Kansas City, Missouri

===Performing arts===
In 1886, Kansas City had only two theaters when David Austin Latchaw, originally from rural [[Pennsylvania]], moved there. Latchaw maintained friendly relations with several actors such as [[Otis Skinner]], [[Richard Mansfield]], [[Maude Adams]], [[Margaret Anglin]], [[John Drew Jr.|John Drew]], [[Minnie Maddern Fiske]], [[Julia Marlowe]], [[E. H. Sothern]], and [[Robert Mantell]].<ref name="londre">{{Cite book|title=The enchanted years of the stage : Kansas City at the crossroads of American theater, 1870–1930|last=Londré |first=Felicia Hardison|date=2007|publisher=University of Missouri Press|isbn=9780826265852|oclc=290503575}}</ref>

Theater troupes in the 1870s toured the state, performing in cities or small towns forming along the railroad lines. Rail transport had enhanced the theater troupe tour market, by allowing full costumes, props, and sets. As theater grew in popularity after the mid-1880s, that number increased and by 1912, ten new theaters had been built in Kansas City. By the 1920s, Kansas City was the center of the [[vaudevillian]] [[Orpheum circuit]].<ref name="londre" />

[[File:Kauffman Center.jpg|thumb|[[Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts]]]]
The [[Kansas City Repertory Theatre]] is the metro's top professional theatre company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kcrep.org/history/|title=Mission & History – Kansas City Repertory Theatre|website=kcrep.org|date=October 5, 2021 |access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref> The [[Starlight Theatre (Kansas City)|Starlight Theatre]] is an 8,105-seat outdoor theatre designed by [[Edward Buehler Delk|Edward Delk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kcstarlight.com/about-starlight/|title=History of Starlight Theatre|website=kcstarlight.com|access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref> The [[Kansas City Symphony]] was founded by [[R. Crosby Kemper Jr.]] in 1982 to replace the defunct Kansas City Philharmonic, which was founded in 1933.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kcsymphony.org/about-us/|title=About Us – Kansas City Symphony|website=kcsymphony.org|access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref> The symphony performs at the [[Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts]]. [[Michael Stern (conductor)|Michael Stern]] is the symphony's music director and lead conductor. Lyric Opera of Kansas City, founded in 1958, performs at the Kauffman Center, offers one American contemporary opera production during its season, consisting of either four or five productions. The Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City performs at the downtown [[Folly Theater]] and at the UMKC Performing Arts Center. Every summer from mid-June to early July, The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival performs at Southmoreland Park near the [[Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art|Nelson-Atkins Museum]]; the festival was founded by Marilyn Strauss in 1993.

The [[Kansas City Ballet]], founded in 1957 by Tatiana Dokoudovska, is a ballet troupe comprising 25 professional dancers and apprentices. Between 1986 and 2000, it combined with Dance St. Louis to form the State Ballet of Missouri, although it remained in Kansas City. From 1980 to 1995, the Ballet was run by dancer and choreographer [[Todd Bolender]]. The Ballet offers an annual repertory split into three seasons, performing classical to contemporary ballets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jowitt |first=Deborah |authorlink=Deborah Jowitt |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/dance/0812,kansas-city-ballet-happy-fiftieth,381145,14.html |title=Kansas City Ballet: Happy Fiftieth! |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519071516/http://www.villagevoice.com/dance/0812%2Ckansas-city-ballet-happy-fiftieth%2C381145%2C14.html |archive-date=May 19, 2008 |publisher=The [[Village Voice]] |date=March 18, 2008}}</ref> The Ballet also performs at the Kauffman Center. The [[Kansas City Chorale]] is a professional 24-voice chorus with an annual concert series and a concert in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] each year with sister choir the Phoenix Chorale. The Chorale has made several recordings, including with the Phoenix Chorale.