Crown Center Sets Their Schedule of Events September 2011- August 2012

Crown Center announces their schedule of events for September 2011- August 2012

May 28 - September 5
Rainforest Adventure exhibit
Crown Center Shops Showplace, Level 1. A multisensory expedition that introduces children to tropical rainforests around the world. The exhibit features 40 interactive components, including computer games, a 9-foot kapok tree, gorilla blind and a station to color your own unique insects. Children role-play as research assistants as they explore and learn about the rainforest and its ecological wonders. On loan from Stepping Stones Museum for Children of Norwalk, Ct. Open during Crown Center Shops regular hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday - Wednesday & Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday & Friday; noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. Open noon to 5 p.m. on Labor Day. No admission fee. 816-274-8444.

September 2-4
Kansas City Irish Fest
Crown Center Square and Off Center Theatre. Commemorate Kansas City's proud Celtic heritage with three days of music, dancing and exhibits. The festival will feature more than two dozen locally and nationally known bands, playing traditional music and Celtic rock. Off Center Theatre will host Irish comics. $5 Friday tickets. $10 advance Saturday or Sunday tickets, $15 at the gate on Saturday/Sunday, $25 advance three-day tickets. Festival hours: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. 816-997-0837 or KCIrishFest.com.

September 9 - October 23
Nobody Lonesome For Me: A Hank Williams play with music
American Heartland Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 3. A Kansas City premiere. It's New Year's Eve 1952 and country music legend Hank Williams is stranded at a gas station. During this fateful night, Hank shares his wit, his stories and his music, including "So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Ramblin' Man" and "Your Cheatin' Heart." Starring Matthew Brumlow, who is reprising his much-lauded role as Hank Williams. 816-842-9999 or AHTKC.com.

September 9-10, 16-17
KC Improv Festival
Off Center Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 3. Nationally-known stars (including SNL's Jason Sudeikis on September 17) and local favorites get together for two big weekends. Watch as they create hilarious characters, scenes and stories before your eyes. More details at KCImprov.com/festival.

September 12
Musical Theater Heritage's Musical Monday
Off Center Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 3. It's a traditional day off in the theater world but many singers drop in anyhow for one of Musical Theater Heritage's cabaret nights. Tickets are just $17. 816-221-6987 or MTHKC.com.

September 13 - October 14
The Outsiders
The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 1. It's 1965 and Ponyboy Curtis belongs to a lower-class group of Oklahoma youths who call themselves greasers. Walking home from a movie, Ponyboy is attacked by a group of Socs (short for Socials), a rival gang that threatens to cut him. So begins an impactful tale by S.E. Hinton, who wrote this landmark work as a teen in Tulsa. 816-474-6552 or CoterieTheatre.org .

October 15
Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon
Crown Center Square. Races include a 26.2-mile marathon, 13.1-mile half marathon and 5K run/walk, all starting and ending at Crown Center Square, site of the finish line festival. 7:05 a.m. The Marathon Expo, no charge to the public, is held October 13-14 in the Crown Center Exhibit Hall at 2323 McGee. For registration information, visit KCMarathon.org.

October 22, 29
Spooky Fun Halloween Puppet Shows
Crown Center Shops Atrium, Level 1. A pair of Kansas City's finest puppeteers bring their Halloween shows to Crown center. Paul Mesner Puppets presents "Wiley and the Hairy Man!" on October 22. StoneLion Puppet Theatre presents "Boneyard Jamboree" on October 29. Shows at noon and 2 p.m. No admission fee. 816-274-8444.

November 1 - December 31
Seussical
The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 1. The plots of "Horton Hears a Who" and "Horton Hatches the Egg" are tunefully interwoven in this widely celebrated and critically acclaimed production. The Coterie was credited in The New York Times for originating this version "for all ages"... a true family classic!" Part of the Coterie's Family Series. 816-474-6552 or CoterieTheatre.org .

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