The Kent Stage

The Kent Stage

It was on March 22, 2002 that The Kent Stage opened its doors for the first time.  Administered by the Western Reserve Folk Arts Association, the building itself has been a landmark downtown since it originally opened as the New Kent Theater in 1927.  Thanks to the leadership of General Manager Tom Simpson, his wife and Assistant Manager Richele Charlton and other WRFAA members including Mike O’Neal and Greg Janik, the Association has managed to convert the old movie and vaudeville theater into an important player in NEOhio’s vibrant music scene.

Built on the site of Dr. Joe Shively (the first area physician) and wife Amelia Kent Shively’s mansion, the Theater became the first talkie movie theater in Kent.  It continued to show movies until months before the opening of The Kent Stage.  Amelia still has a presence at The Stage, but we will get to that later.

The WRFAA opened The Kent Stage with the intention of bringing powerful acts in folk music, blues, jazz, gospel and theatrical performances.  These genres are still represented, but more roots rock and modern rock performers have been added recently.  The upcoming concert schedule is a good representation of the kind of talent The Stage books:
3/5 Steven Stills (Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer) will play The Kent Stage’s 8th Anniversary Concert.
3/11 Terry Sylvester (The Hollies) will stop by on his way to his induction into the R’n’R HOF.  Denny Laine (Moody Blues, Wings) will join him for the show.
3/12 Tommy Cash pays tribute to his father, Johnny.
3/18 John Oates (Hall & Oates) will perform.
3/19 Columbus-based local favorites Ekoostik Hookah will be in town.
3/26 The Fabulous Thunderbirds will be here.  Jimmy Vaughn plays guitar.  Look into it.
4/1 Henry Rollins’ Frequent Flyer Spoken Word Tour.

And it’s not just national acts that perform The Kent Stage.  In May, they will host another production from the Children’s Musical Theater of Kent; their eighth at The Stage.

All in all, Tom is positive about the response and support that he’s received from the community over the last eight years.  It’s as if good spirits are watching over the theater; which there are.

Albert DeVos, known as “Woody”, was the caretaker of the theater and called himself “the guardian of the theater”.  He lived in the upstairs apartment and died unexpectedly on the stage Christmas Eve 1999.  Woody’s still there, taking care of his theater.
Amelia Kent Shively (yeah, from before) lived in a mansion that stood where The Stage is now.  The city is named after her brother and she was an important part of the founding community.  She now makes appearances at The Stage; walking from the projection booth into the balcony, down the stairs towards the bar where she disappears.

Things move around or disappear for short times, doors are unexplainably locked, but nothing malicious has ever happened.  The Stage has been approached by cable ghost hunter shows but, after investigation, they always find that the ghosts aren’t evil enough for good television.

The Kent Stage clearly has it all- sound management, great shows and protective ghosts.  Check out their complete schedule at www.kentstage.org.  I’ll see you there.

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