The Kay County Amphitheater’s official opening is Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The Amphitheater, the Kay County Courthouse Annex, and the OSU Extension Office have transformed the south half of the government square in downtown Newkirk, Oklahoma.

Opening night will feature the Kay County Honor Choir consisting of performers across Kay County which includes elementary, middle school - high school, and adult choirs. The Newkirk Public School’s vocal teacher, Elizabeth Odom is directing the performance.

Master of Ceremony will be Cristi Cary Miller, a Newkirk High School graduate and nationally-known choir director. She said of her years growing up in Newkirk and her career path, “I feel so blessed to have grown up in Newkirk. It was a place where I could do everything! Music was a central part of my educational life and Newkirk offered some wonderful instructors to help navigate us through those years. After graduation from Oklahoma State, and a few years of teaching, I was able to teach in Newkirk as the Grade 1-12 choral teacher. It was such a wonderful treat to give back to the community that had given so much to me! During my time in Newkirk, I presented a few programs on the steps and lawn of the Kay County Courthouse. Those outdoor concerts were special as the community gathered during the good weather to celebrate their singers and performers. A wonderful bond was built through the experience. I think that’s the spirit of community that this amphitheater will bring to our county. Those who have worked so hard to make this dream a reality through hard work and donations envision what I think could become an open door to the arts! I love that it will be used to gather all different mediums of music and different aspects of the art world. Being asked to MC this event is an extreme honor and I feel very humbled that I will have the chance to be a part of something so special. I think the evening will be memorable for all those who attend. It’s truly the start of something great.”

Drinks and dessert will be available for purchase; this is a fundraising project for the Newkirk High School Class 2023. Please bring chairs and/or blankets to make your evening at the outdoor event enjoyable. The Kay County Amphitheater is a premier venue for performing arts and was completely funded through private donations. The large stage was built on the property that housed the Newkirk High School at 9th and Main Street and was constructed using kind, honest and hardworking individuals in Kay County and two from Cowley County, Kansas.

Holly Cline, President of the Newkirk Main Street said, “As for the amphitheater, by so many people’s determination and organization this project is finally coming to fruition and it is great to see it happen. I have had a front row seat to the process as my office is next door and it has been exciting to watch the progress. This gift to the citizens of Kay County was made possible by the generosity of so many people, whether it was through the donation of funds, time or efforts. It will be nice to have a place where people can experience arts in a less formal venue and maybe introduce someone to an experience they may not have had the opportunity to experience until now. There are events scheduled for the second Saturday of each month through October and lots of ideas in the works for future events.”

The Kay County Amphitheater sponsored a Kay County Patriotic Art Contest in December 2021. Kay County students in grades four through twelve in public, homeschool, and private schools were eligible to submit. Entries and essays from 118 students explained how patriotism is expressed in art. A total of 24 art pieces were selected to become a permanent public art piece featured at the Kay County Amphitheater. The 24 students were invited to the Northern Oklahoma College Art Department with Audrey Schmitz, the NOC Art Instructor, for a two hour workshop to transfer their artwork to a ceramic tile that was glazed, fired, and will be permanently installed at the Kay County Amphitheater in Newkirk, Oklahoma.

The amphitheater was constructed using all Kay County companies, with the exception of two from Cowley County. Companies and people who made this dream come true: Rick Scott Construction, Inc., McDonald Electric, Valley Forge & Iron, Wright Brothers, Keathly’s Landscaping, RCSP Coating Specialists, Silverdale Quality Stone, and Highpoint Partners, LLC. Kelle Cross, one of the volunteers working on the project applauds Kay County and the City of Newkirk for being good partners. Newkirk Main Street, Newkirk Chamber of Commerce, and Kay County citizens are excited about the events that will be held at the new venue.

Recently, three benches have been reinstalled that were originally located on the corner. The middle bench was purchased by the Newkirk High School Class of 1964 and honors all 1964 classmates. The two larger benches include new pedestals that were constructed using limestone from the first floor of the 1915 high school which then became the auditorium of the third high school. The third Newkirk High School was demolished in 2015. The limestone bench tops were originally donated in 1967 by the 1967 Newkirk High School Student Council.

A new 50 foot flagpole was installed on the Kay County Amphitheater campus thanks to Highpoint Partners, LLC and the City of Newkirk . Kay County middle and high school student patriotic artwork will surround the flagpole and create a permanent public art piece for the campus. Funding for the public art piece was provided through a grant from the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition - OVAC. This location is known as “class reunion corner” and is available as a meeting place for all class reunions.

History of the lot

• Newkirk High School building was demolished in 2015

• Dream of amphitheater was born in 2016

• With proposed Kay County Administration Building and Extension office on the horizon, amphitheater was tabled until 2019

• A committee began Intense fundraising efforts beginning of 2021. A decision was made that funding would have to be in place prior to beginning construction. Within 6 weeks, an amazing number of generous donors had stepped up and funding was complete.

Description/ Dream for venue

The original goal for the Kay County Amphitheater is as follows. “The Kay County Amphitheater will be a premier venue for performing arts and completely funded through private donations. The large stage will be built on the property that housed the Newkirk High School at 9th and Main Street. The stage will face the east and boast an outdoor plaza with open seating for 300+ people. It will be a space for class reunions and concerts as well as providing an outdoor venue for students to perform and perfect their skills.” Amphitheater spec documents go on to explain the structure of the facility. “The amphitheater will have a 25’x 50’ raised concrete stage and steps with a quality, freestanding, open-air pavilion. An attractive seven-foot cultured stone sound wall will serve as the backdrop and provide for outstanding acoustics.”