Theater comes in all shapes and sizes, but the plays that stick with us tend to be those that hold up a mirror to our own joys and tragedies, our loves and weaknesses and ruined relationships. When August Wilson’s plays began to appear on prominent stages during the 1980s, many noticed immediately the birth of […]

The Lyric Opera’s handsome production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin hit home partly because of its simplicity. The spare approach both to design and to direction, and the unfussy singing that managed to avoid excess (even as non-Russian-speakers labored to sing in Russian), allowed us to focus so intently on the drama that we found ourselves […]

Kansas City’s performing-arts season opened with a vengeance in mid-September, with more than a dozen professional-level productions of music, dance and theater vying for attention. Among the half-dozen or so I managed to take in, one that stood out (after Cliburn medalist Kenny Broberg’s recital, reviewed here) was the Harriman-Jewell Series’ presentation of Parsons Dance […]

It’s true that many operas of the standard repertoire are drawn from stories that are implausible, overwrought or even downright ridiculous. Almost as often, though, composers find themselves setting literary masterpieces to music, and they are challenged to create a work that can at least function on its own terms, stand up to the mastery […]

When I was growing up, it always bothered me that Thanksgiving seemed like the forgotten holiday. Each year, all the stores would put out tons of decorations for Halloween. The minute that Halloween ended, Christmas decorations would fill the shelves and The Jackson 5 could be heard singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” everywhere. […]

I feel my heartbeat in my ears. The thuds of my pulse seemingly getting louder and faster as I realize that my breath is coming in shorter and shorter gasps. Then my hands start to feel sweaty, and only the chair I am sitting in is keeping me upright as my knees get weak. The […]

There is a definitive moment every year where I take a breath outside and I just know: fall is finally here. It’s that cool crispness with a hint of morning dew like I just bit into a perfectly ripe Granny Smith apple. As the air invades my lungs, I am taken back to all of […]

Annually a class of dynamic, charismatic, charitable, passionate, hard-working professionals are chosen to be honored as KC’s Most Wanted. These individuals are movers and shakers who are making a big difference in their profession and in their community. The selected honorees are featured in the November issue of The Independent and will be honored at the annual […]

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Duncan Dallam of Mission Hills are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Peyton Leigh Dallam, to Eric Michael Sorrentino, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sorrentino of Plano, Texas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Roy Holliday, Sr. and the late Mr. […]

A darling baby girl named June Catherine Perry arrived on April 6th. Her parents are Emily and Matthew Perry of St. Joseph, Missouri. Juney weighed six pounds, 10 ounces and was 18 and one half inches long. She has blue eyes and blonde hair. Juney joins her big brother, Thomas, age three. Her proud grandparents […]

Debbie Dellinger was the host for The Gathering on September 26th. The fifth annual event supported the New Roots for Refugees program, a ministry of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. More than 130 guests attended, and the result was a record-breaking total in excess of $24,000. Janice Hendler, Marianne Moore and Donna Miller   Maureen […]

Topgolf was the spot, where BOTARs and Escorts mixed and mingled on October 6th. Anna Frame, Grace DeGoler, Hannah Griffith, Katherine Barnthouse, Kelly Love, Liza Clough, Meg Stanley, Michelle Royle, Missy Linville, Riley Clause, Riley Hunter, Sarah Maner, and Sarah Spradling served as the hosts. (First row) Zach Pierce and Kelly Love (second row) Katherine […]

Madelyn Corinne Montague and Andrew Kenneth Sutherland were married on August 12th at Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Donald Montague II of Our Town. Her groom is the son of Penni Sutherland of Estes Park, Colorado, and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Sutherland of Tulsa, […]

The first time she graced our pages, we didn’t even know her name: “Mr. and Mrs. Burnham Hockaday of St. Louis announce the birth of a daughter, June 25.” That was Laura Rollins Hockaday, and the date on the cover of The Independent was July 9, 1938. Not quite 80 years later, we count ourselves […]

Shawnee Mission Education Foundation’s 25th annual Fall Breakfast was held on October 10th at the Overland Park Convention Center. More than 1,000 guests attended the event that featured the State of District address by Interim Superintendent Dr. Kenny Southwick, along with student achievements and performances. The crowd celebrated the Foundation’s support of Arts, STEM and […]

Rose Brooks Center’s 13th annual Casino and Auction Night was held on October 14th at the Overland Park Sheraton. Guests went “all in” at the event to support the families and pets served by Rose Brooks Center. Diana Keating, John Lathrop and Raleigh Lang served as co-chairmen of the evening that featured casino-style gaming, silent […]

October 21st was the date for The BOTAR Ball. The 68th annual event was held at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Studio Dan Meiners transformed the ballroom into an enchanting garden, where guests enjoyed the beautiful presentation, a sumptuous dinner and dancing to the tunes of Galaxy Red. Tracy Lyon Tetrick […]