A commitment to the performing arts is evident in Kirkwood, Missouri. Not far from St. Louis, a new performing arts center has enhanced the cultural scene in this city known as a railroad town. It has always welcomed different people and ideas, and this reputation still thrives today as the city’s beautiful facility—the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC)—attracts musicians and other performing artists from far and wide.
The property opened in 2020 and, according to General Manager Elizabeth Crabtree, quickly became a vital part of the local scene.
“The venue is part of the Parks and Recreation Department of the City,” Crabtree explained. She said Kirkwood embraces it and that it is good for the city since it is “creating revenue instead of expense.”
KPAC has been a huge enhancement for a community Crabtree described as “artsy.”
“Kirkwood didn’t have a firm history of a performing arts center that brought world-class talent,” Crabtree said. That’s all changed over the past few years.
“We’ve got comedy, opera, dance, theater, all genres of music,” she said. “We’re city-run, so it really changes a lot of what we are able to do to help artists and give a real VIP experience…we really go out of our way to give hospitality.”
Crabtree said a vital aspect of KPAC is that it “brought the patron-artist interaction together.” Not only does it attract talent from other places, but for local talent, it makes gigging more feasible. A part of the mission is keeping local talent working as much as possible. In that way, benefits for the community go beyond the walls of the building.
“We split the house with them on ticket revenues,” Crabtree said.
A new addition came to the space not long ago: a black box theater.
“It’s a cabaret-style setup, with tables and general admission,” Crabtree explained. “It’s such an intimate space. We’ve been told it’s reminiscent of a New York City jazz club.”
A peek at the range of acts shows how the venue caters to various tastes.
“We’re doing a tribute to David Bowie with a string quartet,” Crabtree said. Other offerings might include a show by well-known St. Louis musician Erin Bode, a jazz interpretation of the music of Billy Joel, or a Neil Diamond tribute performance. They’ve hosted three Latin music shows and host a “coffee concert series” on Thursday mornings. In December, there will be multiple performances of “Let It Be Christmas,” a retelling of the Christmas story through the music of The Beatles.
There’s something for everyone and space for a wide variety of live performances. The stats say it all: The Ross Family Theatre features a 530-seat auditorium with a proscenium stage; the Strauss Black Box Theatre offers a 375-person capacity with connected event space; the Event Space is 2,000 square feet and has a capacity of 275 people; two lobbies have 3,800 sq. ft. and 1,900 sq. ft. of space; and there’s also a 3,500 sq. ft. Event Lawn. Those come with dressing rooms, a green room, a wardrobe room, a concessions stand, a catering kitchen, and ADA-accessible restrooms. All combined, these resources offer a lot of possibilities for events held in Kirkwood.
Crabtree's reasons for choosing to lead KPAC as a career are easily understood. It’s all about bringing happiness to Kirkwood.
“I believe in the power of live entertainment, of live music,” Crabtree said. “I want to make people come together and clap…I want to see the standing ovations.”