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‘A Long Time Coming’
The threat of rain may have forced organizers to move the Kansas City Museum’s construction kickoff indoors, but it hardly discouraged people from attending the Oct. 10 ceremony. The iffy weather may have even helped underscore the importance of the event, as being inside Corinthian Hall made clear how much it needs restoration and renovation if it is to fulfill its promise for the future.
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Arts News: A Bigger, Better Musical Theater Heritage
Heading into its 16th season, Musical Theater Heritage is in growth mode. Specializing in productions of American musicals, the Crown Center-based theater company has been a popular presence in Kansas City since its founding in 2003. And no wonder. There’s a show for every taste, with the typical season offering one or two “heritage” musicals, as well as a couple of less well-known or untraditional shows like “Next to Normal” and “Sunday in the Park with George.”
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A Fresh Look at Picasso and the Art That Inspired Him
It’s finally happened — a blockbuster Picasso show at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Organized by the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, “The Eyes of Picasso” is a rare treat, pairing 60 works by Picasso with sublime examples of the African art that inspired him. Viewed with fresh eyes, that relationship is the show’s driving theme. “If you think you know Picasso there are going to be new discoveries,” said Nelson-Atkins CEO and director Julián Zugazagoitia.
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Artist to Watch: Christine Grossman
Christine Grossman, principal violist for the Kansas City Symphony, was reluctant. As a teenager, she wasn’t sure she wanted to switch from violin to viola. As a born and bred New Yorker, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be principal in an orchestra in the middle of America. She’s changed her mind: “What I love about the Kansas City arts scene is an openness and a welcoming spirit among the musicians and artists."