This Week in KC: ‘A Chorus Line,’ Selena Gomez, RiverFest and Christopher Titus
Christopher Titus
Thursday, June 30, at Kansas City Improv
It has been 14 years since Fox canceled the TV show “Titus,” which vaulted comic Christopher Titus to national prominence. Now Titus does a podcast and hosts a game show called “Pawnography” on the History Channel. But he also continues to take his standup act on the road, and he’ll be in the area for his “Born With a Defect” tour.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30. Kansas City Improv. 816-759-5233. improvkc.com. $25.
Festival on The Vine
Thursday-Saturday, June 30-July 2, at Gem Theater
Dance fans will have their choice of any or all of the four events in this three-day festival put on by Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. Among the troupes performing will be AileyCamp The Group, City in Motion, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Owen/Cox Dance Group, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Störling Dance Theater and Wylliams Henry Dance Theater.
8 p.m. Thursday, June 30; 5 and 8 p.m. Friday, July 1; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, July 2. Gem Theater. 816-471-6003. kcfaa.org. $10-$37.50.
“A Chorus Line”
Opens Friday, July 1, at Theatre in the Park
With music by Marvin Hamlisch, “A Chorus Line” took Broadway by storm in 1975, and after more than 6,000 shows it became the longest-running production in Broadway history (it since has been surpassed by “Cats” and several other plays). It tells the simple story of dancers competing for spots in a chorus line.
8:30 p.m. Friday, July 1 (through July 9). Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission Park. theatreinthepark.org. $6-$8.
Selena Gomez
Friday, July 1, at Sprint Center
At 23 (almost 24), Selena Gomez already has the resume of a show biz vet. She got her start as a child actor on “Barney & Friends,” morphed into a teen sensation on Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” and now has transitioned into a movie star and pop singer. She is traveling the world this year on her “Revival” Tour. Dnce and Bahari will open.
7 p.m. Friday, July 1. Sprint Center. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $35.75-$128.25.
Booms & Blooms
Saturday, July 2, at Powell Gardens
Explosions of color will be the order of the day — and night. First, visitors can enjoy the display of daylilies. Then after dark will come a display of fireworks. The colors will be accompanied by music from the Ernest James Zydeco band and Lee’s Summit Symphony.
9 a.m. Saturday, July 2. Powell Gardens. 816-697-2600. powellgardens.org/booms. $5-$12.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Columbus
Sunday, July 3, at Children’s Mercy Park
Like Sporting KC, the Columbus Crew started the season struggling to score goals and win matches. Unlike Sporting KC, which defeated Dallas 2-0 June 19 in its most recent home match, the Crew hasn’t shaken its slow start and sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.
6 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Children’s Mercy Park. 913-387-3400. sportingkc.com. $20-$280.
Four on the Fourth
Monday, July 4, at Ward Parkway Center
What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than to run four miles in the summer heat with more than 1,000 of your best friends? The route follows Ward Parkway north and south from the shopping center and has the distinction of starting in Missouri and finishing in Kansas. The race benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children.
7:30 a.m. Monday, July 4. Ward Parkway Center. wardparkwayfouronthefourth.com. $40; kids fun run $12.
Riverfest
Monday, July 4, at Berkley Riverfront Park
As if the largest fireworks display in the Midwest exploding above the Missouri River isn’t enough, Riverfest also will have two stages of music, children’s activities and food vendors. Among the musical groups scheduled to perform are the Phantastics, Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble and Members Only.
4-11 p.m. Monday, July 4. Berkley Riverfront Park. kcriverfest.com. $5 (free 4-5 p.m.).
Jackson County’s Fourth of July Celebration
Monday, July 4, at Longview Lake
The gates will open more than four hours before the fireworks begin, but there will be plenty of entertainment and activities to occupy adults and children alike at Longview Lake’s Shelter No. 13. The kids can check out games and inflatables, and everybody can visit the food trucks and beverage concessions. Between concerts by Barbwire Revolt and the Romantics will be military tributes and skydivers.
5:30 p.m. Monday, July 4. Longview Lake. 816-503-4800. jacksongov.org/july4. Free.
“Bring It! Live”
Wednesday, July 6, at Midland
Reality TV gets really real when the crew from Lifetime’s “Bring It” hits the stage. In addition to seeing performances by Miss D and her Dancing Dolls, a hip-hop majorette group that is the subject of the reality show, the audience will be able to ask the cast questions and gain behind-the-scene insights.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 6. Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. 816-283-9921. midlandkc.com. $29.75-$45.75.
This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "This Week in KC: ‘A Chorus Line,’ Selena Gomez, RiverFest and Christopher Titus."