City of Kansas City, Mo., officials celebrated the rededication of Music Hall at Municipal Auditorium and the completion of its $13 million renovation effort Feb. 23.  

Mayor Kay Barnes, City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen, and Councilman Chuck Eddy, 6^th District, led the festivities, which included a grand unveiling of the remodeled stage and a jazz performance by Kansas City's Valery Price Quartet.

These renovations were completed to optimize the theater-going experience:

-- Music Hall's seats were replaced

-- The house auditorium seating was reconfigured to give audiences an unobstructed view of the stage

-- Lobby restrooms were updated

-- Additional handicap accessible space was added in the auditorium

-- An ADA accessibility ramp was reconfigured in the main lobby

-- The stage was expanded significantly to better accommodate shows with larger set equipment

-- The back wall of the stage was pushed back an additional 15 feet

-- A new penthouse was constructed

-- Stage curtains, set rigging systems and stage fly galleries were replaced

-- Electrical upgrades were made to the theatre's back-of-house rooms.

These improvements are expected to help attract nationally touring performances and musical acts and make the Music Hall an attractive entertainment option for downtown visitors and conventioneers.

The theater upgrades will make Music Hall more competitive with regional performing arts venues and draw more shows like "Stomp!" and "Monty Python's Spamalot," which open at Music Hall Feb. 27 and in August 2007, respectively.

"Music Hall's improved amenities will help to make the Kansas City convention district an appealing site to potential convention planners, ultimately making Kansas City a top convention destination," Eddy said.  

This project is an example of the City working with private industry to ensure efficient project delivery. The estimated completion cost of the Music Hall renovations has come in under the $13.4 million initial projection.

"The completion of this renovation has been anticipated by many in the arts community as performance space in Kansas City is currently at a premium," Cauthen said. "Due to the diligence of all parties involved, this project has come in on time and under budget." 

Holzman Moss Architecture of New York and Helix Architecture + Design of Kansas City redesigned Music Hall. The Konrath Group performed overall oversight and local Taylor Kelly Construction Company completed construction. The City's Capital Improvements Management Office managed the design and construction.