KINGMAN – The arts are flourishing and the Beale Street Theater in downtown Kingman has found its heartbeat. Some 13 months of entertainment energy has breathed new life into the old State Theater property that re-opened over the 2025 Independence Day celebration following a near decade-long collaboration to renovate the building.
“It’s been wonderful. The public sees the shows and the things that go on, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes with rehearsals and activities,” said Kristina Michelson, Executive Director of the Kingman Center for the Arts. “We often have days where we have four things going on at one time – someone on the stage practicing, someone in the lounge area, people in the lobby and people upstairs practicing all kinds of different programming for our shows.”
Patron patterns and input help improve operation of the theater.
“It’s been a bit of a learning curve for us to figure out how to make this work and how things go together and what people are going to want to pay for to see,” Michelson said. “Our audience is growing as it becomes more familiar with what we are actually doing.”
Fundraising continues to purchase audio visual equipment that’s needed to upgrade to a fully functional facility. The theater is unable to accommodate some big stage productions and larger dance companies and touring groups until various enhancements and additions occur.
“Lighting adds to a show when you can change the colors and highlight different parts of the stage and add different effects,” Michelson said. “We’ve been able to add a little, but it’s not quite up to where we want to go with it.”
Angle Homes is spearheading a major fundraising drive with its pledge to match donations dollar for dollar up to $200,000. Michelson said $400,000 would go a long way toward the desired technical upgrades.
Contributions can be delivered in person, electronically and by snail mail.
“All of the above,” Michelson said. “On our website at bealestreettheater.com there’s an option to donate there if people want to donate electronically. They can also mail us at the address on the website which is 402 E. Beale Street or you can come into the theater and make the donation in person.”
