Real Eyes

Kansas City Embraces the Performing Arts               When many people hear the word “theatre,” they may think of the glitz and glam of a Broadway show, or of New York City or Chicago in particular. However, there are many cities around the country with thriving theatre scenes, including Kansas City. From the cutting edge shows of The Unicorn, to the major commercial shows of Starlight Theatre, and even a dinner theatre in the New Theatre, Kansas City has a great deal of variety to offer to those interested in the performing arts. In addition to this, there are several well-regarded theatre programs in the area, such as Avila’s own theatre program, University of Missouri – Kansas City, Johnson County Community College, and Rockhurst University.               Kansas City has had a thriving theatre scene for quite some time, with the oldest theatre being the historic Folly Theater, which was established in 1900 as a vaudeville theatre, hosting acts such as the Marx Brothers and

  A Celebration of Local Art For art enthusiasts in Kansas City, the first Friday of each month is a day to look forward to. The aptly named First Fridays is an event where art galleries in the Crossroads district open their doors to the general public, joined by a variety of performers, vendors, and other creative individuals. First Fridays spans all of the Crossroads district, which is centered at 19 th Street and Baltimore Avenue, with the entire event spanning some twenty blocks around the neighborhood. First Fridays is an event that occurs in many cities, with tens of thousands of people flocking to cities like Redmond, Virginia and Spokane, Washington. One of the oldest First Fridays is held in Boston’s SoWa Arts District, which has ranked as one of the best art districts in the country. Kansas City, in its own right, is quite a center of art, opening 70 shops and galleries at its First Fridays. It ranks as one of the largest free art crawls in the nation. Truly, Kansas C