Kansas City Theatre + Broadway News

BWW Seeks Editors In Kansas City

(5/16/2012) BroadwayWorld.com is currently seeking talented theater enthusiasts to head up feature coverage in Kansas City.

Unicorn Theatre's EVERYDAY RAPTURE Begins Previews Tonight, 5/16

(5/16/2012) A semi-autobiographical musical stage memoir by Sherie Rene Scott, this is the story of a woman’s "psycho-sexual-spiritual journey that separates her mostly Mennonite past from her mostly Manhattan future. She travels from Topeka, Kansas to New York City; with a disturbing detour through YouTube. Filled with familiar tunes, this musical follows Sherie’s road to Broadway semi-stardom."

Becky Everly & Denise Dodd to Run STORYTELLING WORKSHOP for Kindergarten, First & Second Graders, 5/19

(5/15/2012) A Storytelling Workshop For Kindergarten, First & Second Graders with instructors Becky Everly and Denise Dodd will take place on Saturday, May 19th at HARMONY VINEYARD CHURCH, 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO 64116 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Crown Center Antique Fest Set for 6/9-10

(5/14/2012) The 12th annual Crown Center Antique Festival is set for June 9-10. More than 150 booths of unique items will fill Crown Center Square at 2450 Grand Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. There is no admission fee.

Kim Crosby, Original Cinderella, Plays Baker's Wife in INTO THE WOODS at Little Springfield Theatre, MO, Now thru 5/29

(5/13/2012) Kim Crosby will play the Baker's Wife in the Springfield Little Theatre's INTO THE WOODS, which plays today, May 13 through 29 in Springfield, MO.

The Coterie's Season to Include DEAR AMERICA, SPRING AWAKENING and More

(5/11/2012) “Our 34th season will be another ambitious one for the Coterie. The Coterie's Lab for New Family Musicals will host an awesome holiday production and work with the composing/writing team behind Shrek the Musical to create the premiere Theatre for Young Audiences version,” said Jeff Church, producing artistic director. “There will be several wonderful productions based on books: Christopher Paul Curtis' Bud Not Buddy, Lois Lowry's Number the Stars and a piece based on Scholastic's Dear America Series.

KC's Coterie Theatre Presents Young Playwrights' Festival, 5/9-10

(5/9/2012) It's the Coterie Theatre's favorite time of the year: world premiere readings from some of Kansas City's most talented teen playwrights will be showcased during the Annual Young Playwrights' Festival at 7 p.m. tonight, May 9 and tomorrow May 10 at the Coterie Theatre, level 1, Crown Center Shops. Professional actors, directors and designers work to present a collection of seven staged readings, plays and monologues from teen members of the Coterie's Young Playwrights' Roundtable.

ACT One Announce Summer Camp Internship Opportunity, Kansas City, MO

(5/8/2012) Each summer ACT One, the Academy of Christian Theatre, offers students agesd 13 and up the opportunity to as interns at one of our week-long camps. In exchange for working at a camp, they receive a $50 discount on Teen Camp.

George Brant's GROUNDED Wins 2012 NNPN Smith Prize; Reading Set for 6/8 in KC

(5/7/2012) The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country’s alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, has announced the winner of the 2012 Smith Prize for a new play on American political themes: George Brant’s Grounded, the powerful, surprising story of an F-16 pilot who gets “repurposed” to fly drones following her unexpected pregnancy. In addition to upcoming development stints with the New Harmony Project and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Grounded will receive a staged reading at NNPN’s Annual Conference at Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, MO on June 8, directed by Artistic Director Cynthia Levin.

Unicorn Theatre to Present EVERYDAY RAPTURE, Beginning 5/16

(5/7/2012) A semi-autobiographical musical stage memoir by Sherie Rene Scott, this is the story of a woman’s "psycho-sexual-spiritual journey that separates her mostly Mennonite past from her mostly Manhattan future. She travels from Topeka, Kansas to New York City; with a disturbing detour through YouTube. Filled with familiar tunes, this musical follows Sherie’s road to Broadway semi-stardom."

STAGE TUBE: ROOTED: THE GREENSBURG ODYSSEY Opens Today, 5/5

(5/4/2012) Residents of a small town that was wiped out by one of the largest tornados ever recorded take the stage in an original theatrical event inspired by their story of survival and recovery.

American Heartland Theatre Presents AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE, Beginning Tonight, 5/4

(5/4/2012) American Heartland Theatre presents its second World Premiere comedy of the season by playwright Sean Grennan. The penultimate production in their 25th anniversary season, As Long As We Both Shall Live, continues AHT's tradition of bringing new works to the stage and supporting the local arts community.

Voting Opens for the 2012 BroadwayWorld.com Awards - Vote Now on the Best of the New York Season!

(5/3/2012) The TONY Awards Nominators had their say earlier this week and now it's your turn! We're pleased to announce that voting has now opened for the 10th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards!

Photo Flash: Kansas City Rep's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

(5/1/2012) Kansas City Repertory Theatre, under the artistic leadership of Eric Rosen, closes its 2011-12 season with a professional production of the popular musical Little Shop of Horrors; book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith. Kyle Hatley directs. Little Shop of Horrors runs now through May 20 at the Rep's Copaken Stage. See photos from the production below!

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Closes THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Tonight, 4/29

(4/29/2012) The Lyric Opera of Kansas City closes its 54th season with Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, presented at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, through tonight, April 29, 2012. The production will be the final opera performed in the Luskin/Holmquist era at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Musical Theater Heritage Closes SWEENEY TODD Today, 4/29

(4/29/2012) Musical Theater Heritage presents SWEENEY TODD the musical, starring Don Richard & Cathy Barnett through today, April 29, at 2pm.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and More Come to KC's Crown Center, Summer 2012

(4/27/2012) Crown Center has announced its summer schedule of events, May 2012 - August 2013. See details below.

American Heartland Theatre Presents AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE, Beginning 5/4

(4/27/2012) American Heartland Theatre will present its second World Premiere comedy of the season by playwright Sean Grennan. The penultimate production in their 25th anniversary season, As Long As We Both Shall Live, continues AHT's tradition of bringing new works to the stage and supporting the local arts community.

Musical Theater Heritage Presents SWEENEY TODD, 4/12-29

(4/27/2012) Musical Theater Heritage presents SWEENEY TODD the musical, starring Don Richard & Cathy Barnett April 12-29. Performances are Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.

KC's Coterie Theatre Announces Young Playwrights' Festival, 5/9-10

(4/26/2012) It's the Coterie Theatre's favorite time of the year: world premiere readings from some of Kansas City's most talented teen playwrights will be showcased during the Annual Young Playwrights' Festival at 7 p.m. May 9 and 10 at the Coterie Theatre, level 1, Crown Center Shops. Professional actors, directors and designers work to present a collection of seven staged readings, plays and monologues from teen members of the Coterie's Young Playwrights' Roundtable.

Glen Campbell Plays the Uptown Theater Tonight

(4/26/2012) Glen-Campbell-to-play-the-Uptown-Theater-426-20010101 Glen Campbell, who was honored at this year's Grammy Awards with a lifetime achievement award, announced his battle with Alzheimer’s disease late in 2011. Despite the diagnosis, Glen will hit the road for his “Goodbye Tour" and stops at Kansas City's Uptown Theater tonight, April 26.

She & Her Presents BALTIMORE WALTZ, 4/20

(4/23/2012) She & Her presents THE BALTIMORE WALTZ, directed by Ian R. Crawford, from April 20th through 30th.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Presents THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, 4/21-29

(4/21/2012) The Lyric Opera of Kansas City closes its 54th season with Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, presented at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, April 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 2012. The production will be the final opera performed in the Luskin/Holmquist era at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Kenny Loggins to Perform at Friday Night Concert at Crown Center, 8/3

(4/20/2012) Kenny Loggins brings his library of hit songs to Crown Center for a Friday Night Concert on August 3. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is held rain or shine. Admission is $5 and all seating is general admission.

SWEENEY TODD, LEGALLY BLONDE and More to Headline Theatre in the Park's 2012 Summer Season

(4/16/2012) Theatre in the Park presents first six-show season this summer at the largest outdoor community theater in the country, Johnson County's Theatre in the Park in Shawnee Mission Park.

American Heartland Theatre Ends Run of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, 4/15

(4/15/2012) American Heartland Theatre ends its run of Oscar Wilde's farce The Importance of Being Earnest in Kansas City tonight, April 15. A recent hit on Broadway, The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy of mistaken identities which ridicules codes of propriety and etiquette. Dashing men-about-town John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pursue fair ladies Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities - not to mention the disapproval of Gwendolen's mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell, played by Jim Korinke.

PIPPIN, DEATH OF A SALESMAN Et Al. Included in Kansas City Repertory Theatre's 2012-2013 Season

(4/14/2012) Eric Rosen has announced his selections for Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s 2012-13 season, his fifth year as the theatre’s artistic director.

AHT Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Subscribers

(4/13/2012) On Monday, April 9th AHT held a celebration for season subscribers. Nearly 400 patrons joined AHT staff and actors for cocktails, cake, and a backstage tour of the theatre. Local actresses Jessalyn Kincaid, Colleen Grate, Liz Clark Golson and Sarah Goeke serenaded the guests with songs from this season's holiday show, The Marvelous Wonderettes.

Gladstone Theatre in the Park Closes 25th Season With JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT, 8/3

(4/13/2012) Gladstone will close its celebratory 25th Season of Theatre in the Park with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. The show opens Friday, August 3rd and runs three nights consecutively through Sunday, August 5th. All performances begin at 8:30 p.m. and concessions will be available.

Kim Crosby, Original Cinderella, to Play Baker's Wife in INTO THE WOODS at Little Springfield Theatre, MO, May 13-29

(4/12/2012) Kim Crosby will play the Baker's Wife in the Springfield Little Theatre's INTO THE WOODS, which plays May 13-29 in Springfield, MO. Crosby created the role of Cinderella in the 1987 INTO THE WOODS, first at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and then on Broadway. Cinderella's Prince was played by Robert Westenberg, who Crosby later married.

KC Rep Presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, 4/20-5/20

(4/10/2012) Kansas City Repertory Theatre, under the artistic leadership of Eric Rosen, closes its 2011-12 season with a professional production of the popular musical Little Shop of Horrors; book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith. Kyle Hatley directs. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 20 – May 20 at the Rep’s Copaken Stage.

The Coterie Theatre Presents JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, 4/10-5/18

(4/10/2012) Roald Dahl’s classic tale of friendship and adventure, James and the Giant Peach, performs April 10 – May 18 at the Coterie Theatre, level 1 Crown Center Shops. It’s the story of crocodile tongues, horrible aunts, a ravenous rhinoceros and James who is miserable...until something peculiar happens involving a giant peach and group of talking insects! James and his diverse insect buddies work together to take the most wonderful and extraordinary journey they could ever imagine.

American Heartland Theatre Announces HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES & More for 2012-13

(4/6/2012) Kansas City's American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center has announced their 2012-2013 season, which will include 5 Kansas City Premieres and one favorite holiday hit. Starting off the season is comedy about family by one of AHT's favorite playwrights, Sean Grennan, MAKING GOD LAUGH. The season also includes a riotous adaptation of the thriller, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. The holidays have everyone laughing with the return of the Sisters of Mount St. Helens in NUNCRACKERS.

Quixotic Announced ONE Showcase for April 14

(4/6/2012) The Quixotic artist ensemble will present a showcase, ONE, on Saturday, April 14 at the Midland Theatre. Doors open at for 7:00 PM special guests The Human Experience at 7:30pm and the Quixotic show at 8:30pm.

Muriel Kauffman Theatre to Present HAIR in Feb. 2013

(4/2/2012) The Muriel Kauffman Theatre, a subsect of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, is set to welcome the national tour of the original rock musical, HAIR. HAIR is slated to perform from February 5th through the 10th, 2013. For tickets to HAIR's Kansas City stop, visit www.kauffmancenter.org.

Starlight Theater to Present Cathy Rigby in PETER PAN in July

(3/30/2012) Kansas City's premiere outdoors theater is set to present Cathy Rigby in PETER PAN as part of their summer 2012 Broadway Season. The show will perform from July 24th through the 29th, at 8 PM. Other shows included in summer line-up are IN THE HEIGHTS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY MEMPHIS, AIDA, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES. Tickets for PETER PAN are available by calling the box office, or online at www.kcstarlight.com. More information on the production starring Cathy Rigby can be found at www.cathyrigbyispeterpan.com.

KC Rep Hosts Faith Night Events March 28-29

(3/28/2012) After selected performances of The Whipping Man, a drama that explores religious identify and what it means to be free, a panel of religious leaders from various denominations throughout the city will lead a dialogue about faith and its impact on our lives.

KCAT Announces 8th Season

(3/24/2012) Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) announces its “Excellent Eighth” Season with four shows including two mysteries, one holiday spoof and one regional premiere.

Michael James Leslie, Ashley Blanchet to Star in Kansas City Rep's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

(3/22/2012) Kansas City Repertory Theatre has announced the cast for Little Shop of Horrors, its final production of the 2011-12 season. The Rep’s Associate Artistic Director Kyle Hatley will direct. He has also directed the Rep’s productions of Circle Mirror Transformation, A Christmas Carol, The Borderland, Nathan Louis Jackson’s Broke-ology, and he has appeared in The Whipping Man and The Glass Menagerie at the Rep. Hatley is a noted writer and director for the Kansas City Fringe Festival and is artistic director and co-founder of Chatterbox Audio Theater.

TIME STANDS STILL Plays Unicorn Theatre, 4/14-4/29

(3/21/2012) TIME STANDS STILL, 2010 Tony Award Nominee for Best Play, is set to play at the Unicorn Theatre this season.