Kirkpatrick Auditorium facts for kids

The Kirkpatrick Fine Art Center is a very important building at Oklahoma City University. It's where many exciting performances take place! This center is connected to the Wanda L Bass Music Center. Together, these two buildings are home to the Wanda L Bass School of Music and the new School of Theatre.

Inside the Kirkpatrick Fine Art Center, you will find the Kirkpatrick Auditorium, the Burg Theatre, the Petree Recital Hall, and a special workshop for the School of Theatre.

History of the Kirkpatrick Center

The Kirkpatrick Auditorium was designed by a group of architects called Layton Hicks & Forsyth. It was built in 1928. Many important people helped make it happen, including John A Brown and Eugene Mantrin.

A famous pilot named Col. Charles Lindbergh helped start the building process. He broke ground for the center on September 28, 1927.

Later, a new groundbreaking ceremony happened on September 28, 2006. This was when they decided to connect the Bass Music Center to the Kirkpatrick Center. Many people were there, like Mary Coffee, Tom McDaniel, and Wanda L. Bass. Even Eric Lindbergh, a relative of Charles Lindbergh, was part of this special day!

The Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center was renovated and renamed in 1967. It was named to honor Mr. and Mrs. James Nelson Kirkpatrick. The building was officially dedicated on January 12, 1968.

The Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Auditorium was rededicated on November 21, 1980. This was a special project with Oklahoma City University and the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma City.

Kirkpatrick Auditorium

The Kirkpatrick Auditorium is used for many different types of shows. You can watch opera, musical theatre, plays, and dance performances here. It is also often rented out for other events.

The auditorium can seat about 1,095 people. The seats are divided into three main areas: the orchestra section, the rear orchestra (which is under the balcony), and the balcony itself.