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Sat, Sep 22, 2012
Looking for something to do this weekend? Click here for the KC Events calendar of theatre, classical music, dance and jazz events through 2011. Highlights of this week's classical music and dance offerings are in Don Dagenais' "City Classics." For current Theatre listings visit Victor Wishna's "City Stage." Enjoy!
Tue, May 15, 2012
KCMetropolis' Sarah Tyrrell spoke with Rebecca Johnson, coordinator of the music department at Metropolitan Community College Blue River in Independence, director of the Institute for Sacred Arts at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, conductor of the Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City and of the Sacred Arts Chorale, and incoming president of the Lyric Opera Guild. How does Johnson think community colleges and "town-and-gown" groups fit into Kansas City's vibrant art scene? Read on to find out.
Wed, May 09, 2012
newEar has selected the two winners of the Third Annual newEar Composers' Competition in student and professional categories.
Fri, May 04, 2012
The Lawrence Children's Choir wins the 2012 Chorus America Education Outreach Award.
Wed, May 02, 2012
After twenty years of association with the Kansas City Ballet, corps veteran Kimberly Cowen is ready to hang up her pointe shoes as she embarks on her next journey, serving as Principal Teacher and Associate Director of the Kansas City Ballet School and Director of the Kansas City Youth Ballet. KCMetropolis' Laura Vernaci spoke with Cowen about her storied dance career and upcoming endeavors.
Tue, Apr 24, 2012
Quality Hill Playhouse presented a lively and versatile revue of the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the songwriting duo behind many of Broadway’s most beloved classics.
Tue, Apr 24, 2012
The Kansas City Ballet wraps up its inaugural season in the Kauffman Center with a program featuring the choreography of four American choreographers whose work has been central to the New York Ballet over the years: George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins and the Ballet’s late, great artistic director Todd Bolender.
Tue, Apr 17, 2012
Lee Hartman recently interviewed Christopher Kelts, music director of Kansas City Civic Orchestra; founder, artistic director, and music director of Kinnor Philharmonic and assistant professor at Washburn University where he teaches orchestra, conducting, and viola.
Tue, Apr 03, 2012
Kansas City is a mecca for talented young composers. Among their ranks is Nicholas Omiccioli, a doctoral student at the UMKC Conservatory. Omiccioli is establishing himself as an international composer having received numerous commissions and prizes from around the world. KCMetropolis' Nihan Yesil sat down with Nick to discuss his career and what life is like in Kansas City for emerging composers.
Mon, Mar 26, 2012
Harlan Brownlee is President and CEO of the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City and a longtime advocate for arts education. This week, Karen Hauge spoke with Brownlee about the wide impact of the Arts Council, the necessity of art in our community and education, and how the vibrant artistic life of Kansas City is continuing to flourish and attract attention nationally.
Wed, Mar 14, 2012
Selections from the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Unifrance Films’ celebrated annual showcase of the best in contemporary French film will be presented March 15-20 at the Tivoli Cinemas in Westport.
Tue, Mar 13, 2012
Playwright Lia Romeo returns to the Unicorn Theatre with the world premiere of “Hungry,” an edgy, comedic, contemporary fairytale.
Tue, Mar 13, 2012
Dreamy undead dudes and doo-wop rule in Egads! Theatre Company’s "Zombie Prom" at Off Center Theater this month. Would nightshade or hemlock make an appropriate corsage?
Wed, Mar 07, 2012
Officially founded in 2009, Egads! Theatre Company’s history stretches further back, starting with the directorial dream of a young Steven Eubank. Thanks to and in collaboration with supportive, enthusiastic family and friends, Eubank realized his dream and more with Egads, bringing eccentric, amusing, high-quality musical theatre to audiences in his hometown metro, Kansas City.
Tue, Mar 06, 2012
Iran’s winning entry as Best Foreign Language Film, “A Separation” separates itself from standard commercial fare with a superb screenplay and a talented cast that delivers a hefty emotional performance.
Tue, Mar 06, 2012
At MidAmerica Nazarene University, a talented young cast pays proper tribute to George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's boisterous comedic classic, "You Can't Take It With You."
Tue, Mar 06, 2012
Making its world premiere at Kansas City Rep, "The Great Immensity" is an entertaining, educational, and agitating multimedia musical mystery/adventure about our endangered planet.
Sat, Mar 03, 2012
During the 2012 season, six Broadway shows and 32 performance nights are included in the program, making more than 11,000 free tickets are available for donation. To be considered to receive tickets, interested community and not-for-profit groups must complete and submit a Starlight Community Ticket Program application by mail by Friday, March 16.
Tue, Feb 28, 2012
Few operas of the past half century have made such an impact on the operatic scene as John Adams’ "Nixon in China" of 1983. Based upon events that were barely a decade old at the time of the opera’s premiere, the work showed how even contemporary history could be the source for sweeping stage epics that morphed from history into grand larger-than-life portrayals loaded with symbolism.
Wed, Feb 22, 2012
Since 1997, Ellen McDonald and business partner Tracey Mershon have carved out a niche by offering their PR, marketing, and “capacity-building” consulting services to Kansas City’s philanthropic sector—nonprofits and the foundations and corporations that serve and support them. From the beginning, performing-arts groups have been an integral segment of Mershon & McDonald’s client list, including the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, Kansas City Rep, Kansas City Actors Theatre, UMKC Theatre Department, and others. As such, McDonald has had an inside perspective (and significant influence) on the surging arts scene over the last decade and a half. This week, she sat down with Victor Wishna to talk about what she does, why she loves it, what she’s seen, and what she’s anticipating for the artists and arts patrons of Kansas City.
Wed, Feb 22, 2012
The “LA Phil LIVE” series of movie theater broadcasts continued on Saturday with a performance of Gustav Mahler’s gargantuan-in-the-truest-sense-of-the-word Symphony No, 8 “Symphony of a Thousand.”
Wed, Feb 22, 2012
Martin Scorsese’s "Hugo" may have the most Oscar nods with eleven, but "The Artist" will be the top dog.
Mon, Feb 20, 2012
Henson Alternative’s brash, adults-only puppet show, “Stuffed and Unstrung,” brought the house down at Johnson County Community College.
Tue, Feb 14, 2012
The Topeka Symphony Orchestra delivered a musical Valentine on Saturday with its “Mozart and More” concert. Under the baton of music director John Wesley Strickler and featuring guitar soloist Nicholas Ciraldo, the TSO offered a varied program of classical and contemporary works.
Tue, Feb 07, 2012
Annie Cherry and Damian Blake (a.k.a. Artemus Vulgaris) tantalize and tickle audiences in diverse performances across the city. Gravitating toward like-minded artists, the two embody the collective spirit of the cutting-edge performing arts scene. The charmingly candid couple sat down with Calli Parker to discuss all things burlesque including the upcoming series at the Folly Theater, The New Century Follies, The Night Cap with Arty Vulgaris at the Fishtank and the Love Hangover Show at Nica’s 320.
Wed, Feb 01, 2012
The signature dance company from native son David Parsonsolidified its favored status in the Harriman-Jewell Series on a night when it commemorated the series’ founder, Richard Harriman.
Tue, Jan 31, 2012
The Paul Mesner Puppets’ presentation of “Strega Nona” is 46 minutes of fun for the family, strings attached.
Sun, Jan 29, 2012
In an inspired collaboration between two outstanding Kansas City classical music organizations, The Friends of Chamber Music is teaming up with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra to present the 2012 Bach Festival.
Sat, Jan 28, 2012
The Friends of Chamber Music's 2012 Bach Festival began Tuesday night with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra's performance of the Brandenburg Concertos.
Wed, Jan 25, 2012
Now in its 21st season, the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College has built a reputation for high quality, diverse programming, with a schedule of visiting artists ranging from chamber ensembles and jazz quartets to international orchestras, and from one-person comedy showcases and avant-garde dance companies to grandly staged Broadway musicals. Since assuming the role of general manager in 2009, Emily Behrmann has endeavored to broaden the Series’ target audience and further expand its offerings on the stages of the JCCC’s Carlsen Center. This week, Behrmann sat down with Victor Wishna to discuss the state of the Performing Arts Series—its successes, challenges, and plans for the future—and what it means to be both “a Johnson County alternative” and an integral part of Kansas City’s growing and glowing performing-arts scene.
Wed, Jan 18, 2012
Celebrating their twelfth season, the Lincoln, Nebraska-based Chiara String Quartet will grace the Lied Center stage on January 29 with works by Schubert, Brahms, and the Kansas premiere of a commission by Gabriela Lena Frank.
Wed, Jan 04, 2012
KCM’s Film Editor, Michael D. Smith, selects his top ten films of 2011.
Wed, Jan 04, 2012
Shot almost entirely without sound, the black-and-white drama "The Artist" is a bold and imaginative work of cinema that may be overlooked by many filmgoers.
Wed, Jan 04, 2012
It’s that time of year when movie theaters are awash with films receiving Golden Globe nods and Academy Award buzz. While there are a few already playing, like "The Artist," "The Descendants," and "Melancholia," there are plenty more quality art house films in the pipeline in the early part of the new year.
Wed, Dec 28, 2011
And as January and February temperatures dip, the stages of area theatres—many in mid-season—are warming up. What follows are some highlights to look for this winter and spring from Kansas City’s adult professional companies and presenters—but come back often to KCMetropolis for more listings, previews, and reviews of the musical, family, community, and off-beat theatre our area has to offer.
Wed, Dec 21, 2011
Washington-based playwright Ken Ludwig, perhaps best known for his comedy "Lend Me A Tenor" (originally produced on by Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway) discusses his newest venture into farce on the golf green, "The Fox on the Fairway." The Theatre Gym is producing the play's Midwest premiere at Just Off Broadway Theatre through Dec. 31.
Wed, Dec 21, 2011
The Owen/Cox Dance Group’s zany and thoroughly entertaining “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” contains inspired arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s traditional "Nutcracker" score by Brad Cox and others, and also new music for scenes from the original E.T.A. Hoffmann story that do not appear in the Tchaikovsky ballet. This review focuses on the production's music.
Tue, Dec 20, 2011
Adaptations of young adult literature are currently in vogue because of their gripping stories and powerful messages. The Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Minnesota Opera have joined forces to commission Susan Kander's opera based on Lois Lowry's Newbery Award-winning novel, "The Giver." KCM's Sarah Young spoke with the creative team and the cast of the upcoming production.
Wed, Dec 14, 2011
The Celtic Tenors sang a holiday concert with their droll Irish brogue and oodles of charisma Saturday evening at the Lied Center of Kansas. With tunes ranging from folk to opera to rock, the trio performed to an enthusiastic audience.
Wed, Dec 14, 2011
Looking for that perfect gift for the music-lover in your life? Want to support musicians with Kansas City connections? Here’s a rundown of commercially available recordings released in 2011.
Wed, Dec 07, 2011
Need a little Christmas? Grab the nearest red-nosed quadruped and fly over to Crown Center for Musical Theater Heritage’s “A Spectacular Christmas In Concert” at the Off Center Theatre for a night of enthusiastic and heartwarming holiday cheer.
Tue, Dec 06, 2011
Kirsten Dunst's performance is a serious Oscar contender in Lars von Trier’s visually stunning "Melancholia."
Tue, Dec 06, 2011
With excellent acting and skilled direction, the White Theatre presents "Beau Jest," playwright James Sherman's comic toast to life’s complications.
Wed, Nov 16, 2011
The holidays provide an opportunity for almost every classical music and dance organization in town to put on some special programming. But remember: like everybody else, musicians and dancers like to spend the actual holidays with their families, so get in the mood early. If you wait until after December 18, the pickings get much slimmer.
Wed, Nov 02, 2011
In the second Classical Series program at the Kauffman Center, the Kansas City Symphony and Symphony Chorus took to the stage to present Brahms’ "Ein deutches Requiem," along with some Messiaen and Beethoven, before a sold-out audience Friday evening.
Wed, Nov 02, 2011
The Unicorn Theatre, in conjunction with Kansas City Actors Theatre and UMKC Theatre, present "God of Carnage," Yasmina Reza’s Tony Award-winning play. Opening in Kansas City weeks before Roman Polanski’s film adaption, the stage production should not be missed.
Wed, Oct 19, 2011
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin delivered a sophisticated, nuanced recital of Liszt, Berg, Debussy, and his own compositions Saturday evening as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series. Each piece informed the next, bringing new insights to wonderful repertoire.
Tue, Oct 18, 2011
Although jazz lovers are fortunate with Kansas City's rich jazz culture and heritage, audiences are also treated to excellent jazz greats who continually visit the metro. Among those greats, is the inimitable musical icon Herbie Hancock who stops at the Lied Center this month on his first-ever solo tour.
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.
Mon, Oct 17, 2011
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with Kansas City Public Television, presents “Homecoming: An Evening with Virgil T;” the musical tribute to legendary composer and native son Virgil Thomson by a diverse, all-Kansas City company will be recorded live and included in an upcoming national PBS documentary.
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