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This Olathe Calendar of Events is presented by the Kansas City Real Estate Network.
September 2010 - Posts
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While I'm opposed to "high art" on general principle I find the hype surrounding the upcoming Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts exceedingly distasteful.
more at Tony's Kansas City
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The well-respected theater, under the artistic direction of Eric Ronsen, seeks to build on the momentum created with last season’s acclaimed hit “Venice,” now in production in Los Angeles. The inspirationally-intentioned but mostly disastrous “Saved!,” directed by Gary Griffin, revolves around a group of Christian high school students.
more at the University News
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KMBC's Marcus Moore talked with director Mike Rollen.
more at Youtube
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7:30 p.m. Friday: Odyssey Gala Benefit Concert includes intimate waltzes by Johannes Brahms with Tsuruta and her husband, pianist Peter Miyamoto, followed by Robert Schumann’s popular “Fantasy Pieces” with clarinetist Paul Garritson. It also will include a selection of songs by Richard Strauss with soprano Christine Seitz. The celebration of chamber music culminates with “Schumann’s Piano Quintet” with pianist Janice Wenger and the Esterhazy Quartet. Meet the musicians at a post-concert reception. Tickets: $20 general admission, $10 students.
7 p.m. Nov. 12: Ode to Americana: Woodwinds & Percussion features various combinations of woodwinds and percussions by mostly American composers. The concert features percussionist Andrew Heglund of the University of Nevada in Reno and bassoonist Christine Schillinger of Miami University in Ohio. MU’s Rodney Ackmann, Steve Geibel, Erica Manzo, Marcia Spence, Brian Tate, Dan Willett, as well as string players Amy Appold, Paul Seitz, Matt Pierce and Bryce McDonald will also take the stage. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students.
7 p.m. Dec. 3: Brahms & The Enchanted Garden is a holiday program featuring a work for violin and piano by resident composer Paul Seitz, Maurice Ravel’s fantastic “Mother Goose Suite” for piano four hands and Frank Martin’s charming “Trois Chants de Noël” with soprano Tiffany Blake and friends from Colorado State University. The evening closes with Johannes Brahms’ “Horn Trio” featuring Marcia Spence, Elizabeth Warne and Natalia Bolshakova. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students.
2 p.m. Jan. 22: Musicians from New York Summer Festival features New York Summer Music Festival faculty Miyamoto and Tsuruta; Chris Nappi, percussion; Ella Toovy, cello; Jessica Warner, oboe; and Nathan Warner, classical and jazz trumpet. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students.
7 p.m. Feb. 11: Genuinely Baroque welcomes flutist Roberto Maggio and virtuoso harpsichordist Enrico Baiano from Italy. The concert will also highlight violinist Susan Jensen and cellist Darry Dolezal as well as the Bach Collegium Choir and Odyssey Chamber Ensemble, led by R. Paul Crabb. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students.
7 p.m. March 11: The Second Viennese School features Schönberg’s “Verklärte Nacht,” or transfigured night, for string sextet performed by Esterhazy Quartet with cellist Matthew Pierce, and guest violinist Mark Menzies of the California Institute of the Arts. The program opens with a solo violin work by Brian Ferneyhough of Stanford University and closes with Alban Berg’s notoriously beautiful and difficult Chamber Concerto featuring soloists Menzies and Miyamoto, with Leo Saguiguit, conductor. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students.
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 2: Plowman Chamber Music Competition semifinals. Tickets: $15 all day general admission, or $10 per morning or afternoon session; $10 all day students.
2 p.m. April 3: Plowman Chamber Music Competition finals concert and awards ceremony is scheduled for the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts. The Plowman will feature 17 ensembles, and audience members are encouraged to vote for the Audience Prize. All proceeds support the Plowman Chamber Music Competition. Tickets: $20 general admission, $10 students.
7 p.m. May 6: Ode to Americana: George & Lenny! Popular composers Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin are featured in a selection of songs with soprano Jo Ella Todd and baritone Dan Urton, and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is arranged for a smaller ensemble by Patrick Dell. Tickets: $20 general admission, $10 students.
All events are at 1112 E. Broadway unless stated otherwise. For more details and updates, visit www.odyssey.missouri.org.
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Amid unpacking boxes at home and hundreds of meetings at work, Robert Walzel has been keeping his clarinet chops up the last few weeks. He wants to make a good first impression for his Lawrence debut, which comes Friday at the 11th annual Collage Concert presented by the Kansas University School of Music.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Enjoy dinner and solve a mystery just like Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple!
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The Lyric Opera production of the piece, directed by Bernard Uzan and conducted by Ward Holmquist, is a beautifully sung rendering, with handsome production values. R. Keith Brumley’s new scenic design and Donald Edmund Thomas’ lighting create a Spanish fantasy world that lodges permanent visual memories in the viewer’s mind.
more at kansascity.com
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The Bad Plus isn’t boring. The specter of tedium, an accursed affliction of even the most exceptional jazz piano trios, never loomed Saturday at the Folly Theater. Then again, this isn’t a typical jazz act.
more at kansascity.com
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 This Friday night marks the 31st annual American Royal BBQ– a real KC tradition. The smoke can be seen for miles and the music and BBQ cannot be beat! It’s family fun and then it turns into grown-up fun…so… more
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On Thursday, a cast will don tuxes and gowns and stroll onto the stage of the Lied Center to perform “100 Years of Broadway.” The concert is a compilation, composed by Neil Berg, featuring a collection of scenes and songs that made Broadway famous.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Triple Crown for a Triple Feature Rating: 5
Science Fiction Triple Feature The Coterie Theatre
I went to see the Science Fiction Triple Feature and was blown away. I was moved by all three one acts. I found myself hurting along with Charlie during the "Flowers for Algernon" and questioning our methods of trying to "fix" everything quickly and not asking ourselves if the quick fix is worth it. "The Veldt" written by Bradbury many years ago shows us that being a parent is by involving ourselves in our children's lives by being there, not buying items to replace parents and the day to day contact that we have with our children. The "River to Babylon" that was written in '37 was a forecast of what could happen in our lives if we don't make some changes.
I was please with all the performances in the ensemble cast with a notable performance by Rusty Sneary as Charlie in "Flowers." The acting was marvelous including the two newcomers to the stage. I am always impressed with Jeff Church's productions and have never left disappointed.
read the review at KC Stage
 
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Sir Isaac Newton would be proud of Chisholm Trail Middle School Principal Bill Weber for the way he illustrated Newton's laws of motion. Riding a hover chair, Weber glided face first into a large cream pie to demonstrate inertia, action and reaction, and how force equals mass times acceleration (F=MA).
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For the third consecutive year, students in the e-Communication program at Olathe Northwest High School have been selected to produce and broadcast a state football game. This year they will tape the 5A championship game on Nov. 27 at Emporia State University.
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September 25th at the Lyric Theatre and runs through October 4 — a sort of “Carmen Lite” that was nonetheless elevated by a handsome, versatile new set by the Lyric’s R. Keith Brumley, firm musical direction by Ward Holmquist in the orchestra pit and a captivating, vocally exceptional performance by Sandra in the title role.
more at the Independent
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Three Science Fiction Classics Rating: 5
Science Fiction Triple Feature The Coterie Theatre
The Coterie's Science fiction Triple feature takes three classics of young adult science fiction, Ray Bradbury's The Veldt, Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon and Steven Vincent Benet's The Water of Babylon.
The Bradbury and Benet pieces are the shorter bits, working as bookends around the much longer Flowers for Algernon. I read the Bradbury story when I was in Junior high school. It is chilling, but fairly incomprehensible. Two children have programmed an entertainment system to do something awful to their parents. Vanessa Severo gives a compelling performance as the terrified Mother.
Benet's The Waters of Babylon, from 1937, is an almost clichéd look at a possibly prehistoric world, but it got me wondering if Benet was the first too come up with this plot. Benet is mostly forgotten, but during the thirties and forties was a popular and readable poet, who wrote more than his share of Sci-Fi pieces and he might be due for a resurgence.
The central piece is Flowers for Algernon about a mentally retarded man given a life altering surgery. Rusty Sneary gives a tremendous performance showing the rise and fall of this gentle character. Watching it, I was amazed at the story flow, showing the character gaining more and more intelligence, but with it becoming aware of his position in life. The devastating ending had me weeping.
A fine production done by the Coterie and directed by Ron McGee.
read the review at KC Stage
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A boutique featuring home decor, children's and women's clothing, as well as jewelry, boots, coats, and more!
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Gladfest Fall Festival is back! Gladfest Fall Festival, voted the “Best Annual Fair/Festival in the Northland”, is a major Northland event that has drawn crowds in the tens of thousands, and brings with it enormous publicity for Gladstone, as well as all the businesses involved in making it happen. Admission is free.
The Center Stage provides [...] Gladfest Fall Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Longview Art & World Music Festival is a National Fine Arts & Entertainment Festival. Summit Art artists are featured along with other juried local and regional artists.
Watercolor,
Oil,
Graphite,
Acrylic,
Pottery,
Sculpture,
Photography,
Pastels,
Fiber,
Mixed Media and more will be on display.
Admission is free and open to the public. Live music, and food. Your support of this festival is welcomed.
Longview Art & World [...] Longview Art & World Music Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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The Stephens Lake Park amphitheater is scheduled to reopen in March after weather-related construction delays. The amphitheater, which first opened on June 26, although it was uncompleted, will be available for concerts, plays, musical performances and private events, such as weddings, according to Erin Carrillo, recreational specialist at the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.
more at the Missourian
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Hallmarket: A Hallmark Artist Art Fair is a celebration of creativity in honor of Hallmark’s 100th year. Admission is free.
Nearly 70 Hallmark:
artists,
photographers,
sculptors,
designers, and
photo stylists
will display and offer their work for sale. This is the artists’ personal work, outside of their jobs with Hallmark. Purchases may be made by cash or check only, directly to [...] Hallmarket: A Hallmark Artist Art Fair is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Baby boomers who grew up in the ’60s might find themselves singing along with the performers of “Shout!,” amazed at the lyrics they can remember. “This is the music my sister said I had to learn or I’d never have a girlfriend,” says Doug Weaver, director of the musical review opening tonight at Theatre Lawrence, formerly the Lawrence Community Theatre.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Are you having a problem with bed bugs? Do you want to learn more about how to get rid of bed bugs or how to prevent them from invading your homes? Heartland Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) and the Apartment Association of Kansas City (AAKC), in conjunction with Schendel Pest Services, is holding a “Bed [...] Bed Bug Boot Camp is a post from: Kansas City Events
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The Kansas City Symphony continues its Michael Stern-era tradition of collaborating to commission and premiere new works when it brings composer Jonathan Leshnoff to town Oct. 8-10 for the second-ever performance of his eight-minute Starburst.
more at the Jewish Chronicle
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Mark your calendars and come to the second annual Kansas City Oktober Family Fest on Saturday, October 9th, 2010. The Oktober Family Fest is put on by Real German Lutherans and is a fund raiser for Calvary Lutheran Church and School. The festival will be held on the Calvary’s Wornall campus at 12411 Wornall Ave, [...] Kansas City Oktober Family Fest is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Foster Parent Informational Sessions
Discover what is needed to make a difference in the life of a child by attending a free foster parent informational session. Learn about becoming a foster parent, licensing regulations, benefits and more!
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For 35 years, the Friends of Chamber Music has been bringing some of the finest classical performers to Kansas City. For its big anniversary season, Cynthia Siebert, the founder and artistic director of the series, has lined up some of the greatest pianists in the world. Vladimir Feltsman will start things off with a recital at 8 p.m. Friday at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St.
more at kansascity.com (followed by a preview of more music events!)
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The Grace Cathedral in Topeka has programmed 11 more performances during the 2010-11 Great Spaces Music & Arts Series:
- 5 p.m. Oct. 10: Ensemble Heinavanker, a choral group from Estonia that will sing sacred and folk classics from their homeland. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 12 and younger.
- 7 p.m. Oct. 29: Silents in the Cathedral, a joint program with the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, returns with a screening of the silent movie classic "The Phantom of the Opera" starring Lon Chaney in the title role and accompanied live by organist Marvin Faulwell. Free.
- 7 p.m. Nov. 12: The Madraliers, the chamber choir from Northwest Missouri State University, under the direction of Brian Lanier, brings Kansas City, Mo., classical guitarist Douglas Niedt to perform Mario Castelnuovo-Tedasco's "Romancero Gitano" and other works. Freewill offering.
- 3 p.m. Nov. 21: Kairy Koshoeva, a native of Kyrgyzstan who is pursuing her doctoral degree in piano performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music, returns to perform her third recital on the cathedral's 1923 Model D Steinway grand piano. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 12 and younger.
- 7 p.m. Dec. 10: New York Polyphony, the acclaimed four-voice male a cappella vocal ensemble that performed last year as part of the Great Spaces series returns to present a program of holiday music and selections from its latest CD, "Tudor City." Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students. and free for children 12 and younger.
- 7 p.m. Jan. 21: Catherine Rodland, the concert organist from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., will perform works by Marcel Dupre and other classics on the cathedral's 63-rank Schantz organ, the city's second-largest pipe organ. Freewill offering.
- 7 p.m. Jan. 31: The St. Olaf Choir, the world-famous collegiate chorus whose many appearances have included ones on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion," will make its first appearance at Grace Cathedral as part of its Midwest tour under the direction of conductor Anton Armstrong. Freewill offering.
- 7 p.m. Feb. 18: Washburn Percussion Collective will return to the cathedral to once again demonstrate just how much melody can be produced by various percussion instruments, including vibraphones, xylophones, marimbas and drums. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 12 and younger.
- 7 p.m. March 4: The Pagan Jazz Trio, from Kansas City, Mo., makes its Jazz at Grace debut, including tracks from its "Three for the Ages" CD featuring pianist Michael Pagan, drummer Ray DeMarchi and Topeka-born bassist Bob Bowman. Freewill offering.
- 7 p.m. April 1: Massimo Nosetti, the titular organist of the Basilica of Santa Rita in Turin, Italy, includes Grace Cathedral on a concert tour of the United States. Freewill offering.
- 5 p.m. May 8: The Elaris Duo, the acclaimed Topeka-based duo of violinist Larisa Elisha and cellist Steven Elisha bring their mastery of the repertoire for those two instruments to close out the Great Spaces series. Freewill offering.
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
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This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage
Jeff Church is now in his 19th year at the Coterie Theater, a professional theater for young audiences and is the Producing Artistic Director. He got his start at the age of 15 in his hometown of La Junta, Colorado, where he started a children’s theater (now called theater for young audiences) because “There weren’t many opportunities for kids to be in plays. We did not have a good junior high drama program at all. So I started a theater when I was in junior high, a children’s theater where kids could be in the plays. I was very entrepreneurial back then. I think I started it because I’ve always wanted to direct. Even back then I was gearing towards directing. Having been in plays when I was a kid, I didn’t necessarily think my passion was acting. I wasn’t against acting; I did a lot of acting in high school and college. But I really liked, and always have liked directing and organizing the concept of the production. I sure had an idea of what I wanted the set to look like, the costumes to look like, and that sort of thing. It was the director in me coming out at a young age.”
 Coterie producing artistic director Jeff Church and executive director Joette Pelster. Photo courtesy The Coterie Theatre
Throughout his years at Colorado College and as a Playwright-in-Residence at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., he operated his summer theater back home in Colorado. When he joined the Coterie as Producing Artistic Director in 1990 he chose to retire his original theater venture. On a national level, Jeff has been a board member of the Theater Communications Group, an NEA site reporter and panelist, and has been inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theater. “I think it’s interesting that I’ve always been specializing in theater for young audiences or children’s theater in some form and I had a long, really fun, stint in Washington D.C. I was a playwright in residence at the Kennedy Center in my 20s, and that was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. It was a lot of write-for-hire.”
“Something I don’t put in my bio is that I also taught at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts at the same time. I took my writing side and my teaching side and tried to cobble out a living in the 1980s. There were a lot of ups and downs and rewards and highlights. One of the students that I taught for 3 years was Dave Chappelle. I taught him Principals of Stage Management, Play Analysis, and a playwriting class. In the playwriting class, I was feeling like the kids weren’t really writing anything that they were passionate about so I gave them an “A” or “F” assignment and they had to grade themselves. They had to write something that shocked even them. They had half the class to write it and half the class to perform it. Everybody else in the class clearly gave themselves an “F”. They tried everything; they really tried to shock themselves but couldn’t do it. The only person who really succeeded was Dave and he wrote the Crack Baby Monologue, which is a famous routine he did in his first HBO special. I’ve heard kids over the years be able to do the whole monologue, and I think that it’s so interesting that it was a class assignment. I think he’s kept that idea in his television series, ‘don’t write if it doesn’t shock you’. If it didn’t shock him, it wouldn’t shock anybody else. All his stuff was so edgy and funny. He was doing stand-up at the time, and kept saying, ‘Mr. Church, I don’t see why I have to write a play, I’m in stand-up.’ I said, ‘eventually you’re going to want to develop characters, you can’t always be you, Dave, at the mike. There might be some other things that you want to do.’ Which was true.”
When asked why Jeff cares so much about theater for young audiences, he said, “I really think that there are several sides to that question. A personal side, I feel that there’s a lot left to explore in theater for young audiences. For example, there are a number of plays that are very common to the entire American population in adult theater that many people could name to you... from Glass Menagerie to Oklahoma. But in theater for young audiences, though we’ve been at it for 100 years or more, we only have one play everyone can name that truly began as a play, not an adaptation of a children’s story, something that was born to be onstage, and that’s Peter Pan. Since then there’s really been nothing, and I think that’s a dismal record. Or you can look at it as a tremendous opportunity. There’s obviously a lot of room for growth.”
Jeff has been doing his part to help theater for young audiences grow with the Coterie’s Lab for New Family Musicals. “Our idea for the Coterie Lab for New Family Musicals is to get Broadway composers to take a property of theirs and fashion it into a family musical and give it a life in professional theater for young audiences. It’s not a junior version. When we did Seussical, they made the junior version from our version. But our version was a professional theater for young audiences version. Yes, it had a smaller cast, but it did not have a simplified, easy to sing score. It was just as professional and challenging for singers as the Broadway original, though not as many songs, not as many characters, and not as long.” Many shows have had new life and fame through this program, including Seussical, Geppetto & Son, The Happy Elf, Life on the Mississippi, and the latest production, Lucky Duck, which opened June 22, 2010 and runs through August 8, 2010. “Over the 8 years of doing this, I’ve gotten to work with some really great people, from Stephen Schwartz, Harry Connick Jr., Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and now Henry Krieger and Bill Russell. These people have told us that it makes their plays better to come here and spend time at the Coterie and streamline and clarify what story you are telling.” One of the goals of the Coterie Lab for New Family Musicals is to create more high-caliber musicals for younger audiences, with the hopes that most shows go on from here to the national level, as Seussical did. The National Endowment for the Arts has recognized this caliber of shows, through Jeff’s grant writing skills, and has provided funding for both Life on the Mississippi and Lucky Duck. “That particular grant was probably the most difficult for me to write because it has an artistic narrative that has to be very complete and very exhaustive in its detail. But my Executive Director, Joette Pelster, and our Development Director, Patrick Yount, they’re very good at uncovering funding sources.” The Coterie Lab for New Family Musicals also is letting Jeff realize a dream of his, directing a production of The Wiz next summer!
A couple of other little known programs that the Coterie has are the Coterie at Night Series and “We also have the largest AIDS education program in the city and we partner with UMKC School of Medicine and KU School of Nursing. The Dramatic AIDS Education Project (DAEP) has proven to be very fundable and we’ve been able to get involved in some funding that other theaters would not have because they don’t have a program like that. It’s unusual to be sex and health educators, as a lot of theaters are not that. Another little known fact about is that we find a lot of up-and-coming actors because they’re on our payroll very early on. We have a payroll of about 120 people over the course of a year and a budget of about 1.4 million.”
“A big part of why the Coterie works is that, as a not-for-profit theater, we’re given the in-kind donation of our space here at Crown Center. That makes a huge difference. In fact, I would encourage any theater entrepreneurs or not-for-profit theaters that are getting started to create whatever structures you can, make whatever in-roads you can, to get out of the business of paying rent, or at least try to greatly minimize. You don’t want to be in the business in our size of theater and be looking at roof repair or high rent. Once you take that on, once you get a space that you can get in-kind or greatly reduced, you’ve got to use that. I think that it would be a shame to produce Velveteen Rabbit and those kinds of plays all year long. It would be a waste of a chance to do some really interesting plays. I think I could’ve built the Coterie to a much greater budget than what we are currently if I was to do these commercial children’s theater favorites, but I’m trying not to go that route.”
When asked what keeps him going, Jeff replied that it’s because “the theater is largely changing, there’s more shows for older ages now, and lots of fun musicals for all ages. The Coterie’s always open for change, and has become a place where you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the shows. I like kids’ musicals, but I’m also interested in trying to redefine traditional notions of children’s theater and turn those notions on their head and make some new rules, standards and goals. I think there’s a lot of opportunity in middle school and high school to get them excited about theater. The Coterie has a great chance because we’re in a small space and you can really impact them. When we did Tell Tale Electric Poe we paired Scott Hobart, Rex Hobart, and Bruce Roach together. It was very palpable. The audience did not move for 65 minutes. They were literally working to get the language, taking in the atmosphere, and then electric score was just pulling them in. I think that we’ve had some real successes in middle school and high school to give them the one-two punch that they didn’t expect.”
Still in Kansas City, but outside of the Coterie, Jeff is directing Thrill Me, a musical in the Fringe Festival. Its run will extend through Aug 15 at the Fishtank Performance Studio. After the Fringe, it will play on weekends. “It’s a two-character musical. It’s based on the 1920’s gay criminals, Leopold and Loeb. They were young, and they were well educated, from Chicago. They read a lot of Nietzsche and they felt like they were above the law and they tried to commit the perfect crime and failed.” At the Unicorn Theater, Jeff has directed many times ( Sister Mary Ignatius…, La Cage Aux Folles, Laramie Project and others). His upcoming Unicorn project A Very Joan Crawford Christmas. “I’m writing it in August and it will be performed in December. Ron Megee, a long-time collaborator of mine, and I are doing A Very Joan Crawford Christmas, as a very fun, glorious Joan Crawford giving advice on how to drink your vodka and how to keep a man. She’s an older Joan at the end of her career, doing a lot of horror movies.”
Jeff’s advice for others wanting a career in theater for young audiences? “There’s a couple of great grad schools to go to. Arizona State University, University of Texas at Austin, and DePaul University in Chicago all have great programs. I think going and getting that advanced degree is helpful. It networks you, and you go to national conferences. If you’re interested in just getting involved in theater for young audiences, an education degree and some classes in children’s literature, which are really fun to take since you’re reading children’s books, are very helpful. Sometimes taking that and a playwriting class really helps, especially if you can get the professor to let you work on trying out and adapting so you can see the challenges involved with that. I’ve also worked with big casts, sometimes as big as 100 people. It helped me to learn those large stage pictures, moving large groups of people and getting large groups of people to be motivated; to really want to stay in character and take it seriously. I think it taught me how to inspire them.”
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Motaku is Kansas City’s premiere fall anime manga and Japanese culture convention. Join us for three days of:
anime showings,
video game tournaments,
shopping,
culture, and
panels!
This year’s voice actors are Todd Haberkorn, Wendy Powell, and Cassandra Hodges.
When is Motaku?
October 8-10, 2010
Where is Motaku?
Ramada Conference Center
1601 Universal Ave.
Kansas City, Mo. 64120
Title: Motaku
Location: Ramada Conference Center, 1601 Universal Ave. Kansas [...] Motaku is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Mind & Meditation: an introduction to The Art of Living is a free community service initiative by The Art of Living Foundation that aims at creating more awareness about healthy and stress-free way of life. The experience of meditation can take us beyond the usual mental stress and emotional agitation to a calm centered place. [...] Mind & Meditation: The Art of Living is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Imago Dei Announces 2010-2011 Performing Arts Season taking place at the Historic Granada Theatre.
September 10-11, 2010: Amen! – A combined performance featuring the Transfiguration Vocal Ensemble and the Potter's Clay Dance Company
October 8, 2010: KCK Has Talent! – An annual wide-ranging talent show hosted at the Granada Theatre national historic landmark
November 11-13, 2010: A Christmas Carol: An Urban Cautionary Tale – A stage play set in present day inner city America based on the novel, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
December 10, 2010: Celebration of Choirs – An annual talent show for choirs of all backgrounds to showcase their talent, hosted at the Granada Theatre national historic landmark
January 7, 2011: Gold Rush – A silent film starring Charlie Chaplin
February 10-12, 2011: It's a Journey – a multimedia one woman show that examines her spiritual journey through the joys and heartache's of life.
March 11-12, 2011: Best of Broadway – Take a trip through the Golden Age of Musicals using dance and music
April 8-9, 2011: Battle of the Bands – An annual talent show for local bands to showcase their talent hosted at the Granada Theatre national historic landmark
May 13, 2011: Wacky Wrabbit: Bugs Bunny Cartoons – A film of cartoon shorts featuring the ever popular Bugs Bunny
June 9-11, 2011: Franklin - Winner of the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces Kansas Arts Commission Award
July 7-9, 2011: Godspell – A musical based on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew
August 11-13, 2011: Steel Magnolias – The fabulous stage play on which the award winning 1989 film was bassed.
Imago Dei is a nonprofit professional arts organization that working in performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and arts education. For more information please see www.imagodeiarts.org
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The 22nd Annual Weston Applefest Celebration will be on October 2nd and 3rd. Celebrating 22 years, the Applefest celebration in historic downtown Weston is known throughout the Midwest as one of the best fall festivals in Missouri.
Visitors to Applefest are encouraged to come early on Saturday morning to enjoy Weston’s hometown parade along Main Street. [...] Weston Applefest 22nd Annual Celebration is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Sources say the well-intentioned promoters behind the Kansas City edition of Waterfire on the Plaza have been walking it hard this past week. The New Age spin off of the annual Providence, Rhode Island event took a seriously, fatal bullet last weekend. That after organizers made a last minute decision to go forward with the outdoor burning pylons on Brush Creek in the midst of one of the worst rain, hail and lightning storms of the year. With an October 2nd rain date in the bank, WaterFire blew it by ignoring the obvious weather and safety conditions and paid the price.
more at KC Confidential
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Discover Higher Brain Living, a process that helps engage the highest, most evolved part of your brain, to help rid your body of stress, and learn to live with clarity, focus and abundance. Think about the time in your life you were most successful and most confident. What if you could recreate that feeling every [...] Higher Brain Living Socializing and Stress Management is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Family fun event at Commemorative Air Force hangar, New Century AirCenter, in New Century, Kan. outside of Olathe.
This family fun event includes vintage WWII aircraft and an interview with three World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and Katherine Landdeck, Associate Professor of History at Texas Woman's University. The 2010 Dole Leadership Prize is made possible with support from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Ladies Auxiliary. For more info, visit The Dole Institute of Politics doleinstitute@ku.edu
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Howard Hesseman had never worked in Kansas City, never thought much about Kansas City, never connected the words “Kansas City” and “career.” Never, that is, until earlier this year when he agreed to play an aging comedian in Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys.” 
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The Lyric Opera of Kansas City opened its 53rd season, the final season in the Lyric Theater, with one of the most popular and beloved operas for audiences and artists alike, Georges Bizet’s sizzler, Carmen.
more at Present Magazine
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More than 2,000 partygoers are expected to eat, drink and rock the Power & Light District tonight to celebrate the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Why the revelry? It begins a one-year countdown to what is expected to be an even bigger celebration and a crucial turning point for the city. 
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Not all science-fiction is created equal. Some sci-fi authors create compelling characters. Others create compelling situations. Still others prefer the world of ideas. Every now and then you can encounter a work of science fiction that has all three.
more at kansascity.com
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The Barn Players is seeking directors for the 3rd Annual 6 x 10 Ten-Minute Play Festival
PROCESS: Submit a letter of application to The Barn Players, along with your resume. An interview will then be scheduled with the Artistic Director and the Asst. Artistic Director.
DEADLINE: October 1st, 2010
AUDITIONS: October 23rd and 24th at from 1pm to 4pm at St. Pius Church. Directors may also choose to pre-cast their play.
REHEARSAL PERIOD: anytime between November 1st and December 2nd…rehearsal schedules and locations are subject to approval by the Artistic Director.
PERFORMANCE WEEK: December 3 -5, 2010 at The Barn Players
THE PLAYS:
- VICKY'S DESK by Peter Bakely
- HONOR AMONG THIEVES by Rich Pauli
- THE LETTER by Kurtis Thiel
- 4 GIRLS by Joshua Efron
- SEND-OFF by Justin Martinez
- JOINED AT THE HIP by Michael Ruth
The directors are responsible for:
- executing the artistic interpretation of the show with the input of the playwright.
- Casting the show through open auditions…or through their own connections without benefit of an audition.
- collaborating on design elements with Technical Director / Stage Manager, Bill Wright and the Facility Coordinator of The Barn Players , Sean Leistico.
- designing a rehearsal schedule.
- maintaining open, regular and professional communication with the cast, production team, artistic director and asst. artistic director.
- provide a minimal set design…provide costumes and props…provide any sound and light cue prior to tech week.
- hiring their own stage manager who will give way the to the production stage manager during tech week. All other production team members will be provided by The Barn.
To submit an application or for more information, please contact Eric Magnus, Artistic Director of The Barn Players at emagnitude@me.com
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Sandra Piques Eddy and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City cast rehearse the sultry "Habanera" from Bizet's classic "Carmen." This steamy production opens September 25th and is directed by Bernard Uzan.
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Science Fiction Triple Feature- which includes "Flowers for Algernon," "The Veldt and "By the Waters of Babylon"- is showing at the Coterie Theatre, at Kansas City's Crown Center, September 21 to October 17, 2010. Visit http://www.coterietheatre.org for tickets.
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Our Short Reel as up to this point - just focusing on the photography...or videography...or movieography. Whatever you want to call it - basically our non-motion graphics reel.
[Thanks, Tony]
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L.A. Theatre Works Producing Director Susan Albert Loewenberg chats with the Lied Center about the historical events surrounding the hydrogen bomb and the power of radio theatre to explore the gammut of human emotion. Lied Center of Kansas - Friday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
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KC Lyric Opera General Director Evan Luskin on the 2010-2011 season
listen at 94.9 KCMO
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This show was adapted from the controversial MGM film written by Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban. It was controversial partially because its motives were misunderstood, I believe. I have to admit that I had a hard time with Saved. From beginning to end, I was deeply confused.
more at Infozine
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The Coterie Theatre initiates its 2010-11 season with an unusual show that dramatizes three classic works of speculative fiction under the collective title of “Science Fiction Triple Feature.”
more at kansascity.com
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A behind-the-scenes look at the birth of Rock of Ages including interviews with the producers and creative team.
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This production, directed by Missy Koonce and written by Jeff Bowen (Music & Lyrics) and Hunter Bell (Book), has cleaver, memorable songs and a lovable, energetic cast which includes the Musical Director Anthony T. Edwards.
more at Infozine
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It began with a circle. R. Keith Brumley’s scenic design for the Lyric Opera’s new production of Carmen took as its point of departure the circular shape of the bullfight ring of Act 4, where the searing drama of Bizet’s opera reaches its breaking point.
more at the Independent
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Tasty musicianship is what we’ve come to expect at Quality Hill Playhouse and that’s exactly what we get with its new cabaret revue, “Come Fly With Me.”
more at kansascity.com
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"The Love List" is showing at Kansas City's American Heartland Theatre from September 10 to October 24, 2010. Tickets at http://ahtkc.com
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Philly and Aja star in this spoken word/short film about love. "Recovering" is a Pyramidwest film shot on location in the historical 18th & Vine Jazz District.
[thanks, Present Magazine]
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Steadily, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts grows its striking shell and transforms its interior into a dynamic space on a hill in downtown Kansas City. A year from now, this architectural landmark will be home to Lyric Opera of Kansas City for its 2011-2012 season. For now, Kansas City's noted opera company opens its exciting 53rd season at the Lyric Theatre (1029 Central) with a new production of Carmen by Georges Bizet.
more at Present Magazine
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Fans of barbershop harmony can help the Wamego Dutch Mill Chorus wing its way next month to Seattle to compete for the first time in the Sweet Adelines International Competition by attending a Saturday concert by the group in downtown Topeka.
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
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The Missouri Theatre will open its doors for audiences once again this month, but only for an evening. A musical show titled “Who’s Afraid of Classical Music?” is scheduled for Saturday night. Alex Innecco, music director at the Missouri United Methodist Church and co-owner of the multicultural arts space Carpe Diem, is the conductor. The event is intended to benefit the Missouri Theatre. Innecco said that after covering the operational costs, proceeds will go to the theater.
more at The Missourian
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The Marching Jayhawks and the University of Kansas School of Music will host 34 high school marching bands for the 63rd annual Band Day on Saturday, Sept. 25.
more at Infozine
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Ever wonder what goes into the creation of a hit musical? The Unicorn Theatre gives a wildly entertaining glimpse into the creative process. "[title of show]" is a cheeky and extremely funny behind-the-scenes opus that provides the perfect vehicle for gifted director Missy Koonce and an exceptionally talented cast.
more at Sun Publications
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So, what do all of the people who have tried to murder American presidents have in common? Well, judging from Stephen Sondheim’s eccentric 1990 musical comedy "Assassins," they all love to sing and dance.
more at Sun Publications (after the review for [title of show] and Saved)
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All drafted team members, volunteers, and anyone else who would like to be involved are welcome to come join us during team calling shifts to bring new members into the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. All participants will receive goodies and everyone is eligible to pick from great prizes that will be awarded based on new members brought in. We thank you for all your support!
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All drafted team members, volunteers, and anyone else who would like to be involved are welcome to come join us as we kick off the 2010 Membership Campaign! Lunch will be provided by the Meadow Grill Restaurant. Everyone is welcome to bring in new members into the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and all participants will receive goodies and are also eligible to pick from great prizes that will be awarded based on new members brought in. We thank you for all your support!
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The Kansas City Repertory Theatre production of the musical "Saved" tiptoes the thin line between satire and sacrilege. For the most part, it keeps its balance.
more at Sun Publications (after the review for [title of show])
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The Olathe Public Schools Foundation's 13th Annual Autumn Breakfast features Olathe's superintendent Dr. Marlin Berry and his State of the District Address. This ticketed event is open to the public and reservations must be made in advance. Table sponsorships are still available.
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Johnson County Community College dedicated its Cultural Education Center and presented its first season of music and dance performances 20 years ago. Since then, the $21 million arts complex, which was renamed the Carlsen Center in 1998, has seen its share of performances from local, national and international artists.
more at Sun Publications
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This program is for veterans, spouses, and families. It will feature presentations about at-home health care; VA disability benefits/pensions for wartime veterans and surviving spouse; obtaining federal/state fund (Medicaid) for at-home health care, Assisted Living and Nursing Homes; and Long Term Care Funding and Insurance. Learn how you can qualify for funds (including Medicaid) to pay for such costs without using your private pay. The informational program is open and free to the public.
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Leawood Stage Company is accepting applications for Director of it's 2011 summer musical Bye Bye Birdie. Performance dates are July 14-17 and 21-23, 2011 at the amphitheatre in Ironwoods Park.
Applicants for Director must submit the following by November 5, 2010.
- A letter of interest and a basic concept of the show.
- A current resume including all production work and other relavant theatre experience including location and year.
Submit all material to Bob Allen at Tigerred37@aol.com or mail to Bob Allen, 13236 Falmouth St., Leawood, KS 66209, 913-906-9152
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[The Show]'s the Thing Rating: 5
[title of show] Unicorn Theatre
The Unicorn Theatre's 37th season gets off to a rousing start with "[title of show]," a beautifully directed, fast-paced musical that's all about itself.
Yes, [title of show]'s about the writing and mounting of a show very much like -- well, this one. Or is it this one? The idea may sound slight, but it's very fun and very funny to get in on the action as composer-lyricist Jeff Bowen (played by KC Comeaux) and writer Hunter Bell (Seth Golay) stumble into writing a musical about their own sweet selves and the dilemma they face in building a musical — in the three weeks before the submission deadline — that will sweep them straight (well, as straight as they could possibly get) to a breakthrough hit and the Tony Awards.
Soon enough, they call in their underemployed actress-friends Heidi (Jessalyn Kincaid) and Susan (Natalie Weaver), who work and play with them to flesh out this play about a play, with an audience very much like us in mind. And we were so clever to join them, for a tour de force of inside jokes and high-energy musical numbers! This is a really fun, fast evening of theater and music, performed by a talented, top-notch cast that can really sell a song. In fact, we get 18 of them!
Musical director Anthony T. Edwards sits onstage throughout as Larry [the pianist], sometimes in the background, and sometimes evidently right there in that New York apartment where most of the action unfolds. Director Missy Koonce keeps the whole enterprise aloft and zooming ahead on David Hawkinson's perfect set, with strong production work all around.
No Brechtian stone goes upturned, as we laugh with our friends onstage about even the lighting, as time flies through writing, improv, dreaming of making it big, preview and then kvetching and re-writing for Broadway. This is the only time when I became a little self-conscious, as the characters worried about whether to change it or not; for a minute or two, I found myself thinking about knowing that it got that Tony, or we wouldn't be seeing it in Kansas City... But soon enough, the charming cast ripped me out of my momentary distraction and back to the action on stage.
You'll have so much fun at this show, you just shouldn't miss it. Kansas City is so lucky to have the Unicorn and the whole theatrical community that surrounds it. Book yourself in RIGHT NOW, as the show closes October 10th: you'll have a fabulous time and feel like one of a very fun-loving family!
read the review at KC Stage
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Best Play in Town Rating: 4
Our Town Olathe Community Theatre Association
Edward Albee has called Our Town "the greatest of all American plays" and I might tend to agree with him. It is, oft times obscured, a tough play that is unsentimental and rigorous in it's assessment of the human state. New Hampshire version.
David Cromer has created a nifty version of the play that is true to the spirit of the piece and yet expansive and revelatory for our modern jaded times. Darren Sextro and OCTA are smart to grab this version and be the first to present it outside of Chicago and New York. Quite a coup for a non professional theatre!
And they do it pretty good justice. You won't leave dry eyed, I can assure you. In this production, the play is allowed to speak very clearly for itself and, as Mr. Albee and I have told you, it is a great one.
Modern dress, house lights always up, this production does not thrive on artifice. And the actors are up to the challenge. They give simple, honest performances that gather strength as the evening goes along. This is clearly an ensemble effort so I won't try and single people out lest I forget one or two, but the tone is set by a personable Coleman Crenshaw as the Stage Manager and everyone follows suit.
The third act of this play is a most beautiful 30 minutes. Sadly, having seen the Cromer production in New York, I found the shortcomings of technical resources here to be distracting. A bad wig and a bad set pull you out of the story for a bit but, thanks to some other winning aspects, all is not lost. The play is allowed to work its magic and indeed it does.
This is the best play going in Kansas City right now. You should see it.
read the review at KC Stage
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The rhythmic drumming of West African music could be heard throughout the 39th and Roanoke area on Saturday evening, Sept. 11, for City in Motion’s 12th Annual Dance in the Park. Tucked away in lovely green Roanoke Park, people parked and walked towards the compelling call of the drums.
more at the University News
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We spoke with Christina Hager recently, who will star as Mercédès in Carmen, about how she is not the only opera singer in the family and what she says to get people to try opera.
more at The Lyric Opera
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Dwight’s Story - On June 8th, 2006, Dwight had a heart transplant due to severe cardiomyopathy. In February of 2009, he was diagnosed with post-transplant arteriosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries in the heart begin to narrow and eventually close. The condition is medically irreversible, irreparable, and unstoppable. The only treatment for Dwight’s condition is another transplant. He is currently listed on the transplant waiting list. Funds raised through this event will help defray the expenses related to Dwight’s medical care. Cost is $20 per person. Registration starts at 6:30 PM Playing Starts at 7:00 PM. For details visit www.HeartForDwight.com or www.caringbridge.org/visit/dwightdouglas For questions email info@HeartForDwight.com
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Kansas City Small Home Business Connection - Last year's event was attended by over 900 people. Browsing through 59 booths of KC Businesses and this years event is set to be even bigger. Find Local Support Agencies, Network for Free, Attend Speaker Presentations, Learn at Free Workshops, and Win Door Prizes! This Expo is the premier Kansas City event for Kauffman Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurship Week. Booth and sponsor opportunites are available. Contact Mary Beth Lecluyse at 816-916-7284 or marybethlecluyse@yahoo.com or visit www.kcshbcexpo.org
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Dr. Rowland has helped teach scientists, lawyers, politicians, and business leaders to be more effective advocates. He will share a simple system that can be used to energize any presentation to ensure the speaker comes across as valuable and authentic.
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A restaurant, bar, someone, someplace, books jazz. But they don’t promote, they don’t tell anyone, word barely gets out that there’s good jazz in a place you never knew about, so few customers show up and the owner declares nobody in Kansas City listens to jazz anymore. He knows because he booked it in his restaurant or bar or wherever and nobody came. But it’s not his fault for not telling anybody. It’s the musicians’ fault, or it’s the music’s fault. Or, I know, it’s the fault of the magic jazz fairy!
more at kcjazzlark
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Fans of both dance and popular “Cypress Avenue,” the local rock music talk show on KCUR-FM Radio, hosted by Bill Shapiro, are in for a treat on Sept. 24 and 25, when Shapiro will be collaborating with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company for its annual fall concert.
more at the University News
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At the Alcott Arts Center, Shakespeare’s Theatre in the Parking Lot turned into an indoor event after rain poured near the area. In spite of the rain, “Much Ado About Nothing” shined on.
more at the University News
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 Now THIS sounds like lots of fun. FREE fun! And, with locations throughout the metro, you’re sure to find a museum close by your house. National Geographic Smithsonian Magazine (whoops!) is hosting another “Museum Day” in which… more
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English dignitaries will be at Shawnee Mission West High School on Wednesday to offer an invitation to the school's marching band to perform in the 2012 London New Year's Day parade.
more at KCTV-5
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Trey McIntyre’s choreography is all-encompassing — as gorgeous as Tudor, as innovative as Paul Taylor, as audacious as Twyla Tharp, and as inventively detailed as William Forsythe. Yet it is distinctive, with a huge vocabulary that is continually surprising and fun, even when dealing with serious subjects. The appearance of this nine-member company on the Harriman’s opening night (one of whom was missing because of a back injury) was an auspicious start to what promises to be one of the most interesting local performing-arts seasons in years.
more at The Independent
and even more here
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Students and staff of the Olathe School District's national award-winning Culinary Arts Program are proud of their new professional training facility and ready to host public dinners in their restaurant, Les Arts Culinaires, 600 E. Prairie, Olathe.
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The Nartan Academy of Dance left a near capacity crowd of nearly 300 totally in awe Friday night with a spectacular expression of age old India dances at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
more at the Kansas City Kansan
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Audiences who turn out for the Lyric Opera’s season opener — Bizet’s classic passion-soaked piece about a doomed triangle between a factory girl, a soldier and a matador — will see new sets created by scenic designer R. Keith Brumley and his construction crew.
more at kansascity.com
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The Trey McIntyre Project debuted three dance works Saturday, in a Harriman-Jewell Series concert at the Folly Theater, that challenged the typical concept of dance with unexpected changes in pace, tone and texture.
more at kansascity.com
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The bottom line on this year’s WaterFire New Age, smoke-on-the-water extravaganza: “They should have taken the rain date,” Plaza resident Cheryl Gibbs says. “They totally should have taken the rain date.”
more at KC Confidential
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[title of show] charts the real life journey of composer/lyricist Jeff Bowen and book writer Hunter Bell as they write an original musical for the New York Musical Theatre Festival. That very real and somewhat silly show– dubbed [title of show] after the first question on the Festival’s entry blank– is what we get to see unfold over the piece’s 100 or so intermissionless minutes.
more at KC Confidential
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But the musical, like the movie, still feels too long and plot-heavy. “Saved” is a show you naturally root for — nobody can deny it’s heart is in the right place — but the Sunday night performance, brimming with energy though it was, left this viewer wanting more.
more at kansascity.com
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This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage
Mark Swezey has almost lost count of the number of shows he has directed since beginning his professional theatrical career in the late 1960s. But he does remember the show when the magical spark of theater ignited in his soul. It was the film version of the musical Finian’s Rainbow.
“There was something about the magic of that film and how it translated to the stage,” Swezey said. “It was magical.”
Photo by Ann McCroskey
Today, Swezey is making magic of his own as the director of theater at the Jewish Community Center, a position he’s held since 2005. Swezey has been a moving force in the resurgence of the JCC’s theatre program, which once housed the resident theatre located on W 83rd St and Holmes in Kansas City. Now the program is located in suburban Johnson County (adjacent to the Sprint campus) in the state-of-the-art 500-seat White Theatre.
Swezey oversees the JCC’s CenterSeason, which includes five locally-produced shows that he directs. He also handles the overall operation of the theatre with a number of additional performances be schools and arts organizations. The upcoming 2010-2011 season features an eclectic mix of theatre including the musicals Chicago, The Fantasticks, and Once on this Island as well as two Celebration in Song productions featuring the music of the legendary Billy Joel and Barbara Streisand as well as the play Driving Miss Daisy.
Not a bad gig for a nice Catholic boy from Queens in New York City. Swezey grew up attending an all boys’ Catholic school where he was first exposed to theater.
“Once a year we would do a play or musical, and I entered into it,” Swezey said. His first stage appearance was in a non-royalty play entitled The Nut Family.
“It was just fun creating something,” he said. “It was a different type of thing.”
Swezey split his time in high school between his theatrical interests and playing as a forward on the school basketball team.
“My big claim to fame is that we played Lewis Alcindor Jr., who went on to become Kareem Abdul-Jabaar. I’m glad I didn’t have to guard him,” said Swezey with a laugh.
Growing up in New York City, Swezey was exposed to the best in theater. Swezey’s mother would often take her son to see various productions, including Carol Burnett in Once Upon a Mattress. The frequent activity fed Swezey’s thirst for theater. Swezey went off to college at St. John’s University, a stone’s throw from home.
“It was like going to high school because I rode the bus and lived at home,” he said. When the university shut down due to a teacher’s strike, Swezey relocated to Kansas, where his family had friends. He landed at Ottawa University studying speech and theater. Moving to Kansas was a culture shock for the born and bred New Yorker.
“Everyone was so friendly. I wasn’t used to that being from New York,” Swezey said. “It took some getting used to.”
Swezey arrived at the same time a new director came to Ottawa and reinvigorated the theater department. It’s just one example of Swezey being in the right place at the right time.
“I also met some of my best friends who are still friends of mine,” he said.
A summer project at Ottawa turned Swezey onto directing. With funding from the Kansas Arts Commission, Swezey was founder and director of the first season of the Chautauqua Players, a theater program for both adults and kids.
“I thought this directing thing was kind of fun,” Swezey said. “It was one of the things that turned me on to working with kids.”
Swezey liked the collaborative process directing afforded him.
“I liked being able to work with people who are gifted in areas I am not,” Swezey said.
After graduating and not certain which direction to go in, Swezey headed back to New York City. He took an apprenticeship at Café LaMama, which proved to be a real turning point for Swezey.
“I took classes and did auditions. They brought in directors from all over the world and I learned so much,” Swezey said. “I event took a tap workshop there - it’s the only time I did.”
A Japanese production of The Golden Bat at the theater was eye-opening.
“One of the things that happened there is they took the audience by the hand out of the theater and danced in the street - it introduced me to audience participation in the theatre.”
Swezey returned to the Midwest - this time to Kansas City, “to figure out what I wanted to do with what I learned,” he said. A want ad for Creative World childcare jumped out at him.
“Before I knew it, I was traveling around to 20 preschools working with kids and teachers creating a dramatics program,” Swezey said. After two years, Swezey decided he wanted to work with older kids, went back to school at the University of Kansas to obtain his education degree as well as doing some graduate work. It was at KU that Swezey worked with two of his theatrical mentors, William Keehler and Jack Wright.
“They were huge influences on my directing,” Swezey said. “They really honed in on musical theater being such a collaborative process and you have to have all of the pieces together.”
Soon enough, Swezey found himself in a rural school setting at Tonganoxie High heading up the theater and forensics program for five years. The program grew under Swezey’s tutelage and won numerous awards and competitions.
“One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Field of Dreams - ‘build it and they will come’, and that’s what happened at Tonganoxie,” he said.
When the theater job opened up at Shawnee Mission South, Swezey applied and snagged the plum position at the suburban school. Swezey taught and directed at the school for 25 years, taking one of the productions to the prestigious International Thespian Society Conference. When Swezey came to SMS, he entered the realm of community theater - and has never left it since.
Swezey has directed numerous productions at various theaters around the community including The Theatre in the Park, The Barn Players, and Olathe Community Theatre Association. Swezey liked the collaborative nature of community theater and exposing new people to the art form.
“What I always loved about working at TTIP is for a lot of people, it’s their first theater experience. I thought it was pretty cool to teach and lure families into the world of the arts,” he said. “I would often sit in the back when look at a show and if it engaged me, then I knew we had done something here drawing the audience in.”
Swezey started his work with the JCC in 1999 directing Cabaret in the Social Hall of the building. Hardly an ideal space, Swezey tackled productions with a passion that hasn’t stopped since. He’s directed such works as Parade and Ragtime, as well as the controversial Angels in America and The Falsettos. One of his favorite experiences came with the first JCC production of Stephen Schwartz’ Children of Eden. Schwartz himself saw the production during a concert visit to Kansas City and was very moved. After its run at the center, the production toured performing at 25 diverse venues. One particular performance stands out for Swezey.
“Here we were on Martin Luther King’s birthday with this all white cast performing for a mostly black audience and it was a little tense,” Swezey said. “But by the end, everyone was clapping. There was a place where everyone connected.”
Swezey helped plan the White theater itself; when the official position came open at the JCC, he decided to apply for it.
“Being able to set this up how I wanted is great,” he said.
In the last several seasons, CenterSeason has touted itself as a “theatre of conscience”. For its productions, the theater partners with a non-profit in the Kansas City area that cast, crew and patrons can help by donating a particular item they need. In turn, patrons receive a discount on their tickets and the benefit of knowing they have helped others.
Swezey said the concept is based on two ideas that were merged together.
“Shakespeare, in his charge to the actors playing Hamlet, viewed theater as holding a mirror up to the world to see the good and bad and urging us to help fix it,” Swezey explained. The other idea is the Jewish concept of “tikkun olam”, which charges people to help in the repair of the world.
CenterSeason has worked with a variety of non-profits, everyone from Harvesters Food Network and Heart to Heart to Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center and CASA.
Swezey said the “theatre of conscience” ties into what he still likes about the theater after all these years.
“I still enjoy looking into a script or production and looking at what’s going on in the world,” Swezey said. “The purpose of theatre is to make the world a better place.”
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Sitting in the plush parlor of the Missouri United Methodist Church, which hosts the concert series Alex Innecco has crafted and progressively expanded over the past eight seasons, it is not the dozen concerts ahead over the next nine months that occupy his thoughts. Instead, the memory of a performance more than 25 years ago comes to mind, a show that sparked and now shapes his vision for what the series should be.
more at the Columbia Tribune
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A little bit of what the cast had to do to get their "Evil" masks.
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Since the age of 11, Conservatory of Music and Dance student James Mitchell has dreamed of being a cellist for a national symphony. And now, thanks to a “rare and valuable” donation by alumnus Marcia Whitcomb (B.M. ’60, cello and music theory), Mitchell says his dream may eventually become a reality.
more at UMKC Perspectives
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The most successful musicals these days seem to be those that consciously comment on musical theater, but few have done it as creatively, amusingly or annoyingly as “[title of show].” 
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Bring the family to our Open House at Fire Station 1, 501 E. Old 56 Highway. All activities and refreshments are FREE. Hot dogs grilled by Atmos Energy.
At the event:
• Kids can spray water from a real fire hose
• Meet Olathe firefighters
• See Olathe fire trucks and equipment
• Rescue demonstration featuring special tools like the Jaws of Life
• Sparky the robotic fire dog
• Child safety car seat checks by the Olathe Police Department
• Watch a bomb squad demonstration
• Kansas Highway Patrol's rollover demonstration machine
• Tour an Olathe fire station
• And more!!
Deaf or hard of hearing and Spanish interpreters will be available.
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Ghost Train: The Transparent Play Rating: 3
Ghost Train The Mystery Train
It was a nearly-full house...oops, train... on Saturday, September 18th at the Prime Rib Grill, and all the passengers were seated to help solve a murder on the Ghost Train. The characters are walking from table to table mingling with the seated guests (which was only a tad-bit awkward) at arrival, and it is quite a neat little setup. The tables are even arranged in a way that resembles the compartments on a train. Appetizers have already been served, and the evening, however campy, looks promising. This only turned out to be half-true.
The guests find out that they are on a ghost train and that they are ghosts as well (name tags were passed out bearing any name that any particular guest wanted to be called). In the midst of the food and name tags, though, there are bits of conversation directed towards the histories and personalities of the characters. These explanations, however amusing at first, became mere recitations of actual lines they have later in the play - which led to a doubting of improvisational ability on behalf of the audience. But no matter; soon the actors would get to say their lines, and things would become much less awkward.
No, never mind; even with the comfort of the lines, the blocking picks up the slack in the way of awkwardness. That is, had there BEEN blocking. BUT - and that "but" is in caps because - it didn't really matter that it was slightly awkward. The audience forgave it and gave into laughter at the appropriate times. The actual play, written and directed by Wendy Thompson, was less than what it should have been for an event called "The Mystery Train." No real climax surfaced throughout the evening, and the stakes were even less impactful. So what if this ghost didn't find out who murdered her? But the guests were there, so they might as well try to figure out who the murderer was. The characters created seemed to be pretty complex, and like any mystery should have, there was a great deal of detail that went into the order of events on the night of the murder.
The actors were convincing enough - if one chose to just give in and accept the given circumstances. Claudia Copping, who played Victoria Davis (the school-marmish, Stepford wives sort of creepy best friend of the murdered girl), seemed to be the most consistent throughout the night. Her improvisational banter as well as her line-readings were convincing and well-motivated. Most people were ready to accept that her character "done it" just because of how creepily-nice she was (while speaking in constant falsetto). Bob Grove, or Raymond Henry (the insensitive, yet funny, uncle of the deceased in question) started off weak and unconvincing, but he played his part more thoroughly as the night progressed. And his "director" character was...to die for. The Ghost Train improved by about 20 percent once he put on the beret and scarf and started traipsing about the room. Kelsea Victoria McLean was the weakest of the bunch as Marion Henry, the ghost with a goal (trying to find out who murdered her so that she could pass on). Her uneasy eyes always gave her away when she was unsure about a move or a line. She moved like Marion would have, and her banter was pleasantly consistent, but she was, clearly, the youngest actor in the room. McLean's line-readings were sometimes very odd and motivations for saying those lines were, sometimes, nonexistent. James Mitchell's accent as the Conductor, however silly, was charming nonetheless. Perhaps a Conductor is necessary on a train, but it seemed as if his only duty was to follow along in the script and correct the audience-actors' mess-ups in saying their handed-out lines. So every time the Conductor stood up, it was like a giant red flag that yelled "Someone messed it up!!" After the first 3 or so interventions of the Conductor saying something like "Well, Miss Penelope, what did you do? ...what does it say here?" as he fumbled through the handed-out script, the audience just took to laughing every time someone flubbed something. That may just be the risk you take when you hand out 5 scripts to random people in the audience and expect them to watch the play WHILE keeping track of where they are in the script so they can stand up to deliver lines at the right time.
The clues were fun not because they had anything to do with solving the mystery (they didn't give any coherent full-sentence clues), but because they were brain teasers: crosswords, unscrambling challenges, and word grids. The food was good, the costumes were very entertaining, and the general atmosphere was enjoyable. But the problem with this event was that the play was the weakest aspect. Where it should have been the crowning jewel of a suspenseful evening, the icing on the mysterious cake, it was merely a distraction in between courses (a light comedy, if you will). It was a lot of talk, and not a whole lot of... well, ACTING. The desire for a more interesting story line as well as more enticing blocking and visual images was this reviewer's centering thought of the evening. It was pleasant, but ultimately, not really worth the price.
read the review at KC Stage
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Barn Players' 'Assassins': 'Attention must be paid!' Rating: 4
Assassins The Barn Players, Inc.
Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins" is a bit of a hard sell. A show about people who assassinated or tried to assassinate an American president. And it's a musical. It's difficult to know what to expect from a description like that. But while the show does have some failings, it succeeds on many points. Not only do we see these killers (or would-
be killers) in their historical context and learn about their madness or extremism, we also see them in a sort of limbo, where they interact with each other, spur each other on, and believe it or not, form a community.
The Barn Players current production of "Assassins" succeeds largely because of the outstanding ensemble performance of the cast, who make us care about this community of misfits and maniacs. This is not a show where the performers can get by on singing ability alone - there is also great acting required, and this cast mostly excels on both levels. The brightest performance in the show comes from Laura Roose (as Sara Jane Moore) who shows some serious comedic, acting, and singing talent. Other standout performances include Adam McAdoo (as The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald) and Greg Butell (as Samuel Byck), although most of the cast is excellent.
Aside from the assassins, there is also a chorus ensemble who show up throughout the show in supporting roles. This ensemble is also lucky enough to present the show's emotional high point, "Something Just Broke", a song that brings the show down to earth by presenting the reactions of everyday people to a presidential assassination.
I found the direction of the show to be excellent, as it moved smoothly from scene to scene. The set was elaborate and appropriately creepy, but changed only slightly throughout the show, making scene transitions short and smooth. The use of visual projections enhanced the show and emphasized some of the historical relevance. There were sound problems during the show, including a frequent low hum through the speakers and occasional moments of painful feedback, but unfortunately this is common to all KC community theater productions.
Overall, this is an excellent production of a strangely engaging quirky show.
read the review at KC Stage
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Fill your heart with Christmas as the world-famous Radio City Rockettes bring their eye-high kicks and a cast and crew of over 100 to town in the breathtaking Radio City Christmas Spectacular! Every performance of the Spectacular is a glittering present full of fun and surprises for the whole family! Parents enjoy the flawless precision of the Rockettes in numbers such as the legendary "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers." Children thrill as Santa takes them on a magical ride to his workshop at the North Pole, where playful rag dolls come to life! And everyone marvels at the stunning reenactment of the very first Christmas in the "Living Nativity." Both brilliantly grand and genuinely moving, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular creates family memories that last a lifetime!
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This is a preview video of the new musical Saved at Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Music and Lyrics are by Michael Friedman and Book and Lyrics are by John Dempsey and Rinne Groff. The musical is directed by Gary Griffin and casting is by Stephanie Klapper. It is based on the MGM motion picture by Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban. Cast members are Patrick Andrews (Roland), Izzie Baldwin (Tia), Justis Bolding (Hilary Faye), Doogin Brown (Jesus, Nurse, Mitch), Felicia Finley (Lillian), Gillian Goldberg (Cassandra), Laura Huizenga (Mary, David Hull (Dean), Emily Peterson (Lana), Graham Rowat (Pastor Mike) and Nick Spangler (Patrick).
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At long last the Kansas City Star got off its you-know-what today and fed readers the six day-old news that Zona Rosa’s Studio Movie Grill had closed. In doing so the newspaper focused on another detail it had failed to report; that Studio Movie Grill had not been getting the A-List movie titles.
more at KC Confidential
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Bus Route Update
These buses will not run this afternoon: 14, 43 (Prairie Trail only), 44, 83, 108, and 109. Please make alternate arrangements to get your student(s) home. We will post updated information for Tuesday morning routes around 6 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday).
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Once upon a time, say 2004, a couple of friends decided to write a musical. About themselves writing a musical. Jeff Bowen wrote the music and lyrics and Hunter Bell, the book, for a musical to submit to the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The title? [title of show]. The musical became a hit. Each new development, as audience momentum for the show grew, was added to the musical up to its run on Broadway. What audiences in Kansas City will see is the production as it finished on Broadway in 2008.
more at KC Free Press
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Armitage Gone! Dance Artistic Director Karole Armitage talks with the Lied Center about translating key concepts in physics through contemporary dance and about being from Kansas. Lied Center of Kansas - Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
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Here we go– our 5, randomly-selected winners! Each receives a Mr. Stinky Feet cd pack along with Family Pass admission to the KC Pumpkin Patch for opening weekend, Sept. 26-27, 2010. Congratulations to Patty (Prairie Village), Brooke Wurdack, Deidrah (Raymore),… more
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People don’t usually associate “rock star” with classical musicians, but those who were at the premiere of UMKC’s Conservatory Artist Series on Thursday night saw one: conductor Michael Stern.
more at kansascity.com
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Once upon a time, say 2004, a couple of friends decided to write a musical. About themselves writing a musical. Jeff Bowen wrote the music and lyrics and Hunter Bell, the book, for a musical to submit to the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The title? [title of show]. The musical became a hit. Each new development, as audience momentum for the show grew, was added to the musical up to its run on Broadway. What audiences in Kansas City will see is the production as it finished on Broadway in 2008.
more at KC Free Press
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With a short-term goal of expanding theatrical offerings for adults and the long-term dream of creating a repertory company, the Lawrence Arts Center launches its first full season of professional live theater this weekend.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
and at Broadway World
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Last year, the local Owen/Cox Dance Group premiered its new version of the Christmas classic “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” This fall they are collaborating with students and faculty from Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, local rabbis and others to create a new version of the classic Jewish folk tale, “The Golem.”
more at the Jewish Chronicle
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Courtesy of Uniquely Kansas City. If you're looking for an eclectic gathering place, head to the Crossroads! This area has recently undergone an amazing transformation. Once-vacant buildings now house unique shops, restaurants and a thriving art scene.
[Thanks, Tony]
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For nearly half a century, you couldn’t throw a film canister without hitting a Boller Brothers theater. St. Joseph native Carl Boller set up his architecture firm in Kansas City in 1905, bringing his younger brother Robert into the business the following year. By the end of that decade, they were nationally renowned for building everything from elaborate theatrical palaces to small town cinemas.
more at CinemaKC
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A Missouri agency that gave a Warrensburg film festival $100,000 in federal stimulus funds wants the money back because of concerns over how it was spent.
more at digitalBurg
and at Missourinet
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Many changes have taken place throughout the four-decade history of the Tamburitzans, but in some ways, it’s as though time has stood still. Many of the original members and family members remain active participants in the musical group that celebrates the Croatian and Slovenian cultures. Through the years, it has picked up musicians from the Kansas City, Kan., Strawberry Hill neighborhood, an area that immigrants from Croatia and Slovenia established.
more at The Examiner
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“Saved!” is based on a 2004 Hollywood movie and is set in a Christian (not Catholic) high school. The plot is driven by protagonist Mary’s efforts to “save” her boyfriend, Dean, from a life of homosexuality. Among the characters that orbit around Mary and Dean is Cassandra, the school’s lone Jewish student and a source of many caustic comments.
more at the Jewish Chronicle
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In February of this year, playwright Lisa Cordes presented Prop 8 on Trial, a performance piece using the transcripts and news coverage of the Proposition 8 trial in California, which began January 11, 2010. On August 4, the trial resulted in the ruling by Judge Walker that Prop 8 was unconstitutional. The journey of Prop 8 on Trial, however, was just beginning. Cordes, a recent recipient of the Rocket Grant and an ArtsKC Inspiration grant, will stage a leaner, meaner version of Prop 8 on Trial September 18 at Lawrence Arts Center (which will be part of their New Play Series), and the following week at the Fishtank.
more at the KC Free Press
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“The Love List,” a romantic comedy by Canadian playwright Norm Foster, has less emotional depth than the Weather Channel on a mild day, but Foster writes crisp dialogue and has constructed his script around an entertaining, Twilight-Zonish idea.
more at kansascity.com
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There’s no shortage of three-dollar words in the vocabulary of theater, but one that doesn’t get much of a workout these days is Pirandellian.
more at kansascity.com
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7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, Olathe South High School
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The Olathe Board of Education will hold a series of Town Hall meetings in October for the purpose of sharing information with the community.
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Missouri’s own Lanford Wilson ("Talley’s Folly," "The Fifth of July") is a universally celebrated playwright, and rightfully so. His overall body of work is quite impressive.
more at Sun Publications (following the "Duty" review)
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Playwright Hal Parrott understands the horror of war, and his passion for peace is evident in the world premiere drama "Duty."
more at Sun Publications
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Are the 50 and 60-something standard bearers on the KC Star’s editorial board really this easily entertained? Do they ever venture out and about and check out something really fun?
more at KC Confidential
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This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage
Putting a theatrical production together normally takes a lot of time: time spent on obtaining the script, selecting the director, auditioning the actors, weeks (sometimes months) of rehearsals and the time to add in all the tech work. This month, you can throw all that out the window. The Missouri Association of Community Theatres (MoACT) will be doing all of this in one weekend—but not for one play, but six of them.
Theatre On The Fly: 2010 is a playwright festival and fundraiser for MoACT. MoACT secretary Donna Kennedy put it this way, “ Theatre on the Fly is an event where actors from across Missouri can come together and enjoy their craft for theatre. This is a fun-filled weekend in Missouri to have fun and network with other theatre loving folks.” The festival takes place Aug 27-29 in Mexico, Mo, and is designed to give new works by Missouri playwrights a public reading before an audience in a rather unique, fun and entertaining fashion.
“We had writers from all over the state send in their scripts and the MoACT board then decided on a final six to be presented at the festival,” says MoACT president Jack McCord. Six directors for these shows are currently being selected from MoACT member theatres.
The festival runs for one weekend. The actors and directors show up on a Friday evening and, after short introductions, the auditions begin. “Any actor above the age of 16 from any state that wants to come and that wishes to audition will be able to,” says McCord. “They will take turns going across the stage and reading an excerpt from one of the plays”. Once all of the actors have read, the directors—in a predetermined order—will hold a draft and select the performers that they want in their shows. This provides an opportunity for actors to perform and work with fellow performers from all over the state, an opportunity to make new friends and network with others that they may not have had before.
Early Saturday morning, the rehearsals begin. The director and actors for each show are provided a secluded place to get together and block the show and work on their timing and characters. Saturday afternoon, the performances begin. There is no need for memorization though: the performances will be an altered reader’s theatre, script in hand but with blocking.
Each performance will be adjudicated and each adjudicator will give a two-minute critique to the directors, actors, and playwrights following each show. Audience members are also be given comment cards to pass along to the playwrights. The adjudicators will then gather following the last performance and decide on such things as best play, best interpretation of a script, and outstanding performances and directing. An audience choice award for best show will also be awarded. The festival concludes on Sunday morning at an awards brunch when the winning entries and performances will be announced and awards presented.
Theatre On The Fly is hosted by the Mexico Area Community Theatre and will be held at the Presser Hall in Mexico. The festival is open to anyone that wishes to attend. Tickets for the shows are $10 and the Sunday brunch is $15. There is a discounted host hotel, and the festival will also hold meet and greet and afterglow parties. For the schedule of events or to register for the festival, purchase tickets, or for more information visit the MoACT website at www.moact.com.
MoACT plays being performed:
Best Friends (an adult drama) by Jim Meady
Caldwell’s Bomb (an adult comedy/drama) by Bill Rogers
Cold Herring (a comedy/farce) by Jason Slavik
Open Sundays, All Makes Repaired (a drama with comedy) by Gerry Mandel
Perspectives (a comedy with some drama) by Cathy Zinkel
The Liberation of Aunt Jo Mama (comedy) by Gregory S. Carr
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The next Rafael Nadal may be learning basic math or taking a turn on the slide at Westview Elementary School. Nadal, the men's singles champ of this year's U.S. Open, could inspire all Westview students, particularly those who took part in a United States Tennis Association (USTA) QuickStart workshop on Sept. 14.
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The first annual Overland Park Great Midwest Balloon Fest will launch on September 17-19, 2010. Come to this 3-day family-friendly event for a thrilling weekend of:
spectacular hot air balloons,
non-stop activities,
delicious food,
the Kids Korner, and
entertainment.
You’ll see balloon ascensions and magical balloon glows.
Three charities will benefit from the 2010 Balloon Fest:
Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care,
American [...] Great Midwest Balloon Fest is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Enjoy Girls Night Out at Briarcliff Village on today from 6pm-8pm. Fall is the time to renew your wardrobe, home décor and your hair style! Learn make-up tricks from the Dior Make-up artistry Team while looking at the new fall fashion ideas for yourself and your home at our merchants along with Discounts and tips.
You [...] Girls Night Out at Briarcliff Village is a post from: Kansas City Events
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We all know that KCC had the premiere of Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles ridiculously staked out last week. Now that the show is safely on to the next po’dunk burg there are some juicy tidbits circulating that call into question the sacred division between editorial and advertising which is the cornerstone of the so-called “journalistic integrity” reporters for The Star love to tout.
more at KC Confidential
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Sponsored by the Lenexa and Olathe chambers of commerce
Candidates for state legislative offices and for seats on the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). Please note that candidates featured in earlier debates—U.S. House and Senate candidates and candidates for the BOCC chair—will not be featured at this reception.
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Eufaula, Okla., resident Joann McMillan has worked as an artist-in-residence at Puppetry Arts Institute in Independence for three years, and her contract ends in October. A professional puppeteer for 30 years, McMillan will present her original production “The Biggest Mermaid” at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at Puppetry Arts Institute.
more at The Examiner
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For information, contact Sherry Lieberman, 913-341-6248, or Andi Duarte, 913-514-4030.
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Co-Host: Decker Chiropractic
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Co-Host: Olathe Chamber of Commerce “Membership Ride” 2010
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Co-Host: Olathe Chamber of Commerce “Membership Ride” 2010
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Co-Host: Olathe Chamber of Commerce “Membership Ride” 2010. ALSO HARLEY'S TOYS FOR TOTS COLLECTION, PLEASE BRING ONE!
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Co-Host: Olathe Fire epartment.
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Co-hosted by Gardner Area Chamber of Commerce and other area chambers. Located at exit 207 off I-35, Gardner.
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Hosted in conjunction with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce.
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Westfest 2010 to benefit Hospice House at Olathe Medical Park, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Presented by Santa Fe Trail Rotary Club; hosted by Mahaffie Heritage Center, 1200 Kansas City Rd, Olathe. For more information contact Jean Garten at Olathe Medical Center, 913-791-4365 or jean.garten@olathehealth.org
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Join us for a fun filled event complete with a DJ, music, games, breakfast, lunch and contests that the whole family can enjoy! Kids are free! The GERTI Walk is a fun 3K (1.86 miles) walk/run around Evergreen Community. Our focus is raising funds for the GERTI education program, a division of Evergreen Living Innovations, Inc.
GERTI's mission is to transform long-term care services from an institutional model to a person-directed care model restoring dignity and choice while focusing on a meaningful life.
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Stock up on fall reading at this used book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Olathe Public Library. Choose from a variety of materials at super low prices. All materials are sorted by category. The doors to the sale will close from 12:30 - 1 pm to prepare for the bag sale. The "Five-Bucks-A-Bag" sale begins at 1 pm. Purchase a plastic bag at the door for $5 and fill with materials. Buy 2 bags, get 1 free. Cash or check accepted and all sales are final. Please, no strollers.
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Don't miss the fundraiser, "A Taste of Literacy", sponsored by the Olathe Public Library Foundation. The foundation is celebrating its 10th year anniversary.
Filet mignon with basil shrimp will be served and a cash bar will be available. Award-winning author Nancy Pickard will be the speaker. Business casual attire.
Tickets are $75 per person ($35 of each ticket is tax-deductible). Sponsorships are also available.
For ticket information or for details about becoming a sponsor for this event, call Library Director Emily Baker at 913-971-6880 or e-mail her at ebaker@olatheks.org All RSVPs must be received by October 11, 2010.
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Lyceum board President Dick Malon, board Treasurer John Fletcher, Artistic Director Quin Gresham and Managing Director Steve Bertani came to the Tribune to share some dark news that contrasts with the bright lights and laughing audiences. The bottom line — which might come as a shock to many longtime fans — is the not-for-profit Lyceum needs cold, hard cash and plenty of it if the theater is to remain viable and healthy going into the next year and beyond.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Indian Trail Middle School, 1440 E. 151st St., Olathe, will celebrate 30 years of Cougar Pride during several hours of events on Thursday, Oct. 7.
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Kansas City’s latest addition to full service food and first run movies is no more… The Studio Movie Grill quietly shut down it’s operations north of the river over the weekend. That after being in operation at Zona Rosa for well under a year. As in less than five months!
more at KC Confidential
along with some commentary on why
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The board of directors of the Olathe Community Theater Association (OCTA) is looking for directors for our 2011-2012 season. We'd like to invite you to submit a slate of no more than three scripts you'd like to direct at OCTA.
Send them to us at this email address: ( octa.directors@olathetheare.org), accompanied by your theatrical resume, by October 31, 2010. Additionally, please indicate the months of the year, from late Fall 2011 to late Spring 2012 that you are available.
This year OCTA is selecting its season from submissions from directors and selections from the OCTA Season Selection Committee. We encourage all directors to submit shows that you have wanted to direct but have been unable to have produced. An important consideration to keep in mind when you submit shows to OCTA is that our season is typically five shows, only one of which is a musical. The rest of the season is usually a mix of comedies, dramas and comedy-dramas.
For the best chance of having one of your scripts selected for the 2011-12 season, please include a variety of genres in your submission. If, however, there's one show that's your dream show, by all means, submit it. At OCTA we respect and encourage your passion for the material.
Another point to think about is the size of the facility. OCTA productions have certainly stretched and put the facility to the test, but we're not going to be putting on Miss Saigon in our space. The OCTA stage and theater are both wonderfully intimate spaces that are geared toward smaller shows -- although many of our past productions have used quite imaginative staging to stretch the space. Please contact us for information on stage dimensions to use as guidelines for any scripts you care to submit. Also, you can obtain a list of our past shows, to give you a sense of the sort of productions that we've done before. (Don't be afraid to submit a show that you see on the list, at OCTA we're open to reviving a production from our history).
At OCTA we own our own building. You get to rehearse in the performance space from Day One. You won't be lugging props or costumes from one location to another. Also, we don't interfere with your artistic decisions. Show us you can do it and we'll help make it possible!
If one of your submissions is considered for our season, we'll contact you in the early part of the New Year to set up an interview. So, take a moment to consider partnering with us to produce a great piece of theater. Send in your suggestions and resume today! 
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As far as I can tell, the organizers of the first Prairie Village Jazz Festival last Saturday made only one error. A friend asked if I’d volunteer the day of the event, and I agreed. Then I found they put me on security. Security? Me? But if any other mistake was made, I didn't see it.
more at kcjazzlark
and some notes by Plastic Sax
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The gulf between pre-revolution Cuba and present day Kansas City, Kan., may seem impossibly wide, but the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra managed to bridge the expanse in a transportive concert Friday at Kansas City Kansas Community College. An audience of approximately 250 was treated to the stirring sounds and sultry ambiance of a bygone time and place.
more at kansascity.com
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Director Gary Griffin finds himself on a curious faith journey. Griffin, who brought “The Color Purple” to Broadway and staged the classic French farce “A Flea in Her Ear” for Kansas City Repertory Theatre in 2009, is back in Kansas City to have another go at a musical he helped nurture from the ground up.
more at kansascity.com
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Nobody knows for sure why the Basques came to Idaho, but come they did: The state boasts one of the largest Basque populations in the world. Even the mayor of Boise is Basque. So when choreographer Trey McIntyre was invited to create a piece celebrating this fascinating culture, he knew he had to immerse himself completely to make a dance that would reflect accurately its nature — but also be true to his own aesthetic and craft.
more at The Independent
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Contemporary chamber ensemble NewEar opened its 18th season Saturday night at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church with a diverse program it called “Between Tides.” The name was fitting; there was an ebb and flow of textures among the five pieces the ensemble performed.
more at kansascity.com
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Director Karen Paisley sets the appropriate tone in the opening moments of her lively production of Lanford Wilson's "Hot L Baltimore" with a few bars of Harry Nillson's recording of "Everybody's Talkin.'
more at kansascity.com
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Watching Duty a chore Rating: 1
Duty The Theatre Gym
A free theater class for the Theatre Gym: Acting is doing. Acting is not talking about doing. And acting is definitely not talking about going to talk about doing something.
This is, unfortunately, act one of Duty. Unspeakably boring. Quit talking about the possibility of creating a strategy to approach your son to dissuade him from joining the Marines. Just do it already.
Good playwriting is not laborious, over-explained exposition reminiscent of bad soap opera dialogue.
Good playwriting is not characters sitting around explaining their feelings. That is called therapy. Good theatre allows characters to perform actions that give us insight into their feelings. If the dialogue is nothing more than subtext spoken aloud, it leads to very wooden two-dimensional characters. In real life, people don't always say what they mean. The one time this was used to effect was when a conservative talk-show host baits his Muslim guest into losing his cool, then sincerely thanks his guest off the air for providing good entertainment. Cliché and predictable, but a refreshingly devious acting moment.
Good playwriting is didactic, but not preachy soapbox boring. I agree – I whole-heartedly agree – with the play's message. But does it make good theatre? No, not if it's written like a PSA for peace targeted at 9-year-olds.
Good theatre starts with the page; this was not Duty. Most of the actors are good. It's a shame they were members of an orchestra each given only one note to play.
read the review at KC Stage
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The Olathe School District has several Semifinalists for the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists were announced this week.
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It is with much sadness that the leadership, staff and artists of Kansas City Repertory Theatre reflect upon the death of its former artistic director George Keathley, who died September 12, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at the age of 85. Keathley was artistic leader of the Rep (then called Missouri Repertory Theatre) from 1985 until his retirement in 2000, serving as the theatre's second artistic director, immediately following the retirement of its founder.
more at Broadway World
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Back-to-school time means new pencils, fresh crayons, and pink rubber erasers unless your family is struggling financially. During August, the Olathe Public Schools Foundation Backpack Supply Drive was in full force to meet that need.
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Students in the Olathe School District met and exceeded the goals of Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and math, according to information released Sept. 14 by the Kansas Department of Education.
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Washburn University marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with a bilingual play about people living on the margins staged by a Portland, Ore., theater troupe making its Kansas debut.
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
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Meet the "Cast" of Egads! Theatre Company's production of "Evil Dead: The Musical" - After our casting session we had a "casting" session. These folks have to turn into Candarian demons afterall.
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In the past few weeks, Kansas Arts Commission staff has received a number of calls of distress from local arts agencies, otherwise known as arts councils or arts centers. They are working overtime to cultivate support from their local governments, or they are trying to figure out what their mission is in the face of decreasing budgets and support.
more at the Kansas Arts Commission
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 Lots of fun on tap for Kansas Citians and their families! This picture comes to us from Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (Overland Park, KS) and they are hosting their annual Apple Fest on Saturday, Sept 18, 2010 from 11am until… more
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This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage
While ArtsMarketing ( www.artsmarketing.org) is a great site for anyone wanting to promote their arts organization, filled with advice and ideas, I have an issue with one particular piece of advice given in the article from April 15, 2010, which I’m just now getting around to reading “Building Audiences One Encounter at a Time” ( http://artsmarketing.org/node/1233) — the curtain speech.
As someone wanting to promote my theatre, I understand the reasoning behind this piece of advice. As Smith writes, it is a captive audience and a perfect time for promoting your organization, upcoming shows, and the ability to donate to the organization.
However, as someone who attends theatre, I also know that curtain speeches—as with anything else—follow Sturgeon’s Law. Most of the curtain speeches I’ve seen are hammy/corny, too long, and—the worst part—make me even less willing to give, as it tends to lead to compassion fatigue as I hear how much trouble the organization is in and how only my donation can help.
- So, if you’re determined to make a curtain speech, here are some tips for making it effective.
- Make it brief: for the love of Thespis, PLEASE make it brief. If you’re still there after four minutes, you’ve most likely gone on too long.
- Make it entertaining: this is a partial corollary to the above, as you can get away with a longer speech if it’s humorous. One of the best curtain speeches I’ve ever heard was when I was in LA for my fellowship at the NEA Institute. While waiting at the Reprise Theatre Company for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, I was surprised to have none other than Jason Alexander (yes, that Jason Alexander) give the curtain speech. It was quick paced and filled with jokes (after all, it was Jason Alexander)—but even this one went on a bit too long.
Hit the highlights. This helps in being brief, but also helps with combating compassion fatigue. Plug where they can go for more information and only hit two or three items (giving, upcoming show, and where to go for more info on the above—and if you’re not going to stick around, point out who is going to be there should an audience member want to talk to someone that night).
The curtain speech is a good marketing tool, but like any other marketing tool, it needs to engage the audience—not put them off. So think twice when coming up with your organization’s speech.
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Sloane Heller, who has been with KSHB Action News since 2008 as a reporter on the morning and midday shows, can now watch the highly popular series "Mad Men" and see her mom in a plum role on the hit show.
more at Bottom Line Communications
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A Movingly Different Version of 'Our Town' Rating: 5
Our Town Olathe Community Theatre Association
The classic tale of life, marriage, and death told with a different staging by David Cromer. It was done first in New York, then in Chicago, now in Kansas City. This was a wonderful show with great acting and full of interesting surprises for those who are used to the typical staging of the beloved show. With an all star cast and a great director, this is a show you don't want to miss!
read the review at KC Stage
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Ask Grant Mueller how he spent his summer vacation, and you’re likely to hear that he spent it in class. But it’s where his class was located that makes his experience so different from that of many other students.
more at kansascity.com
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Come out and join us for our first fall festival Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays the entire month of October and our exteded hours will be 12-7 Friday & Saturday. The Dry Reds will be released Oct. 1st and we'll have something for everyone including a Pumpkin Patch, Catering paired to compliment our wines, and Inflatables for the kids to bounce on.
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Come out and join us for our first fall festival Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays the entire month of October and our exteded hours will be 12-7 Friday & Saturday. The Dry Reds will be released Oct. 1st and we'll have something for everyone including a Pumpkin Patch, Catering paired to compliment our wines, and Inflatables for the kids to bounce on.
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Come out and join us for our first fall festival Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays the entire month of October and our exteded hours will be 12-7 Friday & Saturday. The Dry Reds will be released Oct. 1st and we'll have something for everyone including a Pumpkin Patch, Catering paired to compliment our wines, and Inflatables for the kids to bounce on.
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The overall winner was Stephen Baldwin, a graduate of Lee’s Summit Christian and now a freshman at Pittsburg State University. He received the $5,000 grand prize and $1,000 for his high school’s performing arts program.
more at Sun Publications
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Come out and join us for our first fall festival Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays the entire month of October and our exteded hours will be 12-7 Friday & Saturday. The Dry Reds will be released Oct. 1st and we'll have something for everyone including a Pumpkin Patch, Catering paired to compliment our wines, and Inflatables for the kids to bounce on.
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Come out and join us for our first fall festival Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays the entire month of October and our exteded hours will be 12-7 Friday & Saturday. The Dry Reds will be released Oct. 1st and we'll have something for everyone including a Pumpkin Patch, Catering paired to compliment our wines, and Inflatables for the kids to bounce on.
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Come out and join us for our first fall festival Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays the entire month of October and our exteded hours will be 12-7 Friday & Saturday. The Dry Reds will be released Oct. 1st and we'll have something for everyone including a Pumpkin Patch, Catering paired to compliment our wines, and Inflatables for the kids to bounce on.
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Ben Steinbauer first saw the so-called Winnebago Man in 2002 while having a couple of drinks with friends. Someone popped a tape in a video player. “It stopped everybody in their tracks,” said Steinbauer, 33, a University of Kansas alum. “It was just so funny and interesting that people couldn’t believe it.”
more at kansascity.com
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The Lee’s Summit Symphony announces its 2010-2011 Season featuring symphonic favorites, the ever-popular Holiday Magic concert, and a new sponsorship program.
more at Infozine
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This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage
The Best of You is a book about auditions. However, it’s geared more towards those people that want to head to Hollywood, i.e., people interested in TV and film auditions, and less than people who are interested in auditioning for live theatre. With that in mind, however, this explanation of the Wallace Audition Technique does have some good things a reader can take away if they are more interested in auditioning for the stage.
The Best of You: Winning Auditions Your Way, by Craig Wallace. Published 2007 by Oyster Mining Company, Inc. 128 pages. $19.95 (ISBN 0-9788362-0-0).
“Actors like to make auditioning seem harder than it is,” writes Wallace, and that’s the key to this four part guide to better auditions — taking the mystery and drama out of auditioning. His advice centers on finding your technique by exploring, experimenting, and adjusting it as time goes by, which is perfect for stage auditions. The book also gives six case studies that are very helpful in explaining the five areas of his audition technique.
“Auditioning requires different skills than performance,” is one of the lessons from the case studies, and Wallace goes into the relationship between acting and psychology and the psychology of acting. This is especially explored in part 3, “Audition and the Life of the Actor”, where the book really gets down to specifics and makes you think about who you are and how you can better use that in your acting. However, Wallace warns, “There is nothing as tedious as someone trying to be interesting.” There’s no special trick to his technique - it’s just knowing more about who you are and how to best present that in your audition.
The best aspect of The Best of You for me, though, is how I can transfer a lot of his tips on how to audition to how to interview for a job — from learning to ‘just be’ to handling of nerves, many of these techniques are cross-genre.
The book was a quick read - and the best recommendation I can give is that it almost made me wish I was a professional actor, just so that I could further use the techniques presented in the book. It’s worth the read, if anything else for the self-discovery you go through while reading it.
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George Keathley, a former artistic director of the theater company now known as Kansas City Repertory Theatre, died Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 85.
more at kansascity.com
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The Prairie Village Jazz Festival is just as promising as it is unlikely. Curious about how the ambitious September 11 event came about, I conducted the following email interview with festival director Daniel Andersen.
more at Plastic Sax
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Two years ago, a feature film was being shot in Lawrence. A crew of up to 60, plus dozens of extras from Lawrence, had a role in making the movie, called “Earthwork.”
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Neil Simon knows jokes. Before becoming one of the most successful Broadway playwrights in history, Simon was a joke-writer for Sid Caesar, and that gift for zingers is never far below the surface, even when he has something serious on his mind.
more at kansascity.com
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Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist of multiple moods and genres, is the 30th Annual William Inge Theatre Festival Honoree. Ms. Norman will personally accept the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award at the Inge Festival April 13-16, 2011, at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas.
more at Broadway World
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Jewish and Polish cultures, which were interwoven for centuries, reunite for an unprecedented and poignant event of remembrance, healing, resilience and rebirth in the documentary film “100 Voices: A Journey Home,” which is to be shown in 500 theaters nationwide on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy trumpet player Glen "The Kid" Marhevka speaks with the Lied Center about Cab Calloway's larger-than-life persona and the band's high-energy performances.
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Although Alvin Ailey II might be considered the “junior” version of the prominent dance company, selected to showcase its younger, up-and-coming talent, don’t let the name mislead you. The Ailey II company delivers a top-notch performance.
more at kansascity.com
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Hey you! What do you think you are, some sort of clown? Actually, Independence native Dustin Portillo does think he’s a clown. In fact, at only 23, he’s the clown in charge of the 12 other clowns in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus production playing at the Sprint Center today through Sunday.
more at kansascity.com
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Before the start of “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles” on Tuesday at Starlight Theatre, the voice of a presumably fake Englishman announced with tongue-in-cheek flair: “We do ask your cooperation in not smoking… anything.”
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Kansas University’s department of dance will host a scholarship fundraiser dedicated to KU dance professor Janet Hamburg, who died at age 59 last Saturday after she fell from a building in New York City.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Audiences might be crying tonight. Crying from laughing, that is. Tonight, the Kansas City Improv Festival kicks off its tenth year and continues with a five-day spree of performances, as well as workshops for any laugh-til-you-cry journeymen in the city.
more at KC Free Press
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Musical Blades at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival pub sing.
[thanks, Tony]
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Just as Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Darius Milhaud and Maurice Ravel all incorporated jazz into some of their classical compositions, the Topeka Symphony Orchestra will add a touch of jazz to its 65th season.
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
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Two simple words can make all the difference. “Thank you.” That’s what every actor who earns a bachelor of fine arts degree from Stephens College is taught to say. About everything.
more at kansascity.com
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Well, that was an interesting wrap on Starlight Theater’s “Broadway” season. Rain A Tribute to the Beatles is an elaborate cover band, replete with no less than five costume and set changes and accompanying multimedia elements to aid in recreating the widely beloved Beatles. Thus Rain is more concert than musical. Not necessarily a bad thing right? In theory no, especially for fans of the Beatles. That’s to say if you are okay attending a concert with your grandparents and keeping the volume to a timid 5, out of the very obvious rock n roll level of 11.
more at Lost in Reviews
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Anyone is welcome to come to our open house and will be treated to refreshments, socializing and giveaways!
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To an actual chorus of “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” the Lawrence Community Theatre on Wednesday unveiled a $6.2 million campaign to build a new 300-seat theater in west Lawrence. Thus far, there are roses aplenty.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Pleasant Valley’s Valley Fest 2010 is back on September 17th and 18th in the City of Pleasant Valley, Missouri.
When is Pleasant Valley’s Valley Fest?
Friday September 17th – 5pm to midnight
Saturday September 18th – 10am to midnight
Where is Pleasant Valley’s Valley Fest?
Pleasant Valley MO
Schedule of Events
Friday September 17th – 5pm to midnight
5pm – Crafts, food booths, [...] Pleasant Valley Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Chen Yi, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance professor and composer, is one of 18 leading American composers commissioned to create a new work by the Seattle Symphony. The compositions of the 18 composers will be part of the Gund/Simonyi Farewell Commissions project and will be featured during the Symphony’s 2010-11 season in honor of director Gerard Schwartz. Chen Yi, who is the Lorena Searcy Cravens/ Millsap/ Missouri Distinguished Professor of Composition, and the other 17 composers have long-standing relationships with Maestro Schwartz.
more at UMatters
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The Olathe School District is currently accepting donations of used band and orchestra instruments for students in grades five through 12 who participate in the district's fine arts program.
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The 2010-2011 professional theatre season in Kansas City kicked off this week with The Living Room’s production of Neil LaBute’s This is How It Goes.
more at KC Active
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Moms of Olathe South High School football players (MOOS) had a crash course in football when they took the field Aug. 21 wearing their son's pads, jerseys and helmets. This was part two of a football clinic arranged by the mothers and Coach Jeff Gourley.
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The Greeks invented astronomy, democracy and dancing your ass off.
Well, maybe not that last one. But cutting a rug is an integral part of Greek culture, said Katie Pappas, a folk dancer in the annual Greek Food Festival at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Kansas City.
more at Ink
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 Summer in KC has a way of exiting just as quickly as it heated up! These cool temperatures feel amazing and Wal-Mart is already brimming with Halloween candy. You can’t let fall get away without… more
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Tickets to The Bad Plus at the Folly, the Kansas City Ballet, and Mystery Train - that's just some of the great giveaways that are being offered to subscribers of KC Stage.
Subscribe (or renew your subscription) during the month of September and you'll be entered into a drawing for two tickets to the Unicorn's "The Seafarer" by Conor McPherson (Oct 23 - Nov 7) - a co-production with the Kansas City Actors Theatre.
The contest ends October 1, 2010. Any mailed subscriptions or renewals must be postmarked by October 1, 2010 to be valid for entry into the contest. Any questions, please contact us at magazine@kcstage.com or by calling (816) 23-STAGE.
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Daniel MacIvor's drama, Marion Bridge, concerns itself with three estranged sisters convening at their mother's deathbed in remote northern Nova Scotia. The play paints a convincing picture of family tensions and alliances and the lack of options in small-town life. Unfortunately, its modest dramatic scope and ambition prove less fascinating than the soap operas it sends up.
more at The Pitch
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For a theater notoriously averse to precipitation, Starlight took a gamble bringing on the RAIN. Nonetheless, you can chalk up another audience-pleasing booking for the outdoor theater’s Exec Producer Denton Yockey. It may not be your standard Broadway fare, but RAIN… a Tribute to the Beatles (now through Sunday at the Swope Park venue) finishes the summer season quite nicely, thank you.
more at KC Confidential
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Varsity Football Games Rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11
ONW - OE, 11 a.m., CBAC; ON - OS, 1 p.m., ODAC
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Stephen Pruitt, Professor of Finance for the Bloch School at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, holds the Arvin Gottlieb/Missouri Endowed Chair of Business, Economics, and Finance. Dr. Pruitt has an interest in film-making. He referred to this interest as, “a mid life crisis that ran amuck.”
more at University News
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Thousands of talented, young performers aspire to hone their craft by working with Broadway artists. Last month, 18-year-old Olathe resident Jordan Wooten did just that. 
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The crowd cheered loudly Sunday at the Washer Well Stage during opening weekend at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.
more at kansascity.com
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The two-hour show, which plays through Sunday at Starlight Theatre, is essentially a re-enactment: a live tribute band, in costumes, performing more than 30 Beatles songs with lots of videos and other graphic elements shown on three screens.
more at Ink
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The Greater Kansas City Japan Festival is back on October 2nd. From 10am to 8pm, enjoy a day full of fun activities at the Carlsen Center, JCCC, located in Overland Park KS. Visit the Japanese Cultural Village for fun activities for kids and adults. Young and old attendees will be entertained with many opportunities to [...] Greater Kansas City Japan Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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It is your DUTY to see this new play!
Rating: 5
Duty
The Theatre Gym
Duty, a new play written by playwright Hal Parrott, is a stirring piece of theatre that is very relevant to today's political, social, and spiritual climate in America.
The play, directed by Art Suskin for the Theatre Gym, follows a family dealing with the choices they make and the consequences of their actions. The struggles that are seen bring focus to the thoughts and fears of every parent who has a child old enough to serve: Do we let them or not? Should we try to dissuade or revel in the fact they want to do their duty? Do we have moral obligations to our family or to our country? At what length do we go to keep them from serving? And is it ultimately their decision?
David (played by Allen L. Boardman) and Ellie (Kathy Kane) Crenshaw are a couple as normal as your next door neighbors, your parents or your friends. They deal with everyday life but have a very difficult situation presented to them when Adam(Matthew Griggs)their 22y/o son, comes home and says he wants to enlist in the Marine Corp. David and Ellie enlist the help of David's former Marine buddy from when they served together Roger Melnick(Kevin Fewell) who tries the calm the situation. But when minds are made up by youth it is hard to turn back the hands of time, and Adam decides to join after consenting with his fiancée Jane (Courtney Stephens)
David decides that he has an obligation to his son and creates a Marines for Peace effort by getting his old Vietnam War buddies together to make friends with Muslims. Roger meets one of them Ali Bin Nousef (Bradley J. Thomas) and a friendship begin. David Roger and Ali go on a radio show to promote their organization and are ripped to shreds by Robert Williams (Scott Shaw) as a right wing political pundit who personifies the view that so many Americans have of other faiths and cultures. I won't go into detail of the end but it is as powerful an ending as I have ever seen in a piece of theatre!
Allen Boardman gives one of the best performances of his career as David, showing both strength and weakness, seeming both powerful and then at the end so beaten and frail. It is a performance worthy of praise. Boardman is sometimes understated in scenes but keeps crispness to himself; you can see how his character loves his family, his honor and his duty. I have seen Boardman in many things at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, his last two roles in "Time of your Life" and "Mappa Mundi" in particular were wonderful pieces to me but this role is so complex and meaty it seems written just for him. From the start you feel for Boardman as a man conflicted by duty to family versus duty to one's self. His shining moment is a speech that makes you feel his pain that would rival some of the best monologs of this time, and it is done with such pathos and care that it just breaks you down with him.
Kathy Kane as the frantic Ellie is captivating and brusque. Her absolute resolve is so gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking yet understandable at the same time that you feel for her yet almost dislike her at the same time. I was there on a night where there was a talk back and that made it seem as if Ellie were selfish...but I say what mother wouldn't want to keep their child safe from harm? Kane hits an emotional heartstring with her words and actions and holds her own with Boardman and Fewell in a gripping performance that could be compared with many a character from Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller. Kane calls forth every piece of the heart you can find and at certain times breaks them into even smaller pieces. With real tears, and real fears that play out Kane has the ability to either make you love Ellie or hate her, and that is the sign of a true performer from start to finish. Her character is strong willed and smart, and Kane plays that to the hilt, an amazing piece for such an accomplished actor.
Kevin Fewell as the wise cracking yet caring Roger is so entertaining you think he stepped out of the pages of a Mark Twain book. His voice is commanding yet filled with thought and mirth. Fewell has a way of lightening the mood in scenes as well as lending them a sharp heavy quality that leaves you really enjoying him. My favorite scene for his character is the Radio scene in which Fewell's character gets into a "disagreement" with the host...it is both tense and funny at the same time, a good change up in this show that could have been marred down if not for Fewell. Great comic timing, great look and a wonderful dichotomy to Boardman and Kane, the strong trifecta of these three performers carries this piece. Fewell has a flair and wit with an ease and comfort that you don't see in a lot of performers, reminding me of Henry Fonda or Will Rogers for his ability to speak his mind and make it believable. His Roger was my favorite character of the show because he wasn't stilted or jaded by war but embraced the things that happen and can move on, I wish we could all had that ability.
Bradley J. Thomas as the Muslim Ali is absolutely mesmerizing. There is intensity to his Ali that burns just under the surface, yet has a calmness that is just breathtaking. Thomas is nuanced and controlled, breathing new life into something that could have been very stereotypical and almost insulting. I have seen this young man in several pieces to date (mainly musicals) and he can really play anything at all, his look is utterly amazing, his voice is clear and with this wonderful accent that he uses (which reminds me of a character from the TV show LOST) I would say that this is the break out performance of this show, if not of his career. So far Thomas has yet to disappoint and he deserves much praise for playing this type of role in our social climate. I will be personally be voting for him in the Pitch Best of 2010 awards as best actor and I encourage anyone who has seen his work to do it as well!
Matthew Griggs as Adam is strong, watching him with the other characters who are trying to dissuade his Adam; you can see his resolve as you watch him perform. Griggs takes a hold of the role and goes from wanting to doing and there is a physical change as well from first act to second act. I don't know if he has had any military experience but he made a believable Marine. You can also see the love that Griggs' has for his family as well as his girlfriend Jane. My only wish is that that relationship would have been developed more, but that is more of a playwright note than anything else. I look forward to Griggs getting more roles where he is in very good company and shining just as much as he did in this piece. Very good work for such a fine, upcoming actor.
Courtney Stephens as Jane is a small but solid role yet she stands on a level playing field with Kane as the two females in the lives of this family, Stephens' Jane is just as strong willed as Kane's Ellie and butt heads in a very tense and interesting scene. I found Stephens to be bubbly at times but it really worked for her. I saw her in "Big Love" during the Fringe Festival and with this show added on; she is having a very good year in very tight and strong pieces. Excellent work for the amount of stage time.
Scott Shaw as the blustering and brutal Williams is just a character you love to hate. Shaw plays the pundit so well you almost want to strangle him with his tie! Shaw is just so strong and imposing compared to the other three men that when he swells on Williams' high horse it makes the room crackle with anticipation, if I had a second favorite character if the show it would be him, and he only has one scene...just a great piece of theatre for Shaw to really sink his teeth into. Like I said he plays the guy you either love to hate or the one you listen to everyday, either way he brings so much out in each of Boardman, Fewell and Thomas's characters that if this scene wouldn't have been in the second act, the play would have felt incomplete in my opinion...just one of the best performances of shock jock value I have seen since TALK RADIO at The Living Room.
All in all the show was an entertaining and engaging. Some scenes in my opinion were a little long while others could have been developed a wee bit more. The set was very simple and I wish there had been more color or balance in the play space, and that the furniture and decor had a theme to them rather than being disjointed, but the aesthetic of "Shabby chic" that other companies have been making their own is alive and well here. Again I didn't have a problem with it, just wish it would have been more realized. Lighting was understated and well done, if a little dark and high in certain scenes, and the staging of the radio part on the ground was a somewhat poor choice as I had to rise up to see the action.
I recommend that anyone who loves theatre, great performances, has family in the service, or really anyone with a free night to come to this thought provoking piece of theatre that is tight, concise and enjoyable.
read the review at KC Stage
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If you threw a rock down the center of Arrow Rock, no doubt you could wing someone with talent. Quin Gresham wants to target singers, dancers, even jugglers in Columbia and elsewhere for a new fundraising event to aid the Lyceum Theatre.
more at the Columbia Tribune
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Prairie Village, Kan., resident Shari Johnson makes her City Theatre of Independence debut as director of “The Boys Next Door.” Originally from Minneapolis, Johnson spent the last nine years directing off-off Broadway shows in New York City.
more at The Examiner
also a preview of the show
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Ron Megee, properties designer, provides a brief background on Sceince Fiction settings, plot lines, and themes accompanied by classic science fiction images. Listen for original music by the composer of Science Fiction Triple Feature, Rex Hobart!
Director, Jeff Church, gives insight into the primary questions of each short story, while actors and designers give glimpses into the creative process.
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 If you’re unsure what “Megaramp ASA Triples” is, we’ll help you! For one night only, BMX pros from the X Games will compete in a series of unique head-to-head battles while taking on the challenge of the 195-foot long Triples… more
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The 31st Annual Lawrence Fall Arts & Crafts Festival will be on Sunday September 12th. Admission is Free. This event is sponsored by Lawrence Parks & Recreation.
Family activities include:
a variety of musical groups
train rides
wading pool for the children
moonwalk/slide
When is Lawrence Fall Arts & Crafts Festival?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Where is Lawrence Fall Arts & Crafts Festival?
South [...] Lawrence Fall Arts & Crafts Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Well, you win some, you lose some, right? In the case of Starlight Theater’s Rain show Tuesday, there were plenty of winners. Like the 6,000 oldsters who jammed the outdoor theater and quietly grooved to the Beatles tribute band’s somnambulant show. Am I gonna rain on Rain’s parade? Of course, that’s what I do.
more at KC Confidential
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The Kansas Arts Commission, in partnership with KCArtistLink and Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, announce an eight-week seminar program available for Kansas artists of all disciplines. The seminar, Artist, INC, addresses the specific business needs and challenges artists of all disciplines face every day. Limited to 24 participants, selected Kansas artists will gather once a week for eight weeks in Wichita to learn business skills specific to their art practice and apply those skills cooperatively with their peers. The program is available to Kansas artists 21 years of age with a Kansas address who have lived in the state full-time for at least two years prior to the application deadline of November 5.
more at the Kansas Arts Commission
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Lenexa Spinach Festival is back on September 11th. Lenexa was hailed as the “Spinach Capital of the World” during the 1930’s! Did you know that Belgian farmers grew Spinach in the Lenexa area and shipped it by rail? The Spinach Festival rolls all of the history surrounding Lenexa into a fun celebration! Explore this period [...] Lenexa Spinach Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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What is the HR Roundtable?
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It offers a unique environment for human resources practitioners to interact with their peers on a monthly basis, discuss and share related best practices, emerging trends, and workplace issues.
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Meeting registration opens two weeks prior to the event date and ends the Friday before the meetng date. Cost is $10 per person for catered lunch or FREE for the "B.Y.O.Lunch" option. Complimentary Pepsi beverages always available.
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Payments for catered lunch are accepted online or at the door. Notify staff of B.Y.O.Lunch option via email or phone call. Cancelations must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the event in order to avoid charges.
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Space is limited to 30 people. A waiting list will be maintained as needed and individuals will be contacted if space becomes available.
Mission Statement:
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The Olathe HR Roundtable offers human resource practitioners of member organizations a forum to discuss and share related best practices, emerging trends, and workplace issues. The main purpose of the roundtable is to create a unique environment where information can be shared in an open-exchange format that is collaborative, engaging, and valuable to represented organizations and the HR profession.
Who is it designed for?
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The HR Roundtable was created as a networking and problem-solving opportunity for human resource practitioners who are directly involved in the personnel and hiring process of their organization (i.e. HR managers, recruiters, payroll administrators, etc.).
Can vendors attend?
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Due to limited space and because of the nature of the topics that are openly discussed by the HR practitioners, some attendance restrictions do apply. Thus it is crucial to the group’s success that attendance is restricted to vendors that provide uniquely human resources services and/or products.
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Up to five seats will be reserved for vendors representing a relevant product or service may attend each meeting, with only one representative per business or organization each month.
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Vendors are sometimes the “solutions experts” to the questions and concerns that the HR practitioners have; therefore vendor input is welcome while “sales messages” are not.
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In determining the appropriateness of the various vendors in attendance, Chamber staff will consider the relevance to the hiring and employment situations that the HR practitioners face in their day-to-day jobs or to the topic of the month (i.e. vendors who deal with payroll services, pre-employment testing, staffing assistance, training, benefits, etc.).
Can non-members of the Olathe Chamber attend?
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One representative of a non-member organization is welcome to attend one meeting a year.
Can vendors make presentations to the HR practitioners that attend?
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Presentations are at the sole discretion of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. Please consider the sponsorship opportunity described below.
The “Quarterly Lunch Sponsorship” program is an exclusive opportunity for vendors to promote their products and services. Please contact Chamber staff for details. It is offered to Olathe Chamber members in order to best serve its membership while continuing to discourage “sales messages” from meeting discussions:
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Vendors are offered an opportunity to provide printed materials and promotional items on a designated table and to be available afterwards to answer questions. Chamber staff will oversee the quantity and duration of displayed items and the length of the meeting.
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On occasion, the Chamber might invite various “experts” to address the group as deemed necessary and helpful to the overall group and topic of discussion. This is not a sales opportunity and may not qualify for the HR Roundtable Lunch Sponsorship program.
Discussion is facilitated by Susan Wallace, Olathe Chamber, Personnel & Projects Manager
To RSVP w/o online pre-payment, you may submit the form below and indicate "RSVP," your name, email, and lunch choice: (1) Catered lunch option but pay at the door, or (2) Free B.Y.O.Lunch option. We will respond to submitted questions at our earliest convenience, or you may call the Olathe Chamber (913) 764-1050.
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The Mutual Musicians Foundation is known for jam sessions that start when the clubs close then run the night. Once the black musicians union hall, any name associated with Kansas City jazz has jammed inside the building at 1823 Highland. In 1982 it was named a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its significance to American history. Walk through the door and that history embraces you.
more at kcjazzlark
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The Adorn Style Show and Brunch will be on September 18th. Support the Harvest Ball Society for their fundraising event, Adorn Style Show & Brunch.
When is the Adorn Style Show and Brunch?
September 18th.
9:00am – 11:00am
- Registration and Coffee
- Avenue of Shops-featuring Runway Boutiques and Specialty Shops
- Tables by Design
- Raffle
- Aristocrat Motors Champagne Reception for [...] Adorn Style Show and Brunch is a post from: Kansas City Events
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The Kansas City Urban Film Festival showcased 10 films this past weekend at the Screenland Theatres in the crossroads. It’s only in its second year, but with posters, video promos and even a red carpet, the festival gives the vibe that it’s here to stay.
more at The University News
also...
interview with "Bad Dreams" filmmaker Jason Piggie
interview with "Meltdown" filmmaker Estella Elliot
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Talk about flashbacks. “Remember when,” was the unspoken battle cry of a tired crowd of mostly 50-somethings and up at Starlight’s Rain: A Beatles Tribute.
more at KC Confidential
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Pembroke Hill classmates Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain remain that rarity in the television business: a seasoned female writing duo never lacking for work.
more at kansascity.com
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The Kansas Citizens for the Arts invites arts organizations leaders — staff and board members — arts audiences, arts educators — and everyone who cares about the arts in Kansas — to attend one of four free arts advocacy workshops throughout the state. This workshop, led by lobbyist and strategic communications specialist Sarah Carkhuff Fizell, will help you become an expert in developing a message for local arts advocacy and help you craft your very own proclamation for October is Arts and Humanities Month. The workshop will be held September 15, 2010, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Ave., Overland Park.
more at Kansas Citizens for the Arts
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Several years ago, every time I went to a corporate board meeting, someone would suggest that we all read “Good To Great.” Jim Collins’ best-seller was a good read. Today, I want to borrow his title, which I feel perfectly fits my current assessment of the Kansas City Repertory Theatr e.
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Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival is back on September 17th, 18th and 19th. There will be a parade, Carnival, petting zoo, games, inflatables and lots of other activities for the entire family. The Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival parade theme this year is “American Heroes”. This is in honor of those who sacrifice in our [...] Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival is a post from: Kansas City Events
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Kansas University officials today are mourning the loss of a dance professor who gained international recognition for her work in movement analysis and its applications in treating Parkinson’s disease.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Greg is a world-class harpist whose aggressive style of playing usually redefines the listener's concept of performance on the harp. His superb musicianship combined with an enthusiastic attitude toward the Christian life has made him one of the most sought-after Christian performers in America for the past 27 years.
Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors (60+) $15, MNU Faculty/Staff $10, All Students $5
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The multi-award winning band is back for another season at the Bell Center!
All performances are at 7:30pm.
Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors (60+) $15, MNU Faculty/Staff $10, All Students $5
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The multi-award winning band is back for another season at the Bell Center!
All performances are at 7:30pm.
Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors (60+) $15, MNU Faculty/Staff $10, All Students $5
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The multi-award winning band is back for another season at the Bell Center!
All performances are at 7:30pm.
Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors (60+) $15, MNU Faculty/Staff $10, All Students $5
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Operatic tenors Nathan Granner and Ben Gulley team up for a fun evening of opera and song.
You might think opera singers are stuffy and aloof, but not these two. In a show containing just as much laughter as there is singing, the jovial Granner/Gulley dish out highlights like sopranos at the hairdresser.
Classic arias and songs, plus a few surprises, are brought to life by these world class tenors in what is sure to be an instant hit.
Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors (60+) $15, MNU Faculty/Staff $10, All Students $5
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10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $6/adults, $4/children ages 5-11. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, 1200 Kansas City Rd., Olathe. No registration required; 913-971-5111. Visit Mahaffie@olatheks.org, or www.mahaffie.org for more information
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For the 10th year, the KC Improv Festival brings some of the best instructors to teach local performers. For the next two Saturdays, September 11 and 18, students of all skill levels can study scene work, character, movement, ensemble work and improvising for video from some of the most experienced instructors on the festival circuit. For complete information and to register for the classes listed below, visit kcimprov.com/festival and click "Workshops." 
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Performing bright and sunny songs from his newest album, “Brunch,” Sam Stryke and his pop jazz trio create music with a consistently positive vibe. Stryke has written music for Super Bowl commercials, award-winning advertising campaigns, and he has composed music for The Oprah Winfrey Show.
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KU professor and author of Contributions of African American Scientists to the Fields of Science, Medicine, and Inventions will be on campus for a talk and book signing. Sanders will focus on the contributions of African Americans from slavery to the modern era that may have been overlooked in previous chronicles.
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Quixotic Fusion, Kansas City's premier arts performance group, announces a special all ages event, "Collabo Labo", to be held Saturday, September 11th at Quixotic Headquarters, 2820 Cherry in Kansas City, MO. Children's workshops will start at 6:00 PM, and Young Adult workshops will start at 8:00 PM. 
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The Citizen Jane Film Festival, which officially opens Oct. 15-17, is giving a hands-on taste of what’s to come with a kickoff celebration at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday featuring “Handmade Nation” at Ragtag Cinema.
more at the Columbia Tribune
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Actress Linda Gray (“Dallas”) will be on hand Wednesday for a benefit screening of the new film “Expecting Mary” at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC Town Center.
more at kansascity.com
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Kansas University officials today are mourning the loss of a dance professor who gained international recognition for her work in movement analysis and its applications in treating Parkinson’s disease.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage
- KC FilmFest is calling for entries for the 2011 FilmFest to be held April 6-10. Films must have been completed since January 1, 2009. The early deadline is Sep 15. Entry fees vary by short or feature and entry date. Save $5 on your entry fee by uploading your screener to the FilmFest secure website at www.kcjubilee.org. You can also send your screener (DVD-region 1) with check and entry form to: KC Jubilee, 4826 W. 77th Terrace, Prairie Village, KS 66208-4321. If you have questions call 913-649-0244 or email kcjub@kcjubilee.org.
- KMBC, the ABC affiliate in KC, is looking for volunteer talent for on-air promotions. Send a headshot and resume to: KMBC Promotion Department, 6455 Winchester Ave, Kansas City, MO 64133. You can also contact them at kmbcpromo@yahoo.com.
- Director Jeff Chitty worked in KC on his new feature-length movie Hillybilly Holocaust.
- St. Francis Health shot three commercials in Topeka.
- The Independent Filmmakers Coalition held their One Night Stand competition. Moviemakers had 10 hours to shoot and edit a movie and used many local actors and crew.
- Southern Illinois Health shot commercials around KC.
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Topeka is seeking a Broadcasting Project Coordinator to develop a live broadcast tour of the Pet Nutrition Center. Contact Shari Rawlings at Shari_Rawlings@hillspet.com for information.
- Todd Norris has created a new online group for Kansas City Filmmakers to upload their films at http://vimeo.com/groups/kansascity, which at presstime already had 57 videos.
- Documentary director Jay Kriss was looking for crew and production assistants for his new Western-Kansas-based project Harvesting the High Plains. Contact him at jay@inspiritcreative.com.
- Ben “Coach” Wade from Survivor wrapped his part in the movie 180 the Film shot in Springfield.
- Kerri Yost, Stephens College in Columbia is working on her short documentary Super Hero X-ray Man.
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The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City has approved $338,502 in 2010 grants to area arts organizations and artists.
more at kansascity.com
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Johnson County Old Settlers festival is back on September 9th. Johnson County Old Settlers festival is a tradition since 1898. This festival fills downtown Olathe with nationally recognized musical entertainment, carnival rides, a parade, antique auto show, arts & crafts, and much, much more. The parade theme is “The History of Rock -N- Roll”. Bring [...] Johnson County Old Settlers is a post from: Kansas City Events
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The KU Trumpet Ensemble/KUTE, under the direction of KU Trumpet Professor Steve Leisring, performed in Sydney, Australia, at the International Trumpet Guild Conference this summer.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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Alvin Ailey, the founder of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, always wanted a separate company to allow students of the Ailey School to get a taste of the professional dance world before they embarked on their own dance careers.
more at kansascity.com
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Kings and Queens, Court Jesters and Jousters, Knights and Peasants and maybe even a visit from Cinderella herself. Throw in entertainment, food and crafts and the result – the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.
more at The Examiner
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Almost 2,000 students from high schools around the state will join the Kansas State University Marching Band on the football field as part of K-State's annual Band Day Saturday, Sept. 11.
more at Infozine
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On Saturday, September 4, 2010, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City teamed up with The City Market - Kansas City for a large-scale "Flash Opera" event! Stephen Fish, bass baritone apprentice with the Company and members of the Lyric Opera Chorus performed the famed "Toreador Song" in the open air City Market, entertaining hundreds of Kansas Citians during the annual Pepper Party, and proving that the perfect accompaniment for roasted peppers is a little spicy opera! The Lyric Opera sincerely thanks members of the chorus for generously volunteering their time and talents... BRAVI TUTTI!! CARMEN runs from Sept 25 to Oct 4, 2010. For tickets, 816-471-7344 or www.kcopera.org
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Plaza Art Fair 2010 will be from September 24th to September 26th. The streets of the Country Club Plaza become an outdoor art gallery each Autumn as art enthusiasts flock to the Plaza to see displays of magnificent works of art from the nation’s top visual artists. An annual celebration is rich with tradition. This [...] Plaza Art Fair 2010 is a post from: Kansas City Events
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The 34th annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival opens its gates Saturday in Bonner Springs. And whether you’re a Ren Fest rookie or regular, these insider tips from local festival participants will make your 16th-century Canterbury experience the merriest ever.
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
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In typical Mel Brooks style, “The Producers” opened with a burst of song and bawdy jokes.
more at University News
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We sat down with six area comics and improvisers to discuss the business of being funny, the biggest jokes in Kansas City (including one professional sports team) and why people still need humor.
more at Ink
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The Flint Hills will be alive with videographers Sept. 10-12 when the Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau conducts its third annual Flint Hills Film Festival, which will offer cash prizes to producers of a short video highlighting the region.
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
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Although Kansas City is better known for Plaza (not studio) lights, Fox 4 TV critic Shawn Edwards wants Kansas City to be known as an international film hub. And with this weekend’s Kansas City Urban Film Festival that he co-founded, the City of Fountains might be on its way.
more at Ink
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For some of the actors who toiled last season entertaining audiences from the stages of Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy, their recognition came last weekend in a form other than applause.
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
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What’s behind the curtain at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre is storybook familiar — there’s whimsy, some wizardry and more than a little magic.
more at kansascity.com
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The 26th Annual Fiesta Hispana is on September 11th and September 12th. Enjoy two days of great family entertainment. There will be lots of food, fun, dancing and more. Fiesta Hispana is a free event. Fiesta Hispana is Kansas City’s Premier Fiesta. The mission of Fiesta Hispana is to promote awareness of the Hispanic culture [...] Fiesta Hispana is a post from: Kansas City Events
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A recent survey indicated that 86 percent of district
parents are satisfied or very satisfied with the district, the Board of
Education learned during their meeting Sept. 2.
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"Marion Bridge" by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor is part two of KCAT’s "Sizzling Summer of Siblings," following closely on the heels of their production of Sam Shepherd’s testosterone-soaked "True West."
more at Sun Publications
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Check out these bargains: half off at the Kansas City Symphony; 30 percent markdowns for Alvin Ailey; and a limited number of free tickets to the theater or a puppet show.
more at kansascity.com
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Pioneer Trail Middle School, Home of the Panthers since its opening in 1986, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. The school is located at 15100 W. 127th Street in Olathe.
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Don Dagenais of the Lyric Opera Guild previews the Lyric Opera of Kansas City production of Bizet's Carmen, starring Sandra Piques-Eddy and directed by Bernard Uzan.
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On August 29th, The Jewish Community Center held the finals for the new Kansas City SuperStar competition at the Carlsen Center. This is one of the many videos Peter Barrett Communications produced in support of the event.
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The River City Community Players (RCCP) is now accepting applications from directors for the 2011 show season. Following are the shows slated for our 35th production year:
"The Wedding Singer" by Matthew Sklar and Chad Befuelin
Auditions: January 3, 4, 5 2011
Performances: February 25, 26, 2011 – March 4,5,6,11,12, 2011
"Mixed Nuts" by Simon J. Donoghue and Nancy Manera
Auditions: March 7, 8, 2011
Performances: April 22, 23, 29, 30, 2011 – May 1, 6, 7, 2011
"Cinderella" by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Auditions: June 6, 7, 8, 2011
Performances: August 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 2011
"Annual Youth Production"
Show based on recommendation of the director. Outline must be submitted with application.
Auditions: April 25, 26, 2011
Performances: June 3,4,5, 2011
"Dracula" by Steven Dietz as based on Brahm Stoker's novel
Auditions: September 19, 20, 2011
Performances: October 28, 29, 2011 – November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 2011
"The Spirit of Christmas" by Verneil Searles
Sign-up: November 13, 2011
Performances: December 2, 3, 4, 2011
Stipends for the 2011 Patron season, which includes "The Wedding Singer", "Mixed Nuts," "Cinderella" and "Dracula," are as follows: Director: $500.00, Musical Director: $300.00 ($450.00 if serving as accompanist), Accompanist: $150.00. The stipend schedule for the "Spirit of Christmas" and the "Annual Youth Production" is as follows: Director: $150.00, Accompanist: $50.00 if needed
To apply, please forward a letter of interest stating which show (s) you would be interested in directing, including a resume and four theatrical references to RCCP/LPAC, 500 Delaware Street, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048 or email submissions to Mikef@fai-group.com.
All applications and supporting documents must be received by Friday, September 10, 2010. Interviews with presentations will be conducted prior to the regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting on October 18, 2010. Applicants will be notified of the selected directors no later than Friday October 22, 2010. PLEASE NOTE: Rights to all of the shows have not been acquired. The schedule could change. For additional information contact Mike Forsythe at 816-589-3483 9am to 7pm daily or at the email address noted above. 
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We recently spoke with Amy Cahill, our Frasquita and Lyric Opera Apprentice for the 2010-2011 Season, about her path to singing opera and why Carmen is an opera everyone should try.
more at the Lyric Opera
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WaterFire is back on September 18th. Designed by award-winning artist Barnaby Evans, WaterFire Kansas City is a unique, multi-sensory experience of music, fire and water. The moving art installation features more than 55 floating bonfires on Brush Creek.
When is WaterFire 2010?
Saturday, September 18 (rain date: Oct. 2)
6pm – midnight
Where is WaterFire 2010?
Country Club Plaza Area
Brush [...] WaterFire 2010 is a post from: Kansas City Events
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He is pretty much the coolest man in town.. and he is our Emcee for this years Kansas City Urban Film Festival. Meet, Willie Boy!
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Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson has signed a proclamation recognizing the second September 12-18 as Arts Education Week.
more at Infozine
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