Open House at the Kauffman Center

It was a cloudy, rainy day for the Open House.  There were over 22,000 people register and with families and unregistered the Kauffman Center was expecting over 40,000 people to walk through the building.  I was told there was a 2 hour wait to get into the building.  The line wrapped in switchback fashion up and down the drop off drive (which is not a short drive) and then around the building.   I was an usher at the Helzberg Theatre, which is the home to the KC Symphony.  I heard the youth symphony, blues, jazz and choirs throughout the day.  It was spectacular.

Kauffman Center - Friday Red Carpet Event

I volunteered at the Friday Night Grand Opening of the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts.  I was a greeter outside in a prime location on the drop off drive.  I was awed with the gowns, cars and local celebrities.  All the big names arrived at the drop off drive; Kauffman, Brandmeyer, Helzberg, Hunt, senators, governors, and mayors past and present, in addition to other influential people from the area.  It was truly a red carpet event, photographers, TV stations were all outside as people arrived.  There we helicopters circling overhead.  Limousines of all shapes and sizes dropped of the attendees, which included shuttle bus limo's, stretch, typical limousine and a absolutely stunning 1941 Lincoln Continental City Limousine.  I have searched for the last hour to find this limo photo, as I stood right next to it I studied it well.

The very sad part of all this is that as a volunteer I was not able to take photos.  The photo above was taking inside the Muriel Kauffman Theatre during one of our volunteer training events.

Patti Lapone, Placido Domigo, Tommie Tune and samplings of opera and ballet were all part of the festivities.  You did not have to be in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre to enjoy, the music filled the Brandmeyer Grand Hall spectacularly.  After the show the guest were directed across the street to Bartle Hall for dinner and a fabulous south lawn light show set onto the building's exterior.  Music filled the air and unique dancers greeter the guest as they exited Kauffman Center and headed for dinner.   Fireworks surrounding the building concluded the evening.  It was a night of celebration.

Grand Opening Weekend

The unveiling of the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts is this weekend.  I am excited and also believe the whole city is buzzing over this new venue.  In the background is downtown Kansas City, MO with the Bartle Hall Sky Stations, Power and Light building viewing the side with no windows that I explained here and the beautiful Kauffman Center.  I hope all of you have an unveiled weekend.

Inside!

   

Taken from inside the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts.  I am a volunteer and we had training over the weekend.  I love this building and what better way to support Kansas City and the Arts than through volunteering.  

I was amazed with the cables anchored to the walls to hold up the glass in the lobby known as Brandmeyer Great Hall.

Volunteers heading into Kauffman Center of Performing Arts

On this cloudy day, volunteer training day is at the Kauffman Center.  Grand opening weekend is less than one month away.

Looking into Lobby

I took several pictures of the front of the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts last weekend and the only ones I like were these two halves.  The left photo you can see the gallery sitting in the back with what I take are circular stars.  Since I have almost not been inside, I cannot say exactly what we are looking at.  I do know the lobby is the entire front glass area. 

Kauffman Center of Performing Arts August Update

It is just over one month until the grand opening of the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts.  Today I was able to get up close to the center.  Many areas are still off limits.  It was just starting to rain lightly, but you can see the humidity in the photos.  Opening weekend is Sept 17th.

A Look Thru to the Other Side

So much to see on the plaza just north of the Performing Arts Center. 

Two Heads are Better than One

The faceless one is obviously a backup...  On the art space just north of the Performing Arts Center.

Weekend Reflection

My current favorite building which you've seen several photos from around the area recently.

Community Garden

This community garden is just a block away from the future Kauffman Center of Performing Arts.  I hope you don't get tired of seeing this new building, I love it and so much is going on around it that I keep taking photos.  I am just drawn to the area.

Another photo of the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts

A few steps away from yesterdays photo and looking in the opposite direction I captured one of the city's newest buildings.  I've shared many photos of this building in April, here is one.

Kauffman Center of Performing Arts Update III

This is my last photo of the Kauffman Center for a while, but I will bring you more : )  The Kauffman Center website provides information about the building and Community Day on September 18, 2011  when the center will host an open house to the public, including short performances and opportunities to see backstage area.  Jazz recording artist Diana Krall will be performing the opening weekend on Sept 17th.  Legends Placido Domingo and Itzhak Perlman as well as the Kansas City Symphony will also be performing opening weekend.  

I already have my calendar saved for these events.

Kauffman Center of Performing Arts Update II

The backside of the Kauffman Center with the rising sun behind me taking the photo.

Kauffman Center of Performing Arts Update

KC Photog took this absolutely fabulous photo of the Kauffman Center and Downtown Art.  Last week I was working later than my usual hours and wanted to find where KC Photog found that polka dot vase.   Usually I have taken photos of the front of the Kauffman Center but since I was on different sides of this amazing building I had to capture more.  This building is huge, and the amount of workers employeed in the building is a bonus.  The Kauffman Center is set to open in September.

Work continues on the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts

Work on the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts starts early in the morning.  You can now see the different halls or performing galleries.  I enjoy watching a project of this magnitude come to life.  It is on schedule to open in Sept 2011.  The city is already prepared to welcome it's opening night.   To the right is the Power and Light Building.