Speakers Announced for This Weekend's 'Save UMKC Theatre' Town Hall

In response to pending budget cuts which threaten the very existence of UMKC Theatre, arts leaders, theatre faculty, students and alumni are organizing a public Town Hall to show support for UMKC Theatre and exhibit to the UMKC administration the extensive community support for this program.

UMKC Theatre is facing severe budget cuts and the loss of four faculty positions for the coming school year. The severity of these cuts will seriously jeopardize its nationally prominent graduate MFA Theatre program.

Theatre at UMKC boasts several significant accomplishments, including:

- the highest-nationally ranked program at UMKC

- one of UMKC's greatest community partners, leading the nation in the creation of co-productions for the MFA Theatre program with professional theatre, as well as sending numerous students into the theatre community each year with internships and residencies. UMKC Theatre proclaims 'The City is our Campus"

- faculty and alumni who have created nearly all of the professional theatres in Kansas City

- a program with a 36-year history of excellence that has received many years of outstanding community support and has received generous gifts from the Hall Family Foundation for four decades.

- Hollywood Reporter ranked UMKC Theatre's MFA Acting program #17 in the English-speaking world (5/26/2017)

The "Save UMKC Theatre" event will be held at the Spencer Theatre on Sunday, June 4 at 6 p.m. Theodore Swetz, Patricia McIlrath Professor of Theatre Arts will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

Speaking in support of UMKC Theatre are:

- Dr. Karen Vorst, Professor of Economics, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences 2006-2011

- Eric Rosen, Artistic Director, Kansas City Repertory Theatre

- John Rensenhouse, Artistic Chair, Kansas City Actors Theatre

- Sidonie Garrett, Executive Artistic Director, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival

- Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director, Unicorn Theatre

- Jeff Church, Producing Artistic Director, Coterie Theatre

- Nick Gehlfuss, UMKC Theatre alumnus (Chicago Med )

...and more!

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