Kansas City events Jan. 23-29: Royals FanFest, KC Rep’s ‘Fun Home,’ Winter Comedy Jam

“The Color Purple,” a musical that ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2015 to 2017, is now touring North America. Based on Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and its 1985 film adaptation, it tells the story of Celie, an African American woman in the South, and boasts a Grammy-winning score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues. 785-864-2787. Tickets are $21-$55 through lied.ku.edu.

Bruce Bruce, the former host of BET’s “ComicView” and stand-up comic with several TV specials to his credit, will be joined for a night of laughs by Kountry Wayne and Funny Marco. Former rapper Kountry Wayne (aka Wayne Colley) is known for his Instagram videos, as is Kansas City native Funny Marco (aka Marco Summers). 816-283-9921. Tickets are $44-$80 through arvestbanktheatre.com.

Italian pianist Fabio Bidini, who has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the New World Symphony and others of the world’s top orchestras, will play two iconic solo piano works at this Friends of Chamber Music event. Bidini will perform the “Waldstein” sonata, one of Beethoven’s most technically demanding works, and Schumann’s Carnaval. 816-561-9999. Tickets are $25-$35 through chambermusic.org.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre will present “Fun Home,” the first mainstream Broadway musical with a lesbian protagonist. It was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 2015 and won five, including best musical. The production follows graphic novelist Alison, who relives her upbringing with her brilliant and volatile father and grows to understand her own sexuality. Runs through Feb. 16. 816-235-2700. Tickets are $35-$77 through kcrep.org.

“Girlfriend” is a pop/rock musical based on the 1991 album of the same name by Matthew Sweet. Set in small-town Nebraska in the 1990s, it tells the story of social outcast Will and popular football player Mike, who are drawn to each other in the days after graduation from high school. The Spinning Tree Theatre production will be a Kansas City premiere. Runs through Feb. 9. 816-569-5277. Tickets are $15-$45 through spinningtreetheatre.com.

Bianca Marroquin and Dylis Croman, both of whom have played Roxie Hart on Broadway, will sing the iconic part (Marroquin on Friday and Saturday, Croman on Sunday) as the Kansas City Symphony performs original tunes from the popular musical “Chicago.” Other Broadway veterans will serve as guest vocalists, and Broadway music supervisor and arranger Rob Fisher will be guest conductor. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $50-$100 through kcsymphony.org.

If you’re into horror, thriller and science-fiction movies, it doesn’t get much better than Panic Fest at the Screenland Armour in North Kansas City. In fact, Panic Fest is included on MovieMaker’s “25 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World” for 2020, joining the likes of Beyond Fest in Los Angeles, the Soho Horror Film Festival in London and L’Etrange Festival in Paris. The 60-plus films will include the likes of “Two Heads Creek,” “Puppet Killer” and “Eat Brains Love.” Runs through Jan. 30. panicfilmfest.com. $10-$11 at door; full-festival and weekend passes sold out.

Royals fans will get their chance to meet new manager Mike Matheny, along with players Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield, Hunter Dozier, Danny Duffy, Jorge Soler, Adalberto Mondesi and many others at the team’s annual FanFest. In addition to nabbing autographs, fans can enjoy clinics as well as activities like batting cages, speed pitching and a bunting challenge. Access for season-ticket members: noon-2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Saturday. 816-921-8000. Tickets are $5-$12 through mlb.com/royals.

Beethoven was the first great composer of cello sonatas, having written five for cello and piano. The Midwest Chamber Ensemble’s Eman Chalshotori (cello) and Charles Dickinson (piano) will present two programs encompassing all five of Beethoven’s cello sonatas. Music lovers will want to attend both concerts to hear the complete cycle. 913-396-9878. Tickets are $12 through midwestchamberensemble.org. Students free.

Pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch, the founder and artistic director of Park University’s International Center for Music, will be joined by Romanian-born Israeli violinist Miriam Fried, a protégé of Isaac Stern, for an intimate concert at the 1900 Building. Ioudenitch won the gold medal at the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001. In 1971, Fried became the first female to win top honors in the Queen Elisabeth International Competition. 816-584-6484. Tickets are $30 through icm.park.edu or 1900bldg.com. Students free.

The Chinese calendar will turn over Jan. 25 to the Year of the Rat, but that’s not necessary a bad thing. In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth. Visitors to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art will be treated to traditional dancing, music, games and other activities and can explore treasures from the museum’s Chinese art collection. Also, food from Bo Lings will be available. 816-751-1278. nelson-atkins.org. Free.

In celebration of the upcoming Black History Month, the Folly Kids Series will present “North By Night,” which tells the story of the Underground Railroad and the brave men and women who traveled north and those who helped others escape the terrors of slavery. The play will depict William Still, Sojourner Truth, William Lloyd Garrison, Robert Smalls and other historical figures. 816-474-4444. Tickets are $6 through follytheater.org.

William Baker Festival Singers, “Evensong,” Jan. 26, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. festivalsingers.org

Opera180, “Passion & Pilsners,” Jan. 27, Kansas City Bier Company. opera180.org

“The Man Without a Country,” The Rufflings, Jan. 24-Feb. 1, The Black Box. eventbrite.com/event/88777609219

“Love is not a feeling, it’s a choice. The Stage Play,” Jan. 25, Gem. eventbrite.com/event/83423097731

“The Toughest Kid in the World,” Theatre for Young America, Jan. 28-Feb. 1, City Stage. tya.org

Two Guys and a Girl Comedy Show, Jan. 23-25, Clint’s Comedy Stop. clintscomedystop.com

Karlous Miller, Jan. 24-25, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Nathan Lund, Jan. 24, Rino. therinokc.com

Casey Donahew with Josh Ward, Jan. 24, Granada. thegranada.com

Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Jan. 24, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

George Strait with Asleep at the Wheel, Jan. 25-26, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Tech N9ne, Jan. 25, Granada. thegranada.com

“Martha Redbone – Bone Hill: The Concert,” Jan. 26, Lied Center. lied.ku.edu

Overland Park Boat Show, Jan. 23-26, Overland Park Convention Center. opconventioncenter.com/event/overland-park-boat-show

UnBridaled, Jan. 26, Uptown. thepitchkc.com/tickets

“Operation Frequent Wind: Farewell Saigon,” Jan. 28, National WWI Museum and Memorial. theworldwar.org

Kansas City Mavericks (hockey) vs. Idaho, Jan. 24-25; vs. Kalamazoo, Jan. 28. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. kcmavericks.com

Kansas City Comets (indoor soccer) vs. Rochester, Jan. 26. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. cometsindoorsoccer.com

Groundhog Run, Jan. 26, SubTropolis. abilitykc.org/events/groundhogrun

Kansas City Winter Whiskey Tasting Festival. 3-6 p.m. Jan. 25. $35-$65. Brick + Mortar and Dodson’s, 7425 Broadway and 7438 Wornall. eventbrite.com/event/75013189469

Flights & Bites with Boulevard Beer. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22. $22. Chicken N Pickle, 1761 Burlington, North Kansas City. eventbrite.com/event/88182497223

American Culinary Federations Greater Kansas City Chapter Dinner and Awards. 6 p.m. Jan. 26. $55. Grand Street Cafe, 4740 Grand. acf.kcchefs.org

Winter Martini Shake-off. 5-9 p.m. Jan. 25. $40. Independence Square; check-in at 3 Trails Brewing, 111 N. Main, Independence. theindependencesquare.com

Prohibition-era gin party with Tom’s Town Distilling Company. 7 p.m. Jan. 25. $75-$175. Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, 4814 Roanoke Parkway. jaxfishhouse.com/kansas-city, 816-437-7940

Lidia Bastianich will host four-course dinner celebrating release of her book, “Felidia: Featuring Recipes from My Flagship Restaurant.” Reservations start at 5 p.m. Jan. 23. $65; $35 for wine pairing. Lidia’s Kansas City, 101 W. 22nd. lidias-kc.com, 816-221-3722

Drunk KC History Dinner, Vol. 1 Storytelling Series. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23. $85. Reserve Restaurant, Ambassador Hotel, 1111 Grand. eventbrite.com/event/87711225637

Taste of KCK. 6-8 p.m. Jan. 25. $70. Resurrection Catholic Church , 425 N. 15th, Kansas City, Kan. 913-371-8101, rcskck.org/taste-of-kck

This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City events Jan. 23-29: Royals FanFest, KC Rep’s ‘Fun Home,’ Winter Comedy Jam."