KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Sept. 24, Kansas City City Council passed an ordinance, which will allow Kansas City Parks and Recreation to reallocate previously approved funds from the first phase of Starlight Theatre Kansas City’s capital renovation project to its second phase — aiding the amphitheatre in its goal to complete construction by spring 2027.
In 2023, Swope Parkway outdoor music and entertainment venue Starlight Theatre Kansas City announced its “Uniquely KC Campaign,” as a way to begin fundraising for what it anticipated as a $40 million, two-phase, targeted capital renovation project — the venue’s first renovation project of this magnitude in 20 years, according to its website.
At its groundbreaking ceremony in October 2024 — where the nonprofit began phase one of what it referred to as a “campus-wide” improvement — Starlight Theatre staff emphasized its project goals, which included a canopy that they estimated would accommodate up to 2,500 guests for matinees beginning in summer 2027.
“This project reflects our commitment to enhancing the arts, enriching community experiences and preserving the magic of live performance for future generations,” Starlight President and CEO Linsey Rood-Clifford said at the October 2024 groundbreaking.
Within phase one — which, with contractors GastingerWalker& and JE Dunn Construction, the company completed in April 2025, according to the Starlight Theatre website — the outdoor amphitheatre focused on constructing two new towers to its stage — joining the current sets, two of which are original to the 1950 structure and a second two that were added in 2000.
Along with the new towers, an additional paved parking area as well as renovations to the established parking lot were included within phase one of project construction. Starlight Theatre shared that backstage area improvements have taken shape, from its dressing rooms to rehearsal spaces.
A section now open to the public, which was also a phase one facet, includes its sensory room. Created in partnership with Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City (Variety KC) — a nonprofit that equips children with disabilities with tools and equipment from adaptive bicycles to technology devices, according to its website — located at Starlight Theatre, this room offers communication boards, sensory kits, ADA seating, a wheelchair shuttle, accessible restrooms and listening devices, among others, in what Starlight Theatre has stated as an effort to make the arts accessible for everyone.
“The vision is to be the home for accessible, live arts experiences for all generations is a lofty one — and likely a never-ending quest; but progress in the right direction matters because everyone deserves to experience the joy of theatre and music and live experiences at Starlight,” Rood-Clifford said in a social media post, Sept. 17.
“This space represents so much more than a room; it represents a commitment to inclusion, accessibility and ensuring that more families and individuals with sensory sensitivities can experience the magic of live theatre,” Variety KC said in a social media post.
While construction crews completed phase one in accordance with Starlight Theatre’s envisioned timeframe, the organization originally scheduled phase two completion for spring 2026. However, as Starlight Theatre fundraised for this project through its Uniquely KC Campaign, the nonprofit took a construction break in 2025 to secure additional funding.
However, along with private donations and tax credits, Starlight will also receive upwards of $3.5 million from the City of Kansas City’s Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Parks and Recreation Sales Tax Fund. An ordinance, which went before — and was unanimously approved — by Kansas City City Council on Sept. 24, was a reallocation of City Bridge Funds the Council previously approved for this Starlight Theatre project in June 2024, according to the Council docket.
“We at City Hall look forward to lending our support to this campaign because, just like you, we want Starlight to be here for us and our families for many years to come,” Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Rayna Parks-Shaw said in a previous statement.
This $3.5 million will now aid the nonprofit in completing the final phase of its renovation, including installing a canopy for outdoor summer matinees as well as a light bridge to connect the two new towers, according to Starlight Theatre’s website.
Phase two construction is scheduled to begin this fall, with projected completion by spring 2027.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 31 shared with The Labor Beacon that while they have not yet worked on this renovation project, the local could become involved toward the end of construction to assist with Audio/Video installation.
Julia Williams — a Kansas City native — is a reporter and digital producer for The Labor Beacon. A University of Missouri School of Journalism alumna, she previously served as the editor-in-chief of The Northeast News before joining The Labor Beacon staff.
Williams’s grandfather was a Claycomo Ford Motor Company retiree and avid UAW Local 249 supporter, allowing her to understand the union difference from a young age.
In her free time, Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to see her friends and hanging out at home with her cat, Greta. She loves a good cup of coffee, seeing local, live music and shopping secondhand. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to bring her knowledge of journalistic integrity to the Kansas City union community — giving union and labor workers a voice, while holding people in powerful positions accountable.
