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KC Rep Inches Closer To $5 Million Goal For Renovations

Credit courtesy: Kansas City Repertory Theatre
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courtesy: Kansas City Repertory Theatre
The Kansas City Repertory Theatre stages many of its performances at the Spencer Theatre in UMKC's James C. Olson Performing Arts Center.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre will announce Tuesday that it’s close to its $5 million fundraising goal for renovations. To date, $4,793, 700 has been raised. 

The Hall Family Foundation contributed a $3 million lead gift. The Rep received other major gifts from individual donors and foundations, such as the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, and the William T. Kemper Foundation for the Arts. 

"Our deadline was March 1," says executive director Angela Gieras. "I think we are very pleased with the progress that we’ve made and we’re on track to hit the goal, hopefully, early."

Construction is slated to begin as early as May on an expanded lobby and donors' lounge, as well as new restrooms. Gieras says there will also be upgrades to the inside of the Spencer Theatre.

"We are changing out the stage floor which has been in Spencer since 1979," she says. "Our sound acoustic quality will be much improved." 

Gieras says if fundraising exceeds the $5 million goal, they'll consider additional improvements, such as marketing the theater “inside and out.”  

The renovations are expected to be completed in time for the Rep's annual production of A Christmas Carol

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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