This week in KC: Naka-Con Anime Convention, Planet Comicon, Joshua Bell, ‘Giselle’ and the Big 12
Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament
Wednesday, March 11-Saturday, March 14, at the Sprint Center
The regular season of men’s basketball in the Big 12 Conference was a study in parity. Every team lost at least four games. The last-place Texas Tech Raiders beat the NCAA Tournament-bound Iowa State Cyclones in January. The lowly Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University achieved impressive wins against the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Kansas State Wildcats. With home court advantage largely nullified — though some fans insist that the Sprint Center is the eastern branch of Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse — every team has a fighting chance at this week’s tournament. Iowa State, a team that reliably draws thousands of loyal backers to Kansas City every March, won last year’s tournament.
6 p.m. Wednesday, March 11; 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12; 6 p.m. Friday, March 13; 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Sprint Center. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $195-$350.
Naka-Kon Anime Convention
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Overland Park Convention Center
The stated mission of Naka-Con — “(W)e celebrate Japanese animation and the influence anime has had in the Midwest and around the globe by educating people from all walks of life in many diverse facets of popular and traditional Japanese culture” — hints at the diverse array of activities that will transpire at the Overland Park Convention Center this weekend. Games, an obstacle course and a dance are among the entertainment options. Panel discussions include a presentation by entrepreneur Shion Francois titled “Babel Entertainment: Being an Entrepreneur in Japan.”
Friday, March 13, Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. Overland Park Convention Center. naka-kon.com. $25 on Friday, $30 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday. Discounts for youth and multiday passes are available.
Planet Comicon
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Bartle Hall
The recent passing of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Spock on the television program “Star Trek,” served as a grim reminder that opportunities to rub shoulders with celebrities from the realm of the science fiction are fleeting. “Star Trek” devotees have a chance to interact with Garrett Wang and Raphael Sbarge, actors featured in “Star Trek: Voyager,” at this year’s Planet Comicon. The pop culture and comic book convention also features an original Batmobile, comic book creators and panels with titles such as “Steampunk Everything!” and “How to Be a Nerd for a Living.”
Noon-7 p.m. Friday, March 13, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Bartle Hall. 660-473-1576. planetcomicon.com. $20 on Friday, $30 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday. Discounts for youth and multiday passes are available.
Kansas City Ballet, “Giselle”
Opens Friday at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
From the opening scene depicting a pleasant gathering in a rustic German community to its eerie graveside conclusion, “Giselle” has pleased audiences since its debut in 1841. A story of broken hearts and the redeeming power of love, “Giselle” is one of the most relatable works in the ballet canon. The score of “Giselle” provides much of the appeal. The Kansas City Symphony will perform Adolphe Adam’s sprightly and evocative music. Insights into the work will be offered in free Belger Footnote Series discussions that begin an hour prior to each performance.
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22. Muriel Kauffman Theatre. 816-931-8993. kcballet.org. $49-$119.
Jim Jefferies
Friday at the Midland theater
Not everyone is charmed by Australian comedian Jim Jefferies. Footage of Jefferies being attacked on a stage in England by an apparently disgruntled member of the audience has been viewed more than 1.2 million times on YouTube. His sexually oriented routines are crude. His work on the television series “Legit” was no less distasteful. In the first of 26 episodes of the comedy, Jefferies fantasizes about fathering a child with a terminally ill American woman to obtain citizenship while avoiding longtime romantic obligations.
8 p.m. Friday, March 13,. Midland theater. 816-283-9921. midlandkc.com. $37.50.
Joshua Bell, violinist
Saturday at Helzberg Hall
Decades from now, Kansas Citians may marvel that the world’s most famous violinist once performed so frequently in their town. Bell’s return to the area on Saturday is the fourth time he has been presented by the Harriman-Jewell Series and his first appearance in Helzberg Hall. The sensitive playing of Bell, 47, has astonished classical experts even as he has popularized the form. Accompanied by pianist Sam Haywood, the Indiana native will perform works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Edvard Grieg, Johannes Brahms and Béla Bartók on a 300-year-old Stradivarius violin.
8 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Helzberg Hall. 816-415-5025. hjseries.org. $30-$80.
13th Annual Elders Hoolie
Saturday at the Uptown Theater
One of just a handful of locally based ensembles capable of filling the Uptown Theater, the Elders host an annual Hoolie in the cavernous venue. Combining all the trappings of a concert with the feel of a community party, the Hoolie will begin with a performance by the O’Riada-Manning Academy of Irish Dance. The Celtic rock band recently released “Story Road.” A recording that includes two live tracks captured at last year’s Hoolie at the Uptown Theater, the band’s 12th album indicates that the Elders continue to refine their popular sound.
8 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Uptown Theater. 816-753-8665. ticketmaster.com. $25-$55.
Kansas City’s Big 12 Run 5K and 12K
Saturday in the Power & Light District
Many of the collegiate athletes competing in the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament will log several miles sprinting up and down the court of the Sprint Center. While hiking to seats in the upper tier of the arena can also prove taxing, some basketball fans may opt to partake in an additional workout at the Big 12 Run 5K and 12K. Participants are encouraged to don gear representing their favorite teams as they jog or stroll in the 5K or push themselves further in the 12K. It’s not all about exercise. A tab on the race bibs of adults can be exchanged for a beer in the Power & Light District.
10 a.m. Saturday, March 14. Power & Light District. (no phone) powerandlightdistrict.com. $45 for the 5K and $55 for the 12K.
The Oak Ridge Boys
Saturday at Ameristar casino
The longevity of the Oak Ridge Boys is one of the wonders of popular music. Joe Bonsall, a relative newcomer to the vocal group, joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973. With origins that date back to Oak Ridge, Tenn., in the 1940s, the gospel-based ensemble began issuing recordings in the 1950s. The group first became a national sensation in the late 1970s with a consistent stream of hits. The 1981 novelty “Elvira” became the signature song of the Oak Ridge Boys, but loyal fans also adore hits including “Y’all Come Back Saloon” and “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.”
8 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Ameristar casino. 816-414-7000. ameristar.com. $30-$50.
“Little Women,” UMKC Conservatory spring opera
Opens Tuesday at White Recital Hall
One of the most valuable jewels in Kansas City’s increasingly gaudy artistic crown, the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance has made significant contributions to the region’s cultural scene for decades. A production of “Little Women” is the Conservatory’s latest high-profile event. Mark Adamo’s opera is inspired by the Louisa May Alcott novel of the same name. Along with director Fenlon Lamb and conductor Ward Holmquist, Adamo will oversee the production. In a rave review of a 2003 production of “Little Women,” a critic for The New York Times called the modern opera “some sort of masterpiece.”
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 20. White Recital Hall. 816-235-6222. conservatory.umkc.edu. $12. $10 for seniors.
WWE SmackDown
Tuesday at the Sprint Center
Watching enormous men demonstrate their ostentatious acting skills has provided television viewers with countless hours of entertainment for decades. The participants in broadcasts of “WWE SmackDown” have perfected this highly specialized craft. Fans of the spectacle will be able to cheer and jeer their favorite heroes and villains in person on Tuesday. Daniel Bryan, currently the biggest star featured on “WWE SmackDown,” underwent neck surgery in 2014. His recent return to the ring has thrilled fans. Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose are among the other muscular men slated to appear on Tuesday.
7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Sprint Center. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $17-$107.
KC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Tuesday in Midtown
In the long and colorful history of American parades, it has been uncommon for an author to serve as the grand master of an event. Yet that’s just what will happen on Tuesday. Gillian Flynn, the author of bestselling novels including “Gone Girl,” will be honored with the ceremonial title at the festivities in midtown. The civic contributions of Jack Winne, a retired employee of Hallmark, will also be recognized. The theme of this year’s parade — Irish Music and Myth — promises to make for a memorable occasion. The parade begins at Broadway and Linwood Boulevard, and ends in Westport.
11 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. (no phone) kcirishparade.com. Free.
Kansas City Symphony, “Classics Uncorked: From Russia With Love”
Wednesday at Helzberg Hall
The allusion to a James Bond thriller in the title of Wednesday’s concert is disconcertingly appropriate. As tensions between Russia and the United States continue to mount, it’s increasingly difficult to appreciate the work of Russian composers including Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, Dmitri Shostakovich and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky without also considering the politics of the day. As at all Classics Uncorked concerts, patrons can mingle with musicians after the performance as they enjoy the glass of wine or champagne that’s included with the price of a ticket.
7 p.m. Wednesday, March 18. Helzberg Hall. 816-471-0400. kcsymphony.org. $25.
NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship
The men’s tournament begins Wednesday at Municipal Auditorium. The women’s tournament begins Wednesday at the Independence Events Center.
The Kansas City area has a memorable tradition of hosting post-season college basketball games. The Big 12 men’s basketball tournament has been held at the Sprint Center for several years. Perhaps most significantly, nine NCAA championship games have been played at Municipal Auditorium. The historic legacy continues Wednesday with the opening of NAIA tournaments at Municipal Auditorium and the Independence Events Center. The men’s team from Vanguard of California and the Oklahoma City University women’s team won last year.
Men: March 18-24, Municipal Auditorium. 816-595-8000. naia.org. $12-$15 per session. Tournament passes are $75-$100.
Women: March 18-24, Independence Events Center. 816-595-8000. naia.org. $10 per session. Tournament passes are $75.
This story was originally published March 11, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "This week in KC: Naka-Con Anime Convention, Planet Comicon, Joshua Bell, ‘Giselle’ and the Big 12."