Classic Play INHERIT THE WIND Opens At The White Theatre Of The Jewish Community Center

The often-debated relationship between faith and science is at the very heart of the riveting drama, INHERIT THE WIND, which opens Saturday evening, March 16, at The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. Raising issues as relevant today as they were when it was written years ago, INHERIT THE WIND uses the Scopes Monkey Trial to explore this complex - and sometimes adversarial -- relationship.

The drama has engagement of six performances at The White Theatre: Saturday evenings, March 16 & 23 at 7:30 p.m., Sundays March 17 & 24 @ 2 p.m. and Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. A Schools-Only performance will take place on Wednesday, March 20 a 9 a.m. More information on the school performance, please contact the White Theatre Box Office, (913) 327-8054.

The White Theatre production features a talented group of actors from the Kansas City metro area under the direction of veteran Bill Christie. The White Theatre received special permission from the estates of playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee to present this classic and relevant play about the freedom of thought, the right to knowledge, the fight for moral superiority, and vanquishing bigotry with a gender-, race-, and disability-neutral cast. Actors and audiences alike will be challenged to see past race and gender to the basic humanity within each of these characters.

Based on the famous Scopes Monkey trial, the play's setting is a small rural town. It follows a schoolteacher, who is arrested and tried for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The fierce court case draws national attention when a former presidential candidate and famous evangelist takes the role of prosecutor. The case takes on a life of its own with betrayal and treachery at every turn. Though based on the historic Scopes Trial, the playwright intended to present a story of a trial that could be happening anytime, anywhere and to anyone."

In its continual effort to make all theatergoers comfortable during the performance, The J's White Theatre provides assisted listening devices for all INHERIT THE WIND performances. Open Captioning will be available at the March 23 and 24 performances. Theatre patrons will be able to purchase beer, wine and signature cocktails, soft drinks and snacks prior to the show, as well as at intermission.

INHERIT THE WIND is rated PG. Tickets for INHERIT THE WIND are $14 to $30, depending on seating selection. Tickets may be purchased online at TheWhiteTheatre.org, by calling the box office at (913) 327-8054 or in person at 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park. The White Theatre box office is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The White Theatre's Theatre Series features one more locally produced show, the magical musical of PETER PAN-THE MUSICAL, July 6-28. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical leads the whole family on a grand adventure to Neverland: a place where dreams are born, where Lost Boys fight pirates, where anything is possible, if you just believe!

The White Theatre's Concert Series has several performances set for the coming months featuring local and world-renowned artists including:

• March 31-Heartland Men's Chorus: The unique electricity of The Heartland Men's Chorus comes to the White Theatre Stage as they perform their signature "musical documentary," Stonewall, to enlighten, inspire, heal, and empower as only they can.

• June 2, 2019- Kinnor Philharmonic Summer Concert: This summer concert will explore Felix Mendelssohn's life through an interactive concert featuring one of his most famous and controversial symphonic works: Symphony No. 5 "The Reformation"

The White Theatre's Special Engagements include:

• April 6 & 7: Fire in the Heart showcases the arts and how they can help us process, heal, and transcend the most traumatic events of our lives. An art show accompanies this production.

• June 16: Ed Asner: A Man and His Prostate brings this Kansas City Jewish "gem" and seven-time Emmy Award winner back to The White Theatre in a hysterical play, based on a true-life experience. This one-man comedy is about a hilarious visit to the hospital in preparation for surgery he doesn't want.

• Sept. 15, 2019: Mama Doni - an award-winning band offering a unique and special brand of "funky music with a Jewish twist" to kids nationwide.

Full descriptions, performance times for each event, and tickets are available online at TheWhiteTheatre.org, by calling the box office at (913) 327-8054 or in person at 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park.

Established more than 100 years ago, the non-profit Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City-The J, provides a warm welcome to families of all backgrounds. The J's all-in-one hub for health, fitness, sports, theatre, arts + culture, senior adult programming and youth services including summer camps and child development. The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre, housed at The J was built in 2005. It is a 500-seat, state-of-the-art facility, featuring the latest amenities in terms of seating, sound and lighting technology, and regularly hosts a mix of top talent from the region and around the world. Called "the best kept secret" in Kansas City's theatre scene, The White Theatre's mission is to provide enriching, thought-provoking entertainment that builds on Jewish cultural values, enhancing wellness, meaning and joy for people of all cultural backgrounds.

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