Future Stages Festival, an annual community event, turns a spotlight on youth performances and family-friendly programming. The free festival supports the growth of future artists with a focus on engaging youth performers. The festival invites all ages to experience the arts and introduce young audiences to the Kauffman Center as performers and patrons. Showcasing a diverse array of performances along with interactive arts activities, the free one day festival is an extension of the Kauffman Center’s Spotlight on Youth program which provides opportunities for youth and community arts organizations to perform and experience the Kauffman Center.

Sign-up to receive updates and announcements about the 3rd Annual Future Stages Festival on June 26, 2016 and view the performance schedule:

Register  Today! Performance Schedule

On June 28, 2015 Kauffman Center celebrated the 2nd Annual Future Stages Festival which showcased 600 youth artists who performed on three stages – Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Helzberg Hall and an outdoor stage. Twenty-nine community groups headlined the free event that welcomed audiences and guest from the greater KC metro area and beyond.

A video of the 2015 festival was created by festival partner NorthPass Media

Future Stages Festival Features Performances by:

5 Star Jazz Band
AileyCamp The Group
Allegro Choirs of Kansas City
Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice Choir
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival —Team Shakespeare
Heart of America Youth Ballet
Ice Studios School of Dance Youth Group
Jody Phillips Dance Company
Kansas City Ballet
Kansas City Young Audiences Community School of the Arts Dance Students
Kansas City Boys Choir & Kansas City Girls Choir
Lawrence Ballet Theatre
Lily Zhang Li Taylor Dance Academy
Lyric Opera of Kansas City: Kids in Opera
Metropolitan Strings Academy Orchestra
Miller Marley Entertainers
Mudra Dance Academy
Music Theatre Kansas City SunRaise
Ottawa Suzuki Strings
Paseo Academy SoundPlay
School of Rock Kansas City Dean’s List
Soundz of Africa Youth Ensemble
Starlight STARS of Tomorrow
The KC Wordshop Spoken Word Artists
Traditional Chinese Music Group
Wyandotte High School Concert Band
Youth Symphony of Kansas City Summer Orchestra Program

Interactive Arts Activities and More by:

American Institute of Architects Kansas City – Design YOUR KC Skyline
Great American Kites & Events – Demonstration and Make Your Own Kites
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival – En Garde Bard (11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm)
Kansas City Broadway Series
Kansas City Chalk and Walk
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Symphony – Instrument Petting Zoo (open 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
Kansas City Zoo – Biofacts and Animal Conservation Activity
Lyric Opera of Kansas City – Decorate Hansel and Gretel’s “Incredible Edible Set”
Mattie Rhodes Center – Create Mexican Paper Flowers
Movies2U
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – Sculpture Building
StoneLion Puppet Theatre
The Last Carnival Circus School
UMKC Conservatory Music and Dance

Funding for Future Stages Festival 2016 is provided by:

          
                  

Support provided by:
                                                                                           

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