tickets program offers free and reduced price performance tickets to underserved audiences through local social service agencies and schools.
– The Open Doors Transportation Fund helps schools offer high quality performing arts experiences to students by eliminating or defraying the costs of bus transportation.
More information about Open Doors programs is available at: kauffmancenter.org/open-doors.
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More than 1,500 people attended Los Tigres del Norte
with special guests Making Movies at the Kauffman Center
Photo by Cody Boston
Photo by Cody Boston
On Sunday, April 14, 2019, more than 1,500 people attended the nearly sold-out Kauffman Center Presents Los Tigres del Norte performance.
Los Tigres del Norte have reinvented Mexican popular music with their modern take on traditional norteño, cumbia, bolero and rock music. The multiple Grammy award-winning band has sold 37 million records and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Making Movies, the Kansas City-based rock band who opened the show, blends Afro-Latino rhythms with psychedelic jams and rock ’n’ roll swagger.
In line with the Kauffman Center’s mission to bridge the gap between the arts and local communities and organizations, the Open Doors Community Tickets program provided free tickets to local nonprofit agencies including El Centro, Guadalupe Centers and Mattie Rhodes Center. The Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City also donated three traditional Mexican dresses for display as part of the Kauffman Center’s Live in the Lobby series.
Photo by Cody Boston
Eduardo’s Pueblito food truck was parked outside the south entrance of the Kauffman Center for guests to enjoy traditional Mexican food before the show.
The Kauffman Center Presents series is proud to provide inclusive programming that represents people of all cultures and backgrounds. Through the Los Tigres del Norte and Making Movies performance, a diverse crowd of fresh new faces was able to experience the Kauffman Center, many for the first time.
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Kauffman Center Featured by Google Arts & Culture
Explore Kansas City culture in a new interactive online project by
Google Arts & Culture in collaboration with the Kauffman Center
Photo of Brandmeyer Great Hall by Jillian Shoptaw
On Friday, April 5, 2019, Google Arts & Culture launched Kansas City – Google Arts & Culture’s first online exhibition featuring an American city. The project brings together collections, stories and 360-degree tours from 15 renowned Kansas City institutions, including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Photo of Helzberg Hall by Steve Mohlenkamp
From articles like ‘11 Fun Facts About Kansas City‘ to ‘The KC BBQ Experience: What to Expect,’ the exhibition highlights the history, people and culture that makes Kansas City the “Heart of America.” The project launched with a video highlighting Kansas City’s arts and culture scene. The platform has introduced Kansas City and its arts and culture to an international audience giving visitors around the world the opportunity to learn and experience Kansas City in a new way.
The partnership also features Google Arts & Culture’s Art Camera – a custom device that takes hundreds of close-up images, revealing a level of detail hidden from the naked eye. This means Helzberg Hall, Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Brandmeyer Great Hall can now be viewed in an interactive 360-degree gigapixel-picture.
“We’re excited to launch our first project profiling an American city here in Kansas City,” said Simon Delacroix, US Lead at Google Arts & Culture. “Kansas City’s vibrant art and history has been instrumental to Google Arts & Culture from our very beginning in 2011. Today marks a big step forward — with the help of 15 world-class institutions, we’re thrilled to share with anyone, anywhere, some of the amazing stories that make Kansas City the Heart of America.”
Paul Schofer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kauffman Center stated, “We’re excited and honored to be a part of this ambitious endeavor to highlight the many artistic and cultural experiences that Kansas City has to offer. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an iconic part of the arts and cultural landscape of Kansas City and we are proud to be included to showcase what so many of us already know: that Kansas City has world-class entertainment for everyone.”
Below are some of the featured exhibitions about the Kauffman Center:
Photo of the Kauffman Center from the southside by Mary Beth Russell
- Performances at the Kauffman Center: featuring information on the 300+ performances the Kauffman Center hosts per year (including the Kauffman Center Presents series, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City).
- The Construction of the Kauffman Center: an exclusive look into the five-year construction of the Kauffman Center from groundbreaking to grand opening.
- Architecture Highlights: an in-depth look at the Kauffman Center’s architectural features both inside and outside of the facility.
- The King of All Instruments: a showcase of the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ, Opus 3875, one of the finest performance organs in the country and the visual centerpiece of Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center.
You can experience Kansas City and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts by downloading the Android or iOS app or visiting Google Arts & Culture.
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