Field Trips & Tours
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is passionate about providing youth in our community opportunities to experience high quality performing arts, learn about the facility and even plan for a future in the arts.
Please sign up at the bottom of the page to join our educator email list and be informed of upcoming opportunities during the school year.
The Kauffman Center Open Doors Spotlight on Youth program offers a wide range of experiences for students to learn from staff and utilize the facility’s resources. Find out more about each of the available experiences below.
Career Center Stage: Meet the Kauffman Center Staff
Learn about how the Kauffman Center staff runs one of the country’s premier performing arts centers. Students can learn more about the daily operations and professional departments (e.g. marketing, programming, fundraising, theater production, and more!) These staff Q&A sessions last between 30 – 60 minutes and are often paired with a 45-minute facility tour. Scheduling is based on staff availability, and the Kauffman Center typically hosts no more than one Career Center Stage a month.
Recommended Participants: College and high school classes (available
for up to 30 students at a time)
Fee:
- Tour and Career Center Stage: $150, lasts approximately 90 – 120 minutes
- Tour only: $100, lasts approximately 60 minutes
Fees will be paid for through the Open Doors program if the group is affiliated with non-profit organization (must provide Tax ID number).
To get more information about this program or inquire about availability, please contact the Community Outreach Supervisor at or 816.994.7227.
In-Person Backstage Intensive
As part of our Open Doors Spotlight on Youth program, students can participate in a special backstage experience. Students will engage in hands-on-activities, tours and discussions with some Kauffman Center production and administrative staff members. This unique experience is designed to introduce high school and/or college students to careers in technical theatre including lighting, sound and stage management as well as administrative roles like marketing, ticketing and patron services. Participants will be amazed by all the work that happens behind the scenes to create a successful production! Scheduling is based on staff and facility availability, and the Kauffman Center typically hosts no more than one Backstage Intensive a quarter.
Recommended Participant Ages: High school or college students ages 15 – 22 years
Duration: Lasts anywhere from 90 minutes to 4 hours depending on availability and student interests
Fee: $300 (available for up to 30 students at a time)
Fees will be paid for through the Open Doors program if the group is affiliated with a non-profit organization (must provide Tax ID number).
To get more information about this program or inquire about availability, please contact the Community Outreach Supervisor at .
Backstage Intensive Presented by Cerner Charitable Foundation.
Virtual Backstage Intensive
As part of our Open Doors Spotlight on Youth program, students can participate in a special backstage experience. Four video demonstrations on various backstage technical elements and careers are available within the portal, as well as accompanying resources like vocabulary, comprehension questions and activities. Backstage Intensive is designed to introduce high school students to careers in technical theater, including lighting, sound, production management and more. Students will be amazed by all the work that happens backstage to create a successful production!
Recommended Participant Ages: High school or college students ages 15 – 22 years old.
Duration: Explore the virtual experience at your own pace. Each demonstration video lasts approximately 20 minutes and has accompanying resources for your classroom to complete, like vocabulary, comprehension questions and activities.
To get more information about this program or gain access to the virtual portal, please contact the Community Outreach Supervisor at
Backstage Intensive Presented by Cerner Charitable Foundation.
Educational Tours
Educational Tours are private tours that provide an in-depth look at the facility’s architectural highlights while giving young people the opportunity to explore the Kauffman Center’s performance spaces. Participants will learn about the Kauffman Center’s history and will take part in a discussion about the artistic details throughout the facility.
Educational Tours must be requested through the form below at least three weeks in advance of the requested visit date. Tours are led by knowledgeable volunteer tour guides and are only available with advance reservations. Please note that tours must be scheduled around the performances and work calls of the technicians, artists, and administrators who produce our amazing events; therefore, tours will not include access to backstage areas and we cannot guarantee that every tour will have the opportunity to view Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Helzberg Hall.
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
Fee: $100 for groups of 35 attendees or fewer and $150 for groups over 35 attendees.
Fees will be paid for through the Open Doors program if the group is affiliated with a non-profit organization (must provide Tax ID number).
To get more information about this program or inquire about availability, please submit the request form above. A Kauffman Center representative will follow-up with more information.
Sign Up for Education Emails
Be among the first to learn about educational opportunities at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts by signing up for our Education Email List. By opting into this education email list, you will receive information about Kauffman Center educational programs as well as performances that will be presented at the Kauffman Center.