Music Hall Revamp

Kansas City, Mo., officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony February 23rd to rededicate the 2,300-capacity Kansas City Music Hall following completion of $13 million in renovations.

Upgrades to the art deco theatre, built in 1935, include new seating, improved sightlines, an access ramp to accommodate people with disabilities, expanded stage, new fly tower and rigging systems and new curtains.

Marny Burke, spokeswoman for the city’s Capital Improvements Management Office that is overseeing the renovations, said the project will boost entertainment options in the market.

"We have a lot of great, older theatres here but, unfortunately, when they were designed these huge sets weren’t around. It was hard to get some of the larger acts here," Burke told Pollstar. "This will not only benefit the citizens that want to attend any performances or theatre, but also visitors.

"The Music Hall is part of the convention center so that’s just an added bonus for conventioneers who want to come to Kansas City."

Burke said some additional work installing a new stage floor, adding a steel skin to the fly tower and cleaning the building’s exterior is also in the works.

Live Nation finalized a seven-year contract for its subsidiary Pace Theatrical Group to book Broadway shows at the facility last August.

Shows on the books so far include "Stomp," The Doodlebops, Olga Kern, Jamie Foxx, Mannheim Steamroller, "Celtic Woman," "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Spamalot."