After more than 60 years of collaboration, UMKC and Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KCRep) are formally parting ways.
Their affiliation agreement will end in 2029, marking the start of new growth for both institutions as they expand and pursue new opportunities.
“UMKC and KCRep will continue to partner and collaborate in many other ways long after the affiliation agreement expires,” said UMKC Conservatory Dean Courtney Crappell.
One major change resulting from this termination is that KCRep will no longer use Spencer Theater as its home stage after 2029.
“UMKC theatre students should have increased opportunities in the future that will come from having full access to Spencer Theater for productions, practices and set building,” said Crappell.
The ending of this agreement should not hinder the Conservatory’s opportunities for growth, so students should not worry about it impacting their education.
The Conservatory plans to take advantage of the opportunities coming out of this decision, hoping the future projects will bring significant improvements to the training program.
“We will have expanded and modernized spaces that will help prepare students for modern careers in the performing arts and help prospective students see UMKC as a destination of choice on the national scene,” said Crappell.
According to Crappell, the Conservatory has great relationships with other theatre production companies and is working on expanding their outreach to provide access to the arts in the KC community.
The Conservatory plans to collaborate with its partners in the Kansas City Public School District to support the next generation of artists and community leaders, said Crappell.
Raef Landes, a music major with an emphasis in trumpet, believes that the work of student organizations within the Conservatory has had an impact on the improvements being made.
“[The needs of Conservatory students] are being represented at all levels of importance, which is not necessarily true of years past,” said Landes.
Landes serves as treasurer for the Conservatory Student Association and as a senator for the Student Government Association, representing the Conservatory.
While Landes is pleased to hear of the planned improvements, he believes there is still work to be done.
Some issues Landes hopes will be addressed include access to a higher quantity of practice rooms, improvements to the more dated facilities and more resources centered around the students’ quality of life.
