Steve Wilson - Page 6

The high quality of productions such as THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, which opened on Friday September 18, is why The Barn Players won the 2014 Broadway World Regional Award for Outstanding Theater of the Year in the Kansas City Region. Kip Simmons directs the musical based on the 1967 film of the same name, starring Julie Andrews. Richard Morris wrote the original story and screenplay for Universal Pictures. CHRYSANTHEMUM, which opened in London in 1956, was the basis for the story and screenplay.

Originally titled PETER & JERRY, AT HOME AT THE ZOO opened on Saturday September 12 at the H&R Block City Stage in Union Station. Edward Albee wrote AT HOME AT THE ZOO the latest production of the Kansas City Actors Theatre. Doug Weaver directs the powerful dramatic offering starring three of Kansas City's top performers.

Opening night for SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE! at the Olathe Civic Theatre on Friday September 11 was billed as a show full of energy, humor, music, dancing and some very valuable grammar lessons. Unfortunately, the show became more of a test of tolerance for low energy acting, singing that made audience members cringe, and choreography that was awkward and unimaginative at the best.

The comedy adventure begins as patrons enter the dining car on the lower level of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 1301 Wyandotte in Kansas City, Mo. OUR BROTHER'S CAPER takes to the rails to open the new season and new venues for The Mystery Train Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. After a short hiatus from the popular dinner shows, the new season began on Friday September 4. The hiatus lasted over the summer as the theatre company found new locations for the productions.

Monks and Lamas and puppetry, oh my! THE OLDEST BOY opens the 2015-2016 season for the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. Cynthia Levin directs the Unicorn production with puppet direction by Paul Mesner, which runs through September 20.

Gang violence erupts at the Arts Asylum in Kansas City and the audience erupts with a thunderous standing ovation for WEST SIDE STORY on opening night Saturday August 22. Michael Grayman and Andrew Parkhurst direct WEST SIDE STORY, which opens the fifth season of Spinning Tree Theatre, recreating the choreography of Jerome Robbins who directed and choreographed the entire original production.

OULDN'T IT BE LOVERLY, an original revue of the songs of Lerner and Loewe opened Saturday August 14 at the Musical Theater Heritage at Crown Center. What would not be loverly would be to miss this fantastic production, which runs through August 30. Sarah Crawford directs the production, which George Harter wrote, and hosts this tribute to the musicals of the dynamic song-writing duo.

West Side Story opens the fifth season of productions for Spinning Tree Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, running August 20 through September 5. The musical production will be staged at The Arts Asylum located at 1000 E. 9th Street in Kansas City. The Arts Asylum was established to provide assistance, studio, and gallery space for a variety of artists.

Equus, one of the most amazing dramatic productions in Kansas City this year captivated the sparse crowd on opening night, Friday July 31 at the Barn Players. Do not expect uproarious laughter or musical gaiety in Equus, but you can expect to see some of the finest dramatic acting to reach Kansas City stages.

The Home Grown Theatre Company production of Cabaret currently runs at the Kit Kat Club located above Morningside Antiques in the Westport entertainment district. John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote the music, lyrics, and Joe Masteroff the book. The musical is based on the book I Am a Camera by Christopher Isherwood.

Badder Auditions produced by Whim Productions is sidesplitting, roll on the floor good fun and is currently playing as part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival 2015. Showing at the City Stage located inside Union Station it is a sequel to Bad Auditions, which was a hit for the 2014 Kansas City Fringe Festival.

"It couldn't be better, unless it was longer . . ." was a comment heard from the audience at the hilarious opening of The Grand Illusion, a Kansas City Fringe Festival 2015 offering produced by Egads! Theatre Company. The Grand Illusion plays on the stage at the Arts Asylum located at 1000 E. 9th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. Spencer Brown with Associate Director Ashley Pike created, directed, and stars in the musical comedy cabaret.

Best Light a new play by Michelle T. Johnson is currently playing at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Teresa Leggard directs the production, which is part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival. Jose Faus provides the art used on stage as part of the production.

Sue Aside . . . a new dark comedy by Vicki Vodrey produced by Lot in Life Productions and the Phoenix KC Theatre currently plays at the Just Off Broadway Theatre for the Kansas City Fringe Festival. Warren Decker, Producing Director of Phoenix KC Theatre, directs the production, which runs through July 25.

All things ghoulish, macabre, ghastly, and a little bit frightening are alive and well living within the walls of the Addams Family home. The only place to see this outrageous musical comedy is at the New Theatre in Overland Park. Richard Carrothers directs The Addams Family a New Musical running through September 20 at the dinner theater. Daniel Doss provides musical direction and Katelin Zelon the choreography for the delightful yet maybe a little bizarre musical.

The Fringe Festival returns to Kansas City from July 16 through July 26. The festival will be held at 20 venues in the metropolitan area, including the Arts Asylum, Unicorn Theatre, and Union Station among others. Over 116 performing groups, many returning from the 2014 Fringe Festival, will produce the over 480 shows during the two week span. The Grand Hall of Union Station and the Blue Galley in Aquarius/Vulcan's Forge will host the festivals visual artists.

A delightful production of Shrek the Musical opened Saturday night July 11 at the White Theatre in the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kan. Tim Bair directs the production in conjunction with Theater in the Park. The musical plays through July 26 at the White Theatre and then moves to Theater in the Park from July 31 through August 8.

The Taste Test by Kansas City playwright Frank Higgins is currently playing at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City. The Taste Test is a Phoenix KC Theatre production in partnership with KC MeltingPot Theatre. Warren Deckert is director and designer for the play, which closes June 27.

"That song alone is worth the price of a ticket." That comment was made by an audience member after Daniel Beeman and the cast of Musical Monday performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the close of Act I for Musical Monday and Tuesday. Tim Scott produced and directs the tribute to Stephen Sondheim and the songs of the '70's for Musical Theater Heritage.

This toad will not give you warts, but he will make your side hurt from laughing so hard. A Year with Frog and Toad opened on Friday June 19 at the Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Based on the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel with music by Robert Reale, book and lyrics by his brother Willie Reale.