Kansas City events: ‘Baby Shark Live!,’ Mike Epps, Kansas City Auto Show, Tig Notaro
“Setting the Stage”
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Gem Theater
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey will present this multimedia program that combines live dance performances by local and national artists with pictures and narration as it takes the audience on a visual journey through African-American dance history. “Setting the Stage,” created, directed and choreographed by KCFAA chief artistic officer Tyrone Aiken, provides insight into African-American pioneers in minstrels, jazz dance, ballet and Afro-Caribbean. 816-471-6003. kcfaa.org/setting-the-stage. Free.
Tig Notaro
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Uptown Theater
Mathilde “Tig” O’Callaghan Notaro is one of the most respected stand-up comics working these days. Born in Mississippi with Irish roots, Notaro was honored at the recent Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica, California. She starred in the semi-autobiographical Amazon series “One Mississippi” and co-wrote with her wife/writing partner Stephanie Allynne the upcoming Netflix movie “First Ladies,” in which Jennifer Aniston will play the first female president and Notaro will play the first lady. 816-753-8665. Tickets are $37-$102 through uptowntheater.com.
Kansas City Symphony, “Beethoven’s Mass in C”
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Helzberg Hall
Conductor Matthew Halls will lead the Kansas City Symphony, the Symphony Chorus and guest vocalists Karina Gauvin (soprano), Krisztina Szabó (mezzo-soprano) Nicholas Phan (tenor) and Tyler Duncan (baritone) for Beethoven’s Mass in C. Also on the program will be Haydn’s Symphony No. 102 and James MacMillan’s Sinfonietta. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $25-$88 through kcsymphony.org.
Mike Epps with Sommore, Lavell Crawford and Gary Owen
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Municipal Auditorium
The Fabulously Funny Comedy Tour is presenting more than 30 shows across North America with an all-star lineup that varies from city to city. Mike Epps, who co-starred in the recent Netflix comedy “Dolemite Is My Name” opposite Eddie Murphy, will be the headliner. Sommore, one of “The Queens of Comedy,” also will perform, along with Lavell Crawford (Huell Babineaux in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul”) and Gary Owen (touted by Ebony magazine as Black America’s “Favorite White Comedian”). Tickets are $52-$127 through ticketmaster.com.
Royal City Roundup and Caterpillar Classic
7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28; 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29; 1:45 p.m. Sunday, March 1; at Sprint Center
Two professional rodeo events will invade the Sprint Center this weekend. The World Champions Rodeo Alliance’s Royal City Roundup will be a one-day, $1 million showcase with nine athletes competing in each of the eight rodeo disciplines. Then the Professional Bull Riders’ top 35 competitors will take part in the Unleash the Beast series’ Caterpillar Classic on Saturday and Sunday. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $10-$400 through sprintcenter.com.
“Baby Shark Live!”
3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
The viral song “Baby Shark” became an international phenomenon last year, even inspiring Washington Nationals fans during the World Series. Now Smart Study, the South Korean company behind the hit song about a family of sharks, has turned it into a children’s stage show. Baby Shark and his friend Pinkfong will sing and dance to new and classic songs. 816-442-6100. Tickets are $39.50-$65.50 through silversteineyecentersarena.com.
Fight for Air Climb
8-11 a.m. Sunday, March 1, at One Kansas City Place
It’s not exactly the Empire State Building, but at 624 feet, One Kansas City Place is the tallest office building in Missouri or Kansas (and just six feet shorter than the Gateway Arch). Individuals, families, firefighters, first responders and corporate teams from across the region will climb the building’s 902 steps and 42 floors to raise money for the American Lung Association at the Fight For Air Climb, which has a goal of raising $210,000. Register at fightforairclimb.org.
Mike Salazar
8 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Folly Theater
Miguel Ángel Salazar, known as Mike Salazar and “El Caballero de la Comedia” (The Comedy Knight), is one of Mexico’s top comedians as well as an actor and a singer. Salazar, who rose to fame in Mexico through viral videos and TV appearances, will perform for the first time in Missouri during his current tour of the United States. Most, if not all, of Salazar’s act will be in Spanish. 816-474-4444. Tickets are $20-$90 through follytheater.org.
“Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly”
Opens 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, at City Stage Theater
Based on New York Times best-selling author Doreen Cronin’s three-book “Bug Diaries” series, “Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly” takes a musical and comical look at the world from a bug’s perspective as it promotes eco-consciousness, earth science and tolerance of others. The music and lyrics are by Joan Cushing (“Miss Nelson Is Missing” and “Junie B. Jones and A Little Monkey Business”). Runs through March 21. 816-460-2083. Tickets are $12 through unionstation.org or tya.org.
Kansas City Auto Show
5-10 p.m. Wednesday, March 4; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. March 5-7; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 8; at Bartle Hall
Car buffs will be able to check out dozens of new vehicles, including the highly anticipated 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E, Jeep Gladiator, Porsche Taycan, Hyundai Palisade and Land Rover Defender, at the Kansas City Auto Show. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be on hand 1-3 p.m. March 8. Other attractions will include classic cars, Paradise Park Kids Korner, Elite Comics costumed characters, racing simulators and food trucks. Tickets are $12 ($6 for ages 8-12) at kcautoshow.com.
“American Son”
Opens 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at Unicorn Theatre
“American Son,” a drama by Christopher Demos-Brown, got a lot of national publicity the past two years. TV star Kerry Washington (“Scandal”) starred in the 2018-19 Broadway production, which then transferred with the entire Broadway cast for a film version released on Netflix last November. “American Son” tells the gripping story of a black Florida mother searching in the middle of the night for her teenage son who has gone missing. Runs through March 29. 816-531-7529. Tickets are $34-$44 through unicorntheatre.org.
Cameron Carpenter, “The General”
7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at Helzberg Hall
Buster Keaton’s famous silent comedy “The General” will come to life like never before when Cameron Carpenter plays live organ accompaniment to the film. This will be the third Kauffman Center appearance since 2012 for Carpenter, who won the 2012 Leonard Bernstein Award and is the first organist ever nominated for a Grammy Award for a solo album. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-994-7222. Tickets are $36-$66 through kauffmancenter.org.
Also this week
Classical music and dance
Volker Brass, Feb. 27, Central United Methodist Church. conservatory.umkc.edu
Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Feb. 29, Atonement Lutheran Church. kccivic.org
Liberty Community Chorus, “A Choral Kaleidoscope: A Journey of Musical Styles and Cultures,” Feb. 29, Community of Christ Temple. libertycommunitychorus.org
Mid-America Freedom Band, “Tolkien and the Great War,” March 1, National WWI Museum and Memorial. theworldwar.org
Midwest Chamber Ensemble, “Brightest and Best,” March 1, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. midwestchamberensemble.org
Open Stage, March 1, White Theatre. thejkc.org
Theater
“The Vagina Monologues,” Feb. 27, Spencer Theatre. info.umkc.edu/womenc/programs/v-day-umkc-2020
“Mirrors,” Kansas City Public Theatre, Feb. 29 and March 2, Capsule. kcpublictheatre.org
Comedy
Chingo Bling, Feb. 27, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
John Pinney and Anna May Smith, Feb. 27-29, Clint’s Comedy Stop. clintscomedystop.com
Aries Spears, Feb. 28-March 1, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Moses Storm, Feb. 28-March 1, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com
Kurtis Conner, March 4, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Music (rock, pop, jazz)
Anna of the North, Feb. 27, Encore. uptowntheater.com
Ekali, Feb. 27, RecordBar. therecordbar.com
Dennis DeYoung, Feb. 28, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com
Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, Feb. 28, Drexel Hall. irishcenterkc.org
Rome & Duddy, Feb. 28, VooDoo. voodookc.com
Soul Asylum, Feb. 28, Madrid. madridtheatre.com
Chanel West Coast with DJ Kittie, Feb 29, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Dave Mason, Feb. 29, VooDoo. voodookc.com
Dweezil Zappa, Feb. 29, The Truman. thetrumankc.com
Gene Watson, Feb. 29, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com
George Thorogood & The Destroyers, March 1, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
Opeth, March 1, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com
The Lone Bellow with Early James and The Latest, March 2, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Bill Frisell, March 4, Atkins Auditorium. nelson-atkins.org
Fitz and the Tantrums, March 4, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
Nektar, March 4, RecordBar. therecordbar.com
Visual arts
Benefit Art Auction, Feb. 29, Kansas City Artists Coalition. kansascityartistscoalition.org
Events/festivals/etc.
Overland Park RV & Outdoor Show, Feb. 28-March 1, Overland Park Convention Center. oprvshow.com
Wedding Bells and Cocktails Expo, Feb. 29-March 1, Hilton Garden Inn Independence. weddingbellsandcocktailsexpo.com
Sports/recreation
Kansas City Mavericks (hockey) vs. Kalamazoo, Feb. 29. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. kcmavericks.com
KU-Mizzou hockey, Feb. 28, Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. silversteineyecentersarena.com
MIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship, March 4-8, Municipal Auditorium. themiaa.com
Food
Bar K Beer Fest. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 29. $25-$45. Bar K Dog Bar, 501 Berkley Parkway. eventbrite.com/event/90348409525
Chef Al Ives Guest Chef Mentor Series. 6 p.m. Feb. 26. $40. Broadmoor Bistro, 6701 W. 83rd, Overland Park. eventbrite.com/event/92981587431
Malou Perez-Nievera for “Connecting the Pots” book tour and Kamayan Dinner Series. 7 p.m. Feb. 28. $65. KC Pinoy, 1623 Genessee. eventbrite.com/event/93436134995
Winter Whites Wine Dinner. 7 p.m. Feb. 27. $85. The Savoy, 219 W. Ninth. thesavoykc.com, 816-443-4260
Vagabond Dinner Series – Spain. 5 p.m. Feb. 26. $35. Webster House, 1664 Wyandotte. websterhousekc.com, 816-221-4713
This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City events: ‘Baby Shark Live!,’ Mike Epps, Kansas City Auto Show, Tig Notaro."