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Starlight Theatre (Kansas City, Missouri)

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Coordinates: 39°00′28″N 94°32′05″W / 39.007813°N 94.5348°W / 39.007813; -94.5348
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Starlight Theatre
Map
Location4600 Starlight Road
Kansas City, Missouri 64132
Coordinates39°00′28″N 94°32′05″W / 39.007813°N 94.5348°W / 39.007813; -94.5348
OwnerCity of Kansas City, Missouri
OperatorStarlight Theatre Association
Capacity7,947
Construction
Broke ground1925
OpenedJune 25, 1951
Construction cost$1.5 million
ArchitectEdward Buehler Delk
Tenants
Broadway Shows
Concerts

Starlight Theatre is a 7,947-seat outdoor theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, United States that stages touring Broadway shows and concerts. It is one of three remaining self-producing outdoor theatres in the U.S.

History

Starlight Theatre stage.

Plans for a large outdoor theatre had been considered for Kansas City in various places since 1925 when Romania's Queen Marie attended an ad hoc outdoor concert in the city. An area by the Kansas City Art Institute and parkland just north of the University of Missouri–Kansas City were among the places considered.

After much deliberation, a hillside in Swope Park was selected and site plans were designed by Edward Buehler Delk. The cost of construction was $1.5 million.[1] The unfinished Starlight Theatre opened in 1950 with a production of Thrills of a Century, a review that celebrated the 100th anniversary of Kansas City. It officially opened on June 25, 1951, with The Desert Song with composer Sigmund Romberg making a cameo appearance directing the orchestra. During the performance, he reportedly told the crowd:

"I’ve seen theaters all over the country and I’ve never seen one more beautiful than this."

The Starlight Theatre stage has been legendary for being subject to the whims of weather, train whistles and animal noises from the nearby Kansas City Zoological Park. In 1956, Jeanette MacDonald collapsed in a production of The King and I. Initial reports said she experienced heat prostration in the 90-degree heat but it was later determined to be a heart seizure.[2] Garrison Keillor who has performed three times at the venue said the hottest show he ever had was one where the tempetaure at curtain was 110 degrees.[3] A passing freight on nearby tracks blows about 9:20 p.m. each night [4] In 2000 the stage itself was enclosed in the 10-story, climate controlled Jeannette and Jerome Cohen Community Stage.

In 1964, President Harry S. Truman made a cameo appearance in Mr. President on opening night although he had to leave by ambulance at intermission because of an appendicitis attack.[5]

Mission

The mission of the Starlight Theatre Association of Kansas City, Inc, a not-for-profit corporation, is to present first quality professional entertainment and arts education to diverse audiences, while building an appreciation for the performing arts and preserving and enhancing the Starlight venue for future generations. As it carries out this mission, Starlight will remain committed to family-oriented entertainment at affordable prices, with a focus on musical theatre.[6]

Walk Of Stars

Though Starlight is half a country away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in 2001, Starlight Theatre proudly introduced its own Walk of Stars. Each night of our Broadway performances, you can see the Stars recognized with permanent markers throughout the theatre.

The latest Broadway great to be added to the Walk Stars is Tony Award-winning actor, director and choreographer Tommy Tune. Tune was recognized in a July 12, 2006, ceremony, while he was in town starring in Dr. Dolittle at Starlight.

The following beloved artists and performers who have entertained Starlight audiences through the years are inducted in the Walk of Stars:

Broadway Show History

Melissa Gilbert before rehersing Little House on June 22, 2010
  • 2010: Little House of the Prairie, Dreamgirls, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles
  • 2009: Legally Blonde: The Musical, Anything Goes, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago, Mamma Mia!
  • 2008: The Drowsy Chaperone, Disney's High School Musical, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables
  • 2007: Burn the Floor presents FloorPlay, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sweet Charity, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story
  • 2006: Riverdance, Dr. Dolittle, Grease, Rent, Hairspray
  • 2005: Disney's On the Record, Footloose, Jesus Christ Superstar, Singin' in the Rain, Hello, Dolly!
  • 2004: Cats, Annie, The King and I, Camelot, Chicago
  • 2003: Will Roger’s Follies, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Starlight Express, The Sound of Music
  • 2002: Some Like it Hot, The Wizard of Oz, 42nd Street, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Misérables
  • 2001: AIDA, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Casper, A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady
  • 2000: Miss Saigon, West Side Story, The Prince and The Pauper, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fosse
  • 1999: Cirque Ingenieux, Grease, Annie, The King and I
  • 1998: Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, Peter Pan, Crazy For You
  • 1997: Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Music Man, Jekyll & Hyde, The Wizard of Oz
  • 1996: Little Shop of Horrors, Guys & Dolls, Phantom of the Opera, Evita
  • 1995: Cinderella, Will Rogers Follies, Man of La Mancha, Singin’ in the Rain
  • 1994: The Sound of Music, Annie, Dreamgirls, Cats
  • 1993: Big River, Oliver!, 42nd Street, Annie Get Your Gun, Tommy Tune Tonight
  • 1992: The Music Man, Peter Pan, Show Boat, Hello Dolly!
  • 1991: A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, South Pacific
  • 1990: Oklahoma, Camelot, West Side Story, Brigadoon
  • 1989: Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof
  • 1988: The Odd Couple, The Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver
  • 1987: Gypsy, Cinderella, My One and Only, 42nd Street, Big River
  • 1986: West Side Story, Peter Pan, Sweet Charity, Dancin’, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
  • 1985: A Chorus Line, Evita, The Music Man, Hair
  • 1984: Cabaret, The Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, Jesus Christ Superstar
  • 1983: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, They’re Playing Our Song
  • 1982: The Sound of Music, Where’s Charley?, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
  • 1981: Grease, Oliver!, Camelot West Side Story
  • 1980: Bubbling Brown Sugar, Anything Goes, South Pacific, Gabriel Kaplan-Vicki Carr, An Evening with Joel Grey and Peter Nero, Bye Bye Birdie, Al Jolson Tonight, 4 Girls 4, Li’l Abner, Jack Jones-Melissa Manchester
  • 1979: My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Brigadoon, Blackstone Magic Show, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sugar, The Desert Song, I Do! I Do!, Ballroom, The Wiz
  • 1978: The Music Man, Zorba, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Henry Mancini, Gypsy, Oklahoma!, Doc Severinsen Show, Man of La Mancha, Damn Yankees, Chicago
  • 1977: The Merry Widow, Bobby Goldsboro-Donna Fargo Concert, Finian’s Rainbow, Shenandoah, Hello Dolly!, Anthony Newley with Bernadette Peters, Kismet, The Sound of Music, Sweet Charity, Porgy and Bess
  • 1976: The Student Prince, Gone With the Wind, Buck Owens Show, On the Town, Show Boat, Isaac Hayes-Dionne Warwicke, Fiddler on the Roof, Mame, The King and I, 1776
  • 1975: Peter Marshall Show, Roger Miller, Carousel, Mitzi Gaynor Show, Danny Thomas Show, Eddie Fisher, Henry Mancini Concert, The Wizard of Oz
  • 1974: Doc Severinsen Show, Connie Stevens Show, Shirley Jones-Jack Cassidy Show, Abrasevic, Jerry Lewis Show, Man of La Mancha, Dionne Warwicke Show, Steve Allen-Jayne Meadows
  • 1973: Roy Clark Show, Doc Severinsen Show, Pearl Bailey Show, Untamed Land, Mitzi Gaynor Show, Festival U.S.A., Henry Mancini, Carol Lawrence Show
  • 1972: Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, Ed Ames Show, Jim Nabors Show, Robert Goulet Show, From Vienna With Love, Roy Clark Show, Mexican Holiday, Shirley Jones Show
  • 1971: Sweet Charity, Funny Girl, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, 70, Girls, 70, Cabaret, Carol Channing Show, Jim Nabors Show, Two by Two
  • 1970: Paul Revere and the Raiders, Hello Dolly!, Tom Sawyer On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Man of La Mancha, How to Succeed in Business, Fiddler on the Roof, First Edition
  • 1969: The Nashville Sound, State Fair, Can Can, Peter Pan, George M!, Damn Yankees, The Merry Widow, Mame
  • 1968: Carousel, The Pajama Game, The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun, Call Me Madam, Sweet Charity, Show Boat, South Pacific
  • 1967: West Side Story, Kismet, My Fair Lady, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Funny Girl, Superman!, The Sound of Music
  • 1966: How to Succeed in Business, The Desert Song, Bye Bye Birdie, The Bells are Ringing, Flower Drum Song, Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, The King and I
  • 1965: Camelot, The Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, West Side Story, Here’s Love, 110 in the Shade, She Loves Me, Oliver!
  • 1964: My Fair Lady, Milk and Honey, Tom Sawyer, Tovarich, Mr. President, Little Me, Porgy and Bess, The Sound of Music
  • 1963: Show Boat, Wildcat, Carnival, Gypsy, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, The Wizard of Oz, Victor Borge, South Pacific
  • 1962: The Music Man, Blossom Time, Carol Burnett Show, Mexican Holiday, Around the World in 80 Days, Fiorello, Brigadoon, Bye Bye Birdie
  • 1961: Destry Rides Again, Vagabond King, Red Head, Cinderella, Calamity Jane, Can Can, Damn Yankees, Take Me Along, Flower Drum Song
  • 1960: Rose Marie, Kismet, Annie Get Your Gun, The Pajama Game, The Student Prince, The Merry Widow, West Side Story, Meet Me in St. Louis, The King and I
  • 1959: Oklahoma!, The Firefly, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Tom Sawyer, Say, Darling, New Moon, The Great Waltz, Bells are Ringing, Li’l Abner
  • 1958: The Jerry Lewis Show, Fanny, Happy Hunting, Rosalinda, Kiss Me Kate, Tom Sawyer, Carousel, The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, The Most Happy Fella
  • 1957: Liberace, South Pacific, High Button Shoes, Can Can, By The Beautiful Sea, The Pajama Game, Panama Hattie, Silk Stockings, Damn Yankees, Showboat
  • 1956: Peter Pan, Kismet, Best Foot Forward, The Desert Song, Annie Get Your Gun, Plain and Fancy, Chocolate Soldier, Paint Your Wagon, Wish You Were Here, The King and I
  • 1955: Naughty Marietta, Me and Juliet, Babes in Toyland, Guys and Dolls, Bittersweet, Finnian's Rainbow, Cole Porter Festival, Brigadoon, Wonderful Town, South Pacific
  • 1954: Call Me Madam, Sweethearts, Three Musketeers, Girl Crazy, Carmen, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Hit The Deck, Song of Norway, No No Nanette, Oklahoma!
  • 1953: The Student Prince, The Wizard of Oz, The Merry Widow, Bloomer Girl, On Your Toes, Up in Central Park, New Moon, Kiss Me Kate, Blossom Time, Annie Get Your Gun
  • 1952: The Great Waltz, Good News, The Vagabond King, Where's Charley?, The Firefly, Carousel, Robin Hood, East Wind, The Red Mill, Showboat
  • 1951: The Desert Song, Rio Rita, Song of Norway, Roberta, Rose Marie, Chocolate Soldier, Brigadoon, Bittersweet, Babes In Toyland, Naught Marietta

2011 Season

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ Crowd and a Clear Sky - Kansas City Times - June 26, 1951
  2. ^ Musical Theatre and Night Clubs - Jeanetteandnelson.net
  3. ^ Kansas City Here We Come - Prairie Home Companion - Garrison Keillor commentary in the show
  4. ^ Starlight Annual Report - 2005
  5. ^ Starlight Theatre History
  6. ^ http://kcstarlight.com/about_starlight/mission_and_vision_statement.aspx
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