Kansas City Symphony showcase to end this year after over half a century
After nearly 60 years, the Kansas City Symphony Designer’s Showhouse is coming to an end.
“The decision to bring this cherished event to a close has not been easy. It has been thoughtfully considered for more than eight years, with deep appreciation for all that the Showhouse represents,” the Kansas City Symphony Alliance said in a release.
For 56 years, a Kansas City landmark residence has been chosen as the showhouse, and the homeowners move out. Local designers are picked to transform each room, and the final design is open to the public in the spring.
“Through this extraordinary event, we have opened the doors to some of the most historic homes in our city while showcasing the remarkable creativity of Kansas City’s most talented designers and rising stars,” the release said about the beloved tradition.
But this year’s showcase will be its last. The Symphony Alliance cited people turning to new sources like HGTV, magazines, and social media for design inspiration and because of that the showhouse is no longer at the center of the experience, according to the release.
“At the same time, the demands on our volunteers have grown significantly. What once fit naturally into our members’ lives has become a major undertaking—requiring more than 7,000 hours of volunteer time over the course of nine months,” the release said.
Since its inception, the designer showhouse has raised more than $5.5 million for the symphony, and has become one of the longest running showhouses in the country.
“We will greatly miss the excitement of discovering each new home, the inspiration brought to life by our talented designers, and the opportunity to welcome our patrons—many of whom have become dear friends over the years,” the release said.
The 2026 showhouse and how to go see it
This year’s home at 12 W. 53rd Terrace is a prairie-style stone and stucco house built in 1909, according to the symphony alliance website. It is a three-story home and features a Spanish tile roof. It was designed by Herbert Poor for his parents and original owners, Alfred and Josphine Poor, who lived there until 1921. Herbert Poor built a similar house for himself next door at 28 W. 53rd Terrace.
It has been a home to several families including the first filmmaker in Kansas City, George W. Curtiss who captured scenes of Kansas City, and now it belongs to Blair Thedinger and Ellen Ritchie, who live there with their two daughters.
Tickets are still available online for $25 and cost $30 at the door. The showcase opens Saturday and ends July 5.
The Kansas City Symphony Alliance said that while it is ending this fundraiser, it is actively exploring new ways to continue supporting the symphony.
