Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah.
Hi Jeremiah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m from Kansas City originally, but left after high school. I ended up studying theater at UCLA and after graduation, moved to Sweden where I was a soloist for a dance company. I also wrote music for some of their concerts. Our dance company, Eternia Dans Teater, led by Danish choreographer, now film maker, Vibeke Muasya, had created a production called, We Want To Live!, based on the children’s art and poetry from the Nazi ghetto, Terezin in Bohemia. The Israeli Ambassador to Sweden saw the production in Stockholm and invited us to tour Israel. While in Israel planning the tour, I met my wife, Mona at a dance conference. Mona is from Finland, so when we both returned to our Scandinavian homes, we find time to meet and eventually got married. I lived in Europe for six yeas and during that time the Soviet Union collapsed and I was able to enter the former Communist countries to first hand, experience the devastation it has wrought on the cultures. After years of touring, performing and creating, Mona and I had developed a concept of how the arts function in society and can participate to create culture and environments for humans to thrive. We moved to Kansas City in 1995 and started The Culture House. 30 years later, The Culture House has both educational and professional divisions, artists and programs to serve the community with high level training, performances and gatherings that, we hope, are infused with beauty, truth and goodness.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Even though Kansas City has become an arts town, it is still a struggle to properly fund our programs. While there have been people issues and there always be in any entrepreneurial endeavor, ours has been an extremely positive experience because of all the great people and artists that we have been able to work and partner with. The dancers of Störling Dance Theater are some of the greatest artists I have ever been able to work with. Mona, the Artist Director, has created some of the most breathtaking and powerful productions because the artists in the company and guests artists are so skilled and passionate about what they do. We love living in Kansas City and getting to play a part in creating its inspiring and warm environment.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While I spend most of my early years as a performer (singer, actor, dancer), I am primarily now a producer and CEO of a growing arts organization, The Culture House. One funny story from my youth happened when I moved to Los Angeles at 19. It was my first week in the city and so, I took a dance class to get into shape. After the class I was invited to go on the upcoming Donna Summer tour. I thought, “That was easy! I love L.A.” Ha! That was a fluke. But, I did enjoy getting to dance for Donna Summer and discovered what a remarkable, highly trained and beautiful voice she had. Zooming forward to today, I would say that citywide, The Culture House and Störling Dance Theater are probably known the most for our production, Underground. About the Underground Railroad, it premiered in 2008 and has been an annual tradition in Kansas City ever since. It was chosen as Top 10 of the Decade by critic, Paul Horsley, and when the Kauffman Center was planning it’s opening, we were asked to move show to the Kauffman Theater where it remains today. We can’t say enough about the staff and team at the Kauffman Center. The building is truly world-class and so are all the great people who run it. Störling continues to create all kinds of powerful productions and will premiere a new work, Dorothea’s Lens, in April, 2026 at the White Theater in Johnson County. This production is based on the life and work of photographer, Dorothea Lange. Our Summer Broadway series gets a lot of attention as we’ve been able to put some of Kansas City’s top talent on the best stages of Kansas City. And I would have to say that due to our incredible teaching staff and leadership, The Culture House Conservatory of the Arts has been privileged to inspire and educate thousands of our cities children and youth. We are told that our commitment to excellence stands out to people whether it be at the school level or on the stage. We are also inspired by the Judeo-Christian message as it has transformed whole cultures to focus on human dignity, the flourishing of the soul and struggle for beauty.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was probably the original ADD candidate. I was always involved in things from sports to school and eventually traveling around the country starting at 15 performing every summer. I come from a big, extended family, so I had lots of older cousins to hang out with and have fun with at every stage. I don’t remember having many new clothes as I was always wearing hand me downs from the cousins. My parents said I was born with one foot out the door, so they weren’t surprised that I ended up living abroad and traveling the world. I was always very interested in and comfortable in all kinds of cultures. Although every person is ultimately unique, I was probably a fairly normal kid.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.culturehouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theculturehouse/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCultureHouse
