INTRODUCTION

Completion of The Midland Theater & Event Center (MTEC) will be achieved through a “Fund-Build-Use” approach. The Midland Theater Foundation has identified a series of six projects designed to open a specific area of MTEC upon completion of each project. Project One: Secure the Shell has been successfully completed in 2020 through a combination of private donations and The Heritage Trust Fund grant by The Kansas Historical Society.

 

DESCRIPTION

Project Three: Backstage Theater is the third within the series of six projects. Backstage Theater at the Midland will provide an updated and secure proscenium, stage and fly area on the stage level, dressing room and public restroom with access from the stage, and storage areas and mechanical rooms beneath the stage. All will meet current code and become immediately usable. The current load factor for the stage has not been upgraded since 1928.

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USE

This project will provide a multi-purpose space for meetings, rehearsals, and small, intimate performances. A dressing room and public restroom will be constructed with access from the stage. Finally, a storage area and mechanical room will be built under the stage.

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BENEFITS

Together the Backstage Theater space when combined with the previously finished Front of the House space will double the capacity to accommodate up to 150 patrons in the two main areas, the ballroom and the stage. This is significant for outreach programs that attract underserved residents.

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Currently Coffeyville has more than twice the poverty level of Kansas. That combined with our high percentage of disabled adults and school children on government meals. Most of our population has very little access to what can be life changing, high impact theater experiences. Offering accessible and affordable youth arts/theater programs as well as a variety of family and adult entertainment allows for building a base of patrons and audience participants as the rest of the complex is completed.

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Building on the success of smaller avant-garde theater venues such as Second City in Chicago and Bovine Metropolis in Denver, this project will create an appealing “alley theater” cache. It will be the “go to” destination for our community including our underserved youth, marginalized adults, and mainstream residents as the rest of the theater and conference

center is being completed.

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Executing the fund-build-use-strategy for the Backstage Theater project will immediately expand the Midlands’ offerings to include youth theater and arts programs, Putting the “A” in STEAM curricula, and provide practice and performance entertainment space.