Linnaia McKenzie

Music Theater Heritage, the professional theater in residence at Crown Center, has announced the cast and creative team for Stephen Schwartz’s GODSPELL. This is the first time a Stephen Schwartz musical has been presented in the theater’s 22 seasons.

In perhaps its most ambitious season to date, Music Theater Heritage has announced bold and imaginative programming for its 2024 season. Utilizing three different venues, MTH's 22nd Season highlights stories that orbit around the power of love and the lengths we take to protect it. The season includes Tony Award winners, re-imaginings, original concert productions, and represents some of the most celebrated dramatists, composers, and songwriters of the 20th century. 

Music Theater Heritage has released the first look at its regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SONG & DANCE. The production is led by Emily Shackelford and directed by Jessalyn Kincaid with choreography by Caroline Dahm. The elusive musical features one act told entirely through “Song” and the other told entirely through “Dance.”

Music Theater Heritage has announced the cast and creative team for the second production of its 2022 Season, the regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SONG & DANCE. The production is led by Emily Shackelford, who last appeared at MTH in its record-setting production of CATS in 2018. SONG & DANCE is directed by Jessalyn Kincaid and Linnaia McKenzie with choreography by Caroline Dahm.

MTH Theater at Crown Center has unveiled an innovative and imaginative season to commemorate the organization's 20th Anniversary. Utilizing three different venues, MTH's 20th Anniversary Season highlights stories of resilience and resolve and includes Tony Award winners, regional premieres, re-imaginings, an original concert production, and the freshly minted RUBY ROOM Series.

“The Music of Motown” is the third original cabaret show in a series of video streamed entertainments from Musical Theater Heritage in the wake of the great Covid-19 pandemic. Covid has eliminated live audience performances for the time being. Each new iteration becomes a little technically better than the one that preceded it. The music is always fine. This show is one R&B lovers should not miss.

Spinning Tree Theatre proudly produces Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson's FULL GALLOP January 26-February 11. Cheryl Weaver stars as fashion doyenne Diana Vreeland in this one-woman play. The Kansas City premiere is directed by Doug Weaver.

Maine State Music Theatre's 2016 opening brought the East Coast premiere of the stunning and soul-stirring new chamber version of Ghost The Musical, and the evening proved to be an extraordinary artistic event! Not only did this production represent an unique collaboration between director/choreographer Marc Robin and the musical's original creators, Bruce Joel Rubin, Glen Ballard, and Dave Stewart, but it offered Maine audiences the opportunity to savor the depth and range of this remarkable company's artistry. For the Ghost which was unveiled at Brunswick's Pickard Theater June 9 (a co-production of MSMT and Lancaster's Fulton Theatre) dazzles with the complexity of its score, the tenderness of its story, its symphonically perfect direction, splendid visual values, and by the deep identification of the cast with the material.

The 'nationally regarded' Maine State Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of GHOST THE MUSICAL, beginning tonight, June 8 through June 25.  BroadwayWorld brings you a sneak peek at highlights and behind the scenes below!

Maine State Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of GHOST THE MUSICAL, beginning tonight, June 8, and continuing through June 25.

The 'nationally regarded' Maine State Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of GHOST THE MUSICAL June 8 through June 25.

The 'nationally regarded' Fulton Theatre and Maine State Music Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of Ghost: The Musical through May 14 (Performances at Maine State Music Theatre are June 8 - June 25, 2016). The romantic and heart-wrenching story will feature a cast of 10, focusing on the central characters of the original story, with a 6 piece orchestra. New acoustic versions of the songs from the original Broadway production will include, 'Unchained Melody,' 'Here Right Now,'  'Suspend My Disbelief - I Had a Life,' and more!   BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look below!

 The “nationally regarded” Fulton Theatre and Maine State Music Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of Ghost: The Musical through May 14 (Performances at Maine State Music Theatre are June 8 – June 25, 2016). The romantic and heart-wrenching story will feature a cast of 10, focusing on the central characters of the original story, with a 6 piece orchestra. New acoustic versions of the songs from the original Broadway production will include, “Unchained Melody,” “Here Right Now,”  “Suspend My Disbelief – I Had a Life,” and more!

 The "nationally regarded" Fulton Theatre and Maine State Music Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of Ghost: The Musical through May 14 (Performances at Maine State Music Theatre are June 8 - June 25, 2016). The romantic and heart-wrenching story will feature a cast of 10, focusing on the central characters of the original story, with a 6 piece orchestra. New acoustic versions of the songs from the original Broadway production will include, "Unchained Melody," "Here Right Now,"  "Suspend My Disbelief - I Had a Life," and more!

OULDN'T IT BE LOVERLY, an original revue of the songs of Lerner and Loewe opened Saturday August 14 at the Musical Theater Heritage at Crown Center. What would not be loverly would be to miss this fantastic production, which runs through August 30. Sarah Crawford directs the production, which George Harter wrote, and hosts this tribute to the musicals of the dynamic song-writing duo.

KC Rep is proud to present this concert documentary event! Directed by KC Rep's Artistic Director Eric Rosen, the musical that defined a generation and brought rock music to the theatrical stage, HAIR: Retrospection captures the essence of the revolution and passion of the 1960s. In addition to its legendary score, this production features original Broadway artists, and continues KC Rep's tradition of reimagining the classic musical. Come experience it at KC Rep! 

The rock musical Hair has been produced many times over the years in Kansas City, but never has it been presented the way the Kansas City Repertory Theatre brought it to the Spencer Theatre on opening night March 27. Artistic Director Eric Rosen directs Hair: Retrospective, which runs through April 12 at the theater on the University of Missouri at Kansas City campus. The retrospective may actually be more enjoyable than the musical itself, (not just my opinion, heard from audience members also).

Performances begin tonight, Friday, March 20 and run through Sunday, April 12. Press night is scheduled for Opening Night Friday, March 27. Appropriate for ages 17 +. As a concert production, there will be no live nudity, though documentary photographs of the original production will be projected.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen announced today the casting for HAIR: Retrospection, under his direction.

Each time I think that the performing arts in Kansas City cannot get any better Spinning Tree Theatre opens another production and proves there is no limit to the highest quality shows available to local audiences. Opening night for Violet at the Just Off Broadway Theatre on Saturday November 8 was no exception, as some of the most talented actors in the area delighted the audience with another outstanding performance.