RSS 2.0 FeedDecember 7, 2011, City Classics
Music and Dance through mid-December
This time of year brings us an almost uninterrupted parade of holiday concerts featuring almost all of Kansas City’s classical music groups including Kansas City Ballet ("The Nutcracker"), the Kansas City Chorale, Octarium, and many others. Among this writer’s favorites is the Owen/Cox Dance Group’s hilarious take-off entitled "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." Many outstanding local instrumental and vocal groups also have their own holiday offerings, so be sure to check the complete listings below.
Quality Hill Playhouse
Christmas in Song
Performances through December 24
Quality Hill Playhouse
303 W Tenth St, Kansas City, MO
For tickets, call 816-421-1700 or visit online at www.qualityhillplayhouse.com.
This writer is a big fan of Kent Barnhart’s Quality Hill Playhouse. At this time of year when holiday favorites normally supplant more traditional classical fare at concerts by our classical music organizations, Barnhart presents his annual Christmas show. The show is always very popular and features vocalists Molly Hammer, Lateesha McDonald Jackson, and Lindsey McKee, along with Barnhart himself at the piano. It's sure to tickle your fancy with holiday compositions both familiar and unusual. Prior reservations are a must, as many performances are sold out.
Musical Theater Heritage
A Spectacular Christmas in Concert
Thursday, December 1 through Sunday, December 18
Off Center Theater, Crown Center
2450 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO
For tickets, call 816-842-9999 or visit online at www.musicaltheaterheritage.com.
George Harter’s Musical Theater Heritage group brings a holiday program to Crown Center, featuring Lauren Braton, Jeremy Watson, Richard Gibson and other talented local singers and actors.
Kansas City Ballet
The Nutcracker
Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 4 at 1:00 p.m.
Friday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 10 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 11 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
(continues through December 24)
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO
For tickets, call 816-931-2232 or visit online at www.kcballet.org.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is one of the most popular ballets ever written and has been a holiday favorite in Kansas City for many years. The Kansas City Ballet presents one of the most spectacular productions of the ballet in the Midwest. This year, you have a chance to see it as you have never seen it before, redesigned for the magnificent new Muriel Kauffman Theatre in the Kauffman Center. There are lots of performances, but tickets always go fast and many dates will be sold out. Youngsters old and new will appreciate the charm and grace of Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and the choreography of the Ballet’s artistic director, William Whitener, in this exciting new space.
Topeka Symphony Orchestra
’Tis the Season
Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
White Concert Hall
Washburn University Campus, Topeka, KS
Tickets available at (785) 232-2032 or online at http://topekasymphony.org.
Guest conductor David Feltner leads the Topeka Symphony in its annual holiday concert with guest artist Jeff Kready, a Broadway performer known for his roles in Billy Elliott, Sunday in the Park with George, Les Miserables and other shows. According to publicity material, the orchestra will bring you “traditional chestnuts along with a few surprises.”
UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Conservatory Wind Ensemble
Wednesday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center
UMKC Campus
4949 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call (816) 235-6222, or online at http://conservatory.umkc.edu
Joseph Parisi brings the Conservatory Wind Ensemble to the White Recital Hall stage for one of the few non-holiday related concerts of the month. The ensemble will perform Chen Yi’s Suite From China West and the music of Zwilich, Uhl, Grainger, and Bennett. This group is always outstanding.
Owen/Cox Dance Group
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m.
(also being performed the weekend of December 16–18)
H&R Block City Stage
Union Station
30 West Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO
Tickets available online at http://owencoxdance.org/
Is it possible to do a satirical take-off on Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker while at the same time showing reverence to the story? Be your own judge at the Owen/Cox Dance Group’s irreverent look at the Nutcracker story and tradition. The zany Owen/Cox production offers a stark and highly entertaining contrast to the “straight” performance of the Nutcracker being offered by the Kansas City Ballet.
Co-founders Jennifer Owen, dancer, and Brad Cox, composer/pianist, present an offbeat take-off of the Tchaikovsky masterpiece (actually, based the original story by E.T.A. Hoffmann). Performances the past two years have delighted a growing audience.
Jennifer Owen’s charming and often uproarious choreography is set to clever Tchaikovsky take-off music supplied by fifteen musicians of the People’s Liberation Big Band, horn sculptor Mark Southerland, artist Peregrine Honig, and students from the Paseo Academy of the Performing Arts.
Octarium
Holidays with Octarium
Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m.
Powell Gardens
1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Parkville Presbyterian Church
819 Main St, Parkville, MO
For tickets to the Powell Gardens concert, call 816-697-2600, extension 209. For tickets to the Parkville concert, tickets are available online at www.octarium.org.
Octarium, Kansas City’s prized eight-voiced a capella singing group, sings its annual holiday concert at 3:00 p.m. at Powell Gardens, then repeats the concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Parkville Presbyterian Church. To this listener’s ears, Octarium is one of the finest a capella choral music experiences around, as demonstrated by its holiday CD released several years ago, copies of which will probably be available at these concerts. Krista Blackwood and her eight singers bring truly elegant sounds to everything they sing.
Fine Arts Chorale
Celebrate the Holidays with Jan Kraybill
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Visitation Church
5141 Main St, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call (816) 235-6222, or online at http://fineartschoralekc.org.
Community of Christ organist Jay Kraybill joins Terri Teal’s Fine Arts Chorale to perform familiar Christmas carols as well as more unusual holiday fare. In the first half, the Chorale will sing familiar Christmas carols, each verse from a different composer, and Kraybill at the organ will respond antiphonally with another setting of the tune. The concert’s second half will feature pieces for choir and organ.
Lied Center Performing Arts Series
Songs of the Season: The Celtic Tenors
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Lied Center, University of Kansas
1600 Stewart Dr, Lawrence, KS
For tickets call (785) 864-3436 or online at www.music.ku.edu
The Celtic Tenors are a crossover group known for singing classical, operatic, and popular songs. “Performing a program of traditional folk and contemporary holiday favorites, The Celtic Tenors seasonal concert will take audiences on an emotive journey and provide a thoroughly uplifting experience,” the Lied Center tells us. Since their debut in the year 2000, the Celtic Tenors have established an international presence with their recitals throughout the world and five recordings.
UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
UMKC Graduate Wind Quintet
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center
UMKC Campus
4949 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO
Free admission. For more information visit http://conservatory.umkc.edu
The UMKC Graduate Wind Quintet will play the woodwind quintet by Elliott Carter and also the works of Tomasi, Milhaud, and Briccialdi.
Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City
Holiday Miracles
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Stone Church
1012 West Lexington Ave, Independence, MO
Tickets available at the door. For more information, visit http://mcckc.edu/blueriver/humanities/music/
Rebecca Johnson will lead the Metropolitan Choral of Kansas City in a concert of holiday favorites, plus “special guests galore,” according to the publicity material for this concert. Perhaps one of them will be in a red costume?
Kansas City Women’s Chorus
Annual Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Folly Theater
300 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO
Tickets available online at www.kcwomenschorus.org.
According to information from the Kansas City Women’s Chorus, “the women will perform seasonal favorites, beautiful choral classics, and some funny surprises thrown in.”
Lee’s Summit Symphony
Holiday Magic
Saturday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m.
Summit High School Bernard C. Campbell Performing Arts Center
400 S.E. Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit, MO
Tickets available at Hy Vee East and West in Lee’s Summit, and online at www.lssymphony.org.
The Lee’s Summit Symphony performs its annual holiday concert this afternoon. At press time no information about the programming was available.
Liberty Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Liberty Performing Arts Theatre
1600 South Withers Rd, Liberty, MO
Tickets available at 1-888-711-TICKETS or online at http://www.libertysymphony.org/
The Liberty Symphony Orchestra presents its holiday concert which will include the Toy Symphony, selections from the Nutcracker, and Sleigh Ride, among other favorites of the season. Tony Brandolino is the music director.
Fountain City Brass Band
Bells-a-Plenty X
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Bell Cultural Arts Center
MidAmerica Nazarene University Campus
2030 E. College Way, Olathe, KS
Free admission, but tickets are required; obtain them online at www.mnu.edu/bellcenter. For more information visit http://fcbb.net
This concert is the tenth installment of this award-winning group’s holiday program. Joseph Parisi of the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance faculty is the director of the brass band, which is among the most-decorated brass bands in the country.
Octarium
Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m.
St. Mark Hope and Peace Church
3800 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO
Tickets available online at www.octarium.org.
This holiday concert by Octarium is a benefit presented in conjunction with Friends of St. Mark and Tulips on Troost. Proceeds from the concert will aid St. Mark's neighborhood outreach programs.
Northland Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops
Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Park Hill South High School
4500 NW River Park Drive, Riverside, MO
Free admission. For more information, visit http://www.northlandsymphony.org
The Northland Symphony Orchestra gives two holiday concerts, one at 3:00 and one at 4:30 p.m., both featuring choirs from local schools, and both performed at Park Hill South High School.
Kansas City Chorale
Gaudete! Rejoice!
Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Redemptorist Church
3333 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Tuesday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Asbury United Methodist Church
5400 West 75th Street at Nall, Overland Park, KS
Tickets available at (816) 235-6222 or online at www.kcchorale.org.
The Kansas City Chorale presents two performance of its annual holiday songfest, which will feature medieval holiday compositions along with popular carols and classical holiday music. Charles Bruffy’s group always gives outstanding performances, and in past years the Chorale’s holiday concerts have been among the highlights of the holiday season performances.
City Classics Music and Dance Columnist; Classical Contributor
A lifelong classical music fan, Don Dagenais is a frequent preview speaker for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has taught classical music and opera courses at several Kansas City venues. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of performing arts organizations including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Lyric Opera Guild, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Opera Volunteers International, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Octarium, and the Friends of the Symphony. He has been the past president of most of these organizations and is current the president of the Friends of the Symphony.
Dagenais co-authored a history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, published on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (2007) and has written books on the histories of both the Lyric Opera Guild and Opera Volunteers International, as well as an introductory book for opera novices (Your Passport to the Opera). He has received several local and national awards for outstanding volunteer work for the arts, including a lifetime achievement award from The Coterie Theatre in 2000, the Kansas City Musical Club's annual award in 2001, a Partners in Excellence Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2002, a Bravo Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2004 and a community service award from the Daughter of the American Revolution in 2008 honoring him for his community service to the arts.
In addition to his music interests, Don is president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater and has served on the boards of The Coterie Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, serving as president of each organization. He publishes newsletters for seven arts organizations. When not involved in the performing arts, Don is a senior real estate attorney with Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has practiced law since 1976 after graduating from the Cornell Law School.
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.