Steve Wilson - Page 12

Our Town opened the 50th season of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre on Friday September 12 at the Spencer Theater located on the campus of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Thornton Wilder wrote the 1938 classic and winner of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for Drama that has weathered time to remain one of the most popular plays of all time.

Nine of the finest voices in Kansas City Theater made their way to the stage of the Off Center Theatre on September 8 to appear on Musical Monday and presented the audience with a night that will not be forgotten. Musical Monday began with only a handful of entertainers, Tim Scott, Jeremy Watson, and Chad Gerlt among a few others, with no microphones performing for a small audience. Over the last six seasons, the popularity of the show has caused Musical Theater Heritage to add a second night Tuesday September 9 to the schedule.

The Magical Murdery Tour opened on Friday September 5 at the Golden Ox restaurant in Kansas City, Mo. Written by Michael M. Dragen the The Mystery Train production is directed by Wendy Thompson. The Golden Ox and Californos in Westport share the stage for the dinner theater that runs through October 25.

On August 17 Cynthia Levin was honored by the Unicorn Theatre when the Main Stage was renamed the Levin Stage by the Board of Directors and the staff. On Saturday night September 6 the now Levin Stage was christened with one of the best performances to be presented in the 41 seasons of the Unicorn Theatre. Hands on a Hardbody opened the 41st season for the Unicorn with a marvelous production directed by Missy Koonce, with musical direction by Angie Benson and choreography by Christina Burton.

A tear glistened as it rolled down her cheek, and the audience knew they had seen something special. That something special was the opening night of Ghost-Writer at the Quality Hill Playhouse in Kansas City on Saturday August 23. Michael Grayman directs the Spinning Tree Theatre production of Michael Hollinger's Ghost-Writer. The production opens the 2014-2015 season for Spinning Tree, and if this is an indication of the remainder of the season, it is going to be a marvelous ride.

Hand on a Hardbody opens the Unicorn Theatre's 41st season on September 3, on the newly renamed Levin Stage. In a ceremony on August 10 The Unicorn Theatre renamed the Main Stage to honor Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin.

A Toast to U: Owning Our Future was presented at the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday August 17. The event was held to honor patrons who donated money to the theater, enabling them to buy the building and to officially rename and unveil The Levin Stage.

Closer Than Ever opened Friday night at the Barn Players in Mission, Kan. The play with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and music by David Shire is the yearly musical fundraiser for the Barn Players. On Friday night, Danielle Gibbs with Premiere Designs sold jewelry in the lobby, with 25% of the proceeds going to the Barn Players, and will return for Sunday's performance.

Home Grown Theatre and XS Lighting have created one of the first "Green Shows" using entirely LED lighting in Kansas City. Bare: A Pop Opera runs through Wednesday August 13 at the Goppert Theatre on the Avila University campus. Home Grown Theatre Company is a non-profit company run solely by students.

One enchanted evening is what Kansas City audiences received on opening night of South Pacific, the Musical Theater Heritage production at the Off Center Theatre. Premiering on Broadway in 1949 the musical composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II garnered 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and Best Score. It is the only musical production to win all four Tony Awards in the acting Categories and in 1950, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The world premiere of Echoes of Octavia opened Friday August 8 at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. Harvey Williams directs the Meltingpot KC production that runs through August 24. The premiere concludes the 2013-2014 season for Meltingpot KC that highlighted plays by local female writers.

The world premiere of Echoes of Octavia opens August 8 at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. Harvey Williams directs the Meltingpot KC production written by Kansas City playwright Michelle T. Johnson. Meltingpot KC focuses on local talent in the theater, working with local writers and performed by local talent. Williams the founder of Meltingpot KC and has appeared on stages throughout the Kansas City area.

Andy Parkhurst the Managing Director of the Spinning Tree Theatre announced the cast for the upcoming 2014-2015 season. The theatrical production company expands their season to four shows for the first time. Spinning Tree will present three Kansas City premieres during the season.

The Kansas City debut of Michael Hollinger's play Ghost-Writer comes to the Spinning Tree Theatre August 22 through September 7. Artistic Director Michael Grayman directs the production being staged at the Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W. 10 Street.

If you missed Musical Monday presented by Musical Theatre Heritage on July 28, then you missed one of the best revues of the season. The production was set around the Broadway hit Mame, but that did not mean all the songs were from the Tony Award winning musical.

The Tony Award winning 1949 musical South Pacific comes to the Off Center Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. from August 7 through August 24. This enduring love story is set on a tropical island during World War II. Richard Rodgers wrote the music with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and the book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. Sarah Crawford directs the Musical Theatre Heritage production and provides musical direction with Jeremy Watson.

The World Premiere of Dangerous to Dance With continues at the Off Center Theatre in Crown Center through Saturday July 26. Written by Bill Rogers Dangerous to Dance With is produced in conjunction with the KC Fringe Festival. Diane Bulan directs the Martin Tanner Production starring Victor Raider-Wexler, Vincent Monachino, Jim Hopkins, Kelsea McLean, and Coleman Crenshaw.

Artistic directors for theaters in Kansas City should take a hard look at A Hard Day's Night currently playing at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City. Lot in Life Productions and Vicki Vodrey, the writer and producer for A Hard Day's Night, have produced an intricate, enormously funny 90-minute dark comedy that easily should fill any theater in Kansas City. Songs from the Beatles are sewn into the script with perfect precision and timing. The world premiere is performed in conjunction with the KC Fringe Festival.

Jughead Theatricals brings Sing, Sing, Sing to the stage of the Heartland Forum in Crown Center. Diane Bulan produces Sing, Sing, Sing in conjunction with the KC Fringe Festival. The Heartland Forum is located in the space once occupied by the American Heartland Theatre.

Where The Hell's The Bridesmaid????? Is currently playing at the Heartland Forum in Crown Center. The very humorous melodrama written and directed by Madeline McCrae is one of many productions showing at the old American Heartland Theatre in conjunction with the KC Fringe Festival. In addition to theater, McCrae is an accomplished photographer and has her works on display at the KC Fringe Festival's Visual Art Show located in Union Station.