It
was during the tumultuous 60’s as war protestors
marched the streets, battles were waged in a far-off country,
poodle skirts were replaced by snug-fitting bell-bottoms,
and security guards roamed the halls of inner-city high
schools, that a dream was born in the hearts of Kansas
City performers. Talented directors, dancers, singers,
and actors came together to create spellbinding musical
theater, transporting audiences to thrilling theatrical
heights. At a time when parents were afraid of losing
their children to a new thing called the Generation Gap,
teens and adults alike were drawn together in an explosion
of song and dance that enhanced and charmed the community.
Under the auspices of the Kansas City Parks and Recreation
Department, and with the passionate support of Mary Edith
Lillis, audiences were electrified by Theater Under the
Stars musicals performed in high schools, community colleges,
recreation centers and, most famously, in the beautiful
Loose Park that sits atop Wornall Road, overlooking the
Country Club Plaza.
During warm summer evenings starting in the 1960’s
and continuing through three decades, Kansas Citians and
their visitors brought picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and
blankets to Loose Park to enjoy Theater Under the Stars
productions that were offered free-of-charge. The performers
were so dedicated to their craft that many of them worked
extra jobs during the day to afford the costumes and stage
makeup that they donned in the evenings. For some of them,
it was the beginning of a lifelong career in music, dance,
theater and/or cinema. But for all, it was the lesson
that hard work and diligence is its own profound reward
that shaped a lifelong commitment to achievement.
Today, as many of these same Theater Under the Stars veterans
look back in awe at what we accomplished, we feel compelled
to return to our true “heartland” to recreate
memories and rekindle rich friendships. We’ll sing,
dance, and reminisce about a magical era that changed
us forever. On the Event Information
page, you’ll find a program that outlines our intentions
for the first annual Theater Under the Stars gathering.
