Quality Hill Playhouse embraces the music of the Baby Boomer era with its latest production, You’ve Got a Friend. The title song of the concert-style revue, written by Carole King, was a hit for both King and James Taylor on their respective 1971 albums Tapestry and Mud Slide Slim. It is fitting that the revue prominently features music by both artists, with nearly half of the first act devoted to Taylor (Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James, Carolina In My Mind, Shower the People) and more than half of the second act devoted to King (Up on the Roof, I Feel the Earth Move, It’s Too Late, Will You Love Me Tomorrow?).
Additional hits from the singer-songwriter era included in the production are Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan), American Pie (Don McLean) and Puff the Magic Dragon (Peter, Paul and Mary). Popular Kansas City actor-singers Molly Hammer, Jessalyn Kincaid and Tim Scott perform these 1960s and ’70s classics, with J. Kent Barnhart at the piano, Julian Goff on drums and Brian Wilson on bass.
You’ve Got a Friend: Music That Raised the Baby Boomers runs through May 19 at Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, Mo. For tickets, call 816-421-1700. To purchase tickets online or for more information, visit www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com
This is the penultimate production is a series of cabaret revues exploring how American popular music has been influenced by – and in some cases, influenced – important historical and social events in our nation’s history. The final production, Great Big Broadway, celebrates the music in the over-the-top spectacles that have been the mainstay of Broadway since the 1970s – Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The Lion King and more. Great Big Broadway runs May 31 through June 30 and features Lauren Braton, Sarah LaBarr, Tim Noland and Barnhart.
About the Performers
Molly Hammer rapidly has become a Playhouse audience favorite, following stand-out performances in Pete ’n’ Keely, Closer Than Ever and Lullaby of 42nd Street. A versatile performer, Hammer performs in various local restaurants and will be seen in The Bikinis at American Heartland Theatre this summer. www.mollyhammer.com.
Jessalyn Kincaid has turned in critically-acclaimed performances on stages across town, including Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The New Theatre, American Heartland Theatre, Coterie Theatre and Musical Theater Heritage. This summer Kincaid returns to The Coterie for their production of Lyle The Crocodile. www.JessalynKincaid.com
Tim Scott appeared at QHP in Pete ’n’ Keely and Life Is a Cabaret last season. Other local credits include Musical Theatre Heritage, The Coterie, American Heartland Theatre and Unicorn Theatre. This summer Scott will be appearing in Footloose at Starlight Theatre. www.timmyscott.com
J. Kent Barnhart has served as Executive Director of Quality Hill Productions since he founded the nonprofit theater in 1995. Throughout his career, he has worked as pianist, musical director, stage director and/or producer for more than 200 musicals, plays and cabaret revues.
