(Photo from here.)
Last week the Other Karla and I had the chance to tour the newly opened Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Since Karla has only lived in the Kansas City area for about a year, there are lot of places she hasn't gone...places that I probably went to when we moved here 23 years ago.
When hubby and I first moved to "THE CITY" from a small town in ND, we were thrilled at the chance to go to museums, theater, different restaurants, festivals, baseball games- all the things a city has to offer. But in recent years, we've gotten complacent, and I've considered it a big week if I go to estate sales on both Friday and Saturday.
Karla's philosophy is "if you have a chance to see something new or different, and it doesn't cost too much or endanger your life, get off your butt and do it".
I'm paraphrasing- Karla would say it much more eloquently. But that's how I've happened to see Monet's Water Lilies and Princess Diana's Wedding Dress- and last week, the theaters at the Kauffman Center.
The Kauffman Center is right off I-35, so you can't help but notice it because of it's shell shape and an entire wall of windows
The wall of windows is breathtaking- and a little bit scary- when I walk to the edge, my palms get a little sweaty and I feel a bit dizzy- like I'm afraid I might fall.
One detail that caught my eye was the pulley look finish of the interior struts.
The large glass dome cover is called Brandmeyer Great Hall and it serves as the lobby area for two theaters- the Murial Kauffman Theater and the Helzberg Hall.
Behind the acoustical panels in the Kauffman Theater are works painted by students from the Kansas City Art Institute.
The fronts of the balconies look just like they're covered in metallic wrapping paper.
The other theater- Helzberg Hall- has all wood construction has been called Noah's Ark. Different parts of the room are made of different kinds and hardness of wood to enhance sound.
The guide explained to us that every part of the Kaufmann Center was designed for event goer's ease of use- an easy to find underground parking garage, elevators that go to every level of seating, and restrooms on every level- with 2/3 of the lavatories devoted to women. You've got to like that kind of thinking.
