Kirkland Performance Center Livestreams Musical Performances For the Public
Kirkland, WA. Kirkland Performance Center has launched KPC At Home: Livestreams, a series of ongoing performances from local artists streamed free for the public. KPC will stream weekly performances from 30+ local artists through the rest of the year and going into 2021. All of these streams are free to the public and can be viewed on KPC’s Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. More information on KPC At Home: Livestreams is available on KPC’s website.
Kirkland Performance Center’s marquee prior to COVID-19
Kirkland Performance Center has operated since 1998 and each year over 85,000 people attend shows and events at its theater. Being a 400-seat theater, KPC typically books about 250 shows of wide variety each year, including comedy shows, musical performances, graduations, and diverse cultural expressions from all around the world. Executive Director Jeff Lockhart says that KPC’s mission is to be a “gathering space for people to come together as a community connected by culture.” KPC aims to be more than just a site for entertainers, but a place for connectors who seek to bring people together through creative expression.
Eastside Community Musical’s production of Mamma Mia! at KPC before the COVID-19 pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., Kirkland was one of the first cities in America to suffer a significant outbreak. Thus, Lockhart shares that Kirkland Performance Center shut down in early March and “completely put the brakes on everything” as “safety is paramount” to the organization. Nearly half of KPC’s Curated Presenter season was canceled and the organization put a pause on its plans before deciding how to move forward. Ultimately, Lockhart and the rest of the KPC team realized that “just because the stage is postponed, doesn’t mean [KPC’s] mission is postponed.”
KPC rebranded as “KPC At Home” and launched several ongoing programs to connect with the Kirkland community virtually. These include “Throwback Thursdays,” in which KPC shares videos of past performances and “Staff Picks,” in which KPC staff members create music playlists for the public to listen to on the organization’s Spotify channel.
However, KPC’s livestreams have gained the most traction in the last few weeks. KPC has collaborated with various artists, including Stephanie Ann Johnson, Erin Rae & The Heartbeets, and Geoffrey Castle, to stream performances from artists’ homes and the KPC theater. Many of these streams receive upwards of 1,000 views. Future livestreams will include artists such as Drew Martin, DownNorth, Lucien LaMotte, and many more. In August, KPC will partner with artist Alec Shaw and chefs and wine tasters from The Heathman Hotel in Kirkland. Chefs and wine tasters from The Heathman will pair food and wine with each of Shaw’s songs. The public can order paired food and wine and enjoy a culinary experience paired with music in their homes.
Geoffrey Castle performing at Kirkland Performance Center
Lockhart hopes that Kirkland Performance Center’s new offerings allow the organization to dive into “a whole new line of expression.” In addition to livestreams, KPC is looking into launching a lecture and book series program and music lessons for children in the fall. KPC recognizes that streaming is a great platform for up and coming artists and the organization wishes to utilize it to share more art with the community and connect people through culture. Moving forward, Lockhart and the rest of the KPC team wish to “be there for the community” and use art as a way to “hope, inspire, and help people be better people” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Kirkland Performance Center:
People may view KPC’s livestream performances on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, as well as access them through KPC’s website. People may also donate to KPC through their website, by contributing one-time or recurring gifts. Lockhart shares that even a recurring gift of $5.00 a month “goes a long way” and is “profoundly appreciated” as the organization is “living on donations” at the moment.
KPC provides a gathering place where people come together to express themselves creatively, exchange ideas, share culture, and connect with one another.
