The Kauffman Center draws diverse audiences to an outstanding range
The Kauffman Center is active in the online community.
Now more than ever, social media connects Kansas Citians with each other and with the organizations they love, including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Center engages its online community with useful program information as well as creative access to the performing arts. You can follow @KauffmanCenter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for performing arts news, behind-the-scenes views of performances, chances to win tickets, as well as images of the Center’s iconic building and its incomparable views of Kansas City.
The Kauffman Center’s creative use of its social media platforms has opened new doors to its world-class stages. The Instagram initiative #HereIAmKC is one of the ways the Center extends the reach of its programs and those of the resident companies that perform there. #HereIAmKC invites anyone attending an event at the Kauffman Center to snap a selfie and share it on Instagram, using #HereIAmKC. Participants who use the hashtag are automatically entered to win tickets to a future Kauffman Center event.
Social media followers join the excitement every season as the Kauffman Center Presents series unfolds. The series offers many widely popular shows, including classic film screenings, global music artists and the awe-inspiring speakers of National Geographic Live. Following @KauffmanCenter on social media is one of the best ways to know about these upcoming events and to join in the conversation with fellow arts lovers.
“Kauffman Center 101”
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts offers experiences for a wide range of people, recognizing that each guest arrives with unique needs and desires. Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions:
Where do I pick up the tickets I purchased?
Tickets can be mailed, emailed as print-at-home tickets or picked up at the box office will call counter on the day of the performance. The box office opens 90 minutes prior to each performance
start time.
Where do I park?
Guests can park for $10 per vehicle in the Arts District Garage, which has entrances on both 17th Street and Wyandotte Street. To guarantee you find an available space, purchase a voucher at least 24 hours in advance through the Kauffman Center’s website. Valet parking is available for $20 at the Kauffman Center’s drop-off drive, located on the Center’s south side and accessible from Broadway Boulevard.
What if I’m late to a performance?
The ability to seat latecomers depends on parameters set by each event’s presenting company. To be safe, plan to arrive 30 minutes or more before any show. For musical performances, latecomers can sometimes be seated between pieces. Patrons who arrive late for the opera are seated at intermission.
Does the Kauffman Center offer dining before shows?
The Dining Experience, located on the Plaza Lobby Level at the Center, offers American cuisine before evening performances. Reservations are required for the dining rooms; however, walk-in diners can enjoy small plates and cocktails at café tables and the bar. It is best to reserve tables two weeks in advance and to allow 90 minutes for the restaurant’s three-course service.
Is there a dress code?
Patrons arrive in all styles of dress. Some take the opportunity to dress up, while others may have a more casual style — both are perfectly acceptable.
Are children allowed at performances?
While the program calendar includes some events specifically geared toward young audiences, the Kauffman Center welcomes children at other events when they are old enough to sit quietly through a performance. Keep in mind that patrons who choose to leave a performance might not be allowed re-entry until intermission and that everyone who attends a performance must have a ticket, regardless of age. Some performance groups at the Kauffman Center do have age restrictions, which will be noted on their event listing. The box office can tell you about individual performance policies.
How does the Kauffman Center accommodate patrons with disabilities?
The Kauffman Center is committing to removing barriers and providing access to our performing arts experiences for all patrons. The Kauffman Center’s facilities have wide pathways and elevators for guests using mobility devices. Every performance in Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Helzberg Hall offers accessible seating options for patrons with disabilities at multiple price points. Accessible seats may be removed for mobility devices or left in place, and adjacent or nearby companion seats are available. Bariatric seating options are also available upon request.
The Center offers Assistive Listening Devices available free of charge at the gift shop. Patrons can also request services such as ASL interpretation, CART and audio description, by contacting the box office at least two weeks in advance of any event.
To request any other services that might make your visit more comfortable, simply call or email the box office.
Each level of the Kauffman Center has accessible restrooms. Family restrooms throughout the building provide infant changing tables, and the Mezzanine family restroom features a changing table for children or adults. If a patron requires a private space to tend to medical needs, a volunteer or staff member can show them to the First Aid Office on the Plaza Lobby Level.
Two Serenity Rooms are available to all patrons attending events and performances. These rooms are centrally located and provide a relaxing environment with comfortable seating and a monitor for viewing the live performance. Also, patrons who benefit from comforting sensory resources can visit coat check on the Plaza Lobby Level to borrow a Sensory Kit with noise-reducing headphones, a weighted lap pad and a handheld sensory object.
Does the Kauffman Center provide accommodations for nursing parents?
Comfortable Serenity Rooms have an electrical wall outlet and a monitor to view the performance. Patrons can reserve this space through the box office or reach out to a staff member or volunteer during their visit.
Where can I learn more about visiting the Kauffman Center?
Call the Kauffman Center box office at 816-994-7222 or email contact@kauffmancenter.org. Explore the Center’s FAQ page at kauffmancenter.org/about/faq.
