FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jul 18, 2012 #089
Contact: Laura Muir
(816) 235-1579
Kansas City Repertory Theatre is hosting the 2012 Annual Kansas City Fringe Festival‘s opening night Performance Preview, Thursday, July 19, 6:30-10:30 p.m., at Spencer Theatre in the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center (PAC), 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO. The public will have an opportunity to sample 3-minute mini-presentations of festival offerings. The event is free to the public and parking is available at no cost in the UMKC lots located immediately east of the PAC.
This is the first time the Rep has hosted the opening of the Fringe, giving the festival a unique high-profile presence on the UMKC campus, where Kansas City Rep is the professional theatre in residence. “What better place to kick off a festival dedicated to the widest variety of artistic expression, than on the UMKC campus?” said Chancellor Leo E. Morton. “Artistic ideas, experiments and expression have always had a home here, so we embrace the concept and culture of the Fringe Festival.”
“The Rep is thrilled to make this connection with the Fringe and we hope it leads to future partnerships between our two great organizations,” said Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Rep. “I encourage everyone to come to the preview event at the Rep and check out the imaginative performers who will be part of this year’s festival.”
About Kansas City Fringe Festival
The 8th Annual Fringe Festival runs July 19-29, and will include 365 live performances at 20 venues located throughout mid-town and downtown Kansas City. The non-juried, uncensored festival of Kansas City’s cultural arts is jam-packed with live theatre, dance, performance art, visual art, spoken word, puppetry, storytelling, film and fashion. The KC Fringe Festival develops audiences, stimulates economic growth and supports the creative community at large. By making the arts readily visible, available and affordable, the festival supports and inspires local organizations year-round as it builds bridges between audiences, artists, businesses and civic organizations.
About Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Now in its 48th season, Kansas City Repertory Theatre is its region’s only member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and serves as the professional theatre in residence at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Lauded by “The Wall Street Journal,” “TIME magazine,” “Variety” and the “Toronto Sun,” the Rep produces mainstage plays and special events at Spencer Theatre on the UMKC campus and downtown at Copaken Stage. Kansas City Rep employs more than 250 professional artists, technicians and administrators, and serves more than 100,000 patrons and 10,000 school children annually. Kansas City Repertory Theatre is led by Artistic Director Eric Rosen, Managing Director Cynthia Rider and Producing Director Jerry Genochio.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.