Backstage And Beyond | The Independent

Backstage And Beyond

LET’S DANCE: KCB II artist is energized by Kansas City Ballet’s bracing environment

TOO ASIAN/NOT ASIAN ENOUGH: Actor-playwright-singer-songwriter wants to keep all channels open

KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY: Musical Club is one of the oldest performing arts groups in the Midwest

CHARADE’S THE THING: Shakespeare riff is a tale of grilled meats and party games

FULL PARTNERSHIP: Pianist is one of the busiest women in town

BUILDING BRIDGES: Stage management proves ideal training for dream job at KC Rep

NEW NORMAL

PRESENTING PINTSCHER: newEar introduces conductor’s music to Kansas City

DEFYING CATEGORIES: Emara Vonae’ Neymour Jackson

A PLACE IN THE KANSAS SUN:

ABILITY TO ACT: Coterie introduces musical based on Sotomayor’s children’s book

Paul Horsley’s Best of Spring

JOSQUIN HERO: Ensemble brings out the vitality of music’s first “world-famous composer”

Backstage And Beyond

PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES: Company reemerges after blaze in historic theater poses existential threat

SING WE NOW: Local choral groups draw enthusiastic audiences year-round

SPEAKING PLAINLY: Preservation initiatives reveal shift in attitudes toward Native American languages

LIVES UNMANAGEABLE: Public Theatre and non-profit group use theater to address addiction

MUSICAL OFFERING: Ensemble opens 25th season with a brilliant glimpse into Bach’s world

DEEP ROOTS: Actor-playwright yearns to steer theater into a diverse new era

FOR EVERYTHING A SEASON: Mezzo-soprano seeks joy in each phase of life

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: Four Kansas City Latino/a performers who are making a difference

SINCERELY YOURS: Song cycle recreates epistolary exchange between artistic giants

PERFECT TEN: Plucky ensemble celebrates a decade of chamber music and more

RIDING TO NEW HORIZONS: Coterie and American Royal join forces for new play

Backstage And Beyond

Best of Fall 2024: Music, theater, and dance

Backstage And Beyond

NEW WORLD: Symphony strides into the Pintscher era

Backstage And Beyond

‘TIS A GIFT: Students, teachers, and local organizations spur a bounty of youthful talent

Backstage And Beyond

JUST IN TIME: Actors Theatre presents long-neglected American classic

Backstage And Beyond

MAKING STRIDES: Artists from the LGBTQ+ community share thoughts on Kansas City and its progress

LET FREEDOM SING: Choirs address a nation still making up its mind on LGBTQ+ issues

Backstage And Beyond

PEARL OF GREAT PRICE: Summerfest to perform gem created in the worst of times

Backstage And Beyond

FAR FROM HOME: Shipboard romance forges path toward hope, hearth, home

Backstage And Beyond

SOLSTICE DREAMS: Kansas City fills summer months with great music, theater, and dance

Backstage And Beyond

SIMPLE TWISTS OF FATE: Symphony couple finds niche in the heartland

A LIFE FULFILLED: Entrepreneur finds joy in the arts and a knack for giving

PASS IT ON: Master teacher explores broader purposes for dance

LADIES WITH LATITUDE: Five women making a difference in Kansas City performing arts

Backstage And Beyond

BUILDING A FUTURE AND LEAVING A LEGACY

LIFE LESSONS THROUGH SONG: Local choirs reach new heights

Backstage And Beyond

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE: Dancer forms company with the broadest of missions

Backstage And Beyond

FREE TO ROAM: Actor thrives onstage and behind the scenes

WHEREFORE ART THOU? Lyric Opera presents renowned tenor with KC roots in role debut

Backstage And Beyond

Best of Spring: 35 events in music, theater, and dance you will not want to miss

MAHLER AND BEYOND: Stern and DiDonato contemplate the composer’s far-reaching vision

GREAT MOMENTS: Highlights of Kansas City’s arts year 2023

TEAM PLAYERS: Artists find that everyone gains from collaborations

BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL: Chamber Orchestra underscores the joy of the Baroque

Backstage And Beyond

KEYBOARD COUPLE: Musical teamwork enhances wedded bliss

Backstage And Beyond

EARTH TONES: New generations of American Indian composers are steeped in classical and Native cultures

WYANDOTTE WAYS: Public Theatre co-founder brings family roots to bear in his work

FRESH START: Spinning Tree launches third season of newly framed company

TEACHING EMPATHY: Lyric Opera asks: Why add one-hit wonders when you can innovate?

TRAILBLAZERS: A scrapbook of Kansas City performing artists whose impact is being felt throughout the region and beyond

VOCES DIVERSAS: Arts groups lay groundwork for stronger Hispanic voices

TRAILBLAZING: Local ensemble explores how Latino music was formed from a confluence of voices

NOW’S THE TIME: UMKC Conservatory is ready to spring forward

NO SECOND GUESSING: Classical pioneer brings solo Bach to Kansas City

Best Of Fall 2023

BUILDING FORWARD: Ballet School continues ongoing success story with new studios

CONQUERING CONCORD: Broadway musical confirms wide appeal of Alcott classic

“‘TILL LOVE HAS ALL HIS RITES”: For theater couple, marriage just felt like the right thing to do

July 8, 2023 Tie The Knot Signature Issue

FINDING BALANCE: Ballet’s new executive is here to serve

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS: LGBTQ performing-arts collective is ready to tackle big issues

BEST OF SUMMER 2023

Backstage And Beyond

#AAPI TRAILBLAZER: Jun Iwasaki

#AAPI TRAILBLAZER: Andi Meyer

A BIT OF EVERYTHING: Symphony’s associate conductor causing a stir

#AAPI TRAILBLAZER: Naomi Tanioka

DIVA DOGS: Local pets continue to energize Kansas City stages

Backstage And Beyond

TEN CENTURIES AND COUNTING: Students defy declarations of classical music’s demise

TRAILBLAZING: Kansas City opens arms to woman conductor as her renown grows

TRAILBLAZER: Amaya Rodriguez

THE ROUND PEG: The alchemy of collaboration continues to attract artists seeking the unexpected

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY: Lyric Opera finally brings the Torrances to town

Backstage And Beyond

PLAYING WELL WITH OTHERS: New program for young chamber musicians stresses collaboration and fun

BEST OF SPRING 2023

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE: New play uses tender family story to address Kansas City’s racial history

YEAR OF LIVING MARVELOUSLY: Local arts groups emerge full-throttle from hibernation

THE SHOE FITS: Kansas City will see two of the many Cinderella stories being offered today

GET SMART: Actors Theatre leaps into a scary, exhilarating future

Backstage And Beyond

VOICES OF CLARITY: Choral Foundation’s Spanish-language choir gains momentum

SEND THE VERY BEST: Lyric reprises puppet version of holiday classic

IN TRANSITION: In Kansas City and throughout America, women playwrights are telling new stories in new ways

THE SNOWY PATH LESS TRAVELED: Local arts groups present an increasing array of holiday offerings

Backstage And Beyond

I’VE FALLEN BUT I CAN GET UP: Lyric Opera offers fresh view of Verdi’s most complex woman

IT HAPPENED IN SÃO PAULO: Kansas City to witness collaboration of pioneering American conductor with brilliant Brazilian orchestra

IF THESE TREES COULD TALK: Symphony’s paean to nature includes valiant new compositional voice

Backstage And Beyond

FACETS OF AMERICA: The Rep’s new associate artistic director aims to bring theater to all Kansas Citians

THE HEAT IS ON: Symphony completes first season of guest conductors

Backstage And Beyond

BEST OF FALL 2022

Backstage And Beyond

NAVO MEANS NEW / NAVO MEANS MUSIC: Performing-arts ‘collective’ vies for attention

KISS THE BRIDE, THEN EXIT LEFT: Top 10 stage weddings (that actually have happy endings)

BECOMING ONE: Dance artists craft unprecedented ‘collaborative choreography’ for Moving Arts

Backstage And Beyond

Flight Paths And Footwear: Chance meeting on airport jetway sparks lifelong romance

METTLE FOR MEDALS: Winners of international competitions bring prestige to area music schools

Backstage And Beyond

MUSIC TO OUR EARS: Youth orchestra inspires hope, spurs students to broad-based achievement

IN PLAIN ENGLISH: Festival marks 30th anniversary with Shakespeare’s most vibrantly accessible play

BREAKING THE FUR CEILING: ‘Animal work’ trains actors to become their whole selves

Backstage And Beyond

BACH TO THE BAYOU: Trumpeter follows famous kin into halls of greatness

LADIES, WITH AN ARABESQUE: Local dance companies defy national odds with increased gender parity