Discover Kansas City’s rich cultural life at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. This famous venue is a distinctive feature of the Kansas City skyline, as beautiful inside as it is outside. It is home to several of the city’s most established arts and classical music companies. See them live here or enjoy one of the big-name pop acts or musicals that regularly pass through.
The Kauffman Center opened its doors in 2011 and drew over 475,000 visitors within its first year. The center was conceived as part of a plan to invigorate downtown Kansas City. The innovative building is one of the city’s most iconic. Stand outside and see how its characteristic curves and ridges suggest some similarities to the Sydney Opera House. Walk around to the other side of the building and see how different it looks from another angle, where the soft curves are hidden and the glass walls jut out at a sharp angle.
Check the schedule to select from the diverse range of acts that perform at the center. Several resident organizations are based here. Watch the Kansas City Ballet dancers glide across the stage or get caught up in the drama of a performance by the Lyric Opera. This is also a great place to enjoy classical music at its best, with the Kansas City Symphony also resident.
Theater, musicals, contemporary music acts and talks and discussions all appear on the program regularly too.
Before you head into the auditorium, enjoy a meal at the Dining Experience. Sip wine and sample three courses of tasty local food to get in the mood for an evening of performance.
Its downtown location makes the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts easily reachable. Take public transportation to the nearby Kauffman Center KC Streetcar stop or park in the on-site garage. Pay to park in the garage and enjoy its public arts project based on light and music.
