Kravis Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
Exterior view of venue (c.2007)
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| Full name | Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts |
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| Address | 701 Okeechobee Blvd West Palm Beach, FL 33401-6323 |
| Owner | Private not for profit corporation. |
| Capacity | 2,195 (Dreyfoos Hall) 305 (Rinker Playhouse) 291 (Persson Hall) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 24, 1989 |
| Opened | September 19, 1992 |
| Construction cost | $55 million ($130 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Eberhard Zeidler |
| General contractor | Blount, Inc. |
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, often called the Kravis Center, is a special place in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. It's a professional center where people can enjoy many different kinds of shows. It is a not-for-profit center, which means it uses any money it earns to support its programs and keep the center running, rather than giving profits to owners.
Contents
History of the Kravis Center
How the Kravis Center Began (1978–1992)
The idea for the Kravis Center started in 1978. That's when a group called the Palm Beach County Council of the Arts was formed. Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. helped create this group. Their main goal was to help local arts grow and to build a big performing arts center. They wanted to create a place like the successful Palm Beach Playhouse, but even bigger.
In 1986, friends of Raymond F. Kravis raised a lot of money in his honor. They gathered $5 million to start building the center. This donation grew to $10 million before the center opened in 1992. Leonard Davis and Merrill Bank led this fundraising effort. They are still part of the center's committee today.
The Kravis Center was built on an old baseball field. This field was once called Connie Mack Field. It was used for spring training by the Kansas City Athletics baseball team until 1962. Then, it became the West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium.
The Kravis Center officially opened in September 1992. There was a big party with famous people. Performers and speakers included Burt Reynolds, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lily Tomlin.
The Kravis Center Today (1992–present)
Since it opened, the Kravis Center has grown a lot. It now has four main performance areas. These include the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. Concert Hall, which seats 2,195 people. There's also the Rinker Playhouse, with 289 seats, and the Helen K. Persson Hall, which seats 170.
The center also has the Cohen Pavilion. This building holds the Weiner Banquet Center and the Gimelstob Ballroom. It also has The Elmore Family Business Center for the Arts. The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center is also here. This education center includes Persson Hall and The Khoury Family Dance Rehearsal Hall.
In March 2016, the Kravis Center did something special. It became the first performing arts center in the world to get a custom-made digital organ. This amazing instrument was paid for by Alexander W. Dreyfoos.
The Kravis Center has helped many people experience the arts. Over 2 million school children have visited. Thousands of older people, minorities, and community groups have also enjoyed shows.
In 2018, the city approved plans to make the center even bigger. This expansion was planned to be finished by the summer of 2020.
Performance Venues at the Kravis Center
The Kravis Center has different spaces for various types of performances and events.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. Concert Hall
This is the main performance space at the Kravis Center. It is also known as Dreyfoos Hall. This large concert hall is about 90,000 square feet. It can seat over 2,000 guests. Dreyfoos Hall opened in November 1992. It hosts many big concerts and shows.
Marshall E. Rinker Sr. Playhouse
The Rinker Playhouse is a smaller, more flexible theater. It is a "black box" theater, meaning its stage and seating can be changed. It is about 5,000 square feet and can hold 300 guests. This playhouse opened in October 1994. It is often used for comedy shows. It is also home to the MNM Theatre Company.
Eunice and Julian Cohen Pavilion
The Cohen Pavilion is a large events hall. It cost $31 million to build and opened in September 2003. This building has many meeting rooms and rehearsal spaces. It also includes a ballroom and a recital hall. The pavilion has two floors. These are the Weiner Banquet Hall and the Picower Foundation Arts Education Center.
Helen K. Persson Hall
Helen K. Persson Hall is a recital hall inside the Cohen Pavilion. It is about 5,000 square feet. This hall can seat 291 guests. It is used for smaller performances and recitals.
Herbert and Elaine Gimelstob Ballroom
The Gimelstob Ballroom is the main hall for big events. It is located within the Cohen Pavilion. This large ballroom can seat up to 800 guests. It is used for galas, banquets, and other special gatherings.
Images for kids
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Exterior view of venue (c.2007)
See also
In Spanish: Kravis Center W.Palm Beach para niños
