By Paul Horsley
We selected some of the best KC summer events in music, dance and theater.
JUNE
Through 14: Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre; The Full Monty; The outrageous comedy concludes the group’s season. 816-569-3226 or metkc.org.
Through 14: Moonshine Variety Co.; Mother Freaking Hood; This musical comedy celebrates the joys and challenges of being a modern mom. Goppert Theatre, Avila University. mvtix.com.
Through 28: Quality Hill Playhouse; Judy Barbra Liza; J. Kent Barnhart and vocalists pay tribute to three great women of music. 816-421-1700 or qualityhillplayhouse.com.
Through July 12: New Theatre Restaurant; Hairspray; This Broadway explosion won eight Tony Awards and was declared “best musical of the decade” by The New York Times. Also: July 16-September 20: The Addams Family. 913-649-7469 or newtheatre.com.
3-28: Unicorn Theatre; Tribes; In this irreverent comedy, a deaf boy from a dysfunctional family meets a girl who introduces him to a larger world. 816-531-7529 or unicorntheatre.org.
4-21: Musical Theater Heritage; Jesus Christ Superstar; Rice & Webber started a revolution with this one. Also: August 13-30:Wouldn’t It Be Loverly. Crown Center. 816-221-6987 or mthkc.com.
Composer Christopher Theofanidis / Photo by Alexandra Gardner / newmusicbox.org
5-7: Kansas City Symphony; Daphnis et Chloé; Ravel’s Suite No. 2 is featured and violinist Augustin Hadelich plays Bruch. Also: June 19-21: Season Finale: A Hero’s Life; music of Strauss and Theofanidis (Rainbow Body). Kauffman Center. 816-471-0400 or kcsymphony.org.
6: Harriman-Jewell Series; Parsons Dance; KC native David Parsons, in his company’s 12th appearance here, concludes HJS’s 50th anniversary season. Kauffman Center. 816-415-5025 or hjseries.org.
7: Owen/Cox Dance; Ludus Tonalis; This world premiere features dancers joined by pianist Kairy Koshoeva performing Hindemith’s masterpiece. White Hall, UMKC. 816-235-6222 or owencoxdance.org.
9-14: Starlight Theatre; Camelot; The 65th season also features: June 19-21: Annie, June 30-July 5: Pippin, July 7-12: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, July 24-August 1: Mary Poppins and September 8-13: Cirque Éloize’s iD. 816-363-7827 or kcstarlight.com.
12: Kansas City Chamber Orchestra; The Muse 2; Soloists from Park University’s International Center for Music perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. 816-235-6222 or kcchamberorchestra.org.
13: Symphony in the Flint Hills; Grasslands of the World; The all-day event features outdoor activities and a concert by the Kansas City Symphony with Lyle Lovett. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase County. 816-471-0400; VIP tickets: 620-273-8955 or symphonyintheflinthills.org.
13-14: Heartland Men’s Chorus: A Little Bit Wicked: The Music of Stephen Schwartz; Dustin Cates leads a tribute to the composer of Godspell, Pippin and Wicked. Folly Theater. 816-931-3338 or hmckc.org.
16-July 5: Heart of America Shakespeare Festival; King Lear; John Rensenhouse plays the tortured regent in the Festival’s 23rd season. Southmoreland Park. 816-531-7728 or kcshakes.org.
16-August 7: The Coterie; A Year with Frog and Toad; The Tony-nominated family musical follows two friends through all four seasons. Crown Center. 816-474-6552 or thecoterie.org.
JULY
Paul Mesner and friend / Photo courtesy Paul Mesner Puppets
6-12: Paul Mesner Puppets; The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf; Kids love this funny retelling of the story from the wolf’s point of view! Mesner Studio. 816-756-3500 or paulmesnerpuppets.org.
11-August 2: Summerfest; Silver Anniversary: Rediscovery and Celebration; First-rate chamber-music series celebrates with favorites from 25 years of concerts. White Hall and Country Club Christian Church. 816-235-6222 or summerfestkc.org.
16-26: KC Fringe Festival 2015; The annual favorite for the unexpected includes performance, visual arts, film and lots more. Various venues: Check the website after July 1. kcfringe.org.
Photo courtesy Kansas City Dance Festival
24-25: Kansas City Dance Festival; Top dance talent from KC Ballet and around the nation present works new and old. Folly Theater. 816-474-4444 or kcdancefestival.com.
24-August 1: Heartland Chamber Music Festival; Features performances by students, faculty and the Miami String Quartet (July 29th). Yardley Hall, JCCC. 913-469-4445 or heartlandchambermusic.org.
AUGUST
2-30: Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral; Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; Summer Music at the Cathedrals; Weekend concerts are held at both downtown cathedrals. August 2: Avguste Antonov, piano; August 9: Joseph DeSota, tenor, Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin; August 15: G&HT musicians; August 23: French Organ Festival; August 30: Lyric Arts Trio. 816-474-8260 or 816-214-9928 or ghtc-kc.org.
12-30: Kansas City Actors Theatre; The Gin Game; D.L. Coburn’s Pulitzer-winning comedy opens the 11th season. H&R Block City Stage, Union Station. 816-235-6222 or kcactors.org.
At top: Parsons Dance / Photo by Lois Greenfield
To reach Paul Horsley, performing arts editor; send an email to phorsley@sbcglobal.net or find him on Facebook (paul.horsley.501).
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