Orpheum Theatre Reveals a Brand Refresh Ahead of Grand Re-Opening

With a history dating back to the 1920s, the Orpheum Theatre is one of Wichita’s most storied cultural landmarks.

As the theatre undergoes a full interior restoration, the organization launched a refresh of its digital presence, ensuring the brand feels as renewed as the building itself.

“We wanted to refresh and elevate our outward-facing brand presence to match the excitement of our newly restored interior space,” said Stacee Olden, Executive Director for Orpheum Performing Arts Centre, LTD.

“We were thrilled to work with the brand experts at Gardner Design to create a rich and vibrant digital presence that honors the history of the Orpheum.”

Stacee Olden, Executive Director

Gardner Design worked with Orpheum leadership, donors, patrons and volunteers to gather feedback on what is important for the organization’s brand.

The Gardner team spent time inside the theatre during restoration to make sure the digital space would be consistent with the restored physical space. The refreshed digital presence includes a new icon, new colors/patterns, fonts, and an updated website and social media pages. A new stage-centered icon was developed to complement the Orpheum’s existing wordmark, celebrating the place where legends have performed and stories have come to life for generations of Wichita audiences. The refreshed color palette and patterning system were drawn directly from the theatre’s interior, pulling warmth from the stage and the quatrefoil motifs found throughout the architectural accents. Together, these elements form the foundation of a fully rebuilt website that connects audiences to the Orpheum’s legacy while the curtain prepares to rise again.

“For more than a century, the Orpheum’s proscenium arches have framed the moments that become Wichita memories. In the renewed identity, those arches extend beyond the architecture and into the brand itself, creating a visual rhythm that carries audiences from the digital experience to the theatre seat and ultimately to the stage. They remind us that while every performance is fleeting, the place that gathers us together endures. The result is a brand that honors the Orpheum’s remarkable past while protecting and extending its legacy for the centuries of stories still waiting to be told,” said Bill Gardner, Gardner Design.

“We are excited to launch this phase of the restoration to the public early and create excitement for what is coming with the building,” said Olden. “We are on track for a legendary grand reopening of our historic theatre this fall.”

The Orpheum Theatre, which is managed by Legends Global, will be announcing a grand re-opening date soon. The venue has kept audiences engaged throughout the restoration with The Dark Tour, a campaign spotlighting past performances and the theatre’s deep history, sustaining connection with their its audience until the curtain rises again.

To view the refreshed digital brand, get the latest on restorations, and review the history through The Dark Tour, go to wichitaorpheum.com and follow on social media.