Stepping into the theater of the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center is like stepping into a storybook, with its elegant art deco features and beautiful, textured fabrics running through the whole of the auditorium.
The Kenworthy has been a focal point of the Moscow community for over a century. First opened as the Crystal Opera House in 1908, the Kenworthy was then officially opened under its current name on January 4, 1926, and was used as a theater venue all the way through 1979, when the space was converted into a café, an apartment, and a chain cinema, before being donated to the Moscow Community Theater.
The Theater was returned to its glory by the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Inc., who, upon restoring the Theater, launched a production of Little Shop of Horrors, featuring the original Broadway puppet, Audrey.
“The Kenworthy is one of the coolest places in Moscow, especially on Main Street,” Gabrielle Stenzel, a frequent patron of the theater and UI student, said. “The architecture is one of my favorite things to look at, and the theater is beautiful as a whole.”
The theater also received extensive renovations in the 2000s to become accessible to a modern audience, including a stage expansion and the inclusion of ADA accessibility.
Since then, the Kenworthy has hosted hundreds of events, festivals and performances, including live streams of the MET Live, Moscow Community Theater productions, and various movie screenings.
“My first couple weeks working here, there was the It’s a Wonderful Life movie series we run every holiday season,” Colin Maddex, an employee at the Kenworthy, said. “I really enjoyed being able to serve hot cocoa, meet people and hear their stories. I can’t imagine a better introduction to the community here.”
Just as the employees love the theater, so do the members of the Moscow community, who frequent the theater.
“It’s really apparent that people come in with a smile on their face because of their memories of great experiences here,” Maddex said. “It’s wonderful to be around people who are bringing all of that to bear when they come to see a movie here.”
This weekend, the Kenworthy is showing Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone from Moscow Community theatre. Tickets can be purchased on their website. Your can also view a full calendar of events on the Kenworthy website.
Abigail Spencer can be reached at [email protected].