KCMETROPOLIS.org
Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Starlight Theatre
Legally Blonde the Musical
June 30- July 5
Directed by Jerry Mitchell
Music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin
4600 Starlight Rd, Kansas City, MO 64132

From their press release: Kansas City goes blonde! Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style!

In the 2008 Starlight Theatre audience survey, this Broadway rendition of the hit movie ranked as a top choice of audience members. So, get ready movie and musical fans...Starlight is one stop on a 33-city national tour that began Sept. 21 and continues through next summer! 

Becky Gulsvig stars as Elle Woods in the tour. After a year of performing in the ensemble of "Legally Blonde the Musical" on Broadway and understudying the lead role, Gulsvig fills Elle's pink pumps on tour.

In its first year on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL earned seven Tony Award nominations, 10 Drama Desk Award nominations and a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award.  

For more information, call (816) 363-STAR or online at www.kcstarlight.com

 

Coterie Theatre
U: BUG: ME
June 23 to August 2, 2009
Book, Music & Lyrics by Jeremiah Neal
Directed & Choreographed by Ernie Nolan
2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 144, Kansas City, MO 64108-2520

From the website: Life isn't so easy when you're an earwig or a fly! Pico the fly knows all about it!  His best friend Esteban is a clever earwig who discovers a revolutionary way to harvest soil!  With high hopes, the oddly-paired bugs enter the Queen Bee's annual contest with plans to revolutionize the world!  (The bug world, that is...) When the bitter horse fly Packo steals their plans, Pico and Esteban need help to avoid a creepy-crawling catastrophe!  

Live music from the 'Ant-Hill-Band' will rock U: Bug: Me with hilarious songs.

For tickets call 816-474-6552 or online www.coterietheatre.org

KC Shakespeare Festival
The Merry Wives of Windsor
June 16- July 5
Southmoreland Park 
47th Street and Oak, Kansas City, MO 64112

From the website: The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival will again stake tents and build a stage for another summer of Shakespeare in Southmoreland Park.  In 2009, the Festival will make a comic departure from its past three seasons of historical dramas and tragedies to present The Merry Wives of Windsor, one of Shakespeare's funniest and cleverest comedies. 

The Merry Wives of Windsor has been called the original "sit-com", complete with wacky situations and a wide array of comic characters.  The story revolves around Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's greatest characters.  The story goes that Shakespeare, having killed Falstaff in Henry V, was so overwhelmed with requests to bring back the portly knight, including a request from Queen Elizabeth herself, that he finally relented with the penning of Merry Wives.  The tale revolves around Sir John Falstaff's attempts to cuckold two men by wooing their merry wives.  Several comic suitors complicate the plan and general silliness abounds as the wives turn the tables on Falstaff. 

For more information, call 816-531-7728 or online at www.kcshakes.org 

Theatre for Young America
Treasure Island
June 23 - July 3 
Union Station City Stage
30 West Pershing Road, Downtown Kansas City, MO

From their website: Dramatized from the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, this exciting play starts at the Admiral Benbow Inn, where an old sea captain is given the black spot - a death mark - by pirates. Young Jim Hawkins finds the treasure map and soon sets sail for the mysterious Treasure Island. Manned by a crew of rowdy pirates, the ship becomes a scene of mutiny and conflict which spill out onto the island where Jim Hawkins proves his mettle.

For tickets call 816-460-2083 or online at www.tya.org

New Theatre Restaurant
The Sound of Music
By Rodgers & Hammerstein
June 25 - Aug. 30, 2009 
9229 Foster, Overland Park, KS 66212

From their website: If you saw our production of The Scarlet Pimpernel then you are familiar with the incredible talents of husband and wife Broadway stars Ron Bohmer & Sandra Joseph. Sandra Joseph starred in Phantom of the Opera for four years on Broadway. Ron Bohmer starred on Broadway in The Scarlet Pimpernel and in the national tour of Phantom...Just wait until you hear them sing some of the most memorable songs ever preformed on the musical stage including "My Favorite Things", "Do-Re-Me", "Edelweiss", "Climb Every Mountain" and of course, "The Sound of Music." 

For more information, call 913-649-SHOW, or online at www.newtheatre.com 

Kansas University Theatre
The Spitfire Grill
Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff
Directed by John Staniunas
Musical Direction by Barbara Puckett
June 26-28, July 1 -3
1530 Naismith Dr. Lawrence, KS 66045

In New York Magazine, John Simon wrote, "It is not often that material moves me to tears, but this was one of those occasions. The Spitfire Grill has the heart and soul that your Producers and Full Montys cannot begin to approach. What even in normal times would be a joy is, in these troubled ones, sheer nourishment." He later included the show in his "Best of 2001" list. Other critics also commented on the show's poignancy vis-à-vis the September 11, 2001 attacks. "If after the events of recent weeks you need any reason at all to embrace life again, the musical you've been waiting for has arrived. The Spitfire Grill is one of the most heartfelt musicals of recent years, its homespun charms as inviting as a warm winter blanket" wrote Matthew Murray reviewing the show for Talkin' Broadway. This production deals with mature content and is not suitable for children.

For tickets call (785)864-3982 or online at www.kutheatre.org

Unicorn Theatre
Speech & Debate
June 12 - July 12
By Stephen Karam 
Directed by Missy Koonce
3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 

From their website: Three misfit teens reluctantly join forces to combat local corruption, sex scandals and bad casting in the high school play by forming their school's first speech and debate team.  They soon realize three voices are stronger that one and this could be their chance to finally be heard by the school and even the world.  Their expose culminates in a time-traveling.
George Michael-inspired musical version of Miller's The Crucible.

For tickets call 816-531-7529 or online at www.unicorntheatre.org 

Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park
High School Musical
June 26, 27, 28
July 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12
Directed by Tammy Ruder
7910 Renner Road, Shawnee, KS

Box office opens at 7:00 p.m.; seating area gates open at 7:30 p.m.; show begins at 8:30 p.m.

According to their site: The Disney Channel's smash hit musical comes to life on stage! Disney's High School Musical is a high energy show featuring the Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes of East High. When Troy, one of the jocks and Gabriella, one of the brainiacs, decide to audition for East High's musical, it turns their world and their school upside down. Referred to as a modern day Romeo & Juliet, this musical is based on the popular Disney film from 2006. The High School Musical soundtrack was the best-selling album that same year. 

For more information call 913-312-8841 or online at www.theatreinthepark.org 

On Going

Coterie Theatre at Night
The Breakfast Club
Directed by Ron McGee
Every Monday night until August 24^th.
Westport Coffeehouse
4010 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 

A resurrection of the defining 1980's "Brat Pack" movie is being played out on stage as Ron McGee directs The Breakfast Club.  More then a cult classic, this play - adapted from the original 1985 film - takes us on a retro-journey of five teenage strangers forced to live out a Saturday detention.  Souls are revealed, love sparks, and reality sets in as this play not only reminds us of how times in America once were but how everything stays the same.  It should be noted that this production is not suited for those under 16 or 17 years of age.

One More Thing: Stay after the play and hangout with the cast on stage, drink coffee, and listen to 80's music.

Another Thing: Visit www.youtube.com/user/anthonyalexanderpro to watch interviews of the cast and learn about their research of the characters they are portraying.

For tickets call 816-474-6552 or online www.coterietheatre.org

Read the KC Metropolis Review here. 

Coming Soon

Kansas City Fringe Festival
July 19-26
Various venues around the metro

From their website: It's a festival celebrating un-censored, un-filtered art ... That's it! The original Fringe Fest started in Edinburgh, Scotland and from there it caught on like wild-fire all over the world. For those wondering how to begin fringing, check out www.kcfringe.org and make sure to stay tuned in to the site as this year's program schedule is soon to be published. That way if someone asks you "Do you fringe?" you'll at least know what the heck they're talking about!

 Theatre for Young America
The Hobbit 
July 31^st at 2pm and August 1^st at 7pm
Avila University Goppert Stage
11901 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO  

From their website: The Hobbit, is a co-production with Avila University and features students from Theatre for Young America's Summer Drama Camp. The Hobbit dramatizes J.R. R. Tolkien's story of Bilbo Baggin's quest to defeat a dragon and find a treasure.  Trolls, Elves, a creature named Gollum, and a "precious" ring populate the famous tale. Tickets for The Hobbit may only be purchased by calling Theatre for Young America at 816-460-2083.