| Sign up for our weekly e-blast |
Traditional and New Classical, Theatre Contributor
Libby Hanssen holds degrees from University of Missouri-Kansas City (M.M.) and Ball State University (B.M.) in trombone performance and also studied music education at Indiana University. She has studied trombone with Carl Lenthe, JoDee Davis, John Seidel, John Huntoon and Denis Wick, and music education with Brent Gault, Estelle Jorgensen and Katherine Strand.
While at IU, she taught classes in general music, focusing on listening skills and music fundamentals through practical music usage and exploring new sound constructions. During the course of her studies at UMKC, she performed with many ensembles, including the Conservatory Orchestra and Musica Nova. She has also performed with the Kansas City Puccini Festival, the People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the New Jazz Order, the Indiana Wind Symphony and the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.
In 2010, she was a fellow (one of 23 journalists selected from across the US) for the seventh annual National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera at Columbia University’s Journalism School in New York City.
Most of her free time is spent with her three boys (son, dog and husband) and camera, exploring the many fine aspects of Kansas City living. She enjoys listening to KKFI - Kansas City Community Radio and KCUR - Kansas City's NPR station, visiting Kansas City's fine collection of museums and galleries, and scavenging in thrift and antique stores to add to her collection of toy instruments.
She writes for the joy of words and the process of constructing a story, maintaining the blog Proust Eats a Sandwich (www.prousteatsasandwich.wordpress.com). She is working on her first book: Murray Goes to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Tue, Sep 28, 2010
"Horizons" was a good start to Fountain City Brass Band’s 2010-11 season and had many fine moments. The ability of the players and artistic vision make these concerts a pleasure to attend.
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
With a record four year winning streak at the North American Brass Band Association Championship under their belts, I anticipated great things from the Fountain City Brass Band at their finale performance of the season last weekend. Intense musicality and determined devotion have made this homegrown ensemble an international tour de force, placing in both national and international competitions, including the Scottish Open and English Open.
Sun, May 02, 2010
With a program of modern classics for chamber orchestra and a world premiere, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra performed in the sanctuary of the Old Mission United Methodist Church last Thursday. During the pre-concert talk, director Bruce Sorrell enthusiastically described the program as "lovely....not Baroque and not Classical" and gave the audience some personal insight into the evening's performance.
Tue, May 18, 2010
Friday night was an emotional evening for the Kansas City Symphony. This weekend marked the final Classical Series performance for ten-year veteran concertmistress Kanako Ito and the official Classical Series debut performance for Associate Conductor Steven Jarvi.
Tue, Jun 15, 2010
Last Saturday night at the Folly Theater saw an enthusiastic and supportive crowd for the Heartland Men's Chorus’s joint effort with the Portland Gay Men's Chorus. These ensembles presented a wide offering of American music sourced from patriotic and traditional tunes to African- Mexican- and Native-American folk music.
Mon, Jun 28, 2010
The Coterie Theatre and Artistic Director Jeff Church have once again premiered an exciting new production aimed at young audiences. "Lucky Duck" has been described as "The Ugly Duckling meets American Idol." But I would have billed it as "a hilarious, sophisticated musical - with animals!"
Wed, Aug 04, 2010
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" presented genuine and eerily familiar characters we have all known (or may have been ourselves). Within the context of an afternoon spelling competition, the production highlighted the pressures and concerns of our youth and presented a touchingly comic musical.
Tue, Aug 24, 2010
The newest venture for Stephanie Roberts, one of the 2010 Charlotte Street Foundation Generative Performing Awards Fellows, integrated two traditionally formulaic genres—classic noir and commedia dell'arte—in "The Mask of the Broken Heart."
Tue, Aug 31, 2010
"Marion Bridge" is an excellent portrayal of sibling connection during one of life’s defining moments.
Tue, Sep 14, 2010
Neil Simon's "Sunshine Boys" is an elegy to a style of comedy and the people who devote their lives to it. The New Theatre Restaurant production captures that pathos.
Tue, Sep 21, 2010
Popular by way of his PBS performances and radio show, John Tesh certainly knows how to connect with a large audience and thus presented a polished, passionate performance with the Kansas City Symphony and guest artist Breeze Lee.
Tue, Sep 21, 2010
!["[title of show]" is a smart, sassy musical](http://kcmetropolis.org/image/42508/title-of-show-is-a-smart-sassy-musical?max_width=100&max_height=1000&q=70)
[title of show] opens the Unicorn Theatre's 37th season and this smart, sassy show that chronicles the creative process, the struggles of collaboration, and the journey to recognitions should be required viewing for every theater aficionado, artist and musician in Kansas City.
Tue, Sep 28, 2010
Libby Hanssen interviews Brad Cox, one of the recipients of the 2010 Charlotte Street Foundation Generative Artist Award. The Owen/Cox Dance Group performs Oct 2nd and 3rd at the Jewish Community Center.
Tue, Oct 05, 2010
Bluegrass? Newgrass? Rockabilly honky-tonk? It doesn't matter what you call it because the Punch Brothers bludgeoned sonic convention to a pulp during their performance at the Lied Center.
Wed, Nov 10, 2010
Libby Hanssen writes about her experience attending the NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera in October.
Wed, Oct 27, 2010
"The Seafarer" is a successful collaboration between the Unicorn Theatre and Kansas City Actors Theatre in a drama about a hard-drinking cadre of Irishmen facing the devil's due.
Wed, Nov 03, 2010
Octarium's "American Idyll" concert at Liberty Memorial was a high quality vocal performance with a patriotic slant. The unifying theme was we "search for a foundation for mutual understanding about what it means to be American."
Tue, Nov 16, 2010
Local tenors Ben Gulley and Nathan Granner performed opera and musical theatre standards in the first recital of their "Joy of Singing" series at the Bell Cultural Events Center of MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Tue, Nov 23, 2010
With powerful performances all around, the MET tackled Clifford Odets' "Awake and Sing" with articulated verve and deep understanding of the complex, riveting story.
Tue, Nov 30, 2010
"Distracted," co-produced by the Unicorn Theatre and UMKC Department of Theatre, offered enjoyable performances with intense material that was informative, amusing, and absolutely worth seeing.
Tue, Nov 30, 2010
With powerful performances all around, the MET tackled Clifford Odets' "Awake and Sing" with articulated verve and deep understanding of the complex, riveting story.
Tue, Dec 07, 2010
The Boston Brass, along with the Brass All-Stars Big Band, played a selection of holiday tunes from their albums, "Christmas Bells are Swingin’" and "The Stan Kenton Christmas Carols," at Johnson County Community College's Yardley Hall.
Tue, Dec 07, 2010
The Coterie Theatre’s production of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - The Musical" was a not bad, very good way to spend a couple of hours.
Mon, Dec 06, 2010
"Distracted," co-produced by the Unicorn Theatre and UMKC Department of Theatre, offered enjoyable performances with intense material that was informative, amusing, and absolutely worth seeing.
Sat, Dec 18, 2010
"A Very Joan Crawford Christmas" is a campy seasonal show with a lot of laughs from an inspired concept offered by the Unicorn Theatre from director Jeff Church and star Ron Megee.
Tue, Jan 04, 2011
Looking for that live sonic experience that only orchestras and bands can offer? Libby Hanssen previews eleven ensemble offerings for spring 2011.
Tue, Jan 11, 2011
Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s latest production, Naomi Wallace’s "One Flea Spare," is a challenging drama during the terror and chaos of an uncertain time. The cast excels in this heavy, dark tale set during the Great Plague of London.
Wed, Feb 23, 2011
The Kansas City Civic Orchestra channeled various landscapes during the "Remembering Mahler" concert. Copland displayed the urban; while the countryside came courtesy of Mahler and Beethoven.
Tue, Jan 25, 2011
"Bridge to Terabithia" is a powerful story of friendship and discovery. The cast and crew of the Coterie Theatre created a believable fantasy world with a nostalgic feeling of 1970s rural Virginia.
Tue, Feb 01, 2011
Characters in the Unicorn Theatre production of Sarah Ruhl's "In the Next Room" struggle with Victorian social mores and eventual coming of modernity in the twentieth century. It's also about vibrators.
Tue, Feb 08, 2011
The Kansas City Symphony presented a musical tour of Eastern Europe (with a brief layover in France) with guest soloist, Latvian violinist Baiba Skride. With works from France, Czech Republic, and Armenia, the concert was well programmed and performed.
Tue, Feb 15, 2011
The Fountain City Brass Band's opera survey contained all the classics from Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, Puccini, Leoncavallo, Gershwin, Bizet, Borodin, Saint-Saëns, Dvořák, and Wagner.
Tue, Mar 08, 2011
After touring more than a dozen schools, "The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza" alights at the Coterie Theatre and lights up the classic world with a modern spark.
Tue, Mar 08, 2011
A secret family history, mysterious deaths, the lure of the railroad, and beautiful music created a dense mythology in the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre production of August Wilson’s "The Piano Lesson."
Tue, Mar 15, 2011
Egads! Theatre Company’s revival of William Finn’s “In Trousers” shows signs of life, but a talented cast struggles to make the overworked show a good fit for the audience.
Tue, Apr 05, 2011
Making heady jazz accessible, Joe Lovano and Us Five's two sets of recurrent themes graced the Folly Theater's stage as part of the Folly Jazz Series.
Tue, Apr 12, 2011
With dynamic lighting effects, a compelling story, and fine performances, “Ben Franklin’s Apprentice” is another impressive success for the award-winning children’s theatre.
Wed, Apr 13, 2011
The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre's little comedy of manners, "Enchanted April" tells the story of a post-WWI ladies' holiday to Italy.
Wed, Apr 20, 2011
With dynamic lighting effects, a compelling story, and fine performances, “Ben Franklin’s Apprentice” is another impressive success for the award-winning children’s theatre.
Wed, Jun 01, 2011
Farcical and all the right kinds of ridiculous, American Heartland Theatre's production of "The 39 Steps" benefits from great design and actors embodying multiple roles.
Tue, Jul 12, 2011
Oppressive heat, wind, and the early hours all set against Gorilla Theatre Production of Aeschylus’ "Seven Against Thebes." Continuing the Oedipus tragedy on the steps of the Nelson-Atkins, the cadre of actors tackled the almost 2500-year-old play.
Wed, Aug 03, 2011
Though the plot may be negligible, Starlight Theatre's presentation of "Mamma Mia!" is really all about outlandish dance numbers and undeniably memorable songs by Swedish super-group, ABBA.
Tue, Aug 23, 2011
Kansas City is building a reputation as a center for the arts in the Midwest and that includes serving the next generation. There are a multitude of opportunities for its youngest art lovers from nationally acclaimed children’s theater, kid-friendly performing arts series, puppet theatre, and events for the whole family at universities, libraries, and art museums. This fall season offers many productions that feature literature and science.
Tue, Aug 30, 2011
Kansas City, true to its frontier heritage, has a scene that is pushing the boundaries of the sonic world and pioneering artistic collaborations. From the smallest galleries and grittiest bars to the shiny opulence of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City’s musicians and artists continue to forge new trails for experimental experiences combining music, dance, theatre, and film.
Tue, Sep 06, 2011
'Tis the season for convocations and grand openings. The UMKC Conservatory played host to the founders of (le) Poisson Rouge, a music venue/bar and “multimedia art cabaret” in New York City. Musical guests include the Kronos Quartet, Debbie Harry, They Might Be Giants, Hilary Hahn, Brad Mehldau, and Norah Jones. With its smash-up of acts and disregard of genre, could this model be exploited in Kansas City? Or perhaps it already is.
Tue, Sep 13, 2011
Anger and denial are the overarching emotions in “Rules for Widows,” the season opener for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. This densely packed drama by Kansas City native playwright Michael Ruth explores grief, betrayal, and truth.
Sat, Sep 17, 2011
The biggest musical event in the United States is happening this weekend in Kansas City. Anyone with an interest in music, theater, dance and opera has watched closely over the last decade and a half as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has taken shape on the Kansas City skyline. All that planning comes to fruition the weekend of September 16–18 with an extravagant grand opening bash. Here is Libby Hanssen's take on Friday's festivities which included the inauguration of the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
Wed, Sep 21, 2011
S.E. Hinton's class novel, a staple of many middle school curricula, comes to life in the Coterie Theatre's adaptation of "The Outsiders." Though set in 1965, the themes and messages of gang violence and social intolerance are timeless.
Fri, Oct 07, 2011
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept 15th to October 15th. Libby Hanssen spoke with John Currey, leader and founding member of Marimba Sol de Chiapas, who are celebrating their 20th year in Kansas City. She encountered this type of ensemble while a student at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance. The ensemble is different than any other in Kansas City and the instrument produces such a distinct timbre she was curious to find out more.
Mon, Oct 17, 2011
“Tom Sawyer—A Ballet in Three Acts” is the first full-length American ballet based on American literature with an American creative team. Though musically well performed, it lacked a decisive view-point and the vitality inherent to Mark Twain’s beloved scalawag. Libby Hanssen's review focuses on the musical aspects of the production.
Wed, Oct 19, 2011
For one night only, “The Darwin Project,” a co-production of the Friends of Chamber Music and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, brought together a diverse range of talent, music, and media to explore the life and ideas of the naturalist best known for one particular theory.
Thu, Nov 10, 2011
"Seussical" has become a reoccurring favorite at the Coterie Theatre for good reasons. Though aimed towards young audiences, the quirky humor and philosophical message resonate with all ages, celebrating the inexhaustibly imaginative genius of Theodor Geisel.
Wed, Nov 23, 2011
More than sixty years after its debut, "All My Sons" gets a powerful and realistic exploration of its still-relevant themes at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre.
Tue, Mar 13, 2012
Jan Chapman and Scott Cordes lead a capable cast in Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s powerful production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Tue, Dec 06, 2011
Charles Dickens' somber "A Christmas Carol" receives a rollicking musical treatment in "A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol," a co-production by Yvonne Jameson and Kansas City Young Audiences.
Tue, Apr 17, 2012
With enjoyable performances and solid staging, the Coterie Theatre presents “James and the Giant Peach." Lauren Roark's costuming was a special treat that captured the bizarre whimsy of Roald Dahl's source material.
Wed, Jan 04, 2012
Talented wind players and percussionists abound in the Kansas City area. Here are some of their many offerings for spring 2012.
Tue, Jan 17, 2012
Guest conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane led the Kansas City Symphony in a rousing performance Friday night at Helzberg Hall. The program featured Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 with Kahane as soloist and conductor along with Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2.
Wed, Jan 18, 2012
With a fine presentation of Tom Stoppard’s adaption of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre brings a bit of Russian winter to Kansas City.
Tue, Jan 24, 2012
Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band threw quite the party out at Johnson County Community College’s Yardley Hall on Saturday night. It took the full effort of the group to overthrow the strict tenets of audience decorum and get the crowd dancing, but they succeeded, with heavy grooves, energetic rhythms, and a healthy dose of soul.
Wed, Jan 18, 2012
With a fine presentation of Tom Stoppard’s adaption of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre brings a bit of Russian winter to Kansas City.
Wed, Feb 01, 2012
The acclaimed children’s theatre takes on more mature subject matter with a restaging of the fast-paced, provocative teen-drama, “The Wrestling Season.”
Tue, Feb 14, 2012
newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble offered intricate soundscapes for their “Worlds Apart” concert at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday night. There was a consistency to the program’s sonic palette, but the variety in presentation—as well as the excellent musicianship—created memorable aural microcosms.
Thu, Mar 01, 2012
The Coterie Theatre's new show, Liza Evans’ "Freedom Sisters: Stamping, Shouting and Singing Home," set in the Deep South during the turbulent Civil Rights Movement, raises many questions for discussion: Who makes history? Who writes the books? What are civil liberties?
Mon, Mar 05, 2012
In their must-attend concert for the Folly Jazz Series, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra served as a vehicle for the tremendous talent of the musicians in a program featuring many works by the late Kansas City-native Bob Brookmeyer.
Tue, Apr 24, 2012
The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre stages a well-paced and accessible adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” that should be enjoyed by diehard Austen fans and the unbiased alike.
Tue, Apr 24, 2012
The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre stages a well-paced and accessible adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” that should be enjoyed by diehard Austen fans and the unbiased alike.
All material contained in KCMetropolis.org is the property of or licensed for use by KCMetropolis.org. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KCMetropolis.org or the original copyright holders.
RSS 2.0 Feed