Kansas City Star: Performing Arts

How will the arts survive? Expert Michael Kaiser has some answers

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Michael Kaiser has simple words of advice for nonprofit arts groups facing a bad economy: Be brave. Feeling the squeeze from dropping donations and government grants? Then take your audience by surprise.

Theater closings this week | Nov. 8-14

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

THEATER

Review | Musica Nova explores George Crumb compositions

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:58 CDT

Musica Nova, the UMKC Conservatory contemporary music ensemble, showed us Saturday night that not only historic composers deserve anniversary celebrations.

Review | Deborah Voigt impressive in wide range of art, opera song

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:59 CDT

Reigning Wagnerian soprano Deborah Voigt presented an impressive array of musical jewels from the repertoire of both opera and art song in her Friday night recital at the Folly Theatre.

Review | Soprano, lutenist shine in 'English Orpheus' program

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:09 CDT

Dame Emma Kirkby, an English soprano legendary in early music circles, and Swedish lutenist Jakob Lindberg demonstrated that music can be a gentle and subtle art in a program called “English Orpheus,” performed Friday night in the intimate confines of the Polsky Theatre at the Carlsen Center.

Several theater groups are presenting entertaining fundraisers

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Pay up, please. That’s what some of our friends in the theater community would really like you to do. Call it an alignment of the planets if you will, but the next few weeks will see a succession of theater-related fundraisers.

Performing arts calendar | Oct. 29-Nov. 4

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

For complete listings, go to Preview Extra on KansasCity.com. CLASSICAL MUSIC

Review | Anonymous 4 presents extraordinary concert

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:44 CDT

There's no doubt that Anonymous 4 are the reigning superstars of the medieval sacred music world. That may be a limited market, but they pack a punch. Their concert, presented Saturday night at Visitation Church by the Friends of Chamber Music, was an extraordinary musical event.

Review | Ito exciting in solo with symphony

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:46 CDT

It was something of a family affair at Friday night's concert by the Kansas City Symphony at the Lyric Theatre. Concertmistress Kanako Ito took center stage as soloist in an exciting performance of Mendelssohn's “Violin Concerto in E Minor.”

Research helps Barry Williams play minister in ‘Church Basement Ladies 2'

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Barry Williams wasn’t sure what to think when the New Theatre Restaurant sent him the script to “Church Basement Ladies 2.” For one thing, the lifelong Los Angeles Basin-resident would be playing a Lutheran pastor, which would certainly be a stretch for the actor best known as Greg Brady on “The Brady Bunch.”

Review | �Palomino�

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:17 CDT

I've seen one-actor shows before but I've never seen anything like “Palomino.” This splendid play, receiving its world premiere at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, is singular in the depth and clarity of the writing and the breathtaking precision of David Cale's performance.

Theater | Halloween burlesque, times two

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

As Halloween approaches, you know what to expect in the West Bottoms: vampires, werewolves, mutants, snake-handlers and lines of teenagers waiting to be scared witless. But did you know about the strippers and comedians? Read on.

Civic Opera serves a joyous treat in 'The Fairy Queen'

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

As an alumna of the College of William and Mary, I was predisposed to adore the Civic Opera Theatre of Kansas City’s utterly charming production of “The Fairy Queen” as soon as I saw that King William III and Queen Mary II had been added to the show’s cast of onstage characters.

Performing arts calendar | Nov. 12-18

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

For complete listings, go to KansasCity .com. CLASSICAL MUSIC

Review | 'Kind of Blue' 50th anniversary tour with So What tribute band

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:05 CDT

Like valiant soldiers going into battle against overwhelming odds, Jimmy Cobb's So What Band fought courageously Saturday at the Gem Theater. Its formidable mission was to recreate Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue."

Review | Coterie at Night's �Maul of the Dead' moves like a whirlwind

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:18 CDT

Years ago, an editor insisted that I write a review of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Being a naturally agreeable entertainment reporter, I did as I was told. But the challenge was insurmountable. How do you write a comprehensive review of a three-ring circus? Do you focus on the antics of the clowns, the big cats or the Wheel of Death?

Theater opening this week | Nov. 8-14

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

For complete listings, go to Preview Extra on KansasCity .com.

Big 12 | Theater

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:15 CDT

It’s a safe bet that KC’s downtown area has more live theater than you’re used to.

Review | 'Remember Me'

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:22 CST

Love, passion, sex, death, and resurrection are all timeless themes in the arts, and all were well represented in a memorable contemporary dance drama by Kansas City native David Parsons.

‘Wicked': The hit machine lands for a long Music Hall run

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Theater composers have a couple of reliable tricks to fall back on if the music at hand is not destined for the Show Tune Hall of Fame. One is to simply make it loud, so the actors can belt out a song for all it’s worth, which is often enough to convince ticket-buyers that they’re getting their money’s worth. The other is to make sure even relatively quiet songs wrap up with the Big Finish, suggesting that the emotion-tugging swell may actually be deserved.

For producer, KC Rep's �Christmas Story' is a dream come true

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Gerald Goehring learned long ago how to stretch a dollar. When he blew into New York City a couple of decades ago with a theater degree from Wichita State University, he quickly discovered that his calling card into the world of professional theater would not be his artistic aspirations but his carpentry skills.

'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' reverently reimagines beloved movie

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:15 CST

Some shows that really shouldn’t work can turn out quite nicely if you have just the right combination of talent That’s the case with “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at the American Heartland Theatre. This crisply directed, well-acted show hits most of the right notes and avoids potential pitfalls.

Unicorn Theatre takes on campaign politics in 'Farragut North'

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Beau Willimon was there the night of the Dean Scream. He synthesized many of his experiences there in his play “Farragut North,” about a fictional presidential primary campaign.

Martin City Melodrama presents 'A Ridiculously Reduced Christmas Carol'

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Almost everyone in a position to know agrees — performing in a Martin City Melodrama show is as grueling as a marathon. But they also agree it couldn’t be done a different way.

Choral ensemble Octarium brings out the best

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

The Kansas City-based choral ensemble Octarium has been gathering rave reviews since it was founded in 2003 by Krista Lang Blackwood. And those raves weren’t just from critics.

Performing arts address book | Nov. 12-18

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

American Heartland Theatre: Crown Center Shops, Level Three, 2450 Grand. Barn Players Theatre: 6219 Martway, Mission.

Theater review: ‘H.M.S. Pinafore'

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

I won’t be the first theatergoer to describe Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” as sheer foolishness, but it sums up the 1878 operetta rather well. Set entirely on the quarter deck of a British naval vessel that has been given the decidedly unmanly name of “Pinafore,” the story is a farcical essay on the British obsession with class distinctions.

'Wicked' returning to KC, popular as ever

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Producer Marc Platt gets emotional when he talks about the extraordinary worldwide popularity of “Wicked.” Maybe that’s because the musical itself has gotten under the skin of so many people.