This week in Kansas City: KC Rep’s ‘Christmas Carol,’ plus other holiday highlights
In November 1981, the then-Missouri Repertory Theater ran advertisements for its new show, “A Christmas Carol” at Spencer Theater. The ad copy said, “A premiere production inaugurating an annual tradition.”
Finally, truth in advertising.
Forty-two years later, the now Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s annual tradition is going stronger than ever. “A Christmas Carol” will run, as always, this holiday season at Spencer Theatre. Gary Neal Johnson will play Ebenezer Scrooge, as has also become a tradition, and Nedra Dixon, another Kansas City theater icon, will serve as The Storyteller.
“A Christmas Carol” will open at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and run through Dec. 24. Tickets ($39-$114) and more information at kcrep.org.
More holiday highlights
▪ Holiday Boutique, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 16-17, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 19, Overland Park Convention Center ($14-$16). kcholidayboutique.com.
▪ Festival of Lights, 5-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday Nov. 16-Dec. 30, Powell Gardens ($9-$18). powellgardens.org.
▪ “Holiday Light and Magic,” 6 p.m. daily Nov. 16-Dec. 31, Wyandotte County Park ($25-$55 per vehicle). holidaylightandmagic.com.
▪ “Holiday Reflections” walk-thru village, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 20-Jan. 1, Union Station Grand Plaza ($7-$9). unionstation.org.
▪ “Christmas in the Park,” 5:30-10 or 5:30-11 p.m. Nov. 22-Dec. 31, Frank White Jr. Softball Complex (free); also “Christmas in the Sky,” 5-8 p.m. Nov. 22, Longview Lake Beach (free). makeyourdayhere.com.
More entertainment
▪ Park University will host its annual International Festival, 5-8 p.m. Nov. 17 (free; buffet $15). park.edu.
▪ Kansas City Public Theatre will present “The Real Barbee: Unmasked” at the Black Box, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17-18, 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19 (free; limited reserved seats $25). kcpublictheatre.org.
▪ Academy Award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins and his wife, James Deakins, hosts of the Team Deakins podcast, will be on hand for a screening and discussion of the film “1917” at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, 2 p.m. Nov. 18 ($30). theworldwar.org.
▪ The theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ novel “The Screwtape Letters” will come to the Kauffman Center, 4 and 8:15 p.m. Nov. 18, Kauffman Center ($57-$77). kauffmancenter.org.
▪ Jim O’Heir, a former regular on “Parks and Recreation” who appeared in the recently released Tubi movie “The Devil Comes to Kansas City,” will star in the comedy murder mystery “Catch Me If You Can” at the New Theatre and Restaurant, opens 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22, runs through Feb. 4 ($40.75-$69.75; $119.50-$159.50 for New Year’s Eve). newtheatre.com.
Classical music and dance
▪ UMKC Conservatory, “The Magic Flute,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 2 p.m. Nov. 18, White Recital Hall ($10-$25). conservatory.umkc.edu.
▪ Mark Morris Dance Group, “The Look of Love,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Kauffman Center ($12.50-$90). hjseries.org.
▪ Kansas City Symphony, “Music Illuminates the Soul,” 8 p.m. Nov. 17-18, 2 p.m. Nov. 19, Kauffman Center ($25-$99). kcsymphony.org.
▪ Ångström Brass, “Memento Mori,” 7 p.m. Nov. 18, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception ($19.58). eventbrite.com.
▪ Pianist Kuok-Wai Lio, 2 p.m. Nov. 19, Lied Center ($16-$30). lied.ku.edu.
▪ The Tamburitzans, 3 p.m. Nov. 19, Rockhurst High School ($10-$38). eventbrite.com.
More music
▪ Maverick City Music, 7 p.m. Nov. 16, Music Hall ($39.50-$69.50). ticketmaster.com.
▪ “Sound of Silence: Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & The Papas, Peter, Paul and Mary,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16-18, 2 p.m. Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Ruby Room, MTH Theater at Crown Center ($39-$51). musictheaterheritage.com.
▪ Nilko Andreas with Ensemble Iberica, 7 p.m. Nov. 17, 1900 Building ($40). ensembleiberica.org.
▪ Story of the Year with Four Year Strong and Youth Fountain, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Liberty Hall ($35-$75). libertyhall.net.
▪ Little River Band with Shooting Star, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, Uptown ($45-$69). uptowntheater.com.
▪ Lucero and Jason Boland and The Stragglers, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, Liberty Hall ($38-$62). libertyhall.net.
▪ Take 6, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, Folly ($30-$75). follytheater.org.
▪ Stephen Pearcy, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Ameristar ($40-$145). ameristarkansascity.com.
▪ Gladys Knight, 7 p.m. Nov. 19, Kauffman Center ($96-$110). kauffmancenter.org.
