WICHITA, Kansas – Exploration Place’s Dome Theater opened its doors to a new sensory performance on Thursday, welcoming the immersive live‑music experience titled Stardust: An Immersive Live Experience. The production combines improvised musical compositions with high‑definition, 360‑degree projections of the cosmos, creating a unique blend of sound and sight for audiences of all ages.
What visitors can expect
The hour‑long show guides viewers through multiple musical genres while the planetarium dome displays stunning 4K images of stars, nebulae, and distant galaxies. Composer and performer John Allen, who created the piece, says the format encourages audiences to relax and feel awe as the music shifts to match the visual journey.
“It’s sold out nationwide,” Allen told KWCH. “People are amazed by it, relaxed by it, because you go through all of these genres of music throughout the hour‑long program. People come up to me and are like, ‘That was absolutely amazing,’ and that’s incredible to hear.”
Local impact and community response
Exploration Place expects the show to draw both Wichita residents and visitors from surrounding communities. The museum’s Dome Theater, a popular venue for educational and entertainment events, has seen strong attendance for previous planetarium programs, and the addition of live music adds a fresh dimension that aligns with the museum’s mission to inspire curiosity about science and the arts.
Local families have already expressed excitement. “My kids love space, and the music makes it feel like a concert in the stars,” said Maria Hernandez, a Wichita mother of two who attended the opening night. “It’s a great way for us to spend an evening together while learning something new.”
Ticket information
“Stardust” runs at Exploration Place from Thursday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 8. Tickets are available online at exploration.org/event/stardust/ and at the museum’s box office. Seating is limited due to the dome’s capacity, so early purchase is recommended.
Exploration Place also offers a range of other programs, including science workshops, school field trips, and special exhibitions, reinforcing its role as a cultural hub for Wichita and the broader Sedgwick County area.
About Exploration Place
Founded in 1983, Exploration Place is a nonprofit science and discovery museum dedicated to providing hands‑on learning experiences. The museum’s Dome Theater, originally built for traditional planetarium shows, has been upgraded with state‑of‑the‑art projection technology, allowing it to host innovative productions like Stardust. The museum continues to partner with artists, educators, and scientists to bring interdisciplinary programming to the community.
Original reporting: KWCH 12 (Gray) – local — read the source article.
