Time for weekend calendar picks from KC Studio editor Alice Thorson! This weekend is a great time to see the Coterie and Jewish Community Center co-production of the Broadway hit musical Newsies, which our theater critic Robert Trussell describes as “ebullient” and a “singular experience.” Tonight, enjoy a free show at The Blue Room with the Matt Hopper Trio. Saturday afternoon, celebrate Christmas in July and decorate your own ceramic Santa at Belger Crane Yard Studios‘ annual summer art camp fundraiser. Saturday night, enjoy music from trumpeter and conductor of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Clint Ashlock at the Blue Room. Summerfest continues this weekend, with performances on Saturday at White Recital Hall and Sunday at St. Mary’s Episcopal. For more ideas this weekend, visit Kansas City’s most comprehensive arts calendar at kcstudio.org/events.
Disney’s Newsies
July 12 & 14, 2018 @ 7:30 pm
July 15, 2018 @ 2:00 pm
The White Theatre at the Jewish Community Campus
For the very first time, The Coterie and the White Theatre at The J join forces to create Kansas City’s first locally-produced production of the Broadway smash hit.
They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines. Inspired by the real-life ‘Newsboy Strike of 1899, Disney’s Newsies, is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged ‘newsies,’ who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. High-energy with non-stop thrills, the stage version introduces eight brand-new songs by the original team of Menken and Feldman while keeping many of the beloved songs from the film, including “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” “King of New York” and “Santa Fe.”
Matt Hopper Trio
July 12, 2018 @ 7:00 pm | Free
American Jazz Museum – The Blue Room
Matt Hopper is a jazz guitarist based in Kansas City. Hopper started playing guitar at 12 years old. At 17 he began studying jazz guitar under Danny Embrey. He studied jazz guitar with Rod Fleeman and classical guitar with Doug Neidt at The University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music 2001 – 2005. Hopper is now a mainstay of the Kansas City jazz scene. As the featured musician at Green Lady Lounge (rated amongst the top 10 jazz clubs in the United States) he plays there weekly with The Matt Hopper Trio, The Brett Jackson Quartet, and Boogaloo 7. His debut album, First Love, is currently being played nationally over 70 radio stations.
Christmas In July
July 14, 2018 @ 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm | $25
Belger Crane Yard Gallery
Join us for our annual Summer Art Camp fundraiser!
When the weather outside is frightfully hot, come join us for a little wintry fun at the Belger Crane Yard Studios on Saturday, July 14th! Bring a buddy and come beat the heat while glaze decorating a pre-made ceramic Santa Claus. Whether you paint it in traditional colors or get wild and abstract, we’ll take care of all the firing and you’ll be able to pick up it up later or pay a little extra to have it shipped home – no chimney required. We’ll have great music and delicious themed treats and snacks from local businesses to keep you going.
There will be two versions of the event: one family-friendly in the afternoon and one adults-only in the evening.
Ticket proceeds go toward scholarships for our Summer Art Camp!
Clint Ashlock
July 14, 2018 @ 7:30 pm | $10
American Jazz Museum – The Blue Room
Trumpeter/composer/bandleader/educator Clint Ashlock grew up in the Kansas City area. An in-demand musician across various genres, Clint is a dedicated and tireless contributor to the scene. Alongside his position as the Artistic Director and conductor of the esteemed Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, he has performed with such luminaries as Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Nicholas Payton, and Natalie Cole, as well as being a mainstay on the local Kansas City performing circuit, most notably with his own groups, the quintet Forward, his ‘other’ big band, New Jazz Order (releasing that group’s first CD in 2012, featuring such musicians as Hermon Mehari, Mark Lowrey, and Bobby Watson), and the singer/songwriter/bandleader Jessica Paige.
As a student of jazz, Ashlock reflects the lineage of his hard bop idols such as Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw, and his big band writing is heavily influenced by Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, and his teachers Paul McKee, Frank Mantooth, and Kerry Strayer. Ashlock was recently featured as a soloist at the First Jazz Education Festival in Shanghai, China, and as the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Sydney, Australia, in addition to performing locally.
SUMMERFEST 2018
July 14, 2018 @ 7:30 pm
White Recital Hall
July 15, 2018 @ 3:00 pm
St. Mary’s Episcopal
Join Summerfest as they explore “the art and soul of chamber music” in July, 2018.
Week two presents chamber music where composers can experiment and try new ideas, and our first composer does so by searching for new colors. Richard Lavenda’s Chiaroscuro features an unusual grouping of alto flute, bassoon, vibraphone, and bass. Eric Sammut’s Zapping Trio creates a jazz combo out of marimba, clarinet, and bass. Daniel Kellogg ends the week with Divinum Mysterium, a reimaging the Genesis creation narrative through the old hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
