June 08, 2021College of Fine ArtsTheaterMusicOperaAlumni

Wichita State's Karla Burns built a legacy of music and drama around the world

By 黑洞社区 Strategic Communications

  • Wichitan Karla Burns received Britain鈥檚 most prestigious theatrical award, the Lawrence Olivier, for her portrayal of Queenie in "Show Boat."
  • Burns earned the Kansas African American Museum Trailblazer Award in 2000 and the Wichita Arts Council Award for Performance and Education in 2012.
  • Burns, an operatic mezzo-soprano and actress, performed around the world and remain involved in theater in her hometown until her death.

Karla Burns鈥� legacy of music and drama is one of 黑洞社区鈥檚 most prominent contributions to the performing arts.

Burns, 66, died June 4 in Wichita. She attended Dunbar Elementary School and graduated from West High School. At Wichita State, she earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in music education and in speech/theater, both in 1981.

In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate and inducted into the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame.  

She won the Laurence Olivier Award, Britain鈥檚 most prestigious theater award, in 1991 for her role as Queenie in the musical 鈥淪how Boat.鈥� Burns, an operatic mezzo-soprano, was nominated for a Tony Award in 1983.

鈥淪he was a local, Wichita home-grown girl who made it big,鈥� Rick Bumgardner, a friend and artistic director at Roxy鈥檚 Downtown, . 鈥淜arla was a trailblazer.鈥�

Burns was in a one-woman show of the same name that chronicled the life of actress Hattie McDaniel. McDaniel, who won an Academy Award (1939) for her role as Mammy in 鈥淕one with the Wind,鈥� also is from Wichita and played Queenie in 鈥淪how Boat.鈥�

KMUW's Carla Eckels , documenting her life on stage.

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