Sponsors
Handprints on a white wall are rarely a positive sight, but at the Kauffman Center’s PNC Grow Up Great Gallery, they are a vision of the future. PNC Bank created the gallery in partnership with the Kauffman Center to inspire local children by exposing them to the performing arts and encouraging creativity.
The Grow Up Great Gallery currently features nearly 300 colorful handprints created by pre-K students from Kansas City child development centers. By June, the wall will blossom with 160 new handprints made by students at EarlystART centers, El Centro Academy for Children and Growing Futures Child Development Center.
“We know that education is a powerful means for economic and social mobility and children who participate in high-quality preschool are far more likely to achieve, and to contribute to society in their adult lives,” said Kyle Myers, PNC regional president for Kansas City. “That is why PNC is so firmly committed to early education initiatives like this with the PNC Grow Up Great Gallery at the Kauffman Center. Investing and advocating for high-quality early education is a logical extension of our commitment as a national main street bank to supporting the communities where we live and work.”
Photos by Sarah Milosevich. PNC volunteers help students at EarlystART Metro Center prepare their handprints for the PNC Grow Up Great Gallery Wall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
The new handprints, which feature each child’s name and age, will debut at the Kauffman Center’s Future Stages Festival. The students will be invited to attend the festival and witness their marks on the Grow Up Great Gallery wall.
This year, Future Stages Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary on Sunday, June 11 from 12 – 5 p.m. This free community event features hundreds of youth performers on the Kauffman Center stages throughout the day and spotlights diversity in the performing arts. The event also includes family-friendly activities and exciting arts experiences for all ages.
The PNC Grow Up Great Gallery will be a prominent feature of the PNC PlaySpace located on the Plaza level to the east of the Ticket Office and will offer an area full of engaging activities for festival attendees.
Located on Level 2 of the Kauffman Center, the PNC Grow Up Great Gallery is also open to the public during Ticket Office hours, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday and 90 minutes prior to any performance.
Learn more about our 2023 Future Stages Festival at kauffmancenter.org/open-doors/future-stages-festival
From front to back, Firefighter Captains Anna Koons and Terry Hill, US Air Force Master Sergeant Justin Butler and US Air Force Veteran Jon Bohlander and wife Wendy Bohlander enjoy the Red Carpet Treatment at the Oct. 6 performance of Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Our Community
U.S. Air Force Veteran Jon Bohlander and his wife Wendy Bohlander at Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on Oct. 6
“We really appreciated the opportunity to enjoy Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, live at the amazing Kauffman Center,” said Captain Terry Hill who attended with firefighting colleague Captain Anna Koons. “The night was terrific, and we know we will have these great memories for a lifetime! Thank you everyone that made this possible.”
Open Doors Community Tickets program sponsored by PNC works with local social service agencies, schools and under-served communities to identify children, families, veterans, first responders and others who might not otherwise be able to attend live performing arts events. For this most recent group of recipients, Kauffman Center staff worked with Vet Tix, a non-profit organization whose mission is to distribute tickets to military service members and veterans across the U.S.
Kyle Myers, Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking of PNC Bank, Kansas City explains why PNC supports this program. “PNC is committed to strengthening and enriching the lives of fellow neighbors in communities where we live and work. We support the Kauffman Center for many reasons but finding a means for everyone to enjoy live performing arts through the Community Tickets program was an especially great match with our goals,” said Myers.
U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Justin Butler appreciated the red-carpet treatment he experienced at the October concert. “Two friends and I had a great opportunity through Vet Tix to watch Marty Stuart in concert at the Kauffman Center. That is one of the best venues I’ve been to! Thank you to everyone involved for providing such a great experience,” said Butler.
To find out more our Community Tickets program, visit kauffmancenter.org/open-doors/community-tickets.
Ensemble Business Members Return
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts was thrilled to open its doors this fall after a long-awaited intermission. The reopening included hosting the Ensemble business membership group at the Center for various networking and special events.
August 10: PNC Pop-Up Performance and Networking Reception
Historically, Ensemble business members are invited to the Kauffman Center three times each year to attend a PNC Pop-Up performance and networking reception. After nearly 16 months without attending in-person events, Ensemble members returned to the Kauffman Center for a surprise musical performance by Kansas City native Lauren Krum. The audience was seated on the Helzberg Hall stage and enjoyed an intimate concert as Lauren’s tender and unique voice warmed Helzberg Hall for a remarkable evening of music.
October 19: Ensemble Annual Member Reception
Julia Irene Kauffman, chairman of the Kauffman Center board of directors and Paul Schofer, president & CEO of the Kauffman Center, greeted members at the Ensemble Annual Member reception on Oct. 19, which was held in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Together, members raised a glass to the following Ensemble members celebrating five-year Ensemble membership anniversaries:
Imperial PFS
McCownGordon Construction Company
SpecChem LLC
Straub Construction Company, Inc.
November 2: Fall Chef’s Table Dinner sponsored by RSM US LLP
This dinner experience, which is uniquely curated three times each year for Ensemble members and guests, is sponsored by RSM US LLP. Kauffman Center Executive Chef Laura Comer created an autumnal seasonal menu for Ensemble members, who were treated to this three-course meal in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Chef Comer also shared her experience as a contestant and winner of Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games.
Thank you to PNC Bank for sponsoring Ensemble and this extraordinary group of business leaders.
The Ensemble business membership program brings together Kansas City area companies that value a thriving, creative and innovative economy. We connect members, their clients and employees to inspiring activities and performances at the Kauffman Center throughout the year. To learn more, visit kauffmancenter.org/ensemble or contact Tricia Farrar, manager of corporate giving, at 816.994.7914 or tfarrar@kauffmancenter.org.
Photo credit: Don Ipock
Ensemble Business Members Enjoy Happy Hour and Presentation
Kauffman Center Ensemble business members recently enjoyed a virtual happy hour prior to the March 30 National Geographic Live presentation, Mysterious Seas. Kauffman Center staff delivered goodie bags to members filled with nautical-themed hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail pairing crafted by Executive Chef Laura Comer.
PNC Regional President Dale Klose welcomed members to the happy hour, and Kauffman Center President and CEO Paul Schofer provided an insider update about the organization. Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Bess Wallerstein Huff shared a behind-the-scenes look at the success of the Kansas City National Geographic Live series—one of the most successful series in the country–and speaker selection process.
Following the happy hour, Ensemble members were invited to take a deep dive with National Geographic presenters and leading marine biologists David Gruber and Diva Amon as they shed light on deep-sea creatures and their recently discovered habitats.
Thank you to PNC Bank for sponsoring this extraordinary group of business leaders.
The Ensemble business membership program brings together Kansas City area companies that value a thriving, creative and innovative economy. We connect members, their clients and employees to inspiring activities and performances at the Kauffman Center throughout the year. To learn more, visit kauffmancenter.org/ensemble.
Halloween Tales from the Kauffman Center
Theater lore of haunts and ghosts
Which one will scare you the most?
Scroll a bit, then press play
We’re sure this spook will make your day
From the tales of the ghost light to the origins of “break a leg,” theaters have plenty of eerie stories to tell. So, the Kauffman Center joined forces with Mesner Puppet Theater to shed a little (ghost) light on these common, yet not too well-understood superstitions. Enjoy our virtual four-part series of spooky (but family-friendly) stories from inside the Kauffman Center, starting with “The Tale of the Ghost Light.”
Watch as Scary Mary Bumbershoot, a fright in her own right, warns against whistling in a theater and shares a well-known name that should NEVER be uttered on stage…or else.
These four short videos are the perfect ghoulish treat for all ages.
Presented by Kauffman Center Premier Partner Saint Luke’s Health System.
Created in collaboration with Mesner Puppet Theater. Scary Mary Bumbershoot created and performed by Mike Horner.
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