KC events June 8-14: Tig Notaro, Dragon Boat Festival, Juneteenth at Nelson, ‘Hamlet’
Kansas City New Dance Partners
7 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
The Kansas City Ballet will perform with the Owen/Cox Dance Group and the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company for a showcase of the best dancing Kansas City has to offer. The event is presented by the 2017 Dance/USA Annual Conference Host Committee. Kauffman Center. 816-931-2232. kcballet.org. $24-$35.
“Tommy”
Opens 7 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Musical Theater Heritage
It all started in 1969 with The Who’s groundbreaking rock-opera album, which was turned first into a movie and then into a five-time Tony Award-winning musical. Pete Townshend wrote the music and the lyrics for the inspiring story of the deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball. Among the songs are “Pinball Wizard,” “See Me, Feel Me” and “I’m Free.” Runs through June 25. 816-221-6987. mthkc.com. $17-$58.
Watson Challenge
Friday-Sunday, June 9-11, at Milburn Country Club
So, who is the best golfer in Kansas City? That was the question behind this 11th annual event that legendary golfer Tom Watson initiated and plays in. The 54-hole event, which benefits The First Tee of Greater Kansas City, will feature a field of 48 area professional and amateur players. Rob Wilkin of Overland Park won last year’s event at Hallbrook Country Club, with Watson finishing second. thefirstteekc.org/events/watson-challenge. $25 for all three days.
Tig Notaro
8 p.m. Friday, June 9, at Uptown
It takes a special kind of comedian to joke about cancer and get away with it. Tig Notaro, who had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2012, has not only continued performing but has emerged as a major comic star since the experience. The Mississippi native has starred in an HBO special, a Showtime documentary, a Netflix movie and an Amazon show called “One Mississippi.” 816-753-8665. uptowntheater.com. $27-$47.
Kansas City International Dragon Boat Festival
8 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at Brush Creek
The shores of Brush Creek on the Country Club Plaza will be the launching site for this annual renewal of an ancient Chinese tradition, which has evolved locally into a series of two-boat races in a double-elimination competition. The Dragon Boat Festival, which memorializes Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan, will also offer cultural performances. chinagardensociety-kc.org. Free.
Grand opening
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
The building that formerly housed the King Louie bowling lanes and indoor ice skating rink has been transformed into the new home of the Johnson County Museum, as well as the headquarters for many Johnson County Park and Recreation District activities, arts classes and cultural learning opportunities. The grand opening will include tours, classes, music and other entertainment. 8788 Metcalf, Overland Park. 913-715-2550. jocomuseum.org. Free.
Juneteenth Celebration
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Nelson-Atkins Museum
Get an early start on the June 19 holiday celebrating the end of slavery with a daylong festival featuring storytelling, art demonstrations, food and entertainment. Among the highlights will be a presentation by artist Renee Stout at noon in Atkins Auditorium and a performance by the Kansas City Boys Choir and Kansas City Girls Choir at 1 p.m. in Kirkwood Hall. 816-751-1278. nelson-atkins.org. Free.
Kansas City Symphony, Symphony in the Flint Hills
6:45 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Geary County, Kan.
For its annual trek to the Flint Hills, the Symphony will perform with country western singer/songwriter Michael Martin Murphey at an outdoor site at Deer Horn Ranch. The day’s events, which will begin at 1 p.m., will also include prairie education activities, guided prairie walks, horse-drawn covered-wagon rides and food. The Symphony will conclude at about sunset, when Austin trio Hot Club of Cowtown will play. 620-273-8955. symphonyintheflinthills.org. $86.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Montreal
7 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Children’s Mercy Park
Sporting Kansas City emerged from the most grueling portion of its schedule — four of five matches on the road within three weeks — still holding onto first place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer, and its team-record home unbeaten streak remains intact at 16 matches. The Montreal Impact is near the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference despite a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls in its most recent match. Also, vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, in U.S. Open Cup. 913-387-3400. sportingkc.com. $42-$69.
Hall of Game Induction Ceremony
8 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Gem
Baseball legends Al Oliver, Tony Perez, Lee Smith and Maury Wills will take center stage when they are inducted into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Hall of Game, created in 2014 to recognize players who “competed with the same passion, determination, skill and flair exhibited by the heroes of the Negro Leagues.” Dave Stewart will receive the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award. 816-221-1920. nlbm.com. $60-$150.
New Kids on the Block
7:30 p.m. Monday, June 12, at Sprint Center
The “boy band” descriptor no longer applies, but the group is pretty much intact from its glory days 30-plus years ago (including a 14-year hiatus that ended with a 2008 reunion). Joining Donnie Wahlberg and the rest of NKOTB on the Total Package Tour will be Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men. This is Abdul’s first tour in 25 years. 816-949-7100. sprintcenter.com. $29.95-$199.95
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival
Opens 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at Southmoreland Park
To go, or not to go … that’s really not much of a question. “Hamlet” will be performed for the 25th anniversary of the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, which, as always, is free. Plus, Nathan Darrow, the Shawnee Mission North High School graduate who was Meechum the bodyguard on “House of Cards” and Mr. Freeze on “Gotham,” will play the title role. Why wouldn’t you go? Runs through July 2. 816-531-7728. kcshakes.org. Free.
Celtic Woman
7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Some of the faces have changed over the years, but the sound featuring traditional Irish music and contemporary standards has remained the same since Celtic Woman formed in 2004. Máiréad Nesbitt, the group’s longtime violinist, recently departed and has been replaced by Tara McNeill; the other members are Susan McFadden, Mairéad Carlin and Éabha McMahon. Their current tour and album are called “Voices of Angels.” Kauffman Center. 816-994-7222. kauffmancenter.org. $49.70-$109.70.
Also this week
Classical music and dance
Doc Severinsen with Kansas City Symphony, June 8, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org
Heartland Men’s Chorus, “Show Tune Showdown,” June 10-11, Folly. hmckc.org
Owen/Cox Dance Group, “The Goldberg Variations,” June 10-11, White Recital Hall. owencoxdance.org
Kinnor Philharmonic, June 11, Lewis and Shirley White Theatre. thejkc.org
Theater
“Grease,” June 9-25, Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. theatreinthepark.org
“You’ve Got a Friend,” June 9-July 9, Quality Hill Playhouse. qualityhillplayhouse.com
“Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude,” June 13-Aug. 6, Coterie. thecoterie.org
Comedy
Michelle Wolf, June 8-10, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
James Johann, June 9, Stanford’s Comedy Club. stanfordscomedyclub.com
Music (Rock, pop, jazz)
Alejandro Escovedo, June 8, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Eli Young Band, June 8, Kansas City Live powerandlightdistrict.com
John Conlee, June 8, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Brit Floyd, June 9, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com
Elvis Costello, June 9, Crossroads KC. crossroadskc.com
Jazz in the Woods, June 9-10, Corporate Woods. jazzinthewoods.com
Glass Animals, June 10, Providence Medical Center Amphitheater. providenceamp.com
Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, June 10, Ameristar. ameristar.com
J. Cole, June 11, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com
Old Crow Medicine Show, June 11, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
Punch Brothers, June 11, Crossroads KC. crossroadskc.com
Muse with Thirty Seconds To Mars and Pvris, June 12, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
John Legend with Gallant, June 13, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
Events/Festivals/Etc.
Hear Now Festival, June 8-11, multiple venues. hearnowfestival.org
“Magnetic Fields: Expanding American Abstraction, 1960s to Today,” June 8-Sept. 17, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. kemperart.org
Sugar Creek Slavic Festival, June 8-10, Mike Onka Memorial Building. slavicfest.com
Greek Festival, June 9-11, St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Christian Church. stdionysios.org
Arts in the Park, June 9-10, Macken Park, North Kansas City. artsinthepark.org
Festival on the Trails, June 9-10, Gardner. festivalonthetrails.com
Vintage Market Days, June 9-11, Longview Community College. vintagemarketdays.com
Wine & Brew Walk, June 9, Independence Square. squarewinebrew2017.eventbrite.com
Crown Center Antique Festival, June 10-11, Crown Center. crowncenter.com
Hot Rod Power Tour, June 10-16, Arrowhead Stadium. hotrod.com
Kearney Summer Jubilee, June 10-11, Lions Park. kearneychamber.org
Levee Fest, June 10, Armourdale Levee Trail. downtownkck.org/event/levee-fest-2017
Spring Home & Garden Tour, June 10, Roanoke Neighborhood. roanokehometour.com
Sprint Family Fun Days, June 10, Power & Light District. powerandlightdistrict.com/familyfun
Tonganoxie Days, June 10, Tonganoxie. tonganoxiedays.org
Busker Festival, June 11, City Market. thecitymarket.org
Urbana KC, June 11, Power & Light District. powerandlightdistrict.com
Sports/recreation
Kansas City T-Bones vs. St. Paul, June 8-10, CommunityAmerica Ballpark. tbonesbaseball.com
Insane Inflatable 5K, June 10, Kansas Speedway. insaneinflatable5k.com/kansas-city-ks
Kansas City Dirty Duo 5K, June 10, Unity Village. tnccommunity.com/kcdirtyduo
Muscle Mayhem Championships, June 10, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com
Color Storm 5K, June 11, English Landing Park, Parkville. colorstormrun.com