KC events July 6-12: Noah Hawley, Summerfest, Jim Breuer, ‘An American in Paris’

With inflation, maybe this should be called the “Billion Dollar Quartet.” Inspired by a 1956 recording session involving Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins at Sun Records in Memphis, the musical takes the audience inside the recording studio for a night of rock ’n’ roll. The hits include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog” and many more. Runs through Sept. 24. 913-649-7469. newtheatre.com. $36-$61.

The genius behind the hit TV shows “Fargo” and “Legion” will appear for his novel, “Before the Fall.” It won the Edgar Award for best novel from the Mystery Writers of America and was named one of the 100 Notable Books of 2016 by The New York Times Book Review. Hawley has written four other novels, including “The Good Father.” 913-384-3126. rainydaybooks.com. Free.

Sporting (8-4-7) entered July in first place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer and hadn’t lost a home match this season. Philadelphia (6-7-4) was near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. This will be Sporting’s sixth match against the stronger Eastern Conference; its record is 1-0-4 in previous games. 913-387-3400. sportingkc.com. $33-$68.

The pop-rock band OneRepublic has released hits such as “Counting Stars,” “Good Life” and “All the Right Moves,” and its most recent album, “Oh My,” debuted last fall at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. The success has rocketed lead singer Ryan Tedder from a high school kid in Colorado Springs to an international sensation with a Beverly Hills mansion. Tedder also has collaborated with Madonna, Adele, Ed Sheeran and Beyonce. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $27-$139.

An exhibition of two large-scale paintings by two masters from the mid-20th century will emphasize the innovation of American abstraction in mainstream art. Jackson Pollock’s “Mural,” part of the University of Iowa Museum of Art collection, is the artist’s largest canvas at 8 feet, 1  1/4 inches by 19 feet, 10 inches. Robert Motherwell’s “Elegy to the Spanish Republic, No. 126” was commissioned by the University of Iowa Museum of Art 45 years ago to hang with “Mural.” Runs through Oct. 29. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday. 816-751-1278. nelson-atkins.org. Free.

It’s safe to say that the four-weekend Summerfest is the premier classical music event of the summer in Kansas City. The celebration of chamber music, which presents concerts each Saturday evening at White Recital Hall and each Sunday afternoon at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, will kick off with “Czech Us Out!” featuring works from Czech composers. Also, 3 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church; runs through July 30. 816-895-2920. summerfestkc.org. $10-$22.

This production by EWJR Entertainment comes with a message for budding young performers. It is a musical about a young girl named Holly who, pushed by her father, compromises her values to become a successful pop star and comes to have regrets. Designed for young adults, the play is filled with familiar songs and amazing dance moves. 816-474-4444. follytheater.org. $20-$30.

Held each second Saturday from May through October with activities such as live music, games, bounce houses and arts and crafts, Sprint Family Fun Days are a kids paradise. This month’s edition will celebrate a Pirate Parrrty. Included will be a treasure find, Brandon Draper’s Drum Safari, the Lost Temple and the Super Splash Slide. powerandlightdistrict.com/familyfun. Free; fees apply for premium activities.

When Rolling Stone ranked the cast members from the first 40 years of “Saturday Night Live” in 2015, Jim Breuer (1995-98) came in 143rd among 145. But at least he rated above the Muppets and Robert Downey Jr. Like Downey and the Muppets, Breuer has enjoyed most of his success since leaving the iconic comedy show. In fact, he also ranks No. 91 among Comedy Central’s 100 best stand-up comics of all time. 816-472-7777. voodookc.com. $25-$42.50.

Filling the shoes of Freddie Mercury is no easy task, but based on most reviews Adam Lambert has been doing a bang-up job. Lambert, who finished second on “American Idol” in 2009, will join Queen to sing hits such as “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” Mercury helped lift the British rock band to international success before his death in 1991. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $49.50-$175.

The National Pro Fastpitch League will visit the home of the Kansas City T-Bones for three games. The USSSA Pride is a league powerhouse, having won regular-season championships five of the past six years. Among the Pride’s standouts is former University of Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts, who was a two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. usssapride.com or tbonesbaseball.com. $9-$17.

George and Ira Gershwin wrote the music and lyrics for the Oscar-winning 1951 movie starring Gene Kelly, but the story of a young American soldier and a beautiful French girl wasn’t adapted for Broadway until 2015. It won a bundle of Tony Awards and now is touring North America. The score includes “I Got Rhythm,” “ ’S Wonderful” and “They Can’t Take That Away.” Runs through July 16. 816-363-7827. kcstarlight.com. $14-$142.

“Willie Wonka,” July 7-9, Gladstone Theatre in the Park. gladstonetip.com

“Beauty and the Beast,” July 8-23, Lewis and Shirley White Theatre. thejkc.org

Drew Lynch, July 6-9, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Jill Scott, July 6, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Noe Palma with State Line Drive, July 6, Kansas City Live. powerandlightdistrict.com

Reel Big Fish with the Expendables, The Queers and Tunnel Vision, July 6, Granada. thegranada.com

Corey Feldman and the Angels with Drop a Grand, July 7, RecordBar. therecordbar.com

Summer Lights featuring MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant and more, July 7, Providence Medical Center Amphitheater. providenceamp.com

Turnpike Troubadours, July 7, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Future Feilde featuring Le Youth, Quixotic and more, July 8, Crossroads KC. crossroadskc.com

Paladins, July 8, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Rock N Roll Dream Concert featuring Seven Bridges Road, Revelation and Change of Heart, July 8, Providence Medical Center Amphitheater. providenceamp.com

DJ Shadow, July 10, Madrid. madridtheatre.com

Michelle Branch, July 11, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Robert Cray Band, July 11, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Caravan Palace, July 11, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Iron Maiden with Ghost, July 11, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Michael Franti & Spearhead, July 11, Crossroads KC. crossroadskc.com

First Fridays in the Crossroads, July 7, Crossroads Arts District. kccrossroads.org

Kansas City Greek Picnic, July 6-9, multiple venues. kcgreekpicnic.com

National Convention of the National Black United Front, July 7-8, Manual Career Tech Center. 38nbuf.eventbrite.com

Bingham-Waggoner Antique & Craft Fair, July 8, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. bwestate.net

Brick Fest Live! Lego Fan Experience, July 8-9, KCI Expo Center. brickfestlive.com

National Teddy Bear Picnic Day, July 10, Kansas City Museum. kcparks.org

Cass County Fair, July 11-16, Pleasant Hill. casscountyfairmo.com

Wyandotte County Fair, July 11-15, Wyandotte County Fairgrounds. wycofair.com

Ann Ingalls for “Fairy Floss: The Sweet Story of Cotton Candy,” July 12, Johnson County Library Gardner, Blue Valley and Corinth Branches. jocolibrary.org

Kansas City T-Bones vs. Sioux City, July 6-9. CommunityAmerica Ballpark. tbonesbaseball.com

Shawnee Mission Triathlon & Duathlon, July 9, Shawnee Mission Park. jcprd.com/special_events/smp_triathlon.cfm

This story was originally published July 3, 2017 at 1:33 PM with the headline "KC events July 6-12: Noah Hawley, Summerfest, Jim Breuer, ‘An American in Paris’."