Author: Vivian Kane

A cast of actors cast in dark dramatic blue lighting.D
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April 17, 2023

Delicate Joy Fills “The Secret Garden” at MTH

This musical version of "The Secret Garden" is a satisfying entry in a large collection of beloved adaptations of the classic novel.
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April 12, 2023

At Padgett Productions, ‘The Craft: An Unauthorized Musical Parody’ Is a ’90s Nostalgia Romp With Surprising Heart

'The Craft' is a delightful reminiscence on a teen classic, and its most moving moments come from its musical numbers—perfectly placed '80s and '90s rock and pop hits.
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The cast of Hamilton faces forward, raising hands into the air triumphantly.&
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March 26, 2023

“Hamilton” Touring Production at the Music Hall Finds New Nuance in Beloved Characters

The "Hamilton" cast has created deeply nuanced portrayals that stand on their own while still feeling true to the characters fans have come to know so well.
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Three Black women dressed in costumes from different eras sit on a stage faced forward.U
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March 23, 2023

Unicorn Theatre’s Time-Hopping ‘Marys Seacole’ Is No Ordinary Biodrama

Anyone familiar with Drury’s work knows that this will be no straightforward biography.
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Two ghostly looking young girls stand on a staircase looking straight forward.L
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March 13, 2023

Lyric Opera’s “The Shining” Is Horrific, Haunting and Absolutely Gorgeous

Lyric Opera’s production of The Shining makes us wonder why horror-opera isn't more of a thing.
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Two Black actors argue over a dinner table.K
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February 18, 2023

KC Melting Pot’s “Fairview” Subverts Structure and Expectations To Engage in Complex Questions About Race & Art

KC Melting Pot Theater continues to explore the ways in which race and class play out in the very acts of producing and consuming theatre.
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An older woman in a 1950s housedress sits looking melancholy.K
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February 16, 2023

KCRep’s Captivatingly Absurd World Premiere “Flood” Explores the Dangers of Privilege & Complacency

Mashuq Mushtaq Deen’s new play Flood offers as good an argument as I can imagine in favor of a resurgence of the Theater of the Absurd.
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A white man and a Black drag queen pose together.T
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January 31, 2023

The White Theatre’s “Kinky Boots” Balances Out a Few Stumbles With Heaps of Fun and Heart

Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s musical celebration of drag and gender expression in a battle against judgmental bigotry is as relevant as ever.
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A young Black woman stares intently ahead. An Asian woman stands at a podium behind her.A
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January 26, 2023

At KCAT, ‘Smart People’ Is an Aimless Exploration of Human Contradictions

"Smart People" is about the myriad ways racism manifests—from the quotidian to the systemic to the neurological.
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