Starlight

Back-to-school have you down? Already missing summer? We have you covered! Jump into fall with great programs for kids and families alike: ⚔️ Get 20% off ANY night of Peter Pan in September with the promo code: FLYAWAY 🎭 Bring your kids to Starlight this winter for any of our three family-friendly shows! Journey to Oz, The Gruffalo's Child, and Underneath a Magical Moon. 🪇 Come to Starlight for our next Community Movie Night on September 7 to watch Disney's Coco for free! Learn more -> https://bit.ly/3yEpnlz

🧱 West Side Story is officially open! The cast and crew celebrated last night after the show with the Starlight staff. Being our one self-produced show of the year this one is extra special to us. Thank you to everyone who has a hand in a production like this. It's been a joyous process bringing this story to life over the past 2 weeks. We can't wait for you to see it! West Side Story runs all week at Starlight, 20-25. Tickets start at $15 at kcstarlight.com!

Do you feel that, Kansas City? It’s ✨MAGIC✨ happening this week at Starlight. It’s opening night for Starlight’s self-produced show, West Side Story! Self-produced shows are my favorite because they are designed specifically for Starlight — everything from the lights and sets to the choreography. These shows put local talent on display — including the women-led creative team (with a hat tip to Starlight President + CEO Lindsey Rood-Clifford, Executive Producer Caroline Gibel, and Director Baayork Lee) and an incredible ensemble of local teen performers who fill our giant stage do our city proud! I got to watch a talkback with the creative team and final dress rehearsal last night and found myself reminded what good theatre can do — it makes you feel, it transports you, and (if you’re like me) it makes you sit for two hours straight with the biggest, goofiest smile on your face. Run, don’t walk, to see this show! I have a feeling it’s one that will be talked about for years to come. Get tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eeQMsTfk

We're ramping up for our 2024 Starlight Gala: 'Breaking Ground' on October 5th! We want to say an immense thank you to our Gala chairs this year: (left to right) Dean Newton, Anita Newton, Whitney Bartelli, and Andrew Bogucki Your support of Starlight and our mission enables us to impact the lives of 30,000 local KC residents through education and community engagement programs, bring world-class Broadway productions and concerts to more than 320,000 patrons, and sustain this cultural landmark for generations to come. Thank you for everything you've done for Starlight and we're so excited for Gala on October 5!! Learn more about Gala on our website -> https://lnkd.in/gdVdqJEv (Interested in sponsoring our 2024 Gala? Our sponsorship deadline for Gala is September 5!)

KC LEADER SHOUT-OUT: EDITION 104 Lindsey Rood-Clifford has loved the arts since she was a child. She participated in the Blue Star Awards program at Starlight in high school and began her arts administration career as a summer intern in the Bob Rohlf Internships Program. To think she is now the CEO of Starlight is a fantastic journey, but more on that in a minute. After attending The University of Kansas, Lindsey started at the Starlight Theatre as an event coordinator, where she spent almost five years, working her way to become an event producer. After a short stint away from Starlight, she rejoined the theatre as a Senior Event Producer. Over the next ten years, she worked her way up from Senior Producer to COO. As Starlight's Vice President of Philanthropy, she grew Starlight's philanthropic revenue by more than 50% while increasing its fundraising capacity. She launched its first major multi-million-dollar fundraising campaign in almost 20 years. In April 2023, Lindsey was named CEO of Starlight, the first woman to hold the rules in its nearly 75-year history. She's working tirelessly to continue Starlight's legacy and rich history of dazzling Broadway shows and concerts with a passionate focus on the theater's vibrant future. Starlight opened as a theatre in 1950 and as a nonprofit organization in 1951. It is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City, Missouri, and connects our community through live arts experiences that entertain, inspire, and engage audiences of all ages. Offering diverse programming year-round, Starlight presents Broadway musicals, concert events, and extensive community engagement programming, including classes, scholarships, and one of the nation's largest high school musical theatre award programs. Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, the historic, city-owned venue is the second-largest outdoor producing theatre in the country, with almost 8,000 seats. Outside of Starlight, Lindsey is the Immediate Past President of the Kansas City Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global), the Secretary of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce's Centurions Alumni Board, past chair of Kansas City's National Philanthropy Day, and a Vice President of the Board of Directors for In the Name of GRACE, a foundation dedicated to serving those recovering from addiction. She graduated from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce's Centurions Leadership Program in 2017 and was recently named a 2024 NextGen Leader by the Kansas City Business Journal.  The Starlight Theatre is in great hands with Lindsey's leadership, and I am excited to see her continue to impact the community. To learn more about the Starlight Theatre, follow the link in the comments. Next Up: Jason Carter-Solomon

Saw this note in the Starlight admin kitchen yesterday and it reminded me to share some things I wrote down at our end of summer intern lunch last week. Internship opportunities matter. Arts internships matter. Paid internships create equity in opportunity. Most importantly, the impact is real. The students could have answered the question “what was your biggest takeaway?” with their favorite concert experience, but they answered in thoughtful ways that made me proud to have had them and proud to have the kind of program that serves them. Thanks to all who make it possible - the staff at Starlight (led by Alex Jones and Katherine Tolbert) and the donors (especially our Starry Night fundraisers and leaders this year like Mark Moberly, Kamera Meaney, Stef Seger, Christina Hager, Beth Collins, and many more!). I hope you feel as good as I do when I read this note (which was accompanied by a plate of homemade cookies) #nextgen #artsimpact

We're so glad you all were able to come out for Come From Away! It's the type of show that should be shared with everyone!!

With Come From Away's opening on August 6th, we’re turning the keys to our IG page over today to Kevin Tuerff founder of Pay It Forward 9/11 and "the real Kevin T" depicted in the musical! When Kevin and his partner began their flight from France to New York City on September 11, 2001, they had no idea that the world - and their lives - were about to change forever. Follow Kevin and his friend Ben Walker (a KC resident!) today on our IG page as they perform acts of kindness throughout Kansas City! And then come see Come From Away next week at Starlight, August 6-11! Learn more about Kevin’s organization at PayItForward911.org. #NeverForget

🌠 That's a wrap on Starry Night at Starlight! Saturday's event was a smash success at Starlight and we're thrilled to report that we surpassed our fundraising goal of $125k for an ending total of $136,056!! Thank you immensely to everyone who helped with this event. From our incredible All-Stars who spent the last 4 months fundraising, our event volunteers (thank you Centurions Leadership Program), our Starlight donors, the Starlight staff, and everyone else who put together all the moving pieces that an event like this has. Because of you, we're able to host over 15 paid internships at Starlight every summer through our Bob Rohlf Internship Program—showcasing what a career in the arts can look like for college students around the metro. Thank you everyone for such a successful event! Were you there on Saturday? What was your favorite part? We loved seeing Twice On Sunday perform on the Spotlight Stage! 📷: @phonwills_photo (IG)

🌠 Tonight's the night!! Tonight is Starry Night at Starlight! A celebration and culmination of all the hard work our 29 All-Stars have put in fundraising over the past few months. Starry Night at Starlight directly supports our Bob Rohlf Internship Program—funding 15 paid internships over the summer each year. We are so appreciative of our All-Stars and their work! Tonight will have everything from themed food stations, signature cocktails (green of course), live music, a performance of Shrek The Musical, and more. We're 'ogre' the moon to celebrate tonight! 📷: 2023 Starry Night at Starlight photos