Some people have asked: "What do you look for as a critic?" That answer is simple: Something I can remember. Anyone who really knows me might conclude that my tastes are entirely too vulgar to really be a theater critic. The trash, in my view, is often as memorable as the art.
But theater has a split personality: One foot is in the nonprofit world of academically approved high art, the other in the tawdry, commercial world of showbiz. Sometimes the lines are blurred, but the truth is you can find as much truth and beauty in the vulgar as you can in the refined.
But at the end of the day, I look for something real -- a piece of writing, a moment in an actor's performance, an inspired bit of staging from a director that somehow conveys the emotional, pyschological or spiritual reality of being human.
Submitted by Anonymous from No location specified
Q: I heard Wicked will be here next summer and The Lion King will be at the Music Hall as the opening show in 2008. Is this true about The Lion King and where will Wicked Be if that's true?
Answered 10/18/06 18:24:52 by Robert Trussell
A: No announcement has been made about shows at the Music Hall in 2008. Live Nation, a national company, will be booking shows there beginning with the 2007-2008 season so my guess is that both "Lion King" and "Wicked" are strong possibilities.Submitted by Anonymous from butler, mo
Q: is the phantom of the opera, comming to kansas city soon?
Answered 08/25/06 19:50:44 by Robert Trussell
A: We've heard nothing about a return engagement of "Phantom." It's logical to assume that it will come back sooner or later.Submitted by Anonymous from Overland Park, Kansas
Q: If the musical "Menopause" was a movie - what would it be rated?
Answered 08/25/06 19:49:58 by Robert Trussell
A: Probably PG-13.Submitted by D. Lorenzo Ruis from Kansas City, KS
Q: Since we have such a huge Hispanic population in this town, is there a theatre company that dedicates itself to producing works of Hispanic artists?
Answered 08/25/06 19:49:09 by Robert Trussell
A: At the moment there is no theater company committed to producing plays by and/or for the Hispanic community. Frankly, the city could use one. One local group, Full Circle Theatre Company, sometimes stages work that reflects the Latino experience. You can check out their season at http://www.fullcircletheatreco.org.Submitted by Claudia from Lee's Summit, MO
Q: We were trying to think of the name of a play that was produced at the Quality Hill probably around the late 80's, early 90's. It was a Theatre League offering, starring T. Max Graham, and the play was about stand-up comics. I tried a search, but couldn't access any archival information of past Theatre League productions, and a Google search of T. Max Graham only came up with his film credits. Can you help us track down this play?
Answered 04/17/06 20:38:09 by Robert Trussell
A: The play was "Only Kidding" by Jim Geoghan. By my recollection the Quality Hill production was probably in 1990 or '91. Used copies of the Samuel French edition are available on Amazon, but you should check your local library first. Hope this helps.Submitted by Ginnie Job from Leawood, KS
Q: For many years, I've been a "Star" subscriber and a regular theatre goer. Fnding reviews in the paper is frustrating. The timing and location are unpredictable, and no index is offered. Even searching the website under "entertainment," I found no user-friendly section clearly labeled "reviews." I'd be grateful for consistently availabile reviews in any format. Thanks!
Answered 03/22/06 18:40:01 by Robert Trussell
A: Your frustration is understandable. Let me offer this general guideline: In the physical newspaper, most performance reviews run on the Showtime page in FYI. If Paul Horsley, our music critic, reviews the KC Symphony on Friday night, his review usually runs in Monday FYI. If I see a play at the Unicorn on Friday, my review will most likely run Tuesday. I always see shows at KC Rep and the American Heartland Theatre on Wednesday and those reviews usually run on Saturday (because Friday FYI is dominated by movie reviews with only limited space available for performance reviews). Occasionally theater reviews run in the Preview section, which is published each Thursday. On our website most reviews and articles are compiled as a digest under each writer's name. So if you click on ENTERTAINMENT and then click on the critic of your choice in the list of arts columnists, you will find recent reviews going back several weeks. Hope this helps.Submitted by Jean from Montezuma IA 50171
Q: A Kansas City friend mentiond going to a dinner theater featuring a George Burns impersonator. If you've reviewed the show, would it be possible for me to find it in Star archives? I read the Star online since I live out of state.
Answered 03/22/06 18:31:55 by Robert Trussell
A: You can find it by going to www.kansascity.com, clicking on ENTERTAINMENT and then clicking on my name in the list of arts columnists. Most of my recent stories and reviews will pop up, including the review of the George Burns show under the headline "Say Hello to 'Goodnight'."Submitted by Ray from No location specified
Q: I've looked for the Music Hall online, can't find it. I did find out I can order tickets for a Broadway show but I can't order tickets for a show here in KC at the Music Hall. Why? How can I support entertainment in KC if I have problems getting tickets?
Answered 03/22/06 18:26:56 by Robert Trussell
A: The Music Hall is part of Municipal Auditorium and no, you won't find a phone number for it. Broadway musicals are presented there by Theater League and tickets are sold through Ticketmaster. The Theater League number is (816)421-1801 and Ticketmaster is (816)931-3330. They also have web sites: www.theaterleague.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Hope this helps.Submitted by Anonymous from Kansas City, Ks
Q: where can i find listings of auditions around the city. (Theatre,Film)
Answered 02/21/06 16:09:36 by Robert Trussell
A: Auditions for theater, music and film almost always run in the Arts section on Sunday. They aren't there every week but that's where you'll find them.Submitted by Ed Johnson from Leawood
Q: I have a comment rather than a question. You mentioned 12/12 that you were honored to review the Neil Diamond concert. Be sure to have cotton wads for the ears. At his mid 1980's concert at Kemper, I lost my hearing the first chord from the band. Had ringing for a month after and on third set of hearing aids. Over $8000 so far.
Answered 02/21/06 16:08:52 by Robert Trussell
A: First of all, I'm very sorry to learn of your hearing problems as a result of attending Mr. Diamond's concert. I covered a lot of rock shows in the '80s and one thing I can say without hesitation: They were always too loud. Loudness, of course, is the bread and butter of heavy metal bands. But for a relatively bland pop crooner like Neil Diamond, why blast the audience with over-amplification? It doesn't make sense. Oh, and the use of the word "honored" was meant sarcastically.Submitted by pantherboy from kansas city
Q: I have recently moved to the KC area and am a huge proponent of the ARTS. Especially plays featuring local talent. Is there a web site or other media available to view a listing of the artistic presentations including the professions of musicians and thespians alike? Thank you
Answered 02/21/06 15:53:45 by Robert Trussell
A: In KC we don't have a totally comprehensive Website for arst events but a good place to start would be the Kansas City Public Library. If you log onto http://www.kclibrary.org/guides/arts/ you'll see a list of other links on the right hand side of the page, including artlinks.org, which is mainted by our local arts council. There you'll find information on the performing arts, the visual arts and other topics. The Kansas City Star runs weekly calendar listings in the Preview section, published each Thursday, and Arts on Sunday. In addition, most of the local organitions maintain their own Websites. If you Google Kansas City Repertory Theatre, for example, the first thing you'll probably see is the company's site at kcrep.org. Hope this helps.Submitted by KATHLEEN WARFEL from OVERLAND PARK KANSAS
Q: MR TRUSSELL THE KANSAS CITY THEATER COMMUNITY IS RALLYING AROUND BETSY ROBBINS AND HER FAMILY WE WILL BE HAVING A BENEFIT GARAGE SALE OCTOBER 14TH AND 15TH 6340 MAIN STREET IN BROOKSIDE ANYONE WITH ITEMS TO DONATE TO THE SALE MAY CONTACT KATHLEEN WARFEL AT 913 262 2208 SUSIE OR KATHY AT 816 361 8785 OR 816 868 7525 AS YOU KNOW THE ROBBINS FAMILY HAS PROVIDED KANSAS CITY WITH YEARS OF EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT. WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SOME OF THE LOVE BACK TO THEM. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE WILL GO TO OFFSET BETSY'S MEDICAL EXPENSES. PLEASE HELP US GET THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE IN KANSAS CITY TO HELP ONE OF OUR OWN SINCERELY KATHLEEN WARFEL WAYNE SIEGERT SUSIE KATHY
Answered 10/06/05 19:54:22 by Robert Trussell
A: Kathleen, thanks for the information. Some people will see the information here, but I'll also get in the paper.Submitted by Susan from Overland Park
Q: Just wondering if anyone has done a review of "Two Can Play", which is currently running at the New Theater Restaurant in Overland Park.
Answered 10/06/05 19:50:42 by Robert Trussell
A: The review was published on September 10.Submitted by Anonymous from No location specified
Q: Why hasn't there been a review of "Rose's Dilemma yet?
Answered 10/06/05 19:47:03 by Robert Trussell
A: The review ran Sept. 21.Submitted by RJ from Kansas City, Mo
Q: Question about copyright. If you write an article about our theatre, can we put that article in its entirety (including date that it appeared in the Star)on our website or is this a problem with copyright. And yes, we have a link to the KC STAR.
Answered 08/09/05 16:46:55 by Robert Trussell
A: I don't have a definitive answer. You should direct your question Derek Donovan, our Reader's Representative, at ddonovan@kcstar.com.