Steve Wilson - Page 10

Scrooge walking into the Off Center Theatre in Crown Center would have had the Bah Humbug chased from him with the second performance of A Spectacular Christmas Cabaret Show! Anyone entering the theater without the Christmas spirit would leave filled with joy over the gift Musical Theater Heritage is presenting to audiences this holiday season.

The hilarious one-woman play I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers currently plays as a season extra at the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City. John Logan (writer of Tornado!, Star Trek Nemesis, and The Last Samurai among others) wrote the one-act play specifically for Bette Midler who starred in the Broadway production in 2013 and later in Los Angeles.

The Kauffman Performing Arts Center in Kansas City, Mo. is known as one of the most spectacular buildings in the metropolitan area. With its breathtaking city views, through the large slanted glass windows, little surpasses it for beauty. Through December, the phenomenal view from the windows is matched by the beauty and grace that currently plays with the Kansas City Ballet's presentation of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker.

The joyous trip back through musical history comes to life from Detroit to Los Angeles in Motown: The Musical now playing at the Music Hall in Kansas City, Mo. Motown: The Musical with a book by Berry Gordy based on his 1994 autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown. Gordy founded the Motown record label, launching the careers of superstars Diana Ross and the Supremes, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson.

Misunderstanding the Candy Game, produced by the Kansas City! Tennyson Group played at the Gem Theatre in the historic Jazz District of Kansas City, Mo. Lewis Morrow wrote and starred in the timely, thought provoking two-act play, which was staged at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday December 6.

Thought provoking, dramatic, depressing, with a dash of humor describes the current production of the Unicorn Theatre on their Levin Stage. Ian R. Crawford directs Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, written by Rajiv Joseph. The complex plot and vivid images are a co-production of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Theatre Department.

The outstanding musical production of Kansas City Christmas opened the 29th season of the Heartland Men's Chorus on Friday December 5 at the Folly Theater. The newly appointed Artistic Director Dustin S. Cates led the chorus of about 120 men through an array of humorous and sincere holiday songs to kick off the festive season. Cates served as a Guest Conductor for the Chorus's production of I Am Harvey Milk.

It amazes me how a musical performed with little or no scenery, props, or costumes, and on a small intimate stage can become one of the preeminent shows of the season. That is exactly what Oliver! accomplished on opening night Saturday December 6 at the Off Center Theatre in Kansas City. This achievement speaks volumes to the creative team of Musical Theater Heritage that labored to near perfection.

The Gifts of the Magi opened Thursday night at the dinner gala for the Summit Theatre Group at the Emaline Ballroom in Lees Summit, Mo. The price of a ticket included a dinner buffet served by Outback Steak House, in which the server limited patrons to portions because he did not know if he brought enough meats. Immediately following the meal the audience received an unfortunate serving of The Gift of the Magi.

Musical Theater Heritage closes out their 2014 season with two shows running in repertory: Oliver! and A Spectacular Christmas Cabaret. Beginning December 5 Oliver! runs on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday. A Spectacular Christmas Cabaret runs Mondays December 8, 15, and 22.

Like a fine glass of champagne, A Christmas Carol, at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre only gets better with age. The 34th production of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens and adapted by Barbara Fields, opened on Saturday November 29 at the Spencer Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. The KC Rep continues its 50th anniversary with the magnificent production of the holiday classic, which has been seen by more than a half million patrons since 1981. The KC Rep serves more than 12,000 schoolchildren annually.

The final Musical Monday of 2014 took to the stage of the Off Center Theatre on Monday November 24. Produced six times a year by Musical Theater Heritage Tim Scott hosts the cabaret style production. In response to sold out seasons since 2009, additional performances on Tuesday night are scheduled beginning in 2015.

Christmas arrives by train in Kansas City . . . the Mystery Train that is. Murder on the Ornament Express is the current offering of the dinner theater that operates out of the Golden Ox Restaurant and Californos in Westport. Wendy Thompson wrote and directs Murder on the Ornament Express, which though it does not take place on a real train, it has a train setting with a background of Kansas City history.

Gore Vidal's The Best Man a political drama is the current production of the Olathe Civic Theatre Association in Olathe, Kan. The play, which opened on November 7, runs through November 21. John Robinson directs the OCTA production stating in the playbill that it had been 15 years since he had done drama and had sworn he would never do drama again. Perhaps he should have stayed true to that conviction.

Broadway Across America and the Kansas City Broadway Series present Motown The Musical December 9 through 14 at the Kansas City Music Hall. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, the story of Motown is a true American dream.

The Heartland Men's Chorus celebrates all things Kansas City December 5-7 with their holiday concert Kansas City Christmas. The first concert of their 29th season takes the stage at the Folly Theater under the direction of the Heartlands new artistic director Dustin S. Cates.

The two-person play Not About Heroes opened Friday November 14 at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. Due to technical difficulties the opening of the play was delayed a week from November 6. Bob Paisley, a founding member of the theater, directs the thought provoking dramatic World War I piece. Audiences that view the two-act drama as poetry in motion will insure themselves of a very entertaining evening.

The White Theatre inside the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas presents Fiddler on the Roof through November 23. Steven Eubank directs the classic musical, with musical direction by Daniel Doss. This is the second production Eubank has directed for the theater. Doss has been involved in over 50 musicals in the Kansas City area.

The hilarious production of the French musical La Cage aux Folles currently plays at the Barn Players in Mission, Kan. The musical based on the play by the same name by Jean Poiret opened on Friday night November 7 and runs through November 23. Kipp Simmons directs the Barn Players production with musical direction by Martha Risser and choreography by Rob Reeder.

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.