Engelbert Humperdinck | May 13th

Engelbert Humperdinck

Friday, May 13th, 2016 | 8:00 PM
Helzberg Hall

GRAMMY nominated, Golden Globe “Entertainer of the Year” and multi-platinum selling artist Engelbert Humperdinck is performing for the first time at Kauffman Center.

Engelbert 2014-2015

Engelbert Humperdinck has been a legend in the international music industry for the last 40 years, with over 150 million records sold. The charismatic and consummate entertainer will entertain audiences with music from his vast catalogue including hits such as “Quando, Quando, Quando,” “Release Me,” “The Last Waltz,” “Spanish Eyes” and many more.

With 63 gold and 24 platinum records and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Humperdinck has joined an elite group of musical artists, such as Tony Bennett and Burt Bacharach, who have crossed over successfully to strike a new chord with a younger generation in addition to their core audiences.

Engelbert recently completed recording his first duets CD “Engelbert Calling.” He has recently completed tracks with a who’s who of the music world, including Sir Elton John, Willie Nelson, Shelby Lynne, Charles Aznavour, Johnny Mathis, Cliff Richard Neil Sedaka, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Lulu , Beverly Knight and Gene Simmons, to name a few.

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Mavis Staples & Nick Lowe | March 13th

Mavis Staples & Nick Lowe

Sunday, March 13th | 7:00 PM

Helzberg Hall

Buy Tickets

For the first time, musical giants Mavis Staples & Nick Lowe are touring together in a double-bill performance. They will perform on Sunday, March 13th in Helzberg Hall. Tickets range from $29-$79.

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It’s no surprise that, after an impromptu performance at a show in 2011, the great Mavis Staples and Nick Lowe became fast friends. They had been long time admirers of each other’s work and each has carved a distinctive and unmistakable path in popular music. Sparked by this new friendship, Lowe wrote the very beautiful “Far Celestial Shore,” a track that appears on Staples’ 2013 album One True Vine

Mavis Staples

There are few living musicians who can lay claim to being the voice of America’s conscience, and even fewer who continue to make vital music. For six decades, Mavis Staples has been the solid rock of American music. Alongside her family group, the Staple Singers, Mavis has managed to transform herself as she goes, yet never alter.

Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient. VH1 named her one of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll and Rolling Stone listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Her previous album, the Tweedy produced You Are Not Alone, won the GRAMMY Award for Best Americana Album in 2011, adding a remarkable new chapter to an already historic career.

Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe has made his mark as songwriter with hits such as “Cruel To Be Kind” and “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding.” The savvy veteran producer has earned an indisputable reputation as the consummate musician’s musician. But in his current ‘second act’ as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal.

Starting with 1995′s The Impossible Bird through to 2011′s The Old Magic, Nick has turned out a fantastic string of albums, each one devised in his West London home and recorded with a core of musicians who possess the same veteran savvy. Lowe brings wit and understated excellence to every performance, leading Ben Ratliff of The New York Times to describe his live show as “elegant and nearly devastating.”

 

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Country Unplugged Tour | January 29th

Country Unplugged Tour

Featuring Joe Diffie, Lorrie Morgan & Mark Chesnutt

Friday, Jan. 29 | 7:30 PM

Muriel Kauffman Theatre

With their names already firmly established as true country music superstars, Mark Chesnutt, Lorrie Morgan and Joe Diffie are set to join together on stage and captivate audiences with the music that made them household names. They will perform on Friday, Jan. 29, 2015 in Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

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Together, Chesnutt, Morgan, and Diffie celebrate over 57 Top Ten hits, 26 No. 1 hits, 9 platinum records, and a myriad of awards and accolades including GRAMMY Awards, CMA Awards, and Grand Ole Opry Membership.

Mark Chesnutt

Mark Chesnutt’s authentic talent and deep country roots have embedded him as one of the true treasures in country music history. From his humble beginnings in Beaumont, Texas, Chesnutt began recording in Nashville at the ripe age of 17. He worked his way up through the country music landscape until his major-label signing in 1989. By 1990, Chesnutt had released his debut album, along with five straight Top Ten country hits. From then, Mark Chesnutt’s impressive career has only set to further establish his legacy as a country music legend. With 14 No. 1 hits, 23 Top Ten singles, five gold records, and an incredible four platinum records to his name, Chesnutt has more than earned his revered place in country music history.

Lorrie Morgan

Lorrie Morgan was born to make music. Barely a teenager when she made her first, and everlasting, impression on country music fans, its legends and the community, Lorrie staked her claim as being one of the youngest to have made his/her debut at the Grand Ole Opry House. Lorrie made history when she became a lifetime member of the Grand Ole Opry at the age of twenty-four; Lorrie was the youngest person ever to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Today, Lorrie has become the essence of country music femininity carrying the torch for many a lady trendsetter—Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette—Lorrie Morgan has become a renaissance woman of the genre recognized as royalty by her fans and her peers. Lorrie inked her first recording contract in 1988. As an RCA recording artist, and later on the roster of its sister label, BNA, Lorrie made her mark with trendsetting anthems that have now become timeless country standards including, “Five  Minutes,” “Something In Red,” “Watch Me” and “What Part Of No” to establish her place as a bright and shining country star—a modern woman making country music history.

Joe Diffie

Joe Diffie realized his musical talent at the young age of four. From the humble beginnings of singing harmonies with his parents, Diffie eventually found himself recording demos in Nashville while working at Gibson Guitar Corp. In 1990, however, he signed with a major-label and used that platform to establish himself as a genuine songwriting talent. With hits such as “Pickup Man”, “John Deere Green”, and “Third Rock from the Sun” to his credit, Diffie has enjoyed unbelievable critical and commercial success. In addition to 20 Top Ten hits that he has to his name, Diffie celebrates 12 No. 1 hits as well. His commercial success is accompanied by membership of the Grand Ole Opry, multiple CMA Awards, and a GRAMMY award for his musical talents. Although Diffie is writing and playing as much as ever, there is no question that his accomplishments already make him a true country star.

 

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Kauffman Center celebrated its 1,000th performance on Saturday with a sold-out performance of Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass

Kauffman Center’s memorable fifth season continued this weekend in celebration of the Center’s 1,000th public performance since opening in 2011

On Saturday, the Kauffman Center hosted its 1,000th public performance as part of its fifth performance season. The weekend’s lineup included the Kansas City Symphony’s Festa Italiana, Harriman-Jewell Series presenting Stars of American Ballet and Kauffman Center Presents’ sold out performance, Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass.

Since the opening, Kauffman Center has welcomed more than 1.6 million audience members and guests through its doors.  Its diverse prograGrandopening - Copymming continues to shine a spotlight on Kansas City’s own vibrant arts community and attract national talent from all genres. Resident companies the Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City, along with numerous other community arts organizations, have experienced record attendance in their new performance homes.

“The arts are thriving in KC, and Kansas Citians have embraced the Kauffman Center as their home for the performing arts in our community,” stated Paul J. Schofer, President and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. “Interestingly, we’ve had several national and international performers come to the Center who have commented to us that we don’t have any idea what a gem we have here in Kansas City. The fact of the matter is, the Kansas City community does realize what a treasure we have and those outside the community are just beginning to get the full picture of it. Since opening in September of 2011, more than 1.6 million visitors have attended an event at the Kauffman Center and we plan on continuing to provide extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences for everyone in our community and beyond for generations to come.”

Kauffman Center President and CEO Paul Schofer, This American Life host and producer Ira Glass & KCUR General Manager Nico Leone

Kauffman Center’s vision of serving everyone in the community is evident from its commitment to providing children and families access to the Center’s performances. More than 165,000 students have attended a matinee performance at the Kauffman Center and more than 85,000 school children have been provided transportation funding through the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors Transportation Fund. Additionally, Open Doors Community Tickets continues to provide opportunities for Kansas City individuals and families to attend performances at no cost through partnerships with social service agencies.

In addition, Kauffman Center, its resident companies and community arts organization partners continue to provide a wide range of free or low-cost programming, including Kansas City Symphony’s free Happy Hour Concerts and Kauffman Center’s own Future Stages Festival, an annual free community event which welcomed 6,000 people and provided opportunity for 600 performers, mostly youth, to perform on stage as part of the event last June. Audiences are also able to experience low-cost presentations and performances priced as low as $10, such as the popular National Geographic Live series, part of Kauffman Center Presents.

Along with artistic successes, Kauffman Center’s first four years have been marked by solid financials due, in no small part, to efficiencies created within the Center’s operating and staffing models and from financial and volunteer support within the Kansas City community. Effective management and strong annual fundraising support have allowed Kauffman Center to operate in the black for each of its first four years, which is considered an exceptional accomplishment in comparison with performing arts centers nationally.

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Kauffman Center Announces 3rd Annual Future Stages Festival on June 26, 2016

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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:

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Support provided by:
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