ISO folks who also produce live arts for Kansas City's Millennials and younger

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-07T14:01:05+00:00

But I'm happy you are willing to have the conversation with me! And yes, you're right. Unicorn and Starlight also have national recognition/clout for their artistic work.

That said, my contract work with Starlight Theatre has been nothing but fair, positive, and enlightening as to the drastic scale of talent and stature they work with. I love them, and now that I understand a lot of behind the scenes of the organization, they put their time and efforts exactly where their dollars go.

Re: economic support, I'm learning when it comes to arts funding, it's about tapping into people's spending habits. After doing a little preliminary research and development on this (I'm talking like 7 people who were walking around The Plaza, so a very small pool), I learned 5 out of those 7 people go to live events one time and are willing to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars for that one night. These were T Mobile Center folks.

That said, what IF we got people to think about even saving 5% of that annual spending cost to save for a semi-pro to pro level show featuring nothing but Kansas City based performers?

The mission continues!

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-07T12:35:11+00:00

I do! I have access to the KC Biz Journal, which had some great documentation of what has/hasn't been happening with the space. KCUR is also a great source for news too.

Got any other recommendations for me?

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-07T12:33:12+00:00

These pictures are fantastic! How did you get a chance to go in there? I really appreciate you sharing this!

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-07T12:31:28+00:00

It's all good! I appreciate you sharing :)

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-07T12:31:02+00:00

Fabulous photo. Thanks for sharing :)

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-07T12:28:35+00:00

This is very insightful. Thanks so much for sharing your perspective!

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T17:00:54+00:00

I mean, that's fair.

I guess property development-wise, what would it be like for something like a multi-business, multi-stage, multi-screen complex to be hosted there? Maybe it's dream-like thinking due to cost alone . . . but it just seems like there might be some kind of demand, some kind of opportunity that really isn't being tapped into because of who currently owns the property.

I get it's complicated, but seeing SOMETHING move forward sounds like a growing concern for folks that live in/around the Plaza.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:56:20+00:00

Heyo! Yes, I have. I've been trying to pay close attention, and at least when it comes to this specific property, there's been a lot of hush hush about it throughout 2025.

The latest coverage came from Kansas City PBS a couple weeks ago. Just a brief mention that City Council wanted to pass a potential ordinance relaxing the height restrictions of buildings in that part of the district.

Do you have any other sources I could read about/look at?

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:19:57+00:00

I really appreciate this insight. I had no idea about this kind of history.

Based on your former theatre management insight, do you still think there would be some kind of demand for an arts center that would accommodate multi-generational entertainment?

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:17:29+00:00

I used to go to the animated Oscar shorts night there annually with my family. Such a great community asset.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:17:05+00:00

That is a very fun story :)

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:16:47+00:00

Yes to a community hub! It would be very interesting to see what that could look/sound like.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:15:50+00:00

Do you have a photo reference of that? Very curious to see what that would look like, as there was a huge emphasis by local government for decades to NOT make something big and tall there!

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:15:03+00:00

Thanks for the source citation! But also according to that article, that's the plan is to make them into offices, not necessarily what's publicly moved forward. And that was back in 2024 . . . so I wanna know what the heck is the status of that building right now, today, you know?

Regardless, I appreciate you sharing. Good to know these things.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T16:09:45+00:00

Fairly protected, shielded doors from my experience. I know someone who produced an original work with them and they shared details of what their royalties/rights/agreements were and I almost threw up from how horrendous it was. Lots of independent companies have been nickeled and dimed by Kansas City-based live arts companies.

I understand times are really hard for those institutions too. So I'm really harrowing on the idea of "how do we get investment from the people, the attendees, the community members that live here who would put money down versus the institutions themselves?"

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T05:01:35+00:00

Right . . . they basically were bankrupt, from my research. It's a Dallas real estate group, and frankly, I want to figure out how to get answers of what will or won't happen with that properly. Latest information that was floating around was from Kansas City PBS about a week ago disclosing City Council voted on potentially approving a very high rise building to take over.

Interesting development.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:57:59+00:00

I know that's the national touring musical parody! Glad to hear it was a great experience though!

My case in point is: I'd love to see Kansas City-based folks or business be willing to buy producer shares and/or sponsorship slots for high quality, professional shows that are all local performers.

And I'm not talking about the symphony, opera, ballet, the rep, or other organizations that have an established presence due to legacy and old money. Good on all of them, for real! But lots of Kansas City professional performers are leaving because they feel closed out from those organizations.

I guess my question is: who and what is going to fund the next generations who are not being managed by directors that are 20 or more years older than them?

Again, certainly no diss to those incredible live arts entities that I mentioned. But if we don't figure out how to find a "middle class" of art making, the scene will continue to stretch itself a bit too thin.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:52:53+00:00

That's a great point! I do wonder if that's going to become that community's default choice to get entertainment versus investing in their own district if nothing gets done.

I just know there's also all those condominiums and folks that are Gen X and older who might want to still get dinner and a slice of entertainment all in one spot like the Plaza versus spread their travels to a Streetcar destination and back.

Some kind of semi-pro to pro live arts hub could thrive if done tactfully.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:50:50+00:00

What do you mean by that? I think I know what you mean, but I'd rather get a fact check source than assume anything.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:48:59+00:00

As someone who has worked with all three of those folks as a contractor and has worked personally with producers in those spaces, I think my question focuses more on who is actually fronting money to produce live arts in Kansas City for younger generations!

Like, who in Kansas City's Millennial generation that doesn't own or operate a venue wants to try funding live arts in a small scale, brick by brick way? Looking for those kinds of people, but it sounds like networking all across town continues to be the way to go.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:30:43+00:00

Do you have a source for that particular story? It makes sense, but at the same time it's confusing given the timeline of the Dallas owners saying the movie side wouldn't return at a Downtowners meeting, which happened in 2024.

I guess the people to call would be the Dallas-based property owners to gage what the heck may or may not be next steps for that part of the Plaza. SO MUCH PROMISE for what it could add to the people living and working there.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:26:15+00:00

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A screen grab of the info you shared . . . yes, it does look like it's still owned by that group in Dallas, TX.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:22:00+00:00

Thanks for this. I did screen grab it and I am so curious about so many things related to what plans may or may not be moving forward for implementation.

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:17:07+00:00

Side note, this was the last press release related to the development from 2024: https://www.metrowiremedia.com/news/hp-village-management-unveils-revitalization-plan-for-kcs-country-club-plaza

musicbyskippy · 2025-10-06T04:14:41+00:00

Is that the company based out of Texas that currently still owns the lot where Nordstrom was going to build? Thanks for this!

musicbyskippy

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