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This Olathe Calendar of Events is presented by the Kansas City Real Estate Network.
February 2012 - Posts
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The streets of downtown Columbia, Missouri — the District, as the college town's tourism agency would prefer that you call it — will teem with roving bodies this weekend, and not just with the usual blacked-out-drunk undergrads. The True/False Film Festival is celebrating its ninth year, and David Wilson (who co-founded the fest in 2004 with Paul Sturtz) is expecting the highest turnout to date.
more at the Pitch
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Opening Night, the audience reacts to The Great Immensity. Buy tickets today! Through March 18. 816.235.2700 www.kcrep.org 
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A documentary filmmaker, freelance videographer (most of his projects involve filming music videos) and son of U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.
more at Ink
Read more here: http://inkkc.com/content/office-space-emiel-cleaver/#storylink=cpy
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Success!
Rating: 4
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
The Barn Players, Inc.
I caught the Feb 26 performance and it was a perfect little Sunday getaway. The theatre is small and intimate, but has a cozy hometown feel.
The orchestra needed some tweaks on a few transition numbers seemed out of step at times.
Loved the mix of ages, sizes, and shapes of the characters & brightly painted set that morphed into different scenes - great use of space.
Total scene stealer goes to Alisha Garnier as Hedy LeRue! Anytime she was on stage the musical lit up. Certainly a triple threat to watch out for & it won't surprise me at all to see her on Broadway soon. From facial expressions to vocal quality and to absolutely taking it over the top - my pick for favorite.
Remainder of cast gave worthy performances and had a few surprising moments sprinkled in. Lots of laughs!!
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New Orleans celebrated Mardi Gras last week with that signature brass band sound. In the seven years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, a local man has played a role in bringing that sound back to the streets.
more at KC Currents
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They Succeed in Theater Rating: 5
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
The Barn Players, Inc.
I went to "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" opening weekend and was impressed again by the quality of shows produced by the Barn Players.
The musical revolves around the story of a young man J. Pierpont Finch played by Adam McAdoo. His voice was very well suited for the role and his boyish charm made the character endearing. His romantic counterpart Rosemary played by Erin Coleman was well played as the secretary who falls in love with the new rising star of the company. Her voice was flawless with a great tone and expression.
Notable roles in the show include Bud Frump, Smitty , Hedy LaRue, and Mr Bratt each perfect in there roles and they all brought life and humor to the stage.
The cast is filled with many cameo roles all of which had their moments on the stage adding to the story and flow of the show. Casting for this production was spot on without a real weak link. Everyone embraced their roles to make use of every moment on the stage.
Congratulation has to go out to Eric Van Horn director and set designer. Not only did he put together an entertaining show and cast, but he designed a set that was filled with moving platforms, rolling walls, and a working elevator. There were so many different locations in this show, but each were unique and fitting of the scene. The color pallet was bright a vibrant and costumes by Francine Kapono played into the wacky world of World Wide Wickets.
Choreography by Guy Gardner was spot on for the big production numbers especially "The Brotherhood of Man". It is very exciting to see a stage fill with men all dancing in sync to such a crowd pleasing musical number. "Coffee Break" also captured the audience with the panic one feels when the coffee pot goes dry.
You can find flaws with most shows: this production is no different. One or two of the many scene changes were a little clumsy, but I have give credit to stage crew because the majority were seamless. Though vocals were consistently goo,d there were some flaws with the orchestra. The show started out with a few misplaced notes and a lack of musical unity. Overall, they were together for most of the show. I felt some of the non dance songs lacked creative planning. I wasn't that impressed with one of the actor's portrayal of his role and to me there seemed to be a few times where he was searching for the next line. Lighting had its great moments and its shadowy uneven moments. There may have been a light out the night I saw the show, because Rosemary's desk area seemed very dark. Audio is audio as in every show I see occasional feedback and crackling microphones. But I will say the sound effects worked very well from the many elevator dings, Book Voice (which was done by Joel Nichols of KMBC) and Finch's smile chime.
There are two more weekends left to see this outstanding production at the Barn Players. I highly recommend seeing this show it was well worth the ticket price and we had a great evening of entertainment. I am continually amazed with the quality of some area community theaters.
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Hickman students will deliver their take on the show that deals with complex issues, such as dropping out of high school and teenage rebellion, while dazzling audiences with catchy rock 'n' roll songs they will recognize from productions of the musical or the soundtrack to the wildly popular 1978 film adaptation.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Special needs kids and families need special places to have fun summer experiences. Sometimes, the right environment can be hard to find. We’ve pulled together a list of camps that fit a range of special needs. Hopefully one will… more 
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There’s no shortage of art and creativity in the great Kansas City area. We have the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, the Crossroads District galleries, the Kansas City… more 
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At age 23, Joel Brocato, aka J.B. a hip-hop sensation originating from Kansas City, MO, suffers a stroke... witness his return not only to his music, but to his life... An incredible comeback story that is truly inspiring.
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Listen to live music while you enjoy art of all kinds, of various genres and mediums. Emerging artists and artists with disabilities will be among those featured at the Festival. Also enjoy live performances from local performing artists and delicious concessions that will keep you fueled up for the festivities. Free admission for all, plus activities for kids throughout the festival makes this a perfect fun-filled family event. Sat. 10 am to 6 pm; Sun. 10 am to 4 pm. Park & Cherry Streets, Historic Downtown Olathe. www.downtownolatheartsfestival.org.
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Filmmaker Emiel Cleaver’s new documentary “Freedom Is Now” premiered at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library on Friday, telling the story of Kansas City’s revolutionary African-American political organization, Freedom Inc. Cleaver is the son of former mayor and current United States Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II and received his master’s degree at UMKC. Cleaver’s subject, Freedom Inc., was founded in 1961 and the documentary is used to show the success of the organization in integrating stores and restaurants in Kansas City on the social front.
more at the University News
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This warm winter has got us all wondering what the heck is going on with the weather. So, it’s quite fitting that Kansas City Repertory Theatre is tackling the topic of climate change in its own edgy, theatrical style.
more at the Vignette
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While the Oscars took place in Los Angeles, Kansas City hosted Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth. 
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New Orleans celebrated Mardi Gras last week with that signature brass band sound. In the seven years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, a local man has played a role in bringing that sound back to the streets.
more at KC Currents
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"Wicked Game" performed by Burlesque Downtown Underground's own Madame MacKay at the February 2011 show Aphrodite Awakened show in Off Center Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Camelot - Best show in a long time Rating: 5
Camelot
River City Community Players
I just saw the RCCP production of "Camelot" at the historic Hollywood Theatre in Leavenworth. This play was honestly the best over all show I have seen there in a long time.
Enter King Arthur played by Jeff Adams. I do not know this man nor have I ever met him but WOW ... this dude is a BEAST on stage. He gave such a stirring emotional performance that at times I got chills and forgot I was watching a play. Hell I even wanted to fight someone myself. I got to him after the show and he said in modesty, "I was feeling I was having an off night." To which I replied, "Well if that was an off night, I can't imagine what an amazing night would be. Most likely you would be like opening the Ark of the Covenant in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and melt all our faces." His timing and inflection were excellent and he believed in what he was saying. Hell, he made me believe it. He also had a great British accent and kept it the entire show. It was a Broadway caliber performance on a small stage from him in my opinion.
I really liked how the cast had good chemistry. Sir Lancelot, played by Coby Anderson, was a good choice. I liked how he included a passable French accent and kept in throughout the show. He was just enough of a dick to be arrogant but still passed as a lovable ***, with morals and virtue ... who also happens to cheat on his best friend with his wife. So yea. Great guy, but kind of a D bag at the same time.
Guenevere, played by Sarah DaMetz, was also a good choice. She has an amazing voice and can hit the higher notes some find difficult. She was always on key and in tune. (Being a vocalist myself, I am hard on singers and she impressed me.) She is also pretty easy on the eyes. She looked the part and her acting was good as well. The character is just enough of a (insert word) to kind of hate but at the same time has enough redeeming qualities that you don't see her as a villain. She, Arthur, and Lancelot had GREAT chemistry on stage and it showed.
Mordred, played by Spencer Williams was every bit the A-Hole one would expect the villain from the Arthur tale to be. Man, what a little *** that guy was. Sowing dissension within the walls of Camelot and relishing in wanton destruction are this guys M.O. The actor brought to life a character we all love to hate.
Also, I have to give a shout out to Sir Sagramore played by Bill Wood. He engaged in a pretty cool fight scene and brandished his sword AND mustache with honor!
The production was well done also. They made good use of silhouetting against a backdrop for fight scenes and other things, which gave a larger than life and more of an epic feel. They made a small stage feel like an open world. No easy task on a community theatre budget. They also had fairly accurate period costumes including real armor for all knights and the king. This was a nice touch because real metal is so much better than painted cardboard. From set design to costumes, it was all rather well done in the scope of community theatre. I am kind of a jaded curmudgeon sometimes when it comes to live shows and this really impressed me. I would very much recommend going to see this production while it is still running.
Now let's get the 'bad' out of the way. One suggestion I would make is not to use the microphones so much. Only use them for people with less powerful voices. I noticed some people were way over powering or 'eating' the mics and causing them to clip. It is a small enough space that if you project you should not need a mic unless you are very soft spoken. That is just my opinion. Also I did not think Merlin was very well done. He was soft spoken and high pitched and used almost no emotion. It kind of took me out of the story. Merlin was not a main character but he IS important because he is at the beginning of the play. Establishing characters set the tone of what you think the duration will be. Thankfully, the rest of the cast picked up any slack this may have caused.
-MP
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This article is from the January 2012 issue of KC Stage
When Paula Winans asks people what they liked doing most when they were little, most of the time they'll say something similar to what they're doing now. Often looking back to her own childhood, Winans refers to memories of producing her own music reviews on the back porch of her home in Sharon, Pa.
"I had all the neighbor kids be in it. Figured out how to put up a curtain on a rope," she says. "For some reason I found expression in that. And then, it's not work – it's play. That's how I feel a lot of the time. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes it's really work, but when you're actually in it, and it becomes, what my mentor called, an aesthetic experience, where you want to do it again."
Her love of music helped her gain a job during high school, where she conducted a children's choir. "I've always wanted to work with kids. And when I had my own two kids, I even had a greater respect for children. I've always loved kids." Her children are now grown, but she retains that respect for all children she works with. "It's a precious thing that has been entrusted to me. I've always felt that way. But I'm also – what would you say – stern. You know, no nonsense. And then loving after that. It's about what's best for them."
Winans received her undergraduate degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., and her graduate degree in music education and voice from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. After completing her studies, she found herself in the public education field. "I taught public school music for 15 years in Montana, Oregon, and Minnesota, and conducted a lot of children's choirs. I did a little stage directing, which I found out wasn't my thing, I wasn't very good at it," she says with a laugh. "It's a lot harder than helping children sing – it's a lot harder. But my professional life has always been about helping children find their voice. There's so much you can learn when you study singing about yourself."
Helping children grow through music continued to be a part of her life. When the Lyric Opera advertised an opening for an education director, Winans was busy with her family and was therefore a little hesitant to apply. "I wasn't sure I really wanted to work full time. So I cut out the little ad in the paper. I was an artist-in-residence at the time, for the state of Kansas." She smiles as she recollects how she felt. "I put it on the ledge of the sink, wondering if I would apply. And finally I did apply. And I'm glad I did. Because all of the really, really close friends I've made, I've made through the opera company. And they live all over the world, and all these families are friends. I just feel . . . I don't know, I don't feel lonely. I feel like I have a family, in addition to my two great kids."
Her kids, Joe and Jenn, are both aspiring opera singers, working on their craft in Kansas and Germany respectively. Not only has she cultivated their music-enriched lives, but she has also reached over 576,000 young people through the programs at the Lyric Opera. There's the opera targeted to families and school audiences, which her department presents every two to three years. On alternate years, they produce One False Move, an opera on girl bullying. There's the Lyric Opera Express, a touring production that reaches schools, community centers, and correctional facilities. There's the Ginger Frost High School Honors Artists, a program that provide students with special training. There's spring break camp. Summer break camp. Operas that she and Joe write for the camps. Winans realizes that, "I always neglect to say that I'm the music director. So I think some people, when I talk about what we do, maybe think that my job is to administer it all – and it is, but we create the education materials that go with every program, and I music direct it." She explains further that yet another aspect of her job is to train any young person that performs on the main stage. There are so many aspects to her job that she relies on "good people" to help her with the work. "If I had to do all of it . . . . Sometimes I feel like my head's going to do circles."
Although she admits to being a little weary from time to time, she says that people, especially children, inspire her. The easiest part of her job is "getting immersed in the music with them. And that's what I love the most about it. I love making music with them." She provides an example from her current work: rehearsing for the family opera, The Giver. "It has very difficult music – some of it's in 4 parts. It has a huge Greek chorus, and we have twenty-eight young people in it from seven years old, clear up to eighteen years old . . . . It's not to have them learn it just by rote, but I help them figure out how they're really going to count it. That's my job. It's not to hope it just comes together, but it's to also to be teaching those who haven't had the experience and lessons in reading music, to learn how to do that and feel good about doing that . . . . . I love that challenge."
Three years ago, Winans and composer Susan Kander were looking to do a family opera based on a book. "We always do it on something that is well-known." They looked at books that would grab Kansas City audiences, like Anne of Green Gables and Tom Sawyer. "And Susan started interviewing friends of her grown children, and The Giver kept coming up, I think," Winans recalls. They contacted author Lois Lowry's agent and found out that the Minnesota Opera also inquired about doing an opera on the same book. Long story made short, the two opera companies got together and obtained the rights for the first-ever opera on the much-loved novel. Winans excitement bubbles as she tells of an idea that came to her while she went on a walk one day. In addition to hearing the author speak after every performance of The Giver, audiences will be able to hear Lowry's voice throughout the opera, as the character of The Speaker. She exclaims, "Lois Lowry is actually going to be in our show!"
Having been the first and only education director of the Lyric Opera in Kansas City, Winans is ecstatic to be honoring individuals who have donated their time to the education department, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. On January 8, the opera will present a public performance at Rockhurst High School, with whom they have a partnership. "Kids from the past and the present are going to sing. Our children are also doing a fundraising project this year, and I'm working really hard on it too, and all the parents – everybody is trying to raise money for education. Anyone that has done it for all of the twenty years are the ones we are honoring," she says. Those receiving nods include Susan Kander, set designer R. Keith Brumley, director Linda Ade Brand, and philanthropist Ginger Frost.
When thinking of how the world was hurt by the crumbling economy a few years ago and how we are still feeling the effects now, Winans is thankful for people who have supported the education department of the Lyric. "When we wanted to do The Giver it was when the economy was at its worst. People on the board, our general director, and Ward Holmquist (the artistic director of the Lyric) – they understand what we do . . . . It was a lean time. And they said it was important to do. And they didn't need to. But they saw that it was important. Especially my education committee, they are amazing."
For those artists and arts organizations that are struggling, Winans says that communication is key to spreading word about your work. She says that over the years, she has come to understand that some people do not fully understand the depth of the work. She recognizes that being in a constant struggle for funding can be stressful, but also believes that a confident outlook on life is important. "I try to be optimistic and positive, so I think when you're that way, people and resources kind of fall in line and they appear, when they need to appear. That's been my experience."
It's that kind of optimism that keeps Winans looking forward to the future. She's already forming ideas for the 25th anniversary celebration and names people she hopes will work with her, and even has a possible title for the next children's opera. "I'm feeling good about what we're doing . . . . We should always be busy, and we are."
More information about the education department of the Lyric Opera can be found on the company's web site, www.kcopera.org, or by calling Paula Winans at (816) 471-4933. In addition to school matinees, there will be one public performance of The Giver on January 14 at 2 pm at Rockhurst High School.
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"Wicked Game" performed by Burlesque Downtown Underground's own Madame MacKay at the February 2011 show Aphrodite Awakened show in Off Center Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.
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The namesake of this blog is displayed in a case at the publicly-funded American Jazz Museum in Kansas City's Jazz District. The institution isn't located at the corner of 12th Street and Vine. The famous intersection no longer exists. Want to see Charlie Parker's childhood homes? They've also been leveled. Many of the most historically valuable properties in the Kansas City area are gone. Even though I openly mock the city's decision to spend $144,500.00 in taxpayer dollars on a plastic sax once played by Bird, I applaud the motives that inspired the purchase.
more at Plastic Sax
and more here
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There are few issues which concern me as much as the shortage of persuasive and inspiring communication from the scientific community, and few things I love as much as good theatre. So when I heard that a musical about the important topic of global warming had been funded by the National Science Foundation and would be staged at the KC Rep Theatre, my hopes rose.
more at Infozine
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Back in the mid-1990s, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy emerged as one of the leaders of the jump swing revival (or scare, depending on your point of view), along with other punk./swing/rockabilly alchemists like the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and Royal Crowne Revue. Back then, it was normal to find those bands on festival bills, like the Warped Tour, amid pure punk bands like Rancid and Green Day. These days, the Daddys keep much different company.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/25/3454151/voodoo-daddy-symphony-bring-the.html#storylink=cpy
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A Kansas City, Kansas arts center is usually closed for the winter because the building doesn’t have heat. The center may not be able to re-open in April because someone stole their copper wiring.
more at FOX4 News
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Life often rests in the gap between what is true and what is false — perhaps especially when it comes to documentaries. When True/False Film Fest made its official debut in Columbia in 2004, the focus was, and has remained, on the slash mark. In documentaries — which are, by definition, nonfiction films — how do cameras possibly influence the film's participants? And once in a while, a few fictive documentaries sneak into the program — but do they perhaps contain other types of truth we can learn from?
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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To celebrate its 60th Anniversary, the Brandeis National Committee; Greater Kansas City Chapter will host a Gala High Tea on April 10th at the Webster House. Shirley Bush Helzberg will host the Tea, and Michael Stern, director of the Kansas City Symphony; will be the guest speaker. The Tea will raise funds for scientific research at Brandeis University.
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Kansas City Repertory Theatre in partnership with the Civilians, a New York-based “investigative theater” company, alerts us to the devastating consequences of climate change if we don’t get off our rear ends and do something about it.
more at kansascity.com
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 Spring Break is fast approaching and we have just the contest for you! Thanks to our friends at Lee’s Summit’s Paradise Park, we have a 4-pack of indoor/outdoor Max Pak wristbands to give to one lucky winner.… more
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Catchy New Orleans music pumps from loudspeakers as a maid boogies across the stage to collect drinks for a party. The son of the house enters in a dazzling, peacock-like outfit and starts dance stepping, too. In the background behind some windows, people laugh and waltz wildly. The play "Monsieur Baptiste — The Con Man" promises to be a riotous show — until piety screeches revelry to a halt.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Lucky Stike is the story of two gifted brothers on their way to the top of the underground league of bowling, a league that is for only the most elite bowlers. Written, Filmed, and Edited all in 10 hours.
Directed and Edited by Brett Jackson
Staring Kevin Bailey, Ben Harrison, and Brett Jackson
Special thanks to Summit Lanes for letting us use their facilities.
Music:
"Lose Your Soul"
by Dead Man's Bones
TrophyProductions.com 
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Benny Golson loves to talk. The jazz legend's loquaciousness overshadowed the music he performed in the first of two sets Saturday at the Blue Room. Members of the capacity audience of about 150 were treated to terrific stories that served to illuminate Golson's illustrious career.
more at kansascity.com
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The Lawrence Arts Center will host The Free State Film Festival, a brand-new film festival scheduled for May 11-13.
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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A brass quintet from Spain that has earned international acclaim will present the penultimate program of the Topeka Community Concert Association's 2011-12 series Tuesday night.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Microphone Jack Live at All Souls Coffee House- A charming lullaby about the future of which we all dream. CAUTION- Offensive Language- used for artistic impact and only where absolutely necessary.
Microphone Jack at All Souls Coffee House. A satire from the point of view of an American For Profit Health Insurance Company.
Microphone Jack Live at All Souls Coffee House. A satire of the NRA (National Rifle Association) and their contention that EVERYONE should have a gun.
Microphone Jack at All Souls Coffee House. A satire about jingoism- the phony patriotism that promotes war.
Microphone Jack at All Souls Coffee House. A satire of Progressive bickering and one-upmanship.
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The organization behind the fight for civil rights in Kansas City is being honored on the big screen. Friday night, the documentary, Freedom Inc., made its debut at the Kansas City Public Library on the Plaza.
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So when the world premiere of “Barbara Jordan: A Rendezvous With Destiny” at the Gem Theater faced technical difficulties with lighting and audio that delayed the start on Friday night, the audience took the distractions in stride because something new was being born: African-American theater in the 18th and Vine District, courtesy of the Kansas City Theater Foundation.
more at kansascity.com
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Finally did a photo safari to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts today as it was lovely out.... decided black and white was the way to go. All taken with the Nikon D3 and 14-24mm lens. ASA 200... F22 throughout. Multiple exposures for each shot.
more at Hyperglobal
[Thanks, Tony]
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Pay Attention! To 'The Great Immensity' Rating: 5
The Great Immensity
Kansas City Repertory Theatre
How can we get people to pay attention to something that's really, really important? Everybody's so busy: there's work (if we're lucky), family, friends, obligations, deadlines, and millions of incoming messages, telling us what's important or offering escape. Besides, if the problem's really, really big — like global warming — what can any of us do?
The Civilians have an answer: dramatize it! Their latest show — "The Great Immensity," which made its world premiere on Copaken Stage Friday, February 24th — does just that. Beautifully staged in this KC Rep co-production, Civilians' outstanding six-member New York–based company — all making Kansas City debuts — brought the immense issue of global warming to life in a musical mystery that sweeps us around a big world made small by human hands.
Writer/director Steve Cosson's new show, generously leavened with Michael Freedman's music and lyrics, starts out in Panama, then carries us to the Canadian Arctic, and finally to Auckland for a quick and teary postscript at a global warming conference that anchors the drama. Our protagonist, Phyllis, arrives in Panama in search of Polly, her twin (both ably played by Rebecca Hart). Polly's an ex-Nature Channel producer who's jumped the shark and disappeared on some mission no one can figure out. The amusingly emo-activist Julie (Molly Carden) somehow has a hand in it, in league with the youthful Earth Ambassadors, an international ecology group that stays a step ahead of us all the way.
The rest of the Civilians — Todd Cerveris, Dan Domingues, Eddy Korbich, and Meghan McGeary — do double duty (triple, in Cerveris's case) in scenes and songs that release a cascade of facts and feelings in a fast-paced show running something under two hours. (An intermission was added late in the show's final development here in Kansas City.) Unlike many social-issue shows, the facts never weigh us down: most are liltingly sung. It's feelings that Crosson and Company ultimately harness to lead us into "The Great Immensity."
None of the cast puts on animal outfits, yet animals play a big part in warming our hearts to a chilling issue. Jason Thompson's projection designs animate Mimi Lien's inventive, flexible set. The cast clambers all over it in every conceivable combination, producing every conceivable effect, and some that seem rather inconceivable: who ever expected to be moved by the heart-rending song of that last living carrier pigeon, or the last lemur in the Cincinnati Zoo?
The funniest of several thematic throughlines that weave together this global drama aims right at what draws us into the Nature Channel, literal or figurative: it's the appeal of the "charismatic mega-fauna." Guess who that turns out to be, if we really open out hearts? That's what we're led to in the sobering (though still amusing) short second act in Canada. Polar bears have become the poster children of global warming, but we're also reminded of the genocide of the Dene people, whose lucky survivors now campaign to stop the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.
Can the lucky ones — the survivors, who still have time to act — awaken soon enough? At the end, I found myself thinking of the Pied Piper. When the adults wouldn't pay the Piper, their children were lost — all but three: the lame one, the blind one, the deaf one. No matter how lame, blind or deaf we might feel, maybe we could still get lucky.
The real drama of "The Great Immensity" is our human response to the global issues we face. If you've got 20 bucks (just 10 for student rush), rush on down before it closes on March 18th. It's a credit to KC Rep that we have a gorilla of a show in our midst. And maybe there's some charismatic mega-fauna in your life that will open your heart to something more than slinging *** from some treetop on the issue of global warming.
NOTE: If that last line offends you, stay home with your kids. Tickets are available only to those 13 and older.
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Shouts echo throughout the 2,000-person Lied Center theater, but are not coming from the audience or performers. The Lied’s blue velvet curtain lifts to an array of students and employees of the Lied Center preparing for the next few shows to come across its historic stage.
more at the University Daily Kansan
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Don't look now, but the jazz club known as Jardine's is poised to get a new lease on life...
more at KC Confidential
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A local teacher has created songs to help his students learn about the presidents. 
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Local dancers from Access Dance took the stage at the Music Hall on Sunday. Access Dance is a not for profit organization dedicated to giving children with special needs the same opportunities as their peers.
more at FOX4 News
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Two Kansas City Kansas Community College’s vocal jazz ensembles “ The Standard” have been selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Assn. annual convention in Wichita Friday, Feb. 24.
more at the Kansas City Kansan
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Kansas City, Kansas rap artist Roger Sugg shares his information about his program at the Kansas City Kansas Community College.
more at FOX4 News
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Eight small young boys, wearing matching shirts and white hats, lined the stage carrying large drums strapped to their backs. The group performed a carefully choreographed piece that included marching steps, instrument exchanges and solo performances.
more at the Missourian
with photos
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The National World War I Museum is hoping to keep history alive with its latest play.
more at FOX4 News
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The Cigar Butler is an innovative device designed with the cigar smoker in mind. Use it when boating, golfing, camping, fishing, or any place you light up. A sanitary way to keep your cigar off of the ground and easily found.
http://www.mcdermottworks.com
Filmed & Produced by MetaphorMedia
Golfer: Nick Swartz
Butler: Michael McDermott
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Every year, Harmony Middle School hosts an annual theater production put on by the middle schoolers. This year, the story of the Ugly Duckling is told through the musical "Honk." A portion of the money raised from the performances goes to a charity voted on by the kids.
more at NBC Action News
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When Kansas Citians think of a fusion between dance and music, they think of Quixotic.
more at the Vignette
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Classical and electric cellist Tina Guo, from the Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour,” stopped by the FOX 4 Morning Show to talk about the show – which is set for Wednesday night at the Sprint Center – her new album “The Journey” and to show off some of her musical chops.
more at FOX4 News
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Kane, the Overland Park-based voice-over artist, could be in an Oscar rehearsal at this very moment. But when we caught up with him earlier this week, before he jetted to Los Angeles on Thursday, he had just recorded a few in-and-out-of-commercials, or “bumpers,” and sponsor tags in his home studio.
more at kansascity.com
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You can’t celebrate Mardi Gras without the smooth sounds of the South! Hermon Mehari & Diverse helped us kick off Mardi Gras, New Orleans style!
more at FOX4KC
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Take a walk in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, Missouri, and you’ll see some of the storefronts of that bygone time. Shops, cafes, clubs, all evoking those days of prosperity and depravity that contributed to one of America’s great renaissances. Now look not even that closely and you’ll see that many of those storefronts are flat: they’re paintings, imaginary doors and awnings and windows. Behind them, boards prop up walls in weedy lots. These aren’t storefronts at all: they’re the backdrops for the 1996 Robert Altman film, Kansas City.
more at the Atlantic
[Thanks, Plastic Sax]
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The struggle for civil rights didn't just happen in the south . It happened here in Kansas City too. One organization led that struggle and a local filmmaker recently finished a documentary about Kansas City's most powerful African -American political group. 
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The Student National Dental Association (SNDA) and Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) and the Office of Student Programs co-hosted the annual Variety Show featuring a multitude of talent among the School's students, faculty and staff. The audience packed Room 209 and spilled out the doors to witness the 10 amazing acts performed on Friday, February 10, 2012, during the noon hour.
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The genesis of the Kansas City-based Nine Plus One goes back some four years when alto saxophonist Tim Doherty heard a recording of Jim Cifelli’s New York City nonet. Enlarging his section format, Doherty put together Nine Plus One which on Sunday set Topeka Jazz Workshop toes to tapping at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Described as the "epitome of balletic grace," Kimberly Cowen is the one remaining Kansas City Ballet dancer hired by the late Todd Bolender, former artistic director. But, it's the end of an era.
more at KCUR
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Playing around with the fisheye lens and the steel cabling holding up the “glass curtain” at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City, engineered by Novum Structures.
more at Eric Bowers Photoblog
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The three secretaries to Mao you'll see in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City production of "Nixon in China" are being sung by current and former Lyric Opera Apprentices Holly White, Kristee Haney and Jennifer Powell.
Due to the complexity of the music and nearly constant meter changes in John Adams' score, the secretaries received several private coaching sessions with Artistic Director Ward Holmquist before rehearsals began.
"Nixon in China" directed by Michael Cavanaugh and conducted by Ward Holmquist opens March, 2012 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Visit kcopera.org to select your own seat now! 
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On the wall of Eliot Battle's house is a framed family tree. It is filled with the names and images of generations of Battle's and his wife's families. The tree is captioned with the words "We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants."
more at the Missourian
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Local filmmaker Gary Huggins is set to make his first feature film in 2012 and he needs your help raising $70K by April.
more at CinemaKC
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Thanks to the cast of Avenue Q at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park for kicking off our shoutouts!
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KU's Dancing With The Stars - Roderick Harris and Chelsea Ybarra
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From time to time here at Art Axis, we’ve used the title “Trailer Park” to designate a special series of posts in which we show and analyze film trailers. The feature is meant to be something of a stream-of-consciousness experience analogous to watching a trailer in your local moviehouse. We all have immediate responses and questions upon watching a trailer – this is just a written version of that first visceral experience.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
and more here
and here
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The City Union Mission's Women Who've Changed the Heart of the City Luncheon has been rated #4 by The Independent for top luncheons in 2011! Royals General Manager, Dayton Moore is the event co-chair. This event will raise funds for families and children. For more information, call or email Cara Madden at cara.madden@cityunionmission.org.
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The Alcott Arts Center has had some bad luck to deal with in the past couple of months. A thief broke in and stole the copper wire and tools. To counter the losses, several fundraisers have been planned.
more at KC Studio
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Find yourself wondering why Kansas City didn't have any snow this winter? The Great Immensity, a dynamic, earth-friendly, multi-media experience may hold clues. Come see this music-filled mystery through March 18 at Copaken Stage! Order tickets now: 816.235.2700 or KCRep.org. 
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Chenoweth, who tonight will perform at a private fundraiser for the Rose Brooks Center, went on to headline other Broadway hits. She created the role of Glinda in “Wicked” and starred in revivals of “The Apple Tree” and “Promises, Promises.” So we were curious to find out how Chenoweth thinks Broadway theater has changed since 1999.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/24/3447551/kristin-chenoweth-how-about-an.html#storylink=cpy
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High Seas, Low Planes @ La Esquina from Charlotte Street Foundation on Vimeo.
Paul Rudy and Heidi Svoboda perform in Ari Fish's installation High Seas Low Planes in La Esquina Feb 21st 2012.
Paul Rudy has composed for orchestra, chamber music, electroacoustic, site-specific sound installations and sonic journeying, using sounds he has gathered spanning the globe. He is a Rome Prize (2010), Guggenheim (2008), Fulbright (1997) and Wurlitzer Foundation (2007 and 2009) Fellow. He teaches at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Recordings of his acclaimed “2012 Stories,” an ongoing CD series of exploratory sound journeys, are available on iTunes and at aucourantrecords.com. Heidi Svoboda is a gong artist based in Taos, New Mexico. She has studied The Way of the Gong with gong master Don Conreaux and sound healing with harmonics pioneer Jonathan Goldman. She is a licensed massage therapist and medical Qi gong practitioner. Svoboda has been practicing healing arts for 15 years.
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Nothing in U.S. history books would support the notion that the Founding Fathers broke out in song and dance as they crafted the Declaration of Independence, but Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams do in the Helen Hocker Center for the Performing Arts production of the musical "1776."
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Since two of this year's Oscar nominees for Best Picture — "Hugo" and "The Artist" — involve the silent film era, a good lead-up Sunday's presentation of the 84th annual Academy Awards would be the 16th annual Kansas Silent Film Festival.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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On Saturday, the film "Dream On" makes its debut at The Blue Note. Something of a dream journal, the documentary captures the paths and passions of area talents that include University of Missouri basketball standout Kim English, news anchor Sarah Hill, musicians such as The Hooten Hallers and Lunar Mansion and a number of aspiring actors and performers. The film also traces the narrative of such locally forged talents as NASCAR star Carl Edwards and country singer Sara Evans.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Not long ago we spoke to Alan Woodrow, our Mao Tse-tung in the upcoming production of Nixon in China. Mr. Woodrow filled us in about his beginnings in the opera world and how he would convince you to attend an opera. Read the interview below to learn about this talented tenor who has defined the role of Mao in Nixon in China.
more at the Lyric Opera
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Shakespeare's classic story of two star-crossed lovers has inspired musical, film and theatrical adaptations. It's also one of the most popular ballets. Kansas City Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet brings this story of young love to the stage.
more at KCUR
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A rivalry between two schools in the Blue Valley School District has turned into a controversy over what is good clean fun and what is anti-Semitism. On Jan. 27, Blue Valley Northwest students performed a skit pre-approved by school officials that some Jewish students at BV North believe was anti-Semitic. Three weeks later the controversial skit was aired on television. Following the broadcasts social media sites, including Facebook, exploded with public comments.
more at the KC Jewish Chronicle
and at NBC Action News
and more here
and more here
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It’s a story so well-known that its title has become a sort of cultural shorthand. But that doesn’t mean that the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in “Camelot” doesn’t still have something to offer modern audiences, according to Tisha Entwhistle.
more at the Leavenworth Times
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When Anthony Magliano started Quixotic Fusion seven years ago, the founding mission was grand but simple: Create a bold and unusual synthesis of dance, music and technology, take it worldwide and show what kind of dynamic arts culture thrives in Kansas City.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/22/3446384/quixotic-heads-for-national-spotlight.html#storylink=cpy
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In "Ruined," the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lynn Nottage that plays Thursday through Sunday at Washburn University, the audience learns why Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared rape a weapon of mass destruction in many contemporary wars.
and at Washburn University
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Heartland Men's Chorus performs "I Am in Need of Music" by David Brunner as part of their 25th Anniversary concert "Metro Retro." For more information on HMC, visit http://www.hmckc.org
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It is 1950s America, the Deep South; a world on the verge of change but still tainted by everyday injustices and the remnants of slavery. "In my family there's dead people hopping in and out of the conversation all the time." One of those dead people is Lizzie's great-great-great grandmother Sojourner Truth, freedom fighter of slavery, whose voice could not be silenced. As Lizzie unpacks the past, she listens to Sojourner and, in the process, discovers her own voice...fearless, joyful, full of resolve. Part of the Coterie's ***/Young Adult Series. 816-474-6552 or http://www.coterietheatre.org
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At the recent 2012 Kansas City ADDY Awards, CinemaKC, T2 and Back Alley Films picked up an award in the “Special Effects, Video or Film” category for their “Show Open for CinemaKC.”
more at CinemaKC
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You don’t have to know the difference between a pas-de-deux and pirouette to appreciate dance or enjoy the Regional Choreography Festival events going on this weekend.
more at the University Daily Kansan
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Many of America's music traditions pull from the historic proliferation of jazz and blues music. So it is with Hungarian classical composition, which draws from the country's folk music traditions, said Stefan Freund, Columbia Civic Orchestra conductor and music director. Freund and the orchestra will perform "Images of Hungary" on Saturday, drawing attention to native composers — most notably Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály — who many listeners might not have heard live in performance before, he said.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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This episode is about the auditions: the process and what goes on during one.
more at Stage Savvy
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The other day, Kimberly Cowen tallied every ballet she has performed. When she was done, she had a list of 100 titles. And some of those, she said with a chuckle, she performed more than once.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/15/3429397/kc-ballets-kimberly-cowen-is-retiring.html#storylink=cpy
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This article is from the January 2012 issue of KC Stage
Paradise Playhouse was a dream come true for Frank and Cathy Parrino. They owned a flower shop for their day job; enjoyed trips to Hawaii when they could get away; and put their visual, acting, and directing skills to work for Excelsior Springs Community Theater for several years. Then they had the chance to build their own dinner theater and combine their passions in theater and Hawaii—Paradise Playhouse opened in 1999 and ran successfully until Frank and Cathy retired to their theater’s namesake in 2008. The building was leased for a short time, but the theatre closed again in 2009.
Now, Paradise has been found!
I talked recently with Cress Hewitt, the current artistic/events director of the reopened Paradise Playhouse. Here is some of our conversation about the dinner theater.
How did the theater get started again?
Jim and Sarah Dickerson saw the building while visiting Sarah's grandmother in Excelsior Springs, and liked what they saw. They decided to meet with some of the former staff and actors and see what could be done to reopen the business. Jim owns a couple of companies and he recently formed Paradise Entertainment to operate the dinner theatre which is currently leasing the building. His plans are to continue with business as usual for many years to come.
What are your goals for the theater?
We decided to follow the philosophy, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Frank and Cathy Parrino were a success, and the patrons loved their experience at Paradise. We decided to recreate that atmosphere and expand from there. Our goals are to provide the northland with quality dinner theatre and serve as the premier events center in the northland. In addition, we offer extra events, including concerts, comedians, magicians, etc. We want to make Paradise Playhouse an events center for the entire northland community. We are planning to keep the bar open for a while after the performance for people to stop in, have a drink, and visit the cast and crew. We are also hoping to use our Banyan Room for meetings, conferences, and other gatherings.
Are you considering variety in your type of plays, or will you continue to specialize in comedy?
We are constantly evaluating our performances, and play selection is based upon what our guests say they would like to see; however, comedies seem to be what our audiences prefer. Our shows this season are Murder Room, January 20-February 11; Footlight Frenzy, March 23-April 14; Who’s in Bed with the Butler, May 25-June 16; Over the River and Through the Woods, July 20-August 11; and Tom, Dick, and Harry, September 28-October 20.
How do you decide what kinds of special events to offer?
We are trying to offer a variety of entertainment based on what our patrons want. Currently we have a comedian, Will C, planned for December 16; a 50's group, The Fabulous Torque's, planned for December 17; a New Year's Eve celebration with Spike Blake and Rudy Amato; and an illusionist, Tom Burgoon, on February 17.
Who provides the “dinner” part of your dinner theater?
The Golden Ox is handling all the food and beverage services. The buffet is expanded and there are a larger variety of salads and entrées, with food choices that are unique to the area.
How often does the menu change?
Each of the six productions will have a different menu. This also holds true with other events as well. If the event has a theme that may call for a specialized menu, Golden Ox will work with us in planning such a menu.
Is there a “just dessert” show?
Yes, our Thursday performance is a "just desserts" performance for which only dessert is served. The ticket price for this performance is less.
You mentioned that most of your actors have returned. Do you have open auditions, also?
At this time, we are contacting potential cast members and asking them to take roles. We may conduct an open audition in the future in order to expand our talent pool, but for the time being we are relying on all those who have performed on our stage or with whom we have worked in the past.
Why does Excelsior Springs need two theaters? Why not put all the resources into one theater group? Do you find that both are well-supported in attendance? How is Paradise Playhouse different from ESCT?
The Excelsior Springs Community Theatre is well established as a local community theatre and has found its niche in the community. Paradise Playhouse strives to provide another venue for the northland, one in which the people can come and relax, have a cocktail, enjoy a full buffet, and enjoy a performance by a troop of actors from the entire northland area. Each venue offers a very different product and there is a need for both.
How can our readers find out more about your theater?
We are advertising locally and we are now on Facebook, Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre and Events Center, and Twitter @Paradise6303333. We are also promoting our website at www.paradiseplayhouse.org.
Rebecca Dempsey is a teaching artist for Kansas City Young Audiences, assistant director for Liberty Public Schools, and acts in films, commercials, and on local stages.
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Quixotic Fusion — the locally based performance group that incorporates acrobatics, multimedia, music and dance into its dazzling aerial stage shows — was selected last month to be a featured performer at the TED2012 conference, in Long Beach, California.
more at the Pitch
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Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. For practicing Catholics, it means 40 days of complying with Lenten regulations – beginning with fasting today and again on Good Friday. The “no meat on Fridays” runs throughout… more 
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A local theatre group held vocal and dance auditions Tuesday for their spring break show -- Xanadu. Marty Thomas was in the original Broadway cast for the show. He's back in town to direct and choreograph the show. 
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It's not something you expect to find at the Kansas City Repertory Theater but some special pirates uncovered buried treasure!
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If you have a short film/doc, trailer, or animation that you would like to show that hasn't shown before, click "submit now" to email us on how to send an entry. Submit entry by March 1.
more at KC Women in Film
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Explore the Science of Sound with musicians of the Kansas City Symphony! How is sound heard? How is sound made? Associate Conductor Steven Jarvi leads the audience on a journey through music by Beethoven, Copland, Mendelssohn and more to discover the many different sounds found in the orchestra. 
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Billy Bishop Goes to War is just that: a story of one man's journey into, and through, World War I. Though it delves some into the brutal realities of war, it's more about the man. Like generations before him and since, he is caught up in the politics of his day and asked to take up arms — in his case, for king and country.
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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Did you happen to catch the report on this morning’s news (NBC Action News) about preschool enrollment? It basically served as a call to action for parents– the economy is looking up for many and preschool enrollment in Kansas City… more 
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Music Mentors, a volunteer program run through the Center for Community Outreach, pairs underprivileged elementary and middle school students who want to learn to play an instrument with volunteer instructors.
more at lawrence.com
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In the final portion of Tuesday’s Up to Date, Steve Kraske talks with actress Saundra McClain about her portrayal of Jordan in a play titled Barbara Jordan: A Rendezvous with Destiny.
more at Up to Date
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You might think of Shakespeare as being all about language, but several of his works have been made into ballets in which the entire dramatic arc is expressed without a single word being uttered. Perhaps the most powerful of these is Romeo and Juliet, which owes much of his cache to a brilliant score by Prokofiev.
more at the Independent
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A new film by Emiel Cleaver, called Freedom is Now, documents the history of the nation’s oldest African American political organization, Freedom, Incorporated. It’s a story of how the black community organized to battle racism, organized crime and intimidation in a fierce fight for political representation.
more at KCUR
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Most people might know about the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, but many may not know about the true treasures that can be found inside the American Jazz Museum. Behind the scenes, a good chunk of the city's history is preserved on more than a million feet of celluloid.
more at KCTV
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A Kansas City production will head to Broadway. The “Lucky Duck” production first premiered at the Coterie Theatre in 2010.
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Presented by Dr. Neeli Bendapudi, dean, KU School of Business. Despite our best efforts, some service failures may be inevitable. However, that does not mean unhappy customers must follow. Dean Bendapudi will outline seven key steps to turn those uncomfortable service failures into memorable experiences of service recovery. Service recovery is especially important in today's economy where customer retention is just as important as customer acquisition.
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Please join us for the community grand opening celebration of the new Business, Engineering, Science and Technology (B.E.S.T.) Building, made possible by the citizens of Johnson County, Kan. Enjoy building tours, interactive learning stations, a kid's activity corner sponsored by the KU Alumni Association, and a KU pep rally hosted by KU Athletics. Pep rally includes Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger at 6 p.m. and a visit from the KU Spirit Squad and Baby Jay. Enter to win free prizes and a signed 2012 Men’s Basketball Team ball.
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Leadercast broadcast live from Atlanta, GA and hosted on the campus of MidAmerica University. Registration: 7:00 - 8:00AM Cost: $79 incoudes lunch Register at: www.mnu.edu/leadercast
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With Jardine’s dark for two-and-a-half months, its name stripped from the building, its loss has had a significant impact on the availability of Kansas City jazz.
more at kcjazzlark
and at KC Confidential
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A new play about iconic African-American Congresswoman Barbara Jordan will receive its world premiere at the Gem Theater as part of an initiative by a newly formed nonprofit group to bring professional theater to the 18th and Vine District.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/20/3441036/new-black-theater-foundation-will.html#storylink=cpy
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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.
Ribbon cutting to follow.
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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.
Ribbon cutting to follow.
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Tommy cast members Robert J. Hingula and Chris Gleeson promoting Tommy on KCTV 5. 
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Creative Collaboration delivers Powerful Performance Rating: 5
Billy Bishop Goes To War
Kansas City Actors Theatre
There is something to be said for ambiance. Walking from your car means walking down the long sidewalk to the only American museum dedicated to preserving the history and objects of the First World War. As you progress you cannot help but notice the Liberty Memorial Tower looming overhead topped by the orange glow from the "pyre" housed at its top. Inscribed on the side of the tower is "In honor of those who served in the world war in defense of liberty and our country." Entering the museum to your left is the Western Front poppy field exhibit. Each of the 9,000 poppies represents a thousand deaths, a total of nine million souls who lost their lives during the War. This effect is heightened when entering the space by a set that evokes the spirit of European beer halls, frontline trenches and bombed out buildings rather than giving us full physical representations. By the time you reach your seat in the plush J.C Nichols Auditorium you are fully immersed in World War I.
"Billy Bishop Goes to War" is a unique story to American audiences. It is the story of a half-hearted Canadian soldier who finds his passion in the new combat arena- the skies. The story is essentially a two-man show with a main narrator and musical support by an onstage piano player. Third Year University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) graduate student Grant Fletcher Prewitt plays Billy and through the course of the show must play easily twenty-five to thirty other characters. Prewitt executes them all extremely well without the use of costume changes or props. The number of different dialects alone was staggering! His ability to handle this is a tribute to his talent, training and the experience and expertise of director John Rensenhouse. Additional accolades must go out to Dialect Coach Erika Bailey, a Professor in the UMKC program.
Prewitt is much younger than the Billy Bishop presented in the original Canadian productions (which has undergone revisions to accommodate the original writer/performers aging). Changing to a younger man's perspective allowed the production to make some interesting changes. (See a movie trailer for the original version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWgcH4zFTk)
The vocal performances and harmonies of this show seems superior to the film. This appears to be due to the work of Musical Director Cary Mock who also plays the onstage Piano Player. Mock doesn't have much in the way of lines and is pretty well fixed behind his piano on stage left but still provides great support to the action onstage. He is a well known face to KC musical theatre lovers and brings all of his experience to play in this show.
Some of the UMKC students must also be applauded for their work on this stellar show. Scene designer Kerith Parashak provided a great design that makes good use of what might be considered limitations of the spaced. The onstage airplane is well-executed and provides Prewitt with interactive scenery, furniture and occasionally a prop. Lighting designer Douglas Macur provides some nice atmosphere in a space that wasn't really designed for it. (This is an auditorium. The space is designed for lectures and films.)
This production of "Billy Bishop Goes to War" is a collaborative of the Kansas City Actor's Theatre (KCAT), the National World War I Museum and UMKC Theatre. It seems that KCAT is quickly mastering the art of collaboration. Or perhaps it is UMKC that is the master, moving its students into collaborative art with the museum, KCAT, Unicorn and the Coterie Theatre? Either way, it works for KC audiences. This production and the previous Unicorn/UMKC/KCAT show "God of Carnage" embody some of the most seamlessly produced theatre going in Kansas City.
"Billy Bishop Goes to War" can be seen at the National World War I Museum until February 26th. Tickets are available at http://www.kcactors.org/ or by calling the Central Ticket Office at 816-235-6222
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A dance of woe
Rating: 4
Romeo & Juliet
Kansas City Ballet
As usual, you can also read this review at my blog: http://angiefsutton.wordpress.com/.
William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" is a story that is so well-known, it's a little disconcerting to realize that there are those out there who don't know the basic story. The ballet version, written in 1935, is in three acts, and the story – for those who don't know it – follows the feud between the two families, and the children of each who fall in love. It's a tragedy that was almost a comedy.
Like the play it's based on, Act I starts out light and funny, with just a little bit of sweetness to it as Romeo shows his infatuation with Rosalind. We are brought into the feud between the Montagues and Capulets with a stunning fight ballet, with some of the best Flynning I've seen on (or off) stage in a long time. This was excellent fight choreography in every definition of the phrase.
But then, of course, the plot intervenes as Romeo shows up at the ball, and the two lovers meet. The dance, with Juliet's 'oh-so-casual' glances in Romeo's direction, then blushing as she is noticed was excellent acting on the part of both Luke Luzicka and Angelina Sansone, this night's Romeo & Juliet respectively. Sansone, especially, made every glance toward Romeo filled with a deep sense of longing and romance of the type you only feel during that blush of first love.
The true test of this ballet, though, had to have been the balcony scene, known throughout the world for its dialogue. As always, I try not to compare versions and try to watch this as a production separate from the work it's based on. Therefore, the romance is played very well, and this is where Luzicka gets his chance to shine.
Act II is where the play starts to get a bit more serious, although there are still a few chuckles here and there (most notably in the chapel scene) and another excellent fight – ending in the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt. However, this is the transition act between the comedy it starts out as and the tragedy it ends up. Mercutio's death went on a bit too long for me, but the act overall went rapidly fast.
Finally, Act III is where the drama takes over full-hilt. The scene where Friar Laurence gives Juliet the potion was well done – showing this vital part of the plot via two other dancers to show what should happen. This, I think, is a clever way to get over the 'not being able to do the lines' issue that is in this work.
The program notes that at first, the idea of doing a ballet on "Romeo & Juliet" was rejected because, "Dead people don't dance". And I have to say, after seeing Romeo dance with the (near)-dead Juliet, her lifeless body not moving yet still staying fluid with Romeo's, that that statement is totally incorrect. Dead people can dance, and it is both beautiful and tragic at the same time.
The show was well done, and was the typical high caliber dancing you'd expect from the Ballet. It started out a little sluggish, and it took a little bit for Luzicka to find his legs metaphorically speaking, and the show suffered from a LACC (long-ass curtain call: although I've grown to expect those from both the Ballet and the Lyric). However, it was a beautiful piece of work and I heartily recommend it.
Romeo & Juliet plays until February 26, and more information can be found at www.kcballet.org.
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This article is from the January 2012 issue of KC Stage
The Cappies has now been alive and well in Kansas City for a decade. Since the program started with just five schools in the region, it has grown to not just include the KC metro, but to help launch chapters in Springfield, St. Louis, and also a mid-Missouri chapter as well.
When the Cappies was launched in KC, the program was only two years old. Since then, the brain-child of Capitol Steps founder Bill Strauss has gone international, with chapters all over the US and Canada. Now Strauss' Millennials have grown up through the Cappies program and have gone out into the world to become actors, technicians, journalists, and patrons of the arts who were able to credit the Cappies for a piece of their training and motivation.
The Kansas City Cappies program took a survey of critics after their first year. Here's what they said: 79% said shows are getting better, 82% said shows are more exciting, 90% said they're learning to write better, 93% said they're learning more about theater, 100% liked seeing shows at other schools, and 100% recommend the Cappies to others.
A former Cappies critic from Westport High School, Alechia Williams, graduated from MU with her journalism degree a year ago and had this to say about the Cappies, "The Cappies allowed me to get rich experiences as a writer that I had no other way to get. I was able to enter my journalism program as a published writer. This allowed me to be able to get involved in more and different activities in college, because I already had that piece under my belt. The Cappies really opened the door for both my college life and my career!"
Seth Jones, a Raymore-Peculiar High School graduate won many of the Cappies' performance awards throughout his high school career. He now sits in first place for the online auditions for The Glee Project 2. Alex Herrera, from Grandview High School, also a multiple Cappie award winner and former critic, is now in rehearsals for his part in the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof. And the list of success stories just goes on and on!
This year's 10th anniversary Kansas City Cappies Gala will be held on May 26 at 7 pm, at Blue Springs South High School's Performing Arts Center.
The Cappies is open to any high school in the KC metro area, both private and public, and on both sides of the state line. They are a not-for-profit organization that would be pleased to have your support. Contact Beth Bloom Ocheskey at beth.ocheskey@cappies.com or call 816-589-0980 for more information.
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A Brookside home is about to get a makeover and it’s all a fundraiser for the Kansas City Symphony.
more at Fox4 News
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The GRAMMY Museum's Music Revolution Project, a new education initiative developed by The GRAMMY Museum, is scheduled to debut as a pilot program in Kansas City in June.
more at KSHB
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"The Make of a Man:More Than Just Music" - A Documentary focusing on Ian Byrne (The Elders), a lead singer for a globally showcased Irish/Celtic band, and his life off of the stage. 
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The specter of Jardine's loomed large Friday at Kansas City Academy. "When I got the idea for this concept," Brandon Draper explained before Alaturka's performance. "This is what I had in mind."
more at Plastic Sax
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Konstantin Lifschitz’s performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations BWV 988 last night was staggeringly beautiful, unified in conception and spiritually cohesive all the way through the Variations to the reprise of the Aria at the end.
more at Chamber Music Today
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Composer Stephanie Berg is wielding this kind of artistic weapon and has been for some years now; she studied music performance and composition at the University of Missouri and has since landed an array of commissions and awards, including a coveted Columbia acknowledgement, the Sinquefield Composition Prize. With that award, she composed the first movement of what would become an entire suite titled "Motive and Reflection."
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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2012 may go down in history as the year that silent films made a comeback. The two movies with the most nominations this year at the Academy Awards — and the best chance to take home the Best Picture statue — are both tributes to silent cinema.
more at lawrence.com
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When it comes to bombast, Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” takes the cake. With its pounding percussion, blaring brass and full-throttle choruses, “Carmina Burana” always leaves the audience breathless. The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance will present a ballet version of “Carmina Burana” at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/18/3433679/classical-beat-umkc-conservatory.html#storylink=cpy
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The Lyric Opera has prepared a second season for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts designed to build on the surge of interest in the venerable company after its debut season at the state-of-the-art facility.
more at kansascity.com
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Thousands in Kansas City celebrated Black History Month with a play focusing on the future. 
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Midnight 7s Rugby Tournament. Warriors from all walks of life gather at the KC Soccer Dome in Kansas City for a secret battle of the ancient kind, Rugby. Make Something out of Everything
NouvelleVids.com 
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Somewhere out there on the ocean is a ship called the Great Immensity. It sails the world, carrying cargo containers from one port to another, muscling its 23,259 pounds of gross tonnage from continent to continent. The Chinese-built ship is 567 feet long and equipped with four towering hydraulic cranes. And, apparently, it’s the sort of thing that really makes an impression when you see it up close.
more at kansascity.com
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For more than 45 years, the Harriman-Jewell performing arts series has earned a reputation as a place of firsts: recital debuts by rising stars and U.S. premieres by performers from around the globe.
more at kansascity.com
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A digitally restored color version of "Trip to the Moon," the first science-fiction movie, comes to Topeka for its Midwest premiere at the Kansas Silent Film Festival.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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The Kansas City Ballet used wordless artistry to tell Shakespeare’s tragic love story. The company continue its inaugural season in the Kauffman Center with the star-crossed lovers of “Romeo & Juliet,” choreographed by Ib Andersen and set to music by Sergei Prokofiev.
more at kansascity.com
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Mayor Ron Shaffer announced earlier this week that Jack Shearer, a commercial real estate salesman, will chair this year’s Jazz Fest committee. Shearer takes over for Kathy Peterson, who became lead organizer of the 2011 event when festival co-founder Dan Anderson stepped down as co-chair last April.
more at the Prairie Village Post
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Filmmaker Emiel Cleaver of Kansas City is the son of former Kansas City mayor and current United States Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II. Emiel Cleaver, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., and a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has recently finished a film called “Freedom Is Now,” about Kansas City’s oldest and most powerful African-American political organization.
more at kansascity.com
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A dancer from Johnson County is making it big in New York, and stars in NBC's new hit show, '"Smash".
more at NBC Action News
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A music video for "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" performed by Eric Burke. Written by Stephen C. Foster in 1854.
Cinematography, Directing, Editing by Brandon Parigo.
Color Grading and Assistant Editing by Nicole Parigo
Secondary Cinematography by Brady Anderson.
Eric Burke as himself.
Jewel Anderson as 'Jeanie'
Shot at Hodge Park and the Shoal Creek Living History Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. 
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Photographed and edited by Todd Norris, the cast and crew of the upcoming play "A Bucket of Blood" talk about why they got involved. The play is adapted from the 1959 film by Mitch Brian and Directed by Cody Wyoming. It opens at The Living Room, 1818 McGee, March 22 and runs through April 1st. 
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The indisputably unique Chinese dancer/choreographer Jin Xing is touring the United States with a new company and a new gender. This Thursday, at the Lied Center in Lawrence, the 15-member Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai will perform “Shanghai Tango,” a retrospective collection of 10 of Jin’s choreographic works, two of which will feature the 44-year-old Jin dancing the principal role.
more at kansascity.com
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When you think of classical music, you probably think of bombastic pianists, elegant string quartets, or dramatic symphonies. But Jason Charney’s award-winning composition, “Compass,” isn’t for any of those ensembles. In fact, the performer isn’t playing a familiar musical instrument at all — the electronic work is controlled entirely by the gyroscopes, sensors, and touch screen of Charney’s iPhone.
more at KJHK
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Contra dance: don’t confuse it with square. Contra came first, emerging in England as early as the 1600s, as Jerome Grisanti could tell you. Grisanti has a special connection to contra dance: he’s a dancer and a caller. Contra enthusiasts say it breeds a deeper connection between dancers than other genres. And that’s something to which Grisanti can testify.
more at lawrence.com
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With a leading man as easy on the eyes and as musically talented as Gregory Harrison and an equally-adept ensemble cast, plus a variety of feel-good musical numbers, you might expect to have a hit on your hands. Stir into the mix some "good ol’ boy" down-home country flavor, and you have something really exceptional. Add a dollop of some sentimental ballads and a good helping of homespun humor, and you can sit back, relax, and expect to be entertained beyond all expectations.
more at examiner.com
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Only this week has Kansas City seen any real sign of winter, while other parts of the world are experiencing record cold. If the weather lately seems ever more baffling and strange, Kansas City Repertory Theatre might offer some explanations with the world premiere of the play The Great Immensity.
more at KCUR
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Doing any job for 20 years is quite an accomplishment. But doing a physically demanding job for 20 years, all while standing on your tip toes is nothing short of amazing.
more at Fox4 KC
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Chamber Coffee prior to ribbon cutting.
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Chamber Coffee prior to ribbon cutting.
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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.
Ribbon cutting to follow.
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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.
Ribbon cutting to follow.
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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.
Co Host is Chick-fil-A
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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.
Co Host is Chick-fil-A
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When you hear the words “weird bodily noises,” what do you think of? I’m sure it’s nothing close to jazz music. Pete Williams is working on a project called “Weird Bodily Noises: Race, Gender, and Alternative Jazz History in Kansas City.” His research focuses on jazz and improvising musicians, artists, and dancers in Kansas City whose performances challenge widespread ideas about race and gender in American society.
more at the University Daily Kansan
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Funny how memories fade. I saw the Missouri Repertory Theatre production of “Billy Bishop Goes To War” in 1991 and can recall virtually nothing about it. So seeing a new production – a collaborative effort from Kansas City Actors Theatre, the National World War I Museum and the UMKC Theater Department – is essentially like seeing the show for the first time. And, I’m happy to report, the results are impressive.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/16/3434586/war-and-human-experience-billy.html#storylink=cpy
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A pipe organ is custom-designed and created for a place. When the Casavant Frères organ at the spiral-shaped Community of Christ temple in Independence was first played nearly two decades ago, one critic called it "one of the most glorious organs in North America."
more at KCUR
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Another long weekend is coming at you my friends, as Monday is President’s Day and most area school districts will be closed (as will banks and the post office, in case you’re trying to mail your taxes.) We’re … more 
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Since its grand opening last September, the Kauffmann Center for the Performing Arts has delighted audiences and performers alike with its distinctive architecture and superior acoustics. On February 14th the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and Konstantin Lifschitz highlighted the unique acoustic capabilities of the 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall in particular, since venues of this size can often obscure the delicate balance between instruments so crucial to smaller ensembles.
more at the Independent
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2012 Missouri Arts Awards presented by the Missouri Arts Council on February 8, 2012 in the Capitol Rotunda Jefferson City, Missouri.
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Do your feet bleed?" a child asks. William Whitener, artistic director of the Kansas City Ballet, chuckles and repeats the question for the rest of the crowd gathered for this Friday-night open rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet. In response, a ballerina shakes her head, removes one of her slippers and passes it to the little girl, who sniffs it. Laughter erupts.
more at the Pitch
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A scholarship and memorial bench will commemorate one of UMKC’s own. Dr. Carol Koehler, a long-time faculty member who most recently served as an associate professor and Chair of the Communication Studies Department, passed away in her home on Dec. 17, 2011 following open heart surgery.
more at the University News
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The arts council last year tallied the county’s number of performing arts venues, museums, for-profit arts businesses, private exhibition spaces, night spots that offer everything from live music to poetry slams. The loose count: 78 arts and cultural nonprofits like the Olathe Community Theater and 253 for-profit arts-related businesses from long-established dance studios to bars that rock.
more at 913 News
[Thanks, Plastic Sax]
Read more here: http://joco913.com/news/the-arts-thrive-in-unexpected-places/#storylink=cpy
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Our latest spot for the new SSX game from EA Sports.
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The spirit of legendary B-movie director Roger Corman will hover over the Kansas City theater scene this spring.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/15/3429613/horror-will-stalk-kc-stages.html#storylink=cpy
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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.
Contact is Jeff Creighton at Harlan Parker Insurance 913 782 3310
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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.
Contact is Jeff Creighton at Harlan Parker Insurance 913 782 3310
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Front and center on the small stage at River's Edge Theater rests a double bed, on and around which two couples — well, three — revolve. It's a fitting set to portray the story of two marriages disrupted by an affair.
more at the Pitch
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Many plays are ensemble pieces, but “Talking With ... ,” Auburn Community Theater’s 2012 season-opening production, is a collection of solos.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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Nick Everhart, a UMKC alumnus, has worked his way up in the film business, becoming successful enough to help start a production company.
more at the University News
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This article is from the January 2012 issue of KC Stage
The U-Haul was packed. On the night of July 29, Kansas City couple Zac Eubank and Becca Scott had all of the worldly possessions they couldn’t sell secured safely in a Uhaul trailer with their car gassed and ready to drive. Then they got the call. Becca’s Fringe show, Heaven So Far, had drawn the most audience in their venue and she would be needed to perform the next day in the Fringe Hangover. Their much anticipated move to Los Angeles would have to wait one more day.
Arriving in LA, they found a great apartment and went about the business of starting over. In KC, Zac Eubank was a highly regarded designer and artist, head of the Aren’t We Clever design Studio, much in demand for video production and graphic design. Becca Scott was a recent graduate of UMKC’s theater department and a popular actress, known for her performances in Beirut at the Living Room and in PreMortem at the Fishtank, among many others. She and Zac had met in the Spring and collaborated as artists on a video production of Samuel Becket’s play "Not I" for the show Bastards and Ash also performed at the Living Room.
Becca had planned on New York after graduation, but she and Zac took their dreams to LA. Looking for an idea, one day Becca blurted out, "I wanna play a bad clown." Together Zac and Becca hit the ground running, pulling together a production team introduced to them by the late Jameson Piedimonte, also a former resident of Kansas City. And together, they started creating Funny Days.
Funny Days is a video series, written by Zac and Becca. Zac is the director and Becca stars as the clown, Bee.
Funny Days takes place in an alternate reality where clowns must sneak into the country by way of illegal border crossings. Clowns are reviled as aliens, hated by the Magicians who run things and the normals who would love to see them deported back to their native land of Commedia.
Bee is a recent immigrant whose parents were killed crossing the border and the series follows her adventures as she tries to gain her "clown card" so she can perform legally. As the series develops, she may be "the one clown to rule them all", the person who may be the one responsible for clowns continued place in US society.
The pilot episode for Funny Days has been shot and will be available online in early January. The site is up and running and also contains the clever teaser trailers for the series: in the first, a whistling janitor reveals a secret, in the second, a put upon mime deals with office pressures, the third shows a full-on clown border crossing. These teases show a remarkable visual sense and lots of humor.
Besides themselves, Zac and Becca have put together a crew utilizing some top talents from the Kansas City area. The main supporting part of Cleo is played by recent UMKC acting graduate Amy Urbina. Anna Safar, a 2010 UMKC graduate, is featured in the third trailer and appears in numerous guises throughout the series.
The series sound is produced by local musician/sound engineer Alex Neidt and graphic design for the series were done by local KC artist Joel Ferguson.
The Funny Days pilot will be available on streaming video beginning in early January at www.funnydaysseries.com. Subsequent episodes will also be broadcast there. If you are interested in donating to the series, you can do so on the website.
Pete Bakely is a Kansas City area actor and playwright.
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To work in the realm of performing arts, Mica Thomas will tell you, requires a good amount of open-mindedness.
more at Ink
Read more here: http://inkkc.com/content/fame-dangles-within-reach-of-quixotic-fusion/#storylink=cpy
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People like alto saxophonist Dave Pietro tend not to get famous by playing their music. But even if fame doesn’t arrive, people like Pietro, who’s returning to the Kansas City area for two shows this weekend, will still be driven to make the best music they can by any means necessary.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/15/3429345/jazz-town-pietros-evolving-tone.html#storylink=cpy
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The UMKC Graduate Theatre Program’s production of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” is daring, shocking, comic and terrifying. It is constantly surprising its audience, giving throwing doubt on what are seemingly unquestionable certainties.
more at the University News
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At one point during the Coterie's new reprise of Laurie Brooks' celebrated 2000 play, The Wrestling Season, Melanie (played by long-haired, blond Kelly Gibson) pulls a stick of gum out of her bra and offers it to Matt (Tosin Morohunfola). The flirtatious gesture elicits giggles and groans from the audience — mostly from the people old enough to recall the days before sexting. There was a time when the awkward forswearing of innocence didn't feel quite so dirty.
more at the Pitch
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Kenny Thomas, Olathe Toyota and Lee Jeans present SAFEHOME's 19th Annual Golf Tournament at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park. This four person scramble at one of Kansas City's premier golf clubs will offer a great day of golf. Shotgun start begins at 9:30 a.m., Monday, April 30.
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Burns & McDonnell present SAFEHOME’s 20th Annual June Jubilee at DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Overland Park. Our signature event moves to Saturday evening in 2012 and features dinner, live and silent auctions, entertainment by The McFadden Brothers and a short program. 6:00 p.m., ticket price TBD.
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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.
Co Host is SW Bell.
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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.
Co Host is SW Bell.
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“Guys and Dolls,” which opened Nov. 24, 1950, on Broadway, is nearly old enough to take early retirement, but the musical based on Damon Runyon characters still has staying power.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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A video montage of our own homegrown pinball wizards playing Pin*Bot in the lobby of the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City.
Tommy runs through February 26, 2012
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I have never been to a murder mystery dinner theater before, so I was unsure of what level of participation would be required of me and my guest, possibly one of the most socially awkward people I know. I was fully prepared to hide behind him and push him towards the stage should it appear that I may be chosen from the crowd.
more at 785 Mag
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The board of the Olathe Community Theatre Association (OCTA) is proud to announce our 38th season. OCTA has an exciting slate of shows to put up in our historic space in Olathe, KS. Our 2012-2013 season is an exciting mix of old and new, plays and musicals, with something to offer audiences of all ages.
Our 2012-2013 season is:
We kick off our season in August with the hilarious and poignant musical revue I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change – book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music by Jimmy Roberts, Directed by Shelly Stewart with Musical Direction by Kevin Hershberger
In October, don't miss OCTA's very first production of the greatest English-language playwright, William Shakespeare, when we present Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare's comedy of bickering lovers. Directed by David Martin.
Gone With the Wind was one of the most-beloved books and films of the 20th century, but how did the book become the movie? In Moonlight & Magnolias, Ron Hutchinson shows us what happens when you lock three of the most driven men in Hollywood in an office for five days. Coming in February 2013. Directed by Nancy Eppert
The beautiful story of an old man whose Impossible Dream takes over his mind, the songs in the musical Man of La Mancha will linger in your soul long after the show is over. Coming in April 2013, Directed by Jessica Franz with Musical Direction by Darin Parker.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart is a warm, irreverent, funny and touching drama about three passionate Mississippi sisters, who, in trying to escape their past, embrace their future. In a first for OCTA, this show will go up in June of 2013, and will be directed by Darren Sextro.
Also in OCTA's forthcoming season are our December special event, a Christmas show to delight families of all ages and in late June, our annual gala, the Buddy Awards. Please mark your calendar for these events and we look forward to seeing you at OCTA!
For further information, contact Shelly Stewart 913-406-5586 or talk_to_us@olathetheatre.org
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Saturday evening’s performance by newEar, Kansas City’s contemporary chamber ensemble, took the audience through an exploration of familiar terrain and brave new worlds. The centerpiece of the program, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Clarinet Quartet, was beautifully framed by premieres by two local composers, Nicholas Omiccioli and Ingrid Stölzel.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/13/3426231/seo-headline.html#storylink=cpy
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The UCM Department of Music will host Warrensburg native Carolyn True in the first of a series of six piano recitals featuring faculty, alumni and award-winning students at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in Hart Recital Hall. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
more at the University of Central Missouri
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Tickets $2. No ticket necessary on Sunday after 1:30 p.m. Proceeds from silent auction of mini quilts (ending 2 p.m. Sunday) to benefit Olathe Medical Center Hospice House. Live quilt auction 2:30 p.m. Sunday. www.olathequiltersguild.com. Proceeds from live quilt auction to guild’s community activities and Hospice House.
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Tickets $2. No ticket necessary on Sunday after 1:30 p.m. Proceeds from silent auction of mini quilts (ending 2 p.m. Sunday) to benefit Olathe Medical Center Hospice House. Live quilt auction 2:30 p.m. Sunday. www.olathequiltersguild.com. Proceeds from live quilt auction to guild’s community activities and Hospice House.
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Heart-healthy tastings and wine pairings. Hosted by University of Kansas Hospital to increase awareness about women’s heart disease. Proceeds benefit A Change of Heart®, The University of Kansas Hospital’s women’s heart health program. For tickets visit achangeofheartkc.org or call (913) 588-8888.
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Spoken-word pieces served as the opening and closing segments of a memorable concert headlined by a groundbreaking jazz artist Saturday at the Gem Theater. The second concert of the 2011-12 season of the American Jazz Museum's Jammin' at Gem series featured two poets in addition to jazz innovator Roy Ayers.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/12/3424435/review-jazz-innovator-roy-ayers.html#storylink=cpy
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 Remember those red balls from recess? The pickup game that we all remember is back! Spring is just around the corner. Instead of (or in addition to) registering your kids for soccer or some other traditional sport, why… more
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Despite the logic of period instrument performance, J.S. Bach's solo keyboard music is usually a good argument against it. Pianist Konstantin Lifschitz showed why at the Folly Theater this past weekend with a discursive, even philosophical reading of Bach's Two and Three-Part Inventions on Friday and Book II of The Well-Tempered Clavier on Saturday.
more at kansascity.com
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Ribbon Cutting for Sweet Treasures
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Ribbon Cutting for Sweet Treasures
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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.
Groundbreaking for new Wellness Center
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The Helen Hocker Center for the Performing Arts will begin its 2012 season in patriotic fashion with "1776," the musical about signing of the Declaration of Independence.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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This article is from the January 2012 issue of KC Stage
The edges of your vision go blurry as a giant clock comes in center, slowly going backwards, spinning faster and faster as we go back in time – back to the beginning of 2011, for our annual year in review.
2011 was a year of disasters and funding issues. There was the flooding and mudslides in Rio de Janeiro in January, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March, our own Joplin being hit by a tornado in May, and even an earthquake in Oklahoma in December that was felt in some places in the Kansas City area (I know I felt it). Maybe the ancient Mayans are on to something after all and this is all a precursor to the end of the world in 2012?
Our blog notes column (and the blog itself) noted several funding increases – including nearly $400k raised by the ArtsKC fund. Of course, the big funding issue of 2011 was Senator Brownback's decommissioning and defunding of the Kansas Arts Commission – making Kansas the only state in the country without a state level government arts council, and also losing matching funds from both the NEA and the Mid-America Arts Alliance. This defunding also caused the regional theatre festival the Association of Kansas Theatres planned to be cancelled. In late November, local Shawnee Mission East high schooler Emma Sullivan posted the tweet heard 'round the 'net as she tweeted that Brownback "sucks", which caused Brownback's office to go into overdrive. (When your story is reported on Boing Boing, you know you've it Web 2.0 pay dirt.) Sullivan stated that the reason for the tweet was because of Brownback's dealings with the Kansas Arts Commission and refused to apologize, defending her First Amendment rights. Brownback ended up apologizing for the situation, and as I type this up is even now rumored to be re-examining the funding situation.
On the national front, we had some fun in April with the wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton, and some sadness in July with the last space shuttle landing. Late September, a small movement began in New York City that became known as Occupy Wall Street, which spread to other cities (including Kansas City), as the Republican party shuffled various people about for the potential nominee for the 2012 election.
Notable celebrity deaths included Elizabeth Taylor, Randy Savage, Peter Falk, Steve Jobs, and Andy Rooney. (Locally, we lost Karen Errington, stagehand Lon Moncrief, playwright Robin League, and Gary Holcombe.) The Book of Mormon swept the Tony awards with nine awards total including best musical, with War Horse getting best play and four additional Tonys. Anything Goes and The Normal Heart rounded up the major awards with best revival (musical and play respectively). In movies, The King's Speech got all the major awards outside of Best Actress, which went to Natalie Portman for playing a nutter in Black Swan.
Locally, the big arts news was in September, with both the re-opening of the newly refurbished Just Off Broadway facility (with a great photo spread in our September issue) and the opening of the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. We also had the opening of the Kansas City Ballet's Todd Bolender Center in August. On a sadder note, the Civic Opera Theater announced its closing. Meanwhile, the Leawood Stage Company was having a bit of a kerfuffle with regards to its amphitheatre and the local neighborhood, which was covered in our October issue. UMKC professor Zhou Long won a Pulitzer Prize, and Dr. Felicia Londré becomes dean-elect of College of Fellows of the American Theatre. KCYA celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the Coterie's Lucky Duck production was brought to N.Y.
KC Stage once again had its fringe.kcstage.com website, and managed to have audience members post over 200 reviews during the 11 days of the KC Fringe Festival (you can read the full review of our coverage in our September issue). Martin City Melodrama went to perform in the New York Fringe Festival, and wrote about their experiences in our October issue.
I asked for feedback from our registered organizations, subscribers, and our e-mail lists as to what to include, and here's some of what I got back. Theatre Lawrence was able to meet a challenge grant for their new theatre, which will begin construction in early 2012. The Actor Training Studio moved to a new location in April. The Mid-America Arts Alliance received $1.2 million from the NEH for their NEH On the Road program. Liberty North High School opened their new theatre. Jason Sudeikis headlined the Kansas City Improv Festival in September. The Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of Venice not only was nominated for 11 LA Ovation Awards, but is now on course for a possible New York run.
The clock slowly stops spinning, stays still for a moment, then starts going forward, faster and faster, as the flashback ends and we come back to the present. Happy 2012, everyone!
 
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Sensation Rating: 5
The Who's Tommy
The White Theatre
In tracing the history of The Who's rock opera "Tommy", it is interesting to consider it in terms of staging. When the band first began to perform it as part of their tour, they made no attempt at staging whatsoever, just playing the songs like any other set. In the fullness of time, stage adaptations came along, including one in 1971 by the Seattle Opera, in which Bette Midler, of all people, doubled as Mrs. Walker and The Acid Queen. More elaborate stage and orchestral presentations led to the inevitable film, which – under the hand of Ken Russell – reached a delirious climax of over-the-top staging and presentation. Now with the 1993 rendition, we have come back to simple, almost austere, staging. "The Who's Tommy", as it is now called, is an older, wiser tale than was told in 1969, and it has grown jaded in the telling.
The Jewish Community Center premiered its production Saturday night to a full house, with Robert Hingula as the adult Tommy, and Ryan Sanford and Darcie Hingula playing the younger incarnations. Staging was minimal: a multilevel scaffolding providing most of the background action, with occasional props being flown in or out as needed. Occasional images were projected onto the back screen, but due to the lighting these were almost completely washed out. Music was provided by a live band, and the performance came in at a little over two hours, with intermission.
The story takes place after World War II; Captain Walker (Chris Gleeson), sent to war shortly after his wedding, returns from a POW camp to find his wife (Vanessa Harper) and son in the company of another man. A fight breaks out, during which the lover is killed. Desperate to cover themselves, they inform their son "You didn't see it / You didn't hear it / You'll never tell nobody, never in your life". The father is later acquitted on grounds of self-defense, but young Tommy, scarred from the event, remains in a semi-catatonic state, unable to pull himself away from the mirror in which he witnessed the murder.
We watch as Tommy's parents put him through a battery of tests, trying to cure him, even in desperation seeking out a street hustler who swears his woman can "Bring eyesight to the blind." Meanwhile, Tommy finds himself victim of those around him, including his alcoholic "Uncle Ernie" (Bob Kohler) and cousin Kevin, the school bully (Brent Nanney). The latter eventually drags him off to the youth center to show him off to his friends and, tiring of him, parks him in front of a pinball machine. Something in the machine triggers a reaction in Tommy, and he begins to play, quickly mastering the game and handily defeating the local champ.
In the second act, his parents, bolstered by the mysterious reaction to the pinball machine, redouble their efforts to cure him. They are told the problems are mental, not physical; and in a fit of rage, Mrs. Walker smashes Tommy's mirror, setting him free. The rest of the play follows Tommy the guru, preaching to his teeny-bop followers, guiding them to enlightenment. And this is where the biggest changes manifest: in the original, he put them though his own experiences, hoping they would achieve enlightenment the same way ("Put on your blindfolds / Stick in your earplugs / You know where to put the cork.") In this new telling, however, he only wants to make them understand and treasure what they already have ("Why would you want to be more like me? / For fifteen years I was waiting for what you've already got.") The hangers-on, denied their messiah, leave in a huff, leaving Tommy with his family.
The JCC production is a solid one, and ultimately satisfying to any fan of the original. The cast are all solid singers, and very comfortable on stage. The three Tommys are to be commended, particularly the younger ones, who mostly bring in a deadpan performance that must have been difficult to maintain at times, with all the chaos around them. Buster Keaton would have been proud. We also personally enjoyed Nanney's Cousin Kevin, and noted several members of the ensemble with particularly strong voices. No real weak spots were detected. The live band did an excellent job performing the music.
If there was anything to complain about, it was more to the material than the performance. As mentioned, the story has changed somewhat, and some of the lyrics with it. For someone who listened to the album backwards and forwards in their youth, some of the changes are unexpected, and a bit jarring. Also, the Act I closer, "Pinball Wizard," seemed to this reviewer a trifle understaged. It is undoubtedly the best-known song from the album, and somehow it seemed to be not quite what it could have been, not to mention the fact they left out a good verse or so. But this is minor, and simply a matter of personal preference.
All in all, the cast and crew have done an excellent job on this production. Not quite up to Broadway, but nevertheless entertaining and provocative and marvelously done. The Jewish Community Center has given us an interesting and enjoyable season thus far, and it's nice to see the trend continuing. While the story isn't quite the psychedelic whirlwind fable we grew up with, it's still worth viewing. The story, like Tommy himself, has grown up, and we are all the better for it.
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The Kansas Silent Film Festival will take place on Friday, February 24th starting at 7:00pm and Saturday, February 25th from 10am to 10pm (with breaks for lunch and dinner). The Festival will be held at White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus in Topeka, Kansas. This event is free and open to the public. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Rare Films and Famous Classics’.
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The Grammy Museum's Music Revolution Project, a new education initiative developed by The Grammy Museum is scheduled to debut as a pilot program at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Sprint Center this June.
The Grammy Museum's Music Revolution Project will stimulate creative young musicians by connecting them with Grammy-level artists. Created to broaden musical and creative skill while helping to establish relationships, the program is also designed to increase self-esteem, help students develop entrepreneurial skills and grow their passion for music.
Local high school and college students interested in jazz, pop, hip-hop, rock, Folk and roots, sacred and classical music, are encouraged to apply. Kansas City students are invited to an informational session on February 18th at the Kauffman Center.
register for the session here
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Orange Water pushes limits to extreme
Rating: 5
Orange Flower Water
She&Her Productions
Four actors, two couples, one bed, lives spiraling out of control, and heartbreaking reality - all grab the audience for an intense look at the effects of an affair that spins all lives into a free-fall. Be prepared for extreme adult fare, extreme language, extreme adult action, and extremely precise acting.
Opening night of "Orange Flower Water" brought a sell-out crowd to the small theater venue that aims to create intimate experiences for audiences. Intimate, yes. It does create an intimate experience with only 50 seats with the front row just inches from some of the stage blocking.
Directing kudos go to Doug Ford who selected and guided a strong cast through the adult drama about the effects of an affair that spirals out of control. The couples deal with past promises, lost love, raw emotions, wants, needs, desires, and broken dreams. Ford fine tuned each performance to wring the most from the gifted actors who brought the drama to life.
All four performers deserve praise for their performances. With such intense material, all worked together and off each other to create the drama of each scene. The two adulterers David and Beth (Doug Dresslaer and Alli Tunnel) create the conflict that affects the lives of their spouses, Brad and Cathy (Andy Penn and Helena Cosentino). Each actor brought great insight to each character and delivered strong performances.
While all four actors turned in flawless performances, audience members will find themselves wanting to know more about the character of Brad. Penn's portrayal of a man who discovers his wife's illicit affair and shatters his reality rips at the viewer's heartstrings. Penn set a high standard for his future performances. Watch for him around town.
Overall, an intense drama created a stellar night of theater. Go see the show. Don't miss it. But, be aware, it's not for children.
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Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site 1200 Kansas City Road Olathe, KS 66061 www.olatheks.org/Mahaffie/Events No registration required; 913-971-5111, visit www.mahaffie.org
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Learn about the history of Olathe through a guided cemetery tour. The tour will explore the symbols, historical figures and landscape of the cemetery. The tour requires a lot of walking. Refreshments willl be provided. 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30. Advanced tickets required. Call 913-971-5111 for reservations. Olathe Memorial Cemetery 738 N. Chestnut Street, please meet at Northview Elementary School, 905 N Walker Olathe, KS. Cost: $3/adults, $2/children ages 5-11
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Learn about the history of Olathe through a guided cemetery tour. The tour will explore the symbols, historical figures and landscape of the cemetery. The tour requires a lot of walking. Refreshments willl be provided. 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30. Advanced tickets required. Call 913-971-5111 for reservations. Olathe Memorial Cemetery 738 N. Chestnut Street, please meet at Northview Elementary School, 905 N Walker Olathe, KS. Cost: $3/adults, $2/children ages 5-11
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Learn about the history of Olathe through a guided cemetery tour. The tour will explore the symbols, historical figures and landscape of the cemetery. The tour requires a lot of walking. Refreshments willl be provided. 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30. Advanced tickets required. Call 913-971-5111 for reservations. Olathe Memorial Cemetery 738 N. Chestnut Street, please meet at Northview Elementary School, 905 N Walker Olathe, KS. Cost: $3/adults, $2/children ages 5-11
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One-Shot Contest Entry for tylerrumsey.com Shot on iPhone 4S 
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Called “a thoughtful, absorbing work” by Variety, Donald Margulies’ newest play, “Time Stands Still,” is a reflection on “the divergent growth paths and changing needs of long-term relationships.” But the two romantic relationships examined in the play, which comes to the Berlin Theatre in the North Village Arts District this weekend, are not just your run-of-the-mill pairings: James and Sarah are a foreign war correspondent and photographer who have returned to New York from Iraq with scars of varying kinds, and Richard and Mandy are a mismatched-in-age pair who have remained in Manhattan to pursue career-driven lives of seemingly apparent frivolity.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
and an interview with director Matt Saltzberg here
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From Shirin Neshat’s “Fervor” to William Kentridge’s “Felix in Exile,” Kansas City has been exposed to a lot of great video art over the past decade or so. But Bill Viola’s “The Raft,” now on view at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, marks the first local showing of the artist widely regarded as video’s grand master.
more at kansascity.com
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Among Kansas City’s smaller dance companies, City in Motion is one of the longest-lived and best-loved. Founded in 1985, the company is going strong under artistic director Andrea Skowronek, presenting programs not only by its own company but also by other area dancers and choreographers.
more at kansascity.com
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During his lifetime, Bach (1685-1750) earned almost legendary status as a keyboard virtuoso. He worked primarily as a church musician, composing works for church services and celebrations for the dignitaries who employed him.
more at kansascity.com
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The new year for the Liberty Symphony Orchestra begins with the performance of an unfinished work. On Saturday, February 18, the Symphony will treat audiences to Masterworks: Unfinished, featuring Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.
more at Northland Lifestyle
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Some inventions, performed by many at faster tempi, became intense meditations on color and timbre. Other ones, often performed with wider rubato variation, became motoric illustrations of individual conviction and duty. Consider the editorial suggestions of the Alfred or others’ modern editions; consider the ur-texts of Bach himself; but make up your own mind—find your own true story. Which is what Konstantin Lifschitz did for us so wonderfully and spontaneously last night.
more at Chamber Music Today
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David Mamet’s “Oleanna” is a nasty little play that takes an uncompromising look at a subject some of us take for granted and others try not to think about – the instinctive desire for power over other people.
more at kansascity.com
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“4C: Columbia Celebrates Contemporary Composers” will take place from Sunday, March 4 through Saturday, March 10. The week will feature concerts by four different ensembles, including the Columbia debut of the Grammy Award winning new music group eighth blackbird.
more at the Mizzou New Music Initiative
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Dazzling Production of a So-So Play Rating: 4
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
UMKC Theatre
I left "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" feeling thoroughly entertained, but wondering vaguely what the point was. The play by Stephen Adly Guirgis, the author of "The Mother______ In The Hat", is ostensibly about the trial of Judas Iscariot, in a section of Purgatory called Hope (get it?). However, the Judge doesn't want to hear it and the defendant has been catatonic for centuries, so it's up to a dedicated prosecutor, Fabiana Aziza Cunningham (played to a razor's precision by 1st year MFA Courtney Salvage)with a personal writ signed by God, to get the trial going. And the rest of the play involves the trial, as apostles and theologians, Romans and Jews and Jesus Christ and Satan testify about their encounters with Judas.
The production and acting are first rate. Maverick director Barry Kyle has loaded UMKC's room 116 Theater with lights, platforms, and projectors and put the audience on rolling office chairs in order to use every inch of the small space to its fullest potential. As the scenes change from courtroom to barroom to cloister, the audience moves to create the physical space of each scene. I might also add that, as a longtime audience member, these chairs were far and away the most comfortable I've seen in this house.
Acting-wise, the performances ranged from generally fine to some of the best I've seen this year. The show was cast using a nice mixture of very fine undergraduates and most of the first year MFA acting class, with a couple of ringers thrown in. Standout performances came from Laura Jacobs, Frank Lillig, and Danny Fleming among the undergrads, with Fleming in particular highly amusing as Simon the Zealot. Of the grad students, I thought the aforementioned Courtney Salvage and Janae Mitchell, as an aggressive St. Monica were particularly fine. Former student Mateusz Lewczenko also stands out as a Jury member with a story to tell.
On top of this, there were two truly superlative performances to note. Zachary Andrews, as Satan, gives one of the best performances of the year. An actor gifted with a strong presence and a phenomenal voice graduated last year from UMKC's MFA program. Andrews is seamless as a powerful deity with little to lose. He plays him like a mid level Mafiosi, all charm and no fear.
The second performance was by first year grad student Thomas E. Tucker. Through most of the play, we see him as the gentle bailiff and in this role the actor seems to be channeling Mantan Moreland. Then, in a scene in act II, the actor appears as Pontius Pilate and completely owns the production as a prelate outraged to be called to task for his judgment.
Still, the play ends up being entertaining, but not edifying. A scene between Judas and Jesus fails to bring closure and the ending, where a juror discusses his own betrayal of another, while acted very well, seems tacked on by the playwright.
When a playwright does not want to decide for an audience, he often falls into the trap of failing to provide a point of view, which is what I believe happened here. I enjoyed the performances, but never bought into any arguments of the play. And I have to wonder what the point was.
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Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African acapella vocal group. Vocalist Albert Mazibuko joined Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1969. He recently wrote in to discuss his evolution as a vocalist, working with Paul Simon and spreading joy through music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed at the Kauffman Center on Jan. 24.
more at the Vignette
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Stephen Pruitt began making films in 2006. Then, it was a music video of the song “Midlife.” The high-definition video camera the Pruitts purchased to make this video gave Stephen an idea – he should make an independent film.
more at the University News
and more here
and more here
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Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy will try to instill some puppy love during its pre-Valentine's Day performances of an Academy production of "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing."
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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The Pleasant Valley Gang played live music on WIBW radio for many years. They were on the radio long before I started at WIBW-TV in 1972, and they continued for a few years after I left WIBW in 1979.
I shot this piece with Barney McCoy in 1983, when we were both working at KCMO-TV in Kansas City.
It's fun to travel back in time to the "silver age" of broadcasting.
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We had arrived at the penultimate moment of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy of doomed love. On a recent afternoon in the mirror-lined, high-ceilinged, ground floor studio in the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, a small audience watched dancers enact the final moments of the star-crossed lovers’ lives.
more at kansascity.com
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Kansas City is in the middle of a celebration of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The festival is exploring Bach's extraordinary contribution to the world of keyboard and orchestra literature.
more at KCUR (mp3 here)
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Kaylee Cassidy loves the character she plays in William Chrisman’s production of “It’s Murder in the Wings.” The high school junior said it is interesting to play Maddie, who is her “totally opposite” in almost every way.
more at the Examiner
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The Shawnee County Historical Society will interject some drama into history as it continues Sunday afternoon its Shared Stories of the Civil War Reader’s Theater Project at the historic Ritchie House.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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In the darkened basement of a chapel in Parkville, melodies float out from underneath doors. One after another they race down halls, each beautiful and haunting, each clashing and fighting against each other as they meet and duel on top of the industrialized carpet. If this isn’t where the masters are born, it is where they take their first toddling steps.
more at Northland Lifestyle
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Lovers of classical music can celebrate Valentine's Day early with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra. John W. Strickler, in his penultimate concert as the orchestra's music director, will lead its "Mozart & More" concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in White Concert Hall on the campus of Washburn University.
more at the Topeka Capital Journal
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This piece is a look at the people that make up the group Quixotic. Hear how the group formed and the passion it takes to create their shows.
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Valentine's Weekend, Kansas City's best-loved burlesque entertainment company, Burlesque Downtown Underground, kicks off their 2012 season with a botta-boom-botta-bang by performing their annual V-day inspired showcase! Photography by Kaylin Idora, Russ Matthews, Ricky Sherman, and Steve Thompson.
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A little teaser of the White Theatre production of The Who's Tommy running February 11 - 26, 2012. 
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If winter feels as if it’s limping slowly toward the finish line and dragging you along with it, we have a suggestion. It involves that glorious body part you spend far too much time sitting on.
more at kansascity.com
[Thanks, Beth]
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/06/3413518/take-the-first-step.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy
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The Kansas City Symphony will make its first commercial recording in Helzberg Hall February 9-10, 2012 for Reference Recordings. We interviewed recording producer David Frost and recording engineer Keith Johnson about their roles in the recording process. David Frost is a three-time Grammy Winner as well as Classical Producer of the Year, and Keith Johnson is a Grammy Winner for Best Surround Sound recording for our very own CD, "Britten's Orchestra". We are delighted to have them join us for the very first recording in Helzberg Hall. 
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Sometimes, later never comes
Rating: 5
Next Fall
Unicorn Theatre
It begins with the squeal of tires, the crunch of impact. Immediately there is a cacophony of cell phones, the dreaded news bouncing from person to person. The panicked trip to the hospital, and the waiting game begins. For some of us in the audience at the Unicorn's production of "Next Fall", it was all too familiar: a flashback to a time when we found ourselves in the all-night limbo of the waiting room, waiting to see if our life was about to be torn apart. In this production of Geoffrey Nauffts' award-winning play, the terror and pathos is captured with wrenching accuracy, and that's only the beginning.
Adam (Charles Fugate) leaves his lover of five years, Luke (Rusty Sneary) behind in New York in order to attend his family reunion. No sooner does he arrive than he gets the news: Luke has been hit by a car and is in the hospital. Taking the next flight back, he arrives to find his friends Holly (Heidi Van) and Brandon (Doogin Brown) waiting ... and Luke's parents, Arlene (Merle Moores) and Butch (Mark Robbins). What follows is a long, emotionally trying vigil over the comatose Luke as Adam must deal not only with the stress of possibly losing the love of his life, but also dealing with the fact that Luke, a devout Christian from a deeply religious family, never told them the truth about him. As the evening passes, we watch their story interleaved with flashbacks. We see the history of the couple as it developed, and their interactions with the others around them.
"Next Fall" is a story about tension. There is of course the tension of waiting, fretting helplessly while a loved one sits at death's door. Then there is Adam's desire to speak the truth, particularly when he is told visitation is "family only". In the numerous flashbacks, we see the tension between Luke and his on-again, off-again father, and his own tension with being a devout Christian and gay. Even the very atheist Adam finds himself unable to leave the question alone, relentlessly picking at Luke's beliefs, dissecting and deconstructing them obsessively. Nearly every character has a cross to bear, and as the night drags into the small hours and nerves and tempers fray, decades of things unspoken come raging to the forefront.
The play originated on Broadway last March, where it received the Outer Circle Critics John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, and is currently one of the five most-produced new plays in the country. In the Unicorn's presentation, it is easy to see why. The story is compelling, emotionally engaging without dipping into the maudlin. The performances are all one could hope for, our local talents taking the already strong material and getting everything they can out of it. Of particular note are Moores and Robbins as Luke's parents, both seasoned character actors who bring incredible performances. Technically, the production is done simply, a simple set design allowing for a quick flow between the past and present: a change from the original Broadway staging which, this reviewer understands, had difficulty keeping the narrative flow during excessively long scene transitions.
Overall, the mechanism of the narrative is an interesting one. The flashbacks start at the beginning of Adam and Luke's relationship, and work their way gradually forward 'til they converge with the present. While this generally works, there are some moments of ambiguity as we switch back and forth. Also, there are some unusual choices of pacing and characterization; one character makes it nearly all the way to the end of the play before we find out quite who he is and why he's there. As for the ending, it has issues of its own. As the story evolves, the conflict of Luke's life versus his faith takes center stage. Luke and Adam can never quite see eye to eye on it, and as the story concludes, we are left with ambiguity in the person of Adam's final thoughts. Not that ambiguity in narrative is unwelcome: we have seen it used effectively time and time again. But in this case, it almost feels like the author is trying to have it both ways, so that everyone – gay or straight, religious or atheist – can come away feeling vindicated.
These minor points aside, "Next Fall" is a strong, powerfully-acted work, and deserving of the various accolades it has received both here and elsewhere. The Unicorn Theatre has long held its reputation for staging challenging theatre, and this is certainly no exception. They are to be commended for staging this production.
As this reviewer left the theatre, it occurred to her that, given the story is set in 2009 before marriage equality was recognized in New York state, it is already, to some degree, a period piece. Right now in this country, the vast majority of same-sex couples are legally strangers, with no ties to hold their family together when things get bad. It is changing, though: state by state, city by city. Partnerships are being recognized, hospital policies rewritten to recognize the patient's wishes. It is increasingly apparent that the day will soon come when this story will be nothing more than a reminder of a time that is well and truly gone. For this reviewer, and others who have seen what happens first-hand when it is not, that day cannot come soon enough.
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Until a few months ago, Korrie Murphy had never put on a pair of tap shoes, let alone performed a whole dance in them. Now, however, she is playing Millie Dillmount in Blue Springs High School’s production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” which includes two major tap numbers – a challenge for the high school junior.
more at the Examiner
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“It’s a Valentine’s Day party with a Halloween twist,” said Kimberly McEvers, one of the event’s co-chairs. “This year’s theme is ‘Scary Carrie Prom,’ in honor of the 1976 horror film based on Stephen King’s novel.” Several celebrities in the local theater community will be on hand to add panache to the “Carrie” theme.
more at kansascity.com
and at the University Daily Kansan
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Once upon a time, the distance between jazz and pop didn’t seem so absurdly wide, and it was possible to see large numbers of people enjoying R&B with a jazz flavor.
more at kansascity.com
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When theatergoers stream in to see “Billy Bishop Goes to War,” the first thing they’re likely to notice is a Nieuport 17, a French-made biplane that saw plenty of action in World War I. But it won’t be airborne. On the contrary, the nearly life-size replica will be nose-down, falling from the sky, crashing to earth.
more at kansascity.com
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Next Fall
Rating: 5
Next Fall
Unicorn Theatre
I saw the matinee performance on Sunday, February 5, and I was very impressed with this production. The playwright introduces the conflict regarding religious beliefs without beating you over the head. And the play doesn't force the issue on the audience.
While the two principal actors give very natural performances, I wanted more vocal texture; things seemed to be underplayed a little too much at times for my taste. Charles Fugate and Rusty Sneary work very well together, and the remaining cast provided strong support.
I really enjoyed the use of the set. Scene changes moved along at a very nice pace, and I never felt that I was waiting in the dark for the next location to be presented. And I especially enjoyed the hospital waiting room locale, and how, with minor movements of the set pieces, different environments were evoked. I had no trouble at all following where the characters were supposed to be at any time. I highly recommend this production.
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Central Standard Theatre’s memorable production of Alfred Uhry’s “Driving Miss Daisy” gets one more weekend of performances before jetting Down Under.
more at kansascity.com
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/08/3415191/miss-daisy-prepares-for-a-road.html#storylink=cpy
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Better than the show upstairs! Rating: 4
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
UMKC Theatre
Barry Kyle is crazy! And that's a good thing. His production of "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot", currently running downstairs at the PAC on the UMKC campus, is stoked with wild imagery and fueled by a frustration with the church and what it teaches.
Judas stands trial for his betrayal of Jesus and many familiar faces are called to testify. While the show can get a bit talky over the course of its two and a half hour length, some powerful and very entertaining performances give the production a genuine punch and beauty.
If you've got the time, go see it. The imagination and artistry on display here far outpaces the dull and flat production of "Tom Sawyer" holding forth on the big stage upstairs.
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The dance program is preparing for a large graduating class for senior recitals this year. The 2012 seniors, 19 total, will be the largest graduating class of dance majors in the past several years.
more at the University News
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There is that famous saying that when a door closes, a window opens. Chances are no one thought that when one door closed a community theatre would emerge, but that is exactly what happened in the fall of 2001. In this case, it was the West Platte school district that closed the door on their annual school musical and play because of budget constraints. Julie Nelson then opened the window.
more at Northland Lifestyle
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True/False, an annual documentary film festival, will shift its campus venues from Stephens College to MU this year.
more at the Missourian
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Soprano Sarah Tannehill, clarinetist Elena Lence Talley and pianist Dan Velicer will perform their “Music of the Americas” concert. This colorful and vivacious program highlights the works of U.S., Canadian and Latin American composers. This event is free. No ticket required.
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Formed to enrich, inspire and transform the lives of children by learning, sharing and performing beautiful music, Allegro singers come from private, public and home-schooled environments across the Kansas City Metro. This event is free. No ticket required.
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The Jazz Studies program “is known for helping each student develop his or her individual sound and for creating an encouraging environment,” according to its unofficial website, umkcjazz.posterous.com. Students from the program have performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, and have earned awards at the University of Notre Dame, the University of North Texas, Elmhurst College and the University of North Carolina – Greeley.
more at the University News
and more here
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Chestnut will be ALIVE with the sound of music, as we present A Spoonful of Sugar – A Tribute to the Music of Julie Andrews! The air will be filled with her best-loved songs from My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Victor / Victoria, The Sound of Music and more! (Rated G) Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Directed by Brad Zimmerman. This soothing form of music will be presented by the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut St. Olathe, KS 66061 913-764-2121 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com
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The Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship heads back to Kansas City in 2012, with Sprint Center hosting the league championship for the fourth time. Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-949-7000.
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The Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship heads back to Kansas City in 2012, with Sprint Center hosting the league championship for the fourth time. Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-949-7000.
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The Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship heads back to Kansas City in 2012, with Sprint Center hosting the league championship for the fourth time. Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-949-7000.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will? will make you laugh out loud at the Buford family’s hysterical antics! When Daddy Buford suffers a series of strokes, his adult children come home. There’s caregiver Sara Lee and her “holier than thou” sister Lurleen, sexpot Evalita and the boorish son, Orville. LOTS of laughs (Rated PG). Adults - $23; Seniors - $20 Visit www.chestnutfinearts.com for more information.
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In a week and a half, a few dozen extraordinary young musicians will gather together to perform on the stage of one of America’s most storied concert venues. It’s a dream of serious, talented young music students everywhere to play Carnegie Hall.
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The most interesting couple in Kansas City is staying in tonight. They could go out, of course. There are two parties this evening — get-togethers with friends that sounded promising — and Annie Cherry and Damian Blake are the kind of people who rarely find themselves without something to do.
more at Ink
Read more here: http://inkkc.com/content/cover-story-meet-kansas-citys-sweethearts/#storylink=cpy
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You've probably driven by the three-story brick building at 3611 Broadway hundreds of times over the years — or stumbled out of the building just as many times (it's been some kind of saloon for decades) — without ever knowing that the townhouse-like structure is the Betsy Ross Building. The architect who designed the 1925 structure, Robert Gornall, created the facade that evoked the historic Betsy Ross home in Philadelphia. "The building won a lot of architecture awards in the 1920s," says the building's owner, developer Greg Patterson.
more at the Pitch
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Charlotte Street Foundation’s Urban Culture Project invites applications from individuals interested in participating in an upcoming project, The Frontier, to take place at its Paragraph and Project Space venues, 21-23 East 12th Street, KCMO, April-July 2012. Artists and culture producers of all kinds are invited to apply to participate in this project.
more at Charlotte Street
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The plot of “Next Fall” revolves around the religious conflict involved in the relationship of loving gay couple Luke, played by Rusty Sneary, and Adam, played by Charles Fugate.
more at the University News
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The theatre students at Olathe East High School have performed in dozens musicals, but they say their latest undertaking may be the most different, challenging and rewarding project they’ve done to date.
more at Fox 4 News
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Wilson, a Peace Corps volunteer, was involved in "Bush League," the feature film from the fifth annual Third Goal International Film Festival, hosted by the Central Missouri Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. The festival took place Saturday afternoon in Chamber Auditorium in the MU Student Center.
more at the Missourian
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I came to an infatuation with jazz through Basie. And I’ll be the first to admit I was dragged to contemporary jazz by the nose hairs. Some of it remains too extreme for my tastes, and I’m convinced some is transitory. But some of the best jazz being produced today is, indeed, contemporary. And none is better than the music of the Matt Otto Quartet supplemented by voice and piano.
more at kcjazzlark
and more here
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4-6 p.m. Admission required. No registration required; 913-971-5111. Visit Mahaffie@olatheks.org, or www.mahaffie.org
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10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $6/adults, $4/children ages 5-11. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, 1200 Kansas City Rd., Olathe. No registration required; 913-971-5111. Visit Mahaffie@olatheks.org, or www.mahaffie.org for more information
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Entertainment, arts and crafts, delicious food, lots of fun and the longest parade in the state of Kansas! Visit http://www.johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com for more information.
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10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $6/adults, $4/children ages 5-11. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, 1200 Kansas City Rd., Olathe. No registration required; 913-971-5111. Visit Mahaffie@olatheks.org, or www.mahaffie.org for more information
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Entertainment, arts and crafts, delicious food, lots of fun and the longest parade in the state of Kansas! Visit http://www.johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com for more information.
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Entertainment, arts and crafts, delicious food, lots of fun and the longest parade in the state of Kansas! Visit http://www.johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com for more information.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
A note in the original production’s program says that the time of the action is "an average day in the life of Charlie Brown." It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
A note in the original production’s program says that the time of the action is "an average day in the life of Charlie Brown." It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
A note in the original production’s program says that the time of the action is "an average day in the life of Charlie Brown." It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
A note in the original production’s program says that the time of the action is "an average day in the life of Charlie Brown." It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
A note in the original production’s program says that the time of the action is "an average day in the life of Charlie Brown." It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
A note in the original production’s program says that the time of the action is "an average day in the life of Charlie Brown." It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
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In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought is underway. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. Smart,funny lyrics and great story telling pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought is underway. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. Smart,funny lyrics and great story telling pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought is underway. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. Smart,funny lyrics and great story telling pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought is underway. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. Smart,funny lyrics and great story telling pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought is underway. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. Smart,funny lyrics and great story telling pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought is underway. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. Smart,funny lyrics and great story telling pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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My knees are still weak days after attending Friday's concert by Vivica Genaux and Europa Galante. It's not just the nonexistent leg room in the balcony of the Folly Theater that made me wobbly. I'm still swooning from the intoxicating combination of the vocalist's superb voice, sultry visage and sublime accompanists.
more at There Stands the Glass
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 Next Tuesday is February 14th. That means this weekend kicks off Valentine’s Day celebrations. Take time this weekend to get crafty with your little ones, and wrap your shoeboxes in red paper and start putting together those special Be Mine… more
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A preview and behind-the-scenes look at Unicorn Theatre's production of 'Next Fall' by Geoffrey Nauffts. More information at www.UnicornTheatre.org. Original Music by Ryan Matthew Hall, sound designer. Video by Overlooked Productions. 
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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"You even get to see Charlie Parker's plastic saxophone," Grace Kelly ad-libbed as she sang about the attraction at the American Jazz Museum during an appealing rendition of "Bye, Bye, Blackbird" Saturday at the Gem Theater.
more at Plastic Sax
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If you are a fan of a great rock musical there is a production in Kansas City that you will enjoy "Tommy" is taking the stage next weekend at the White Theater.
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A special program at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb 16 will feature a conversation between museum Director Julián Zugazagoitia and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Artistic Director Ward Holmquist about the changing relationship between the U.S. and China in the past 40 years.
more at Infozine
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Recently I heard a very inspiring story about a local college student who has already made it “big.” Joshua Charles, a sophomore at the University of Kansas is interested in politics and decided to rewrite The Federalist Papers in colloquial language so that we, common folk, can have much better access to these brilliant documents. Lo and behold, Glenn Beck found out about it, and Zing! Charles’ hard work has been translated into a new book and New York Times bestseller, The Original Argument. Charles is also an accomplished pianist.
more at Lee's Summit Lifestyle
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As Dan DeLuca’s fingers bounced across the keys of his electric piano, the IV leaking chemotherapy medicine into his body danced against the floor of his hospital room.
more at kansascity.com
[Thanks, Plastic Sax]
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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.
Ribbon Cutting will directly follow the Chamber Coffee at same location.
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A local moviemaker offers an interesting perspective on one of this town's dividing lines . . . Troost: A Street Musical
more at Tony's Kansas City
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The Patriots Run is an annual event held to commemorate the tragic events of September 11th 2001. With this event we remember, not only those victims who were lost, but also those soldiers, police, firefighters and others who served this country both on that day and every day thereafter. It is a 9 hour and 11 minute run/walk that begins at noon. Participants can be either solo or teams. You can join us at noon and stay the entire time or join us at any time during the event. Run as much as you wish. The race has moved to: the West end of Great Mall of the Great Plains,20700 West 151st Street, Olathe, KS 66061 We will be on the West end of the Mall. Visit www.patriotsrun.us
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The annual Women’s Triathlon at Kill Creek Park consists of a 0.31 mile (500 meter) swim, followed by a 10.6 mile bike and a 2.6 mile run. Teams can consist of two or three person teams in these categories, family, friends, corporate, and club. Event is limited to 400 participants, so register early. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering for this event. For details including registration forms, event brochures and on-line registration, visit www.active.com/triathlon/olathe-ks/olathe-medical-center-womens-triathlon or contact race coordinator, Chad Tower at (913) 831-3359 or (913) 236-1231. 7:30 AM, Kill Creek Park, 33159 W. 117th Street, Olathe, KS
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7:00pm. Liverpool, Kansas City's best Beatles Tribute band plays all the favorite Fab Four songs. Each performance includes all of the costume changes that follow the Beatles different phases, as well as state of the art video screen enhancement technology. To learn more about Liverpool, visit www.liverpoolband.com. Presented by Olathe Parks & Recreation and Farmers at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe KS. FREE
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Bring the lawn chair for a free concert in the park. Concert begins at 7 p.m, presented by Olathe Parks & Recreation and Farmers at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe KS. Visit www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/SummerConcerts for updated information.
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Bring the lawn chair for a free concert in the park. Concert begins at 7 p.m, presented by Olathe Parks & Recreation and Farmers at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe KS. Visit www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/SummerConcerts for updated information.
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Two beloved Disney tales will take the stage on the same night
in the form of two one act musical plays, alternating each night in repertory.
Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK and Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY
Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
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Bring the lawn chair for a free concert in the park. Concert begins at 7 p.m, presented by Olathe Parks & Recreation and Farmers at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe KS. Visit www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/SummerConcerts for updated information.
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The Mall of the Great Plains will be diplaying there annual firework show. It begins at 9:30pm at the Great Mall of the Great Plains, 20700 W. 151st Street, Olathe KS. (Rain date: July 5, 2010)
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7:00pm Sam Bush is a bluegrass entertainer in the 21st century and was a founding member of the New Grass Revival. He has acknowledged tradition while pushing mountain music into the realms of rock, jazz, reggae, and Afro-pop, sharing stages with some of the biggest names in acoustic and folk music, including Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, and David Grisman To learn more about Sam Bush, visit www.sambush.com. Presented by Olathe Parks & Recreation and Farmers at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe KS. FREE
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FREE Admission. Special activities such as stage coach rides will also be available for $2 per person for age 3 and up. 7-9:30 pm, depending on weather and ground conditions. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site 1200 Kansas City Road Olathe, KS 66061 www.olatheks.org/Mahaffie/Events No registration required; 913-971-5111, visit www.mahaffie.org
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Grace Kelly — the 19-year-old saxophonist who is taking the jazz world by storm — performed Saturday night with her quintet and special guest Phil Woods for the Folly Jazz Spotlight Concert.
more at kansascity.com
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Megan Turek has a gift. She’s a professional costume designer for theater, whose work is going to be featured in an upcoming Unicorn Theater show called Next Fall.
more at Central Standard
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Theatre for Young America (TYA), celebrating its 38th year of fostering the educational and emotional growth of young people though drama, has named Timothy Russell as its new Director of External Affairs.
more at Press Release Central
Read more here: http://pressreleases.kcstar.com/?q=node%2F74714#storylink=cpy
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'My Romance: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart' thrills and diverts Rating: 4
My Romance: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart Quality Hill Playhouse
"My Romance: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart" is a musical revue beautifully rendered, in the satisfying and old-fashioned portrayal that the Quality Hill Playhouse excels at. J Kent Bernhart's memorable quips, quiet tones, and piano expertise matched the brilliant vocal talents of his co-stars.
The songs that were chosen for the review veered from light-hearted to heartbreaking, gracefully and swiftly. While the songs displayed different emotions, all of them focused on the theme of love. As Bernhart quipped that the songs were about, "Falling in love with one person. Having an affair with another, then running for president."
Bernhart said, during one of his song introductions, that Rodgers and Hart considered their songs as part of a story, and the cast of the show does a brilliant job of representing that.
Lauren Braton had a wonderful Broadway voice, with wonderful expression and comic grace, that was aided her clever version of "Zip" and in the duet "Thou Swell" with Jon Daugharthy. Daugharthy's layered tones and charmed aided him in his varied songs. The standout of not only his songs, but the revue, was his energetic and original rendition of "The Lady is a Tramp". Stephanie Laws ranged from sultry to emotionally raw. Her renditions of "Bewitched" and "You Took Advantage of Me" were lovely and haunting.
Whenever the quartet sang together they feature tight and fusing harmony. The strongest ensemble song was the wonderful arrangement of "Blue Moon", one of Rodgers and Hart's best known songs. The four singers sang it a cappella in the tradition of barbershop quartet.
The band, comprised of Ken Remmert and Brian Wilson was brilliant. They played onstage with the singers, and were indeed just as integral to the show.
The show was breezy without being forgettable. It was diverting and rich with humor and brilliant tunes and singers.
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Genaux, born in Alaska and living in Italy, joined tremendous vocal technique and a three-octave mezzo-soprano voice to the refined Baroque aesthetic of violinist Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante, an original instrument Baroque string group Biondi founded in 1990.
more at kansascity.com
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For many, Johann Sebastian Bach is at the summit of classical music. His huge output is highly cerebral and deeply emotional, and his influence is vast. Composer Max Reger called Bach “the beginning and end of all music.”
more at kansascity.com
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Performing in 1940 in Madison, Wis., the Pro Arte Quartet learned, while onstage, that its native country had been invaded by Germany. Unsure what to do, the group finished its performance, then sought musical asylum, remaining in the United States and flourishing artistically. It became the first quartet in residence at any major American university, dwelling at the University of Wisconsin.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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In the chill of midwinter — especially during the relative blandness of February — there’s nothing like a new crop of edgy plays to heat things up a little. The Mizzou New Play Series, an annual tradition courtesy of the University of Missouri Theatre Department, returns a tad earlier this year, sprung from the atmosphere of creative contribution surrounding the Missouri Playwrights Workshop.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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You may have needed a shoehorn to fit another instrumentalist on the stage of Helzberg Hall Friday night. Performing ensembles are thinking big in this inaugural season of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and the Kansas City Symphony rose to the challenge by providing a compelling reading of Gustav Mahler’s massive Symphony No. 2 in C Minor.
more at kansascity.com
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Like a seasoned athlete, Jan Kraybill has her rituals before the big game – or, in this case, the big recital. Kraybill, the principal organist for Community of Christ, will sit at the instrument for up to six hours a day leading up to her Super Bowl Sunday Recital, now in its 13th year.
more at the Examiner
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Maybe some books are harder to adapt for the stage than others, or maybe some make better movies than stage plays. I’ve seen one or two movies of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer that seemed to work all right, except, as I recall, they leaned toward the maudlin.
more at Infozine
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Love is clearly a driving and unifying force behind the musical creations of the Lee’s Summit Symphony. It is a constant theme among all affiliated with the organization—love for music, practice, performing, the creative process and the people involved.
more at Lee's Summit Lifestyle
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Statistics don’t reveal any stories about domestic violence — the fear and feeling of powerlessness , the loss of self-esteem and confidence, the anxiety, or even the depression. But Emily Rollie and a group of fellow volunteers do. They are part of MU's Troubling Violence Performance Project, a troupe of actors who share stories about domestic and sexual violence with Columbia audiences and prompt discussion afterward.
more at the Missourian
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“The Wrestling Season” is more than just entertaining and thought-provoking. It is more than just well-acted and technically sharp. It is something that excites and enthralls the audience every moment an actor is on stage.
more at the University News
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Somewhere along the line, boxing became an old man’s sport, a fastidious style of combat designed to follow rules about where and when you could hit the other guy and reduce the level of carnage.
more at kansascity.com
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“Pump Boys and Dinettes” was a unique show when it opened on Broadway just over 30 years ago and it still is – an amiable, slap-happy revue that pokes fun at our rural roots and country cousins without ever seeming mean-spirited.
more at kansascity.com
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As the son of a Reform cantor, Noah Aronson grew up around the synagogue and listening to his father sing. He loved music, but he never thought he would make Jewish music a career. That happened quite by accident.
more at the KC Jewish Chronicle
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The Columbia Civic Orchestra (CCO) and the Mizzou New Music Initiative have announced the selection of four orchestral compositions written by Missouri residents to be performed by the CCO at a concert in March. The works were chosen in a statewide competition conducted under the auspices of the Missouri Composers Orchestra Project (MOCOP). The winners will receive a $500 honorarium from MOCOP’s sponsor, the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
more at Mizzou New Music Initiative News
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To celebrate its 40th season, the Maplewood Barn Theatre is promoting a new book about the barn's history and will announce the production schedule for its upcoming season.
more at the Missourian
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I haven't seen Metro Sports' documentary on the Kansas City Comets, Blazing Trails: The History of the Kansas City Comets, but I'm looking forward to its debut Thursday night at 7. Can't wait to hear the theme from the Midnight Express.
more at the Pitch
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The Olathe Noon Lions have gathered volunteers from the medical community to provide free health screens to the general public. Some of the tests include, Blood Pressure, Glucose, Oral Cancer, Pulmonary, Bone Density, Brain Fitness, and Eye exams. Everyone is welcome to attend!
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Millie Edwards has been rewarded with standing ovations many of the times I've seen her perform in churches and in concert settings. She's a true audience-pleaser. People hearing her for the first time are invariably astounded that such a gigantic voice can emanate from such a diminutive person.
more at Plastic Sax
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Matt Connolly and Vickie Rocco of the Independent Filmmakers Coaltion Kansas City, gives some insight about the organization. 
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Gregory Harrison never gets tired of trying something new. So here he is, in Kansas City — well, Overland Park if you want to get technical about it — making his first appearance at the New Theatre and performing a show he’s never done before: “Pump Boys and Dinettes.”
more at kansascity.com
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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.
Contact is Jeff Creighton at Harlan Parker Insurance 913 782 3310
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There are certain very special works that Michael Stern has reserved for the opening season in Helzberg Hall, and one such work is Mahlers' epic Second Symphony. Only in this new magnificent space will the Symphony be able to present this massive work for large orchestra, chorus and soloists to its maximum advantage. Soloists Jessica Rivera, soprano, and Kelley O'Connor, Mezzo-soprano, join the Kansas City Symphony Chorus under the direction of Charles Bruffy for an unforgettable weekend of music. Performances will be January 3-5, 2012 in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Visit www.kcsymphony.org for more information. 
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Movies are shot with multiple angles, edited together with after effects, and put together slowly and meticulously until the story is complete. The same amount of writing, rehearsal and staging goes into live theater, but the story isn’t assembled later—it unfolds in real time.
more at lawrence.com
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The annual Jazz Festival and George Salisbury Memorial Scholarship Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Student Union. Tickets are required at $10 each, and the proceeds will go toward the scholarships for Jazz minority students.
more at the University News
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How did 19-year-old alto saxophonist and singer Grace Kelly get so far so quickly? She’s following a traditional strategy for improving oneself as a musician: Once you get good, surround yourself with those who are even better. Like alto saxophone master Phil Woods, with whom she shares the Folly Theater stage on Saturday.
more at kansascity.com
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University of Kansas alumni are a close knit group, and most often seen clustered around televisions in bars around the country, cheering on their favorite athletic teams. Some KU alumni, however, are like family. Such is the case for a small group of KU theatre students and graduates who were courageous enough to apply their learning in the Big Apple.
more at Johnson County Lifestyles
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Two months into one of the longest - at times silliest - and frankly saddest chapters in modern Kansas City jazz, the dudes who jumped the gun last month by telling the Pitch and Fox 4 they'd bought Jardine's are poised at to do just that - buy Jardine's.
more at KC Confidential
and at Tony's Kansas City
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The KC Sound Collective is an arts collective in KCMO. They display the talents and strengths of a unique group of individuals ready to bring their art to the forefront. This is a short film introducing the musicians in The Sound: Brad Williams, Steve Lambert, Hermon Mehari, Andrew Ouellette, and Dominique Sanders.
[Thanks, Plastic Sax] 
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On Monday, June 28th Olathe Parks & Recreation will be taking over Community America Ballpark to support the Kansas City T-Bones. Group discount tickets are available for any team, family or individual, the group that sells the most tickets will be involved in the T-Bones Baseball Buddy pre-game. The second place group will select one individual to participate in the first pitch ceremony. It is also “Kids Eat Free Night” so come out and enjoy! Tickets will be available at the Parks & Recreation office or call 913-971-6263 starting on Monday, May 24th. Deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, June 14th. Tickets are $9.
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Based on the movie Legally Blonde sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, KS 66219.
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Bring the lawn chair for a free concert in the park. Concert begins at 7 p.m, presented by Olathe Parks & Recreation and Farmers at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe KS. Artist to be announced. Visit www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/SummerConcerts for updated information.
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Listen to live music while you enjoy art of all kinds, of various genres and mediums. Emerging artists and artists with disabilities will be among those featured at the Festival. Also enjoy live performances from local performing artists and delicious concessions that will keep you fueled up for the festivities. Free admission for all, plus activities for kids throughout the festival makes this a perfect fun-filled family event. Sat. 10 am to 6 pm; Sun. 10 am to 4 pm. Park & Cherry Streets, Historic Downtown Olathe. www.downtownolatheartsfestival.org.
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Listen to live music while you enjoy art of all kinds, of various genres and mediums. Emerging artists and artists with disabilities will be among those featured at the Festival. Also enjoy live performances from local performing artists and delicious concessions that will keep you fueled up for the festivities. Free admission for all, plus activities for kids throughout the festival makes this a perfect fun-filled family event. Sat. 10 am to 6 pm; Sun. 10 am to 4 pm. Park & Cherry Streets, Historic Downtown Olathe. www.downtownolatheartsfestival.org.
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Address: The Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66219
The rare instance of a musical thriller, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. His thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe! [RATED R - Contains some adult material. Parents should learn more about the show before taking their younger children with them. Generally it's not appropriate for young children to attend a show with an "R" rating.]
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Performed by the Dramatic Truth School of Arts- 7-9 pm, June 3rd& 4th and 2-4 pm June 4th. at the university’s Bell Cultural Events Center - Mabee Performing Arts Hall, 2030 East College Way, Olathe KS 66062. Free tickets available through the Bell Center Box Office (913) 971-3636 or visit bellboxoffice@mnu.edu
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Performed by the Dramatic Truth School of Arts- 7-9 pm, June 3rd& 4th and 2-4 pm June 4th. at the university’s Bell Cultural Events Center - Mabee Performing Arts Hall, 2030 East College Way, Olathe KS 66062. Free tickets available through the Bell Center Box Office (913) 971-3636 or visit bellboxoffice@mnu.edu
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Sarah Young may have been crowned champion diva last year, but she insists she did not have to claw her way to the top and no feelings were hurt in the process. “There are no catfights,” Young says. “No hair-pulling.”
more at the Lawrence Journal World
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Celebrating local young filmmakers in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Reel Spirit is the youth alliance for AMC Kansas City FilmFest, the region’s largest film festival. Scheduled this year for April 14, there is still time to submit a film for competition.
more at the KC Filmmakers Jubilee
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The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, in partnership with Missouri Citizens for the Arts, the Missouri Alliance of Arts Educators, and the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies, invested in Capwiz, an online grassroots advocacy tool that allows for users to have an active and timely role in the Missouri political process through a variety of ways, including taking action, finding elected officials, seeing legislation, and sending letters to the editor.
more at www.capwiz.com/artskc
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Have Beer for Breakfast at the Heartland Rating: 4
Beer for Breakfast
American Heartland Theatre
"Beer For Breakfast", a world premier play by Sean Grennan is a charming comedy seemingly tailor-made for The American Heartland Theater at Crown Center in Kansas City. A small but well appointed cabin in the woods is the setting where four high school friends are getting together for a much needed "man's weekend". The aggressive T.J. (Scott Cordes) and his friends, the jobless, passive Mark (played by scriptwriter Sean Grennan) and recent stroke victim Richard (Martin English) drink and complain about their spouses, waiting for the fourth friend Adrian to arrive. Their peace is shattered as Adrian's wife, Jessie (Cathy Barnett) shows up instead.
The missing Adrian is unreachable and cryptic voicemail messages are their only clues to his whereabouts. Jessie ruins the "boys only" mood of the weekend with healthy food and chick flicks until she is challenged to a series of contests by the recently divorced T.J. Shots are the penalty, but she proves to be more than a match for these men. The evening ends in a no-holds-barred round of Truth or Dare, where secrets come out and relationships change.
Grennan's script seems a little old fashioned. Its a battle of the sexes theme and I found it hard to believe that men of this age and social station would still feel threatened by a woman invading their turf. However, it plays right into the demographics of the Heartland, where an older audience would identify with these sentiments. The conflicts are believably handled though, and Grennan's script is funny and it moves along at a peppy pace.
The acting is wonderful all around. Scott Cordes drives the show with his aggressive but likeable portrayal of a man suddenly out of his element. Cathy Barnett gives a detailed performance that never lets us dislike her, despite her prickly nature. Her chemistry with Cordes is palpable. Grennan is fine as the sad sack everyman, but the real revelation of the play is Martin English. The script requires that his character must be vocally unintelligible due to his character's stroke, but his humanity and decency shines through in every beat. "Beer For Breakfast" is running Tuesdays through Sundays from now until February 19 at The American Heartland Theater located in Crown Center Shopping Center in Kansas City, MO. More information on times and ticket sales are available at www.ahtkc.com.
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Mixed marriages are nothing new and can reveal a different set of human foibles. Opposites attract, after all, whether the divisions between them are religious or political or class. Prior to seeing the Unicorn Theatre's Next Fall (directed by Jeff Church), which was a Tony Award nominee in 2010, I wondered what would make this play's central coupling different from one that any of us could name, whether famous or close to home.
more at the Pitch (after the Tom Sawyer review)
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Remember endless summers and their limitless possibilities, of viewing the world through the lens of a child? And don't we all still grasp sometimes for that carefree feeling? A couple of hours at an action film, a happy hour, a musical performance — a play — can soften life's concerns, for a while. Such is the world of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, who play with abandon but also suffer the intrusion of the adult world around them.
more at the Pitch
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Local film director, Greg Sheffer, wanted to tell the story of Olathe. He wanted to tell the story of the people, places and events that made up the history of Olathe. So almost six years ago he went to the Olathe Historical Society with the idea of a film series to tell the story and that is when Olathe – The City Beautiful was born.
more at Fox 4 News
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Performed at 'Paix Reveuse' - Madrid Theater 2010
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Ingrid Stölzel’s new composition for flute, soprano saxophone and piano offers great beauty for the listener, plus intriguing expressive and technical challenges for each of the performers. The flute and soprano sax parts are balanced partners, while the piano undertakes an impetuous, omniscient-narratorly, cantus firmus role, with occasional upper-register tolling that explicitly marks the passage of time.
more at Chamber Music Today
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The University of Central Missouri Department of Theatre received top honors at the Kennedy Center American College Region V Theatre Festival at Iowa State University in January.
more at the University of Central Missouri
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The idea that a Starlight Theatre production can only be seen in the summer is about to become obsolete. For the first time in its 61 years, Starlight travels outside of Swope Park to open the first of two musicals for children and their families this week at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
more at KCUR
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The Kansas City Academy is kind of a new school learning environment that reminds me a lot of the hippies who taught me how to read.
more at Tony's Kansas City
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Friday night, the Odyssey Chamber Music Series presents "Baroque Virtuosi," which explores music that was either created between 1600 and 1750 or that was deeply influenced by that era. Paul Crabb, choral chief at the University of Missouri, will captain a program that includes various arrangements and ensembles primarily performing the works of Bach as well as a uniquely composed piece attributed both to Tomás Albinoni and Remo Giazotto.
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
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Fountain City Brass Band is one of the most prestigious brass bands in the world, and yet few in its home town of Kansas City have heard of it. Most locals do not know that Kansas City has a brass band at all, yet alone one that has traveled through Europe, winning awards that no other brass band in North America has won.
more at Johnson County Lifestyles
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