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Tue, Oct 18, 2011
In 1876, the same year that Swan Lake debuted in Moscow, Mark Twain published one of his greatest novels, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Over a century later, Tony Award-winning composer Maury Yeston had a vision of an all-American ballet. Yeston called on William Whitener to help accomplish the project. Their vision, "Tom Sawyer—A Ballet in 3 Acts," debuted on Friday at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival, a Kansas City staple, offered an eclectic menu of musical delights for every taste and every age.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
American performance pioneer, Laurie Anderson, opened the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts’ Vanguard Series on Sunday evening with wit, soundscapes, and stories.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
Egads! Theatre Company’s revival of last year’s smash hit "Evil Dead: The Musical" stormed Off Center Theatre last weekend to robust audiences and solid splatter zones. I attended the Monday night showing, and although the crowd was understandably smaller, the splatter zone was still packed and ready for gut-spewing mayhem.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
The Theatre Gym's production of "Underneath the Lintel: An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences" offers a riveting evening in one act, with one actor, and featuring one unexpected journey.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
With Copland’s Suite from “Appalachian Spring” as the centerpiece and two fine soloists in Deborah Wells Clark and Douglas Niedt, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra launched its 25th season of performing intimate orchestral works.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
"The Year of Magical Thinking," directed by Michael Grayman, is a refreshing interpretation of Joan Didion’s taut emotional account of grief and survival. The joint production between the Spinning Tree and Living Room Theatres is anchored by Peggy Friesen.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
Jane Solose continued the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance’s Liszt 200 Series, celebrating the composer’s bicentennial with a full program of Liszt piano works. The centerpiece was the composer’s massive Sonata in B minor.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
The German-language war drama "Habermann" takes a little known aspect of World War II history and turns it into an intriguing, yet sometimes faltering work about ethnic hatred and class envy.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
Sir Threadius Mongus held strong as the band played for an intimate gathering on October's First Friday. Celebrating their newest EP, the former Tulsans join the ever-growing list of artists who now call Kansas City home.
Thu, Sep 29, 2011
Produced by The Friends of Chamber Music, The Darwin Project is not only a tribute to the mastermind of evolution theory but also a documentation of musical evolution through history. Co-presenting with the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts the result is a multimedia spectacle that aims to reignite a passion for science and music.
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
KCMetropolis.org Board member and Lenexa Councilmember Andy Huckaba has been honored with the Jane E. Lawton Commemorative Award, which is presented annually by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) to an “extraordinary champion of local government in communications.”
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance and the Patricia and Howard Barr Institute for American Composition Studies have announced John Corigliano as the Barr Institute Laureate for Fall 2012–Spring 2014.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
Veteran actor of stage and screen, Gary Holcombe passed away on October 11, 2011 aged 66. Holcombe was a founding member of the Kansas City Actors Theatre and is fondly remembered for his portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge at the then-Missouri Repertory Theatre.
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!
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.
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.
Wed, Oct 05, 2011
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin spoke to KCMetropolis Classical Editor Topher Levin recently about his upcoming Harriman-Jewell Series recital, Hamelin’s recent publication of his "Twelve Etudes in the Minor Keys," the Godowsky/Chopin Etude transcriptions, and a new recording of Haydn sonatas.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
The last two weeks of October finds most Kansas City classical music and dance organizations fully engaged in their seasons. The Kansas City Ballet bows at the Muriel Kauffman Theatre in the Kauffman Center for its first regular season performances, opening October 14 and running two weekends (rather than just one, as in past seasons) with the world premiere three-act ballet Tom Sawyer. It should be the dance event of the season. Fans of dance will also enjoy the Owen/Cox Dance Group’s performance with the International Center for Music at Park University in Parkville. The Kansas City Symphony Chorus is featured in Brahms’ Deutsches Requiem (German Requiem) near the end of the month. Other choral concerts include the Kansas City Chorale’s Chant and Beyond and two concerts by the UMKC Conservatory Choirs and one by Schola Cantorum in Liberty. Two of the great soloists performing today grace our stages this month: pianist Marc-André Hamelin and violinist Midori both appear with the Harriman-Jewell Series. The Friends of Chamber Music presents its intriguing collaborative Darwin Project at Helzberg Hall, and also a concert by the famed Tokyo String Quartet. Another string quartet, the Latin-oriented La Catrina Quartet, appears at the Lied Center in Lawrence. We also have many other delightful concerts and recitals by some of our outstanding community orchestras and other ensembles; please check the full listings below.
Tue, Oct 11, 2011
“Nobody Lonesome for Me” at American Heartland Theatre; “The Outsiders” at the Coterie Theatre; “Noël and Gertie” at Quality Hill Playhouse; “A Steady Rain” at Central Standard Theatre; “Evil Dead: The Musical” at Egads Theatre Company; “The Year of Magical Thinking” at Spinning Tree Theatre/The Living Room. And later this month: “The History of Kisses” at Kansas City Rep; “Comedy of Asses” at UMKC Theatre; “Four One-Act Plays” at Leawood Stage Co.; “The Darwin Project” at Friends of Chamber Music; and more.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
Musical Theater Heritage (online through Nov. 1); Egads! Theatre Company (Nov. 7 and 8); Topeka Symphony (Youth Talent Application deadline Nov. 17)
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