Steve Wilson - Page 4

Join the highly talented tribe of HAIR as Padgett Productions brought the opening night to Kansas City on Saturday, September 7. This is one of the top productions of the highly acclaimed musical that I have had the good fortune to review. Return to an age of hippies, free-love, and the tribe as you enter the small newly renovated Black Box Theatre in the West Bottoms Entertainment District. If you're not ready to party, you are probably in the wrong place.

A BRIGHT STAR shines, shines, shines in the Olathe Civic Theatre Associations (OCTA) current production of BRIGHT STAR now playing at the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse in Olathe. Directed by Julie Ewing, with music direction by Ashley Jones, and choreography by Carolyn Braverman this phenomenal production is anything but community theater. Who would ever think community theater could be so good? BRIGHT STAR is of a quality that any professional theater would be delighted to attain.

Billed as a one-man show EVERY BRILLIANT THING opened Saturday, August 17 at Spinning Tree Theatre now located in the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center in Overland Park, Kansas. This opening production for their ninth season is anything but a one-man show. Filled with interaction with the audience it shines high on a list of must-see performances in Kansas City.

From the first bar of the opening song the audience quickly realizes this is not just another musical, it is an experience. The spectacular production of IN THE HEIGHTS opened Saturday, August 10 at Musical Theater Heritage in Crown Center under the direction of Nedra Dixon. This is the first production Dixon has directed for MTH and what a debut she made.

What a roller-coaster of emotions at a preview performance of A DOLL'S HOUSE on the City Stage inside Union Station. The three-act play produced by the Kansas City Actor's Theatre opens Saturday, August 10th and runs through August 25th. Darren Sextro adapted and directs A DOLL'S HOUSE from the 1882 translation (NORA: A PLAY) by Henrietta Frances Lord.

Director Barbara Nichols has created magic in the White Theatre's production of PETER PAN THE MUSICAL. This summer treat for the whole family, which opened on July 6 at the theater located at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, should not be missed. The show runs through July 28 at the theater.

What do you do when some Bozo commits murder? You go see the newest show being offered by Padgett Productions, CLOWN BAR, at Immersive KC (formerly Prohibition Hall) in Kansas City. The hilarious campy comedy written by Adam Szymkowicz runs Friday and Saturday nights through July 20. This 65-minute production is riddled with sidesplitting humor, musical numbers, and hilarious choreography.

Humorous and delightful, A WRINKLE IN TIME is summer entertainment for children of all ages. A WRINKLE IN TIME presented by Theatre For Young America is now playing at the City Stage inside Union Station in Kansas City. Valerie Mackey the Artistic Director of Theatre For Young America directs this whimsical tale that runs through July 6.

The Tony Award-winning musical HAMILTON opened Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the Music Hall in Kansas City and continues through Sunday, July 7. The American Theater Guild presents the smash Broadway musical featuring rap, jazz, blues, traditional-style show tunes, and hip-hop. Does it deserve all the attention it has garnered? The majority of the theater-goers, especially younger ones, will enthusiastically answer yes. While others, including myself, while recognizing the superb quality of the production and of the talent, will answer no. At times the lyrics are hard to understand, making the plot somewhat hard to follow.

A summer treat for the kiddies in ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY" opened Friday, June 14 at the Coterie Theatre in Kanas City. Directed by Shanara Gabrielle the children's musical written by Mo Willems concludes the 40th season for the theater. Willems author of the popular Elephant and Piggie book series wrote the script and lyrics for the stage. Deborah Wicks La Puma wrote the music for the play with musical direction is by Anthony T. Edwards.

You're not in Kansas anymore Toto, you're at The Starlight Theatre in Kansas City for the opening night of THE WIZARD OF OZ. Based on the 1939 film classic, THE WIZARD OF OZ opened on Monday, June 10 and runs through Sunday, June 16. Philip Wm. McKinley directs his 13th production with Starlight Theatre, an accomplishment which was celebrated before the program began.'

ROCK YOU! A WILD RIDE THROUGH THE MUSIC OF QUEEN was presented by the Heartland Men's Chorus at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, on June 8 and 9, wrapping up the 31st season for the chorus. I have seen numerous shows by the chorus and in my opinion, this tribute takes the crown. Kathleen McGuire provided a fantastic arrangement for the men's chorus.

Musical Theatre Heritage not only brings OKLAHOMA! to the Kansas City stage, but also to 2019. The musical classic OKLAHOMA! opened on Saturday, June 8 at Crown Center and runs through June 30. The 1943 box-office smash was the first written by the team of Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on the 1931 play by Lynn Riggs, GREEN GROWS THE LILACS, it is set out to tell the story of Laurey and her two suitors Curly and Jud in Oklahoma before it reached statehood.

I am a big fan of campy rock musicals and what's not to like with EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL. Hilarious, wonderful music, appropriate scenery, fabulous talent, and a talking moose. Throw in a half dozen zombies and you have the makings of a wonderful night at the theater. That's what Padgett Productions delivers with EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL which opened Friday, June 7 and runs through June 22 at Prohibition Hall in Kansas City. The outrageous musical comedy written by playwright and lyricist George Reinblatt features music composed by Reinblatt, Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, and Melissa Morris.

MAMMA MIA! what a fabulous show. You can dance. You can jive. Having the time of your life is what you're in for when attending Padgett Productions MAMMA MIA! now playing at Prohibition Hall in Kansas City. The jukebox musical which runs through May 19 benefits Children's Mercy Hospital with a portion of ticket sales going to the Cancer Center.

Quality Hill Playhouse continues its BROADWAY AND ALL THAT JAZZ series with SONGBOOK OF THE 60S AND 70S at the Playhouse in Kansas City. Directed by Producing Artistic Director J. Kent Barnhart the fourth program in the series runs through May 26. The final installment in the series SONGBOOK OF THE 80S TO PRESENT begins June 14 and concludes the 2018-2019 season at the Playhouse on July 14.

An amazing selfie is brought to life in FRIDA…A SELF PORTRAIT that opened May 4th at Copaken Stage in Kansas City. Produced by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre for its Origin KC: New Works Festival the play runs through May 19 at the theater located in the H&R Block Building at 13th and Walnut. The Origin KC: New Works Festal has brought Kansas City into the national center for the cultivation and production of new works. The festival offers theatre artists financial, creative, and artistic resources to develop new and diverse works for the theatre.

"Bond, James Bond!" No, BOND the story of a soldier and his dog now playing at the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City. Cynthia Levin directs one of the best dramas to appear in this performing arts season. BOND is thought-provoking and gut-wrenching with just enough humor to keep the viewer from needing a Zoloft. BOND plays at the Unicorn Theatre in collaboration with The Messner Puppet Theater through May 19.

From strawberry fields to Bug Stock BEAT BUGS to quote Crick is, "A truly magical place." BEAT BUGS a musical inspired by songs from the Beatles is now playing at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City. BEAT BUGS directed by Producing Artistic Director Jeff Church with musical direction by Anthony T. Edwards is based on the Netflix original series, "Beat Bugs". The musical was created by Josh Wakely and written by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti.

Kansas City has one of the best performing arts communities in the country, but don't take my word for it, prove it to yourself by seeing FUNNY GIRL at Musical Theater Heritage in Crown Center. Every time I think that I have seen the best that Kansas City has to offer I am proven wrong by another grand production from a local theatrical production company.