Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith is an impassioned supporter of local performances of all types, who welcomes the  opportunity to promote them to KC Studio readers.

Arts News: For Music, Theater and Art – Go to Church

For those who find the arts a source of sanctuary, experiencing them in an actual sanctuary can be doubly enriching. And that’s what’s on offer at Westport Presbyterian Church, home to the Westport Center for the Arts. Founded in 2006, the Center regularly presents concerts, theatrical events and art shows featuring leading artists in the […]

‘On Shoulders Now’

‘On Shoulders Now’

Vernon and Eddie are survivors of the street. Levon is an Iowa farm boy facing eviction. Noi is a pregnant Jamaican immigrant. It is Christmas Eve, so Vernon, in the spirit of the season, decides to provide shelter to this desperate couple. That shelter is a “house of ill repute,” run by Ms. Lacy and her two companions, Shanel and Carmen. But best laid plans often go awry.

A Singular Retirement

A Singular Retirement

The Kansas City theater community knows Douglas Taylor for his 30-year run as head of Theater Technical Production for Missouri Repertory Theatre (now KC Rep), where he was the all-around go-to guy for stage design and management, construction, lighting, sound and maintenance. On productions ranging from “Hamlet” to “A Christmas Carol.”

Arts News: Introducing the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra

Arts News: Introducing the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra

Kansas City’s Latin tempo is rising. That can largely be attributed to Pablo Sanhueza and his seven-piece ensemble, The KC Latin Jazz All-Stars. Marking its 15th anniversary in 2018, the area’s premier salsa and Latin jazz orchestra has cut a broad swath through the city, performing at The Blue Room, Vox Theatre, the Gem Theater, […]

Artist to Watch: Elroy Hawkins

It’s sad when Kansas City loses a talented performer to a larger market. It’s gratifying when we get one back. Elroy Hawkins (stage name L Roi Hawkins) has returned to the area after 20 years away, appearing in The Black Repertory Theatre Company’s 2017 productions of “Stickfly” and “A Soldier’s Story,” and in the Unicorn’s March 2018 “Informed Consent.”

A New Collaboration with The Coterie

Based on a decade of collaboration with Kevin Wilmott, The Coterie Theatre opens its 2018-19 season with a world premiere by the talented filmmaker and writer. Set in 1944, “Becoming Martin” delves into the relationship between a young Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Benjamin Mays, then president of Morehouse College (at that time the […]