I don’t think I can offer up 1,776 reasons to see Musical Theater Heritage’s production of Sherman Edwards’ musical, but I could probably give it a try. It might take more words than most people want to read, but let’s just put it this way — it’s a satisfying evening of great entertainment, a whole lot of history thrown in and Deb Bluford. This name alone should have everyone running, not walking, to the Off Center Theatre in Crown Center.

Bluford continues to reign as the queen of comedy, even when she is taking on the mannerisms and persona of one of America’s founding fathers, Ben Franklin. Bluford, in the intimate space of the Off Center Theatre, not only uses her wit, but her facial expressions. The audience is close enough to see all the silly grins that only add to the charm of Bluford. Playing the sort of foil to Karen Errington’s John Adams is also no small task. Errington is another venerable actress in Kansas City. She depicts the rough-mannered, but brilliant Adams. While not as well-liked or well-remembered until perhaps the recent mini-series, Adams probably pushed for a declaration of independence more than any man in the Continental Congress.

Errington captures Sherman’s lyrics and leads the cast of women with force and determination, befitting the male character she plays. OK, if you haven’t guessed it yet – the entire cast of “1776” is female. Typically, the cast for 1776 is made up of about 20 roles for men, and only two female roles. MTH Executive Director George Harter, Associate Producer Chad Gerlt and Director Sarah Crawford knew they wanted to try this musical. Crawford joked and said it might be funny to do it with an all-female cast instead. Gerlt says there are no crazy statements being made, rather since men always have had the chance to do the show, why not let the ladies have a crack at it? He said it might be a new and fresh voice.

I guarantee that it is a fresh voice. After a time, I forgot that the folks on stage were women. I found myself really enjoying the interplay between Errington and Sarah Kleeman, the mezzo soprano who plays Abigail Adams. First, as an audience member, you appreciate that Abigail makes John seem more human. He is a doting husband who misses his intelligent, thoughtful wife. As a side note, their correspondence may be some of the best reading that exists between a husband and wife. In the hands of Errington and Kleeman, the love affair is brought to life. It may strike some as a little odd, but it really works, especially with “Yours, Yours, Yours.” Kleeman’s voice fills the theater with a brightness that is awe-inspiring. The other couple that appears on stage, if only briefly, is Jessalyn Kincaid as Thomas Jefferson and Emily Shackelford as Martha Jefferson. Shackelford sings a sweet song called “He Plays the Violin,” which she sings with Franklin and Adams that tells of how Jefferson wooed Martha. It’s a super sweet song.

However, I’m going to stick my neck out there and say that there are two songs that are really head and shoulders above the rest. Fourteen-year-old Malena Marcase sings the first: “Momma, Look Sharp.” Here is where an all-women cast probably made this song resonate even more. Marcase plays the young courier/soldier and shares with the Continental Congress custodian Andrew McNair, played by Emily Harris, about battlefields and the young men calling to their mothers as they lay dying. The song is strong and Marcase, for all her youth, puts her heart into delivering this stirring piece. The added potency of the rest of the female cast (hidden behind a curtain) singing the parts of mothers searching for their soldier sons strikes a chord. It moved me to tears.

The second showstopper is “Molasses to Rum.” Katie Karel, I want you to know that you have a fan in this writer. I had the chance to see you sing in last year’s production of “Big River” and then at the Kansas City Repertory’s production of “Into the Woods.” Your voice is mighty. Listening to you belt out this piece about how even those Continental Congress members who were so against slavery owed so much to the practice, gave me goose bumps. Karel plays Edward Rutledge, the delegate from South Carolina. Rutledge could have stopped the declaration if the paragraph condemning the institution of slavery would have made it in.

The actresses all are amazing. I have to call out to two actresses who stole a little bit of the comedic gold that is usually reserved for Bluford. Allison Moody plays Richard Henry Lee, the representative from Virginia who put forth the motion to the Continental Congress to declare independence. She sings a song titled “The Lees of Old Virginia” that had the audience roaring with laughter. Retired teacher Cathy Wood plays Stephen Hopkins from Rhode Island. In the musical, Hopkins is a sort of cantankerous drunkard whose force of personality helps keep the Continental Congress together and Wood has fun with this role.

So there it is; I thoroughly enjoyed the musical. I have a feeling that from here on out, when “1776” comes on television, it will be a pale comparison to the unique and live production that Musical Theater Heritage offered up. Now, run … don’t walk to the box office for the performance of “1776.” Shows are 7 p.m., Thursdays; 8 p.m., Fridays; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturdays; and 2 p.m., Sundays. The musical is scheduled to end Aug. 29.

www.musicaltheaterheritage.com/

The production previews August 20, opens August 27, closes on September 12  and will be performed at Union Station’s H&R Block City Stage.

The Kansas City Actors Theatre continues its “Summer of Siblings” with the Midwest premiere of Marion Bridge by award-winning Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor. Set in the kitchen of their family home in Nova Scotia,  this poignant and funny play centers on three sisters as they reunite to care for their dying mother. With seemingly nothing in common, trapped by life choices and unfulfilled expectations, the sisters are forced to deal with the painful loneliness of the lives they’ve chosen. Agnes, the prodigal daughter, is a bitter alcoholic with little to show for her acting career, while Theresa is a smug and straight-laced nun who increasingly questions the direction of her life. Always considered strange, youngest sister Louise, has little to do with the outside world, instead seeking refuge in her obsession with soap operas. In the course of their time together, a family secret emerges and changes everything. 

The Calgary Herald calls Marion Bridge “...a sensitive, beautifully written and frequently very funny play -- in a sharply witty and down-to-earth kind of way.” Margo Jefferson of the New York Times notes, “It has a solid core of emotional honesty,” and New York Theatre calls it “...a terrifically entertaining and engaging work.”

Kathleen Warfel directs the production featuring Jan Rogge as Agnes, Cinnamon Schultz (who recently appeared in the film "Winter's Bone") as Theresa, and Rachel Hirshorn as Louise.

Daniel MacIvor is one of Canada’s preeminent playwrights, having written and directed numerous award-winning productions. Marion Bridge was made into a feature length film in 2002 and his screenplay adaptation won the Atlantic Film Festival.

Marion Bridge is the second of two KCAT summer productions to explore the unique bond between siblings. Sam Shepard’s True West opened the season in July to critical acclaim.

Tickets are available at www.kcactors.org or by calling the Central Ticket Office at 816.235.6222.

September 10th - October 3rd at Spencer Theatre

Opening night/press night is 7 p.m., Sunday, September 19

Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, has announced that a new production of the musical Saved, directed by Gary Griffin (The Color Purple—Broadway and national tour, Pacific Overtures--London), will open the Rep’s 2010-11 season.

Music and lyrics are by Michael Friedman (The Civilians, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson—opening on Broadway in September). John Dempsey (The Fix, The Witches of Eastwick) and Rinne Groff (Compulsion, Jimmy Carter was a Democrat—The Public Theatre) wrote the book and lyrics. The musical is adapted from the MGM film written by Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban.

Saved is a story about a group of Christian high school students seeking acceptance and inclusion as they search for meaning in their complicated lives.

The show’s original creative team believed the show needed another opportunity to further its development. According to Griffin, "Saved is like many other successful musicals that do not reach their full potential in their first production. I believe we were only able to get a good first draft in New York, and it would be a shame to stop when we were just discovering the musical’s strengths."

"I’m happy that Gary and the writing team want to continue development of Saved at Kansas City Rep,” said Rosen. “It’s a compelling and honest portrayal of the same issues many families in Kansas City struggle with daily and will resonate powerfully in our community.” Griffin added, "We strongly believe that the Rep’s audience will embrace the artistic aesthetic of Saved and tell us a great deal about how the show is landing. We are looking forward to learning from them."

The cast for Saved: as Roland, Patrick Andrews (world premiere, The Sparrow—Steppenwolf Theatre, The Actor—Goodman Theatre); as Tia, Izzie Baldwin (Lucky Duck, the Musical—the Coterie, The Light in the Piazza—Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre [MET], both in Kansas City); as Hilary Faye, Justis Bolding (Woman in White, No Boundaries, TV: “7th Heaven”); as Mitch and others, Doogin Brown (A Christmas Carol—KC Rep; A View from the Bridge—MET; as Lillian, Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida, The Life, the Spike Lee films The 25th Hour, Summer of Sam, He Got Game); as Cassandra, Gillian Goldberg (Calvin Berger—Barrington Stage); as Mary, Laura Huizenga (Saved workshop, directed by Griffin); as Dean, David Hull (Wicked; national tours A Chorus Line, Wicked); as Lana, Emily Peterson (Liliom—KC Rep); as Pastor Mike, Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls—2009 revival, LoveMusik, Dracula, Beauty and the Beast) ; and as Patrick, Nick Spangler (The Fantasticks; 24 Hour Plays directed by Kevin Spacey—Old Vic: New Voices).

The creative team includes orchestrations by Curtis Moore (Venice, Moisés Kaufman’s Into the Woods—KCRep, The Bridge Project); music director, conductor/pianist Jasper Grant (Altar Boyz, The Color Purple, Fame—national tours); scenic designer Walt Spangler (A Christmas Story, the Musical!, KC Rep; Desire Under the Elms, Broadway revival); costume designer Megan Turek (A Christmas Carol—KC Rep); lighting designer Jason Lyons (Clay, A Christmas Story, The Musical!—KC Rep, Lincoln Center; Gary Griffin’s A Flea in Her Ear—KC Rep, Rock of Ages, The Threepenny Opera); sound designer Joshua Horvath (Clay—KC Rep, Lincoln Center; Venice—KC Rep, Center Theatre Group).

Saved runs September 10 – October 3, 2010 at Spencer Theatre, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Tickets cost $20-$65 and youth tickets (18 years or younger) are $20. For information about performance times and ticket options, call the Rep Box Office at 816-235-2700 or visit www.KCRep.org.

ABOUT KANSAS CITY REPERTORY THEATRE
Now in its 46th year, Kansas City Repertory Theatre is one of the nation’s leading professional theatres and a member of the League of Resident Theatres. The Rep produces a full season of plays and events in two venues: Spencer Theatre on the UMKC campus, where the Rep is the professional theatre in residence, and downtown at Copaken Stage. Its diverse repertoire includes new works, musicals and classics of literature. The theatre serves approximately 100,000 patrons annually and employs more than 250 professional artists, technicians and administrators.

Please accept ArtsKC's special invitation to visit Union Station this week and experience Kansas City's corporate "arts" challenge. You’ll be amazed at the creativity and talent of our area CEOs, bank tellers, cable splicers, and IT professionals. Can't make it? Click here to view all of the visual and literary work on-line (http://artworkkansascity.wordpress.com/ )…you can even vote for your favorite! Musical competition is this Friday, August 6th, 7 pm at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre - Copaken Stage.

Kelly Seward
Director of Business Programs
816.994.9226 direct | seward@ArtsKC.org
906 Grand Blvd. Suite 10B | Kansas City, MO 64106
www.ArtsKC.org

12^TH STREET JUMP—

PUBLIC RADIO’S JAZZ, BLUES & COMEDY JAM TURNS UP THE HEAT IN AUGUST

Live broadcasts on FM 89.3 KCUR

July 16, 2010—12^th STREET JUMP, public radio’s weekly jazz, blues and comedy jam heats up the end of summer every Saturday night through August 28 at midnight live from the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. This show is also broadcast live on KCUR FM 89.3 with live streaming at www.kcur.org.

12^th STREET JUMP continues through July 31^st celebrating the music of Blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson, jazz vocalist Annie Ross, jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby and the great Tony Bennett. The show moves into August featuring the music of jazz greats, Benny Carter, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Wayne Shorter. On August 28^th, 12^th STREET JUMP closes out the summer with a special celebration of jazz great Charlie Parker. Each weekend will spotlight the talents of Kim Park, Michael Pagan, Doug Talley and Bobby Watson.

12^th STREET JUMP is hosted by Pete Weber and Pearl McDonald. Vocalists David Basse and Nedra Dixon join musical director Joe Cartwright on piano, Tyrone Clark on bass and Mike Warren on drums.

The 12^th STREET JUMP line up of featured artists and special guests on the show weekly this August includes the following:

FEATURED ARTIST           SPECIAL GUEST(s)            

July 17     Summer Blues Show Sonny Boy Williamson  Trashmouth Baker & Sheila Bey

July 24       Annie Ross,Rich Hill, Kathleen Holeman & Brian Hicks

July 31     Tony Bennett &                        Michael O’Shiver

                              Jazz Harpist Dorothy Ashby     

August 7     Benny Carter                            Kim Park

August 14      Bill Evans & Oscar Peterson     Michael Pagan

August 21     Wayne Shorter                           Doug Talley

August 28      Charlie Parker Birthday            Bobby Watson

Located along the12^th Street Jazz Walk of Fame, Kansas City’s jazz, blues and honky-tonk heart, 12^th STREET JUMP continues that tradition on the same street where Count Basie tickled the ivories at the Reno Club and Big Joe Turner shouted the blues.”

12^th STREET JUMP is produced and presented by Theater League, celebrating thirty-three years enhancing the quality of life in Kansas City with the thrill of live music and theater.  NO COVER-ONE DRINK MINIMUM; doors at the KC Marriott Downtown, 200 West 12^th Street, open Saturday nights at 11:30PM.  Validated parking at the Marriott garage is subject to space availability.

For more information, visit www.theaterleague.org or call Theater League at 816-421-7500.