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Named
Best Acoustic Venue
in Northeast Ohio
Constructed
as the Flannigan and Steele Theater in 1927, the Kent
Stage is the only remaining downtown theater of its
kind in Portage County. The building opened as a movie theater and has entertained audiences in Kent
for 80 years. The Western Reserve Folk Arts Association
opened up the Kent Stage in 2002 continuing a tradition
of providing quality entertainment in Downtown Kent.
The Kent Stage has seen performances by Tom Paxton,
Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Bo Diddley, Melanie, Janis
Ian, Loudon Wainwright III, Livingston Taylor, Nickel
Creek, John Gorka, David Wilcox, Al Stewart, Leo Kottke,
Pete Best, Leon Redbone, Vassar Clements, John Cowan,
Little Feat, The Kingston Trio, Ralph Stanley and the
Clinch Mountain Boys, Riders In The Sky, John McCutcheon,
India Aire, Karla Bonoff, Sam Bush, Jonathan Edwards,
Jay Unger and Molly Mason, Robin and Linda Williams,
the Children's Musical Theater of Kent, and has hosted
the Kent Blues Festival, Up From The River Music Festival
as well as the Kent State Folk Festival since 2002.
Planned
Improvements
The Western Reserve Folk Arts Association is
planning major restorations to the Kent Stage: renovating
the entrance to the building, expanding the women's
restroom, expanding and improving the backstage area,
constructing a handicap accessible restroom, adding
a gift store and cafe, replacing the carpeting and restoring
the original ceiling in the theater and the foyer and
restoring all of the seats in the theater.
The
Seating Restoration Project
One of the first projects scheduled for the summer
of 2007 is the replacement of all of the chairs in the
theater. The proposed design of the seats brings modern
seating with a touch of 1927. Seats will be stripped,
restored and powder coated with the ends highlighted
in gold, and seat identification numerals. Seats will
also feature a plaque identifying the person or persons
who donated the seat.
click for more information
Mission
Statement
The Kent Stage is operated by the Western Reserve
Folk Arts Association, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation.
The Western Reserve Folk Arts Association was created
to preserve and support traditional music and arts through
education, concerts, festivals, outreach programs and
workshops. The Western Reserve Folk Arts Association
provides individuals and organizations opportunities
for exposure and participation in these activities within
the region.
Thank
you for your growing support.
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