Musical Theater Heritage Moving Into Crown Center

Musical Theater Heritage (MTH), the Kansas City professional theater company specializing in Musical Theater productions, has signed an exclusive lease to occupy the 243-seat Off Center Theatre on Level 3 of the Crown Center Shops. MTH, with its large casts and live music has become a local theater favorite for its intimate and engaging concert-style productions of book musicals, and cabaret shows.

MTH began in 1998 with the "A Night on the Town" Radio Series, a nationally syndicated radio program of vintage Broadway. MTH started producing musicals on local stages in 2003. Since 2008, all performances have been at Crown Center's Off Center Theatre.

"We rented the Off Center Theatre on an 'as-needed' basis, as did several other local companies," says George Harter, MTH Executive Director. "This move transforms MTH from a somewhat nomadic existence to a professional company with its very own theater."

The Off Center Theatre will be renamed MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE at CROWN CENTER. MTH will continue to offer the space for lease to other theater groups. In addition, the adjacent cinemas will be available through MTH for video presentations, seminars, meetings and other uses.

"We've enjoyed a tremendous relationship with MTH for many years," says Zahid Nana, Crown Center's Vice President of Marketing and Hospitality. "It's been exciting to watch them grow, and we're looking forward to the wonderful entertainment they'll continue to bring to Crown Center."

Productions scheduled at the new Musical Theater Heritage in 2015 include: Guys and Dolls; Jesus Christ Superstar; Urinetown; and Wouldn't It Be Loverly a Lerner & Loewe revue, as well as "Musical Mondays & Tuesdays, Too", and the "A Night on the Town" performance series of cabaret programs featuring local vocalists. Also in the works, the "A Night on the Town Lounge" where patrons can gather at the theater and enjoy cocktails as George Harter presents "A Night on the Town" his weekly radio program on musical theater.

George credits the hard work, loyalty and artistic excellence of many people for MTH's success. Chad Gerlt, has been on board since 2003 as a producer, fundraiser and has cultivated and built MTH's audience through strategic promotions and marketing; Sarah Crawford, responsible for casting and directing large-scale book musicals in a unique way that provides the audience with a intimate and heightened theater experience; and Tim Scott, who has developed the "Musical Monday" series into a high energy, unpredictable, fun and sold-out event.

"We are quite ready for this giant step," Harter says. "MTH provided employment for 289 actors, singers and theater technicians in 2014. We brought 11,500 people to Crown Center to see our productions. Having a permanent home is the only way we could continue our phenomenal growth."