Kansas City events Dec. 12-18: Holiday Express Train, Cirque Christmas, Chiefs

As a writer and actor, Josh Wolf is a veteran of sitcoms (“My Name Is Earl” and “Raising Hope”) as well as talk shows (“Chelsea Lately” and “The Josh Wolf Show”). He also is an author (“It Takes Balls: Dating Single Moms and Other Confessions from an Underprepared Single Dad”). But he got his start in stand-up — first performing at the age of 15 — and he works at comedy clubs across the nation. 816-759-5233. Tickets are $18-$48 through improvkc.com.

To say Tim Gaither is the consummate touring comedian is an understatement. He has done shows in almost every state as well as in Canada and South Korea, where he entertained the troops, and is a regular headliner in Las Vegas. He recently performed in Anchorage, Alaska, and his upcoming schedule includes gigs ranging from Jefferson City and Lake of the Ozarks to Alberta, Canada, and Glendale, Arizona. 816-326-8776. Tickets are $15-$20 through thecomedyclubkc.com.

Peter Phillips, who has dedicated his career to the research and performance of Renaissance music, founded the Tallis Scholars in 1973 and remains their director, having appeared in more than 2,300 concerts together. At this Friends of Chamber Music event, the British choral ensemble will present sacred music of the Renaissance era and beyond, including “Ave Maria,” “Salve Regina” and “Magnificat.” 816-561-9999. Tickets are $15-$35 through chambermusic.org.

The Jayhawks are the usual Jayhawks — ranked among the nation’s top five men’s basketball teams despite a season-opening loss to Duke — but the Kangaroos are all new. They’re not even the Kangaroos anymore, and they don’t want to be known as UMKC either. Officially, the Kansas City Roos will get a rare chance to play on the biggest of stages against Kansas. First-year coach Billy Donlan, with Clemson transfer Javan White and Brigham Young transfer Jahshire Hardnett, has already led the Roos to victories over George Washington of the Atlantic 10 Conference and East Carolina of the American Athletic Conference. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $35-$125 through sprintcenter.com.

Kids will learn the scientific explanations for the sights, scents and tastes of the season during the two days of Merry Science. Among the activities and demonstrations will be workshops on holiday lights, decorating cookies and printing your own cards as well as animal encounters and an open house on making toys. 816-460-2020. unionstation.org/sciencecity. Free with Science City admission, $7-$13.25.

Some area football fans might be conflicted when former Lee’s Summit High School and University of Missouri quarterback Drew Lock returns to Kansas City. But that likely won’t last long because the Chiefs can’t afford a loss, especially at home, as they fight for playoff positioning. The rookie Lock took over as the Broncos’ starter Dec. 1 and has led them to victories over the Chargers and the Texans. 816-920-9300. Tickets are $70-$325 through chiefs.com.

The William Baker Festival Singers have been celebrating the holiday season with “Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral” for more than two decades. Soprano Victoria Botero, Kansas City Bronze, organist John Schaefer and the choir of Sante Fe Middle School will join the 50-voice a cappella choir for the program of readings, carols and classics. Also, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 (with the choir of Ray Marsh Elementary School), at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. 913-488-7524. Tickets are $5-$50 through festivalsingers.org.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Pamela Frank and pianist Emanuel Ax will perform with the Kansas City Symphony and conductor Michael Stern at the Isaac Stern@100 International Kickoff Event, which will recognize the 250th birthday of Beethoven, 100 years of Isaac Stern and 15 years of Michael Stern in Kansas City. The benefit for the symphony’s Annette Bloch NextGen Venture Fund will feature an all-Beethoven program, including his Triple Concerto for piano, violin, cello and orchestra. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $85-$1,000 through kcsymphony.org.

The national touring company of “Bandstand” will bring the musical, which premiered in 2015 and played briefly on Broadway in 2017, to the Kansas City area. Directed and choreographed by three-time Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler, “Bandstand” is set in 1945 and follows six soldiers back from war and a young war widow as they try to win a national radio contest searching for America’s next big swing band. Johnson County Community College. 913-469-4445. Tickets are $20-$65 through jccc.edu/theseries.

Music, magic and movement merge in the touring holiday production, “A Magical Cirque Christmas.” From the producers of the Broadway hit “The Illusionists,” “A Magical Cirque Christmas” will feature a host and live holiday music along with cirque performers from around the world, including jugglers, trapeze artists and acrobats. 800-745-3000. Tickets are $29-$150 through ticketmaster.com.

Fun facts about the Piano Guys: They took their name from a piano store in St. George, Utah, and the group includes only one actual piano guy. Pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson make the music with help from Paul Anderson, who owned the piano store in question and originated the whole idea, and fellow producer Al van der Beek. The Piano Guys started with online videos and since 2011 have released five studio albums, earning six No. 1 debuts on Billboard’s Top Classical Albums. 816-283-9921. Tickets are $45.50-$155.50 through arvestbanktheatre.com.

There is something about trains that brings out the child in all of us, and when you combine a train with Santa Claus, you get one of Kansas City’s favorite holiday attractions. Kansas City Southern’s 19th annual Holiday Express Train is a walk-through experience consisting of six cars, including the smiling tank car Rudy, a gingerbread boxcar and a little red caboose. Also, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 20 (plus 6-8 p.m. for Union Station members) and 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22. 816-460-2020. unionstation.org. Free.

Celil Refik Kaya, Dec. 13, Country Club Christian Church. kansascityguitarsociety.org

“The Nutcracker: A Kansas Ballet,” Dec. 13-22, Lawrence Arts Center. lawrenceartscenter.org

Bach Aria Soloists, Holiday Concert, Dec. 14, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. bachariasoloists.com

Central Standard Men’s Chorus, “Holiday Harmonies,” Dec. 14, Folly. follytheater.org

Crossroads Saxophone Quartet, Dec. 14, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org

Kansas City Chorale, “Chorale Family Christmas,” Dec. 14, St. Michael the Archangel Church. kcchorale.org

Kansas City Chorale, “Holiday Pops,” Dec. 14, 1900 Building. kcchorale.org

St. Joseph Symphony, “Home for the Holidays,” Dec. 14, Missouri Theater. saintjosephsymphony.org

Mid America Freedom Band, “Merry Schtickmas,” Dec. 15, Lyric Opera. freedomband.com

Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Isata Kanneh-Mason, Dec. 15, Folly. hjseries.org

Drag Queen Christmas, Dec. 17, Folly. follytheater.org

Dickens Carolers in Concert, Dec. 18-20, Chestnut Fine Arts Center. chestnutfinearts.com

Winter Blunderland Comedy Show, Dec. 13, Buffalo Room. eventbrite.com/event/82914458377

Flex Alexander, Dec. 15, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Music of Presley, Perkins, Lewis and Cash, Dec. 12, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Straight No Chaser, Dec. 12, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Tenth Avenue North, Dec. 12, Folly. follytheater.org

Bobby Rush and Band, Dec. 13, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Boombox Cartel, Dec. 13, VooDoo. voodookc.com

Liverpool, Dec. 13, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

Pedrito Martinez Group, Dec. 13, Folly. follytheater.org

Tech N9ne, Dec. 14, Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. silversteineyecentersarena.com

The Dead South with The Legendary Shack Shakers, Dec. 14, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

Wynonna and Tanya Tucker, Dec. 14, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

E-40, Dec. 15, VooDoo. voodookc.com

Steel Panther, Dec. 15, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Biggest Sale...Ever! Dec. 13-15, KCI Expo Center. biggestsaleeverusa.com

Tour with Father Christmas, Dec. 15, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. toyandminiaturemuseum.org

Wine Walk on Delaware. 5-8 p.m. Dec. 14. $20. Delaware Street. eventbrite.com/event/56369519751

Turkic Food and Art Festival. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 14. Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, 4215 Shawnee, Kansas City, Kan. dialoguekc.org, 913-894-6700

Holiday Wish List Dinner. 7 p.m. Dec. 11. $250. Farina, 19 W. 19th. farinakc.com, 816-768-6600

Kansas City Foodie Festival. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 14. $15. iWerx, 1520 Clay, North Kansas City. eventbrite.com/event/79806103203

This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City events Dec. 12-18: Holiday Express Train, Cirque Christmas, Chiefs."