The Folly Theater is Kansas City’s historic downtown performing arts venue — a 1900-vintage theater, restored in the 1980s and continuously programmed since, with approximately 1,100 seats and a year-round calendar covering jazz, chamber music, touring national performers, comedy, dance, and local productions. For visitors attending a Folly performance, the theater’s restored period character is part of the experience, and full accessibility has been built into the restoration throughout.
How We Serve Folly Theater Visitors
Scooter delivery lands at your downtown Kansas City hotel ahead of your check-in. The Folly is walkable/rollable from nearly every downtown KC hotel — Loews, Marriott Downtown, Hilton President, Hotel Savoy (Tapestry Collection), Hotel Indigo, 21c, Hampton Inn Crossroads. Take possession at check-in, roll to the theater for the performance, and return to the hotel afterward.
Accessibility at the Folly Theater
The 1980s restoration brought the historic structure to ADA compliance, with ongoing updates since:
- Accessible parking near the theater (street parking with accessible spots plus nearby garage access)
- Accessible main entrance with ramped/level approach and automatic doors
- Accessible seating sections at orchestra level with companion spots
- Elevator access to the balcony
- Accessible restrooms
- Accessible bar and concessions
For specific seat placements accommodating a scooter, request accessibility-preferred sections at ticket purchase — the theater holds a rotating block of accessible seats, and earlier reservation gets the best options.
Performance Calendar
The Folly programs across genres throughout the year:
- Folly Jazz series — monthly jazz performances, typically featuring national and regional artists
- Chamber music concerts
- Touring national performers (comedy, music, spoken word)
- Dance companies
- Local Kansas City-based productions
Check the Folly Theater’s calendar for current programming when you plan your visit.
Pairing With Your KC Trip
With a downtown hotel stay — the Folly is a 2-5 block roll from every major downtown KCMO hotel. Make it an evening destination after a day of downtown sightseeing or conventions.
With pre-show dining — Power & Light District dining clusters 1-2 blocks from the theater. Crossroads dining is a short roll south.
With Kauffman Center as a twofer — for visitors making performing arts a primary trip purpose, pair a Kauffman Center performance one evening with a Folly performance another.