Kauffman Center celebrates fifth anniversary and announces upcoming performances.
As the Kauffman Center celebrates its fifth anniversary in September 2016, the organization reflects on milestones that have been achieved, including 2 million guests attending 1,500 performances. “We can’t thank everyone enough for the warm, supportive embrace we have received from the entire community,” said Paul Schofer, President and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. “Plus, we are excited to share our plans for the upcoming season.”
The 2016-2017 Kauffman Center Presents series will feature the lineup of world-class artists that Kansas City has come to expect from its newest arts venue. This year’s performances range from legends of classic rock and roll, to an eclectic style-crossing band, to a South African a cappella group. Schofer points out that the annual series is carefully selected to complement the programming offered by other arts organizations. “We work hard to offer diverse performance options, with tickets at a range of price points, in order to assure that we reach everyone in the community with memorable arts experiences,” says Schofer.
KANSAS – The Leftoverture 40th Anniversary Tour
Saturday, Oct. 27, 2016
Muriel Kauffman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Multiple generations of music lovers credit legendary rock band KANSAS with forming the soundtrack of their lives. On this tour, for the first time in history, the band will perform their breakthrough album Leftoverture in its entirety. Their Kauffman Center concert will showcase two hours of classic KANSAS music including hit songs, deep cuts and new songs from their soon-to-be-released album, The Prelude Implicit.
The band hails from Topeka and has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums, one platinum live album and two one million-selling gold singles, “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.” KANSAS appeared on the Billboard charts for more than 200 weeks throughout the ’70s and ’80s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan.
Black Violin
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016
Muriel Kauffman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Combining classical music with hip-hop beats, Black Violin is an innovative violin/viola duo that defies boundaries with spellbinding vocals and high-energy compositions. Accompanied by their band, which features a turntable wizard and skilled percussionist, the group makes their Kansas City debut at the Kauffman Center. Black Violin performs almost 200 shows a year and has released three successful albums. They have appeared with Alicia Keys, Lil’ Wayne, Aerosmith and more.
Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin) first met in Ft. Lauderdale and began playing music together at the Dillard High School of the Performing Arts, blending classical techniques they learned during the day with hip-hop albums they listened to at night. After college, Wil B. and Kev reconvened to create Black Violin. Two years after submitting a tape to “Showtime at the Apollo,” they were invited to appear on the show — which they won, and kept winning.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017
Muriel Kauffman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the South African a cappella group formed by Joseph Shabalala during the 1960s and featured on Paul Simon’s famous Graceland album in the mid-1980s, returns to a Kauffman Center stage for the second time. The group sings from traditional music called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), which developed in the mines of South Africa during the revolt against the horrors of apartheid. Ladysmith Black Mambazo followed a path of peaceful protest, writing songs of peace, love, harmony and a better tomorrow.
During the 1970s Ladysmith Black Mambazo established itself as the most successful singing group in South Africa. With more than 50 recordings, the group has 15 GRAMMY Award nominations and four wins.
Tickets to these and other events are available through the Kauffman Center Box Office at (816) 994-7222, the Kauffman Center’s mobile app or online at www.kauffmancenter.org
–Megan Felling
