THE FOLLY 2020:

A Campaign to Secure the Future of the Folly Theater

and Expand the Performing Arts

Our Mission: To preserve Kansas City’s oldest historic theater as a premier performance venue, we

commit to maintain our building’s heritage, diversify our program and entertainment offerings, and

be an enthusiastic participant in the continuing revitalization of downtown Kansas City.

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THE FOLLY 2020:

A Campaign to Secure the Future of the Folly Theater and Expand the Performing Arts

Answering a Call to Action

About the performing arts in general, Oscar Wilde observed, “The stage is not merely the meeting

place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life.” About the Folly Theater in particular, Walter

Cronkite declared, “There is no one building … so expressive of the Kansas City past,” calling the Folly

“a wonderful monument to Kansas City’s colorful history” when it was “the embodiment of the frontier

spirit and the entertainment capital of the plains.”

Both men were right. And their sentiments describe the vision that animates the Folly’s leadership

every day: bringing the transformative power and personal renewal of performing arts to real people

in meaningful and engaging ways – and doing so in the physical context of an invaluable historic

building rich with its own personality and stories. This vision guides our resources and actions.

To those points, we have undertaken a self-assessment and scanned the environment for insights

about the Folly’s vital role in Kansas City’s creative arts and culture ecology. We have listened to our

resident performance companies and strategized about how to expand performing arts in Kansas City.

At the same time, we continually address the ongoing demands of maintaining an irreplaceable 116-

year-old iconic theater. To round out what we have learned, we are engaging in a series of

conversations during the summer of 2016 with a variety of current and potential Folly supporters.

Thus far, our research demonstrates a powerful need to enhance our presence as Kansas City’s world-

class, mid-sized performance venue. Conversations with community leaders confirm this need. In

answer to a growing call for action, the Folly Theater introduces The Folly 2020, a multi-year,

$3,650,000 campaign to meet the Folly’s urgent capital improvement needs and to develop a

fund that will secure our financial future. Importantly, this campaign will celebrate and honor the

life and contributions of C. Stephen Metzler in a manner consistent with his bold, visionary leadership

of the Folly Theater and countless other organizations and causes in Kansas City.

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The Folly Theater: Who We Are and Why We’re A Worthy Investment

The Folly has been at the vanguard of performing arts in Kansas City for more than a century, as

illustrated by Attachment A. Still, some might ask, “Why should I consider supporting the Folly?” or “Is

the Folly a worthwhile investment?” In answer to those questions, the Folly Theater is …

• A Living Landmark: Often described as “Kansas City’s Carnegie Hall,” the Folly is an exquisite

example of Neo-Renaissance design by famed architect Louis Curtiss. Artists and audiences alike

marvel at its acoustics, intimacy and ornate design. Listed on the National Register of Historic

Places, the Folly is Kansas City’s only remaining 19th century performance venue.

Following an extensive 2015 review of the Folly’s operations, a member of the Missouri Arts

Council citizen advisory panel declared: “The Folly is truly an artistic landmark of the Midwest.

The amount of collaboration, hosting, and producing that occurs in the theater is remarkable!”

• An Invaluable Contemporary Performance Venue: More than ever, The Folly is essential to

Kansas City’s performing arts community. Complementing, not competing with, the Kauffman

Center for the Performing Arts, the Folly fills a unique and vital niche. It is the artistic hub of some

of our city’s most respected, creative and courageous arts organizations: Friends of Chamber

Music, Heartland Men’s Chorus, Ailey II, Harriman-Jewell Series, and dozens of regional, national

and international artists attracted to the Folly’s size, intimacy and acoustics.

With 1,078 seats, the Folly is the affordable, appropriately-sized venue for these and other

talented artists to entertain, educate and even provoke us. Where else in Kansas City could

Heartland Men’s Chorus present I am Harvey Milk, telling the story through song of our nation’s

first openly gay politician who dared us to dream of a more equal America? Where but the Folly

could Ailey II challenge us to appreciate human movement, energy and dance-based storytelling

in new and provocative ways? And where else could thousands of school children be inspired and

enriched by the Folly Kids’ Series? The Folly Theater is that one and only place.

With your help, the Folly will continue to expand its partnership with the UMKC Conservatory of

Music and Dance, especially as its Crossroads campus develops. In 2014, the Conservatory

launched the “Folly for Five” Series, a faculty and student recital series to showcase Conservatory

artists on a world-class stage. That series continued to grow in 2016.

• An Engine for Downtown Development: Attracting nearly 60,000 patrons, volunteers and artists

annually, Folly audiences patronize downtown restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses,

bringing increased vitality and commerce to Kansas City. Significantly, our artists and audiences

are some of the most ethnically, culturally and socially diverse in our community.

• A Good Investment: Donors to the Folly 2020 Campaign can be assured that the Folly’s

leadership will be good stewards of their investments. Our finances are in order, and our

experienced board and senior staff (Attachment B) have the backgrounds and passion to

effectively manage our operations. With the close of fiscal year 2016, we have achieved six

consecutive years of black-ink operations, as illustrated by Attachment C.

In short, the Folly is a Kansas City historic landmark that lives and breathes every day as our

community’s mid-sized performing arts venue. It is a worthy investment for donor support.

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The Folly’s Campaign: A Plan to Meet Urgent and Long-Term Needs

The Folly is committed to enhancing its legacy of artistic energy and engagement. But being “Kansas

City’s Carnegie Hall” requires resources. Earned income from ticket sales and venue rentals accounts

for 60% of our $1.15 million annual operating budget. Contributed income from foundations,

individuals and corporations bridges the budgetary gap and provides the margin of excellence which

animates our mission of enhancing lives through the transformative power of the arts.

Now, with confidence in our cause and a zeal to answer a clarion call to action, we ask you to join us in

supporting The Folly 2020: A Campaign to Secure the Future and Expand the Performing Arts. This

campaign has two critical components:

1) A 12-18 month capital drive will ensure that the Folly’s operating systems are current and

effective, allowing us to continue to entertain, enlighten and inspire audiences while

contributing to Kansas City’s cultural and economic vitality.

2) The Folly Forever Fund will be established as our permanent endowment. As an 18-month first

phase of a much longer-term effort, this fund will help finance capital repairs, advance

programmatic expansion, and power performing arts innovation and excellence.

Keeping the Folly Strong and Sound: Funding Pressing Capital Improvements

The Folly’s leadership continuously monitors and manages the condition of the Theater. Black-ink

operations and generous donations during the past five years allowed us to tuck point the brick

exterior, re-paint the theater, add over $150,000 in new production equipment, and install new,

historically-accurate weather-tight lobby doors. Moreover, in 2012 we installed a marquee sign,

signaling the Folly’s presence as a premier performance venue and living landmark.

But we are confronted with serious, high-dollar capital repairs, some of which require action

in the next 12-18 months. The Folly’s essential operating systems require updating, including:

Physical Needs Cost

HVAC: Our HVAC system is beyond its serviceable life. It actually ceased to function $ 825,000

during a performance a few years ago. A short-term repair worked, but the system

must be replaced soon. Attachment D provides cost estimates from Trane and MMC.

Renovation of the Shareholders Room and Lobbies: The Folly’s lobbies and public $1,550,000

reception/conference room are outdated, congested, and disconnected. Helix

Architecture + Design has developed dramatic plans to reinvigorate these spaces in

order to make them far more welcoming, engaging and accessible. These renovations

will substantially enhance the overall “Folly Experience” for our patrons.

Repair or Replace Theater Seats and Standards: The theater’s seats require repair $195,000

or replacement in order to improve patron comfort and experience. A professional

design consultant’s evaluation has been commissioned to evaluate best options.

Replace Stage Floor: The stage floor has been sanded, refinished, and repaired $40,000

numerous times, and is in need of being replaced.

Purchase Sound Equipment: The Folly currently rents Meyer speaker sets for many $40,000

of its own and its rental clients’ performances, for approximately $1,000 per rental.

Rental cost savings and income will pay for the speakers within the first year.

TOTAL: $2,650,000

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The Folly Forever Fund:

Securing the Future and Creating a Lasting Tribute to Steve Metzler

An endowment is no longer a luxury for the Folly; it is a necessity. The Folly must secure its financial

future for its next 117 years as the resident venue for performing arts standard-bearers such as Friends

of Chamber Music, Heartland Men’s Chorus and Ailey II and essential new allies such as the UMKC

Conservatory of Music and Dance. The Folly must also enhance its arts education programs at a time

when the arts are being stripped from our schools. These are lofty but necessary goals.

Working with philanthropic leaders, the Folly has established the Folly Forever Fund to ensure these

goals become reality. Upon achieving our initial target of $1 million in September 2017, the Folly’s

performance hall was christened the “C. Stephen Metzler Hall at the Folly Theater.”

The Folly Forever Fund was a top priority for Steve, and it would have been the capstone of his 35-year

commitment to the Folly had he lived. Steve essentially “re-founded” the Folly in the 1980s. Joining a

passionate group of civic leaders – including Bill Deramus, Joan Kent Dillon, Jeanette Nichols and others

– Steve was part of a team that literally saved the Folly from the wrecking ball.

Steve’s initial and monumental dedication was followed by 15 years of service on the Folly board

and advisory board, with roles as treasurer, president and advisory board president. In the late 1980s,

Steve led a second campaign to save the Folly – this time financially, by re-acquiring the outstanding

bonds that had been sold to finance the renovation. Of course, Steve served the Folly in many other

ways with his characteristic enthusiasm and high style. He chaired the “Folly Frolic” New Year’s Eve

parties from 1981-83, as well as the galas to celebrate the Theater’s 90th and 100th anniversaries. He

even led the “Light the Lights” gala in 2012, which funded the Folly’s new marquee sign.

And Steve’s commitment did not end there. Meeting Alvin Ailey and seeing his company dance at the

Folly in 1983 inspired Steve to help form the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. Steve co-chaired the

first Ailey Gala at the Folly in 1984, and served as board chair for five years. That relationship continues

today as Ailey II brings both diversity and the transformative power of dance to the Folly. It was also

Steve’s advocacy and influence that brought Heartland Men’s Chorus to the Folly, its performance

home for the past 22 years. Steve chaired the Chorus’ first “Dinner of Note” benefit on the Folly stage

in 1995. His legacy lives on.

C. Stephen Metzler (1948 – 2015)

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How the Folly Forever Fund will Work

With an initial goal of $1 million, the Folly Forever Fund will be a long-term fundraising effort to

generate a $5 million endowment to secure the Folly’s financial future. Based on recognized

endowment formulas, this carefully-chosen objective will generate $250,000 in annual revenue,

allowing us to both meet capital expenses and address other pressing needs for programmatic and

artistic enhancements. In the short-term, donors can expect a variety of positive outcomes:

• Protected Funds Status: Every dollar raised will go directly to the Folly Forever Fund at the

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. The Fund will be restricted to help ensure the Folly

is structurally solid and bringing quality performing arts to Kansas City for generations to come.

• Honoring Steve Metzler: Upon reaching our phase-one goal of $1 million in September 2017,

the Folly’s performance hall was named in honor of Steve, the man who helped save the Folly

and who knew the Folly Forever Fund was essential to securing the Theater’s future.

• The Folly as a Donor Partner: The Folly will not just ask donors for support; we will be a full

partner in developing the Folly Forever Fund. Wise financial management, recent gifts in

memory of Steve Metzler and personal commitments from the Folly board and staff result in

$220,000 in seed-funding toward this worthy effort – 22% of our phase-one goal of $1 million.

As the Folly Forever Fund achieves its $5 million goal, interest income will help secure the Folly’s

ability to fulfill its mission. Examples of how the Fund’s interest income may be used include:

• Capital Improvements: Ongoing maintenance needs, from roof repairs to new paint and

carpets to lighting and sound equipment, can be offset by the fund’s earnings. This ensures we

plan more effectively and become less reliant on local funders for capital needs.

• Program Expansion and Artistic Excellence: Our Kids’ Series can be expanded to inspire more

students with creative, education-enriching experiences. The Jazz Series can be strengthened,

providing more opportunities for both emerging and established jazz artists. We continue to

explore other program expansions that will appeal to wider and more diverse audiences.

Planned Giving: The Folly Forever Fund is also a permanent, high-purpose option for our supporters’

estate pledges – a way to ensure our Folly Theater is “returning art to life” for the next 117 years and

beyond.

Of course, a robust Folly builds a more robust Kansas City: more vibrant performing arts, increased

downtown vitality, and a signal to the world that Kansas City is America’s creative crossroads.

Learn More about The Folly 2020

We need your help. Please join us in supporting The Folly 2020: A Campaign to Secure the Future of

the Folly Theater and Expand the Performing Arts! We welcome your feedback and questions, as well

as your gifts. Please feel free to contact us as follows:

Brian Williams, Director of Development

brian@follytheater.org or 816-842-5500, ext. 102 (Office) or 816-522-9798 (Cell)

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ATTACHMENT A

FOLLY FACTS AND WHAT OTHERS SAY

ABOUT THE FOLLY

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FOLLY FACTS

• Described by Sir James Galway as “Kansas City’s Carnegie Hall,” the Folly is owned and

operated by the Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit

charitable corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors.

• Opened in 1900, shortly after electric lights were introduced in Kansas City, the Folly is

Kansas City’s only remaining 19th Century theater.

• The Folly is the only turn-of-the century burlesque house in the country on the National

Register of Historic Places.

• With 1,078 seats, the Folly is an intimate performance hall with superb acoustics,

praised by audiences and performers alike.

• Since re-opening in 1981, the Folly has brought world-class arts experiences to over

2,500,000 patrons, including more than 400,000 children and youth.

• The Folly is the performance home of The Friends of Chamber Music, Heartland Men’s

Chorus, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (Ailey II), Harriman Jewell Series, UMKC

Conservatory of Music and Dance “Folly for Five” Series, and the Kansas City Burlesque

Festival, among other performing arts organizations.

• Notable performers who have appeared on the Folly stage include, to name only a few:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Ailey II Audra McDonald

Humphrey Bogart The Marx Brothers Gypsy Rose Lee

Sally Rand Bobby Short Tempest Storm

Patti LuPone Walter Cronkite Phyllis Diller

Arturo Sandoval Dizzy Gillespie Rosemary Clooney

Luciano Pavarotti Cloris Leachman Jerry Lee Lewis

Marcel Marceau Captain and Tenille Cecilia Bartoli

Itzhak Perlman Bob Newhart Dave Brubeck

Gregory Hines George Shearing Kathleen Battle

Yo-Yo Ma Emanuel Ax Sir James Galway

Count Basie Orchestra Marilyn Horn Jessye Norman

Leontyne Price Leslie Nielsen Mark Russell

Spalding Gray Vinson Cole Kevin Kline

Wynton Marsalis Peter Schickele Gregory Peck

Boys Choir of Harlem Richard Goode Lionel Hampton

George Stephanopoulos Renée Fleming Bo Burnham

David Parsons Dance Company Behzod Abduraimov Ben Vereen

Paul Taylor Dance Company Roseanne Cash Barbara Cook

Stanislav Ioudenitch Stefon Harris Pearl Bailey

Esperanza Spalding Joshua Bell Lily Tomlin

Juan Diego Flórez Kelley Hunt Sir András Schiff

David Brooks James Earl Jones Fareed Zakaria

Cristela Alonzo Joyce DiDonato Bobby Watson

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What Others Say About the Folly

• “The Folly Theater is the Carnegie Hall of Kansas City.” – Sir James Galway

• “Saving the Folly Theater was a stroke of genius. There is no one building of which I can

think that is so expressive of the Kansas City past, of the great days when ‘the gateway to

the Southwest’ became the embodiment of the frontier spirit and the entertainment capitol

of the plains.” – Walter Cronkite

• “The Folly is truly an artistic landmark of the Midwest. The amount of collaboration,

hosting, and producing that occurs in the theater is remarkable.” – Missouri Arts Council

Citizen Advisory Panelist

• “I can hear my voice in all the cracks and crevices of this beautiful theater … you are

fortunate to have the Folly Theater in Kansas City!” – Rosanne Cash

• “Invariably, artists say this is one of the very best halls they have ever played in.”

– Cynthia Siebert, President and Founder, The Friends of Chamber Music

• “The Folly is the best room acoustically I’ve ever played in anywhere.” – Randy Newman

• “We are so lucky to have this treasure in the heart of our City. It is an asset that serves

every individual in our community.” – Ellen D’Amato and Al Mauro (Celebration of the

Folly’s 100th Anniversary)

• “What a fabulous venue. I’m grateful for the sound of it!” – Marilyn Maye

• “This is a fantastic example of historic preservation and foresight. … Congratulations on the

great work in an important historic Kansas City venue.” – Missouri Arts Council Citizen

Advisory Panelist

• There is no better place in Kansas City in which to experience the power and intimacy of

live performance than the Folly Theater.” – Bill Shapiro

• “One of the many joys of teaching is seeing students’ faces when they experience

something new for the first time. Many of my students had never been downtown before,

and they were amazed by the buildings and the beauty of the Folly Theater. The play

literally kept the kids on the edges of their seats. Many of the kids here come from low

income families and have a very inconsistent home life. Getting to see the play has inspired

my students to want to be actors and authors. Many of the students have never even been

to a play before, much less one in a beautiful theater. Thank you for giving our students an

opportunity and experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.” – Nathan

Stewart, Kansas City Elementary School Teacher

• “Thank you so much for bringing us to the Folly Theater. One of the reasons I like it was

because it was a little cooler than the real movie. Another thing I liked about the Folly

Theater is we sat pretty close to the stage and I bet it took a while to do the play without

the words. But the Folly Theater is really one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen

before. Hopefully we can come back soon.” – 3rd Grade Student, Crestview Elementary

School

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ATTACHMENT B

FOLLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2018

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Folly Theater Board of Directors

Mark Seely Lyla Perrodin

Lockton Companies, LLC TechAccel, LLC

Chris Benner Stacy Purvis

DST Systems, Inc. First Federal Bank

Pete Browne Doug Richards

Kissick Construction Co. B2i Ventures

Richard S. Starks Rosetta Robins

Waddell & Reed (ret.) Strategic Management Solutions

Mark Eagleton Jayne Siemens

Citizens Bank & Trust Venice Communications

Stewart Koesten Sara Welch

KHC Wealth Management Stinson Leonard Street, LLP

Alejandro J. Solorio Steve Paddock

Solorio & Avila Law Firm, LLC Nokia

James O’Sullivan Sean Barnard

Security Trust & Investments Bambou Salons & Spas

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ATTACHMENT C

FOLLY THEATER: SIX-YEAR FINANCIAL

OPERATIONS PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

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The Folly Theater Six-Year Financial Operations Performance Schedule

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Total

Operating

Revenue: $1,204,970 $1,028,821 1,037,696 1,095,310 987,616 890,215

Total

Operating

Expenses: $1,148,012 $ 934,161 929,492 863,994 800,150 882,697

Operating

Surplus: $ 98,770 $ 94,660 108,204 231,316 187,466 7,518

Notes:

• All surplus totals are from the Folly’s annual general/operating column and are before

1) temporarily restricted activity—additions of or draw-downs from restricted grants; and

2) depreciation, which is a non-cash expense. Fiscal periods end as of June 30 of each year.

• Numbers are excerpted from independent audits completed by Emerick & Company, PC,

Certified Public Accountants.

• Complete audits for all periods provided are available at any time for donors’ review.