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Next Month’s [troupeduende.com] Spotlight: Marcus Mull Blog Notes www.kcstage.com/blog Artist Inc Receives National MAC’s Budget Increased Foundation Grant The Missouri House budget committee Artist INC, a collaborative partnership voted to add $600,000 to the Missouri Arts of the Charlotte Street Foundation, the Council’s budget. Since the governor has Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas recommended an additional $600,000, City, and the UMKC Innovation Center, it brings the recommended amount received a $30,000 grant from the Emily to $1.2 million. The committee also Hall Tremaine Foundation, a Connecticut- recommended an increase of $100,000 based national arts funder, to support to Missouri Humanities Council, Public business training seminars for local artists. Broadcasting, Historic Preservation, and The Artist INC grant is the first Tremaine the Library Networking Fund. For more Foundation award given to a Kansas advocacy news, check with the Missouri Citizens for the Arts at www.mo4arts.org. City program or organization. For more Cover photo by Bob Compton information, visit www.artistinckc.com. New Administrative Top Billing Kansas City Young Audiences Appointments at KC Rep Spotlight on Katie Gilchrist...... 2 Present Awards Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s artistic Starring Kansas City Young Audiences presented director Eric Rosen has announced Summer Reading Guide...... 4 their annual distinguished artist and two appointments to the theatre’s IFKC Presents...... 11 educator awards at its bAm! (because administrative staff: Rob Knop is the new Seasons...... 12 ARTS matter) event on March 29. The senior director of marketing and Jennifer Ingraham is the new senior director for event recognizes the educators and Stand-Ins teaching artists who have enabled the advancement. Knop was with the Seattle Repertory Theatre for fourteen years in Blog Notes...... 1 organization to achieve its mission of Events...... 3 providing arts education experiences to a number of roles, and holds a BA in communications from Syracuse University. Performances...... 6 the youth of Greater Kansas City. The Calendar...... 8 Lighton Prize for Teaching Artist Excellence, Ingraham comes from Park University as Film Clips...... 15 recognizing excellence by professional the director of corporate and foundation Auditions...... 17 teaching artists, was presented to Cathy relations for three years, and holds an MS Barton and Dave Para. The Distinguished in journalism and integrated marketing Cast of Characters Educator Award, honoring educators and communications from the University of Scott Bowling...... Webmaster Kansas. Tricia Kyler Bowling...... Subscriber Rep school representatives who understand the Richard Buswell...... Managing Editor importance of integrating the arts into daily Bryan Colley...... Blog Curator classroom curriculum, was presented to ArtsKC Gives Inspiration Grants Jamie Lin...... Editorial Assistant Libia Kozisek of the Blue Valley School The Arts Council of Metropolitan Greater Angie Fiedler Sutton...... Associate Editor District. For more information, visit www. Kansas City has offered $7,266 in Cassandra Whitney...... Graphic Designer kcya.org. Inspiration grants for eight local artists: Letters to the Editor...... [email protected] Griffen Alexander, Trey Bryan, Jason Dixon, Ari Fish, Greg Haynes, Julie KC Stage is available at Barnes & Noble on Malen, Deborah Riley, and Nihan Yesil. the Plaza and http://kcstage.magcloud.com. The Inspiration grants range from $500 If you’re interested in selling KC Stage or to $1,500 each, and artists interested in would like to have us send you an issue, call applying should go to www.ArtsKC.org/ ArtistServices.aspx.R (816) 23-STAGE.

KCVol. 15 • No.STAGE 7 • Issue 153 • May 2012 [email protected] • (816) 23-STAGE PO Box 410492 • Kansas City, Missouri 64141-0492 June Deadline: May 10 www.kcstage.com © Copyright 2012 by KC Stage. All material contained in this publication is the property of or licensed for use by KC Stage. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KC Stage or the original copyright holders. Printing by Alphagraphics.  www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 1 Spotlight on Katie Gilchrist by Pete Bakely

What’s Katie Gilchrist Doing Now? Where Did Katie Gilchrist Come From? Let’s say you were to try to follow Katie Gilchrist and She’s a Kansas City woman born and raised. Her father see every show she was doing. Let’s narrow it down a was a firefighter. And the urge to perform bloomed late. little. Let’s try to see every show she was involved in “I was a jock,” she says, “and the only reason I for the Months of February and March 2012. auditioned was my best friend at the time was doing First, you would had to have seen Oleanna, David it. It was The Wizard of Oz. It was the first time I heard Mamet’s terrifying play about sexual politics in an audience laugh at something I’d done. And I did academia which was presented at the Living Room every single show after.” Theater in February. Katie directed David Fritts and At Archbishop O’Hara High school, after her Lauren Friedlander in the tense drama. conversion (to acting) she was active in theater and On February 15, you would have seen Katie sing with choir, but had no formal training until she got into Cody Wyoming at Californo’s in Westport as part of college. the national Love Hangover music festival. She went to St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth on a On February 23, 24, and 25, you would have seen her soccer/theater/music/academic scholarship. “I played play Yitzhak in the concert production of Hedwig and soccer all the way through. They just kind of threw the Angry Inch with Justin Van Pelt at the Off Center money at me for everything,” she laughs. “I did a lot Theater. of theater and played a lot of soccer.” Previews for Hungry, featuring Katie in a leading St. Mary’s gave her the opportunity to perform many role, began February 29 at the Unicorn Theater. It ran different types of parts. She was in Stephen Sondheim’s until March 18. musical Company. At the age of nineteen she played Immediately following this, Katie dropped into The Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. And she played Helena in A Living Room’s production of Bucket of Blood, a stage Midsummer’s Night Dream opposite local actress and working of the classic Roger Corman horror film, where producer Heidi Van. “Heidi’s the only one who’s ever she sang husky chanteuse numbers every night. really made me crack up onstage.” She was also in rehearsals for The New Century Follies, She graduated in 1999. Time passed. She got married. a burlesque review presented at the renovated Folly She auditioned for and was accepted into the UMKC Theater where she sang with her longtime friends and MFA program as an actor. Somewhere in there she got collaborators Caroline Oates and Annie Cherry. She divorced. began rehearsals for “Dream Ballet”, a short play by Alli “UMKC lost me a husband and gained me a life. A Jordan that Katie’s directing as part of the inTENsity lot of the things I believe and the philosophies I adhere short play program at the Fishtank Performance Studio to as a performer came from that program.” at the end of April. Not wanting to lose any aspect of the opportunity Oh, and every Thursday night you would catch her she was given, she missed only one day out of the three singing with the band Hot Caution at the Czar Bar from years she attended. That was when her goddaughter 10 until 1. made her first communion. What most performers consider a good year, Katie The grad school experience put her in classes with did in two months. She shows no sign of letting up. teachers from all around the country, especially from Unbelievably, I managed to find two hours in her the Dell’Arte School in California. They had a rotating schedule to interview her about her life and career as teacher in the UMKC faculty and their style of physical one of the hardest working performers in the Kansas comedy has been highly influential on Katie. She also City area. worked with Cynthia Levin of the Unicorn and that association continues today.

Continued on page 14

2 KCSTAGE “Always make the audience suffer as much as possible.” ~ Alfred Hitchcock Events

Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City Arts Advocacy: May 23: 5:15 pm Wed The mission of the Arts Advocacy Council is to develop a unified effort for the purpose of influencing public arts policy and funding in Kansas City metropolitan government agencies. Meetings are free and open to the public, so please be sure to invite your friends, family, and co-workers. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks, network with arts advocates, and stay up-to-date on the latest arts news in the Kansas City metropolitan region. Kansas City Young Audiences, 5601 Wyandotte St, (816) 994- 9245, www.artskc.org

Arts Cultural Competency Workshop: May 30: 8:30 am Wed The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City invites you to attend our Cultural Competency Workshop with Dr. Doris Wright Carroll. It is the Arts Council’s goal that through this workshop organizations and individuals will learn how to capitalize not only on their own cultural strengths as an organization but to embrace the cultural strengths of those around them. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, 12345 College Blvd, (816) 994-9245, www.artskc.org Charlotte Street Foundation The Speakeasy: Apr 6-May 11: 6 pm, 2 pm Fri; 1 pm Wed; 9 pm Sat Showcased in The Speakeasy will be artists and culture producers whose work centers on the creative facilitation of conversation and exchange, and which invites direct participation and collaboration. For curators Starowitz and Erdrich, The Speakeasy intends to provide “a specific place and moment for experimenting with and challenging broader structures, and ourselves, in how we understand the economic and social forms that shape our art, our work, and our place.” La Esquina, 1000 W 25th St, (816) 221- 5115, www.charlottestreet.org Kansas City Cappies* 10th Annual Kansas City Cappies Gala: May 26: 6:30 pm Sat This is our 10th Anniversary of the Cappies in Kansas City! We will be coming together to celebrate KC’s best up-and-coming theatrical artists including; actors, singers, dancers, writers, and technicians. There will be performances and the presentation of awards for outstanding theatrical work done during the past year. Blue Springs South High School’s Barbara Landes Performing Arts Center, 1200 SE Adams Dairy Pkwy, (816) 589-0980, www.cappies.com Union Station Kansas City, Inc. Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibition: Mar 3-Sep 3: 9:30 am Sun-Sat On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship, sank, claiming more than 1,500 lives and shaking the world’s confidence in the infallibility of modern technology. The story of the sinking is legendary; now experience the wonder and tragedy of this ill- fated ship on a journey through Titanic history. Travel back in time with compelling stories, historically accurate room recreations, and more than 300 authentic artifacts recovered on our research expeditions since the ship’s discovery. C Level Exhibit Hall, Union Station, (816) 460-2026, www.unionstation.org

All photos courtesy RMS Titanic Inc www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 3 Summer Reading Guide Compiled by Angie Fiedler

Ah, summer. It’s the time of year to sit back on the beach Ever After: The Last Years of Musical Theatre and (or the Midwest equivalent) and enjoy the sun and sand Beyond by Barry Singer, published 2004 by Applause with a good book. Back in October 2010, we compiled Books. a fall reading guide of books for people involved in the - Chris McCoy, currently a PhD candidate at the performing arts that are more for studying. This time, I University of California at Davis sent out a request for lighter reading: books you’d want This expose of musical theatre begins in the late 1970s to read while you’re laying on that proverbial beach, and extends through 2003. Delivered in short, pithy just having a good time, that just happen to relate to the chapters on specific works, the book reads like a performing arts in some way. All these books will be collection of opening night reviews with salient criticism linked to where you can buy them in the online article, about the state of musical theatre in the 20th - 21st as well as being listed on our Amazon store (www. centuries. All of the chapters are easily palatable while kcstage.com/amazon). Enjoy your summer! offering interesting observations on the contributions of works that you might have dismissed as merely The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer by Renée popular entertainment. The short chapters make for Fleming, published 2004 by Penguin Group. great beach-side reading as it is easy to pick up and - Celia Gannon complete a chapter in under an hour. Whether you are a singer of any style or simply a fan of the vocal instrument, Renée Fleming’s charming and The Shakespeare Guide to Italy: Retracing the Bard’s direct autobiography reveals what it took to create one Unknown Travels by Richard Paul Roe, published 2011 of the most celebrated voices in the world today. Part by New York: Harper Perennial. biography and part textbook, this read is a must for - Thomas Canfield, with the Heart of America aspiring singers. Ms. Fleming provides valuable vocal Shakespeare Festival/UMKC technique insight and instruction, while sharing a Using Shakespeare’s plays as a literary travel guide, glimpse behind the curtain of her international career. Richard Paul Roe spent over twenty years on a quest to Not just for opera fans, The Inner Voice offers a “unique identify the real geographical locations mentioned in all and privileged look at the making of a singer. ten of the bard’s plays set in Medieval or Renaissance Italy. This groundbreaking book documents his journey Changed for Good: A Feminist History of the Broadway on the ground and chronicles his surprising results. Musical by Stacy Wolf, published 2011 by Oxford Assisted on his travels by maps, landmarks, historical University Press. records, and sketches, Roe was able to convincingly - Chris McCoy, currently a PhD candidate at the pinpoint many of the exact settings used or mentioned University of California at Davis in the plays. He argues that such legendary sites as This decade-by-decade study of musical theatre from a Shylock’s penthouse from The Merchant of Venice, the feminist/woman-centered approach is both informative Duke’s Oak from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and and enjoyable. It provides just enough scholarly Prospero’s island from The Tempest are actual places. evidence to make you feel that you are learning while While Roe’s work reflects meticulous scholarship of exploring the canon of musical theatre history in a really the highest order, this is a lively and enjoyable read that enjoyable format. I guarantee after reading this book, includes more than 150 photographs and illustrations. you’ll never look at Wicked, Sweet Charity, A Chorus Because The Shakespeare Guide to Italy uses concrete Line, or Phantom of the Opera the same way. details to support Roe’s central hypothesis that the writer of the plays must have actually travelled on the continent, it is the most significant recent contribution to the Shakespeare authorship debate.

“The virtue of dress rehearsals is that they are a free show for a select group of artists and friends of the author, and where for one unique evening 4 KCSTAGE the audience is almost expurgated of idiots.” ~ Alfred Jarry  Summer Reading Guide

P.S. Your Cat is Dead, by James Kirkwood, published 1972 by Stein and Day. This humorous coming-of-age story takes place in - Angie Fiedler 1983, and is about 17 year old Edward Zanni who is a Both a book and a play, the basic plot is about Jimmy young Italian American born in Hoboken, New Jersey Zoole, an actor in New York City at a turning point in who wants to attend Juilliard. Unfortunately for him, his life. At 38, he hasn’t quite ‘made it’, and is starting his father is against it, and so he and his friends turn to realize he may never make it. His relationship with to various schemes to, well, pay for college. his girlfriend Kate is on the decline through both of It’s a quick, easy read (I read it in three days) - and their faults, but partly because he plays everything very the type of book I don’t want to put down (in fact, safe - and Kate is tired of the struggle of getting him I stayed up later than I had intended one night to to take the chances an actor (and person) needs to do read a couple more chapters). Maybe because I’m a occasionally in order to grow. His loft has been robbed theatre person; maybe because I, like Eddie, have a twice in a row, one of which resulted in the theft of his quirky relationship with a Buddha figure (don’t ask); one and only copy of the novel he was writing in an and maybe, just maybe, because I relate to the fear of attempt to see if he was capable of doing something having people not understand the drive to be an artistic other than acting. And finally, his cat, Bobby Seale, is person (in whatever field), and be told to do something at the vet, ill. (And, of course, is actually dead before ‘sensible’ instead. If you like theatre, amusing ‘creative we even hear about him.) vandalism’, this should definitely be on your ‘to-read’ Both versions are quick reads, and some of the best list. R lines are in both, including the best insult ever: “May your orgasms turn to stone!” And both versions made Have a recommendation yourself? E-mail afiedler@ me relate as both a writer and as someone who’s had the kcstage.com with a short paragraph or two as to why you occasional venture into theatre. The story is engaging, recommend the book. Please include your name and the the characters are believable and relatable, and it goes book’s title, author, published date, and publisher. to show that it’s okay, maybe even healthy, to question your place in this world, and that when bad things happen, you just have to keep plugging away. After all, as Jimmy’s friend Pete says, “Life is nothing but a bunch of revue sketches. The birth sketch, the first-day- at-school sketch, the discovering-what-your-dong-is-for James (Ryan Emmons) with the Mysterious Man (Walter Coppage) in the Coterie’s production sketch, the marriage one, and so on. Some are bombs, of James and the Giant Peach, playing through May 18. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder some are so-so, a few are perfect, but when they’re played out - forget them. On to the next. And remember, like revue sketches, the bad ones always end.”

How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Mark Acito, published 2004 by Broadway Books. - Angie Fiedler I was only halfway through the book, and already knew it was going to be added to my ‘I want it, I want it’ list of books, movies, and music that I would buy when money will fall out of the sky and I’m no longer burdened by the beast of bills. www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 5 Performances www.kcstage.com/performances

The Barn Players, Inc.* Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Culture House* Prelude to a Kiss by Craig Lucas And The Oscar Goes To ... : May 17-Jun The Diary of Anne Frank Jun 1-17: 7:30 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun 17: 8 pm Thr-Sat; 2 pm Sun May 4-6: 7 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sat-Sun At Peter and Rita’s wedding, a mysterious And the Oscar Goes To … celebrates the In Nazi-occupied Holland, Otto Frank old man insists on kissing the bride. While silver screen and Hollywood. Since the & his family go into hiding because of honeymooning, Peter gradually realizes invention of the motion picture, movies and the increasing persecutions against Jews. that the woman by his side is not his wife. music have been intertwined … so take Together, with another family & a dentist, The wedding kiss caused Rita’s soul and your seat and enjoy your favorite Oscar- they try to avoid detection while hoping for the old man’s to change places. Peter winning songs - “Lullaby of Broadway”, Holland to be liberated by the Allies, but must track down the old man and free “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “Buttons even meeting basic needs is a challenge, his young love’s spirit trapped in an aging and Bows”, “Thanks for the Memory” and and even minor incidents could present and diseased body before it’s too late. many more! Directed by Brad Zimmerman. a grave risk. During this time, the 13 Directed by Darren Sextro. $18; seniors $23, discounts for seniors, children, & year old German Jewish girl Anne Frank $15; students $10; 10 or more; $12. The groups. Chestnut Fine Arts Center & wrote in her diary, her feelings, her fears, Barn Players, 6219 Martway St, (913) Theatre, 234 N Chestnut St, (913) 764- and relationship with the other dwellers. 432-9100, www.thebarnplayers.org 2121, chestnutfinearts.com Directed by Amy Sander. $10. Just Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 Penn Valley Dr, Xanadu by Jeff Lynne, John Farrar, & (913) 393-3141, Douglas Carter Beane: Apr 20-May 6: Corbin Theatre Company www.culturehouse.com A 37 Postcards by Michael McKeever: May 7:30 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun 31-Jun 9: 7:30 pm Thr-Sat Follows the journey of a magical Greek After eight years of traveling abroad, muse, Kira, who descends from the Jewell Theatre* Avery Sutton is coming home - home Jewell Theatre Showcase heavens of Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, to the warmth and comfort of his family. Dec 7-May 2: 7 pm Wed California in 1980 on a quest to inspire Unfortunately, things aren’t quite as The students enrolled in theatre courses a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the comfortable as Avery remembers. 37 perform and display their work from the greatest artistic creation of all time - the Postcards shows that you can, in fact, go semester. Directed by Kim B. Harris and first roller disco! This hilarious musical home again. You just never know what Nathan Wyman. FREE. Peters Theater, adventure rolls along to the original pop you’re going to find. Directed by Maggie Brown Hall, (816) 415-7590, theatre@ songs composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Thomas. $10. Corbin Theatre Company, william.jewell.edu Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra & John 15 N Water St, (816) 476-2705, www. Farrar (with Olivia Newton-John), and is corbintheatre.org based on the cult classic movie of the same Kansas City Ballet title. Directed by Guy Gardner; musical Masters of American Dance direction by MacKenzie Zielke. $18; The Coterie Theatre May 4-13: 7:30 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun seniors $15; students $10; 10 or more James and the Giant Peach by David Kansas City Ballet’s 54th season closes $12. The Barn Players, 6219 Martway St, Wood: Apr 10-May 18: 10 am Tue-Fri; with Masters of American Dance, (913) 432-9100, www.thebarnplayers.org 2 pm Sat-Sun; 7 pm Fri; 12 pm Wed-Fri presenting four pivotal figures in American Crocodile tongues, horrible aunts, a dance who have special significance to ravenous rhinoceros: poor James is Kansas City Ballet. Whether you enjoy Charlotte Street Foundation miserable ... until something peculiar the elegance of classical ballet or the Live Music Performance by Umberto and happens involving a giant peach and expressive movements of modern dance, This Is My Condition: May 5: 7 pm Sat group of talking insects! James and his Masters of American Dance offers Part of The Speakeasy art project. diverse insect buddies work together as to something everyone can enjoy! Kansas City Organized by Kansas City artists Sean take the most extraordinary journey they Symphony accompanies this performance. Starowitz and Andrew Erdrich, The could ever imagine. Eventually the peach Single tickets: $35-$99. Kauffman Center Speakeasy is an expansive, participatory comes safely to the end of its journey, and for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, 6-week project, aimed at encouraging the characters arrive at the next stage (816) 931-2232, www.kcballet.org thoughtful cultural conversations, of their lives. Directed by Ernie Nolan. neighborly collaborations and object Adults $15; youth, students, or seniors creation. Call for ticket prices. La Esquina, $10. The Coterie Theatre, 2450 Grand 1000 W 25th St, (816) 221-5115, www. Blvd, Ste 144, (816) 474-6552, www. charlottestreet.org coterietheatre.org

*Affiliate Organizations offer discounts to subscribers of KC Stage. Display your member- Content Guide: Unless otherwise noted, the subject matter of performances should ship card at the box office or mention it when ordering tickets over the phone. For a list be suitable for general audiences. Shows marked with A contain adult material that of discounts and other offers, visit www.kcstage.com. Don’t forget to rate or review the may not be appropriate for children under the age of 18. Shows marked C contain shows you see online! material that is specifically intended for children. Please note that these content markings are designated by the individual arts organizations, not by KC Stage.

6 KCSTAGE “The center of the stage is where I am.” ~ Martha Graham  Performances

Kansas City Repertory Theatre The Living Room Martin Tanner Productions* Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Morning’s at Seven: Martin Tanner Tuesdays Apr 20-May 20: 8 pm Fri-Sat; Blockhead by Bert V. Royal by Paul Osborn 2 pm Sat-Sun; 7 pm Sun, Tue-Thr Apr 25-May 13: 8 pm Thr-Sat, May 1: 7:30 pm Tue Long before Bill Gates made nerds trendy, Mon; 9 pm, 3 pm Sun Aaronetta and Ida Gibbs have lived next there was Seymour Krelborn, a hapless An “unauthorized parody”, the play door to each other most of their lives and florist searching for love, aided by a imagines characters from the popular along with Esther, all of the Gibb sisters gigantic plant with an insatiable appetite comic strip Peanuts as teenagers. Drug are an open book to each. Husbands not for human blood. With music reminiscent use, suicide, eating disorders, teen included. Into the fray comes Myrtle Brown, of Motown, Little Shop of Horrors is a love violence, rebellion, sexual relations, and perpetually engaged to Ida’s son Homer. story about what happens when botany identity are among the issues covered But Homer can’t seem to pop the question. goes horribly wrong. Directed by Kyle in this dark comedy. Directed by Bryan Taking matters into her own hands, Myrtle Hately. $20-60. Kansas City Repertory Moses. Featuring Bob Linebarger, Sean finally gets a proposal by compelling Theatre, Spencer Theatre in the UMKC Hogge, Amanda Burkhart, Jessica Homer to fly the nest. Sort of. Directed by Performing Arts Center, (816) 235-2700, Franz, Megan Turek, Regina Weller, Phil Marc Liby. Featuring Deb Bluford, Nancy www.KCRep.org Newman, and Kyle Dyck. $20. The Living Marcy, Jen Mays, Kathleen Warfel, Licia Room, 1818 McGee St, (816) 221-4260, Watson, Richard Alan Nichols, Victor Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra www.thelivingroomkc.com A Raider-Wexler, Herman Johansen, and Family Concert Peter Leondedis. Free. The Kansas City May 5: 7 pm Sat Martin City Melodrama & Irish Center, 30 W Pershing Rd, Ste 700, Join the Lee’s Summit Symphony for one of Vaudeville Company (816) 474-3848, www.martintanner.com A their most popular concerts. This concert Completely Hollywood (abridged) is targeted towards young audiences but by Reed Austin and Martin Tichenor Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre is enjoyable for all ages. Pre-concert Mar 3-May 13: 7:30 pm Sat; 3:30 pm Sun A Funny Thing Happened on the Way activities begin at 5:30 pm for young Completely Hollywood spoofs over to the Forum by Burt Shevelove, Larry audience members. The theme for this 100 Hollywood movies with only three Gelbart, & Stephen Sondheim year will be “Bach to Pop ... A Musical actors. Watch as we break Hollywood May 30-Jun 17: 7:30 pm Wed-Sat; Journey for all Ages” featuring music by movies down into a 12 step program 2 pm Sun Bach, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and in this hilarious comedy. Directed by Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight! much more! Adults $6; students (18 & Jeanne Beechwood. $10.99. Martin Outrageous, farcical things pile upon one under) $3 when purchased in advance. City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, another to create a glorious car wreck in Bernard C. Campbell Performing Arts 9601 Metcalf Ave, (913) 642-7576, this riotous “Roman” musical farce. The Center at Lee’s Summit High School, 400 martincitymelodrama.org slave Pseudolus strikes a bargain with SE Blue Pkwy, (816) 401-5251, young Hero. If Pseudolus can arrange www.lssymphony.org Rumplestiltskin ... Recycled!? for Hero to get the girl of his dreams, by Jeanne Beechwood, Jon Copeland, then Hero will give Pseudolus his freedom. Lied Center of Kansas and Marcus Mull And from this, all else ensues. Winner of k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang Feb 23-May 10: 10 am Thr-Fri multiple Tony Awards, this play could May 20: 7:30 pm Sun Once upon a time, in a tiny country of have be accurately titled, “Many, many At the Lied Center, k.d. lang and The Siss Wastealot, the kingdom runs out of paper! funny things happened on the way to the Boom Bang will be performing music from Wastealot’s king demands that the poor Forum.” Directed by John Robert Paisley. their newest album, Sing it Loud, plus Miller’s daughter, Envira, spin straw into $35 Fri-Sat, $30-Thur-Sun, $20 student. favorite songs from lang’s career. k.d. paper. Well, you know the rest of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, 3604 is a Canadian musician with a musical story, or do you? Join us for this musically Main St, (816) 569-3226, www.metkc.org style all her own. Whether one labels it fractured fairy tale. For groups we also “country-rock” or “impassioned adult perform Saturdays and can bring the show contemporary”, there is no denying the to you or a school any time of the week. power of her voice and her music. $40- Directed by Jeanne Beechwood. $5.99. 45. Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Dr, (785) 864-2787, lied.ku.edu Company, 9601 Metcalf Ave, (913) 642- 7576, martincitymelodrama.org C

Continued on page 10 www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 7 KCSTAGE MAY 2012 *Affiliate Theatre 30 MON 1 TUE 4 FRI 5 SAT 6 SUN Misalliance • EARTh (Equity Actors Readers Theatre) James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Xanadu • The Barn Players, Inc.* Xanadu • The Barn Players, Inc.* Xanadu • The Barn Players, Inc.* Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Little Shop of Horrors • James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Live Music Performance by Umberto and James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre • The Living Room Kansas City Repertory Theatre The Diary of Anne Frank • The Culture House* This Is My Condition • Charlotte Street Foundation The Diary of Anne Frank • The Culture House* Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Morning’s at Seven • Martin Tanner Productions* Masters of American Dance • Kansas City Ballet James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Masters of American Dance • Kansas City Ballet The Diary of Anne Frank • The Culture House* Baltimore Waltz • She&Her Productions* The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Masters of American Dance • Kansas City Ballet Little Shop of Horrors • New Theatre Restaurant • The Living Room Little Shop of Horrors • Kansas City Repertory Theatre Rumplestiltskin ... Recycled!? • Kansas City Repertory Theatre Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company Family Concert • Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra • The Living Room 3 THU Pride and Prejudice • Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead • Completely Hollywood (abridged) • James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The Living Room Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company Little Shop of Horrors • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Completely Hollywood (abridged) • Pride and Prejudice • Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre 2 WED Kansas City Repertory Theatre New Theatre Restaurant Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Pride and Prejudice • Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Jewell Theatre Showcase • Twelfth Night • Olathe South High School* The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train New Theatre Restaurant • The Living Room Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Jewell Theatre Company* Rumplestiltskin ... Recycled!? • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • The Laramie Project • River City Community Players The Laramie Project • The White Theatre Little Shop of Horrors • Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company New Theatre Restaurant Twelfth Night • Olathe South High School* Kansas City Repertory Theatre Pride and Prejudice • Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Pride and Prejudice • Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • The Laramie Project • River City Community Players The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • New Theatre Restaurant The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later • New Theatre Restaurant Twelfth Night • Olathe South High School* The White Theatre Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Rooted: The Greensburg Odyssey • The Laramie Project • The White Theatre William Inge Center for the Arts* 7 MON 8 TUE 11 FRI 12 SAT 13 SUN Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre • The Living Room Little Shop of Horrors • Masters of American Dance • Kansas City Ballet Masters of American Dance • Kansas City Ballet Masters of American Dance • Kansas City Ballet Kansas City Repertory Theatre Little Shop of Horrors • Little Shop of Horrors • Little Shop of Horrors • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Kansas City Repertory Theatre Kansas City Repertory Theatre Kansas City Repertory Theatre New Theatre Restaurant The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • • The Living Room • The Living Room New Theatre Restaurant Completely Hollywood (abridged) • Completely Hollywood (abridged) • 9 WED OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing That! • Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre 10 THU Olathe Community Theatre Association The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Little Shop of Horrors • James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • New Theatre Restaurant Kansas City Repertory Theatre Little Shop of Horrors • New Theatre Restaurant OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing That! • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Kansas City Repertory Theatre OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing That! • Olathe Community Theatre Association New Theatre Restaurant Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Olathe Community Theatre Association Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse • The Living Room Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Rumplestiltskin ... Recycled!? • Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • New Theatre Restaurant Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse

14 MON 15 TUE 18 FRI 19 SAT 20 SUN NO PERFORMANCES James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • Little Shop of Horrors • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Kansas City Repertory Theatre James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Little Shop of Horrors • Little Shop of Horrors • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Little Shop of Horrors • Kansas City Repertory Theatre Kansas City Repertory Theatre New Theatre Restaurant Kansas City Repertory Theatre The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang • Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Lied Center of Kansas The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • New Theatre Restaurant The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee •

New Theatre Restaurant OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing That! • New Theatre Restaurant 16 WED 17 THU OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing That! • Olathe Community Theatre Association OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing That! • James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre And The Oscar Goes To ... • Olathe Community Theatre Association Ventriloquism from Z to A • Puppetry Arts Institute Olathe Community Theatre Association Little Shop of Horrors • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Kansas City Repertory Theatre James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Little Shop of Horrors • New Theatre Restaurant Kansas City Repertory Theatre Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre New Theatre Restaurant Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre 14 MON 15 TUE 18 FRI 19 SAT 20 SUN NO PERFORMANCES James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • Little Shop of Horrors • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Kansas City Repertory Theatre James and the Giant Peach • The Coterie Theatre Little Shop of Horrors • Little Shop of Horrors • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Little Shop of Horrors • Kansas City Repertory Theatre Kansas City Repertory Theatre New Theatre Restaurant Kansas City Repertory Theatre The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang • Life Is a Cabaret • Quality Hill Playhouse The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Lied Center of Kansas The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • New Theatre Restaurant The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee •

21 MON 22 TUE 25 FRI 26 SAT 27 SUN NO PERFORMANCES The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • New Theatre Restaurant Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • New Theatre Restaurant New Theatre Restaurant New Theatre Restaurant Who’s in Bed with the Butler • 24 THU Who’s in Bed with the Butler • Who’s in Bed with the Butler • Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre 23 WED The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • And The Oscar Goes To ... • Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre New Theatre Restaurant Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre New Theatre Restaurant Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre

28 MON 29 TUE 1 FRI 2 SAT 3 SUN NO PERFORMANCES The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Prelude to a Kiss • The Barn Players, Inc.* Prelude to a Kiss • The Barn Players, Inc.* Prelude to a Kiss • The Barn Players, Inc.* New Theatre Restaurant And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • And The Oscar Goes To ... • Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre 37 Postcards • Corbin Theatre Company 37 Postcards • Corbin Theatre Company A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre 30 WED 31 THU Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • And The Oscar Goes To ... • The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train The Night of the Assassins • The Mystery Train New Theatre Restaurant Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Who’s in Bed with the Butler • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • 37 Postcards • Corbin Theatre Company New Theatre Restaurant New Theatre Restaurant Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre New Theatre Restaurant A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • Who’s in Bed with the Butler • Who’s in Bed with the Butler • Pete ‘n’ Keely • Quality Hill Playhouse Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre The 39 Steps • Theatre Atchison The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • Pete ‘n’ Keely • Quality Hill Playhouse Pete ‘n’ Keely • Quality Hill Playhouse Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre New Theatre Restaurant The 39 Steps • Theatre Atchison The 39 Steps • Theatre Atchison Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Everyday Rapture • Unicorn Theatre Visiting Mr Green • The White Theatre Visiting Mr Green • The White Theatre

*Affiliate Theatres offer discount tickets to subscribers of KC Stage. Display your membership card at the box office or mention it when ordering tickets over the phone. For a list of discounts and other offers, visit www.kcstage.com/affiliates. Don’t forget to rate the show you see online!  Performances continued from page 7

Pete ‘n’ Keely Pride and Prejudice by John Jory Olathe Community Theatre Jun 1-Jul 1: 8 pm Fri-Sun; 3 pm Sun Apr 19-May 6: 7:30 pm Wed-Sat; OCTA Gala - I’ve Always Wanted to Sing You are the live studio audience of 2 pm Sun That! by David Martin the 1968 television special reuniting All the wit and romance of Jane Austen’s May 11-20: 8 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun “America’s swingin’ sweethearts” Pete classic 1813 novel come to life in this The creators of A Collective Cy are Bartel and Keely Stevens in this hilarious refreshingly fast paced and engaging developing another great evening of song spoof chock full of American standards new adaptation. In a society where subtle starring some of the finest talent in the (“Fever”, “Lover”, “But Beautiful”) and snubs and deceit proliferate, is it possible local theatre community singing songs eye-popping costumes! $29 adults; $26 for Elizabeth and Darcy to look beyond from their bucket list. Directed by Shelly seniors/students. Quality Hill Playhouse, his pride and her prejudice to make the Stewart with musical direction by Kevin 303 W 10th St, (816) 421-1700, www. best match of all? Directed by Karen Hershberger. Olathe Community Theater QualityHillPlayhouse.com Paisley. Featuring Robert Gibby Brand, Assn, 500 E Loula St, (913) 782-2990, Kitty Shackelford, Devon Barnes, Taylor www.olathetheatre.org St. John, T.J. Chasteen, Ayla Glass, Alan River City Community Players Tilson, Liz Golson, Stefanie Wienecke, The Laramie Project Todd Carlton Lanker, Cathy Wood, Matt Olathe South High School* by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Leonard, Marilyn Lynch, James Paisley, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Theater Project Lucas Piercy, and Emily Peterson. $30 Fri- May 3-5: 7:30 pm Thr-Sat Apr 20-May 5: 8 pm Fri-Sat Sat, $25-Wed, Thur, Sun, $15 student. Directed by David Tate Hastings. $8. A deeply moving theatrical experience Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, 3604 Olathe South High School, 1640 E constructed from more than 200 interviews Main St, (816) 569-3226, www.metkc.org 151st St, (913) 780-7160, dhastingsos@ with people from Laramie, Wyo. over olatheschools.org 1-1/2 years in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young The Mystery Train men accused of the killing. Some people The Night of the Assassins Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre interviewed were directly connected to the by Wendy Thompson Who’s in Bed with the Butler case; others were citizens, and the breadth Apr 20-Jun 9: 6:30 pm Fri-Sat by Michael Parker of their reactions to the crime is fascinating. In 1893, two of the finest from the Wild, May 25-Jun 16: 6 pm Fri-Sat; 12 pm Sun A breathtaking collage that explores the Wild, West are called in on a special Directed by Larry Tesar. $30 - $32. depths to which humanity can sink and mission to protect the President. They are Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre, 101 the heights of compassion of which we met with modern ideas, social reform, Spring St, (816) 630-3333, are capable. Directed by Kaci Forsythe. steam-powered mechanisms, and an array www.paradiseplayhouse.org A Featuring Branson Bliss, Carol Varner, of assassins. A delicate situation, to say Jesse Jacobs, Mike Forsythe, Spencer the least ... and then a murder happens! Williams, Brenda Henson, Leah Albee, Directed by Wendy Thompson. $64 each. Puppetry Arts Institute Jyil Chase, Brett Larimore, Steve Parker, The Golden Ox, 1600 Genessee, (816) Bob Abdou Andy Entwistle, and Stephen Stoafer. Adults 813-9654 A Ventriloquism from Z to A $10; 12 & under $5; 62+ & groups 10+ May 19: 2 pm, 11 am Sat $8 . Leavenworth Performing Arts Center, New Theatre Restaurant “Mr. Puppet” returns to the Puppetry Arts 500 Delaware St, (913) 682-7557, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Institute with a hilarious new show and a www.rccplv.com A Bee by Rebecca Feldman, Rachel Sheinkin, ventriloquism demonstration after each William Finn, & Jay Reiss performance. Performances at 11 am Apr 5-Jun 17: 12 pm Sat-Sun, Wed; and 2 pm. $5. Puppetry Arts Institute, Theatre Atchison The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow 6 pm Tue-Sun 11025 E Winner Rd, (816) 833-9777, Jun 1-10: 8 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun Directed by Joe R Fox III. $22.95 - $37.20. www.hazelle.org $10 adults; $6 students. Theatre Atchison, New Theatre Restaurant, 9229 Foster St, 401 Santa Fe St, (913) 367-7469, www.newtheatre.com A Quality Hill Playhouse www.theatreatchison.org Life Is a Cabaret Apr 20-May 20: 3 pm Sat-Sun; 1 pm Wed-Thr; 8 pm Tue-Sun From their 1966 break-out hit Cabaret to 1975’s Chicago (and the 1996 revival) to Curtains in 2006, Kander and Ebb have wowed audiences with their razzle dazzle. $29 adults; $26 seniors/students. Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W 10th St, (816) 421- 1700, www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com

10 KCSTAGE “If you really want to help the American theater, don’t be an actress, dahling. Be an audience.” ~ Tallulah Bankhead  Performances IFCKC Presents...

Unicorn Theatre William Inge Center for the Arts* IFCKC presents ‘1,001 Movies You Everyday Rapture by Dick Scanlan and Rooted: The Greensburg Odyssey Must See Before You Die’ Sherie Renee Scott by Marcia Cebulska and Kelley Hunt May 16-Jun 3: 8 pm Fri-Sat; 3 pm Sun; May 5: 7 pm Sat Somewhat of a meme, the 7:30 pm Tue-Thr In 2007, a tornado destroyed Greensburg, “bucket list” has weaved its way A semi-autobiographical stage memoir Kan. In this concert reading, townspeople into popular culture, so much so that by Sherie Rene Scott, this is the story of a tell of survival and then Greensburg’s woman’s psycho-sexual-spiritual journey revival as a “green” community. This is a two of Hollywood’s heaviest hitters, that separates her mostly Mennonite past collaboration among playwright Marcia Nicholson and Freeman, starred in a from her mostly Manhattan future. She Cebulska, The Cornerstone Theater of Los travels from Topeka, Kan, to New York Angeles, the William Inge Center for the movie with the phrase’s namesake City with a disturbing detour through Arts of Independence, Kan., Independence a few years back. YouTube. Filled with familiar tunes, this Community College, and the 5.4.7 Arts If one believes that it is important musical follows Sherie’s road to Broadway Center of Greensburg. Singer Kelley Hunt semi-stardom. This is the first production will perform original music. Proceeds help to craft a list of noteworthy things in the nation since Sherie premiered the rebuild Greensburg’s Twilight Theater. to accomplish before the pallbearers show on Broadway. Directed by Jerry Jay Directed by Laurie Wollery. Donation. hoist the brass, then certainly Cranford. $27.50 - $37.50. Unicorn Greensburg United Methodist Church, Theatre, 3828 Main St, (816) 531-7529, 600 W. Lincoln, (800) 842-6063, www. adding celluloid to the roll should www.unicorntheatre.org A ingecenter.org/ be strongly considered. Given the vast amount of films that are The White Theatre present in the universe, how is one The Laramie Project Coming in June to narrow the choices, and thereby by Moisés Kaufman and members of the The Barn Players, Inc.* Tectonic Theater Project 101 Dalmatians, Kids - Session # 1 make efficient use of the precious Apr 21-May 6: 7:30 pm Thr; 2 pm Sun by Mel Leven, Randy Rogel, seconds that ever fade into oblivion? Directed by Mark Swezey. The Lewis and Richard Gibbs, Brian Smith, Martin Lee It is a valid question and one that is Shirley White Theatre, 5801 W 115 Fuller, & Dan Root St, (913) 327-8054, www.jcckc.org/ Jun 19-21: 7:30 pm Tue-Thr answered by the book 1,001 Movies cultural-arts/jcc-performing-arts-series- You Must See Before You Die. at-the-white-theatre/ (Adult Fare) The Coterie Theatre Once Upon a Mattress The Independent Filmmakers The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later by Mary Rodgers, Marshal Barer, Coalition of Kansas City has taken by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, & Tectonic Theater Project Marshall Barer up the mantle of assisting those so Apr 22-May 6: 7:30 pm Sat-Sun Jun 19-Aug 5: 11 am Tue-Fri; inclined to view the cinema options 2 pm Sat-Sun; 7 pm Fri; Directed by Mark Swezey. The Lewis and mentioned in the book as part of Shirley White Theatre, 5801 W 115 1:30 pm Wed-Fri its 1001, which asks the question St, (913) 327-8054, www.jcckc.org/ The KC Improv Company cultural-arts/jcc-performing-arts-series- The KC Improv Company’s Big Show “How well do you know the most at-the-white-theatre/ A May 5-Jun 30: 8 pm Sat influential films of all time?” The Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron: May Paul Mesner Puppets* event will feature one film from 31-Jun 10: 7:30 pm Sat, Thr The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka the book every other month, which Directed by Mark Swezey. The Lewis and will be screened at the KC Metro Shirley White Theatre, 5801 W 115 Jun 6-Jul 1: 2 pm Sat-Sun; St, (913) 327-8054, www.jcckc.org/ 11 am Wed-Sat; 1:30 pm Wed-Fri Production Space Stageport located cultural-arts/jcc-performing-arts-series- Puppetry Arts Institute in the Crossroads District. at-the-white-theatre/ A Piccadilly Productions The Three Billy Goats Gruff Continued on page 15 Jun 16: 2 pm, 11 am Sat The Theatre in the Park May 5th Legally Blonde hree migos by Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin, T A & Heather Hach 6:00PM Jun 22-Jul 1: 8:30 pm Thr-Sun

Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler Jun 8-17: 8:30 pm Thr-Sun R www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 11 Seasons www.kcstage.com/organizations for full organization listings

American Heartland Theatre (www.ahtkc.com) •.Making God Laugh by Sean Grennan: Sept 7 - Oct 21 •.Nuncrackers - The Nunsense Christmas Musical by Dan Goggin: Nov 2 - Dec 23 •.The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny and John Nicholson: Jan 11 - Feb 24 •.Life Could Be a Dream by Roger Bean: March 8 - April 21 •.Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage by Ken Davenport and Sarah Saltzberg: May 10 - June 23 •.The Bikinis - A New Beach Party Musical by Ray Roderick, James Hindman, and Joseph Baker: July 12 - Aug 25

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (www.kcshakes.org) •.Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in repertoire: June 19 - July 15

Lyceum Theatre (www.lyceumtheatre.org) •.Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Jamboree by Dan Goggin: May 31 - June 9 •.The Music Man by Meredith Wilson: June 16 - 27 •.Camelot by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe: July 5 - 15 •.Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti: July 21 - 28 •.The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie: Aug 4 - 11 •.Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story by Alan Janes: Aug 22 - 31 •.To Kill A Mockingbird by Christopher Sergel: Sept 8 - 15 •.Sanders Family Christmas by Connie Rae: Nov 10 - 18

Kansas City Actors Theatre (www.kcactors.org) •.The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie: Aug 4 - 26 •.The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard: Sept 1 - 16 •.Inspecting Carol by Daniel J. Sullivan (a co-production with the Unicorn): Nov 28 - Dec 23 •.Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire (a co-production with the Unicorn): Feb 27 - Mar 24

Kansas City Ballet (www.kcballet.org) •.Fall Performances (includes “Mercury”, “End of Time”, and “Carmina Burana”): Oct 12 - 21 •.The Nutcracker by Peter Tchaikovsky: Dec 1 - 23 •.Winter Performances (includes “Concerto Grosso”, “Splendid Isolation III, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”): Mar 15 - 24 •.Spring Performances (incl “Common People”, world premiere, and “Hey-Hay, Going to Kansas City”): May 3 - 12

Kansas City Repertory Theatre (www.kcrep.org) •.Pippin by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson: Sept 14 - Oct 7 •.The Mystery of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam: Oct 19 - Nov 18 •.A Christmas Carol adapted from the Charles Dickens story by Barbara Field: Nov 16 - Dec 26 •.Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller: Jan 18 - Feb 10 •.Waiting for You on the Corner of (13th and Walnut) by Sojourn Theatre Company (Portland, OR) and The TEAM (New York, NY): Feb 15 - March 17 •.Carousel by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II: March 15 - April 7 •.American Buffalo by David Mamet: April 19 - May 19

12 KCSTAGE “Tallulah Bankhead” ~ Tristan Bernard  Seasons

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre (www.metkc.org) •.Three Tall Women by Edward Albee: Sept 5 - 30 •.The Kentucky Cycle (Parts I and II) by Robert Schenkkan: Oct 25 - Dec 2 •.Housebreaking by Jakob Holder: Jan 12 - 29 •.Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by August Wilson: Feb 20 - Mar 20 •.Pride’s Crossing by Tina Howe: April 11 - 28 •.Ragtime by Terrance McNally, Lyn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty: May 23 - June 9

Olathe Community Theatre Association (www.olathetheatre.org) •.I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts: Aug 10 - 26 •.Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare: Oct 19 - Nov 5 •.Moonlight & Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson: Feb 1 - 17 •.Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, Joe Darion, and Mitch Leigh: April 5 - 21 •.Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley: June 7 - 23

Starlight Theatre (www.kcstarlight.com) •.In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes: June 5 - 10 •.The Addams Family by Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice, and Andrew Lippa: July 3 - 8 •.Memphis by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro: July 10 - 15 •.Peter Pan by Mark Charlap, Jule Styne, Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green: July 24 - 29 •.Aida by Elton John, Tim Rice, Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang: Aug 3 - 12 •.La Cage aux Folles by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman: Aug 28 - Sept 2

The Theatre in the Park (www.theatreinthepark.org) •.Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim: June 8 - 17 •.Legally Blonde: The Musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin: June 22 - July 1 •.Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, and Terry Gilkyson and Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Kids by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, George Gruns, Tom Adair, Ted Sears, Sammy Fain, Jack Lawrence, Bryan Louselle, and Marcy Heisler: July 6 - 15 •.Urinetown by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis: July 20 - 29 •.You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown by Clark Gesner: Aug 3 - 12

If you are with an organization that would like to announce their season listing in KC Stage, just send the information (show titles, authors, and dates) to [email protected].

Photo by Aren’t We Clever www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 13  Spotlight on Katie Gilchrist continued from page 2

She graduated with her MFA in 2003 and began the Fringe Festival. And I couldn’t do it; I was booked. performing regularly in Kansas City. She wanted to form a company that was made up of local professional actors, singers, and dancers. I joined Where’s Katie Been Acting? the company (Burlesque Downtown Underground) Immediately after graduation, Cynthia Levin offered for their Christmas show. That’s where I met Caroline her the female role in Lobby Hero which got her into the Oates.” actor’s union straight out of school. Then Katie moved Caroline Oates is a Kansas City singer, dancer, and to New York. She stayed for two years. actress who turned out to be a kindred soul. She joined In New York City, she would regularly spend 15-16 up with Katie to form their burlesque company, Bee’s hours every day working temp jobs and going on Knees Burlesque. Bee’s Knees features the duo in a auditions. She got, as she says, “a few nibbles”, but variety of guises, most notably Bumble and Buzz - a “decided I wanted to be a working actor instead of a non-verbal duo, child-like girls dressed in black pants, struggling one.” white shirts, and bowlers. They specialize in slapstick She returned to KC because, “I knew I could work comedy. here. Not only work but make an active contribution Silent comedy is often been part of her burlesque to the theater community. I perceive a real sense of performing, such as when she and Damian Blake, a community. It’s a very loving generous community. local comic actor who does a mean Charlie Chaplin This city is a hotbed of awesome. The talent here is impersonation, did a completely silent 10 minute bit to really astonishing.” an enthralled audience as part of the revue Bali Hai’ Jinks. Katie has been highly in demand as an actress in Bali Hai’ Jinks was an effort that brought together Kansas City since she moved back. At Metropoitan a wide range of local actors, singers, dancers, and Ensemble Theater she’s been a regular, appearing burlesque performers. Katie remembers, “We decided (again) as Hedda Gabler, as Kitty in The Time of Your Life, we wanted to do a huge large scale burlesque production as Anna in Mappa Mundi, and as Mrs. Walker in Tommy. in town because nobody does that. Burlesque with a At the Unicorn, she’s been in Distracted and Hungry. And plot.” at The Living Room, where she’s one of the founding The show featured Katie and Caroline and a talented artists, she’s appeared in Oil Boiler, Carousel, Harold group of performers including Victor Vector, Ivanna Pinter’s Betrayal, and A Bucket of Blood. She’s worked at Rockefeller, Becca Scott, Grant Fletcher-Prewitt, and Martin Tanner Productions, the Coterie Theatre, Actor’s the aforementioned Damian Blake and his partner Theater of Kansas City, and will work at The Rep when and spouse Annie Cherry. This show marked the Carousel moves there next spring. first performance where Katie, Annie, and Caroline “I take everything where I think I can learn something. performed together as a trio, singing “Didn’t Leave If I could live being a student for the rest of my life ,I Nobody but the Baby” as sirens on the rocks. would. And not just a student of theater, a student of life. Katie, Annie and Caroline, plus Damian have It’s been kind of a joke. People ask me, ‘Can’t you say continued to work together whenever they can. no?’; ‘When do you sleep?’ I can sleep when I’m dead.” “Literally our brains have been in a mind meld since that time. Whenever they come calling, I say yes.” The Where’s Katie Been Doing Burlesque? most recent show the four did together was The New Another performance career unexpectedly presented Century Follies, a large scale burlesque production itself to Katie and so for the past few years, she’s been utilizing the Folly Theater space, a century old classic a popular burlesque performer in Kansas City. former burlesque house. The three woman lit up the “Years ago, Madame McKay (Marisa McKay Smith), room with their version of “You Gotta Have a Gimmick” who was an undergraduate at UMKC when I was a from the musical Gypsy. grad student there, asked me to join this new burlesque troupe she was forming at Cheryl Kimmi’s request for Continued on page 16

14 KCSTAGE “If there is a gun hanging on the wall in the first act, it must fire in the last.” ~ Anton Chekhov  IFCKC Presents.... Film Clips continued from page 11 by Larry Levenson

Josh Brady is looking for three adults: two Worth Harley-Davidson was looking for Taking place on May 5, the males (one 25-40 and one in mid-to-late a group of dynamic women to join the second film in the series is Three 50’s) for an independent film which is Worth Harley team. They would be hosting being sent to The Sundance Film Festival. promotional events as well as possible Amigos, starring Steve Martin, Chevy One is for a main role of an awkwardly print and television opportunities. comedic and dramatic character. The bit Chase and Martin Short. Doors will Talent Holly Starr worked with Evolution part requires heavy dramatic acting. There open at 6 pm, with the movie starting Audio and Fasone & Partners on radio ads is also the need for one female (30-50) for for Worth Harley-Davidson. shortly after. Suggested donations a main role. This character is dramatically are $5 at the door. Refreshments of sarcastic and snide. The movie shoots this Kansas City’s Wide Awake Films will have nachos and popcorn and spirits are summer with the exact schedule to be two videographers aboard Union Pacific announced. Contact Josh Brady at (913) Railroad’s historic locomotive No. 844 to not included in the price. The host 271-8905 or at joshbrady29@hotmail. document a nostalgic journey. Contracted of 1001 is Dustin Adair, screenwriter com. by the Blue Gray Alliance as the event’s official and exclusive film crew, Wide R A video project for the Bank of Labor was and board member of the IFCKC. Awake Films will capture Civil War “troops” shot in KC using local union actors. Wide traveling from Cheyenne, Wyo. through Awake Films was the production company. KC to a battle reenactment in Tennessee. For more information about the 1001, Scenes were shot on green screen at contact Dustin Adair at volunteer@ StagePort and on-location. Dave Navarro, Jr. is looking for a cinematographer to shoot and edit a ifckc.com or call (816) 589-4143. KCPT crew and PBS producers were at “Behind the Scenes” documentary for the Kauffman Center for the Performing a short movie. Approximate shooting Arts preparing to shoot Homecoming: schedule is first two weeks of May, and The Kansas City Symphony Presents Joyce will be shot in KC. DiDonato. Television station KCWE held auditions for on-air promotional talent. A KC location scout was looking for a home in Prairie Village or Brookside to use in a television commercial. Wright/Laird Casting was seeking a middle-school-aged male juggler to be featured in a commercial. Wright Laird Casting was also seeking young men who look like high school basketball players for a Google Basketball casting call. Producers were looking for production assistants in Missouri for a reality TV shoot. Crew and talent would be traveling around to different towns in Missouri for two weeks.R

Are you a filmmaker in the KC area and want to submit news about your production to KC Stage? E-mail Larry at llevenson@ kcstage.com before the 10th.

www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 15  Spotlight on Katie Gilchrist continued from page 14

What’s Katie Been Directing? In the late spring of 2010 two major events occurred: As part of her association with The Living Room, Nick Gehlfuss graduated and moved to New York and Katie’s been asked to direct certain shows. One of the Club 180 closed. Katie had already performed with first wasLove Song by John Kolvenbach, a play about a local musicians Vi Tran and Sean Hogge, both actors family with a seemingly mentally ill sibling that ends who were moving to becoming musicians. They came up being about the nature of love. On the opposite end together as Hot Caution with Ben Byard on bass and of the spectrum, Katie recently directed David Mamet’s Jerod Rivers on drums. The venue changed to The Czar Oleanna, a vicious play about a professor and a student Bar and the band has been playing Thursday nights destroying each other’s lives over accusations of sexual there ever since. harassment and rape. “I’m proud of directing Oleanna. That’s a bitch of a What’s Katie Got Coming Up? play,” says Katie. Believe it or not, Katie has managed to also have a Both productions were noted for pristine acting from long term relationship with musician Mark Lowery, their casts: Bryan Moses, Kimberley Queen, Shauna an amazing jazz pianist who’s almost as busy as she Journegan, and Rusty Sneary for Love Song and David is. They go to each other’s shows as often as possible Fritts and Lauren Friedlander for Oleanna. Katie’s noted and known as one of Kansas City’s sweetest couples. as an actor’s director and as such gets to work with The New Century Follies continues on a quarterly basis some of the best Kansas City has to offer. and will be seen again in July. Carousel, done in The Living Room in a minimalist set experimental version Where’s Katie Been Singing? will be moved to The Rep relatively intact for the 2012- With all the rest going on, it might be surprising to 2013 season. hear that Katie also has a thriving career as a singer She’s recording an album with Hot Caution. She’s at local bars and clubs. A dynamic performer with a recording the music from the stage production of Bucket healthy belt, she can be seen singing all over the region of Blood, where she sang sultry numbers in front of a in different venues. crack jazz ensemble. (She also mentioned that Forrest She began by doing pickup gigs at the request of her Attaway made her laugh onstage in Bucket of Blood, so brother. “There was a band headed by a guy named Heidi Van is no longer the only one.) Jason Kane. And my brother asked, ‘Can my sister sing She’s performing in the Kansas City Actor’s Theatre with you?’ and I’m like ‘What are you doing?’ but I sang productions of The Real Inspector Hound and The and whenever I went there Jason would bring me up on Mousetrap in August and September. stage. Jason Kane was a very loving, giving performer. She’ll be at the Czar Bar Thursday nights with Hot One song turned to four songs. “ Caution. A weekly cover gig at Reverbs came soon after. That And whatever else comes her way, she’ll be up for it. turned into two weekly gigs at Reverbs and O’Dowd’s. Then came a steady performing gig with a UMKC What’s Katie Gilchrist doing now? actor and guitarist Nick Gehlfuss at Club180. Nick had Everything.R appeared with Katie in Hamlet and The Death of Cupid. He called the venue and set them up to play there every Pete Bakely is a Kansas City area actor and playwright. week. “Nick and I worked really well together. And the theater crowd shifted from their old regular bar to hanging out and seeing us every week.”

16 KCSTAGE “The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it’s so accidental. It’s so much like life.” ~ Arthur Miller Auditions A Academic E Equity www.kcstage.com/auditions C Community P Professional

CTI Playwright Festival P Blue Springs City Theatre* Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Willy Wonka the Musical by Leslie Bricusse, Apr 28: 11:59 am Sat 2012 - 2013 Chestnut Season Auditions: Anthony Newley, & Tim McDonald City Theatre announces auditions for our Apr 7: 11 am Sat Apr 30-May 1: 7 pm Mon-Tue 2012 Playwright’s Festival! We are seeking 2012-2013 theatre season; The Satin Dolls Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the world- performers to act in a number of original, (Sept 13 - Oct 21, 2012); The Cardigans famous candy man and his quest to never-before produced plays. Performance (Nov 1 - Dec 16, 2012); The Hallelujah find an heir comes to life in this stage dates: July 12,13,14 @ 8 pm & July 15 Girls (Jan 24 - Mar 3, 2013) directed adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate @ 2 pm. Cold reading from original never by Shelly Stewart; It’s A Small World Factory which features the songs from the before produced scripts. Roger T. Sermon (Mar 21 - Apr 28, 2013); With A Banjo classic family film Willy Wonka and the Center, 201 N Dodgion St, (816) 461- on my Knee (May 16 - June 23, 2013); Chocolate Factory. Directed by Aaron 0826, www.citytheatreofindependence.org and America’s Veterans (July 11 - Aug Stokes. Blue Springs Civic Center, 2000 25, 2013) directed by Brad Zimmerman. NW Ashton Dr, (816) 228-5806, Corbin Theatre Company Auditions will be held Apr 7 from 11 am - www.bluespringscitytheatre.com 2 pm at the theatre. Auditions are open to 37 Postcards by Michael McKeever equity and non-equity performers ages 16 Apr 15: 7 pm Sun and up. Appointments are not necessary City Theatre of Independence* After eight years of traveling abroad, and an accompanist will be provided. A Nice Family Gathering by Phil Olson: Avery Sutton is coming home - home, Please bring sheet music in the correct Apr 9-10: 6:30 pm Mon-Tue to the warmth and comfort of his family. key. Those auditioning should prepare a Thanksgiving Day: the Lundeens are Unfortunately, things aren’t quite as musical theatre song and may also be gathering for the first time since Dad died. comfortable as Avery remembers. 37 asked to present a one minute monologue. Dad comes back as a ghost to tell his Postcards shows that you can, in fact, go Contact Brad with questions. Chestnut Fine wife that he loved her. The problem is, home again. You just never know what Arts Center, 234 N Chestnut St, (913) only their son Carl can see him. Dad uses you’re going to find. Directed by Maggie 764-2121, chestnutfinearts.com Carl to get his message across, but Carl Thomas. Comedy - two men and four doesn’t want to do it. Each family member women. Auditions will be from prepared brings their problems and issues and they cuttings. Performances are scheduled for P Missouri Contemporary Ballet begin to realize just how dysfunctional May 31 - June 2 and June 7 - 9. Theater Missouri Contemporary Ballet they are … or do they even pick up on resumes/photos, while welcomed, are Apr 29: 12 pm Sun it? Then Mom’s dinner date arrives. Let not required. Corbin Theatre Company, Directed by Karen Mareck Grundy. Open the pumpkin pie fly …. Directed by Nino 15 N Water St, (816) 476-2705, www. audition for positions in MCB. The audition Casisi. Auditions will consist of cold corbintheatre.org will consist of a technique class and readings from the script. Bring a current learning a piece from the MCB repertoire. resume and a complete list of conflicts C Kearney/Holt Community Theatre Please bring a headshot, resume, and $20 from April 9 through June 10. Headshots Disney’s Aladdin Jr. & Legally Blonde the fee. Women must bring pointe shoes. To are welcome but not required. Rehearsals Musical by Jim Luigs and Heather Hach: pre-register, send your materials to our will start April 13 and run M-TH until Apr 13-14: 7 pm Fri; 10 am Sat e-mail, info@missouricontemporaryballet. close to performance when Fridays will com, or studio address. Missouri be added. Performance dates: May 31 & Disney’s Aladdin Jr. (ages 7-13); Legally Contemporary Ballet Studios, 110 Orr St, June 1,2,3,8,9,10. Callbacks will be held Blonde the Musical (ages 14 - adult). Ste 102, Columbia, MO 65201 (573) April 11, from 6:30 to 9 pm by invitation Come prepared to do a cold reading 219-7134, only. A list of the characters can be found from the script and to sing a song (you www.missouricontemporaryballet.com on our website. Roger T. Sermon Center, may use a CD). For Legally Blonde, 201 N Dodgion St, (816) 461-0826, girls come prepared to jump rope. www.citytheatreofindependence.org First Baptist Church of Kearney, 303 S Grove, (816) 320-2818, khct.org New Theatre’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee now through June 17. Photo by Mark Baltzley Theatre Atchison The 39 Steps adapted by Patrick Barlow: Apr 17-18: 7 pm Tue-Wed Theatre Atchison, 401 Santa Fe St, (913) 367-1647, www.theatreatchison.org

www.kcstage.com MAY 2012 17 KCSTAGE Presorted Standard PO Box 410492 U.S. Postage Paid Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri 641 64141-0492 Permit No. 2117

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