Wichita Theatre Newsroom Page 6

The Blind Cupid Shakespeare Company’s First In-Person Production Is a Phenomenal Success

What did our critic think of THIS IS OUR YOUTH at Jabara Flexible Theatre In De Mattias Hall At Newman University?

The Crown Arts Collaborative (CAC), a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission of returning theatre and art to the historic Crown Uptown Theatre, presents the first non-musical production of its inaugural season with Calendar Girls, a stage play based on a true story and popularized by the 2003 film of the same name. Performances run weekends August 26 - September 18 at the Crown Uptown, with Friday and Saturday show times at 8:00 PM, and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM.

Roger Miller (KING OF THE ROAD) and William Hauptman’s musical adaptation about Mark Twain’s rebellious teenager Huck and a runaway slave named Jim, takes off, raft and all, on Roxy’s stage August 4, 2022. The limited engagement runs through August 20, 2022 for just 12 performances.

Wayne Bryan reluctantly leaves his role as Man in Chair in MTWichita's season finale, The Drowsy Chaperone due to medical reasons. Replacing him for the show will be John Scherer.

The Wedding Singer made its Regional Debut at the Crown Uptown in July. It’s super fun, high energy musical based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, with music by Matthew Sklar (Elf, The Prom), book by Chad Beguelin (Aladdin, Elf, The Prom) and Tim Herlihy (Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore), and lyrics by Chad Beguelin. The Wedding Singer's score is rife with 80’s pop references, which made me ponder the question, “From which actual hits were the show’s songs derived?”

Johnson County Community College’s Midwest Trust Center will present Chris Botti August 24, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Grammy Award-winning master trumpeter and composer Chris Botti has amassed a spectacular variety of honors, including multiple Gold and Platinum albums, to become the largest selling instrumental artist in the United States. 

WhHeathers: The Musical is the comically dark story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy teenage misfit who offers her forgery skills to the Heathers, the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High, in exchange for the good life. Before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with J.D., the new kid who doesn't take any crap from the Jocks. When Heather Chandler kicks Veronica out of the group for defending Veronica's geeky friend, Martha 'Dumptruck,' Veronica begs for Chandler's forgiveness, but J.D. has other plans. There is LANGUAGE and ADULT THEMES. PG-13 for sure.

Opening the 2022-2023 Season for Roxy’s Downtown is Heathers: The Musical, which is set to run until July 23rd.

The American Theatre Guild, the largest not-for-profit touring Broadway presenter in the nation announced that LEGALLY BLONDE - THE MUSICAL will join the 2022-2023 Broadway in Wichita Series at the Century II Concert Hall alongside the Add-On production of THE CONCERT: A TRIBUTE TO ABBA. The 2022-2023 Broadway Series now includes LEGALLY BLONDE - THE MUSICAL, January 28-29, 2023; ANASTASIA, March 17-19, 2023; DEAR EVAN HANSEN, April 11-16, 2023, and HAMILTON, June 6-18, 2023. The season add-on will be THE CONCERT: A TRIBUTE TO ABBA, December 29, 2022.

The Midwest Trust Center will present their Fall 2022 series of Arts Education shows, featuring acclaimed artists from around the world and around the corner. 

The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer's sparkling new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years.

The Crown Arts Collaborative (CAC), a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission of returning theatre and art to the historic Crown Uptown Theatre, continues their inaugural theatrical season with The Wedding Singer, the Tony Award-nominated musical based on the 1998 Adam Sandler film of the same name. Performances run weekends July 15 - August 7 at the Crown Uptown, with Friday and Saturday showtimes at 8:00 PM, and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. This will be the regional premier of The Wedding Singer, the first time the show has been produced by a professional company in Wichita or surrounding markets.

After a two year hiatus, Music Theatre Wichita is FINALLY back in the Century II Concert Hall and Wichita Theatregoers couldn’t be happier! There was no better way to celebrate the return than an incredible performance of 42nd Street! I’m sad the show didn’t run another week, and sadder still if you didn’t get to see it. For those who did, it was nothing short of magnificent!

Kechi Playhouse is happy to announce the second production of their 40th year: Everybody Loves Opal by John Patrick, July 8-31.

Dorothy won’t be the only one donning sparkly red heels this season! The Tony-winning Best musical struts into its MTWichita debut, telling the heartwarming, hilarious, and true story of a faltering shoe factory that saved itself from bankruptcy by embracing a fabulous new clientele. The production will open Wednesday, July 6th and run until Sunday, July 10th.

Snap! Snap! This production of The Addams Family at the Crown Uptown is A MUST SEE! This show runs until June 26, so call for tickets now! The show is well written and tight, with some really gorgeous music and equally gorgeous voices! The script is HILARIOUS, with some fantastic plot complications. Round up the kids and head over. Don't miss this well done production!

What did our critic think of 42nd Street at Music Theatre Wichita? Come and meet those dancing feet! A brand-new edition of this timeless classic taps its way into Century II Concert Hall June 15-19, as the second offering in the 2022 Music Theatre Wichita season.

Wichita Community Theatre presents The Ladies Foursome, by Norm Foster, for a June run. What did our critic think?

Crown Arts Collaborative presents Regional Premier of Addams Family Musical Crown Arts Collaborative (CAC), the 501(c)(3) non-profit responsible for the successful re-launch of theatre and art at The Crown Uptown Theatre, opens the 2nd theatrical production of their 2022 season with The Addams Family Musical. Performances run June 3rd - June 26th at the Crown Uptown. Friday and Saturday shows at 8:00 PM, Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM.

It's time to carry the banner on your stage with Disney's Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged 'newsies.' When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!

With a book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, and a slew of 70s dance floor anthems including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, Boogie Wonderland, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and I Love The Nightlife, it’s hard not to sit still in your seat. You’ll want to sing and dance along!

Kechi Playhouse is proud to open its 40th season with a fan favorite comedy, Play On! by Rick Abbot, June 10-26.

Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical is a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With the book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world.

The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King is celebrating its 20th anniversary today, Wednesday, April 27 in Wichita, where the award-winning musical begins a two-week return engagement tonight at The Century II Concert Hall and plays through Sunday, May 8, 2022.