Center Stage: The Legacy of Dr. Patricia McIlrath
Founding Visionary of UMKC Theatre and Missouri Rep
One of the great attributes of Kansas City is the multitude of local theatres.
The city has a wealth of professional and community theatre companies, such as the Unicorn, the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. In addition, the city has a variety of wonderful theatre education programs.
What most Kansas Citians don’t know is that this vibrant theatre scene is due mostly to one woman: Dr. Patricia McIlrath.
Dr. Patricia McIlrath was a theatre director and the founder of the UMKC Theatre Department and the Missouri Repertory Theatre. This exhibit explores her work and legacy through important milestones in her life.
In 2019, Dr. McIlrath was inducted into the Star Women's Hall of Fame, which celebrates impactful Kansas City Women. The Hall of Fame also preserves the inductees' documents in the LaBudde Special Collections and works to honor their legacy.