Performing Archives

Performing

A Serious Comedy at the Unicorn: ‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’

I wasn’t sure what to expect from “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” Lucas Hnath’s inventive sequel to the Henrik Ibsen classic. What surprised me is how funny it is. Director

“Ragtime” Evokes an America Then and Now in Strong MTH Production

Funny how productions of older shows so often reflect our present reality. That’s certainly the case with the handsome MTH Theater production of “Ragtime,” the award-winning 1998 musical based on

Kansas City Symphony Opens Classical Series with Themes of Struggle and Triumph

Ah, opening day. The fanfare, the National Anthem, that first pitch…it’s the opening concert of the Kansas City Symphony’s 2019/2020 Classical Series. The orchestra has already been hard at work

Artist to Watch: Aaron Alexander

Getting in front of crowds used to make Aaron Alexander crazy nervous. He felt more comfortable creating his music in solitude than performing it for throngs of people. Then he

A New Era for the UMKC Conservatory

Fall 2019 brings a lot of exciting changes to the UMKC Conservatory . . . new world-renowned faculty, a new name, and the UMKC Theatre Department has officially joined us!

A Serious Comedy at the Unicorn: ‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’

I wasn’t sure what to expect from “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” Lucas Hnath’s inventive sequel to the Henrik Ibsen classic. What surprised me is how funny it is. Director Darren Sextro, who staged his own adaptation of the Ibsen original in August for Kansas City Actors Theatre, now returns to direct Hnath’s compressed follow-up […]

October 21, 2019
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La Bohème – The Perfect First Opera?

If you’re a newcomer to the art form of opera, La bohème is often described as the perfect “first opera” to experience. Why is that? Is it because the story is so universal, that it has been remade repeatedly in contemporary settings, like the musical RENT or parts of Moulin Rouge (which is a mixture of La bohème and La traviata, another good “first opera” choice)?

October 21, 2019
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“Ragtime” Evokes an America Then and Now in Strong MTH Production

Funny how productions of older shows so often reflect our present reality. That’s certainly the case with the handsome MTH Theater production of “Ragtime,” the award-winning 1998 musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel. Director Tim Scott fills up every inch of the stage at the Crown Center performance venue with people, sound and color. He […]

October 15, 2019
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Music Legends Reunite on the Holographic Rock ‘N’ Roll Dream Tour

Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneers, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly are on tour together for the first time. The Rock ‘N’ Roll Dream Tour will feature remastered audio from both legends coming together in one mesmerizing night of performances. Accompanied by a live band and back-up singers, this cutting edge holographic performance and remastered audio will […]

October 7, 2019
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Kansas City Symphony Opens Classical Series with Themes of Struggle and Triumph

Ah, opening day. The fanfare, the National Anthem, that first pitch…it’s the opening concert of the Kansas City Symphony’s 2019/2020 Classical Series. The orchestra has already been hard at work for the last month in its various capacities, but this cornerstone series kick starts a season of celebrations and milestones, with an impressive roster of […]

October 5, 2019
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Artist to Watch: Aaron Alexander

Getting in front of crowds used to make Aaron Alexander crazy nervous. He felt more comfortable creating his music in solitude than performing it for throngs of people. Then he opened for singer-songwriter, musician and rapper J.I.D. “It was the biggest crowd I’d seen in my life,” Alexander said recently in Loose Park.

October 1, 2019
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