Kansas City arts: Broadway, ballet and fashion highlights

Kansas City’s arts scene highlights both legendary performances and exciting new updates for 2025. The Kauffman Center hosts a Broadway classic with “Chicago,” filling the iconic Muriel Kauffman Theatre with the sounds of beloved songs and strong lead performances. Ballet fans can anticipate a double feature of Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces like “Swan Lake” and the perennial holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” from Kansas City Ballet.

Starlight Theatre marks its 75th season alongside ongoing $40 million renovations, launching a packed concert series and musicals including the lively “Mean Girls.” The Kauffman Center also brings fashion and TV together with the touring “Emily in Paris” experience, immersing audiences in Parisian haute couture and theater.

The national tour of the musical “Chicago” will come to Kansas City for eight shows Jan. 7-12.

NO. 1: KANSAS CITY IS KICKING OFF 2025 WITH THESE 12 SHOWS, FROM ‘CHICAGO’ TO ‘MEAN GIRLS’

See what you can look forward to in theater, dance, classical music and comedy. | Published January 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Dan Kelly

“Chicago” is famous for its powerful vocals and numbers like “Cell Block Tango.” But how do they sound inside Kansas City’s famous Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts? By Provided

NO. 2: ‘CHICAGO’ MEETS KANSAS CITY: A NIGHT INSIDE THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

My first time inside the iconic Kansas City landmark brought some spectacular sights, sounds and even smells. | Published January 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

“Couture on Tour: An Emily in Paris Experience,” combines theatrics and the high-end fashion of the popular Netflix series starring Lily Collins. It makes a stop at the Kauffman Center in May.

NO. 3: BONJOUR, KC! THEATRICAL ‘EMILY IN PARIS’ FASHION SHOW COMING TO THE KAUFFMAN CENTER

The clothes and romantic French atmosphere of the hit Netflix series “Emily in Paris” are coming to Kansas City in a unique theatrical fashion show. | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

Austen Danielle Bohmer (Glinda) and Lauren Samuels (Elphaba) portray two young witches in the national touring production of “Wicked,” which will conclude PNC Broadway in Kansas City’s 2025-26 season. By Joan Marcus

NO. 4: ‘WICKED’ GOOD: 2 OZ-CENTRIC MUSICALS TO HEADLINE KANSAS CITY’S UPCOMING THEATER SEASON

Here are all the shows on offer from Broadway in Kansas City and KC Rep in the 2025-26 season. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Dan Kelly

The white swan and the black swan, both portrayed by the Kansas City Ballet’s Kaleena Burks, represent good and evil in “Swan Lake.” Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece will open the KC Ballet’s 2025-26 season. By Kenny Johnson

NO. 5: DOUBLE DOSE OF TCHAIKOVSKY, INCLUDING ‘SWAN LAKE,’ TO HIGHLIGHT KC BALLET IN 2025-26

A famous Jazz Age story and a world premiere piece created especially for KC Ballet are also in the lineup. | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Dan Kelly

The Starlight Theatre, where work on a major renovation was in progress earlier this year, will open its 75th anniversary season May 17 with a concert by Alison Krauss & Union Station. By Emily Curiel

NO. 6: STARLIGHT THEATRE TURNS 75 WITH RENOVATIONS, PACKED CONCERT LIST & MORE MUSICALS

It’s appropriate that the outdoor theater’s 75th year has echoes of its start in KC. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Dan Kelly

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.