Kansas City events Jan. 30-Feb. 5: Cirque du Soleil, ‘Sesame Street,’ remodel show

Cirque du Soleil combines its world-famous acrobatics with world-class ice skating for its new show, “Axel,” in which the title character is a would-be rock star who skates and sings with a band. The singer falls for the fascinating Lei, and sparks fly as they set out on a fast-moving quest through fantastical worlds. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $44-$125 through sprintcenter.com.

Elmo is the star of the newest “Sesame Street” stage show, but the rest of gang — Big Bird, Grover and Cookie Monster included — will be on hand. “Make Your Magic” combines theater and the art of illusion as Elmo becomes inspired to learn a magic trick when he meets magician extraordinaire Justin and embarks on a journey filled with mistakes and inspiration. 816-442-6100. Tickets are $20-$55 through silversteineyecentersarena.com.

Combining ballet and modern dance and featuring choreography by Mona Störling-Enna and Tobin James, “Underground” returns to the stage in Kansas City for the 13th consecutive year. A cast of more than 50 will celebrate the upcoming Black History Month by presenting a dramatic historical depiction based on true stories of the Underground Railroad. 816-994-7222. Tickets are $37-$82 through kauffmancenter.org. More information at gounderground.org.

If you’ve decided it’s time to start leading a healthier lifestyle, more than 200 vendors and sponsors focusing on fitness, natural beauty, nutrition and diet will be on hand at the Good Living Expo to help. Among the activities will be seminars, classes, demonstrations, contests and experiential booths. Also available will be food and drink samplings, healthy food trucks and children’s activities. Tickets are $5 (for one or two people) through goodlivingexpo.com; $8 at door; 12 and under free.

Our annual mid-winter opportunity to get in the mood for spring will take residence for three days in the West Bottoms. Dozens of exhibitors will have booths promoting everything from construction and remodeling to gifts and cleaning products. On hand will be the Diva of DIY, Leanne Lee, and other experts, plus there will be seminars, feature gardens and a fully decorated model home by Newcastle Homes. Tickets are $10 at kcremodelandgarden.com; $12 at door.

Emanuel Ax, one of the world’s most heralded pianists, will help the Kansas City Symphony continue its Celebration of Isaac Stern, who was a friend of Ax’s and the father of symphony conductor Michael Stern. The program will include Louis Andriessen’s “The Nine Symphonies of Beethoven” and Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto as well as Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. Ax also will perform at a Free Symphony Happy Hour Concert at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $25-$88 through kcsymphony.org.

Bronx-born comedian Todd Barry has been making people laugh with his deadpan delivery for more than two decades through appearances on television, in movies and at comedy clubs. He also authored the 2017 book, “Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg: One Comedian’s Tour of Not-Quite-the-Biggest Cities in the World.” Rafe Williams, a regular at St. Louis comedy clubs, will open. 816-753-5207. Tickets are $20 through therecordbar.com; $25 day of show.

The Lyric Opera will present a show of popular music, as resident and apprentice artists celebrate the many moods of love with the music of Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen and others. Mark Markham will serve as arranger/pianist, and Fenlon Lamb will direct an all-new, intimate evening of cabaret. 816-471-7344. Tickets are $30 through kcopera.org.

New works from the region’s most talented choreographers will showcase contemporary and modern dance at the 17th annual presentation of “A Modern Night at the Folly.” Audience members will experience a variety of dance styles performed by professionals from across the region. Choreographers provide for their own dancers as well as the development and rehearsal time needed to create a finished piece of work. 816-474-4444. Tickets are $18-$25 through follytheater.com. More information at cityinmotion.org.

If you’re familiar with the inner workings of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Co., chances are you’ll enjoy “The Office! A Musical Parody.” The show is an unauthorized parody of TV’s “The Office,” where Michael, Jim, Pam, Dwight and the rest toiled at Scranton’s third-largest paper company. Currently playing off-Broadway, the musical was written by the same comedy team that brought the national tour of “Friends! The Musical Parody” to Starlight last year. Also, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5-6, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-9. Starlight Theatre. 816-363-7827. Tickets are $42-$72 through kcstarlight.com.

Cindy Williams, star of the hit 1970s TV show “Laverne & Shirley,” will head the cast for the original “Church Basement Ladies.” The musical comedy, which was first produced at Plymouth Playhouse near Minneapolis and has spawned several sequels, set box office records when it played at New Theatre in 2007. The story follows a group of women at a rural Minnesota church who deal with such challenges as a Christmas dinner, a Hawaiian Easter fundraiser and a July wedding. Runs through April 12. 913-649-7469. Tickets are $36-$65 through newtheatre.com.

The first TED conference originated more than 30 years ago and was devoted to the idea of “Ideas Worth Spreading.” TEDx programs such as this one at the Kauffman Center are local, self-organized events that feature TED Talks video and live speakers who continue to spread new ideas. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. tedxkc.org. Sold out.

Free Symphony Happy Hour Concert, “A Celebration of Isaac Stern,” Chamber Music with Emanuel Ax, Jan. 30, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org

Ivan Decker, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com

John Morgan, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Aaron Watson, Jan. 30, Granada. thegranada.com

Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, Jan. 31, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

Granger Smith, Jan. 31, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Hairball, Jan. 31, VooDoo. voodookc.com

Subtronics, Jan. 31, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

The Anniversary, Feb. 1, Bottleneck. thebottlenecklive.com

Squirrel Nut Zippers and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Feb. 1, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org

Trippie Redd, Feb. 1, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Jade Jackson, Feb. 5, Riot Room. theriotroom.com

Post Malone with Swae Lee and Tyla Yaweh, Feb. 5, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Chinese New Year Gala, Feb. 1, JCCC Carlsen Center. kccaks.org/events-1/chinese-new-year-2020

Kansas City Mavericks (hockey) vs. Tulsa, Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. kcmavericks.com

Family Farm Wine Dinner. 6 p.m. Jan. 30. $100. Bluestem, 900 Westport. bluestemkc.com, 816-561-1101

“Beer and Cheese Pairing” with with Green Dirt Farms. 6:45 p.m. Jan. 3. $40. City Barrel Brewing Company, 1740 Holmes. brownpapertickets.com/event/4473656

“Winter in Florence.” Feb. 3. $66.75. Jasper’s Ristorante, 1205 W. 103rd. jasperskc.com, 816-941-6600

Fromage Series: Raclette. 5-10 p.m. Jan. 30. $35. Westport Café And Bar, 419 Westport. westportcafeandbar.com, 816-931-4740

This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City events Jan. 30-Feb. 5: Cirque du Soleil, ‘Sesame Street,’ remodel show."