KC Studio editor Alice Thorson is gearing up for Christmas with another fresh batch of weekend calendar picks! Tonight, the Harriman-Jewell Series presents a Free Discovery Concert with WindSync wind quintet performing a sampler of holiday music. The Kansas City Symphony will be performing their holiday concert, with performances through Sunday, and the Kansas City Ballet‘s reimagined Nutcracker also continues at the Kauffman Center. The Unicorn Theatre continues its production of An Octoroon, with shows Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Saturday, Kantorei KC vocal ensemble performs a program of favorite Christmas songs at Westport Presbyterian. And Sunday night, the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College presents a night of KC jazz with David Basse and the Joe Cartwright Septet at Yardley Hall. For more ideas this weekend, visit Kansas City’s most comprehensive arts calendar at kcstudio.org/events.
WindSync, wind quintet [Free Discovery Concert]
December 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Free
Folly Theater
An emerging ensemble known for its engaging interpretations of classical music offers up a holiday treat that includes selections from The Nutcracker, folk tunes, and carols. The young and talented quintet includes flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn.
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
December 15 @ 7:00 pm
December 16 @ 8:00 pm
December 17 @ 1:00 pm & 8:00 pm
December 18 @ 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Kansas City’s grandest holiday concert returns for seven performances. The Kansas City Symphony and Symphony Chorus present stunning arrangements of cherished Christmas carols, songs of the season, exciting guest vocalists and musicians for a healthy dose of Christmas cheer. Plus, an early visit from Santa! At each performance, we’ll give away a dazzling jewelry prize from Helzberg Diamonds, no purchase necessary. Tickets start at $30 for adults and $15 for children.
THE NUTCRACKER
December 15 & 16 @ 7:30 pm
December 17 @ 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
December 18 @ 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
In 2015 Kansas City Ballet launched an All-New The Nutcracker and broke box office records and received critical acclaim! Make this your family holiday tradition and see it again for the first time! The classic, Victorian-era story by E.T.A. Hoffman featuring Clara, the Prince and Dr. Drosselmeier completely reimagined with exquisite costumes by Holly Hynes, grand sets by Alain Vaës and captivating choreography by Artistic Director Devon Carney. See your children’s wonder ignite and feel the glimmer once more as your childhood dreams return and inspire you to IMAGINE AGAIN. Run time is approximately two hours and 15 minutes with one 20-minute intermission.
An Octoroon
December 16 & 17 @ 8:00 pm
December 18 @ 3:00 pm
Unicorn Theatre
“An Octoroon” transforms a 19th century plantation melodrama with a beautiful maiden, Indians, and slaves into a theatrical event that is equally hilarious and moving, subversive and provocative. Part period satire, part meta-theatrical middle finger, it’s a shocking challenge to the racial pigeonholing of 1859—and of today.
Kantorei Christmas: Heaven’s Gate
December 17 @ 7:30 pm
Westport Presbyterian Church
Featuring Josquin’s Missa Ave Maris Stella and live performances of tracks from Kantorei’s new Resonus Classics release, “To Bethlehem.”
DAVID BASSE & JOE CARTWRIGHT SEPTET
December 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | $20
Polsky Theatre, JCCC
“More than a vocalist, David Basse’s voice has come to represent the jazz and blues of Kansas City.” — Kansas Public Radio
Part of Winterlude, a series of concerts featuring local and international jazz and world music performers in the Polsky Theatre at JCCC.
Always innovative, always fresh, the jazz of Kansas City is not a museum piece. The music continues to evolve with every new artist, every new performance and every new song.
In 1906, Euday Bowman’s wildly popular “12th Street Rag” set the stage for over 100 years of great music. When The George E. Lee Orchestra recorded “St. James Infirmary” in 1927, innovation and wild abandon led Kansas City’s musicians to the forefront of the art form. The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks Orchestra, in 1925 and The Count Basie Orchestra of 1936 used the radio airwaves to bring attention to Kansas City and its music.
On the NPR syndicated radio show “12th Street Jump,” Joe Cartwright and David Basse carry on that tradition today, sharing Kansas City and its music!
