Million Dollar Quartet
As the weather warms up, outdoor theater joins the roster of Kansas City stages. Check out these productions, ushering in (no pun intended) Summer in our City.
DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!
Now through May 21 | The Coterie
Whatever you do, don’t let the Pigeon star in his own musical! Too late — The Coterie in Crown Center presents this family musical comedy featuring an innovative mix of actors, puppets, songs and feathers and a script by Mo Willems, who wrote the best-selling book series. Tickets at www.thecoterie.org.
GREAT DUETS OF BROADWAY
Now through May 21 | Quality Hill Playhouse
KC favorites Becky Barta, Matt Leisy, Tim Noland and Alison Walla Phillips share the best duets from Broadway, accommodated by the ever-entertaining J. Kent Barnhart. Tickets at www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
Now through June 2 | New Theatre Restaurant
All the excitement, energy and thrills of the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll return again to Overland Park, as Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins give it all they got one snowy December eve. There’ll be a “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” for sure. Tickets at www.newtheatre.com.
PETER PAN AND WENDY
May 2 – 21 | Spencer Theatre
KC Rep winds up its season with a new take on the classic J.M. Barrie tale, directed by Rep Artistic Director, Stuart Carden. Bold, budding scientist Wendy Darling dreams of earning a Nobel Prize when — wouldn’t you know it — Peter Pan arrives at her bedroom window once again. Facing down fairies, mermaids and the dastardly Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily and the gang discover the power of standing up together for what’s right. Even better — there’s flying! Tickets to the show on the UMKC Campus at www.KCRep.org.
LES MISERABLES
May 2 – 7 | Music Hall downtown
Victor Hugo’s classic tale of faith and redemption, a Tony® Award-winning Best Musical, returns for a weeklong engagement. Tickets at www.broadwayinkc.com.
PINOCCHIO COMMEDIA
May 2 – 12 | City Stage in Union Station
Theatre for Young America revisits Carol Colloid’s beloved tale of a puppet that comes to life in this new family musical adaptation in the comic style of Italian Commedia Dell’Arte. Brightly colored costumes, hilarious slapstick antics and sing-along musical numbers enhance the timeless tale of a lonely puppet maker who carves a make-believe son out of wood. Tickets at www.tya.org.
TOOTSIE
May 19 – 21 | Starlight Theatre
Based on the hit Dustin Hoffman comedy, this laugh-out-loud love letter to the theatre tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime. A “joyful delight” praised the Washington Post for this hilarious new musical. Tickets at www.starlight.org.
LITTLE WOMEN
May 24 – June 11 | City Stage in Union Station
Adapted by award-winning playwright Kate Hamill, Jane Austen’s touching tale of life, love, struggle and hope touches all the emotions of the original novel, while adapting it for a 21st- century audience. Featuring KCAT stalwarts Chioma Anyanwu, Teisha Bankston, Hillary Clemens, Coleman Crenshaw, Karla Fennick, Phil Fiorini, Jerry Mañan, Carla Noack and Christina Schafer, this “Little Women” is “an ingenious compassion of Alcott’s novel that is by turns funny and painfully poignant” (The Wall Street Journal). Tickets at www.kcactors.org.
DISNEY’S ALADDIN
May 30 – June 4 | Music Hall downtown
The eye-popping Disney movie gets its own non-stop Broadway musical treatment, featuring a brilliant score by the gifted Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. It’s “a whole new world” of musical theater fun. Tickets a www.broadwayinkc.com.
GYPSY!
June 15 – July 9 | Music Theater
The tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success — while secretly yearning for her own — features a celebrated score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Starring Broadway favorite Star and TikTok sensation Tina Maddigan as the unforgettable Mama Rose. Tickets at www.musictheaterheritage.com.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
June 20 – 25 | Starlight Theatre
With lyrics and music by Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar recounts the extraordinary series of events surrounding the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. The legendary score includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane” and “Superstar.” Tickets at www.kcstarlight.com.
DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
June 27 – Aug. 6 | The Coterie
The world premiere of this adaptation of the beloved movie musical features Leslie Bricusse’s original songs from the film, including Academy Award-winner “Talk to the Animals.” The kids will love the story of an eccentric country physician who sets out to change the way animals are treated and understood in the world. Tickets at www.thecoterie.org.
