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This Olathe Calendar of Events is presented by the Kansas City Real Estate Network.
December 2011 - Posts
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Mark Lowrey Plays with local musicians and MC's from the Kansas City area at the Record Bar in Kansas City. www.marklowreymusic.com, www.SvobodaKC.Blogspot.com www.therecordbar.com 
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If you haven't met Robert McCain and Joseph Fulgenzi yet — they're well-known local real-estate agents and entrepreneurs — you'll be hearing about them soon enough. McCain, who owns the Blo Salon & Studio in Westport, told Fat City today that he and longtime partner Fulgenzi have purchased the troubled Jardine's Restaurant & Jazz Club at 4536 Main from owner Beena Raja.
more at the Pitch
and at KC Confidential
with more here
and at Tony's Kansas City
with more here
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Topeka native and KU Class of 1986 member Melissa Miller Ormond was promoted in late 2011 to president of MSG Entertainment, which books and produces all concert and events at Madison Square Garden and other venues the company owns in New York City, Boston and Chicago.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Sharon Wright talks about her film "Change For a Dollar." 
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Many people complain they never get to travel, and that work and life always get in the way. The members of the Lawrence-based Buran Theatre Company, however, have found a unique way around those problems. Formed in 2007 on the campus of Kansas University, the troupe regularly performs across the country in many of the nation’s largest markets and has even performed in Lithuania multiple times.
more at lawrence.com
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Dana Rimmer was excited. He had lost one of his dancers for the Lawrence Welk shows he was casting, and Jay (Jerry Jay) Cranford seemed like the perfect replacement.
more at kansascity.com
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Think of Kansas City theater as a perpetual motion machine. Most theater companies are ready to move into the second half of what they consider their 2011-2012 seasons, but theater in Kansas City never sleeps. There’s never much time to take a breath between the end of one season and the start of another.
more at kansascity.com
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After the chaos of the holidays, you would think that the Kansas City jazz community would take a break, but that’s not the case. Series that bring in international talent are still going strong, and local musicians offer exciting new projects and a few reunions. Throughout the coming months, the region’s universities will be the host of festivals with workshops, clinics and performances of students and professionals.
more at kansascity.com
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It will be hard to match the excitement of the grand opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, but the second half of the 2011-2012 arts season promises enough thrills to keep Kansas City classical music lovers on the edge of their seats.
more at kansascity.com
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Thirty years ago, legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim might have sensed that the pool of up-and-coming playwrights was a bit lacking and founded Young Playwrights Inc. Based in New York, the program’s mission is to foster and mentor promising writers 18 and under. For the second year in a row, an Overland Park, Kan. teenager has made the cut. His play will be given a professional staged reading in January 2012 at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre.
more at KCUR
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The local news media - including this site - bought into and reported that owner Beena Raja had fired the Plaza jazz club's entire staff. That fifteen people had been unceremoniously turned out on the streets right ahead of the holidays.
more at KC Confidential
and more here and here and here
and at Tony's Kansas City
and Plastic Sax compiles more links
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Let’s not have another jazz year like 2011. Perhaps we gained a few things in Kansas City jazz — a venue or two, a few good new bands, a few new friends — but by and large, it was one of the most frustrating years in memory. The annoyances were large and small.
more at kansascity.com
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Some Shawnee Mission West High School students will be ringing in the New Year with the Queen of England.
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It’s time to bid farewell to 2011 and a big hello to 2012. Time really does fly when you’re having fun…and we’ve had lots of fun this year! Kansas City continues to shine and continues to add… more 
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Harold O'Neal is a jazz pianist with an unusual resume. Born in Tanzania and raised in Kansas City, Miss., O'Neal is also a hip-hop dancer, martial artist and actor. He's just released a new album with an unusual back story of its own: Marvelous Fantasy is a largely improvised collection of solo piano pieces, an homage to the music of silent films.
more at All Things Considered
[Thanks, Plastic Sax]
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As schools break for the holidays this week, some students will be going on exciting expeditions of learning and recognition for their accomplishments. This week’s Reaching 4 Excellence Young Achiever is one of them. Forrest Goyer will be blowing his trombone as one of the nation’s high school All-American marching musicians.
more at Fox4KC
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Numb is the story of a man who has lost the ablility to feel for anything and the downward spiral his lack of emotions takes him on...
Numb is part of the OV film series.
It is the short film that begins Chapter 5 in Volume 1: BIRTH.
CAST:
Mike Ducey (Man), Lauren Scheufler (Beauty), Kali Kay Barnes (Innocence), Betsy Barratt, Deborah Keeney, & Rhianna James (the Furies)
CREW:
Numb is Writen, Directed, & Produced by John D. Barnes.
Director of Photography & Edited by Kendal Sinn
Gaffer & Key Grip - Robert P. Campbell
Makeup FX - Micah C. Williams & Deborah Keeney
Scipt Supervisors - Toby Tolbet & Rhianna James
Stoyboards by Rhianna James
Sound Design by Joe Cancha
Still Photography by Greg James Arendall & Don Foote
Executive Producer & Production Assistant - Jeff Chitty
Production Assistants - Greg James Arendall, Kent Allen, Seth Barnes, Luke Barnes, Leighanne Barnes
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Earlier this year, Danny's Big Easy held a benefit for the jazz vocalist and supporter Ray Reed, who was battling cancer. We're sad to report we received word this morning that Reed has passed away.
more at the Pitch
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The Kick-off of Kwanzaa in Kansas City 2011. Video shot at the historic Gem Theater.
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This article is from the November 2011 issue of KC Stage
I wander onto the lawn of the Blake/Cherry house to find Annie Cherry and Damian Blake on the porch. Annie's got a curly red wig in a mesh bag and she's hanging it out in the warm night air. "I need to wash my wigs out. After a day that the Renaissance Festival, they're just loaded with dirt." Annie has been a regular feature of the Ren Fest for the 2011 season, where she plays "The Virgin" at Madame Red's Brothel.
more at KC Stage
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Gladstone Theatre in the Park is in search of a director for our July 6th, 7th and 8th production of "Hello Dolly!". Rehearsals will begin in early June. There is a stipend. Interviews will be conducted January 21st, 2012. Please email resume and/or questions to mitchy7@sbcglobal.net to set up an interview time.
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Instinctively, it flapped its wings in excitement, like the way a dog shakes its leg when scratched just so. How many years had it been? it thought. How many years years had it been Kansas City’s Magic Jazz Fairy? Because never in all those years had it seen anything quite like this.
more at kcjazzlark
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Christmas Cantata performed before the midnight mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church in Kansas City Missouri.
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The manager’s chair of Columbia’s Office of Cultural Affairs has not been warmed since early this year, when Marie Nau Hunter stepped out of the position. After a monthslong interim stint by Connie Kacprowicz, who normally works for Columbia Water and Light, arts proponent Chris Stevens earlier this month was named OCA’s new manager during a timely season of evaluating the old year and anticipating the new.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Non-Profit entities are really profit-making marketplaces complete with curators who vet art for the consumer and sell art on behalf of artists.
more at Crossroads Currents
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As the year-end lists in the previous two There Stands the Glass posts indicate, my preoccupation with jazz Black American Music and hip hop persists. That's why I recently dragged my weary carcass to the RecordBar after midnight a couple days ago for the latest installment of Mark Lowrey's series of live collaborations with hip hop artists.
more at There Stands the Glass
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Three young musicians will get a chance to learn from world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma when he visits Kansas City next month to appear at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City and Dr. Doris Carroll, Associate Professor at Kansas State University, invite you to attend a series of three, four-hour, three and a half hour workshops for the purpose of increasing cultural competency for Kansas City area artists, leaders, and arts organizations' staff, board, volunteers and interns.
Last year over 40 individuals from the Kansas City community attended. Participants discussed issues of privilege, board and audience attendance, and identified strategies to strengthen neighborhood arts development. It is the Arts Council's goal through these workshops to encourage arts organizations to capitalize not only on their own cultural strengths as organizations but to embrace the cultural strengths of those around them as well. When organizations embrace diversity, they open their doors to more people and a broader audience.
Sign up today to attend one or all of our three Cultural Competency workshops offered this Winter & Spring of 2012. Space is limited on a first come, first serve basis.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Park University 8:30AM - 12:00PM
Thursday, March 15, 2012 American Jazz Museum - Gem Theater 8:30AM-12:00PM
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, JCCC 8:30AM-12:00PM
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The early deadline for the KCWIFT AMC Theatres FilmFest Short Screenplay Contest is fast approaching. If you are entering or know a screenwriter who is planning on entering we encourage everyone to take advantage of the early entry fee. (Extra discount for WIF members!) Our final deadline is February 1st.
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2011 City Come Again at Grace and Holy Cathedral 
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The 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is nearing, and Union Station in downtown Kansas City is gearing up for a fabulous exhibit: “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” is set to open to the public on… more 
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The local music scene experienced several noteworthy events in 2011. Some were memorable, like the two-day Middle of the Map Festival in Westport in April and “Midcoast Cares: A Benefit for Joplin,” a fundraiser at Crosstown Station in June that raised more than $10, 000 for people who lost property in the devastating May tornado. Others were lamentable, like the closing of Crosstown Station in October.
more at kansascity.com
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The arts in Kansas City have not had such a momentous year since 1933 when the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art had its grand opening. Now, in the middle of the worst economy since the 1930s, Julia Irene Kauffman, Shirley Helzberg and other unbelievably generous visionaries have given Kansas City the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
more at kansascity.com
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Audacious. That’s the word I would choose to describe much of what I saw on local stages this year. And audacity is a very good measure of a theater community’s artistic health.
more at kansascity.com
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It’s yet another depressing sign of the times when the juvenile digital blurt of a teenager gets more public attention than a finely made poem or a sonorous piano concerto. But we get the culture we deserve, I suppose, one that favors instant gratification and sound-bite attention spans.
more at kansascity.com
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An institution at Kansas Public Radio is coming to an end, according to a statement from Kansas University.
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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Strike up the music — there’s a new performing arts group in town. The Kinnor Philharmonic, a new Jewish-themed symphony orchestra, will make its debut New Year’s Day with a 3 p.m. concert at Congregation Beth Torah.
more at the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle
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The University of Missouri-Kansas City has hired three companies to complete a feasibility study for a proposed downtown arts campus that could be developed near the new Performing Arts Center.
more at kansascity.com
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Winter is a perfect time to finally edit some footage we shot on the boat last summer. Filmed with our intern, Tucker Adams, at Lake Lotawana, MO.
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
Speed Networking: One on one exchanges (1 minute).
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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Olathe Chamber Chairman's Liaison Committee meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m., at a different restaurant location in Olathe. Occasionally the date may shift due to holidays, other large events, or wintry weather. The Chamber’s wintry weather policy is that if the Olathe School District closes, then this committee will be rescheduled for another day. If you are not currently a member of this committee and have an active membership with the Chamber, feel free to contact Mary Nichols, mnichols@olathe.org for information on getting involved. We are glad to have you join us!
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2011 KC Fringe Festival Photographers: Joseph Maino, Reggie Banks, Sr., Steve Thompson, J. Michael Strange, R. Scott Anderson, Angela Carmack, Stephanie Crawford, Tracy Majkol, Russ Matthews, and Dale Kirchhofer.
You can find these photos and thousands more at http://kcfringephoto.zenfolio.com. 
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Charlotte Street Foundation's Urban Culture Project presents a live collaborative performance April 15 at City Center Square Studio Residency by Black House Improvisors' Collective, Mixed Blood Woman, and 940 Dance Company.
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The well has been poisoned. In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake. -Sayre's law. It breaks my heart that the Kansas City jazz scene has been poisoned by the ongoing difficulties of a single jazz venue. Hidden agendas, ulterior motives and open threats have become the order of the day. No matter how the situation at Jardine's plays out, it's going to take a long time to heal the wounds generated by this unfortunate saga.
more at Plastic Sax
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The well has been poisoned. In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake. -Sayre's law. It breaks my heart that the Kansas City jazz scene has been poisoned by the ongoing difficulties of a single jazz venue. Hidden agendas, ulterior motives and open threats have become the order of the day. No matter how the situation at Jardine's plays out, it's going to take a long time to heal the wounds generated by this unfortunate saga.
more at kcjazzlark
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What local tradition do you do every year?
I’ve seen A Christmas Carol at KC Repertory Theatre almost every year for 31 years — always up close!
more at the Pitch
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The Toon Shop, a fixture in the Prairie Village Shops for more than 50 years, closed the doors to its retail musical-instrument store Saturday, although teachers continue to offer private lessons in its lower-level music academy.
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’Twas the week before Christmas when a friend turned to me
And said, “I need a jazz gift for under the tree.
It must be KC jazz, a wonderful find,
So that when it is opened, she’ll scream, “It’s divine!””
more at kcjazzlark
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On Tuesday 12/20 I had the chance to get some shots at the Kauffman Center of some interior window washing in the Brandmeyer Great Hall. I ended up using four out of the five lenses in my backpack for this post.
more at Eric Bowers Photoblog
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Seth Golay’s life is going to be insanely chaotic in 2012, and he says he can’t wait.
more at kansascity.com
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DST Realty Inc. made its pitch to the Tax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City to redevelop the Lyric Theatre so it can become the site of a Federal Aviation Administration training facility.
more at the Kansas City Business Journal
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Dr. Carol Koehler, Associate Professor and Chair of UMKC’s Communications Studies Department, died on Saturday, Dec. 17. The Kansas City Star reports that she died at home following open-heart surgery.
more at UMatters
and kansascity.com
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Kansas City Symphony & Chorus perform "Christmas Eve Finale" from "It's a Wonderful Life" by Dmitri Tiomkin for our Christmas Festival performances on December 16-18, 2011 with Associate Conductor, Steven Jarvi.
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This article is from the November 2011 issue of KC Stage
Theatrical light design is a relatively new art form with a rich history full of innovation discovery.
more at KC Stage
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Social at 5:30 p.m.; dinner, 6 p.m.; program, 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy and Scholarship Awards Committee and the Olathe Branch of the NAACP. Honoring Mayor Carl Gerlach and student scholarship award winners. Reservations: $75. For more information: martinlutherkingcomm@kc.rr.com.
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After suffering a devastating breakup, Sammy accepts the services of a life-enhancement coach named Tabitha.
Written and Directed by Christopher Good
Produced by Christopher Good and Megan Mantia
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Creighton Organization plays a benefit show at Jaskki's Tobacco Cafe to raise money for cancer research in Kansas City. Naughty Santa was there to help out and there was the first friday free hookah night happening. 
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After four years in the dark, the venerable Englewood Theatre will reopen Christmas Day with the perennially popular “The Sound of Music.”
more at Butler's Cinema Scene
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The prolific John Godber is reputed to be the third-most-produced playwright in Britain after William Shakespeare and Alan Ayckbourn, but I don’t believe theatergoers in Kansas City had ever seen one of his works until the final weekend of “British Invasion 2011.”
more at kansascity.com
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Christmas Sketch Comedy Show a Merry Delight
Rating: 5
A Very Merry Sketch Comedy Show Bottoms Up Sketch Comedy
This has got to be about the best kept secret in town. The year old Bottoms Up Sketch Comedy troupe has a Christmas show running at the Living Room. The talented troupe consisting of Emerson Rapp, Briana Marxen-McCollum, Dan Hillaker, Emily O'Dell and Joshua Gleeson goes through a series of Christmas related sketches that hit the funny button each time out.
The framing device for the show is an in-the-doghouse Joseph trying to backpedal explain to Mary why he forgot to make reservations at the inn. Mary gets more combative as they go to seedier and seedier places. Other highlights include Emerson Rapp as a suburban Dad buying son Dan Hillaker his first Christmas hooker ( a hilarious Briana M-M). Amy Hurrelbrink has a pair of great pieces: in the first, she ruins a Christmas party by dying of trenchmouth ("I guess I got too far into my WWI re-enactment group," she says.) In the second, she plays a murderous six year old who raps to "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus." Emily O'Dell and Josh Gleeson have a nice scene where Ms. Odell plays a Salvation Army Bellringer passive aggressively refusing to wish Mr. Gleeson a merry Christmas.
This troupe will start breaking big very soon, so catch them at the Living Room for Their Christmas Comedy show.
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On February 25th through the 27th Charlotte Street Foundation hosted Angels and Demons at Play, an art show involving music, dance, and visual media.
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Before the season of making new resolutions begins, a period of reflection usually defines the few weeks before the end of December — marked by evaluating past choices and circumstances before looking forward to the future. As a renowned local ballet school prepares for an eventful move to a new location, both of these entities — reflection and excitement — are present in the minds and spirits of the school’s two directors. Halcyone Ewalt Perlman, who has run the Perlman-Stoy School of Ballet for students of varying ages from her home since 1968, is moving the school to a new location next week, from South Providence to the Cherry Hill area.
more at the Columbia Tribune
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WINTER BREAK. It’s coming like a freight train (and for some, it’s already here!) It always seems to start out great, then the boredom sets in. And the inevitable fighting begins. What’s a family to do? Is there anything to… more 
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Vic Sin performs at Burlesque Downtown Underground's show Scared Sexy at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre!
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Toyland Treasures
Rating: 4
Treasures from Toyland
Puppetry Arts Institute
The holiday season kicked off in style as The Puppetry Arts Institute presented "Treasures From Toyland " on December 3.
The 40 minute musical revue showcases over twenty five string marionette and hand puppet creations. Using classic Christmas recordings from the 1930's to the 1970's the fanciful "performers" sang, danced, and brought merriment to all.
Act one featured "Stars On Strings" and in cabaret style, string marionettes were manipulated by the puppeteer in audience view. The three foot tall wood carved marionettes included favorites like Pinocchio, a North Pole elf, and a witch from Oz in an operatic rendition of "Deck The Halls".
Act two unveiled a large cottage style hand puppet stage. Strutting their stuff in the spotlight included whimsical characters like Rudolph, a Yuletide dragon, and a lively Santa. These residents of Puppet Land led a festive audience sing along.
Act three was billed as "Holly Follies" and used festive puppets by artist Ray Moore to create a variety show in the mode of a 1960's television Christmas special.
The impressive production was designed and performed solo by master puppeteer Kraig Kensinger. Mr Kensinger charmed the all ages crowd with a show of Broadway style and dazzle.
This celebration of the vintage art of puppetry is a treat for the senses and a must see family event.
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Watch 50 hours of work to build KC Rep's 2011 A Christmas Carol set in under 4 minutes! Buy tickets today! 816.235.2700. Set design by John Ezell 
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From the band's CD-release gig Sunday night, Dec. 4, 2011, at the RecordBar. This is 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' from the "Nutcracker and the Mouse King' score. Yes, the scene's a bit dark, but sound pretty good in first video shot with new Samsung Epic phone. Jeffrey Ruckman on toy piano and Brad Cox conducting from the keyboard. 
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In an unlikely setting for a play, a new adaptation spurred by two 21st-century minds and bolstered by one local theater stalwart has been unfolding. That adaptation is “A Christmas Carol,” which premiered Friday at the Columbia Art League and wraps up performances tonight. And it is produced by a brand-new theater organization in town, GreenHouse Theatre Project.
more at the Columbia Tribune
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Performances
1. KC Sound Collective- Blue Room
Albums
1. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey- The Race Riot Suite
more at Plastic Sax
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The year 2011 will go down in history as a milestone in Kansas City’s performing arts life, as the opening of the Kauffman Center has spurred all of our local arts groups to new heights and new innovations. Here are a few of my favorite moments of the year, listed in chronological order.
more at the Independent
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After Words Segment 1: Seussical The Musical
more at KMBC
and part two here
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Ron Megee is a multithreat theater artist — actor, director, playwright, choreographer, props maker, carpenter — but he just can’t resist the opportunity to change costumes at breakneck speed as he shifts gears from one character to another.
more at kansascity.com
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Missouri Contemporary Ballet (MCB) has been selected to be a Guest Artist with Jodi Kaplan and Associates’ Booking Dance presentation at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Conference 2012 in New York, New York. The conference takes place January 6th-10th, 2012 at the Hilton New York. The Booking Dance Showcases are being presented at the Ailey Citigroup Theater.
more at Infozine
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The Local Show previews the new Science City exhibit designed by local high school students. We look at why Kansas City is the city of entrepreneurs. We talk to a husband and wife who have both battled *** cancer. And...we take a look at the KC Rep's A Christmas Carol.
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Behind the scenes of Christmas Festival with Associate Conductor Steven Jarvi and the Kansas City Symphony. Christmas Festival will be performed with Soprano Laquita Mitchell, Vocalist Olivia Sabates, The Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Rezound!, KC Brass and the Allegro Community Children's Choir on December 16 - 18, 2011. 
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Dinner and a show plus a holiday atmosphere with a twist is what audience members can expect if planning to attend the Break Room's second annual performance of David Sedaris' tale, the "Santaland Diaries."
more at the Washburn Review
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A horror short from 2001. I tip my hat to Robert Wise and his direction of "The Haunting". Shot on a Canon GL1 and edited in Final Cut Pro version 1.25! Ah, the old days of 4:3 30fps MiniDV!
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"The night life ain't no good life, but it's my life." I will have taken in over 365 individual performances in 2011 by New Year's Eve.. The following list of my favorite ten percent of these shows is deceptive. While hip hop is the dominant force in popular music, the genre is underrepresented. Only the charisma and vibrant catalogs of Weezy, Black Elvis, Tech and Ye and Jay allowed them to overcome their otherwise sketchy presentations. The reverse is true of jazz. Kansas City's jazz renaissance is, if anything, underrepresented here. Matt Otto and Jeff Harshbarger, pictured in the accompanying photo, are my second and third favorite musicians in Kansas City. And finally, how is it possible that Knuckleheads, the region's best venue, didn't make the cut?
more at There Stands the Glass
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On Tuesday the 13th, The audience came into the intimate theatre ready to be amazed. The audience was welcomed by the classy emcee, J. Kent Barnhart, who informed the audience that when he arrived to the theatre this evening, the lighting cues had been erased from the computer and there was no sign of recovery.
more at Broadway World
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After years of innovative design and planning, engineering and the persistence and extraordinary vision of Julia Irene Kauffman and the late Muriel McBrien Kauffman, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors as one of the great showplaces in the world. On September 16th and 17th, guests enjoyed the interior beauty and exquisite sounds of the Muriel Kauffman Theatre and Helzberg Hall as well as libations and delectables in Brandmeyer Great Hall and Bartle Hall. Architect Moshe Safdie and acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota were applauded by the crowd for their brilliant accomplishments. Placido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman and Diana Krall were among the extraordinary guest artists featured both nights. Julia Irene Kauffman and Jane Chu served as the co-chairmen. Following two amazing opening nights, Kansas City celebrated the unveiling with an Open House on Sunday, September 18th. Much of Our Town came out to enjoy the new space.
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Anyone who saw Guy Masterson’s remarkable one-man performance of Dylan Thomas’ “Under Milk Wood” in Kansas City a year ago discovered a skilled actor handling complicated literary material and making it come to life with immediacy and clarity.
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The Charlotte Street Awards to Generative Performing Artists supports artists living in the Greater Kansas City Metro Area (Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte & Wyandotte Counties). Launched in 2008, these awards specifically recognize innovative, generative artists working in the fields of dance, theater/performance art, music/sound & hybrid/interdisciplinary/new media versions thereof. These awards recognize generative artists, meaning individuals actively creating original, new work in their fields- i.e. they are composers, playwrights, choreographers- in addition to very often being performers as well. All eligible artists are encouraged to apply. Two Awards of $8,500 each will be distributed.
more at the Charlotte Street Foundation
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Director Missy Koonce takes us backstage of The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge. More information at www.UnicornTheatre.org
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Three guys, some ordinary objects and lots of creativity makes for one great show. The cast of the Blue Man Group joined us to talk about their long-running show, which hits the Kansas City Music Hall starting tonight and continuing through the weekend.
more at Fox4KC
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Featuring a panel of 2012 state legislators with updates on the current legislative session.
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Featuring a panel of 2012 state legislators with updates on the current legislative session.
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Featuring a panel of 2012 state legislators with updates on the current legislative session.
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Featuring a panel of 2012 state legislators with updates on the current legislative session.
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Featuring a panel of 2012 state legislators with updates on the current legislative session.
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“Crossover” is a dirty word to some jazz people. Usually it’s said with jealousy, to describe an artist who’s found success by jumping across some imagined stylistic boundary. But when you use crossover to describe fiddler Mark O’Connor, who brings his holiday show to the Folly Theater on Saturday, it’s far from a fighting word.
more at kansascity.com
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Anyone who saw Guy Masterson’s remarkable one-man performance of Dylan Thomas’ “Under Milk Wood” in Kansas City a year ago discovered a skilled actor handling complicated literary material and making it come to life with immediacy and clarity.
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The down economy appears to have taken its final toll on one of Prairie Village’s most-beloved stores.
more at the Prairie Village Post
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This episode was interviewing Art Suskin, the artistic director of The Theatre Gym.
more at Stage Savvy
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A Partnership of Old and New at Kansas City Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
Rating: 5
The Nutcracker
Kansas City Ballet
Kansas City's performing arts scene has exploded with holiday spirit. All over town old classics are dusted off and new traditions made. At the Kansas City Ballet, they are making the best use of the old and the new. The fifty-four year old company has a lot of "new" on their dance card this year. In August, they moved into the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. The building which had formerly been the power house for Union Station was also designed by the station's architect Jarvis Hunt and is widely considered one of the most beautiful centers for dance in the world.
In addition to a new place to call home, the Ballet also has a new place to perform, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. "We are extremely excited to bring this annual treat to the Muriel Kauffman Theater," stated Jeffrey J. Bentley, executive director of the company. "For the past 38 years, we have produced this sumptuous holiday classic to hundreds of thousands of adults and children in a variety of theaters in the downtown area. But this year, this much anticipated event will be viewed for the first time on the spectacular Kauffman stage which has opened to rave reviews for its design, acoustical sophistication and audience amenities."
With so much attention on the Kauffman and the companies presenting there, the Ballet brings a new life to their holiday favorite. For traditionalists the choreography from former artistic director Todd Bolender remains mostly intact as do some of the familiar scenic pieces. But they remained as fresh and sharp as their first appearance. These traditional trappings were enhanced by some brilliant lighting and other effects that transported us along with our young heroine Clara. The costumes were extremely vivid and sharp and the only words that can really describe them are stolen from food descriptors like "luscious" and "mouthwatering". A true banquet for your inner sweet tooth!
The performance featured the Kansas City Ballet professional company and students from both the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance and the Ballet's own school. All of the dancers were delightful and the children's cast was particularly remarkable due to their evident joy and overflowing energy. The professional troupe demonstrated amazing feats of grace, dance and athleticism with some moments that were nearly show-stopping!
The Kansas City Symphony under the direction of Ramona Pansegrau provided Tchaikovsy's score beautifully! The acoustics in this new performing arts space allowed even some of the quieter instruments to be heard clearly and the musical performance alone was an event! The partnership between the Ballet and Symphony is a marvelous example of their collaborative spirit.
The beautiful 1,800 seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre evokes the old European opera houses and becomes an extension of the scenery onstage. The golden accented seating area reflects the performance's beauty and energy and carries the holiday spirit to all!
"The Nutcracker" runs through December 24th. Tickets may be purchased by telephone at 816.931.2232, in person at the Kansas City Ballet Box Office located at the Bolender Center at 500 W. Pershing (west end of the Union Station campus) or with "Select Your Own Seat" capability online at www.kcballet.org. Tickets also may be purchased at the Kauffman Center Box Office and website. Visit the Kansas City Ballet website for more information about performance times, seating options and parking at www.kcballet.org. Ticket prices range from $29 to $119. There is a $6.00 Kauffman Center facilities/service fee per ticket.
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Jardine's nightclub and restaurant reopened last night for a private party — KC Confidential blogger Hearne Christopher's annual Christmas bash — but rhinestone-bedecked Beena Raja, Jardine's owner, told me that the party marked the official opening of Jardine's with a brand-new staff. A couple of planned concerts scheduled for this week (including Julia Othmer's weekend gig) have been canceled, but Raja says she's moving forward, despite the flurry of negative publicity last week after she fired 15 employees.
more at the Pitch
and at NBC Action News
and at KC Confidential
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Heartland Men’s Chorus celebrates 25 years of music magic. What started out in 1986 as a small group of men desiring to form a choral group has blossomed into the largest and highest profile gay organization in the Kansas City region—The Heartland Men’s Chorus.
more at 435 South
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The touring edition of the show that dazzled, amused and tirelessly entertained what appeared to be a near-sellout audience at the Music Hall on opening night Tuesday was a beautiful exercise in the art of illusion. When the blue men began interacting with video images of themselves and invading the audience’s space in a search for “volunteers,” nothing was quite as it seemed.
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If you notice smoke in the air before the show starts, don't be alarmed. It's just atmosphere, setting the stage for Iggy Scrooge, rock star, in concert, light show included. It's an appropriately flashy opening for The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge, pulling the audience in fast — two audiences, really, in a kind of play within a play.
more at the Pitch
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Christmas in Song runs at Quality Hill Playhouse November 18th-December 24th and features Molly Hammer, LaTeesha McDonald Jackson, Lindsey McKee, and J. Kent Barnhart. The show has been well received by critics and audiences alike.
more at Broadway World
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A symphony for all seasons. That item was at the top of Kirk Trevor’s wish list as the holidays approached this year and, in truth, has been one of his deepest desires for quite some time. Music director and conductor of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Trevor has long forged a path for his ensemble with intersecting destinations: expanding its visibility as a community presence while growing in artistic relevance.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Final for my Intro class. Found footage and my own oops instances.
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Patrick Lewallen still can’t believe his luck. The Overland Park actor’s career skyrocketed last year when he auditioned for and received the role of the childishly charming bad boy Lonny in the first national tour of “Rock of Ages.”
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Annual event to honor the best entries in essay, visual arts, and multi-media. The entries on display at the MLK Community Open House at Olathe City Hall. Final judging taking at 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by MidAmerica Nazarene University, the Olathe School District, and the City of Olathe’s Human Relations Commission
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8 a.m. continental breakfast; 8:30 a.m., speaker and award presentation. Featured speaker—Dr. Elmer L. Gillett, Brooklyn, N.Y., recipient of the 2012 Martin Luther King Living Legacy Award. www.mnu.edu.
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Two of today's leading classical masters want to collaborate with you. Host of NPR's music program From the Top, O'Riley is recognized as a leading American pianist of his generation. Haimovitz made his solo debut at age 13 with the Israel Philharmonic and has since redefined what it means to be a classical musician, bringing concert performance to clubs and coffee houses around the world. The program will be determined by the audience pre-performance using social media from a "playlist" provided by the artists, featuring classical compositions by Bach and Chopin along with works by Radiohead and Piazzolla.
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While I'm a bit embarrassed that a twee pop song tops a list loaded with gangsta rappers, I simply can't resist Hidden Pictures' suffocatingly cute video.
more at There Stands the Glass
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Help support the Coterie's fundraising effort to send Lucky Duck to the New Victory Theatre in New York! Just go to www.coterietheatre.org and press the red Donate Now button. This fun video features Rex Hobart and the Coterie Staff.
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This article is from the November 2011 issue of KC Stage
Ulla-Maija Halonen was born in 1942 in Viborg, Finland (now a part of Russia), and grew up in Turku, Finland. As a child, she took ballet and that's where she discovered one of her life's passions. As she grew older, she trained and danced with the Finnish Opera Ballet in Finland.
more at KC Stage
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Chris Stevens was named manager of the Office of Cultural Affairs, City Manager Mike Matthes announced Friday. Marie Nau Hunter resigned as the cultural affairs manager in November 2010, and the position was vacant until March when Columbia Water and Light's Connie Kacprowicz took over the job on an interim basis. Stevens will begin the job on Dec. 19 and will earn $60,700 annually.
more at the Missourian
and at the Columbia Business Times
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Men's and Women's Basketball games. Buy 1 Get 1 Free admission for ALL Chamber of Commerce members. Dollar Night! This means that admission will be $1 for anyone, and select concession items (drinks, hot dogs, and popcorn) will be $1 as well. This is open for all fans who attend the game!
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The Surgeon is a man who will stop at nothing to keep his organization clean. He is constantly pursued from all sides but has eluded all that try to hinder him. That is, until Michael Terran infiltrates his organization.
A feature film created by Trophy Productions. Written by Clint Sparks. Directed by Brett Jackson.
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Myra Taylor: Born in Bonner Springs, Kansas, but raised, for all practical purposes, around 18th and Vine. She hobnobbed with Bennie Moten and Count Basie, with Lester Young and Charlie Parker. She recorded with Harlan Leonard’s Rockets, one of KC’s renowned big bands. She traveled the world and sang, by her own description, swing learned in Kansas City.
more at kcjazzlark
and at Plastic Sax
and at Fox4 News
and at NBC Action News
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The film was made by Attaboy Media productions. Attaboy owner Gray, a three-time Emmy winner who is also pastor of the World Revival Church in Kansas City, said “Saints” isn’t “your typical laidback faith-based film.” He said the comedy is an examination of the state of religion in contemporary America.
more at Butler's Cinema Scene
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If ever there was a time and place that needed “tidings of comfort and joy,” it is Christmas 2011 in America. In a bitterly divided country still struggling with the aftermath of an economic recession, the message of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is well worth examining. And the 2011 production at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre shines more brightly than ever.
more at examiner.com
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After watching two exceptional performances by Rebecca Vaughan and Richard Fry on the second night of “British Invasion 2011,” one fact cannot be denied – these playwright/actors have take solo performance to a level local audiences rarely see.
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For those who can’t make it to the annual Washburn University Holiday Vespers or who want to relive the experience again, KTWU-TV will capture the long-standing campus tradition for a one-hour special.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Full-bore nostalgia trip for the baby boomer crowd Rating: 3
The Marvelous Wondrettes American Heartland Theatre
As the last of the Halloween-themed shows finish their run, the Kansas City theatre scene ramps up for the holidays. All across the metro area, venues large and small are taking on the festive spirit in their productions. All the old reliable workhorses are making their traditional appearance, and quite a few new faces too. Among the latter is The Marvelous Wonderettes, which opened Wednesday night at the American Heartland Theatre. This is light-hearted fare, a musical revue geared unabashedly for the nostalgia market. It makes no apologies for this, and asks only to be taken on its own merits. To do so is to enjoy an unpretentious show that delivers precisely what its audience asks of it.
The show is essentially two, with songs of the late fifties and sixties tied together through the common plotline. In the first act, we are introduced to the Wonderettes: Missy (Colleen Grate), Suzy (Liz Clark Golson), Cindy Lou (Molly Denninghoff) and Betty Jean (Jessalyn Kincaid), a musical group of four glee club students at Springfield High. It is 1958 and the night of the prom. With the scheduled entertainment unable to come, the four step into the breach, performing a series of jukebox-friendly tunes ("Lollipop", "All I Have To Do Is Dream", "Secret Love") intersped with enough bits of story to keep the show moving along. As is traditional with the genre, plotting is minimal: the story is there to get us to the next song, nothing more. As such, the non-singing parts are kept brisk and light, aiming for laughter more often than not and, judging by the opening night crowd, succeeding consistently.
In the second act, the story takes a little more prominence. Ten years have passed, and the girls have returned for their reunion. A lot has happened, and it is interesting to see who has and has not changed. Missy is essentially the same person, only ten years older. Betty Jean and Cindy Lou have matured; life has kicked them around a bit, and they see the world now through different eyes. Even Suzy, who stayed in town with her high school sweetheart, is starting to think hard about what's going on in her life.
All these are reflected in their songs: we go from Missy's "It's In His Kiss" and "Wedding Bell Blues" to Betty Jean's "It's My Party" and Cindy Lou belting out "Son of a Preacher Man" (it should be noted here that Ms Denninghoff really stands out for this sequence, bringing out the jaded cynicism of the character. A surprising and not unwelcome bit of depth to the candyfloss). In the end, however, the three rally around Suzy, facing the first real crises of her life, and help her find the strength to carry on.
It must be said that the cast and crew both have gone to extensive effort to
recreate the eras in question. The 1958 prom is well done, with set design and wardrobe just right. The live band, visible throughout the production, start off in crew-cuts and tuxedos, and the Wonderettes in pastels and period hairstyles. When the sixties roll around, the set is changed accordingly, as are the characters: the Wonderettes have turned in their prom pumps for Nancy Sinatra boots, and the school gym has taken on a flower power theme. The only real weakness is here, in that the live band have been apparently decked out in everything from the closeout bin of the Spencer Gifts costume department. Overall, however, care and attention have clearly been taken in bringing back the eras of the songs performed. Which brings us to the music.
A revue lives or dies by its songs. Choice of music, the mood set, performance are all vital. In this case we are pleased to report that the principals all do a marvellous job in recreating the classic girl group sound, particularly with the 1950s numbers. They present a good cross-section of numbers from the time, their singing confident and polished. As reflections of their times, the 1960s numbers are a bit more varied, not quite as bubbly and innocent as the former, but this change is only natural and is carried off well by the performers. There are really no weak links in the cast to speak of, and overall the production comes across as solid and professional.
In fact, the only really jarring note one can think of is at the end. The story resolved, friends reunited, and the show obviously well and truly over, the girls suddenly decide to do "one more song," at which point everyone pulls out Santa hats and barnstorm through a medley of oldies holiday songs: think "Little Saint Nick" and you're on the right track. Bells are jingled, a tree is brought out and rocked around; tinsel happens. The whole sequence feels so utterly and egregiously tacked-on that one wonders if they couldn't have found a way of easing into it, somehow.
This, however, is a minor quibble. Overall, The Marvellous Wonderettes is an interesting and ultimately enjoyable, if shallow, romp through the music of two bygone eras. It knows what it is, and delivers exactly what it promises.
For the audience at the American Heartland Theatre Wednesday night, it was just what they were looking for. And as this reviewer left the theatre, she could not help but reflect on her own era, and wonder what nostalgia-based musicals she has to look forward to in say, twenty years. Will there be dancers in leg warmers and feathered hair? A medley of grunge hits, perhaps?
Somehow, we just don't see it happening.
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It's hard to be fair and balanced when you've only heard one side of the story... Impossible, in fact. That said, there's been no shortage of piling on in the soap opera surrounding vaunted Plaza jazz club Jardine's going dark this past week. Especially with employees flooding the blogosphere with tales of being fired, wronged and any number of other sensational crimes against humanity.
more at KC Confidential
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As she helped coach the women of the Shawnee Choral Society on performing the title song of the community mixed chorus' winter concert, slated for Monday night at Countryside United Methodist Church, Marilyn Foree worked on attitude, as well as notes.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon’s popular preschool music group and stars of the hit TV series of the same name, will hit the road in February 2012 for the first time ever on a 15-week, 50-city nationwide… more 
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A tour of Kansas City Missouri at night. See the great sights that Kansas City has to offer. From the Nelson Atkins, Liberty Memorial, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Power and Light District, and all the way to the Crossroads Art District
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Myra Taylor, one of the final links to Kansas City’s heyday as a jazz mecca, died Friday afternoon in Kansas City. She was 94.
more at kansascity.com
and at KCUR
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The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has been hailed from coast to coast for its architectural and acoustic marvels, but for one night it felt as quaint as a small-town church.
more at kansascity.com
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For a show-business entity that defies simple descriptions, Blue Man Group has enjoyed a remarkable ride.
more at kansascity.com
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Connecting two 19th century phenomena from across the world into one cohesive subject matter is nothing new to Ric Averill with his production “The Kansas Nutcracker.”
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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Directed by Pat Conway, Gamelan Genta Kasturi are current performing artists in the Charlotte Street Foundation's studio residency program. Through the residency, Gamelan has 24 hour access to rehearse and perform in CSF's City Center Square studio in downtown Kansas City, MO. Gamelan will perform during Charlotte Street's Open Studios on Saturday, Dec. 10th from 11-12pm, a workshop will follow. City Center Square is located on 12th and Main.
The gamelan is the newest and largest Balinese ensemble in North America and was made by Bali's most highly respected composer, tuner and gong-smith. The community ensemble consists of numerous metallophones, vertical and horizontal tuned gongs, cymbals, flutes, fiddles and drums and can accommodate a group of up to 28 performers.
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“Christmas in Song” is a very intimate experience. The theater is cozy and thanks to the set and the warmth of J. Kent Barnhart, it feels almost as if you are in a living room. The theme for the show this year is wonder and light, which is shown through their choice in songs, including, “Bright Star,” “Christmas Star” and “Light a Candle.”
more at the University News
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Two very different one-actor plays inaugurated the “British Invasion 2011” at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, bringing a most welcome touch of class and smarts to midtown.
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Jazz music is known for its dynamic and inventive nature, and An Evening of Jazz, presented by the Washburn Department of Music, did not fail to deliver. The Jazz Ensembles I and II performed a vivid array of jazz music, with pieces ranging from Cannonball Adderley's "Dat Dere," arranged by Eric Morales to a song called "I Could Write a Book," arranged by Harry Connick Jr.
more at the Washburn Review
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Celebration from 4-7 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Celebrate their renovation and new name with lots of food and cocktails! Hosted by the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Olathe and Leawood Chambers.
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When visions of Sugar Plum Fairies dance in Barbara Ebert's head, it's a crowded stage. Those ballerinas have to share space with Snow Queens, Claras, Dew Drops and other roles performed by more than 6,000 dancers in more than 140 productions of "The Nutcracker" directed by Ebert in Topeka.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
and a cast list
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While they may wander into minor tonalities from time to time, the Columbia Chorale will be singing in a Major key Saturday night. The community music collective joins with two other groups to present what promises to be a stirring, sensational holiday concert, imbued with the sorts of tradition and reflection that this time of year allows. Yet, it will be an evening of new beginnings – the performance marks the Chorale’s first concert under the leadership of Marci Major, who recently replaced outgoing director Alex Innecco, after he returned to his native Brazil.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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“Seussical” at the Coterie Theatrer takes the stories of “Horton Hears a Who” and “Horton Hatches an Egg” and weaves them together skillfully with other characters from Dr. Seuss’s works. The Cat in the Hat, probably the most famous of all the characters, functions as the erstwhile emcee, odd character and occasional prankster who helps drive the action.
more at the University News
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Tonight a couple of visiting British actor/playwrights pitch their tents at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre for what is being billed as “British Invasion 2011.”
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Combine beautiful music, outstanding performers and an acoustical venue that enhances the sound, and the result can be sublime. Such was the case Tuesday night when the Friends of Chamber Music presented The Tallis Scholars at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
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Directed and Executed by Shaun Hamontree and Cyan Meeks. Music: Tension by American Catastrophe
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Reporter Dex Newsome and Videoographer Marvita Oliver take a behind the scenes look at Swing Dancing which is becoming "all the rage" at JCCC.
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The Kansas City Symphony celebrated the inaugural season opening in Helzberg Hall on September 23rd through the 25th this year with musical fireworks by Stravinsky, Beethoven interpreted by master pianist Emanuel Ax, a world premiere by Kansas City's own and internationally-lauded composer Chen Yi, and the stunning sonic spectacular, "The Pines of Rome." The opening weekend was a celebration unlike any other.
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The White Recital Hall was teeming with vibrant new sounds compared to the previous weeks as the ensemble series continued with the Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, featuring Robert Olson as the musical director and conductor. Olson is well-revered for his musical contributions around the globe, including guest-conducting in countries such as China, Europe and South America. He was also the conductor for the Kansas City Ballet for 14 years. During his reign as conductor there, he headed more than 600 performances. In 1990, he brought his talents to UMKC as he became a part of the faculty.
more at the University News
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A Rockin' Christmas; not as lame as it seems.
Rating: 3
The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge Unicorn Theatre
The Kansas City scene can be glad that "The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge" has hit the Unicorn Stage. Under direction of Missy Koonce, this lively and just-kinda-weird production had its downfalls, but it soared through the story and ended on an upbeat, pleasing, and motivating note! It's the glamorous, rock-star version of "A Christmas Carol" ... and it was thrust powerfully into this world: hippies, cross-dressing, and shiny, gold, barely-there underwear are just a few of the memorable elements which make this show not a rousing success, but still, an admirable one.
Koonce had her fair share to worry about as the director and choreographer, but the stage tricks, transitions, choreography, and overall feeling of the show were pretty solid. No actors were left behind, and everyone seemed to be having a pretty rocktastic time. However, many of the jokes throughout the first third of this show just rolled over and died. It's not clear why; people were just not laughing. And it's due to this fact that the show did, indeed, get off to an unexpectedly-slow start. With the exception of a couple not-quite-together musical moments, musical director Tony Bernal had a very musically-successful show on his hands. Stage manager Jinni Pike was unseen, unheard, and unthought-of ... which means she had it in the bag. Sounds, sets, lights, projections, costumes, and properties were all equally thoughtful and well-executed; the designers of the show and Koonce designed this show down to the actors' underwear; and the actors, for the most part, definitely acted that far down, too.
Speaking of the actors, what a bunch of talented-out-of-the-wahzoo bunch of people! This whole actors-who-sing-and-play-instruments movement taking hold in Kansas City is quite impressive. From banjo to voice to violin, these actors knew what they were doing. One slight amendment to that, though, was the failure to make many opening jokes take hold. This might have been due to Matthew Rapport's somewhat flat portrayal of Iggy Scrooge, whose character and presence failed to capture the full attention of his audience. Unluckily enough for Rapport, the liquor-guzzling, gruff-voiced, hairy portrayal of a rockstar is as over-seen as it is over-done. Matt Weiss nearly choke-holds the attention of audience members with the presence of his tongue during the first song, and after that, he earns a moderate amount of the audience's attention. Matthew McAndrews does just enough to get by as Buddy Holly without becoming annoying, which, at times, seemed more than plausible. The rest of the cast did an outstanding job holding up the here-and-there bits of this production; without them, this show truly would not have worked. To hold off this name until the very end of this paragraph must speak volumes about the impressiveness, range, and ability of Ron Megee. This actor's name does come with expectations in the KC circuit, and Koonce must have dared Megee to surpass them. The nun, the janitor, Elvis ... all exquisitely done by Megee in the highest standard. It's surprising that more audience members were not literally rolling on the floor laughing. The janitor, specifically, was the single-most heartwarming character in this play thanks to Megee's vocal and physical talents.
The show ended on a pleasant note with the song "Heart of Fire," which was accompanied by projections of good-deed-doing. The cast didn't have to try hard to sell this last number; there was just something about it that made people smile and feel good. It was effortless good cheer, and for that reason, many a spectator will be glad they decided to Iggy it up this Christmas. "The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge" is recommended with one warning; don't leave at intermission - it picks up speed by about 100 mph in Act II.
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The Tallis Scholars’ performance in Kansas City tonight was gorgeous. The concert was performed in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which has a central altar and a wide chancel such that there are myriad acoustic reflections that arrive at one’s ears from multiple directions. Unlike many performance venues where reflected sound for people seated in most locations is predominantly from one or two general directions, Immaculate Conception has quite high reflective efficiency from many of its interior surfaces.
more at Chamber Music Today
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Mavis Staples is maybe the greatest singer of all time, and more than 60 years into her career, she remains a compelling, relevant figure in popular music. That's a result of the power of her voice and the sheer force of her personality but also of her many productive collaborations: Bob Dylan, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, Ry Cooder and, most recently, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco on 2010's You Are Not Alone. Staples and her band arrive Thursday, December 8, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts for a show that encompasses the many highlights of her career. The Pitch recently caught up with her on the phone and spoke with her about Tweedy and — well, mostly Tweedy.
more at the Pitch
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An annual concert series in Independence will help raise money to support local families in need.
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On September 30, 2011, the Occupy KC (Kansas City) movement took up residence in Memorial Park in Kansas City, Missouri, in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street (OWS). This video takes a more personal look at Kansas City's occupiers and what motivates them.
Story & Narration: William Peck & Rhiannon Ross
Soundtrack: "Merri Morningstar" by Moe Shinola
Produced by KC Active (kcactive.com)
a MetaphorMedia video
http://www.metaphormedia-kc.com
[Thanks, Tony]
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There isn't much that Fat City can add to all the media drama stirred up after Beena Rajah, the owner of Jardine's restaurant and jazz club, impulsively fired every member of her venue's staff last week. All kinds of accusations are flying about Ms. Raja's management style every witch, I mean which, way. And the comments about the vivacious Ms. R on many of the local blogs are scathing.
more at the Pitch
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Nate Phelps, an estranged son of Westboro Baptist Church pastor Fred W. Phelps Sr., will return this weekend to his hometown to support the presentation of a play about two gay teens, a large church and small-town homophobia.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Arts Talk invites actress/director Sharon Wright on their program PART 1:
How she got her start, leaving Kansas City and making the move to LA, directing vs acting and why being a director made her a better actor.
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In what should prove to be an entertaining and lighthearted amalgam of two classic staples of the 20th century, the story “It’s a Wonderful Life” is coming this week to the stage — as a radio show. PACE Youth Theatre Company is producing a play set up like the 1940s radio shows of old — not inlike Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” — and many of the young actors involved actually are playing more than one character. Jacob Huskey, who plays George Bailey, the hero of the classic Christmas film, will stick to his own feature role throughout the duration of the show, said Artistic Director Angela Howard, who also is the play’s producer.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Justine Liese is looking for virgins. But not in a creepy way. The 24-year-old Overland Park native is the casting associate producer for a documentary-style show about grown-up virgins, which is slated to air on a major cable network next year.
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Under the direction of Missy Koonce, “Iggy Scrooge” is a hilarious alternative to the traditional holiday entertainment associated with Christmas. It develops a clever spin on the Charles Dickens classic through a time-warp down pop-culture memory lane.
more at the University News
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Learn why Charlotte Street says ArtistsMATTER!
For 15 years, Charlotte Street has cultivated individual artists in Kansas City through programs designed to nurture, support, and connect promising, experimental artists.
Thanks to T2 Back Alley Films for producing the video!
[Thanks, Tony]
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Written & Directed by Todd Norris. Starring Sharon Wright and Lisa Marie Evans
Filmed in Kansas City on a Panasonic GH1
Visit www.toddnorris.net
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 If you’re kids are like mine, it’s not December unless we have at least two trips planned to Crown Center. There’s so much to see, do, eat, watch and listen to…and it’s all perfectly “Kansas City”. So what… more
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West coasters Sara Gazarek and Josh Nelson enjoy one of contemporary jazz’s most beautiful friendships. With her winning vocals and his sparkling pianistics, the L.A.-twosome won the hearts of a Sunday afternoon Topeka Jazz Workshop crowd that thrilled to each and every engagingly wrought standard and original.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Life in a restaurant is far different than life in corporate America, especially for the 15 former employees of Jardines restaurant. Jardines has been a Kansas City jazz landmark for as long as I can remember. Some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world have played this little club, but this weekend they showed up to locked doors. At first they were told of a family emergency. Later it was closed for repairs. Soon the truth started emerging that the owner had fired the entire staff. One question remains unanswered. Why was the entire staff of this jazz institution fired just weeks before the holidays?
more at The Jardine's Story
[Thanks, Reddit]
and at KC Confidential
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At the lovely home of Judi Knight, it was all about the shoes (red shoes, that is!) for the Lyric Opera Ball 2012 Kick-Off Party on October 13th. Committee members were greeted by the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy (and Toto, too!) and enjoyed cocktails and delectable hors d’oeuvres. The Ball will take place on April 20th at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and the theme is “The Wonderful Wizard of Opera.” Dr. Michella Stiles is serving as the Ball chairman.
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While Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” returns to community theaters around the state in a passel of yuletide adaptations, Columbia is in luck: “Mr. Dickens” himself — and his wife — will grace one of the cozier, more decorated spots in town, ushering in an event distinctive among holiday productions. That event is Stephens College’s annual parlor gathering, “A Dickens Victorian Christmas,” a faithfully cherished holiday happening for which tickets typically sell out in advance. The event, held in the parlors of the Historic Senior Hall on the school’s campus, ordinarily fills up every year for the intimately set theatrical-and-musical showcase, which balances historical reminiscences with jocund Victorian humor.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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The production of The Nutcracker that the late Todd Bolender created for the Kansas City Ballet is 30 years old this year, but at the opening performance on the afternoon of December 3rd it had a bright new look. That’s partly because it was being presented for the first time in the Kauffman Center’s state-of-the-art Muriel Kauffman Theatre, after languishing in decrepit downtown halls since 1981.
more at the Independent
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This article is from the October 2011 issue of KC Stage
"Actor, playwright, producer, and dandy." So says Ron Megee's resume, and the various credits show this wide variety (and inherent humor). Everything from the various parodies/homages during the run of Late Night Theatre to being in The Laramie Project in 2001 to doing props for the Coterie's production of The Wiz to having what amounted to a cameo appearance in the Lyric Opera's Daughter of the Regiment, Megee has done it all: and he couldn't be happier about it.
more at KC Stage
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For the lulz I took a round of snaps Friday afternoon at the Kauffman Center with only my fisheye lens, hoping to promulgate new things both weird and strange. Hopefully I succeeded if even just a little.
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The Columbia True/False Film Festival has been awarded a grant of $20,000 by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
more at the Missourian
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Agency: Muller Bressler + Brown
Client: Balance Innovations
Illustrator: Kevin Brimmer
Animation / Motion graphics - Bazillion
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Kansas City's premier jazz club Jardine's has been closed since Tuesday's Karrin Allyson concert there "for repairs." That's what the sign says, anyway. But local musicians and Jardine's staffers don't seem to know exactly what's going on.
more at KC Confidential
and at kcjazzlark
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It’s easy to understand why the Kansas City Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” has enchanted multigenerational audiences for 39 years. Capturing the purity of youthful imagination, the magic and fantasy dazzle children while older patrons are swept away in reminiscences of seasons passed.
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At its best, the Unicorn Theatre/UMKC Theatre co-production of “The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge” offers up a brand of inspired lunacy that stamps indelible images on the viewer’s memory. There is simply no way you’ll be able to forget Matthew McAndrews as the perpetually boyish ghost of Buddy Holly with a zombie twitch or Ron Megee as the polyester-jumpsuited version of Elvis with opaque sunglasses and a gut.
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Sometimes a holiday show is so different and so brilliant that it becomes an instant classic. Forty years on, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” are still must-see TV.
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A look at some of the best moments of KCPT's The Local Show. 
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Director Kyle Hatley talks about KC Rep's 31st production of A Christmas Carol.
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There are several clues that Christmas is right around the corner. The mornings are chilly, an abundance of arboreal adornments and more than 20 Rockhurst University students, faculty and staff belting out Christmas tunes.
more at Rockhurst University
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Back in June KCPT and the Electric League sponsored a storyboard contest. Here is the winner.
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Outsized personalities, artistic innovation, commercial failures, subtle racial prejudices, explosive ego trips and even a kidnapping attempt all belong to the history of musical mavericks Fishbone. In telling the band’s story, filmmakers Chris Metzler and Lev Anderson could have molded these elements into a melodramatic tale, styling it like an episode of “Behind the Music.” But doing justice to the Fishbone name meant delving into the cultural elements and personal connections that brought a singular band into being, a band that can play “punk to funk to heavy metal to reggae, sometimes … all in the same song,” Metzler said in a phone interview this week.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Fishbone made headlines last week when the group’s song “Lyin’ Ass (expletive)” was played by Jimmy Fallon’s house band to accompany the appearance of Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann.
The incident typifies Fishbone’s career: the ability to court national attention and controversy and the inability to translate that into success.
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The People’s Liberation Big Band is known locally for creating top-notch jazz and for being large in size, as its name suggests. The KC collective is preparing to release a new CD, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, at RecordBar this Sunday, December 4, at 8 p.m. Cost is $5.
more at the Pitch
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“Venice,” the dystopian hip-hop musical that had its world premiere in 2010 at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, is to receive a second workshop at the Public Theater in New York, moving it a bit closer to a full-fledged production on or off Broadway. A previous workshop performance for an invited audience was staged in August.
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In Shakespeare’s day, strolling players traveled from town to town, performing in barns, courtyards, taverns or wherever they might find a place to set up shop and entertain a willing audience.
more at kansascity.com
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A Chinese lion leaping and rolling on the stage of the Topeka Performing Arts Center will mark Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka's 43rd production of "The Nutcracker" and the final one with June Landrith as the ballet company's artistic director.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Christmas is cheery, joyous, extravagant, holy, a brilliant light in a year full of darkness. And, in Kansas City, Christmas is spectacular.
more at the Vignette
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Fishbone made headlines last week when the group’s song “Lyin’ Ass (expletive)” was played by Jimmy Fallon’s house band to accompany the appearance of Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann.
The incident typifies Fishbone’s career: the ability to court national attention and controversy and the inability to translate that into success.
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Even Scrooge himself would be happy about this. The Blue Springs City Theatre has been entertaining audiences for 25 years now, and the celebration helped board members decide which show they wanted to feature this holiday season. It wasn’t complicated. “Scrooge!” returns to the stage for only the third time since the theater group started in 1986.
more at the Examiner
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In this video, Associate Conductor Steven Jarvi talks about the Symphony's upcoming concert, Handel's "Messiah". This event will be performed for the first time in Helzberg Hall with a 245 person choir which includes the Symphony Chorus and the Independence Messiah Choir. For ticket information please visit kcsymphony.org or call (816) 471-0400. 
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Charles Decedue is ready for an audience. He knows his lines, his cues. He has tightened and polished his delivery. Now it’s time to perform.
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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Heartland Men's Chorus performs "I Shall Miss Loving You" from the song cycle "When We No Longer Touch." For more information about HMC, visit http://www.hmckc.org
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For the first time, the Leawood Stage Company and Leawood Parks and Recreation Department are teaming up with the Starlight Theatre Academy to offer youth acting classes in Leawood!
more at the Leawood Stage Company
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Documentarian Chris Metzler's choice to do a documentary about skafunkrastrapunkers Fishbone should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his earlier work. When you've done a film entitled Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea — about the infamous dead lake in California — narrated by John Waters, a logical next step is covering a genre-jumping bunch of freak flag-waving musicians. Metzler's film with co-director Lev Anderson is called Everyday Sunshine, and it plays this weekend at the Screenland Crossroads. We recently spoke with Metzler by phone about the filming and production of Everyday Sunshine. If there's anything we missed, you'll have a chance to speak with Metzler as part of the Q&A that follows each screening this weekend.
more at the Pitch
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Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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The coffee is hosted by Olathe Medical Center to provide an update on OMC’s Hospice House and the fundraising for its construction. Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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Held on Thursdays at 9 a.m. at different Chamber member businesses, our coffees are the largest weekly networking event in the Kansas City area. Expect to meet 150 to 250 people each time! Please note our inclement weather policy states that if the Olathe School District is Closed the Coffee that day will be cancelled.
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Imagination drives our wildest dreams. It makes the impossible possible, keeps us going and lets us picture the future or past with a single thought or a thousand. For a child, that power is tenfold — vivid, precise and unbounded. The weight and scale of imagination is on display as the basis for the Kansas University Theatre’s new original musical, “Noah’s Art.”
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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If you’ve already seen “Game Show” at New Theatre Restaurant, then you haven’t seen the currently-playing “Game Show.” That’s because the play continually reinvents itself every single performance, depending upon audience interaction. Because hand-picked audience members (selected during meal time) actually get up onstage and become part of the cast, the improvisations fly fast and furiously. The reactions of the audience game show players only add to the hilarity of this already-funny show.
more at examiner.com
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While the Kansas City Symphony plays Handel’s Messiah on Friday in Helzberg Hall, the Arts District Garage south of the Kauffman Center will feature new compositions by contemporary composers.
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Love the book, LOVE the puppets
Rating: 5
Go, Dog. Go! Paul Mesner Puppets
We brought our 5YO son, and 3YO and 1YO cousins, all of us (adults included) enjoyed the performance. It was well done, funny, and full of action. The introduction by Paul Mesner was witty (explaining that in this production the puppets would be controlled from behind, that the puppeteers would be wearing black, and that you didn't need to tell them you could see them - they already know).
The music was funny and there were a couple punch lines just for the grown ups. The mermaid puppy lovingly nicknamed "Rupert" Merdog...
Our 5YO also really enjoyed seeing the demonstration at the end about different types of puppets used and how they were controlled. He loves mechanical things and the puppets were no exception.
We bought a take-home make your own dog puppet kit for $2.50 and have gotten lots of enjoyment from it. So simple and so much fun. We will be back again. Hope they do more well-loved book adaptations. Sad to see we missed Officer Buckle and Gloria.
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 Robin Monroe League, 89, Kansas City, MO, died October 22, 2011. League graduated in 1949 from the Goodman Theatre, School of Drama, Art Institute of Chicago with BFA and MFA degrees. During World War II he served as an NCO in the United States Army Air Force. In 1950, he joined the United States Air Force Reserve, and was active in many assignments as public affairs staff officer. Following an aggregate of 35 years of active and reserve service, he retired from the Air Force in 1982 with the rank of Colonel. He worked as a writer, actor, announcer and producer in theatre, radio and television in Chicago and Kansas City; was artistic director of Kansas City’s Resident Theatre in the mid-1950s, returning often as guest director. He was a copy chief and broadcast production director for area advertising agencies. For more than a quarter century he served on the faculty of the University of Kansas City (1950-1952) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (1967-1992) in the departments of Speech & Theatre, and Communication Studies. In 1955 he began writing stage plays. He served as an officer or on the boards of directors of many non-profit area organizations including the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. He was vice-president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and was an active member of Actor’s Equity Association for 52 years.
more at the Quad
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A glimpse into the tech rehearsal for HMC's concert "Holiday Glee," December 2-4 at the Folly Theater. For tickets, visit www.hmckc.org. 
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Opening animation for a special Occupy Wall Street screening, curated by Zero Film Festival in NYC.
mk12.com || zerofilmfest.com
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The lights inside Jardine’s dimmed slightly as people were still shuffling into their seats... In the sold-out room, the wine flowed freely as the staff rushed between the tightly packed tables. It was just after 6:30 on a Monday night and Beena - the owner of this little jazz club situated on the end of the Plaza - was hustling, greeting patrons, and making sure everyone was in their proper place.
more at KC Confidential
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The worlds of music and film overlap plenty. Here are three tales of filmmakers from the Kansas City area who have connections to music or the local music scene.
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The rarefied world of rock ’n’ roll has always been a sport for voyeurs, never more so than when their beloved icons declare themselves to be infants in men’s bodies. Overdoses, backstage tantrums, trashed hotel rooms, incoherent tongue-lashings of roadies and managers — this is the stuff of which rock legends are made. But what happens when the fortunes of a rock star begin to fade? What happens then?
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Enter your contact info at the link for a chance to win two free tickets to the Ballet Conservatory of Independence's production of "The Nutcracker", performing December 3.
http://kwiksurveys.com?u=bci-nutcracker11
Join us for this Christmas tradition that captivates adults and children alike as Clara enters a magical world of mice, the sugar plum fairy, snow queen, nutcracker prince, and a host of other dazzling characters. More information about the production can be found at Ballet Conservatory of Independence's website ( www.balletconservatory.net).
This contest is open to anyone, and multiple winners will be chosen. It closes December 2 at 11 am, and winners will be picked at random.
A reminder that this is only one performance - December 3, and you do need to choose which performance time you wish to attend. One entry per person.
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If you're a subscriber to KC Stage, the December's issue is on it's way to your mailbox, just in time for the winter weather. A reminder that subscribers can always download the PDF or read all the articles online by going to www.kcstage.com/current. Here's a look at this month's issue:
- Spotlight on Art Suskin
"While Suskin has done pretty much every role available to do in theatre, his true love is in directing." Read more about what makes Art Suskin tick in this article by Angie Fiedler.
- Performing Outside the Black Box
What does a Rock Around the Props 50's style sock hop have to do with the performing arts in KC? Find out more in this article from Richard Buswell.
- 10 Ways to Make Your Online Press Room Perform for Your Nonprofit
How can your organization capture a journalist's attention and answer her questions? Nancy E. Schwartz, from the blog Getting Attention, offers up 10 ways for how to do it.
- In the Limelight
"Along with so many aspects of art, stage lighting has changed rapidly over the last 100 years." Kerry Chafin gives us some background on stage lighting in this article.
- Handling Multiple Role Opportunities
The KC Stage discussion list had a lively conversation about what to do when offered multiple parts. Here's some letters from the list.
- Holiday Seasonings
A photo essay of some of the holiday shows that are being performed in and around the Kansas City area. (This is only available online in the PDF.)
- Artist INC Online
Through the support of the Missouri Arts Council and Leveraging Investments in Creativity, KCArtistLink is taking the content from its Artist INC workshop program and making it available online. You can read about how to access this content in this article.
All this and the usual listings of performances, auditions, and film clips!
 
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Dr. Felicia Londré, UMKC Curators’ Professor of Theatre, was awarded the 2011 Betty Jean Jones Award for Outstanding Teacher of American Theatre and Drama, given by the American Theatre and Drama Society. The award was presented by James Fisher, vice-president of ATDS and chair of Theatre at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. The presentation took place at the Palmer House in Chicago, at the annual convention of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, where ten years ago she received the ATHE 2001 award for Outstanding Teacher of Theatre in Higher Education.
more at the American Theatre and Drama Society
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Beginning in January 2012, The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare will follow in Darwin's footsteps through the use of Corbian's signature electroluminescent puppetry.
Hans Christian Andersen's classic "The Ugly Duckling" has helped generations of children understand one of humanity's universal struggles. Lightwire Theater brings this classic story to the modern stage offering hope to us all as we root for the ugly duckling who exemplifies resilience and heroism along the way to becoming a beautiful swan.
Aesop's fable "The Tortoise and the Hare," now more than 2,500 years old, continues to drive home the time-tested adage, "Slow and steady."
For information about this wonderful Lied Center school engagement, visit: http://www.lied.ku.edu/events/ugly-duckling.shtml
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