American Heartland Theatre Announces Their 2010-2011 Season

American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center has announced its 2010-2011 Season, celebrating the theatre's 24th season of productions. AHT continues its tradition of providing variety in live theatre by showcasing 1 two-time Tony award winning comedy, 4 Kansas City Premieres, 1 AHT favorite and 1 Richard Rodgers Award Winner in its upcoming season. Productions include The Love List; Plaid Tidings; Maybe Baby, It's You; No Way to Treat a Lady; The 39 Steps; and The Honky Tonk Angels. This season's productions will feature local and out-of-state performers. For more information on the theatre, visit www.ahtkc.com.

The Love List
September 10, 2010 - October 24, 2010
Written by Norm Foster
Kansas City Premiere - Rated PG-13

What do you get a friend for a 50th birthday present? If he's still single, you buy him a "love list" from the local gypsy. You help him put pen to paper to come up with a list of ten qualities that define the perfect woman and, "Weird Science-style," she appears! But, just as the gorgeous dream woman appears, the scheme starts to go horribly, mysteriously and hysterically awry! It's as if Neil Simon combined The Odd Couple and The Bride of Frankenstein in this insightful and outrageously funny comedy.

"Sharp, snappy and irresistibly funny." -Contra Costa Times
"Funny, sophisticated and sexy." -Hamilton Spectator
"Outrageously funny. Brilliant writing!" -Rossmore

Plaid Tidings
November 5, 2010 - December 26, 2010
Book by Stuart Ross and Music and Lyrics by Various
Kansas City Premiere - Rated PG

Dreaming of a Plaid Christmas? Great! because the hilarious, harmonious quartet, The Plaids (Frankie, Sparky, Jinx and Smudge) are back with a swingin' holiday spectacular. After their sudden demise, the four young men return to Earth - under the order of a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney - this time to perform a touching, nostalgic holiday show blending mirth, music and a bit of The Ed Sullivan Show. This sequel to the record-breaking Forever Plaid, mixes favorites from the holidays (The Christmas Song, Cool Yule, Let It Snow, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) and popular tunes from the 1950s (Strangers in Paradise, Sh-Boom, Fever). A perfect holiday treat for the entire family.

"It's a charming Christmas show you will always remember." -The Austin Chronicle

Maybe Baby, It's You
January 7, 2011 - February 20, 2011
Written by Charlie Shanian and Shari Simpson
Rated PG

The blockbuster comedy about the search for that most elusive of all entities... your soul-mate. We take a raucous ride through male-female relationships in the company of two searchers with a laundry list of must-have qualities for a mate that swiftly dwindles down to "warm and breathing" as the only prerequisite; a mild-mannered Midwesterner whose blind date turns out to be the Greek goddess Medea; a gorgeous, charming brain surgeon who is always "Mr. Wrong" due to his penchant for spastic, arrhythmic club dancing; an elderly divorced couple who entertain the fantasy of a reconciliation at their grandson's soccer game; and other would-be and shouldn't-be couples trying to find each other. Maybe Baby, It's You. Or maybe...it isn't.

"NO 'MAYBE' BABY, IT'S A WINNER! Maybe Baby is smart, funny, adorable." - New York Post
"These deceptively simple pieces possess a wisdom and good sense that explode gently in the mind afterward." - New York Post

No Way to Treat a Lady
March 4, 2011 - April 17, 2011
Written by Douglas J. Cohen. Based on the novel by William Goldman
AHT Premiere - Rated PG

A devilish blend of humor, romance and murder, this theatrically-charged musical comedy thriller is about an endearing detective who is pursuing a publicity-crazed actor-turned-killer. The detective works to foil the killer's plots while balancing the attentions of a beautiful socialite and a meddling mother. Meanwhile, the killer adopts a myriad of over-the-top disguises, including a slinky Latin dance instructor, French waiter, and kindly Irish priest. This outrageously comic musical will win your heart.

Richard Rodgers Award Winner
"A fine way to treat a musical! A real winner." -N.Y. Post
"Catchy tunes and snappy lyrics." -N.Y. Times
"A fine and dandy way to treat an audience.... It should be on Broadway." - N.Y. Observer
"TERRIFIC! HILARIOUS! DYNAMIC!" -L.A. Time

The 39 Steps
May 6, 2011 - June 19, 2011
Adapted by Patrick Barlow, from the novel by John Buchan, from the movie of Alfred Hitchcock
Kansas City Premiere - Rated PG

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This Tony® Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance! The mayhem starts when a man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" is hot on the man's trail that climaxes in a death-defying finale! The 39 Steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure!

WINNER! 2 Tony® and Drama Desk Awards, 2008
WINNER! BEST NEW COMEDY Laurence Olivier Award, 2007
The 39 Steps, is Broadway's longest running comedy and still going strong!
"THEATER AT ITS FINEST... Absurdly enjoyable! This gleefully theatrical riff on Hitchcock's film is fast and frothy, performed by a cast of four that seems like a cast of thousands." -Ben Brantley, The New York Times

The Honky Tonk Angels
July 8, 2011 - August 21, 2011
Written by Ted Swindley
Kansas City Premiere - Rated PG

The creator of Always...Patsy Cline, combines over 30 classic country tunes with an hilarious story about three gutsy gals who are determined to better their lives and follow their dreams to Nashville. The all-hit song list includes I'll Fly Away, Stand by Your Man, 9 to 5, Coal Miner's Daughter, Ode to Billy Jo, These Boots Are Made for Walking, Rocky Top, and I Will Always Love You. This charming, foot-stompin' musical has played to sold-out audiences across the country.

"Touched by 'Angels' ... makes audiences laugh until they cry!" -TULSA World
"You'll have to step on your toes to keep them from tappin'." -Asheville Times

For reservations and/or information on 2010-2011 season tickets, call 816-842-9999, visit the box office in Crown Center, or visit www.ahtkc.com. Groups of 10 or more may call 816-842-0202 for reservations (group discounts are available). Tuesday through Thursday evening performances begin at 7:30pm. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8:00pm. There are also select Sunday evening performances and select matinee & twilight performances throughout the run. Visit www.ahtkc.com for a complete schedule. Tickets have an attached coupon for discounts at several Crown Center restaurants valid for the date of the performance. Parking is covered, secure and free with theatre validation. Handicapped seating and assistive listening devices are available. In addition, an ASL interpreted performance is scheduled for each show.