Entertainment

Kansas City things to do: ‘Van Gogh Alive’ debuts, long-closed KC Museum reopens

“Van Gogh Alive,” an immersive exhibition of Van Gogh’s works presented by the Starlight Theatre and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, will run Oct. 23-Dec. 31 at Starlight.
“Van Gogh Alive,” an immersive exhibition of Van Gogh’s works presented by the Starlight Theatre and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, will run Oct. 23-Dec. 31 at Starlight. Nelson-Atkins Museum

The first of two immersive-experience Vincent Van Gogh exhibitions coming to Kansas City will open at the Starlight Theatre this weekend.

“Van Gogh Alive,” presented by Starlight and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, will show projected images of Van Gogh’s works throughout Starlight’s 12,000-square-foot stage. Entry times will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 through Dec. 31; tickets ($29.99-$60) are available at kcstarlight.com.

“Immersive Van Gogh” will visit Dec. 1-Feb. 6 at a yet-to-be-announced location.

The Kansas City Museum, which has undergone a $22 million renovation, will reopen Oct. 21.
The Kansas City Museum, which has undergone a $22 million renovation, will reopen Oct. 21. File photo

Three for free

After years of renovations, the Kansas City Museum will reopen to the public starting Oct. 21, 10 am.-8 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. kansascitymuseum.org.

“Art of Illusion: Photography and Perceptual Play” will open at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Oct. 22; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays-Sundays and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays; runs through April 25. nelson-atkins.org.

Sonia De Los Santos and The Okee Dokee Brothers will star in “Somos Amigos: Songs on Common Ground” as part of the Kids Jam Series at the Midwest Trust Center’s Yardley Hall, 11 a.m. Oct. 23 (reservations required). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events.

Your eyes might be fooled by works in the exhibition “Art of Illusion: Photography and Perceptual Play,” which will run Oct. 22-April 25 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
Your eyes might be fooled by works in the exhibition “Art of Illusion: Photography and Perceptual Play,” which will run Oct. 22-April 25 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Nelson-Atkins Museum

Music

The Kansas City Symphony will perform some of cinema’s greatest hits during “The Music of John Williams” at the Kauffman Center, 8 p.m. Oct. 22, 7 p.m. Oct. 23 and 2 p.m. Oct. 24 ($25-$92). kcsymphony.org.

The music of legendary composer John Williams will make up the program for the Kansas City Symphony’s concerts Oct. 22-24 at the Kauffman Center.
The music of legendary composer John Williams will make up the program for the Kansas City Symphony’s concerts Oct. 22-24 at the Kauffman Center. Matt Sayles Invision/AP

\ Kansas City Jazz Orchestra with Hanover, Germany, Big Band, 8 p.m. Oct. 22, Yardley Hall ($35-$45). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events.

A Cowtown Revival with Danielle Nicole Band, Other Americans and more, 7 p.m. Oct. 23, Folly ($40-$60). follytheater.org.

Danielle Nicole and her band will perform Oct. 23 during A Cowtown Revival at the Folly.
Danielle Nicole and her band will perform Oct. 23 during A Cowtown Revival at the Folly. File photo

“‘Yesterday and Today’ — The Interactive Beatles Experience,” an all-request show, will take place at Yardley Hall, 7 p.m. Oct. 24 (25-$35; online tickets sold out). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events.

“Yesterday and Today” is an all-request Beatles experience show, without the typical Beatles costumes.
“Yesterday and Today” is an all-request Beatles experience show, without the typical Beatles costumes. Midwest Trust Center Series

Midwest Chamber Ensemble, “New Sounds for Strings,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection ($17; students free). midwestchamberensemble.org.

Pink Martini featuring China Forbes, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, Kauffman Center ($47.50-$87.50). kauffmancenter.org.

Black Violin, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, Kauffman Center ($36-$66). kauffmancenter.org.

More entertainment

“Dark Forest,” a multimedia walk-through installation featuring the performing arts troupe Quixotic, will take visitors through the woods at Powell Gardens, 7 p.m. Oct. 22-24 and 28-31 ($28). powellgardens.org.

The weekend calendar will include a wide spectrum of comedians: social media star Trey Kennedy, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Uptown (sold out, uptowntheater.com; 82-year-old comedy legend Tom Dreesen, 8 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Kansas City Improv ($46, improvkc.com) and Blue Collar Comedy Tour veteran Ron White, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Americstar (sold out, ameristarkansascity.com).

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre will present “The Weir,” a drama set in a bar in rural Ireland, at the Warwick Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-23, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28-30, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 31 ($15-$54). metkc.org.

Theatre for Young America will present “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” at City Stage, 10 a.m. Oct. 22; runs through Nov. 6 ($10-$12). tya.org.

Dan Kelly
The Kansas City Star
Dan Kelly has been covering entertainment and arts news at The Star since 2009. He previously worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Miami Herald and The Louisville Courier-Journal. He also was on the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty for six years, and he has written two books, most recently “The Girl with the Agate Eyes: The Untold Story of Mattie Howard, Kansas City’s Queen of the Underworld.”
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