KC events Dec. 5-11: KC Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker,’ ‘Miss Saigon,’ Handel’s ‘Messiah’

For the second time in barely two months, Kansas City audiences will have the opportunity to see Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf.” On the heels of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre production of the groundbreaking choreopoem, KC MeltingPot Theatre will present it. The play tells the stories of seven black women who have survived triumphs and tragedies in a world of racism, oppression and sexism. Runs through Dec. 15. 816-226-8087. Tickets are $23-$27.50 through kcmeltingpot.com.

The Kansas City Ballet will present its holiday production of “The Nutcracker” for the 47th year, but there will be some changes. The Ballet has joined a national campaign called Final Bow for Yellowface and will alter some costumes, makeup and choreography in an attempt to eliminate stereotypes of Asians. The Kansas City Symphony will perform Tchaikovsky’s music, with choreography by Devon Carney. Runs through Dec. 24. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-931-8993. Tickets are $34-$184 through kcballet.org.

Holiday classics will be the order of the day at the musical revue “A Spectacular Christmas Show,” which has become an annual Crown Center tradition. A four-piece band will accompany an eight-person cast in singing and dancing performances designed to put the entire family in the holiday spirit. Runs through Dec. 22. 816-221-6987. Tickets are $29-$55 through mthkc.com.

The 2003 Will Ferrell movie has become a holiday staple. Now Music Theatre Kansas City will stage the musical version of “Elf,” which ran on Broadway in the Christmas seasons of 2010-11 and 2012-13. New York-based actor Kirk Koczanowski, a Blue Valley Northwest High School grad, will head the cast telling the story of the oversized orphan Buddy, who just doesn’t fit in with the other elves. Runs through Dec. 15. 913-341-8156. Tickets are $12-$25 through mtkc.org.

The tale of Jesus’ birth as told by a cast of more than 40 puppets, some of them 7 feet tall and others flying above the audience, will fill the historic Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Mary, Joseph, King Herod, the magi, shepherds and other biblical characters will come to life in Mesner Puppet Theater’s annual production, which will include live music. Also, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6; 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. 816-756-3500. Tickets are $12-$17 through mesnerpuppets.org.

Guest conductor Julian Wachner, the Kansas City Symphony Chorus and guest vocalists Lauren Snouffer, Melissa Attebury, Oliver Mercer and Alexander Dobson will join the symphony for its annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Composed by German-born George Frideric Handel, “Messiah” actually was conceived as a work for Easter and premiered in 1742 in Dublin, Ireland. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $25-$78 through kcsymphony.org.

Belton’s Old City Hall, built in 1906, houses the Main Street Theater company, which will conclude its 2019 season with the holiday farce “Sorry! Wrong Chimney!” Filled with misunderstandings and mistaken identities, the play is about a man who is moonlighting as a department store Santa so he can buy his wife a fur for Christmas. Playwright Leo W. Sears, who was raised in Leavenworth, will be on hand for the performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Runs through Dec. 22. 816-406-9422. mainstreettheaterbelton.com. Tickets $15-$17 at door.

For those who prefer Broadway music to holiday music, “A Grand Night for Singing” will provide an alternative to virtually every other local theater production in December. It is a revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein music conceived by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie, with innovative arrangements of familiar songs. Among the 28 tunes performed will be “Shall We Dance?” from “The King and I,” “Maria” from “The Sound of Music” and “Kansas City” from “Oklahoma!” Jewish Community Center. 913-327-8054. Tickets are $14-$37 through thewhitetheatre.org.

The Heartland Men’s Chorus, which boasts about 150 singing members and performs musical styles ranging from classical, traditional and gospel to jazz, contemporary and popular, will kick off its 34th season with its annual holiday concert. “Making Spirits Bright” celebrates the season with classic carols and nostalgic favorites, as well as a few hilarious numbers. 816-931-3338. Tickets are $15-$67 through hmckc.org or follytheater.org.

Local audiences will have three chances to hear the Kansas City Chorale, which had an album that won a Grammy Award in 2016 and released another album that is nominated this year. Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” based on medieval carols, will be performed with accompaniment by harpist Tabitha Reist. Also on the program is Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” Also, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church and 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at Country Club United Methodist Church. 816-444-7150. Tickets are $25-$30 through kcchorale.org.

The epic musical “Miss Saigon” is an update of Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly,” set during the waning days of the Vietnam War and known for its onstage helicopter. “Miss Saigon” won three Tony Awards in 1991 but didn’t come to Kansas City until 2000, when it played at Starlight Theatre. It returned to Starlight in 2013, and a revival played on Broadway in 2017. Also, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-13, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15. 816-994-7222. Tickets are $37-$102 through broadwayinkc.com.

Park University’s International Center for Music will highlight the music of Jan Radzynski, a native of Poland whose works have been presented by symphonies around the world, in a two-day festival. Among the artists performing his music written for piano solo and chamber pieces for ensembles will be David Radzynski, Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, Ben Sayevich, Daniel Veis and Kenny Broberg, who won the silver medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017 and the bronze medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019. 816-584-6484. Tickets are $15-$25 through icm.park.edu or 1900bldg.com.

Heritage Philharmonic, Holiday Concert, Dec. 7, Blue Springs High School Performing Arts Center. heritagephilharmonic.org

VidaDance Company and Kansas City Aerial Arts, “Cracked! A Reimagined Kansas City Nutcracker,” Dec. 6-8, City Stage. eventbrite.com/event/80201770655

Ensemble Ibérica, “Siento y Vivo (I Feel and Live),” Dec. 8, Polsky Theatre. jccc.edu/theseries

Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, “Magnificent Holidays,” Dec. 10, Old Mission United Methodist Church. kcchamberorchestra.org

“Buddy’s Holly Jolly Christmas,” Dec. 5-8, MTH Theater Stage Two. mthkc.com

“On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning,” Forge Repertory Theatre, Dec. 5-15, Blackbox at Fishtank. forgerep.org

6 X 10 Ten Minute Play Festival, Barn Players, Dec. 6-8, Arts Asylum. thebarnplayers.org

“Frozen Jr.,” Theatre in the Park, Dec. 6-16, Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. theatreinthepark.org

“OCTA is Home for the Holidays,” Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, Olathe Civic Theatre. olathetheatre.org

“Who’s Holiday,” Dec. 6-21, Louis Curtiss Studio Building. whokansascity.com

“Jingle Jamboree,” Dec. 11-28, Mesner Puppet Theater. mesnerpuppets.org

“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” Dec. 11, Lied Center. lied.ku.edu

Ron Funches, Dec. 5-7, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com

Brendan Schaub, Dec. 6-7, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Doug T., Dec. 8, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Reena Calm, Dec. 8, Rhino. eventbrite.com/event/81580602779

Hacksaw Jim Duggan., Dec. 11, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Dec. 5, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. hjseries.org

Louis The Child, Dec. 6, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Chase Rice, Dec. 7, Granada. thegranada.com

Julian Vaughn and Friends, “Gift Of Christmas,” Dec. 7, Gem Theater. brownpapertickets.com/event/4402716

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dec. 7, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Waterparks with Yung Pinch and Kitten, Dec. 7, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

Lil Tjay, Dec. 8, Granada. thegranada.com

Michael Londra, Dec. 8, Drexel Hall. irishcenterkc.org

CeeLo Green, Dec. 9, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “All Star Holidays,” Dec. 10, Kauffman Center. kcjo.org

Keith Harkin, Dec. 10, Drexel Hall. irishcenterkc.org

Santa’s Wonderland, Dec. 6, Gillham Park. kcparks.org/event/santas-wonderland-gillham-park

Great KC Pet Expo, Dec. 7-8, Overland Park Convention Center. greatkcpetexpo.com

Santa’s Wonderland, Dec. 7, Penguin Park. kcparks.org/event/santas-wonderland-penguin-park

Truck & Jeep Fest, Dec. 7-8, Overland Park Convention Center. 4wheelparts.com/e/overland-park-truck-jeep-fest

Kansas City Mavericks (hockey) vs. Wichita, Dec. 6; vs. Fort Wayne, Dec. 7; vs. Indianapolis, Dec. 10. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. kcmavericks.com

Mineral Water Bowl, Dec. 7, Excelsior Springs. mineralwaterbowl.net

Shamrock FC, Dec. 7, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

Beer Festivus with unlimited beer samples from more than 25 breweries. 7-10 p.m. Dec. 6. $28. Myer Event Space, 1701 McGee, Suite 100. eventbrite.com/event/79539146729

Repeal Day Celebration Dinner. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5. $150. The Savoy, 219 W. Ninth. thesavoykc.com, 816-443-4260

Candy and Wine. 7-9 p.m. Dec. 6. $10. Top Hat Winery, 120 S. Main, Independence. eventbrite.com/event/77924553437, 816-248-9436

This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 7:00 AM with the headline "KC events Dec. 5-11: KC Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker,’ ‘Miss Saigon,’ Handel’s ‘Messiah’."