By Paul Horsley
Local organizations in music, theater and dance are bringing you the best that the world, and Kansas City, can offer. Here are some events to make a note of.
JANUARY
29-February 21: Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Diary of Anne Frank; This Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation incorporates some new information about the young author whose courage in the face of fascism has inspired generations. Spencer Theatre. 816-235-2700 or kcrep.org.
FEBRUARY
6: Bach Aria Soloists, Adventures of Don Quixote; Actor Mark Robbins performs passages of Cervantes’ landmark novel and musicians perform music it inspired, by Telemann, Falla and others. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 816-820-1473 or bachariasoloists.com.
12-13: Störling Dance Theatre, Underground; This depiction of the Underground Railroad is one of the most gripping, original pieces of dance theater you’ll see. Kauffman Center. 816-994-7222 or 913-393-3141 or storlingdance.org.
11-28: Spinning Tree Theatre, 13; The Broadway musical for an all-teenaged cast receives its first professional local rendering. Just Off Broadway Theatre. 816-569-5277 or spinningtreetheatre.com.
14: Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Valentine Serenades and Suites; A program of intimate classics, performed in an elegant local home (to be announced). 816-235-6222 / 816-960-1324 or kcchamberorchestra.org.
Hal Linden / Photo courtesy halllinden.net
18-April 24: New Theatre Restaurant, Over the Moon; Ken Ludwig’s hit comedy, now possibly headed for Broadway, stars Marion Ross and Hal Linden. 913-649-7469 or newtheatre.com.
19: Friends of Chamber Music, Richard Goode, pianist; The legendary American keyboard guru plays late works of Beethoven and Schubert. Folly Theater. 816-561-9999 or chambermusic.org.
19-28: Kansas City Ballet, Swan Lake; Our local company takes on the bittersweet classic in its entirety for the first time, with choreography by Devon Carney (after Petipa). Kauffman Center. 816-931-8993 or kcballet.org.
Ye-Eun Choi / Photo by Felix Broede, IMG Artists
20: Harriman-Jewell Series, Ye-Eun Choi, violinist; The youthful South Korean sensation performs a free Discovery Concert. Folly Theater. 816-415-5025 or hjseries.org.
20: Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College, The Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar; Great music performed by the family that has become one of Spain’s greatest musical ambassadors. Yardley Hall. 913-469-4445 or jccc.edu.
21: Te Deum Antiqua, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri: Meditations on the Suffering of Christ; Matthew Christopher Shepard leads his fine choir in music by one of J.S. Bach’s mentors. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. te-deum.org.
Chanticleer / Photo by Lisa Kohler
25: Lied Center of Kansas, Chanticleer; The Grammy Award-winning a cappella chorus from San Francisco performs music spanning several centuries. 785-864-2787 or lied.ku.edu.
27: NewEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Dimensions of Time; KC’s durable new-music quorum presents works by Meredith Monk, Timo Andres, Morton Subotnick, John Luther Adams and Scott Unrein (premiere). St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 816-235-6222 or newear.org.
28: Harriman-Jewell Series, Russian National Orchestra with Mikhail Pletnev, conductor and Yuja Wang, pianist; The popular soloist performs Tchaikovsky’s quirky Second Concerto. Kauffman Center. 816-415-5025 or hjseries.org.
Robert Gibby Brand performs with Owen-Cox Dance in March / Photo Lyric Opera of KC
28 & March 1: Kansas City Chorale, Sláinte! The Music of Ireland; Charles Bruffy leads the Grammy Award-winning choir in music by Michael McGlynn and others. Visitation Catholic Church (2-28) and Asbury United Methodist Church (3-1). 816-235-6222 or kcchorale.org.
MARCH
3-13: Musical Theatre Heritage, An Evening with Cole Porter; George Harter, Jeremy Watson and others delve into one of the most elegant chapters of the American Songbook (songs from Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate, etc.). Crown Center. 816-221-6987 or mthkc.com.
4-April 3: Quality Hill Playhouse, Sing Out, Sister!; J. Kent Barnhart is joined by other vocal artists for songs by great women singers and songwriters (Betty Comden, Billie Holiday, Dorothy Fields, Julie Gold, Carly Simon, Carole King). 816-421-7100 or qualityhillplayhouse.com.
9-27: Kansas City Actors Theatre, The Island; Athol Fugard’s two-man play, set in South Africa’s gritty Robben Island prison, is directed by Walter Coppage. City Stage, Union Station. 816-235-6222 or kcactors.org.
11-12: Spire Chamber Ensemble, Duruflé Requiem; Conductor Ben A. Spalding is joined by organist Jan Kraybill for a program that includes a new work by Zachary Wadsworth. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (3-11) and Community of Christ Temple (3-12). spirechamberensemble.org.
Arnold Epley / Photo courtesy Musica Vocale
13: Musica Vocale, Contemporary Viewpoints; Arnold Epley, a capital American choral master, leads works of Copland, Kodaly (Missa Brevis), Melissa Dunphy and Stewart Duncan. Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. musicavocale.org.
19: Owen/Cox Dance and NAVO; A Soldier’s Tale; Stravinsky’s enigmatic classic features dancers, actor Robert Gibby Brand and musicians of KC’s newest music group NAVO. Polsky Theatre, Johnson County Community College. 913-469-4445 or owencoxdance.org.
21-May 7: Coterie Theatre, Where the Wild Things Are; Children and adults will love this hour-long adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s magical landscapes, directed by Kim Selody. ALSO: June 14-August 7: Madagascar: A Musical Adventure; The family-friendly show is based on the DreamWorks animated film. Both are at Crown Center, Level One. 816-474-6552 or thecoterie.org.
APRIL
Pablo Ziegler Quartet for New Tango / Photo courtesy Bernstein Artists
2: Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College, Pablo Ziegler Quartet for New Tango; Latin Gammy-winner Pablo and his crack ensemble perform music of his mentor, Astor Piazzolla, and others. Polsky Theatre. 913-469-4445 or jccc.edu.
8-10: Kansas City Symphony, World Tour: From Gershwin to Debussy; Soloist Bella Hristova joins the orchestra for a new Violin Concerto by David Ludwig, a KCS co-commission; with music of Debussy, Ives and Gershwin. Kauffman Center. 816-471-0400 or kcsymphony.org.
15: Harriman-Jewell Series, Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano; Nathan Gunn, baritone; Stefan Milenkovich, violinist; and Julie Gunn, pianist; in recital; Stars link up for a variegated program of songs, show tunes and instrumental solos. Folly Theater. 816-415-5025 or hjseries.org.
23: Harriman-Jewell Series, Les Arts Florissants; William Christie leads this impeccably wonderful early-music group in music of Charpentier and others. Kauffman Center. 816-415-5025 or hjseries.org.
Zanda Švēde / Photo courtesy Zandasvede.com
23-May 1: Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Carmen; Opera’s most beloved bad girl is performed by Latvian mezzo-soprano Zanda Švēde; Jose Maria Condemi directs. Kauffman Center. 816-471-7344 or kcopera.org.
28-May 15: Spinning Tree Theatre, Amadeus; Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning play asks: What if Mozart were poisoned by a musical rival? Robert Gibby Brand and Walter Coppage star. The Arts Asylum. 816-569-5277 or spinningtreetheatre.com.
MAY
1 & 3: Kansas City Chorale, Such a Charm: Shakespeare in Song; KC’s proudest musical establishment marks the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death, with actors from KC’s Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. Asbury United Methodist Church (5-1) and Unity Temple on the Plaza (5-3). 816-235-6222 or kcchorale.org.
20-22: Kansas City Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Third Symphony; Michael Stern conducts a program that also includes the Third Symphony by American composer Jonathan Leshnoff, in a world premiere. Kauffman Center. 816-471-0400 or kcsymphony.org.
JUNE
1-26, Unicorn Theatre, Heathers: The Musical; Cynthia Levin directs this adaptation, by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, of the macabre, appallingly funny 1989 film. 816-531-7529 or unicorntheatre.org.
David Ludwig’s new Violin Concerto is performed by the KC Symphony in April / Photo Davidludwigmusic.com
3: Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, 2016 Spring Concert; KC’s only real professional contemporary company, founded by Mary Pat Henry and the late Leni Wylliams, performs recent works by major choreographers. White Recital Hall. wylliams-henry.org.
11-12: Heartland Men’s Chorus, I Rise; Dustin S. Cates leads beloved music from the choir’s 30-year history; the program also includes a new piece by Mark Hayes on the life and work of Maya Angelou. Folly Theater. 816-931-3338 or hmckc.org.
To reach Paul Horsley, performing arts editor, send an email to paul@kcindependent.com or find him on Facebook (paul.horsley.501) or Twitter (@phorsleycritic).
Photo at top: Isabel Leonard / Photo by Dario Acosta
