Bell Center
Our newest facility, the 40,000 square foot Bell Cultural Events Center, was opened for classes and the community in the fall of 2007. It is an acoustically-engineered masterpiece. The 541-seat Mabee Performing Arts Hall boasts the very best in sound environment, supported by a Yamaha M7CL digital sound mixing console, multi-track recording capabilities through Pro Tools, ETC computerized light board, and visual playback and projector for viewing DVDs, Power Point presentations and other multi-media on a drop-down screen on the stage. The building also has practice rooms and individual instruction areas in support of the high level of academic standards and has the most up-to-date technology for teaching, recording, and playback for students and teachers to use in classrooms, private lessons, rehearsals, and performances. The Black Box theatre, scene shop, Green Room, make-up room, and dressing rooms have expanded the abilities of the MNU Theatre Department for both training and performance.
For additional information about the Bell Cultural Events Center, its performances, rental availability, policies, box office hours, and so forth, or to add your contact information (address, phone, e-mail) to our mailing list, please contact us at bellboxoffice@mnu.edu. You will be contacted as requested.
Announcing our 2008-2009 Season!
You are invited to attend the 2008-2009 season of performing arts at the Bell Cultural Events Center! As you can see from the information provided below, the events are many and varied in style. There is something for everyone to enjoy! We look forward to seeing you here at the Bell Center!
Click here to order tickets! (PDF 90 KB Help )
Click here to order tickets! (DOC 674.9 KB Help )
Sponsored Events
All tickets for events sponsored by the MNU Bell Cultural Events Center can be purchased at the Bell Center Box Office at (913) 971-3636.
Rattle & Hum
September 6, 2008 7:30pmTickets: Adults-$20, Seniors-$15, Students & MNU Faculty/Staff-$10, MNU Students-$5
Rattle and Hum is Kansas City’s premier U2 Tribute band. Placing a priority on accurately delivering the sound of U2 over the "look" of Ireland's greatest export, Rattle and Hum is the U2 tribute most dedicated to making you feel as if you are experiencing the real U2 in concert.
Fountain City Brass Band
Tuesday Evenings with Fountain CitySeptember 16, 2008 7:30pm Sea Songs
October 21, 2008 7:30pm Showstoppers!
December 16, 2008 7:30pm Bells-a-Plenty VII (with the Fountain City Youth Brass Bands)
February 10, 2009 7:30pm Fountain City Favorites!
April 14, 2009 7:30pm Classic Brass
May 12, 2009 7:30pm From Russia With Love
Tickets: Adults-$20, Seniors-$15, Students & MNU Faculty/Staff-$10, MNU Students-$5
Fountain City Brass Band is Kansas City’s award-winning, hometown brass band and 2007 & 2008 North American Brass Band Champions. FCBB is now making the Bell Center its home! The band will conduct regular rehearsals here in between road trips for local, regional and national performances and competitions. This will be the first official home to the 30-piece ensemble, which was founded in 2002, and is under the direction of Artistic Director Lee Harrelson.
KC Wind Symphony
October 11, 2008 7:30pmTickets: Adults-$20, Seniors-$15, Students & MNU Faculty/Staff-$10, MNU Students-$5
The Kansas City Wind Symphony was founded in November of 1998 as a volunteer ensemble of professional and accomplished amateur musicians selected by competitive audition. Musicians come from throughout the Kansas City region to perform in the organization dedicated to the study and performance of classic band works and transcriptions of orchestral masterworks in a concert setting. The Wind Symphony is directed by Dr. Phillip C. Posey and is fully sponsored as a community outreach of the Village Church in Prairie Village, Kansas.
Kyiv Symphony & Orchestra
October 14 & 15, 2008 7:30pmTickets: Adults-$35, Seniors-$30, Students & MNU Faculty/Staff-$10, MNU Students-$5
Realizing that music has a profound effect on the hearts of people, the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus proclaims the love of Christ and truths of the Scripture through great Christian classics in its concerts. On eight tours of the United States, the KSOC has introduced Americans to Ukraine and the extensive ministries of Music Mission Kiev. Music Mission Kiev is first and foremost "Music with a Mission".
Handel’s Messiah
December 7, 2008 3:00pmTickets: Adults-$10, Students-$5
Performed annually by MNU and community members, Handel’s Messiah has inspired many with its blending of music and scripture. This performance will be the second performance at the Bell Cultural Events Center and promises to be an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Hosted Events
newEar Ensemble
Sept 15, 2008 4:00pmFebruary 16, 2009 4:00pm
newEar is a professional music ensemble featuring the music of today's composers. newEar's music can be difficult to classify because composers write in ALL styles -- from a traditional piano trio to a work for solo instrument and electronics. At newEar concerts, you will see and hear a handful of highly trained musicians interpreting music, most written within the last 10 years—and frequently performed in public for the very first time EVER.
These performances are free concerts given specifically for students.
KC Jazz Orchestra
Jazz is America’s classical music. Through the efforts of the KCJO, a non-profit organization, the citizens of Kansas City can experience this art form through concert performances by a dynamic collection of Kansas City’s finest musicians. Each concert features a guest instrumentalist, vocalist or theme to showcase the many facets of this diverse and evolving musical art.Tickets are available for these performances through the www.kcjazzorchestra.org artist’s website starting August 1st. September 27, 2008 8:00pm
Tormé Sings Tormé
The first time performing in an acoustically pristine concert hall, The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will demonstrate its true precision and artistry by performing compositions from the great American song book. The concert will feature vocalist Steve March Tormé. Last name sound familiar? Son of the late Mel Tormé, Steve has been engaging audiences around the country singing some of his dad’s favorites as well as some of his own! December 13, 2008 8:00pm
A Nat King Cole Christmas
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will “swing” you right into the season performing beautiful big band arrangements of holiday classics. Nothing quite says warm and cozy like “The Christmas Song.” Kansas City’s very own Duck Warner, whose smooth crooning style is reminiscent of Nat King Cole, will sing this and other seasonal favorites.
Kansas Concert Opera
October 3, 2008 7:30pmTickets: Adults-$20, Seniors & Students-$15
Kansas Concert Opera performs full-length operas in their original language in concert version with piano or orchestra, English surtitles, opera chorus, and no sets or costumes. This unique (and portable) performance style allows KCO to bring world-class singing to Kansas communities and introduce some of our state's finest up-and-coming singers, who perform lead roles side-by-side with seasoned guest artists.
This concert will be a performance of the two short operas, Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni and Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, with an outstanding cast of 10 singers joined by the Fountain City Chorale and Natalia Rivera at the piano.
Tickets for the Kansas Concert Opera performance will be sold through the Bell Center Box Office (913) 971-3636.
Trails West Barbershop Chorus
Oct 4, 2008 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Tickets: $10, $5 MNU Students
The Trails West Barbershop Chorus is the largest men’s chorus in Olathe, Kansas, and is a recognized chorus of Barbershop Harmony Society, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA)
Christian Youth Theatre
Christian Youth Theatre is an after-school theater arts program for children ages 6-18. CYT is dedicated to developing character in children and adults through training in the arts and by producing wholesome family entertainment.For more information and to purchase tickets for these events, please call the Christian Youth Theatre box office at 913-681-3318.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Nov 13-16, 20-23
School House Rock
Feb 5-8
Willy Wonka Jr
May 7-10
MNU Fine Arts Dept/Theatre Dept Featured Events
Theatre Dept Fall Play “Arsenic & Old Lace”
October 31, 2008-November 2, 2008 7:30pm
Tickets: Adults-$10, MNU Faculty/Staff & Students-$5
Fine Arts Dept Winter Concert
December 2, 2008 7:30pm
Free
Theatre Dept Broadway Revue
January 16, 2009 time TBA
Donation at the door
Jazz Festival Concert
February 21, 2009
Tickets: Adults-$15, Students-$5
Theatre Dept Spring Play “Fiddler on the Roof”
April 3, 2009-April 4, 2009 7:30pm
Tickets: Adults-$10, MNU Faculty/Staff & Students-$5
Fine Arts Dept Honors Recital
April 7, 2009 7:30pm
Free
Click here to order tickets! (PDF 90 KB Help )
Click here to order tickets! (DOC 674.9 KB Help )
For details on the above events and a complete listing of upcoming events, click on "All Fine Arts Event" just to the left of this page. Each event listed is a link to further information regarding time and cost of the event.
Driving directions to Bell Cultural Events Center:
I35 south to first Olathe exit; turn left onto Santa Fe (east). At Clairborne Road, turn right (south) and proceed approximately ¾ mile to College Way. Turn left (east) and go two blocks (past two stop signs). Turn left onto Pioneer Blvd (before circle) and go approximately 1 block. The Bell Center will be on the left, past the residence halls.
You can now also come south from Santa Fe on Mur-Len to 139th St and turn right onto the MNU campus. The new driveway will bring you right to the front doors of the Bell Center.
You may visit our campus map for more details
