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$5october 2012 spotlight on Jon Weimer Notes Auditions More Arts News at www.kcstage.com/blog www.kcstage.com/auditions 12th Annual KIFF Oct 5 - 11 Independent Actors Theatre P Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris: The Kansas International Film Festival (KIFF), Oct 16-17: 7 pm Tue-Wed founded in 2001, will be Oct. 5 - 11 at the The Santaland Diaries gives us a glimpse of what a Glenwood Arts Theatre in Overland Park. slacker’s Christmas must feel like as he becomes a Macy’s The festival culminates in the presentation of elf during the holiday crunch. At first, the job is simply several awards, including an Audience Award humiliating, but once visitors start pouring through Santa’s workshop, he becomes battle weary and bitter. Eventually, in each category based on audience votes. a new Santa enters the workshop, but this one is different KIFF attracts local, regional, and national work. - this Santa startles our hero into a moment of goodwill More information, including ticket prices and just before his job ends. Directed by Bryan Vandevender. a schedule of events, can be found at www. Independent Actors Theatre of Columbia is looking for kansasfilm.com. male actors (age range 20s - 40s). Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Actors need only attend one evening of auditions. The actor cast will receive a Music Highlights of 2012 stipend for his work. Location TBA - Columbia, MO, PO Box 7122, (651) 260-9406, www.iatheatre.org Japan Festival A traditional-Japanese-drum group, a pop The Barn Players, Inc. C singer from Kyoto, and sumo wrestlers are All Shook Upby Joe DiPietro: the featured performers for the 15th Annual Oct 20-21: 1 pm Sat-Sun Greater Kansas City Japan Festival. The festival Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley. Into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar- will be from 10 am to 8:30 pm on Oct. 6 playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone in the Carlsen Center of Johnson County he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy Community College. Tickets are $10 adults, that’ll have you jumpin’ out of your blue suede shoes with $5 students and children, and free to children such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Jailhouse Rock”, under 5. For more information, including a full and “Don’t Be Cruel”. Directed by Jason Coats. Open schedule of events, go to www.kcjapanfestival. auditions on Oct 20 and 21 from 1 pm to 4 pm at St. Pius com. School. 55th and Woodson, (913) 432-9100, www.thebarnplayers.org MATC Dramatists Lab Call for The 5th Annual 6 x 10: Ten-Minute Play Festival: Oct 20-21: 7 pm Sat-Sun Directors, Actors, and Dramaturgs Six ten-minute plays, six playwrights, six directors, one The Playwriting Symposium of the Mid-America great evening of theatre! Open call for all six ten-minutes plays on Oct 20 and 21 from 7 pm - 10 pm at St. Pius Theatre Conference seeks directors, actors, and School at 55th and Woodson in Mission, KS, (913) 432- dramaturgs to participate in our Mid-America 9100, www.thebarnplayers.org Dramatists Lab, which produces a series of staged readings of new ten-minute plays during She&Her Productions C the Playwriting Symposium breakout sessions. Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon: The conference-wide theme is “Myth”. Resumes Oct 12-14: 7 pm Fri-Sat; 3 pm Sun are due Oct. 15. For more information, visit Directed by Tiffany Garrison-Schweigert. Oct 12, 13, and 14. River Market Water Building, 201 Main St, (816) 405- matc.us, go to the menu “Calls for Papers”, 9200, www.sheandherproductions.com “Playwriting Symposium”, and “Actors, Directors and Dramaturgs”. Theatre Lawrence C The Sound of Music by Rodgers & Hammerstein: Oct 1-2: 7 pm Mon-Tue The world’s most beloved musical! When a high-spirited November postulant serves as governess for the seven children of a ’s widowed naval captain her energy and joy capture the Spotlight heart of the stern captain. With a Nazi threat looming, the : family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. Performance dates: Nov 30, Dec 1, 2*, 6, 7, 8, 9*, 13, 14, 15, 16* (*matinee). Directed by Terrance McKerrs. Multiple roles for men and women available. Roles for 7 children available from ages 5-18. Scripts are available now for a 3-day checkout. $10 deposit required. Theatre Lawrence, 1501 New Hampshire St, (785) 843- 7469, www.theatrelawrence.com

A Academic E Equity Chris McCoy C Community P Professional

When forty winters shall beseige thy brow, B KCSTAGE And dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field, KC Ballet’s William Whitener to Leave at End of 12-13 Season Thomas F. Whittaker, president of the board of directors of Kansas City Ballet, announced that William Whitener, Kansas City Ballet’s longtime artistic director, has decided not to renew his employment contract for the 2013-2014 season. Whitener succeeded Todd Bolender Spotlight on as artistic director of the company in 1996, Jon Weimer following Bolender’s 17- year tenure. 2 How to Train Cover photo by Kelly Luck Whitener choreographed 16 new ballets for Kansas City Ballet including Tom Sawyer – A Your Child to Ballet in Three Acts which was the second highest grossing ballet in the company’s Dance 3 history and was warmly praised by the New York Times. Furthermore, he commissioned 17 new works by an array of American choreographers and presented numerous works of historical significance. Over his career, Whitener has Notes 1 launched and developed the careers of many talented dancers. Whittaker indicated that the board of directors B Auditions is in the process of naming a search committee to begin an international search for Whitener’s successor to ensure a smooth transition. For Whitener’s complete bio, go to www.kcballet. 16 org. Calendar 8

KCYA Names New Director of Film Clips Arts Education 13 Kansas City Young Audiences announced that Kara Armstrong has been named director of arts education. Armstrong will be responsible for Events 15 17 managing the nearly 200 contracted teaching artists who provide programs for Kansas City area children and for developing new arts education programs. Prior to this position, Performances Armstrong was the education director for the 10 Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. R November Idealware ’s Spotlight 5 : Cast of Characters 4 Scott Bowling...... Webmaster Tricia Kyler Bowling...... Subscriber Rep Richard Buswell...... Managing Editor KCVol. 14 • No.STAGE 12 • Issue 158 • October 2012 Bryan Colley...... Blog Curator [email protected] • (816) 23-STAGE Jamie Lin...... Editorial Assistant Angie Fiedler Sutton...... Associate Editor PO Box 410492 • Kansas City, Missouri 64141-0492 Cassandra Whitney...... Graphic Designer November Deadline: October 10 Letters to the Editor...... [email protected] www.kcstage.com do © Copyright 2012 by KC Stage. All material contained in this pub- lication is the property of or licensed for use by KC Stage. Any use, si duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KC Stage or la the original copyright holders. Printing by Alphagraphics. 

www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 1 Spotlight on Jon Weimer by Kelly Luck

It’s not easy thing being an independent filmmaker. You have to give him one more day with his daughter. When he wakes up the next deal with the lack of money and dearth of outside funding in these morning, two weeks have rolled back: his daughter is still alive, and financially uncertain times. Or people who, when you tell them you’re he is in the body of Adam, a gay man and friend of Sarah’s. Adam, he making an independent film, automatically think “porn”. Locations realizes with horror, is one of the victims of a man who has been going which flat-out refuse to allow you to film, or demand rates that would around brutally killing gays because “it’s what the Bible demands.” Gary make a major studio flinch. Leads who move across the country must reconcile with his daughter while enduring the slings and arrows three-quarters of the way through filming because they “want an of his followers and trying to keep himself alive. Asian girlfriend”. Stoned sound guys. Spending thousands of dollars for an animatronic monster and getting nothing to show for it. Jon freely admits he draws on his environment for ideas. Unafraid - even eager - to tackle hard social issues, nothing delights him quite so much But none of that stops Jon Weimer. as to play with the audience’s expectations and preconceived notions. Characterization, to him, is all-important. When he wrote the original Jon got started in filmmaking several years ago, starting with his draft of Change of Life, he felt that it was too dark and lacked by not 2001 short film “Wild”, based on an original story. Jon is a writer by having a genuine LGBT perspective. Enter Amy McClung, a talented nature; the films are a way to bring his stories to life. After managing gay woman of his acquaintance he brought in to direct. Together, they to complete “Wild” to moderate success, he expanded his horizons rewrote the screenplay, finding a balance between his natural predilection and made a feature length anthology called Night Terrors. In the for darkness and the overall theme of redemption and reconnection. The tradition of the old Amicus horror anthologies, the five stories - all collaboration paid off: the film won the Religious/Spiritual category at his - featured the same actress playing five different roles, and a the 2009 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival, and has been selected wraparound story to join them together. Basically, it was like making for numerous others both at home and abroad. six short films. What could possibly go wrong? Jon is quite adamant about building realistic characters. “That’s the “The sound guy talked a good piece, but he was a heroin addict. problem with modern horror films, like since the 80’s,” he explains. “You I’m sure he must have been great when he was sober, but most watch someone pretend to pull sheep guts out of a topless woman, of the sound we got ended up being useless.” Jon laughs, relaxing and you don’t care, because you’ve seen it all before and you’ve been in the patio of his home. “Then the actress who was in all of the given no reason to care about this person ... it’s all tits and gore. Frankly, sequences ... we were, two thirds, three-quarters of the way done the only thing scary about horror movies these days is that you paid ... nobody could get in touch with her. I finally got an e-mail from ten bucks to see it.” her. She’d moved up to Seattle because she wanted an Asian girlfriend. Okay, I admit there’s probably not an awful lot of bisexual Recently, he has been developing a new project: a reworking of the Asian women around here, but she couldn’t wait a few weeks?” vampire classic Carmilla, moving it from 16th century Vienna to a rural group of Amish-like Hassidim who broke away from the early Judeo- But he persisted, and lately his hard work has been paying off. Christians and who have settled far from anywhere in rural Kansas. In Most recently, Ariztical Entertainment picked up one of his projects, the story, a father moves back to the enclave with his daughter after Change of Life, for distribution. A dark fantasy set in the present day the mother’s murder, where the villagers take them back in because political climate, Change of Life combines elements of some of his they need a doctor, but the daughter is shunned as the product of an favorite influences: horror and suspense writers Freddie Francis and outside marriage. One day, a woman’s car breaks down nearby, and Robert Bloch, who wrote some of the stories that gave the world the daughter gives her shelter in their barn. Friendship blossoms into not only the aforementioned horror anthologies but memorable love, and she finds herself getting and receiving real affection for the first episodes of Night Gallery and The Twilight Zone. Gary Catell is time since she found herself in the village. Unfortunately, that’s about a radio preacher in the Westboro mold, railing against gays and the time that people begin to turn up dead with their throats ripped out, lesbians and nearly everyone else. When his lesbian daughter Sarah and the local Inquisitor is determined to root out the cause, even if he is outed by some of his church members, she calls into his radio has to slaughter every girl in the village. show and commits suicide on the air. The next day, an emotionally He was hoping to get seriously working on the film this summer; distraught Gary staggers into his church, calling out to God to Continued on page 6

Thy youth’s proud livery, so gazed on now, 2 KCSTAGE Will be a tatter’d weed, of small worth held: How To Train Your Child to Dance by Matthew Reinschmidt

Because I encounter this question and situation on a regular basis, There is no way around this. To engage in combo-classes is to I am putting it down here in black and white what the truth is completely waste your money and your child’s time and to quite with regard to how dance training should - no, must - be done if possibly risk injury because the “training” received in these classes you want your child to be a good dancer. Inevitably, scores upon is, to be frank, always wrong and always works the wrong muscles scores of young dancers decide to focus on ballet at some point the wrong way and creates dancers who move like blocks of wood and then discover they have all the wrong habits, all the wrong rather than the smooth effortless motion needed for dance. In all muscles conditioned too stiffly, and are basically a huge mess. In my years of teaching, I have never, ever seen anyone whether some cases there is literally no way to undo the damage of this child or teenager come from any combo-class school that had any poor, negligent training. Since the vast majority who read this article business even trying ballet without a major dose of remedial bad- will never take class from my company, I have no motive here habit breaking that can take years to accomplish. And that is just other than to set it out clearly and in plain English what the truth is. to get them to where they don’t look horrible doing corps de ballet While in the grand scheme of things this may seem a trivial matter, parts alongside other correctly trained beginner ballet dancers. consider how many millions of dollars are spent in “competition dance” or the like that is totally wasted time and money and After both the body has reached adult form and the technique especially consider how much money and time and pain comes of ballet has been learned to where the student can clearly from spinal or knee/ankle injuries because the dancer never got demonstrate control of the body core, placement of the hips and the proper training to gain control of these very flexible joints. If you knees, control and strength of the ankles - at that point the study of follow this advice, I can unequivocally guarantee a much, much practically any other dance form is A-OK and will be tremendously better result than any other way suggested or promoted as good boosted by the student having had good, clear ballet technique. or effective or the worse descriptor of all - “fun” (everyone wants to have fun, right?) in how to train your child to dance. Fun is free, Why is ballet so helpful for other dance forms but not the other learning is not. Anyone who says different is definitely selling you way around? Ballet is built on a complete system of how to move nutmeg. every joint in the body - literally - in a certain way that creates, using the human body, what many consider the concept of the “golden The way in which parents choose to train their children in dance ratio”. The mission or purpose of ballet is to augment the harmony generally and with regard to ballet specifically can be completely and melodic structure of symphonic classical music with physical counterproductive and in many cases outright detrimental. There form. These are not steps or movements you would ever do in really is a critical, specific order to follow if you want to get the day-to-day life, and require many non-obvious coordinations and results you expect and have your child able to dance with all the movements of the body. All other dance forms are what is called energy, style, excitement, and safety you’d want. “pedestrian” in origin meaning they all derive from some function or task or other work that was at some point actually done in day to What is that order? Ballet first and only until the age of 13 -14 years day life and therefore do not require any enhanced body core or leg old. The reason? Simple! Ballet trains in great, systematic detail control in order to make the movements of that dance form. That how to control the core, the hips, the knees, and the ankles. These is the difference in technical level between ballet and anything else areas are the very same areas where young dancers in general and also why ballet is such an effective, powerful and irreplaceable and girls in particular are naturally very flexible and have almost tool in the physical training of young students. This is also why no control, and are also the very areas where nearly all injuries will ballet can and does lead to improvements in any other dance happen unless the conditioning and control needed to prevent training once mastered, but the other way around simply cannot uncoordinated, improper joint movements gets learned to full ever work. mastery.

This is the truth of the matter: please do yourself and your child a Caveat: forget this notion that ballet, tap, and jazz can be learned huge favor and use it. The best things in life are free, and honest, by young dancers/children at the same time. That is the worst expert advice from a professional who cannot possibly gain from possible way to go about teaching anything - try teaching piano, you taking his advice is priceless. Doing the right thing is always the violin, and drums in the same music lesson and see what happens. The human mind can only learn one new skill or subject at a time. right thing. R

Matt Reinschmidt directs Ballet North (balletnorth.com) along with his wife Laura Reinschmidt and holds a philosophy degree from the University of Kansas. You can see more at mattreinschmidt.blogspot. com. This article was previously published on EZineArticles.com, and is reprinted with the permission of the author.

Photo courtesy of KC Ballet. www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 3 The Music Beat: It’s Time to Come Out of the Closet! by Jeanne Jasperse

Maybe the shower actually.... After weeks of fact finding, I have put together a rather full list of open mics, open jams, and even one place Mondays: where you can have a host who will play the piano! This is in no way • Californo’s in Westport has host Marilyn Woods plays piano from 7 - 10 pm. a complete list, I am sure, so I have some backup websites for you • Club 906 in Liberty has an open mic starting at 6 pm. to peruse to find more leads. If you think you have the songwriting chops, or want a different way of showing your vocal skills other thank Tuesdays: karaoke, this might be the way to go. So, I will list the open mics by • Café Cedar in Parkville hosted by Brian Ruskin from 6:30 - 9:30 pm. night of the week! (See Right) • VALA Gallery in Mission has a songwriter’s night hosted by Jake & Angela Carmack. • Close by at the Mission Theatre, 7 pm is an open mic/jam/drum circle hosted This is quite a list, but please contact venues for possible time and or by BenJamin Warner. date changes. Wednesdays: I found a page on Facebook named Jam sessions and “Open Mics in • Jerry’s Bait Shop in Lenexa has a full band that knows over 400 songs! KC area” that has about 340 members. I also checked out open mics • Dirk’s Bar and Grill just south of I-29 and NW Barry Road is with longtime host on Google’s search engine, and last but not least, kansascitymusic. Roger Brough. This is one of the longest running open mics in the city, held in com will and does list any open mic’s submitted. There are also listings loving memory of Mike O’Roark, who started it 24 yrs ago. in The Pitch and Ink. • The Groove Station at 99th & Holmes is at 7 - 10 pm with Dave Patmore. • R&B jam at Joe Standard’s Bar in Blue Springs 8 - 11 pm. So, hopefully these venues and hosts might be able to bring out the • St. Luke’s Methodist Church on James A Reed Road. inner “idol” or diva in you. Just take a breath, and take the stage, and Contact Carl at [email protected]. see what happens.... You will be exposed to all levels of musicians if you • 3 of a Kind in Independence open jam from 8 - 11:30 pm. wish not to perform and would like to listen instead. There is always the possibility of a pleasant surprise on stage, and that is what makes these Thursdays: nights worth supporting! It is how I started. I highly recommend it! R • Blues jam at Mike Kelly’s Westsider in Westport starting at 9 pm. • Jerry’s Bait Shop in Lee’s Summit -same thing as in Lenexa on Wednesdays. • The Brick near downtown KCMO has one on the 3rd Thursday of every month, If you don’t have the right sound mix, you’re sunk! An interview with über and was voted The Pitch’s best open mike by readers! sound guy Buzzz Collins coming up next time on The Music Beat. You can reach Jeanne Jasperse on Facebook or on kkfi.org. • Big Al’s off of 45 Highway in Parkville hosted by Roger Brough around 8 pm.

Fridays: • 1st Fridays - Crossroads Coffeehouse by Shay Ryburn and Rick Lally, 7 pm. • 3rd Fridays are at Foo’s Desserts and Frozen Custard in Leawood near 95th and Mission Rd. hosted by David Hakan.

Saturdays: • Knuckleheads at 2715 Rochester in KCMO open jam from 1:30 - 5:30 pm. (Note new hours)

Photo by Ernest Haines • 3rd Saturdays at Foo’s Custard and Desserts in Leawood with host Larry Garret is at 3 - 5:30 pm. • 2nd and 4th Saturdays - Gaff in Brookside from 3 - 6 pm. Irish music only.

Sundays: la si sol • Open jam at Knuckleheads again, this time from 2 - 7 pm. mi fa re • 3rd Sundays at Main St. Coffeehouse in Independence from 12 - 2 pm. do si la Then being ask’d where all thy beauty lies, 4 KCSTAGE Where all the treasure of thy lusty days, Idealware: A Few Good Methods for Friend-to-Friend Fundraising by Andrea Berry and Stella Hernandez, with Idealware

You can read part 1 of “A Few Good Tools for Friend-to- Using Crowd-Sourced Options Friend Fundraising” in the August issue, available online. Crowd-sourced fundraising tools often contain many of the same features as standard friend-to-friend tools, with one important FirstGiving (www.firstgiving.org) difference - in addition to allowing nonprofits to reach out to current FirstGiving provides easy-to-use tools that let supporters set up supporters and invite them to fundraise on the organization’s behalf, their own fundraising pages, and allows campaign administrators crowd-sourced tools offer access to a home-grown network of to track campaign progress across individual fundraisers. With people interested in supporting compelling projects. the basic program (which is free except for transaction fees), the organization and individual pages are not very customizable and Individuals join the “crowd” using a specific tool, search the won’t necessarily mesh with your organization’s graphic style. The charities and other projects posted there, and make donations - premium package is $300 per year (with the same transaction frequently to organizations with which they have no established fees) and offers more customization, the ability to link back to your relationship. Often these tools cater to a specific mission area, like organization’s homepage, and support for teams of fundraisers. arts, education, or progressive causes, and most rely on innovative FirstGiving also has some Facebook integration options, but unlike funding models to encourage their community of donors to some of the other tools does not have a built-in audience, so you’ll participate and rally around a cause. need to rely solely on your own supporters to spread the word. Transactions cost 7.5% (5% for the FirstGiving service fee and Crowdrise (www.crowdrise.com) 2.5% for credit card processing). Crowdrise supports the most general audience of the tools we cover here. It allows nonprofits to set up fundraising pages Six Degrees (www.sixdegrees.org) and the brand new CauseVox and invite their supporters to create personal pages and collect (www.causevox.com) are other interesting options, which both donations on their behalf, and offers the organization access to provide similar functionality with their own spin. the large community of donors using the site. Nonprofits have the option of signing up for a free basic profile or a $299 per year Tools for a More Robust and Integrated Strategy featured profile. Featured profiles are promoted to the Crowdrise Organizations that plan to run many campaigns may find these community, and offer such additional benefits as an increased tools lacking. In particular, they don’t provide much centralized number of Crowdrise points to entice community members to control, and it can be difficult to integrate data - for instance, donate. Donations are managed through Network For Good, and records of your donors and gifts - with other systems. For include fees of 5% per donation plus a per transaction fee of $1 for nonprofits ready to invest a little more, there is another class of donations under $25, and $2.50 for donations over $25. system that offers more feature-rich possibilities, and considerably more central control and reporting. Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) Kickstarter is a crowd-sourcing tool used to find funding for arts, Blackbaud Friends Asking Friends, part of Blackbaud Sphere music, films, and other creative projects. Users post projects along Events (www.blackbaud.com/products/internet/sphere-events. with their goals and a timeframe, and the community pledges aspx) money. Typically the projects will offer little in the way of rewards or This hosted solution allows organizations to create sophisticated, thank-you gifts to donors, depending on how much is pledged, but customized, distributed fundraising campaigns centered around they link quickly to Facebook and Twitter, making it easy to bring individual fundraising pages. This application is particularly networks of friends and supporters to the existing and very active widely used to support online fundraising for “a-thon” events. Kickstarter community. It’s important to note that Kickstarter works Administration is centralized, and provides several easy-to-use on an all-or-nothing basis. If your project doesn’t meet its goal templates for creating fundraising pages, but customizing pages by the deadline, you don’t get any money, and all of your donors can require substantial technical know-how. Blackbaud charges a are refunded in full, a policy designed to motivate nonprofits to setup fee of $1,400 plus a percentage of each donation. fundraise and supporters to donate. While free to use, Kickstarter takes 5% of what you raise in fees if your project is successful. This tool is also available as modules for a much larger suite of online communication and constituent management tools, and can IndieGoGo (www.indiegogo.com) be fully integrated with other fundraising strategies - in fact, this is Similar to Kickstarter, IndieGoGo focuses on creative projects, true of most of the up-market tools in this area. Over time, they’ll but doesn’t follow the all-or-nothing model - nonprofits and other better support sophisticated long-term campaigns, but they’ll take project owners keep money pledged even if the project fails to considerably more time to get up and running. meet its goal. IndieGoGo charges a 4% fee if the project succeeds, which rises to 9% if it does not. Remember, the donor management tool or integrated package you are already using may have a sophisticated option like the Which Is Right For You? one offered by Blackbaud. Convio and Artez Interactive are also Determining which tool is the right one for your organization particularly well known in this area. requires a little planning and self-assessment. Ask yourself the following questions:

Continued on page 7 www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 5  Spotlight on Jon Weimer Join Us For Our 2012-2013 Season continued from page 2 •A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody (Ron Bernas) •Saving Grace (Jack Sharkey) unfortunately, the horrors of real life got in the way. “I’m diabetic, and •Bathroom Humor (Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore) I was getting up at like 4 o’ clock in the morning my blood sugar was •Sex Please We're Sixty (Michael Parker and Susan Parker) •Lie, Cheat and Genuflect (Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore) like, 60. I went in to my [endocrinologist] and he checked my thyroid, •The Fox on the Fairway (Ken Ludwig) and it was cancerous, and that just put the kibosh on everything for Individual Tickets: the summer.” With a combination of radiation and surgery, the danger Friday, Saturday and Sunday "A" Seating, $32.00; "B" Seating, $30.00 is over for the time being, but for Jon the threat isn’t ever quite gone: (Includes full buffet by Golden Ox and performance) “Don’t get me started on ObamaCare. That saved my life. I’m an itinerant Thursday show only faculty member at various universities in the area; universities aren’t hiring "A" Seating, $17.00; "B" Seating, $15.00 (Thursday night dinner and desserts available at an additional cost) tenure track jobs anymore because it’s cheaper for them to get adjuncts Flex Pack ... my fear that keeps me awake at night is that Romney and Ryan will "A" Seating: $285 (reg. $320); "B" Seating: $265 (reg. $300) get in, and they’ll erase ObamaCare, and my cancer will come back.” Purchase a flex pack of 10 tickets and use them whenever you want -- all for a single production or spread them throughout the season. Not redeemable for special engagement shows. For now, though, he’s feeling better, and getting back to work. A recent Visit our website for more information about these meet-and-greet with Doug Bradley (best known as Pinhead from the productions and all the "extra" events we have throughout the season Hellraiser movies) led to the actor developing an interest in the story, and hopes are high that if funds can be raised for the production, they www.paradiseplayhouse.org may be able to begin planning sometime next year. Call the box office, 816-630-3333 Visit us on Facebook at Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre and Events Center In the meantime, Jon’s keeping busy. He’s got short stories and novels 101 Spring Street -- downtown Excelsior Springs in the works, and is even planning to make a foray onto the stage. With Agent Provocateur, the company he started with his friends and collaborators, they are hoping starting next year to do one or two stage productions of “refreshingly dark” material. First in their crosshairs is “Death and the Maiden”, the Ariel Dorfman play about a psychologically scarred woman whose husband gives a stranger a lift home, only for OCT 30- her to suspect the stranger of being the one who repeatedly raped and tortured her when she was a political prisoner fighting against the DEC 30 2012 erstwhile repressive regime. “It’s a really simple production to stage,” he explains. “There’s only one set, the living room: couch, a chair ... the main thing is finding an actor with that property ... you think, what a A story nice guy, and you’re totally on his side and it turns out maybe he’s not of adventure, after all, but he has the ability to get you on his side.” If that production friendship goes well, other stagings in a similar vein are planned. and ogre Jon Weimer has been through a lot trying to get his visions to the screen, love that’s from minor technical glitches to full-blown cancer, but he perseveres. bringing Far from slowing down, he’s writing full tilt, and clearly has no interest in abating. Like many amateur auteurs, he has stories he wants to tell, ugly back! and the will to tell them.

No matter what it takes.R TICKETS: You can find Jon Weimer on Facebook.When Kelly Luck isn’t www.coterietheatre.org hanging out in darkened theatres she is a writer for KC Stage and (816) 474-6552 builds roller coasters on her kitchen table.

To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes, 6 KCSTAGE Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.  Idealware continued from page 5

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MAR 15-31 Do you have the technology know-how? Different tools require different levels of complexity, customization, and involvement. If you’re just starting out, choose a solution that’s easy for participants and administrators to manage. If you expect A Feminine Ending a lot of participants, choose one that can integrate campaign data MAY 10-18 into your existing systems, but remember more features can often mean more complexity.

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sheandherproductions.com Continued on page 14 www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 7 KCSTAGE OCTOBER 2012 *Affiliate Theatre

1 MON 2 TUE 5 FRI 6 SAT 7 SUN On the Sunny Side of the Street • The Weir • Martin Tanner Productions* A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* Quality Hill Playhouse Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Last Tango in Pango Pango • Encore Theatre The Last Tango in Pango Pango • Encore Theatre The Last Tango in Pango Pango • Encore Theatre God of Carnage • Independent Actors Theatre God of Carnage • Independent Actors Theatre BecauseHeCan • JCCC, Department of Theatre 4 THU BecauseHeCan • JCCC, Department of Theatre BecauseHeCan • JCCC, Department of Theatre Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre 3 WED Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Tom, Dick and Harry • Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre On the Sunny Side of the Street • Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Tom, Dick and Harry • Tom, Dick and Harry • On the Sunny Side of the Street • Quality Hill Playhouse On the Sunny Side of the Street • Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Quality Hill Playhouse The Drowsy Chaperone • Quality Hill Playhouse On the Sunny Side of the Street • Pinocchio: Collodi to Disney! • 9 to 5: The Musical • Theatre Lawrence University of Central Missouri Theatre & Dance Dept.* 9 to 5: The Musical • Theatre Lawrence Quality Hill Playhouse Puppetry Arts Institute The Drowsy Chaperone • The Miser • The Theatre Gym 9 to 5: The Musical • Theatre Lawrence On the Sunny Side of the Street • University of Central Missouri Theatre & Dance Dept.* The Drowsy Chaperone • The Miser • The Theatre Gym Quality Hill Playhouse University of Central Missouri Theatre & Dance Dept.* The Drowsy Chaperone • 9 to 5: The Musical • Theatre Lawrence University of Central Missouri Theatre & Dance Dept.* The Miser • The Theatre Gym The Drowsy Chaperone • University of Central Missouri Theatre & Dance Dept.* 8 MON 9 TUE 12 FRI 13 SAT 14 SUN NO PERFORMANCES Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* On the Sunny Side of the Street • The National Circus of the People’s Republic of China The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Quality Hill Playhouse • Carlsen Center of JCCC Guys and Dolls • Emporia State University Theatre Guys and Dolls • Emporia State University Theatre The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Last Tango in Pango Pango • Encore Theatre The Last Tango in Pango Pango • Encore Theatre Theatre for Young America* Guys and Dolls • Emporia State University Theatre God of Carnage • Independent Actors Theatre BecauseHeCan • JCCC, Department of Theatre The Last Tango in Pango Pango • Encore Theatre BecauseHeCan • JCCC, Department of Theatre Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant 10 WED God of Carnage • Independent Actors Theatre Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Tom, Dick and Harry • Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant 11 THU BecauseHeCan • JCCC, Department of Theatre Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre On the Sunny Side of the Street • A Tomb with a View • Blue Springs City Theatre* Nnenna Freelon, Jazz vocalist • Tom, Dick and Harry • On the Sunny Side of the Street • Quality Hill Playhouse The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Lied Center of Kansas Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Quality Hill Playhouse The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Guys and Dolls • Emporia State University Theatre Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train On the Sunny Side of the Street • Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre Theatre for Young America* Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Quality Hill Playhouse Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Anne Frank & Me • Olathe South High School* Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre Anne Frank & Me • Olathe South High School* Tom, Dick and Harry • The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • On the Sunny Side of the Street • Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Theatre for Young America* Quality Hill Playhouse On the Sunny Side of the Street • Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre Quality Hill Playhouse Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Theatre for Young America* Theatre for Young America*

Coutesy of Ed Keane Assoc. Photo by Wendy Thompson Photo by Mark Baltzley Photo by Tom Nail Photo by Erika Goldring 15 MON 16 TUE 19 FRI 20 SAT 21 SUN NO PERFORMANCES Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant The Capitol Steps presents On the Record • The Capitol Steps presents On the Record • Dr. John and The Blind Boys of Alabama • On the Sunny Side of the Street • Carlsen Center of JCCC Carlsen Center of JCCC Carlsen Center of JCCC Quality Hill Playhouse The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Folly Jazz Series: Vijay Iyer • Folly Theater Cirque du Gay: Bigger & Longer • Cirque du Gay: Bigger & Longer • Theatre for Young America* Cirque du Gay: Bigger & Longer • Happy Faces Entertainment LLC Happy Faces Entertainment LLC Happy Faces Entertainment LLC Into the Woods • Mid Life Players Robert Belinić, Charismatic classical guitar • Into the Woods • Mid Life Players Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Lied Center of Kansas 17 WED 18 THU Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant The Satin Dolls • Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Much Ado About Nothing • Much Ado About Nothing • On the Sunny Side of the Street • Sō Percussion • Lied Center of Kansas Much Ado About Nothing • Olathe Community Theatre Association Olathe Community Theatre Association Quality Hill Playhouse Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Olathe Community Theatre Association Tom, Dick and Harry • On the Sunny Side of the Street • The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Tom, Dick and Harry • Tom, Dick and Harry • Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Quality Hill Playhouse Theatre for Young America* Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre On the Sunny Side of the Street • Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre On the Sunny Side of the Street • On the Sunny Side of the Street • Quality Hill Playhouse Quality Hill Playhouse Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre Quality Hill Playhouse Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre The Legend of Sleepy Hollow • Theatre for Young America* The Legend of Sleepy Hollow • The TallGrass Theatre Company The TallGrass Theatre Company The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Theatre for Young America* Theatre for Young America* The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre 22 MON 23 TUE 26 FRI 27 SAT 28 SUN The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Into the Woods • Mid Life Players Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Here to Stay: The Gershwin Experience • The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Ensemble • Carlsen Center of JCCC Lied Center of Kansas Theatre for Young America* Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Into the Woods • Mid Life Players The Bones of Butterflies • The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre Much Ado About Nothing • Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train Martin Tanner Productions* Olathe Community Theatre Association Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody • Much Ado About Nothing • Much Ado About Nothing • 24 WED 25 THU Olathe Community Theatre Association Olathe Community Theatre Association Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Vote (Twice) for Murder • The Mystery Train River City Community Players Fun in the Pumpkin Patch • Puppetry Arts Institute Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre Theatre for Young America* Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre Theatre for Young America* A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody • The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre River City Community Players Theatre for Young America* And We Will Share the Sky • Master Class • Spinning Tree Theatre The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre University of Central Missouri Theatre & The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Dance Dept.* Theatre for Young America* The Lady from the Sea • UMKC Theatre And We Will Share the Sky • University of Central Missouri Theatre & Dance 29 MON 30 TUE 2 FRI Dept.* AUDITIONS Wild and Willful Women • Tara Lane Productions* Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Curtains • The Barn Players, Inc.* Santaland Diaries • Independent Actors Theatre Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse A Murder of Crows • Jewell Theatre Company* Oct 16-17: 7 pm Tue-Wed The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Theatre for Young America* Much Ado About Nothing • All Shook Up • The Barn Players, Inc.* Olathe Community Theatre Association Oct 20-21: 1 pm Sat-Sun Officer Buckle & Gloria • Paul Mesner Puppets* The 5th Annual 6 x 10: Ten-Minute Play Festival: 31 WED 1 THU Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse Oct 20-21: 7 pm Sat-Sun A Murder of Crows • Jewell Theatre Company* A Murder of Crows • Jewell Theatre Company* A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody • Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant Social Security • New Theatre Restaurant River City Community Players Ordinary Days • She&Her Productions* Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse Officer Buckle & Gloria • Paul Mesner Puppets* Thoroughly Modern Millie • Oct 12-14: 7 pm Fri-Sat; 3 pm Sun The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Marilyn Maye • Quality Hill Playhouse Shawnee Mission Northwest High School Theatre Theatre for Young America* Thoroughly Modern Millie • The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • The Sound of Music • Theatre Lawrence Shawnee Mission Northwest High School Theatre Theatre for Young America* Oct 1-2: 7 pm Mon-Tue The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley • Cover of Life • UMKC Theatre Theatre for Young America* *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 www.kcstage.com/performances

The Barn Players, Inc.* Dr. John and The Blind Boys of Alabama: Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre Curtains by John Kander, Fred Ebb, Oct 21: 7 pm Sun Rupert Holmes, and Peter Stone: The Satin Dolls: Get in the groove and explore the Sep 13-Oct 21: 8 pm Thr-Sat; 3 pm Sat; Nov 2-18: 7:30 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun connections between jazz, blues, and When the leading lady mysteriously dies on 2 pm Sun gospel when Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of The Satin Dolls is a classy tribute to the stage, the entire cast & crew are suspects. Fame inductee Dr. John and five-time Enter a local detective, who just happens legendary female singers of the 40s Grammy Award winners The Blind Boys and 50s - Doris, Dinah, Judy, Connie, to be a musical theatre fan! Directed of Alabama perform from their award- by Kipp Simmons. Musical Direction by Rosemary, and Ella. Their distinctive vocal winning compilation Spirituals to Funk. deliveries ring with stylish sophistication Martha Risser. $18; seniors $15; students This world premiere represents the first- $10; 10 or more $12. The Barn Players, in show-stopping numbers in movies, on ever touring partnership between these TV and radio, and in memorable roles 6219 Martway St, (913) 432-9100, two icons of American music, and is www.thebarnplayers.org on Broadway. These celebrated ladies based on the legendary Carnegie Hall left a golden legacy of music. Directed concerts produced by John Hammond in by Brad Zimmerman. Featuring Samantha Blue Springs City Theatre* the 1930s. $80, $46, $37. Yardley Hall, Agron, Colleen Grate, and Julie Shaw. A Tomb with a View by Norman Robbins: 12345 College Blvd, (913) 469-4445, $23 discounts for seniors, children, Oct 5-14: 7:30 pm Thr-Sat; 2 pm Sun www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter & groups. Chestnut Fine Arts Center , A Tomb with a View is set in as sinister 234 N Chestnut St, (913) 764-2121, an old library as one is likely to come The Capitol Steps presents On the Record: chestnutfinearts.com across. There, a dusty, lawyer reads a will Oct 20: 8 pm Fri-Sat to an equally sinister family one member of They put the MOCK in Democracy. For 30 which has were wolf tendencies, another years, The Capitol Steps have been playing Emporia State University Theatre wanders around in a toga and a third politics and pulling their fare from daily Guys and Dolls by Frank Loesser, Jo member is a gentle old lady who plants headlines. Their banter crosses both sides Swerling, Abe Burrows, & Damon Runyon: more than seeds in her flower beds. By of the political aisle and sets Washington’s Oct 11-14: 7:30 pm Thr-Sat; the end, there are more corpses than live conflict, scandal, and mayhem to your 2:30 pm Sun members left. All is revealed as the plot favorite pop tunes. Recent hits from the Nathan Detroit is under pressure: he has twists and turns to its surprising conclusion. Desperate Housemembers album include: to organize a crap game but the police Directed by Tom Nail. Blue Springs Civic “Fun Fun Fun ‘Til Obama Takes Our Tea are putting on the heat. Adding to his Center, 2000 NW Ashton Dr, (816) 228- Bags Away”, “March Like an Egyptian”, problems, his fiancée, Miss Adelaide, wants to bring an end to their engagement 0137, www.bluespringscitytheatre.com A and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to My Facebook”. $80, $39, $32. Yardley Hall, and tie the knot. When Nathan meets an 12345 College Blvd, (913) 469-4445, old friend, Sky Masterson, a gambler Carlsen Center of JCCC www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter A willing to bet on anything, Nathan bets Sky Academy of St. Martin in the Fields he must take a girl of Nathan’s choosing Chamber Ensemble: Oct 27: 8 pm Sat The National Circus of the People’s to dinner in Havana. The bet seems Since its start in 1967, this eight-member Republic of China: Oct 12: 8 pm Fri impossible when Nathan picks Sarah chamber ensemble plays with immaculate Direct from Beijing, this company Brown, a straight-laced sister opposed technique, dramatic power, and expressive introduced the concept of a circus without to gambling. Directed by Jim Bartruff. scope. Its flawless playing captures every animals, inspired the pioneers of Cirque Featuring Chandler Archer-McGinnis, nuance and turn of phrase, and elevates du Soleil, and now puts a new edgy spin Elise Blann, Nick Coyan, Logan Emig, the music to a higher plane (Deseret on some of the greatest circus acts of our Samaria Fleig, Crystal Foxworth, Kylie Morning News). Brahms – Sextet in G time. Thrilling acrobatics, mind-blowing Geiman, Adam Helmer, Kayce Holoubek, Major, Op. 36. Shostakovich – Prelude feats of endurance, and dazzling costumes Brandon Jensen, Carolyn Lohkamp, and Scherzo for String Octet, Op. 11. make this event memorable for the entire Sean McConville, Noah Mefford, Mack Mendelssohn – Octet for Strings in E-flat family. Contortionists bend and flex their Melvin, Marah Melvin, Miranda Nation, Major, Op. 20. Program subject to change bodies in ways that seem to defy the Aubrey Near, Justin Petersen, Ethan Platt, without notice. $40, $30. Yardley Hall, human anatomy! $46, $37. Yardley Hall, Kevin Schultz, Kangwon Song, Trinity 12345 College Blvd, (913) 469-4445, 12345 College Blvd, (913) 469-4445, Standridge, Michael Stauffer, Andrew www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter Walker, Jamarious Wicker, and Andrew Wilson. $4-$15. Albert Taylor Hall, Plumb Hall, (620) 341-6378, www.emporia.edu/theatre

*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.

How much more praise deserved thy beauty’s use, 10 KCSTAGE If thou couldst answer ‘This fair child of mine  Performances

Encore Theatre Independent Actors Theatre Lied Center of Kansas The Last Tango in Pango Pango by Eddie God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza: Cope & Buster Cearley: Here to Stay: The Gershwin Experience: Oct 5-13: 8 pm Fri-Sat Oct 28: 2 pm Sun Oct 5-14: 7:30 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun Join Independent Actors Theatre of The Last Tango in Pango Pango is a Join us for an unforgettable celebration of Columbia for its season sic opening show, the Gershwin brothers’ best. Here to Stay is comedy. Kissy Kelly arrives on the island God of Carnage. Winner of the 2009 Tony in search of her father, only to find his a multimedia concert event celebrating the Award and the basis for the 2011 movie greatest team of collaborators in the history tavern has been turned into a store run adaptation Carnage, Yasmina Reza’s by Shipwreck Nellie. She is an unsavory of American music. Here to Stay provides play about parenting and adulthood is unique and entertaining insight into the character in business with the unsavory a contemporary comedy of manners - Captain Egad. A friend attempts to rescue legendary George and Ira Gershwin duo without the manners. Directed by L Alex and offers rare audio and video footage Kissy, aided by Pango Pango’s royal Prince Iben. $8. Missouri Contemporary Ballet, and Princess Rondelayo. Be prepared of them. $32 adult, $17 student/youth. 110 Orr St, www.iatheatre.org A for an evening of laughs. Join us for a Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Dr, dinner theatre night on Oct 13. Directed (785) 864-2787, lied.ku.edu by Marcia Armstrong. Adult $7, senior $6, JCCC, Department of Theatre children 12 and under $3. Encore Theatre, BecauseHeCan by Arthur Kopit: Oct 5-14: Nnenna Freelon, Jazz vocalist: Sermon Center, (816) 325-7370. 7:30 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sat-Sun Oct 12: 7:30 pm Fri He calls himself ISeeU, but you can’t see Nnenna Freelon, a world-renowned jazz him. And if it’s you he wants, nothing can vocalist, composer and producer graces Folly Theater stop him. In a plot worthy of Kafka or the Lied Center stage in her personal Folly Jazz Series: Vijay Iyer: Orwell, this alarming, sinister and erotic tribute to Lena Horne. This musical Oct 19: 8 pm Fri tale propels an unsuspecting married celebration includes songs and stories Among the young lions of jazz piano, couple into their worst nightmare: a set against the backdrop of Horne’s life Indian-American artist Vijay Iyer is a world with no secrets in which private and legacy. Freelon masterfully presents standout. Most recently, Iyer was the lives are no longer private. BecauseHeCan Horne favorites, like “Stormy Weather”, recipient of the Jazz Journalist Association was initially produced at Actors Theatre intertwined with songs that connect these 2010 award for Musician of the Year. of Louisville and Off Broadway at the talented women. Freelon has one of the The New Yorker described Iyer as one Manhattan Theatre Club under the title most alluring voices in music and has of “today’s most important pianists … Y2K. Directed by Beate Pettigrew. Free. shared the stage with legends Herbie extravagantly gifted.” Come early to enjoy Black Box Theatre, Carlsen Center, 12345 Hancock, Aretha Franklin, and more. $28 Jazz Talk from 7 - 7:30 pm for a pre- College Blvd, (913) 469-8500, Adult, $15 student/youth. Lied Center of performance interview. Vijay will discuss Kansas, 1600 Stewart Dr, www.jccc.edu/theatre A his musical influences, history, current (785) 864-2787, lied.ku.edu projects, and take questions from the audience. Folly Theater, 300 W 12th St, Jewel Theatre Company* Robert Belinić, Charismatic classical (816) 842-5500, www.follytheater.org A Murder of Crows by Mac Wellman: guitar: Oct 21: 2 pm Sun Oct 31-Nov 3: 7 pm Wed-Sat Robert Belinić was the first guitarist ever A dark comedy set in a world where the to be a winner at the YCA International Kansas City Actors Theatre air’s mustardy and the ocean is so polluted Auditions. Born in 1981 in Croatia, he Cirque du Gay: Bigger & Longer: it looks like a bowl of custard. No wonder began studying classical guitar at age Oct 19-21: 8 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun that Susannah’s father was buried in a pile eleven. Belinić has received multiple Two gay clowns let it all hang out as of radioactive chicken droppings at work. international awards, including the 2002 they service you with a rainbow of Or was he? Fed up with her greedy and Ivo Vuljević Award for outstanding young entertainment and pure happy fun. Cirque insensitive family, a local group of crows Croatian musicians. He performed in du Gay is ready to show you the naked have become her only confidants. Should 2008 with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s truth, in our world behind the circus tent, wise, young Susannah follow her deceased under the direction of Michael Stern, while you enjoy all the excitement on the father’s advice and flee to live with the conductor for the Kansas City Symphony. stage. And now we entice you with more! crows? (Discount tickets on opening night $20 adult, $11 student/youth. Lied Center Juggling, dancing, puppetry, S&M, even if you come in costume!) Directed by of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Dr, (785) 864- Broadway for an adult circus that will keep Natasha Martin. $10 general admission, 2787, lied.ku.edu you laughing, plus new acts never seen $5 for students and senior citizens. Peters continued on page 12 before and special guest artists! Join the Theater, Brown Hall, (816) 415-7590, newest and biggest circus of Cirque du www.jewell.edu/theatre (A Gay. Featuring Dennis Porter and Peyton Westfall. $15. Just Off Broadway Theater, 3051 Central St, www.happyfacesentertainment.biz A

Vote (Twice) for Murder Photo by Wendy Thompson. www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 11  Performances continued from page 11

So Percussion: Oct 18: 7:30 pm Thr Mid Life Players Olathe Community Theatre Brooklyn-based So Percussion is known Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim & Association to play everything from the traditional James Lapine: Oct 19-27: 7:30 pm Fri-Sat xylophone and drums to extremely Much Ado About Nothing An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty by William Shakespeare: unconventional items, like beer cans and Little Red Riding Hood? A Prince Charming cactus needles. Since coming together Oct 19-Nov 4: 8 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sun with a roving eye? A Witch ... who raps? A modern setting for one of Shakespeare’s at the Yale School of Music in 1999, So They’re all among the cockeyed characters Percussion has been creating music that most charming and popular comedies. in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Updated to a 1918 setting, the backdrop is raucous and touching, barbarous and fractured fairy tale that combines several heartfelt. $26 adult, $14 student/youth. of a post WWI America sets the stage for favorite fairy tales woven into one tale of lovers Benedick and Beatrice as well as Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Dr, consequences. Concert version. Directed (785) 864-2787, lied.ku.edu Claudio and Hero. Directed by David by by Curt Knupp, Dan Prather, Ruth Bigus, Martin. Adults $17; seniors/students $14; & Catherine Boone. Featuring Pete Barrett, children <12 $12. Olathe Community Lyric Opera of Kansas City Ray Zarr, Wendy Bross, Becky Clark, Julie Theater Assn, 500 E Loula St, Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi: McDaniel, Curt Knupp, Catherine Boone, (913) 782-2990, www.olathetheatre.org Nov 3-11: 7:30 pm Sat Ruth Bigus, Moe Graenser, Kim Claxton, Nobility, gypsies, murders, curses, Shari Kinder, Andrea Lee, Becca Stabno, kidnappings, a suicide, and a love Michael Kizzee, Dan Prather, Thomas Olathe South High School* triangle-all combined with a sensational Anderson, Joy Richardson, Nan Lippincott, Anne Frank & Me by Cherie Bennett: Verdi score-no wonder this opera has been Valerie Dykes, Christi Campos, Kevin Oct 11-12: 7:30 pm Thr-Fri bringing audiences to their feet since its Elmore, Debbie Blinn, and Felicia Bradley. This multiple national award-winning premiere. The opera is jam-packed $8 general admission, $7 seniors. American classic, which was a hit in New with show stopping music including the Alcott Arts Center, 180 S 18th St, York, is about the awakening of a modern legendary “Anvil Chorus”. Kauffman [email protected] teen Holocaust denier. Nicole Burns Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 doubts the truth and cares even less, but ultimately comes face to face with the hell Broadway, (816) 471-7344, The Mystery Train www.kcopera.org of the Holocaust, and - in an extraordinary Vote (Twice) for Murder sequence - meets Anne Frank on a cattle by Wendy Thompson: car to Auschwitz. $8. Olathe South High Martin Tanner Productions* Sep 7-Oct 27: 6:30 pm Thr-Sat School, 1640 E 151st St, (913) 780- Politics, prohibition and power-hungry 7160, [email protected], The Bones of Butterflies bosses make election time in Kansas City by Marcia Cebulska: a treacherous place. When a voter ends up Oct 28: 3 pm Sun dead on the train, the passengers must find Directed by Herman Johansen. Featuring Paradise Playhouse Dinner Theatre the killer before the polls close. Directed by Tom, Dick and Harry by Ray and Michael Katie Kalahurka, Jim Ramos, Marilyn Wendy Thompson. $54-$64. The Golden Cooney: Sep 28-Oct 20: 6 pm Fri-Sat; Lynch, Stephen Lerner, Kelsea McLean, Ox, 1600 Genessee, (816) 813-9654, A 7 pm Thr; 12 pm Sun Teisha Bankston, and Diane Bulan. Free. $30 to $32. Paradise Playhouse Dinner Topeka Public Library, 1515 SW 10th, Theatre, 101 Spring St, (816) 630-3333, (816) 474-3848, New Theatre Restaurant www.paradiseplayhouse.org A www.martintanner.com A Social Security by Andrew Bergman: Aug 29-Nov 4: 12 pm Sat-Sun, Wed; The Weir by Conor McPherson: 6 pm Tue-Sun Paul Mesner Puppets* Oct 2: 7:30 pm Tue The ordered lives of a trendy New York Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy In a bar in rural Ireland, the local men swap art gallery owner and his wife are thrown Rathmann: Nov 1-25: 10 am Thr-Fri; 2 spooky stories in an attempt to impress a hilariously into chaos when her mother pm Sat-Sun; 12 pm Fri; 11 am Sat young woman from Dublin who recently moves in. Directed by Dennis D. Hennessy. Officer Buckle knows more about safety moved into a nearby “haunted” house. Featuring Barbara Eden, Joel Rooks, Cathy than anyone in Napville. But when he talks Barnett, Craig Benton, David Fritts, and However, the tables are soon turned when about safety tips, nobody listens. Until, that Cheryl Weaver. New Theatre Restaurant, is, the Napville Police Department buys she spins a yarn of her own. Directed by 9229 Foster St, (913) 649-7469, Andy Garrison. Featuring Stuart Rider, Paul a new police dog, Gloria, a precocious www.newtheatre.com A E Orwick, Jen Mays, Mat Lewczenko, and pup with a vivacious personality! She has Bryan Moses. Free. The Kansas City Irish her own way to demonstrate safety tips – Center, 30 W Pershing Rd, Ste 700, (816) one that appeals to Napville’s residents. 474-3848, www.martintanner.com A Directed by Paul Mesner. $8 for children; $10 for adults. PMP Studio, 1006 E Linwood Blvd, (816) 235-6222, www.paulmesnerpuppets.org C

Satin Dolls, photo by Brad Zimmeramn 12 KCSTAGE Film Clips  Performances by Larry F. Levenson continued from page 12

A KC restaurant received a makeover from a cable TV star. The Food Network show Puppetry Arts Institute Rive City Community Players Restaurant Impossible was in town, and the RLP Puppets A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody host Robert Irvine helped put Poco’s restaurant Fun in the Pumpkin Patch: by Ron Bernas: Oct 26-Nov 10: 8 pm Fri- back into shape. The Restaurant Impossible Oct 27: 2 pm, 11 am Sat Sat; 10 pm Sat; 2 pm Sun crew asked for volunteers to help finish up Mr. Rabbit learns a good lesson about It’s New Year’s Eve and Julia and Matthew Poco’s makeover. A behind-the-scenes episode not to talk to strangers. The bad bug seem to have it all. Matthew plans to murder showcasing Poco’s was scheduled to be takes pumpkins and is taught a lesson, her by years’ end. While Julia dodges his broadcast Aug 22 on the Food Network. “don’t take things that doesn’t belong to devious murder attempts, the Perry friends TLC was in KC shooting an episode of Extreme you.” Other puppets in the pumpkin patch and staff are dying off mysteriously. Matthew Couponing. The subject was a teenage boy. learn that monsters are not real. Directed is successful in murdering everyone but Heather Laird of Wright/Laird Casting was by Rosalie Perryman. $5. Puppetry Arts Julia. Enter Detective Plotnik, a Sam Spade looking for Somalian individuals for a television Institute, 11025 E Winner Rd, type who suspects everyone, but not a clue. commercial. (816) 833-9777, www.hazelle.org Until he stumbles upon Julia and Butler Buttram in what he mistakenly perceives A network affiliate in Springfield, Mo., was Pinocchio: Collodi to Disney!: as a compromising situation. He jumps to looking for a photojournalist/producer for their news department. Oct 6: 2 pm, 5 pm Sat the conclusion she is the murderer. Directed Sunny Birklund, a Pinocchio collector, by Jeff Adams. Adults $10; 12 & under Kevin Willmott’s new movie Jayhawkers started puppeteer, historian and author will present $5; 62+ & groups 10+ $8. Leavenworth shooting in mid-August in the Lawrence and a visual presentation about the original Performing Arts Center, 500 Delaware St, Topeka areas. They had been looking for author of Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi, and his (913) 682-7557, www.rccplv.com extras. Contact Kalif / [email protected]. most famous creation. Discover how this Dave Navarro, Jr., of Topeka, was needing story about a small wooden puppet has Shawnee Mission Northwest High help with a location in eastern Kansas and been recreated by many cultures all over western Missouri. He was looking for a small- the world, and has spoken to generations School Theatre town bakery with other shops next to it. of people. Adults $5, children free. Thoroughly Modern Millie by Jeanine Extras were needed for a Battle of the Bands in Complimentary refreshments and finger Tesori, Dick Scanlan,& Richard Henry Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club in KC. puppets. Wine and appetizers provided. Morris: Nov 1-3: 7 pm Thr-Sat Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E Winner Rd, Introduced to the stage in 2000, Thoroughly Many roles were being auditioned and cast (816) 833-9777, www.hazelle.org Modern Millie uses original music to re-tell in KC for a national Gillette/NFL television the story of the 1967 movie of the same commercial. Casting and shooting took place title. Set in 1922, Millie Dillmount of in August. This was a SAG/AFTRA project. Quality Hill Playhouse Salina, Kansas, fancies herself a pioneer Imagemakers, Inc., Wamego, Kan., is looking Marilyn Maye: Oct 26-Nov 4: 1 pm Tue, woman as she ventures into the wilds of for freelance, part-time videographers. Contact Thr; 3 pm Sat-Sun; 8 pm Tue-Sat New York City to “find gold” (a husband). [email protected]. Kansas City’s own returns home for a The show has all the components of an special engagement of jazz standards Steve Balderson held auditions in Manhattan, old fashioned musical - romantic ballads, and contemporary favorites performed show-stopping musical numbers, parallel Kan., for his new movie Occupying Ed. For in her own inimitable style. It’s always a information on being on their crew or in the love stories, mistaken identity, and conflict cast, you can submit online at http://tinyurl. party when Marilyn’s in the house! $35 created by hilarious buffoons. Directed by com/8tesnor. adults; $32 seniors/students. Quality Hill Keli Rodgers. Choreographed by Mindy Playhouse, 303 W 10th St, (816) 421- Moritz. Musical Direction by Debbie A filmmaker in New York who is originally 1700, www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com from Kansas is planning on shooting a short Green. Featuring Elizabeth Brooks, Mike Nyhart, Gabby Rehor, Emily Robison, movie in Lawrence in October and is looking On the Sunny Side of the Street: for local talent. She is looking for three actors, Kristoph Gies, Brooke Golladay, Amanda and is flexible about experience as there is Sep 21-Oct 21: 8 pm Sun-Sat ; 3 pm Gerber, Mitch Nolan, Matt Styers, Kate no dialogue. Shooting is scheduled for Oct Sat-Sun; 1 pm Wed-Thr Brundrett, Rachel Birt, Ashley Sanders, 6 - 8 with a rehearsal on Oct 5. Son: an The American Economy may have been Marlee Bell, Becca Carroll, Megan average looking boy 12-13 years old; mother: depressed in the 1930s, but American Dunn, Ben Huddleston, Ryllie Quesada, a woman in her early to mid 40’s; father: a music was anything but. Hard times Jackson Gulick, Elsie Dorsey, Christina man in his early 50’s. Contact Gwynne Evans produced timeless hits by George and Hayford, Mike Chalabi, Mary Harzman, Reid at [email protected] or www. Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Dorothy GWYCKYFilms.com. Nick Senior, Nick Smith, Graham Wills, Fields, Harold Arlen, and more. Directed Dani Golladay, Tresa Newman, Bridget The University of Kansas Medical Center is by J. Kent Barnhart. $32 adults; $29 Lynch, Ana Sokolenko, Danielle Rehor, looking for a full-time videographer and a seniors/students. Quality Hill Playhouse, Frederick Rivera, Symphony Hutchinson, full-time senior writer. I do not have contact 303 W 10th St, (816) 421-1700, www. Cody O’Connor, Monica Castellon, Tyler information. R QualityHillPlayhouse.com Koonce, Saliyah Henderson, and Sophie Flores. $9. Shawnee Mission Northwest Are you a filmmaker in the KC area and want High School Parker Auditorium, 12701 to submit news about your production to KC W 67th St, (913) 993-7364, Stage? E-mail Larry at [email protected] www.smnwtheatre.com before the 10th. www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 13  Idealware  Performances continued from page 7 continued from page 13

Since you’re often essentially co-branding with the tool’s provider, Spinning Tree Theatre the reputation and professionalism of your chosen tool are Master Class by Terrence McNally: important. In addition, better-established vendors can typically Oct 11-28: 8 pm Thr-Sat; 2 pm Sun provide better technical support to keep a campaign running Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play with music, Master smoothly. Class. The original diva, the greatest dramatic soprano of her generation, after headlining every major opera house, Maria Wrapping Up Callas accepts an invitation from The Juilliard School to conduct a Whatever your budget, you can likely find a tool that will allow you series of Master Classes for a select group of young professionals. to try out an online distributed campaign. Advanced features and Drop-dead funny and larger-than-life, Callas takes the stage to customization can be helpful, but inexpensive tools can be used instruct, reminisce and inspire. Directed by Michael Grayman. creatively to good effect. Customization and the ability to manage Featuring Cynthia Hyer, Sylvia Stoner, Vigthor Zophoniasson, the overall campaign may be more of an issue for larger campaigns and Tony Bernal. $22-29. Off Center Theatre, 2450 Grand where it’s important for your staff to see the progress of the entire Blvd, (816) 842-9999, campaign. www.spinningtreetheatre.com A

Whatever tools you use, your strategy is critical. Identify who you’re going to ask to participate, and how you’re going to ask them, and The TallGrass Theatre Company then help them keep their momentum. Distributed fundraising can The Legend of Sleepy Hollow be a useful technique for many different kinds of organizations, as by Kathryn Schultz Miller: long as you have a core nucleus of devoted followers who can help Oct 19-20: 7 pm Fri-Sat; 2 pm Sat you spread the word about your organization - and you’re willing Schoolteacher Ichabod Crane falls in love with the beautiful and able to invest the time to manage and support their fundraising Katrina Van Tassel and begins to court her. But Katrina, the efforts. R only daughter of a wealthy farmer, has another suitor, Brom Bones. Unlike Ichabod, Brom is muscular, strong, and handsome. Meanwhile, Ichabod, a humble school teacher, is lean, lanky, Idealware, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, provides impartial information to help nervous, and superstitious. One dark night, Ichabod attends nonprofits choose software, with lots of resources about online project a party at the Van Tassel residence. Later that night Ichabod is management software. All these resources are free. This article is haunted by a dark headless rider. Directed by Sandy Miller. $9. reprinted with permission from Idealware and can be found online at Buy tickets on line! www.etickets.to/buy/?e=8583. http://idealware.org/FGTOnlineDistributedFundraising.php. Pioneer Ridge Auditorium, 16200 KillCreek Rd, (913) 856-0936, www.thetallgrasstheatrecompany.com

Tara Lane Productions Wild and Willful Women by Bill Rogers and Daniel Doss: Oct 29: 7:30 pm Mon Love, lust, and witchcraft in Puritan New England! This original musical tells the tale of a formidable minister who believes the devil is leading his flock to hell with sex, laughs, and buckets of beer. When he imposes his moral reformation on the village, three women defy his authority by choosing for themselves who to love and how to live. The minister’s son is caught in the middle. He loves a girl his father calls a witch. Free admission, concert-style performance, reservations suggested. H&R Block City Stage at Union Station, 30 W Pershing Rd, (816) 460-2020, [email protected]

The Theatre Gym The Miser by Molière: Sep 20-Oct 6: 7:30 pm Thr-Sat Directed by Art Suskin. Featuring Allan Boardman, Alan Tilson, Cathy Wood, Devon Barnes, Andy Penn, Brian Huther, Mike Ott, Bianca Jordan, Greg Lane, Spencer Lott, Dean Kinsey, and Elizabth Hill. $15-$25. The H&R Block City Stage at Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, theatregym.org

Theatre for Young America* The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley: Oct 9-Nov 10: 12 pm Thr-Fri; 10 am Tue-Fri; 7 pm Fri; 2 pm Sat

This were to be new made when thou art old, 14 KCSTAGE And see thy blood warm when thou feel’st it cold.  Performances Events continued from page 14 www.kcstage.com/events Based on the beloved children’s book was plague Ellida in Ibsen’s provocative and Girls Nite Out-4-Breast Cancer written by Jeff Brown. Stanley Lambchop is unconventional love story. The elusive, Fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Stand: your ordinary, everyday, run-of the-mill ten- second wife of Dr. Wangel is trapped Oct 6: 2 pm Sat year old until one night the bulletin board in a crucial struggle between romantic Girls Night Out for Breast Cancer (GNO-4-BC) on the wall above Stanley’s bed comes imagination and the practical need and is having a theatrical event for a fund-raiser loose and falls right on top of Stanley. The comfort of her marriage. The dramatic for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Just Off Broadway next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes confrontation is profoundly intimate, Theatre, 3051 Central, (816) 806-6061, up flat. Not just flat … really, REALLY sensual, and terrifying. Directed by [email protected] flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Theodore Swetz. Adult $15, senior& Stanley - the ultimate exchange student student $10. Helen F. Spencer Theatre, - scours the globe for a solution to his Olson PAC, 4949 Cherry St, (816) 235- Theatre for Young America Drama Classes – Avila: unusual problem. $9; season rates & 6222, www.umkctheatre.org A group discounts available. Theatre for Aug 15-Oct 19: 9 am Mon-Fri Young America, H & R Block City Stage Theatre for Young America offers regular at Union Station, (816) 460-2083, University of Central Missouri weekly fall semester classes on Saturday mornings in the Goppert Theater Complex at www.tya.org C Theatre & Dance Dept.* And We Will Share the Sky Avila University, located at 11901 Wornall Rd by Donna Latham: Oct 26-27: in Kansas City. 11 weekly 1-hour classes from Theatre Lawrence 7:30 pm Fri; 1 pm Sat Sep 29 thru Dec 15. Enrollments accepted until 9 to 5: The Musical by Dolly Parton: The UCM Theatre and Dance Department’s October 20. Pre-K at 9:30 am; 1st - 3rd at Sep 21-Oct 7: 7:30 pm Thr-Sat; 2012 winner of the Theatre for Young 9:30 am; 4th - 6th at 10:30 am; 7th - 8th at 2:30 pm Sun Audiences national playwriting contest. 11:30 am; 9th - 12th at 11:30 am. Theatre This is the hilarious story of friendship and Based on a beloved Nigerian folktale, And for Young America, H & R Block City Stage at revenge in the Rolodex era. 9 to 5 The We Will Share the Sky, by award-winning Union Station, (816) 460-2083, www.tya.org Musical tells the story of three unlikely playwright and children’s book author friends who conspire to take control of Donna Latham, follows the theatrical Theatre for Young America* their company and learn there’s nothing model of a Yaruban opera. The production they can’t do - even in a man’s world. Drama Classes - Avila team explores the culture of the Yaruban Aug 15-Oct 19: 9 am Mon-Fri Outrageous, thought-provoking, and people and uses ceremonial chanting, even a little romantic, this musical is Theatre for Young America offers regular mime, simple humor, traditional Yaruban weekly fall semester classes on Saturday about teaming up and taking care of music and the colorful costumes found in business, it’s about getting credit, and mornings in the Goppert Theater Complex at Nigeria. Directed by Julie Mollenkamp. Avila University, located at 11901 Wornall Rd getting even. Directed by Doug Weaver. $4 - $7 available only through Performing $13.99-21.99. Theatre Lawrence, 1501 in Kansas City, Mo. Eleven weekly one-hour Arts Series - (660) 543-8888. Hendricks classes from Sept 29 thru Dec 15. Enroll online New Hampshire St, (785) 843-7469, Hall, University of Central Missouri, (660) www.theatrelawrence.com or call. Enrollments accepted until Oct 20. 543-8811, www.ucmo.edu/theatre Pre-K at 9:30 am; 1st-3rd at 9:30 am; 4th-6th at 10:30 am; 7th-8th at 11:30 am; 9th-12th UMKC Theatre The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin & at 11:30 am. Theatre for Young America, H Cover of Life by R.T. Robins: Don McKellar: Oct 3-7: 7:30 pm & R Block City Stage at Union Station, (816) Nov 2-11: 7:30 pm Fri-Sat Wed-Sat; 2 pm Sun 460-2083, www.tya.org Much as it is today, the dilemma for Follow a middle-aged, agoraphobic spouses and families left behind when Broadway fanatic, muse through his Drama Classes – Wonderscope: soldiers go off to war is vividly illuminated favorite musical from 1928, The Drowsy Aug 15-Oct 16: 9 am Sun-Sat in this play set during World War II. This Chaperone. As he plays his favorite Theatre for Young America offers regular weekly play has echoes of early feminism and soundtrack in his dingy apartment, the fall semester classes on Tuesday evenings at independence that still resonate. The play’s characters come to life in this Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas vivid characters and themes of family, hilarious Tony and Drama Desk award- City, located at 5700 King in Shawnee. 11 love, separation, loneliness, fidelity, and winning show. Directed by John Wilson. weekly 1-hour classes from Sep 25 thru Dec independence will tug at your heartstrings. $15 general, $12 faculty and seniors, $7 11. Pre-K at 5 pm; 1st - 3rd at 5 pm; 4th - The undergraduate fall production. students. Highlander Theatre, University of 6th at 6 pm; 7th - 8th at 7 pm; 9th - 12th at Directed by Ron Schaeffer. Adult: $15, Central Missouri, (660) 543-8811, 7 pm. Will accept enrollments through Oct senior& student $10. Studio 116, Olson www.ucmo.edu/theatre 16 (pro-rated). Theatre for Young America, H PAC, 4949 Cherry St, (816) 235-6222, & R Block City Stage at Union Station, (816) www.umkctheatre.org A Don’t forget to go online to see all the 460-2083, www.tya.org R up-to-date audition, performance, and The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen: other event listings. R Oct 19-28: 7:30 pm Sun-Sat ; 2 pm Sun The allure of the “Sea”, a “Stranger” from the past and her own personal longing

www.kcstage.com OCTOBER 2012 15 The Willis Wood Theatre, designed by Postcards from the Past Folly Theatre architect Louis Curtiss, By Felicia Londré stood at the corner of Eleventh and Baltimore for only fifteen years, 1902- The WilliS 1917, before it burned down, but oh, what a glamorous place it was in its Wood Theatre day! You paid a little more for tickets than at other local theatres and you got not only a top touring company, but elegant atmosphere. There was also the famous tile-lined electric-lit tunnel known as “highball alley” that ran diagonally under the street from the theatre lobby to the glamorous Baltimore Hotel lobby known as “peacock alley”—very convenient for intermission imbibing. Part of the charm of this particular postcard, postmarked 19 December 1908, is the message from the sender, signed Marie, to Midshipman John Shafroth, USS Virginia, New York City. On the stamped side, she wrote: “Dear Jack, We go to Omaha tonight. survived I certainly will write in a day or two. Love from Marie.” She wrote on the from picture side: “This is the theatre we played. Kansas City is mighty nice.” 1902-1917 And indeed there was a Miss Marie Reynolds in the cast of the show that played the week of 13-19 December 1908 at the Willis Wood, an adaptation of Molnár’s comedy The Devil. R

16 KCSTAGE Sonnet 2. By William Shakespeare Girls Nite Out Benefit for Alex’s Lemonade Stand By Angie Fiedler

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade - or so the saying . The event expanded beyond Love Letters (with Vickie Smithson goes. And that’s exactly the mindset of Cindy Devine, the current and Kurt Moegle), and now also includes the monologue “French president of Girls Nite Out-4-Breast Cancer. “We basically just Fries” from Jane Martin’s Talking With ... (performed by Patti started out as friends talking,” Devine says of the ten committee Shockley). “The little girl of Alex’s Lemonade Stand,” Kennedy says, members who make up the group, “and doing the walk for Susan “one of her favorite foods is French fries. I remember seeing this G. Komen.” monologue at one of the festivals, and to me it was just hilarious. I . Started in 2009, the committee is made up of employees who thought {Love Letters} would be something good to start out with, work at the Federal Reserve Bank. “We were making cards for the because it’s more of a drama and it has a little bit of a story to it troops,” Devine says, “and one of our others said, ‘I did this thing that’s sort of sad, but then {“French Fries”} would bring people up.” called Bunco for Boobies, and I raised $500.’ And I thought, ‘Wow Then, the event will end with music from Betsy Dierker and Jeff - that’s a lot of money.’ We were making $10 here, $15 there, so Drysdale, giving an approximate running time of a little over two $500 sounded like an astronomical sum. So, we asked her what hours. she did, and that’s when we started doing the fundraising.” . The event will also have a silent auction, as well as concessions . Devine, a breast cancer survivor herself, continues, “We thought, (all lemon-related, of course). And Kennedy keeps the theme going, ‘Hmmm - I think we could do this.’ And I thought, ‘Even if they calling her actors The Lemon Drop Players. don’t want to, I’m going to try it on my own.’ Oh, my God, there .“If this one turns out and it’s successful,” Devine says, “then the is no way I could’ve done that on my own, because there are so girls will maybe say, ‘You know what, let’s try it and do it again for many details.” the same group.’ It just started out very casually, and we just will . Devine has another reason to be glad there’s a group helping keep doing it until someone tells us to stop.” R her. “The good thing about having ten people is what one person doesn’t think of, the other person does. And we learn by our mistakes and by our successes. We didn’t have a rulebook, we The Benefit for Girls Nite Out-4-Breast Cancer will start at 2 pm on October 6 at Just didn’t have anybody tell us how to do it.” Off Broadway, and tickets are $15. For more information about the benefit or about Girls Nite Out, visit https://sites.google.com/site/girlsniteout4bc or call (816) 881-2371. . The fundraisers (usually in March or April) are typically geared toward local groups, originally for Cancer Action (a place Devine herself had received help from), and now Power of Pink. . There’s some contention as to who exactly came up with the idea to do a second fundraiser in October. Devine fully puts the origin on Donna Kennedy, the coordinator of the event; while Kennedy insists it was Devine. They both, however, agree that image courtesy Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation they had seen Alex’s Lemonade Stand on TV, and thought this foundation, dedicated to curing childhood cancer, would be a good cause for a new fundraiser. Kennedy knew that her connections to MoACT and City Theatre of Independence would help her find actors and sponsors to help put on a production as a fundraiser, and first came up with doing A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters because of those connections. . “The reason I chose Love Letters,” Kennedy says, “I wanted to do something that wouldn’t put all the stress on people, because I’m going to ask them to volunteer. I go to a lot of the stuff for the Missouri Association of Community Theatres, and I’ve seen a lot of plays, and this author says it doesn’t take a lot of time to do this play. Because I already knew these really good quality actors and actresses I’ve worked with through City Theatre, I thought this would be a really good one to do.”

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