Young professionals looking for entertainment options now have one more reason to explore Kansas City’s dynamic downtown Crossroads Arts District. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the major performing arts groups in town have joined forces to make the performing arts more accessible for younger audiences with a program called EncoreTix.
Open to anyone age 18 to 39, EncoreTix is a collaboration between Kauffman Center Presents, Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera, Harriman-Jewell Series, Kansas City Broadway Series and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.
By providing significant discounts up to 50 percent off regular prices with deals starting at just $15, insider events and free ticket giveaways to a wide variety of programs at the Kauffman Center each month, EncoreTix partner organizations are hoping to nurture and inspire a lifelong passion and involvement in Kansas City’s cultural activities.
“The Kauffman Center is committed to offering excellent and diverse performing arts experiences for all audiences,” said Paul Schofer, president and CEO of the Kauffman Center. “EncoreTix gives younger adult audiences a chance to see a diverse selection of performances in our Kauffman Center Presents series, by our wonderful resident companies and partner organizations at a reduced cost.”
Launched in 2014, EncoreTix evolved from the Kauffman Center’s young professionals’ membership program, Encore. The EncoreTix program gives younger audience members access to discounted tickets and exclusive offers, while removing the barrier of a membership fee. Going into the 2017-2018 season, EncoreTix members will see a fresh look for the program, along with renewed efforts to provide ticket discounts and giveaways for a wide range of programming.
Membership is as easy as signing up online for a free monthly email. Since there are no annual fees, members only pay for the programs and special events that interest them.
With so many performing arts groups participating together in the EncoreTix program, members can choose from a broad range of entertainers and performances from around the world, including classical, pop and jazz music, ballet and contemporary dance, operas, theatrical productions and more. By promoting the events together, another benefit is increased awareness across genres.
EncoreTix is one of many ways the Kauffman Center and its partner organizations have worked to make the arts accessible to the next generation of audience members. The Kauffman Center’s business membership program, Ensemble, recently hosted a young professionals’ happy hour that brought dozens of Kansas City professionals to the venue for a special tour and reception. The Kansas City Symphony’s Free Symphony Happy Hour concert series welcomes hundreds of music fans of all ages to Helzberg Hall throughout the year. And the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors program offers access opportunities to college students through discounted student rush tickets.
In addition to these special opportunities for younger audiences, the Kauffman Center provides many free or low-cost choices that are open to the entire community. The Kauffman Center and resident arts organizations Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City host events throughout the year with ticket prices starting at $30 or less. From the Symphony’s Free Symphony Happy Hour concerts to the Kauffman Center’s National Geographic Live series, there are opportunities to enjoy high-quality arts experiences at an affordable price.
Upcoming events at the Kauffman Center with tickets starting at $30 or less*:
- November 11: Kauffman Center Presents – Vienna Boys Choir (starting at $19)
- November 11-19: Lyric Opera – Everest (starting at $29 on select dates)
- November 24-26: Kansas City Symphony – Romantic Royalty: Tchaikovsky and Chopin (starting at $25)
- December 8-10: Kansas City Symphony – Handel’s Messiah (starting at $25)
- December 13: Kansas City Jazz Orchestra – A Kansas City Christmas (starting at $25)
- February 7: Kansas City Symphony – Free Symphony Happy Hour: Bernstein and Beyond (free)
(*Ticket prices listed do not include ticket fees.)
For more information and to sign up, visit kauffmancenter.org/encoretix. Be sure to select EncoreTix from the list of email preferences to get access to monthly deals.
–Megan Felling
