March 6 & 7, 2010

Saviors in the Night/Unter Bauern: Retter in der Nacht
Saturday, March 6 - 7:30 pm + Opening Reception
Director: Ludi Boeken | Narrative | France, Germany | 2009 | 95 min | English, French, German with subtitles | Subjects: Drama, History, Holocaust, Interfaith Relations

The riveting, real life drama of a Jewish family that found refuge with farmers during WWII, SAVIORS IN THE NIGHT is a powerful, humanity-affirming story in the face of barbarism. Escaping the last of the death camp deportations, the Spiegel family is offered safe hiding for nearly three years by salt-of-the-earth German peasants who reject fascism and put themselves at grave risk without hesitation.  Danger lurks constantly as SS officers, Nazi youth groups  and frightened citizens threaten to expose the refugees and their protectors. Today, the names of these courageous farmers are immortalized at the Yad Vashem memorial in Israel. Based on the memoirs of the now 97-year-old Marga Spiegel and featuring strong performances by the ensemble cast, SAVIORS IN THE NIGHT is a refreshingly unsentimental memorial to these silent heroes. 

Circumcise Me: The Comedy of Yisrael Campbell
Saturday, March 6 - 9:45 pm
Director: David Blumenfeld & Matthew Kalman
Writer: Yisrael Campbell 
Comedy, Documentary | USA | 2008 | 47 min | English
| Subjects: Conversion 

It's non-stop laughter when standup comedian Yisrael Campbell-born Chris Campbell-tells of his conversion to Judaism from Catholicism. You can't help but laugh as he relates how he had three circumcisions (it's true!). His story is a side-splitting true tale of his conversion to Reform, then Conservative then Orthodox Judaism. Yisrael, who after a stint with illegal substances, says he was born "Catholic enough to know I was going to hell," now has the pais to prove his Orthodox commitment. And, by the way, he lives in Jerusalem. Laughs galore are promised as Yisrael delivers standup comedy in this unusual story. 

Children of the Sun
Sunday, March 7 - 2:00 pm - Discussion following
Director: Ran Tal | Documentary | Israel | 2007 | 70 min | Hebrew with subtitles
| Subjects: Zionism, Kibbutz Movement, Israeli History, Personal Narrative

Children of the first kibbutzim in Israel were born in the early 20th century to youthful parents, full of hope. They have been called "Children of the Sun," because they were considered children of the "Sun of Nations" Revolution in Israel. Born into a utopia, they were destined to become "new citizens" for the common good and a life of equality. Children of the Sun features rare footage shot at the kibbutzim between 1930 and 1970, and rare recordings and conversations with family and friends. Director Ran Tal weaves an amazing tapestry that is both a very personal and very public story -- a meta-narrative about the fascinating and founding myths of the Zionist movement in the Land of Israel.

Sponsored by the Alon family in memory of Michal Alon.

Max Minsky and Me
Sunday, March 7 - 7:00 pm
Director: Anna Justice 
Narrative | Germany | 2007 | 94 min | German with subtitles
| Subject: Coming-of-age, Youth/Bat Mitzvah, German Jews, Family Life, Science, Basketball, Family Friendly Film 

Nelly Sue Edelmeister (Zoe Moore) is a skinny 13-year-old future astronomer living in Berlin with her divorcing American Jewish mother (Adriana Altaras) and German Christian father (Jan Josef Liefers). Though her mom pushes her to practice for her fast-approaching Bat Mitzvah, Nelly is more fascinated by the mysteries of the cosmos. When a school basketball championship offers her a chance to meet fellow astronomy fan and heartthrob Prince Edouard of Luxembourg, Nelly turns to Max Minsky for help. Author Holly-Jane Rahlens based the screenplay for this coming-of-age story on her novel, Prince William, Maximillian Minsky and Me, which received the German Award for Young Peoples Literature in 2003. 

FilmFest 2010

The Kansas City FilmFest: a new name for a new combined festival bringing the best of the KC Jubilee Film Festival—our long running, juried shorts fest—with KC’s oldest film festival, FilmFest KC, offering curated programming of great international and independent feature films.

Occurring annually in April (2010 dates are April 14—18), the Kansas City FilmFest is a juried festival for both shorts and features in several divisions: the Heartland Division (filmmakers from Missouri or Kansas), US / International Division and CinemaJAZZ Division (films inspired by jazz). We will also be curating special programs of international and independent films.

We are excited about our new festival creating a new tradition in downtown Kansas City in the newly renovated, historic, all-digital AMC Mainstreet Theatre. There is a growing vibrancy downtown with KC Live, the Sprint Center and an expanding residential population while blocks away is the hip, cool Crossroads Art District, a growing collection of home-grown media production companies mixed among the many art galleries. We are poised to build Kansas City FilmFest into a major regional film festival celebrating the love of movies and moviemaking.

In difficult economic times we always seek to escape, at least briefly, from our travails. Join our celebration. Get involved as a volunteer. Be inspired by the creativity of these artists.

Fred G. Andrews
President
Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee

For more information on the past 2009 KC FilmFest, please visit the dedicated Festival website, www.kcfilmfest.org.

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Justin M. Shaw

816-531-7529 x 17

jshaw@unicorntheatre.org

Unicorn’s In-progress new play reading series takes on super heroes

SUPER

by Lia Romeo

February 7, 2010 at 7:30pm

January 22, 2010, (Kansas City, Missouri) — Unicorn Theatre is dedicated to new plays and the playwrights who write them.  In March, the Unicorn will co-produce with UMKC Theatre the World Premiere of Lia Romeo’s play Green Whales.  For the next In-Progress New Play Reading Series event February 7^th at 7:30pm, Romeo’s newest play Super will be read. This is just one example of how the Unicorn is fostering new voices in American Theatre, especially the voices of women.  In the spirit of the co-production of Green Whales, Super will feature students from the UMKC Theatre graduate acting program.  Justin Shaw will direct the piece.  Super had it’s first reading at the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey in November 2009.  There are no tickets or reservations for In-Progress New Play Readings Series events.  A donation is requested at the door.  More information can be found online at www.unicorntheatre.org.

THE PLAY

Preston has been living in Curtis’ walk-in closet since his ex-girlfriend Casey threw him out.  On their way home from a night of drinking, Preston jumps in the Hudson River for a swim only to be engulfed by a green chemical wave that gives him crime fighting super powers.  Lou, aka “Danger-Man”, a homeless, beer-guzzling-super-hero in his own rite, enters the picture and takes Preston under his wing to fight crime in the city.  Will these new super powers be enough to get Casey back? 

THE PLAYWRIGHT

Lia Romeo is the playwright-in-residence at Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey.  She earned her B.A. from Princeton University and her M.F.A. in playwriting from Rutgers University.  Her play Green Whales has been developed at the Kennedy Center, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, and New Jersey Repertory Theatre, and will receive its world premiere from the Unicorn Theatre in 2010. Her play Right Place, Right Time was a finalist for the O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference, the HotCity Theatre New Play Festival, and the Centre Stage New Play Festival, and will receive its world premiere from the Renegade Theatre Experiment in 2010.  Her short play “Yog Sothoth” was a finalist for the Heideman Award.  This and other short plays have been produced in thirteen different states and internationally.  She and her brother are co-authors of the humor book 11,002 Things to Be Miserable About (Abrams Image).

Plenum Space Gallery : 504 E. 18^th Street : Kansas City, MO 64108

01/25/2010

Contact: Hannah Mott

Cell: 816.929.5930

Email: plenumspacekc@gmail.com

 For Immediate Release

‘Third World Aesthetics’ by Jason Sierra

Growing up in El Paso, Texas, Jason Sierra began crossing borders early. Crossing back and forth between Mexico and the United States, and being Mexican-American himself, Jason learned that sometimes borders can be fixed and severe, but oftentimes they are blurry or even non-existent. Jason’s cultural hybridity has played out throughout his life as he has spent time living with people of different classes and cultures in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Germany and the Philippines. The cultures that Jason experienced in these countries, as well as the theme of blurring borders can be found in Jason’s art, poetry and music which is heavily influenced by graffiti, pop art, Mexican folk art and political comics. Jason uses different mediums of expression, working in commercial art, graphic design, illustration, poetry and music.  

###

Show runs Feb.5th through Feb.26th. After Feb. 5th, viewings are by appointment only. Call Hannah Mott (816.929.5930) to schedule.

Byron C. Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art

2020 Baltimore, Suite 1N

Kansas City, MO 64108

Contact: Charlotte Eisel Matthews

Phone: 816.421.5665

The Byron C. Cohen Gallery is pleased to host Barbara OBrien, Curator for the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, as she presents a talk on the work of Lesley Dill, Saturday, February 6, 2010, 1:15pm at the Byron C. Cohen Gallery.

Our current exhibit Lesley Dill : The Strange Experience of Beauty will be on display through March 26.

Lesley Dill Artist Statement :

Radiance is a fierce word for me, not a soft one. When we breathe and when we speak we divide light. Speech is given out of our mouths and off of our bodies as a kind of radiance. These human rays of targeted meaning reach out and allow for a separation of the physical luminous heat. Radiance implies a concentration of energy in an object, or person, that by nature of its intensity must fling out, must expand so it is discernible as deserving this word. I find I think or say this to myself a few times a day. Repetitive use of language can be obsessive and nervous (Kafka "I am a hesitation before birth, my life is a hesitation before birth"), explanatory ("I have given my whole life to words, chewed this dog hunger into a long meal"), mantra like in a soothing indecipherable way, or a linguistic touchstone a word or words that locate you regardless of setting. Or more inner word(s) as song. The power of language to affect as private murmur is so varied and complex. I find I often use the same language over and over, and for me, it always seems to mean something different, and something is learned.

Please see the attached image.

Image info is as follows:

Lesley Dill

Homage to N.S., 1997

photolithograph, screen print & etching

34 x 43 inches

--
Byron C. Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art
2020 Baltimore, Suite 1N
Kansas City, MO 64108
(t) 816.421.5665 (f) 816.421.5775
http://byroncohengallery.com
http://artnet.com/cohen.html
byroncohengallery@gmail.com

Kansas City artists show their love in honor of Valentine’s Day!

 Over 200 artists are showing their admiration and commitment to the Kansas City Artists Coalition.  Artwork has been donated for the 27^th Annual Art Auction at the KCAC Galleries, February 13^th. The auction is the major fund raiser for the Coalition and pays for all the programming aimed at helping artists achieve their full potential as artists.

A new program: The Kansas City International Artists Residency Program, which brings artists from all over the world to spend some time in Kansas City exploring their art and connecting with the community.

Auction: Saturday, February 13. Doors open at 6:00pm

Silent Auction: 6:00 – 7:45pm

Live Auction: 8:00 – 10:30pm

Tickets: $20, Reserved Seats: $100

The special Sweetheart Reception – a champagne and desert evening - will be held Wednesday, February 10, 7-9pm.  Tickets: $12.50

Contact: 816-421-5222 for tickets and/or information or

www.kansascityartistscoalition.org

ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY ARTISTS COALITION

The Kansas City Artists Coalition (KCAC), an artist-centered, artist-run alternative space, presents a variety of contemporary visual art exhibitions in its Mallin Gallery, Jacqueline B. Charno Gallery and the Underground. The Artists Coalition also provides opportunities for artists including grants, panel discussions, publications, programs and workshops, as well as, the Annual Benefit Art Auction, Artist Toolkits, the Lighton International Artists Exchange Program (LIAEP), Open Studios and the River Market Regional Exhibition. The Artists Coalition was created to change the lives of Kansas City visual artists and to promote visual arts awareness and artistic culture in the Midwest and the surrounding region.

(PRINT QUALITY IMAGES UPON REQUEST)

Irish Trivia Night at The Irish Center Feb.  6 

By Kellie Houx 

OK, these might be some easy questions, but let’s give it a try. What Irish playwright and poet pinned “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”? This is probably pretty easy – Oscar Wilde. Who wrote the short story collection “The Dubliners”? Another easy one – James Joyce. One of the most famous prehistoric sites sits in County Meath and served as a passage tomb. Give up, Newgrange.

If trivia is your game and you might know a whole lot about Ireland, why not get involved in the Third Annual Irish Trivia Night at the Irish Center in Union Station? Guinness and McGonigle’s sponsor the event. Last year, the Irish Museum and Cultural Center staff marked 19 teams. This year, they are hoping for at least 25 teams. Programming and communications director Rachel Casey, who has been with the center since its opening, says some of the teams simply enjoy playing (even if their knowledge about Ireland is lacking) and drinking.

Teams come from area businesses, friends, schools and other organizations. If someone wants to participate and doesn’t have a team, an individual can register and a team will be formed. And don’t worry about being Irish, Casey says, DNA is not checked at the door. “If you appreciate all things Irish, come on in and give this a try. It’s fun and people gain some great facts just by playing,” she says.

All registrations are due Feb. 1. The winning team receives a cash prize and bragging rights. Irish Trivia Night supports operations and programming of the Irish Museum and Cultural Center.

www.irishmuseum.org

The Irish Museum and Cultural Center also different classes and programs. Irish Gaelic classes are Wednesday evenings for 10 weeks starting Jan. 20; Irish Tinwhistle classes, starting Jan. 21, 7 p.m., 10 weeks; 2-4 p.m., Jan. 24, Kansas City School of Irish Music Teacher concert and IMCC volunteer recognition; literature club, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 26; and Youth Talent & Art Showcase, 2 p.m., Feb. 28.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                       January 20, 2010

2010 Season at Crown Center
Now in their 8^th year of producing musicals in Kansas City, Musical Theater Heritage continues to present quality, affordable entertainment through their very popular concert-style productions of classic American Musicals and original revues.

Last year, MTH had their most successful year as an arts organization, increasing their audience size by 100%, and setting box office attendance records for their production of Big River, which also was chosen as the area’s Best Musical of the Year by the Johnson County Sun.  In 2010, MTH plans to continue to be one of the most unique and rapidly growing theater companies in Kansas City, and are offering two large musical classics this year to their season.

One of those large shows includes Kiss Me Kate, March 11-28.   Considered a comeback triumph for an aging Cole Porter in 1948, Kiss Me Kate was easily his biggest hit as a composer, and exceeded his previous triumph, Anything Goes, as a successful musical with cohesive book and score. There are many great songs in the show, including: Why Can't You Behave, Tom, Dick or Harry, So In Love, Wunderbar, Too Darn Hot.  This musical masterpiece won the first Tony Award presented for Best Musical.

1776 will be MTH’s next large musical, starring Deb Bluford as Benjamin Franklin with an all-girl cast, Aug 12-29.  Typically produced with a large, male cast with only 2 female roles, MTH’s production will consist entirely of ladies (which has never been done before).  It will give a new voice to this cherished musical, and bring new meanings to this historic moment of our country’s past.  It’s about how much work and courage it took to get Congress off their "arses" to break it off with England. Sherman Edwards, developed lyrics and libretto for this insightful musical on the real struggle to write our Declaration of Independence.

And finally, A Spectacular Christmas, Dec. 2-23.  Now in its third year, A Spectacular Christmas is quickly becoming a Kansas City tradition.  2010’s production will have an all-new script, but the show will still feature sackfuls of classic holiday songs being sung by KC’s best-loved performers. It's funny, it's heartfelt, it's sentimental and it's Christmastime.

And don’t forget!  Musical Mondays are also a part of the MTH Season at Crown Center, too.  It’s an impromptu evening of musical theater, hosted by Tim Scott, featuring KC's finest actors and singers.  You never know who will show up, and you never know what songs will be sung, but it's a guaranteed great time. Performances are at 7:30 pm on Mar 1  /  May 3  /  July 5  /  Aug 2  /  Sep 20  /  Nov 22.

MTH hires the best local talent, such as 2009's Kip Niven, Karen Errington, James Wright, Lauren Braton, Tim Scott, Craig Benton, Jerry Jay Cranford, and many more; with their orchestra headed by our fabulous Jeremy Watson on piano.  Performances are at the Off Center Theatre located on the 3rd floor of the Crown Center Shops, and run Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8pm, Matinees on Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm.  MTH audiences enjoy giant, movie theater seats in an intimate venue, with plenty of leg room, and there’s never a head in the way.

Tickets are $13 for the side sections and $27 for the center section.  For tickets call the AHT / Off Center Theatre Box Office at (816) 842-9999 or visit Musical Theater Heritage online at www.mthkc.com.  For interviews and further details, call George Harter or Chad Gerlt at (816) 221-6987.

Musical Theater Heritage
Off Center Theatre at Crown Center, 3^rd Floor
Business Office:  1600 Genessee, Suite 810   Kansas City, MO 64102
Business Phone: (816) 221-6987   Box Office Phone: (816) 842-9999   www.MTHKC.com

Crazy Heart stole mine!

Reviewed by Heidi Nast

I went into Crazy Heart expecting the same old fall from grace elevated Hollywood story and was very surprised to find it was quite the contrary. Fox Searchlight combines four-time Academy Award nominee Jeff Bridges with writer/director Scott Cooper along with a star-studded cast for the release of Crazy Heart.

Yes, Jeff Bridges stars as Bad Blake who’s 57, tired, broke, an incessant smoker, excessive drinker, washed up and run down, sleeping in seedy motels, but still possesses a charming scratchy demeanor that lands him in one-night stands with 50-year-old groupies, in between one unremarkable destination after another on the road to nowhere.  Bad Blake has quite a sordid past of fame and loss, of multiple marriages; needless to say, he’s lived fast and hard, he’s never been famous for county charm and it’s taken its toll, thrusting him toward rock bottom. Bad Blake’s been drunk most of his life and he’s lost a lot along the way. But he catches a few breaks.

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Jean, a small town journalist who requests an interview with Bad Blake while he’s playing a gig in Santa Fe. One thing leads to another with twists and turns that you’ll have to see for yourself.

Colin Farrell plays Tommy Sweet, the still standing success story from the days when Bad Blake gave Tommy his start in the music business. “Sweet” is sweet and kind and so much more than just a pretty face.

Robert Duvall plays Wayne, a soft spoken introspective recovering alcoholic that is there for Bad Blake at the right time and in the right place.

Crazy Heart isn’t some predictable movie; it’s well written and well acted by all.  What surprised me is that all these guys can actually sing, and they sing exceedingly well!  It was the perfect Triple Play given the fact that writer-director Scott Cooper (1990-1997) was a two-time Major League Baseball All-Star third baseman for the Boston Red Sox and played for the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals!  Crazy Heart is funny, it’s sad; and the star studded cast all achieved what they deserved and not necessarily what we hoped for, but what was right for the story line.  

*Congratulations to Jeff Bridges for his recent acknowledgment at the 2010 67^th Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in the category of drama for Crazy Heart.

HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORT TO BE HELD IN KANSAS CITY LIVE

Community Blood Center to collect blood donations, Heart to Heart to collect monetary donations for Haitian earthquake victims

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (January 18, 2010) — Kansas City Live will host a donation and blood drive on Tuesday, January 19, in an effort to bring relief to Haiti after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shattered its landscape and population on Tuesday.

The drive will take place in KC Live! with Heart to Heart International and Embrace Point on-site from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. accepting monetary donations and the Community Blood Center accepting blood donations from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. All those who donate will receive free pizza from Pizza Bar and a free non-alcoholic beverage from Pizza Bar or McFadden’s. 

For more information on both relief efforts, please visit www.powerandlightdistrict.com. 

Details:                  Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Location:               KC Live! Block

Time:                      2:00 – 8:00 p.m., monetary donations

                                   3:00 – 7:00 p.m., blood drive

Photo Op:              People writing checks, giving cash and running credit cards for monetary donations

                                People donating blood      

Interviews:             Nick Benjamin, Executive Director, The Kansas City Power & Light District

                                NBenjamin@cordish.com or (816) 842.1045

                                Andre Butler, Heart to Heart International (on-site)