Registering for the event is encouraged so patrons can receive up-to-date information on any Future Stages Festival announcements, changes, performances and activities. Registering is FREE and helps the Kauffman Center staff prepare for the number of people planning to attend.
About Future Stages Festival
Since 2014, the Kauffman Center’s Future Stages Festival has provided a platform for local youth performers to showcase their talents and for everyone within the community to be connected to exceptional arts experiences. Featured acts highlight diversity in the arts, from powerful vocalists and breathtaking aerialists to rhythmic jazz bands and graceful Chinese folk dancer. The festival highlights all forms of performing arts and represents everyone in the community.
Future Stages Festival’s goal of supporting the upcoming generation of creatives aligns with the Kauffman Center’s mission to bring everyone extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences.
Setting the Stage
Future Stages Festival is a free one-day community event that showcases Kansas City’s youngest artists in diverse performances spanning multiple genres.
This event spotlights more than 600 hundred local performers, ages 5 – 18, as they showcase their talents throughout the day on four stages: Muriel Kauffman Theatre stage, Helzberg Hall stage, the Saint Luke’s Outdoor Stage and the Kansas City Symphony’s Mobile Music Box stage. Additionally, family-friendly arts activities are hosted on the south lawn and indoors in Brandmeyer Great Hall. With more than 30 youth performances as well as entertaining and educational arts activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Arts District Garage, directly attached to the Kauffman Center and just south of the building, is available for guests to purchase parking at the daily rate of $2 per hour (maximum of $13). Credit and debit cards are accepted at the garage, but cash is not accepted. Entrances for the Arts District Garage are located off 17th St and off Wyandotte St. Additional parking may be available on the street or for purchase at the Webster Garage (located at 17th St. & Wyandotte St.) The Kauffman Center is a stop on the streetcar line at 16th St. and Main St.
Outside food and drinks will not be permitted at the festival with the exception of a sealed disposable bottle of water or an empty reusable water bottle that can be filled in the Evergy Cooldown Lounge on the plaza lobby level and at water fountains throughout the building. Food and beverage will be available for purchase, and festival attendees are welcome to visit eateries near the Kauffman Center and return to the festival.
Lawn chairs and coolers are not permitted.
Please note, no food or drinks of any kind are allowed inside Muriel Kauffman Theatre or Helzberg Hall.
Non-flash photos and video are permitted for personal, non-commercial use only. If you photograph or record a performance, be sure to move to the back or side of the theater/audience area so as not to block or distract performers or other patrons. Attendance at Future Stages Festival gives the patron’s consent to any recordings or photographs made by the venue or their contractors.
All persons and items entering the Kauffman Center are required to go through security screening upon arrival. Kauffman Center management reserves the right to refuse any item deemed a potential safety or security risk or with the potential to be a distraction to the event being held. Screenings may include, but are not limited to, bag searches, visual screenings, hand-held magnetometers and walk-through magnetometers and/or threat detection systems.
Bags, including diaper bags, backpacks and camera bags are permitted for this event. Lawn chairs and coolers are not permitted.
Future Stages Festival Partners & Sponsors
Future Stages Festival is presented by our Premier Partner:
This event is also supported by:
Additional support is provided by:
- Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank, Trustee
- Blair & Matt Gogel and Lauritzen Foundation
- Louis and Frances Swinken Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Additional support provided by media partners Cumulus Media and 91.9 Classical KC:
7,500+
youth performers featured since 2014.
100+
community arts performance groups highlighted.
47,000+
total guests welcomed.
Future Stages Festival Schedule
