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KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
ANNOUNCES THE 2023
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE SPEAKER SERIES

Lineup includes photographers, nature enthusiasts and scientists.
Series subscriptions go on sale Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022.

Kansas City, MO – The 2023 National Geographic Live Speaker Series features five presenters, including a cave-diving photographer, wild cat filmmaker and bioengineer/research diver.

National Geographic Live speakers will bring to life the awe-inspiring stories of National Geographic Explorers and share visual stories about our planet’s fragility, bio-inspired design and attempts to understand ancient Mesoamerica. Illustrated with award-winning photography and video, each one-of-a-kind presentation includes a Q&A session.

National Geographic’s broad roster of talent, including renowned photographers, scientists, authors, filmmakers and adventurers, share their behind-the-scenes stories from the front lines of exploration alongside stunning imagery and gripping footage. This year’s lineup starts with photographer Jasper Doest who will cover the topic of giving a voice to the wildlife that surrounds us. The series continues with photographer and filmmaker Sandesh Kadur; art historian and microarchaeologist Diana Magaloni-Kerpel; photographer Robbie Shone; and ends with bioengineer and research diver Kakani Katija.

HOW TO PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS

National Geographic Live series subscription packages include ticket discounts and priority seating. Four-show season subscription packages and a special engagement add-on will be available starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. Pricing for the four-show package ranges from $96 to $172 plus applicable fees. Single tickets for all five events go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

Subscriptions and single tickets are available through the Kauffman Center Ticket Office at 816.994.7222 or online at kauffmancenter.org.

Jasper Doest, Photographer
A Voice for Nature
Jan. 24, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Dutch photographer Jasper Doest creates visual stories that explore the relationship between humankind and nature. From Bob, a rehabilitated flamingo on the island of Curaçao who now acts as an educational ambassador, to the Japanese “snow monkeys” that delight in soaking in local hot springs, Doest aims to give a voice to our world’s wildlife. His emotional, award-winning images are an urgent reminder of the beauty and fragility of our planet. “A Voice for Nature” is sponsored by the Kansas City Zoo.

Sandesh Kadur, Photographer and Filmmaker
Wild Cats of India
Feb. 21, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

With landscapes spanning the towering Himalaya, arid plains and dense jungles, India is home to an unmatched diversity of wild cats. While many of the big cats are well known and thoroughly documented, photographer and filmmaker Sandesh Kadur is on a mission to highlight the country’s lesser-known felines in order to protect their future. Discover the tiny, grumpy-faced Pallas’s cat, the fishing cat that jumps into water to catch its prey, and the ancient, elusive clouded leopard. Through Kadur’s captivating images and video, you’ll get a unique and up-close look at a world of wild cats.

Diana Magaloni-Kerpel, Art Historian and Microarchaeologist
Mesoamerica Illuminated
March 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Discover how the iconic Olmec heads of Mexico were created, explore the true meaning behind the imposing Teotihuacan pyramids and get a peek into the culture and daily life in the Mayan city of Chichen Itza. Art historian and microarcheologist Dr. Diana Magaloni-Kerpel uncovers millennia-old murals and sculptures throughout Mexico and Central America — then studies them to understand what their colors, textures and techniques reveal about these ancient cultures. Join her as she brings ancient Mesoamerican civilizations to life in a way you've never seen before.

Special Engagement
Robbie Shone, Photographer
In Deep: Adventures in Caving
April 11, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

For more than 20 years, renowned cave photographer Robbie Shone has traveled to remote parts of the world to illuminate and document the world’s deepest, largest and longest known cave systems. In 2018, he joined a team on a National Geographic expedition to Abkhazia, Georgia, to descend to the bottom of Veryovkina, the deepest known cave in the world. But when a sudden flood pulse hit, Shone and the team had to climb for their lives to escape the rapidly rising waters. Join him for a first-hand account of this gripping adventure and an inside look at the mesmerizing beauty of one of the world’s last known frontiers of exploration.

Kakani Katija, Bioengineer and Research Diver
Designed by Nature
May 23, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

As a child, Dr. Kakani Katija dreamed of being an astronaut. She trained as an aerospace engineer but eventually became captivated by an even less explored environment than space: our Earth’s oceans. As a bioengineer, instead of searching space for signs of life, she studies the waters that are teeming with it. Dr. Katija hopes to illuminate the twilight zones of the ocean — its little explored midwaters — with technology inspired by the creatures who live in it.

STUDENT MATINEE SCHEDULE

As part of the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors program, National Geographic Live will present three student matinee performances in 2023:

• Jan. 24, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.: Jasper Doest – A Voice for Nature
• Feb. 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.: Sandesh Kadur – Wild Cats of India
• April 11, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.: Robbie Shone – In Deep: Adventures in Caving

Educators can find more information and request tickets to the matinees starting Sept. 12, 2022 at kauffmancenter.org/schoolmatinees.

National Geographic Live school matinees are supported by the Marlese and Robert Gourley Children’s Fund, the Teresa and Tom Walsh Family Foundation, the John N. and Marilyn P. McConnell Foundation and PNC Bank, Community Tickets sponsor.

Schools that attend a student matinee at the Kauffman Center may apply for bus assistance through the Open Doors Transportation Fund, supported by Evergy. Learn more at kauffmancenter.org/transportation.

ADVENTURE CIRCLE

Join Adventure Circle and double your impact. Generous anonymous donors have offered to match dollar-for-dollar 2023 Adventure Circle memberships up to $7,500. Memberships are partially tax-deductible and help support bringing National Geographic Live events to the Kauffman Center. Join today at kauffmancenter.org/adventure.

$500 Level Membership Benefits:

• Invitation for two to all five of the exclusive pre-show Q&As with each of the 2023 National Geographic Live presenters.
• Invitation for two to the Adventure Circle Members Reception in 2023.
• Early renewal and upgrade opportunities for the 2024 series.
• A complimentary National Geographic gift.
• Kauffman Center Presents series ticket presale access.
• Invitations for two to attend the Kauffman Center’s members-only concerts and receptions twice a year.

$150 Level Membership Benefits:

Adventure Circle membership also is available for $150, which includes the benefits above, except the exclusive pre-show Q&As. However, you are invited to one special Q&A with a National Geographic Live presenter following the Adventure Circle Members Reception.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

For the latest COVID-19 policies at the Kauffman Center, please visit kauffmancenter.org/health.

PARKING & DOWNTOWN MAPS

Find information and maps for Kauffman Center parking and construction updates at kauffmancenter.org/parking. The Arts District Garage, immediately south of and beneath the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, is the primary parking garage for patrons. Purchasing event parking in advance is highly recommended as it often will sell out. Arts District Garage parking is $10 per car. Valet is also available for $18 in advance or $20 upon arrival.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Kauffman Center’s promise to bring artists and audiences together is reflected in many ways, including removing barriers and providing access to our performing arts experiences for all patrons. You can learn more by visiting kauffmancenter.org/accessibility. To request services or receive additional information that would make your visit more enjoyable, please contact our ticket office at 816.994.7222 or through our online form.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Receive updates by following our Facebook page at facebook.com/kauffmancenter, Instagram page at instagram.com/kauffmancenter, and Twitter page at twitter.com/kauffmancenter. Watch videos at youtube.com/kauffmancenter and follow our blog at kauffmancenter.org/news.

MEDIA

Visit the Kauffman Center’s online press room for media resources, multimedia library, press release archive and more: kauffmancenter.org/about/press-room

SPONSORS

The 2023 National Geographic Live series in Kansas City is made possible by the Teresa and Tom Walsh Family Foundation. The Kauffman Center Presents series is made possible by the John N. and Marilyn P. McConnell Foundation.

Support is also provided by Saint Luke’s Health System, as well as Aristocrat Motors and Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City. “A Voice for Nature” is sponsored by the Kansas City Zoo.

ABOUT THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts – a major not-for-profit center for music, opera, theater and dance designed by Moshe Safdie – opened in 2011. Serving as a cultural cornerstone for Kansas City and the region, the Kauffman Center delivers extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences. Honored as one of the World’s 15 Most Beautiful Concert Halls, the Kauffman Center attracts some of the world’s most renowned performers and entertainers.

Through educational outreach programs and community enrichment, the Kauffman Center supports Kansas City as a cultural destination. More information is available at kauffmancenter.org.