Starlight stage to remain empty this summer as COVID-19 postpones, cancels 2020 shows
For the first time in nearly 70 years Starlight will hold no summer events, the theater announced Wednesday.
The Kansas City venue does not plan to host Broadway shows or concerts until next year.
“I’m confident that we will come back stronger in 2021 because of the support of the Kansas City community,” President and CEO Rich Baker said in a statement on Starlight’s website.
In May the theater canceled the majority of its Broadway musicals and concerts due to the COVID-19 pandemic but planned to present “Godspell” in August with a local cast and crew.
On Wednesday, however, Starlight spokeswoman Rachel Bliss announced that the production was canceled as well.
“After exploring many options, Starlight could not find a financially responsible way of staging the show,” the release said. “Especially with the added expense of COVID-19 precautionary measures.”
Many nationwide concert and Broadway tours which were scheduled to come to Starlight postponed until 2021 or canceled altogether as the new coronavirus spread throughout the country.
“Starlight has been a part of the Kansas City landscape for nearly 70 years, and we hope to return next summer with a fantastic — and packed — season under the stars,” Baker said in the release. “In the meantime, we will need Kansas Citians’ help to do so.”
According to the release the theater will lose more than $4 million as a result of holding no shows this summer.
Ticket holders will be notified and will have the option of donating their ticket money to Starlight, holding the money on their account for a future purchase or requesting a refund.
The venue will still offer limited private rental options during the summer, Bliss said in an email to The Star.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 12:07 PM.
