Theater at Uptown Kansas City

Opened: January 7th 1928

Capacity: 1700-2400

When it comes to live entertainment in Kansas, there are just a handful of venues that can compete with the theater at Uptown. It is one of the most visited event centers and has a unique look that stands out.

Uptown Theater was built in 1928 with an Italian Renaissance backdrop. The rare bird of a facility was known as the first atmospheric theater in the State of Missouri. Its design replicates a rather romantic, outdoor Mediterranean arena with interiors featuring a night sky-style ceiling adorned with twinkling stars, dark clouds, and active manmade birds.

The facility was the brainchild of John Eberson, an Austrian-American architect who is more commonly known for developing and promoting movie scene designs using the atmospheric theater style. Eberson designed more than 500 theaters and, with a lifetime’s worth of work, earned the nickname Opera House John.

The venue has hosted notable appearances. Movie stars—Shirley Temple and Roy Rogers, for example—have performed here to inadvertently keep up with its general lavishness. In 1939, Uptown began rolling out what was referred to as a “fragratone,” a ploy that fragrances the theater and appeals to the sense of smell during live experiences.

Until the 1960s, the space mixed vaudeville and on-stage shootings with films. In the following decade, the Lyric Opera Company took up residential real estate within its rooms, eventually leading to its function as a music-themed venue. Though it was temporarily shuttered in 1989, it was quickly renovated with about $15 million.

It is held by locals that nowadays, standing in a long line to see one of the concerts at the Uptown Theater is a rite of passage of sorts in Kansas City. Its redevelopment made it become one of the last few remaining atmospheric theaters yet on their concrete feet.

Events at Uptown Theater

In April 2022, Mammoth, a top-tier independent promoting firm, acquired the Uptown Theater and assumed full responsibility for its future. As it has done with many of its ventures, Mammoth is building on the venue’s legacy of artists while nurturing a diversity of performers and building on the theater’s history.

This venue hosts concerts in an array of music genres, bringing in artists like October London, LANY, Indigo Girls, Kristy Lee, Flogging Molly, and Randy Rogers Band. The theater will feature some of these artists this year, in addition to Blackberry Smoke, Biran Regan, and Adam Ant.

Other upcoming shows are The Psychology of Serial Killers, Hytekk Present of the Trees, Early Eyes, Kash’d Out, Mike Mains and the Branches, Of the Trees with Chee, Remo Drive, Stan Hackett, Mickey Darling, Randy Rambo, and Waxahatchee.

Don't Miss Out on the Cheapest Tickets with TicketX

It would be a bummer to be aware of the long list of above upcoming events and only see clips online. Does it feel like getting tickets is a hassle? Especially with virtual queues on ticketing platforms and exorbitant hidden charges. TicketX is the latest secondary ticketing platform that has come to save the day with the cheapest tickets you can find around. By charging you a mere 3% commission on all purchased tickets, we offer you a front-row seat to your favorite events. Don't miss out on any updates to score major savings through our few-minute read articles on TicketX Magazine.

How to Get to the Uptown Theater

The Uptown Theater is located at 3700 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111. From downtown Kansas, visitors can go northbound on Broadway Boulevard.

Should you be coming in from Interstate 35, use the Southwest Traffic exit and advance north. Then, turn to West 31st Street, left onto Broadway Boulevard, until you find the theater on your right.

The venue has four free-of-charge parking lots just across it. However, availability may vary depending on the event, and these lots can fill up quickly.

Added to venue parking, there are also street parking options available nearby. Be sure to check for restrictions or meters to fines. Nearby businesses may also offer paid parking during events.

Kansas has several public transport options, chief of which are buses. You can check local schedules and routes to find the ones passing near the Uptown Theater. Or, you can use ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber to get to the venue.