Kansas theater nominated alongside Grand Ole Opry for Academy of Country Music award
.jpeg "Salina’s Stiefel Theatre has just been nominated for a Theater of the Year award by the Academy of Country Music.")
A Kansas theatre known for drawing in big acts despite its hometown’s modest size was just nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award.
Salina’s Stiefel Theatre, a completely restored 1931 Fox-Watson Theatre that seats 1,280, has been nominated in the academy’s Theater of the Year category. It’s going up against the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville; the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida; The Orpheum Theater in Omaha; and the Crystal Grand Music Theatre in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
Last year’s Theater of the Year winner was the prestigious Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
This is the first time The Stiefel has been nominated for an ACM award, said its director Jane Gates. She was beyond surprised when she got a call from an agent she knows on Thursday notifying her of the nomination.
The Stiefel, an independent venue that now gets 70% of its audience from outside Salina, has developed a reputation for treating artists well and delivering high-quality audiences. Performers frequently comment on how much they enjoy the Stiefel crowds, Gates said.
“It’s very exciting, and I think it’s cool that we can be out in the middle of Kansas and get this kind of recognition,” Gates said. “I hope it raises awareness with people in the region who have maybe never been here. It really is just an unbelievable place to see a show.”
The Stiefel has several big country names on its schedule now, including Pam Tillis and Josh Turner, and it’s hosted many other big names over the years, including Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Martina McBride, Aaron Watson and Scotty McCreery.
The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards show will be streamed on Prime Video live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on May 11. Country stars Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks will host.
Singer Hardy leads the nominations with seven, including nods for Song of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
This story was originally published April 14, 2023 at 11:12 AM.
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