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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

As we move into the second half of May and head into summer, many of our classical music organizations have wrapped up their seasons, so the pickings begin to get a bit slimmer.  We do have some notable choral concert opportunities, inluding the renowned Kansas City Chorale, which wraps up its season in a collaborative concert with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the choir of Village Presbyterian Church teams up with others for a joint concert, and a new group, the Kansas City Men’s Ensemble, makes its debut.

One of the world’s finest organists, Vincent Dubois, gives a free organ recital under the auspices of the Greater Kansas City chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Additionallly, two local organizations, Musical Theatre Heritage and the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, present classic Broadway-style musicals.

Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company
20th Anniversary Season Finale
Friday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m.
White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center
4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO

For tickets call 816-235-6222 or visit online at http://wylliams-henry.org

It is hard to believe that Mary Pat Henry’s Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company has been around for two decades, but so it is. Celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary, this final concert of the season will feature the best pieces from the twenty years of the company, plus a company premiere of Session for Six, by renown modern choreographer Anna Sokolow in celebration of her own anniversary…her 100th birthday.

Kansas City Symphony
Symphony Quixotic
Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, at 8:00 p.m.
Lyric Theatre
11th St and Central Ave, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-471-0400 or visit online at www.kcsymphony.org.

Musicians of the Kansas City Symphony join with the eclectic dance group Quixotic in this production featuring classical music and acrobatic aerial modern dance. According to publicity materials, the performance will feature “classical music, modern dance, aerial acrobatics and contemporary design.” No specific program for the performance has been announced as of press time, but Quixotic is always highly entertaining and it will be interesting to see the results of the group's collaboration with the symphony.

Kansas City Chorale
Shakespeare in Song
Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Country Club Christian Church
6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri
Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m.
Asbury United Methodist Church
5400 W 75th St (at Nall Ave), Overland Park, KS

For tickets call 816-235-6222 or visit online at www.kcchorale.org

This unusual KC Chorale concert will feature choral music spanning several centuries and inspired by the plays of William Shakespeare, interspersed with scenes from Shakespearean dramas as performed by Kansas City actors Robert Brand, John Rensenhouse, and Cinnamon Schultz. 

The concert, developed in coordination with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, will present text both spoken and sung fromThe Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Measure for Measure, Cymbeline, Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale, and this summer’s Heart of America Shakespeare Festival production, Macbeth.

Lee’s Summit Symphony
Family Concert: A Night of Movie Magic
Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Lee's Summit High School Bernard C. Campbell Performing Arts Center
400 SE Blue Pkwy, Lee's Summit, MO

Tickets available in advance at Hy-Vee East or Hy-Vee West, Lee’s Summit, MO, or at the door.  For more information visit http://www.lssymphony.org/

The Lee’s Summit Symphony wraps up its 2010–11 concert season with a concert of theme music from popular movies. 

Village Presbyterian Church Series
Singing the Seasons of Faith
Sunday, May 15 at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Village Presbyterian Church
6641 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS
Free admission. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. For more information visit http://www.villagepres.org/

The choirs of the Village Presbyterian Church and Second Presbyterian Church, along with the Village Brass Ensemble, will join forces in a free concert featuring several choir masterworks presented on two successive Sunday evenings.  On tap are the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Barber.  The Village Church music programs are always excellent.  Note the 5:00 p.m. starting time for both concerts.

Greater Kansas City Chapter of American Guild of Organists
Organ Recital, Vincent Dubois
Monday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m.
St Michael's and All Angels Church
6630 Nall Ave, Mission, KS
Free admission. For more information visit http://kcago.com

Concert organist Vincent Dubois is the 2002 Calgary International Organ Festival Recital Gold Medal Winner, and will be featured in this recital sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Dubois is currently the Director of the Conservatoire National of Reims and is also the titular organist at the Cathedral of Soissons in Soissons, France.  This is an opportunity to hear a truly outstanding organist of international fame right here in Kansas City (or, rather, in Mission, Kansas).

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
The Who’s Tommy
May 19 through 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m.
(runs each weekend through June 5)
3604 Main St, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-569-3226, or visit online at www.metkc.org.

Tommy is considered to be one of the first “rock operas.” This show's production features local opera singer Nathan Granner in one of the major roles. 

The Who’s Tommy is a stage production derived from a double album produced in 1969 by the rock group The Who, with music by Pete Townshend and additional material by John Entwistle and Sonny Boy Williamson. Years later, in 1992, Townshend and McAnuff collaborated to produce a stage version of the work, which ran for over three years and became a popular touring show throughout the United States. In 1997 it won a Sir Laurence Olivier award as the outstanding musical production in Britain, and it also won a Tony Award for Best Score.

Following tours in Canada and in Europe, The Who’s Tommy made its debut on Broadway in December 2008. It has since been performed in many theaters across the country.

The score contains some memorable songs, including “Acid Queen,” “Listening to You,” and “Pinball Wizard,” so if you are in the mood for something a bit more contemporary, check it out.  This reviewer has heard some excerpts, and the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre has, true to its name, put together a remarkable ensemble for this production.

Musical Theatre Heritage
Gypsy
Thursday, May 19 through Saturday, May 21, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m.
(runs through May 29)
Off Center Theatre
Crown Center Shops, Third Floor
Grand Blvd at Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-842-999, or visit online at www.musicaltheatreheritage.com.

Another classic American musical is being presented by George Harter’s Musical Theatre Heritage during the last two weekends in May.  A collaboration of Jule Styne (music) and a young Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), Gypsy will star, in this local production, the inimitable Debra Bluford in the title role, along with Vanessa Severo, Kip Niven, as well as other local talents. 

Dating from 1959, Gypsy features some of the greatest songs of the “golden age” of the Broadway musical, including “Everything's Coming Up Roses,” “Let Me Entertain You,” “You Gotta Have A Gimmick,” and “Rose's Turn.”

Westport Center for the Arts
Brown Bag Concert Series: LaTeesha McDonald Jackson, soprano
Friday, May 20, at noon
Westport Presbyterian Church
201 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO
Free admission, but donations are accepted. For more information visit http://www.westportcenterforthearts.org/

One of this area’s fine young sopranos is LaTeesha McDonald Jackson, whose performances in last year’s holiday program at Quality Hill Playhouse were the highlight of the production.  She has also appeared with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Kansas City Civic Opera, and the Kansas City Metro Opera.

This noon at the Westport Center for the Arts’ free noontime series, she will give a solo recital which should be a treat.  Bring your lunch and feel free to munch along, as long as you aren’t too noisy (potato chips discouraged).  Coffee and cookies are also served.

Kansas City Men’s Ensemble
Love of Song
Tuesday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m.
St. John’s United Methodist Church
6900 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO
Free admission, but donations accepted.  Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kansas-City-Mens-Ensemble/182000825176584

A new singing group, the Kansas City Men’s Ensemble, puts on its inaugural performance this evening with a concert featuring songs centering on different types of love. Among the works will be music from Russia, France, America, India, and Africa.

The concert will feature the debut performance of I Am Like the Rain by ensemble member Jonathan Krinke.

By Don Dagenais

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.