The perspective of a location changes drastically after a first visit. Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre executive director, Christine Gilmore best describes the atmosphere of the historic center as unlike any other theater in Moscow.
“It’s a different experience than going to a box theater,” Gilmore said. “(The Kenworthy staff) pride ourselves on being community oriented, making sure we know your name when you come in and provide that sense of community for everybody that walks through the door at the Kenworthy.”
Through 100 years of community patronage and several renovations, the theater continues to provide quality entertainment and lifelong traditions.
From the days of the Crystal Theater in 1908 where the building’s history began to the present, the theater has become prestigious in the Moscow community.
Milburn Kenworthy opened the theater publicly in 1926 and the building has been through several changes including expanding the building in 1950 said Gilmore.
At the turn of the century the theatre was gifted to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Inc. In 2002, the building was established as a historic landmark of Moscow, since the directors have dedicated their programming to benefit the community.
The theater’s mission is to provide people with an accessible place to gather and watch the arts in a high quality environment and to maintain and restore the theater’s legacy.
Gilmore said the theater is community centric, supported by dedicated people. Each month the theater programming is diversified to meet everyone’s needs Gilmore said.
Gilmore said the theater is the crown jewel of downtown Moscow for its historic value. The theater is here to stay and showing no signs of slowing down she said.
“Through all the financial status in Moscow, the Kenworthy has always stood strong,” Gilmore said. “We’re here for the long haul, we’ve been here forever and we will continue to be here.”
Gilmore said the patrons have been huge contributors to the continuous effort to keep the building active.
“As with any business, we go through our highs and lows of having people patron our business,” Gilmore said. “We’ve gotten through those struggling years and our patrons stood by us. We have people that have been coming to the Kenworthy since they were three years old and still continue to come.”
Luis Torres
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