BroadwayWorld.com Kansas City Stories

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:03:21 PST

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this May 2026 edition, we're bringing you a fresh batch of standout reviews from regional stages across the country - from Brigadoon at Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles to The Phantom of the Opera at Seattle's Paramount Theatre and Pippin at Signature Theatre in DC.

Diane Paulus directs an immersive, David Bowie-inspired Life on Mars at American Repertory Theater, the producers of Japan's Gypsy revival walk back a planned title change, and we go behind the scenes with interviews spanning Adam Fields of the Beetlejuice national tour, The Muny's casting director Michael Baxter, Richard Kind on finally taking on Edna in Hairspray, and BWW's Kid Reporters chatting with the touring Von Trapp kids of The Sound of Music. Plus, get a first look at exciting new productions through performance videos and photos, including Anastasia at La Mirada Theatre, Dear Evan Hansen at Arden Theatre, Pippin at Signature Theatre, and the Manila cast of Jesus Christ Superstar - and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Joshua Wright | Boston

Diane Paulus will direct Life on Mars, an immersive theatrical production set to David Bowie's music, as the inaugural production at the Goel Center for Creativity & Performance in May.

GYPSY in Japan: Producers Walk Back Title Change Ahead of 2026 Revival

Joshua Wright | Japan

The Japanese revival of GYPSY will retain its original title when it returns to the stage in 2026, reversing an earlier decision to present the production under the name 'Rose.'

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Brock Mills | Jacksonville

For Adam Fields, returning to Jacksonville with the national tour of Beetlejuice the Musical isn’t just another stop, it’s a full-circle moment. The production will play in Jacksonville from May 12–17 at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

Interview: BWW’s 'Kid Reporters' Chat With THE SOUND OF MUSIC’s Touring Von Trapp Kids

Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles

BroadwayWorld Los Angeles' kid reporters talk with the young touring cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC to find out what it's like to be part of one of Broadway’s most iconic shows and what actually happens behind the curtain.

Interview: Chatting with The Muny's Casting Director Michael Baxter

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

Michael Baxter’s work will shine on The Muny stage during all 50 performances this summer. He led the efforts and had a hand in hiring every one of the 194 actors who will fill the principal and ensemble roles.

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

When The Muny opens their production of Hairspray on June 15, 2026, the legendary Richard Kind will don Edna Turnblad’s housecoat and step into her fuzzy house slippers. Kind, star of stage, screen and film, calls it bucket list moments to get to perform at The Muny and play Edna all at the same time.

Reviews

Review: BRIGADOON at Pasadena Playhouse

Andrew Child | Los Angeles

Brava to Alexandra Silber for capturing all the heart and humor of Lerner’s original book with her thoughtful new adaptation and brava to Katie Spelman for dreaming up a Brigadoon that is as ebullient and spirited as it is deeply human.

Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Paramount Theatre

Shelley Dean | Seattle

It’s almost unbelievable for me to admit that this was my first time seeing The Phantom of the Opera. Of course, I knew the iconic songs and had seen countless clips over the years, but experiencing the production live on stage for the first time was entirely different, haunting, and spine-chilling in the best way possible. From the chandelier drop to the monumental set pieces, the show truly lives up to its legendary reputation. The 2026 tour, directed by Harold Prince, serves as a revitalized version of the original production, featuring Maria Björnson’s iconic designs, musical staging, and choreography by Gillian Lynne. It is absolutely ravishing, and Seattle audiences are lining up hours early to witness the spectacle for themselves.

Review: PIPPIN at Signature Theatre

Aidan O'Connor | Washington, DC

Certain facets of the human condition are foundational to our very existence – change, connection, desire. One such particularly toxic universal truth is a constant need to be something more than we currently are. To search for happiness in external achievement rather than within ourselves, in our simple joys. Pippin at Signature Theatre breathes within that precise virulence, relatively orchestrated by a troupe of impeccably costumed and choreographed players. A feast for the eyes in all senses, Matthew Gardiner’s production surpasses even the highest of expectations.

Videos

Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'

Michael Major | Los Angeles

La Mirada Theatre has released new video footage of Lena Ceja rehearsing 'Journey to the Past' from their upcoming production of Anastasia. The production features Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role first played on Broadway by his brother Derek Klena.

Photos/Video: DEAR EVAN HANSEN At Arden Theatre

A.A. Cristi | Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company is now presenting DEAR EVAN HANSEN as the final production of its 2025/26 season, with performances continuing through July 5. New production photos and video have been released from the Philadelphia production, including footage of Evan A. Kaushesh performing “Waving Through a Window.”

Video: Watch 'Corner of the Sky' From Signature Theatre's PIPPIN

Michael Major | Washington, DC

Watch a video of Brayden Bambino performing 'Corner of the Sky' in Signature Theatre's production of Pippin. The in-the-round production is now running through July 26 with tickets available now.

Photos

Photos: Get a First Look at JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in Manila

Oliver Oliveros | Philippines

The 2017 Olivier Award winner for Best Musical Revival, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' has officially opened at The Theatre at Solaire.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra to Launch MILESTONES Signature Series 2026-2027

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:25:14 PST

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Artistic Director Clint Ashlock has announced the 2026-2027 Signature Series: Milestones, featuring five dynamic performances around town from the Gem Theater to the Folly Theater to Helzberg Hall of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Ashlock shared, “In the jazz world, Milestones carries multiple meanings. Not only do we look through the history of the music for anniversaries as touchstones to reflect upon and celebrate, we can look at how a singular artistic figure has the power to shape the way people think and feel for decades. Miles Davis was one of these figures, and his 100th birthday was a fantastic milestone to build this season around. Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's 24th season showcases a celebration of the Milestones that have helped shape music over the years. We are creating our signature, KC-swing and contemporary big band sound to pay homage to Miles & Coltrane's 100th birthdays, the 50th anniversary of Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life, the 60th and 70th anniversaries of Sinatra and Basie Live At The Sands and B.B. King's first album, Singin' The Blues, respectively. It has also been 80 years since Charlie Parker recorded with a young Miles Davis, and we are showcasing some of KC's great saxophonists alongside their young proteges at the Folly Theater. And at the heart of it, what's a bigger milestone than our yearly opportunity for your families to create their own memories at our beloved Charlie Brown Christmas. There is so much to celebrate with KCJO in 2026-27, and we can't wait to share it all with you!”

2026-2027 SIGNATURE SERIES: MILESTONES

SPOTLIGHT:

Charlie Parker FEATURING KC'S SAXOPHONE LEGENDS AND RISING STARS

August 29, 2026, at 7 p.m. | Stephen Metzler Hall, Folly Theater

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will roar, with Bobby Watson, Matt Otto, Stephen Martin, and area up-and-coming saxophone students, for a Kansas City-focused, big band reflection on the artistry of its native son and creator of bebop: Charlie Parker. Bird forever lives, and forever swings. In partnership with KC Jazz ALIVE.

MILESTONES:

THE MUSIC OF Miles Davis AND JOHN COLTRANE

November 7, 2026, at 7 p.m. | The Gem Theater

2026 is the centennial of these two titans' birthdays, and their greatest works will be showcased through our jazz orchestra and phenomenal soloists within. Kind Of Blue, A Love Supreme, The Birth Of The Cool, Blue Train and more are given our Kansas City treatment in an homage to two of the greatest jazz artists of all time. Gem Theater 7pm.

MILESTONES:

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

December 8, 2026, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. | Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Good grief! Nostalgia meets improvisation as KCJO presents a beloved tradition for the whole family. Vince Guaraldi's jazz opus to holiday joy is one of our favorite concerts of the season. This year, we invite students to an abbreviated, matinee show in addition to the evening show. Both shows will feature the multi-Downbeat Magazine award-winning vocal group, the KCKCC Standard Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Helzberg Hall, 10:30am and 7pm.

MILESTONES:

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE: A TRIBUTE TO STEVIE

March 26, 2027, at 7 p.m. | Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Stevie Wonder's landmark Songs in the Key of Life album was released in 1976, bringing the impassioned and profound social commentaries of his lyrics together with the infectious rhythms, melodies, and harmonies. With such musical gems as “Living For The City”, “Sir Duke” and “Isn't She Lovely,” it is arguably the pinnacle of popular music artistry and only celebrated more as the years go by. Featuring the vocalists Eboni Fondren, Paula Saunders, and SEYKO, KCJO reimagines Stevie's magnum opus, on its 50th anniversary, through the lens of the big band celebrating this great work for a jazz audience. Helzberg Hall, 7pm.

MILESTONES:

SINGIN' THE BLUES

April 17, 2027, at 7 p.m. | Stephen Metzler Hall, Folly Theater

70 years ago, blues legend B.B. King released his first album: Singin' The Blues, and American music changed forever. Kansas City has always been a blues hot spot, and KCJO is going to blend our swinging big band sound with blues artistry for a night you'll never forget. Join us as we feature guest artist, guitarist Brandon Hudspeth and friends for a one-of-a-kind collaboration. The blues is a vaccine to take the blues away, and you're going to leave this concert fully healed. Folly Theater, 7pm.

TICKET INFORMATION

Season subscription renewals are on sale NOW! Tickets will be available at kcjo.org and over the phone at (816) 225-4949. On sale dates are as follows:

Renewals and New subscriptions: June 8
Single tickets: June 29

IN MY JAZZ ERA

Outside of the mainstage Signature Series: Milestones concerts listed above, the In My Jazz Era, in partnership with Tom's Town, presents a series of smaller-format concerts designed to bring jazz into fresh, unexpected spaces and connect with new audiences. Presented throughout the 2026-27 KCJO season, these are creative, single-ticketed events that showcase the flexibility, creativity and relevance of Kansas City jazz. From reimagining artists like Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars through a jazz lens, to creating intimate live music experiences in venues like Tom's Town, In My Jazz Era serves as both an artistic outlet and an audience-expanding attraction, expanding KCJO's reach while reinforcing the organization's larger mission to maintain a thriving and evolving Kansas City jazz tradition.

June 26, 2026, KC JAZZ LEGENDS: From the swing of Bennie Moten to the soul of Bobby Watson, come experience the lineage of OUR TOWN. Over 100 years of artistry, and the Kansas City sound is still the engine of the jazz universe.
July 18, 2026, KC JAZZ LEGENDS: From the swing of Bennie Moten to the soul of Bobby Watson, come experience the lineage of OUR TOWN. Over 100 years of artistry, and the Kansas City sound is still the engine of the jazz universe.
September 2026, UPTOWN FUNK: Deconstructing the hits of Bruno Mars and fitting his endearing pop spectacle perfectly inside a jazz club. Come hear 'Uptown Funk' stripped down and re-imagined by the quintet.
October 31, 2026, HALLOWEEN SILENT FILM: “NOSFERATU (1922)”, Tom's Town Experience the original cinematic nightmare: Nosferatu (1922), the film that invented the visual language of vampire horror. KCJO Artistic Director Clint Ashlock scores the shadows, providing a jazz twist to Count Orlok's silent menace.
December 2026, HOLIDAY SPECIAL, Tom's Town: Celebrate the season with an evening of swinging holiday cheer as KCJO 5 brings your favorite festive tunes to life. Enjoy the sound of Kansas City jazz in the beautifully transformed Tinsel Town space at Tom's Town Distilling Co.
March 2027, Taylor Swift MEETS KC: Let KCJO 5 guide you through a jazz-driven celebration of Taylor Swift's catalog, featuring fully original arrangements that recast songs like August and Anti-Hero with new textures, phrasing, and Kansas City swing.
April 2027, AND ALL THAT JAZZ, Tom's Town: Enjoy an evening of Broadway favorites as KCJO 5 brings tunes from shows like Hamilton, Fiddler on the Roof, and more to life inside the beautiful setting of Tom's Town Distilling Co.

Stay tuned to our socials and email blasts for updates!

ABOUT KANSAS CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Mission: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is dedicated to promoting the rich culture of Kansas City through performance and education. We strive to be a leading voice, ensuring that Kansas City's influential jazz tradition continues to thrive and evolve.

Vision: To be recognized worldwide as a premiere jazz ensemble, honoring Kansas City's iconic musical heritage while shepherding it into the future. Founded in 2003, the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is one of the nation's preeminent big bands, performing classic and original repertoire in a variety of settings. With the beautiful Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts as a home base, KCJO's concert season puts forth engaging themed shows ranging from Duke Ellington's early works to brand-new reimaginations of pop music, “celebrating the past, and embracing the future.” In addition to the season, the orchestra plays a variety of concerts, dances, and festivals, engaging audiences from Kansas City, Missouri to Hannover, Germany, and beyond.

KCJO engages with the community through its educational programs which work to train the next generation of talented Kansas City musicians. Through masterclasses with visiting guest artists, in-school programs, and outreach events for all ages such as Listening Parties and Jazz Cafés KCJO is extremely active in facilitating the cultural preservation of Jazz music.

Starlight to Mark 75 Years of Broadway at Kansas City Public Library Missouri Valley Sundays

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:20:38 PST

Starlight Theatre and the Kansas City Public Library will celebrate the historic venue's 75th anniversary with a special Missouri Valley Sundays program on Sunday, June 7, at the Central Library.

The event will feature Starlight President and CEO Lindsey Rood-Clifford, who will explore the theatre's remarkable journey since opening in 1950. During the conversation, Rood-Clifford will discuss Starlight's transformation from a municipally driven summer theatre into one of the nation's leading performing arts institutions, while highlighting memorable productions, celebrated performers, and the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the organization thriving.

The discussion will also examine Starlight's role in the Kansas City community through its educational initiatives, arts access programs, school partnerships, scholarships, and other outreach efforts designed to connect audiences of all ages with live performance.

To commemorate the occasion, archival materials donated to the Kansas City Public Library's Missouri Valley Special Collections in 2023 will be displayed during the program, offering attendees a closer look at the theatre's rich history.

Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, Starlight Theatre is the largest and oldest continually operating performing arts organization in Kansas City. The nearly 8,000-seat venue is the second-largest outdoor producing theatre in the United States and presents Broadway productions, concerts, and community programming throughout the year.

The celebration comes as Starlight prepares to welcome Disney's Newsies September 8–13 as part of its 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series.

The event will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Central Library, located at 14 W. 10th Street in Kansas City.

Starlight to Mark 75 Years of Broadway at Kansas City Public Library Missouri Valley Sundays

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:20:38 PST

Starlight Theatre and the Kansas City Public Library will celebrate the historic venue's 75th anniversary with a special Missouri Valley Sundays program on Sunday, June 7, at the Central Library.

The celebration comes as Starlight prepares to welcome Disney's Newsies September 8–13 as part of its 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series.

The event will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Central Library, located at 14 W. 10th Street in Kansas City.

Bob Dylan Live at Starlight to Feature Post-Show Fireworks Display

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:11:06 PST

Starlight Theatre will welcome legendary artist Bob Dylan to its historic stage Saturday, July 4. Immediately following the concert, the theatre invites patrons to stay to enjoy a complimentary fireworks display commemorating the holiday.

Bob Dylan returns to the road this summer for a highly anticipated run of dates featuring two acclaimed Americana acts: Lucinda Williams and the John Doe Folk Trio. With a catalog that has shaped modern music and a reputation for keeping audiences guessing night after night, Dylan continues to prove why he remains one of America's most compelling live artists. For fans of folk, roots music, and masterful songwriting, this tour offers a rare chance to experience a remarkable lineup of legendary and influential performers on one stage.

“Few artists have influenced American music and culture as profoundly as Bob Dylan, making his July 4 performance at Starlight an especially meaningful way to celebrate our nation's birthday,” Lindsey Rood-Clifford, Starlight's President + C.E.O., said. “As the evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the Kansas City sky, we'll celebrate not only Independence Day, but also the shared joy, connection, and lasting memories that live music creates.”

Tickets to Bob Dylan are available now at kcstarlight.com, by calling (816) 363-7827, or by visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo., 64132.

About Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is one of our culture's most influential and groundbreaking artists. In the decades since he first burst into the public's consciousness via New York City's Greenwich Village folk music scene in the early 1960s, Bob Dylan has sold more than 125 million records around the world and amassed a singular body of work that includes some of the greatest and most popular songs the world has ever known.

How to Purchase Tickets

Tickets to Bob Dylan at Starlight are on sale now and available online at kcstarlight.com, by calling (816) 363-7827, or by visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City.

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:05 PST

Ever watched the weekly Broadway grosses roll in and thought you could pick the winners? Now you can put it to the test. BroadwayWorld has launched the Producer Fantasy Game, a free, season-long competition that lets theatre fans build a roster of Broadway shows and earn points based on how those productions actually perform at the box office. The draft window is open now.

How It Works

The setup is simple. During the draft window, you pick any six Broadway productions that opened this season. Drafting is non-exclusive, so there is no need to race a rival for a hot title. Any number of players can roster the same show.

From there, your shows go to work for you. Every week, each production on your roster earns fantasy points based on its reported box office grosses and capacity percentages. When Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle nominations and wins are announced, your shows bank bonus points on top of that. And each week you can answer our Fantasy Forecast prediction questions for up to five bonus points per correct call.

Weekly Scoring

Each week, a show earns one base point for every $50,000 it grosses, so a $1 million week is worth 20 base points. On top of that, shows can earn bonuses: up to five points for filling seats (based on how close to full capacity the house ran), six points for grossing $2 million or more (or three points for grossing between $1 million and $2 million), and eight points if its gross jumped at least 15 percent from the week before. A show loses four points if its gross dropped at least 15 percent. If a show goes dark and reports no gross for a week, it scores zero for that week with no penalty.

The Fantasy Forecast

The Producer Fantasy Game is really two games in one. The first is the box office game: drafting shows and earning points from their weekly grosses and awards. The second is the Fantasy Forecast, a weekly set of prediction questions about what's happening on Broadway, where each correct answer is worth up to five points. You can play one or both.

We track them separately so you can shine at either. Your Producer score covers the box office game, your Forecast score covers your prediction results, and your Combined score adds the two together for the overall championship ranking. The leaderboard lets you toggle between Overall, Producers, and Forecasters, so a sharp predictor can top the Forecasters board even during a rough season for their roster, and a roster powerhouse can lead the Producers board without answering a single question.

Managing Your Roster

Your lineup stays at six shows all season, and you have plenty of room to maneuver. You get one free drop every week, three additional season drops to use anytime before the trade deadline, and free replacements whenever a show on your roster closes. New productions open throughout the season and become available the moment they start reporting grosses, so it pays to keep a transaction in your pocket for that buzzy new opening.

Join the Game

The Producer Fantasy Game is free for all BroadwayWorld users, and you can join any time the draft window is open. Draft within the first two weeks of the season and your roster is scored from opening week, so the earlier you get in, the more weeks you bank. Build your roster, make your predictions, and start climbing the leaderboard today.

Starlight Theatre to Offer 75 Tickets for $75 to Mark 75th Anniversary

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:08:05 PST

Starlight Theatre is celebrating 75 years of Broadway in 2026. To commemorate this incredible milestone, the historic theatre has released 75 tickets for $75 tickets (select seats in Box or Plaza - a savings of $20 per ticket!) to each 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series show. But hurry! These tickets are available for - you guessed it - only 75 hours.

To secure $75 tickets, use the code 75TICKETS at checkout. All tickets are on sale now and available online, by calling (816) 363-7827, or by visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo., 64132.

"For 75 years, Broadway shows at Starlight have brought generations of audiences together through unforgettable live theatre experiences under the stars," said Lindsey Rood-Clifford, President + C.E.O. of Starlight. "As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the artists, audiences, volunteers, staff, and supporters who have made catching a summer musical at Starlight a cherished Kansas City tradition. We look forward to welcoming audiences throughout the summer as we celebrate this remarkable legacy and continue creating the shared experiences that make live theatre so meaningful."

How to Purchase Tickets:

To secure $75 tickets, use the code 75TICKETS at checkout. Tickets to all shows are on sale now and available online at kcstarlight.com, by calling (816) 363-7827, or by visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City Mo., 64132. Season ticket packages are still available and include the best price on tickets, plus exclusive benefits like free premium parking, a “weatherproof” season, dining discounts, and much more. For more information, including show content advisories, please visit kcstarlight.com.

Discount prices for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting Starlight's group sales department at 816-997-1137 or groups@kcstarlight.com. Please note that kcstarlight.com is the only official ticket source for all shows in the 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series. If you purchase tickets from another website or ticket broker, we cannot guarantee those tickets are legitimate.

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:57:07 PST

“A Drag Queen Christmas” will return for its 12th year, launching a 39-city national tour this November - December. The 2026 edition is hosted by returning fan favorite and theatre star Nina West, and features an all-new merry lineup of drag superstars from the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race franchise.

Artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. (local time) with the code “TWELVE,” and general on sale begins Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. (local time) at dragfans.com.

This year's cast includes:

Myki Meeks, Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Nini Coco, Runner-up, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Darlene Mitchell, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Juicy Love Dion, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Discord Addams, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Crystal Methyd, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026) & Drag Race Season 12 (2020)
Silky Ganache, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026), Drag Race All Stars Season 6 (2021), Drag Race Season 11 (2019)

“A Drag Queen Christmas” is the world's premiere holiday drag showcase and a sensational theatrical experience that delivers high camp, over-the-top lip-sync performances, side-splitting comedy, elaborate costumes, Broadway-style staging, and a whole lot of heart—something we all seek during the chaos of the holiday season. With plenty of spectacular surprises in store, the show offers audiences a chance to see drag queens at the top of their game perform showstopping numbers of epic holiday proportions on revered theater stages across America. Each year, “A Drag Queen Christmas” provides an annual tradition for folks from all walks of life to come together and connect, find community, and celebrate the season with joy and laughter.

This dazzling, 18+ holiday extravaganza runs two hours and offers fans the chance to add-on a VIP Meet & Greet Experience—including early access to the venue, photos with the queens on stage, autographs, and exclusive tour merchandise.

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

November 11 - Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre)

November 12 - Rochester, NY (Kodak Center)

November 13 - Rutland, VT (Paramount Theatre)

November 14 - Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium)

November 15 - Boston, MA (Emerson Colonial Theatre)

November 17 - Red Bank, NJ (Count Basie Center for the Arts)

November 18 - Morristown, NJ (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

November 19 - Washington, DC (Warner Theatre)

November 20 - Durham, NC (Durham Performing Arts Center)

November 21 - Wilmington, NC (Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College)

November 22 - Philadelphia, PA (Fillmore)

November 24 - Pittsburgh, PA (Byham Theater)

November 25 - Columbus, OH (Palace Theatre)

November 27 - Chicago, IL (Riviera Theatre)

November 28 - Appleton, WI (Fox Cities Performing Arts Center)

November 29 - Omaha, NE (Orpheum Theater)

November 30 - Oklahoma City, OK (The Criterion)

December 1 - Des Moines, IA (Hoyt Sherman Place)

December 2 - Kansas City, MO (Uptown Theater)

December 4 - Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 5 - Salt Lake City, UT (Kingsbury Hall)

December 7 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 9 - Sacramento, CA (Channel 24)

December 10 - San Francisco, CA (Golden Gate Theatre)

December 11 - Stockton, CA (Bob Hope Theatre)

December 12 - Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)

December 13 - Santa Rosa, CA (Luther Burbank Center)

December 15 - Mesa, AZ (Mesa Arts Center)

December 16 - Tucson, AZ (Fox Tucson Theatre)

December 17 - El Paso, TX (Plaza Theatre)

December 19 - Austin, TX (ACL Live at The Moody Theater)

December 20 - Dallas, TX (Winspear Opera House)

December 21 - Wichita, KS (Orpheum Theatre)

December 22 - St.Louis, MO (The Factory)

December 23 - Knoxville, TN (Tennessee Theatre)

December 26 - Tampa Bay, FL (Straz Center for the Performing Arts)

December 27 - Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)

December 28 - West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center for the Performing Arts)

December 29 - Jacksonville, FL (Florida Theatre)

MRS. CHRISTIE to Make Kansas City Premiere at KCAT

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:11:10 PST

Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) will kick off its 2026/2027 Season 22 with the Kansas City premiere of Heidi Armbruster's unique Agatha Christie mystery, Mrs. Christie, a co-production with the UMKC Conservatory. This show features a fantastic cast of local actors, including KCAT Ensemble Member Hillary Clemens, Dri Hernaez, KCAT Ensemble Member Logan Black, Peggy Friesen, KCAT Ensemble Member Tyler Lindquist, Eric Palmquist, Erdin Schultz-Bever, and Lauren K. Smith; directed by KCAT Ensemble Member Matt Schwader. Starting June 17 at the Spencer Theatre at the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center at UMKC.

An Agatha Christie theatre mystery, revolving around the Queen of Mystery herself! From Heidi Armbruster, Mrs. Christie takes a look at Agatha's mysterious, still unsolved, eleven-day disappearance in 1926, and 100 years later, a devoted superfan named Lucy, who may be the one to finally crack the case. Told in parallel stories that weave the past with the present, both Lucy and Agatha go on journeys of self-discovery, all with the added thrill of a good old-fashioned mystery. “Mrs. Christie is a captivating, thought-provoking, humorous, and tear-inducing experience.” (Los Altos Town Crier)

Mrs. Christie stars KCAT Ensemble Member Hillary Clemens as Agatha Christie, the famed novelist herself. Hillary returns to KCAT's stage having previously appeared in Uncle Vanya, Dial M for Murder, Little Women, and many more. Dri Hernaez stars as Lucy, an Agatha Christie superfan turned modern-day detective. Dri recently made her KCAT debut in Everybody in March 2026.

KCAT Ensemble Member Logan Black plays Archie, Agatha's husband. Logan returns to KCAT's stage having recently appeared in Deathtrap, Trouble in Mind, Spider's Web, and more. Peggy Friesen returns to KCAT's stage in the role of Jane, a Miss Marple-like spinster and fellow Agatha fan. Peggy has been seen on KCAT's stage in Grand Horizons, Morning's at Seven, King Lear, and more. KCAT Ensemble Member Tyler Lindquist makes his KCAT mainstage debut as William/Collins, one a Christie scholar, the other Agatha's publisher. Tyler has been seen on stages around Kansas City, and was recently seen on stage in KCAT's Staged Reading Series presented at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Eric Palmquist appears as Monsieur, the world's greatest detective. Eric has previously appeared on KCAT's stage in The Lehman Trilogy and Spider's Web. Erdin Schultz-Bever makes her KCAT mainstage debut as Charlotte/Mary, Agatha's secretary. Rounding out the cast, Lauren K. Smith maker her KCAT stage debut as Nancy/Chloe, Archie's mistress.

Mrs. Christie is directed by KCAT Ensemble Member Matt Schwader, who has recently directed Uncle Vanya and The Pests, as well as many appearances on KCAT's stage.

The creative team for Mrs. Christie includes Bethany Elliot as scenic designer (KCAT debut); Daniella Toscano as Costume Designer (KCAT's Deathtrap and Skeleton Crew); lighting design by Joshua Taylor (KCAT's The Roommate); sound design by Thomas Newby (KCAT stage debut, many episodes of Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre); and properties design by Ta'ja Snipes (KCAT debut).

Production stage management from KCAT Ensemble Member Ari Hernandez, assistant stage management from Oliver Conmy, and production assistance and wardrobe supervision from Hanah Glimpse. Technical direction from KCAT Ensemble Member Tyler Lindquist, and dialect coaching from Lizzie King-Hall.

Kitty Corum, Jazmin Havens, and Henry Morgan serve as understudies for this production.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Ozark Actors Theatre To Be Directed By Tony-Nominee Taylor Louderman

Fri, 29 May 2026 22:48:15 PST

Ozark Actors Theatre (OAT) to present The Addams Family in their 2026 professional main stage season. This classic comic turned tv show, turned film franchise, turned Broadway musical will be directed by Tony Nominee and Missouri native, Taylor Louderman.

The small regional theatre is one of only a handful of professional AEA affiliated theatres in rural Missouri, making this an incredible opportunity for the theatre located in Rolla, MO. Louderman said, “I'm so excited to return to Ozark Actors Theatre for my directorial debut, after making my stage debut here in 2001 as Annie.” To have her caliber of talent involved with OAT is quite meaningful to the immediate artistic community in mid Missouri.

This production will feature a colorful set designed by OAT newcomer, Adam Crinson and stunning lighting design by Michael Sullivan (OAT's The Sound of Music, CLUE, Spamalot, and Once Upon a Mattress), with a complex and beautiful score written by Andrew Lippa and book by Rick Elice (who also wrote last season's Peter and the Starcatcher) this material will soar under Louderman with the music direction of Dr. Jenna Lee Moore and choreography by OAT alum Avery Lux.

Though this promises to be a dazzling piece of theatre it will also be a gratifying piece of art carrying a deeper message. Louderman added, “The Addams Family is the perfect homecoming; a show that celebrates the idea that ‘normal' is an illusion, and that love and family transcend expectations, appearances, and change.”

The Addams Family is directed by OAT Alumni Taylor Louderman, sponsored by Phelps County Bank, and runs from June 11th to June 28th, 2026. Tickets may be purchased by phone (573-364-9523) or online at ozarkactorstheatre.org.

MORE ABOUT OZARK ACTORS THEATRE

Ozark Actors Theatre (OAT) is a hidden jewel in the rolling hills of the Ozarks. OAT is one of four professional theatres in out state Missouri. Located in Rolla, OAT is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 with the desire of to bring quality live professional theatre to the Ozarks.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Ozark Actors Theatre To Be Directed By Tony-Nominee Taylor Louderman

Fri, 29 May 2026 22:48:15 PST

MORE ABOUT OZARK ACTORS THEATRE

HADESTOWN to Open Starlight's 75th Broadway Season

Thu, 28 May 2026 19:54:34 PST

Starlight Theatre will open its 75th Broadway season with Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Hadestown will play June 9 -14 at the historic outdoor theatre as part of the 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series.

Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. This acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and original director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always.

Hadestown intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell's beguiling melodies and Chavkin's poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, and singers, Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.

"Hadestown is a story of love and sacrifice, but it is also a story about resilience, trust, and the courage it takes to keep choosing hope, especially when the road ahead is uncertain," Lindsey Rood-Clifford, President + C.E.O. of Starlight, said. "At Starlight, we believe shared experiences can do more than entertain us. They can move us, challenge us, connect us, and remind us that we are not walking through this world alone. Hadestown does all of that, and it does it with music that stays with you long after the final curtain."

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

The acclaimed new musical is by celebrated singer-songwriter and Tony Award winner Anaïs Mitchell and developed with original director and Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin. Hadestown marks the first time in over a decade that a woman has been the solo author of a musical: writing the music, lyrics, and book, and is the fourth time in Broadway history a woman has accomplished this creative feat.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:

Hadestown electrified audiences with its 2016 world premiere at New York Theatre Workshop, which is the longest-running show in that celebrated theater's 40-year history. The production then received its Canadian premiere at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre in 2017 and then a 2018 sold-out engagement at London's National Theatre. Hadestown was developed with funding from the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center and was further developed by The Ground Floor at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Hadestown was co-conceived by Ben t. Matchstick.

The Grammy winning Hadestown Original Broadway Cast Recording is now available at Hadestown.com/music. The album is produced by David Lai, Sickafoose, and Mitchell on Sing It Again Records.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

Tickets to all shows, including Hadestown, are on sale now and available online at kcstarlight.com, by calling (816) 363-7827, or by visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City Mo., 64132. Season ticket packages are still available and include the best price on tickets, plus exclusive benefits like free premium parking, a “weatherproof” season, dining discounts, and much more. For more information, including show content advisories, please visit kcstarlight.com.

HADESTOWN to Open Starlight's 75th Broadway Season

Thu, 28 May 2026 19:54:34 PST

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:

The Grammy winning Hadestown Original Broadway Cast Recording is now available at Hadestown.com/music. The album is produced by David Lai, Sickafoose, and Mitchell on Sing It Again Records.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:59:39 PST

As Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates 35 years as one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time, Senbla and SEGA today announced Sonic Live In Concert (www.sonicliveinconcert.com). This new concert experience brings the music and moments of the beloved video games to the stage.

Featuring iconic moments and music from the very first game in 1991 through today, the production will debut in the U.S. at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on September 26, 2026, before making its European premiere at London's Eventim Apollo on September 30. The U.S. tour will visit more than 30 cities nationwide, and a UK tour will follow in February 2027. More European dates will be announced at a later time. Tickets will go on sale May 29, 2026, with pre-sale tickets going on sale on May 28, 2026.

As part of a global rollout celebrating the franchise's milestone anniversary, Sonic Live In Concert features the most recognizable music from the Sonic universe, performed by a live ensemble alongside rock musicians, vocalists, and electronic elements. The setlist includes fan-favorite tracks and an incredible array of music from the very first game through to today accompanied by synchronized HD footage of iconic levels, moments and boss battles from the franchise. Audiences can expect musical Easter eggs woven into the arrangements, adding an extra layer of discovery that brings Sonic's world vividly to life on stage.

The concert also highlights the creative legacy behind Sonic's music from legendary composers Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani, whose work has helped define Sonic's sound across generations.

"Sonic has some of the most distinct and celebrated music in gaming," says Ollie Rosenblatt, CEO of Senbla. "We wanted to create a live show that stays true to what the fans love about Sonic's music, from the electronic and melodic themes to high-energy rock."

“Music has always been a core part of Sonic's identity, shaping how fans experience this world across generations," said Ivo Gerscovich, Chief Business & Brand Officer at SEGA of America, Inc. "With this concert, we're looking forward to celebrating that legacy in a live setting; bringing together the energy, emotion, and creativity of Sonic's music in a way that both longtime fans and new audiences can enjoy together.”

Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a global entertainment icon spanning video games, film, television, and consumer products. With renewed momentum driven by recent film releases, new game titles, and a global brand campaign tied to the 35th anniversary, the franchise continues to reach new generations of fans worldwide.

The performance schedule includes:

September 20, 2026 – Spokane, Washington – First Interstate Center for the Arts
September 22, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (preview)
September 23, 2026 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium (preview)
September 25, 2026 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theatre (preview)
September 26, 2026 – Hollywood, CA – Dolby Theatre
September 27, 2026 – Riverside, CA – Fox Performing Arts Center
September 29, 2026 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater
September 30, 2026 – London, U.K. – London Eventim Apollo
October 1, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World Theatre
October 2, 2026 – Fresno, CA – Saroyan Theatre
October 3, 2026 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
October 4, 2026 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
October 6, 2026 – Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
October 8, 2026 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
October 9, 2026 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
October 10, 2026 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
October 11, 2026 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
October 13, 2026 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theatre
October 15, 2026 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater
October 16, 2026 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
October 17, 2026 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theatre
October 18, 2026 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
October 19, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 20, 2026 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
October 22, 2026 – Brandon, MS – City Hall Live
October 23, 2026 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
October 24, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
October 25, 2026 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts
October 27, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
October 28, 2026 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
October 29, 2026 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
October 30, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater
October 31, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Au Rene Theater
November 1, 2026 – Orlando, FL – Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
February 17, 2027 – Glasgow, UK – Royal Concert Hall
February 18, 2027 – Edinburgh, UK – Usher Hall
February 19, 2027 – Manchester, UK – Bridgewater Hall
February 20, 2027 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall

For more information, tour dates, and tickets, visit www.sonicliveinconcert.com.

SOUND MANDALA to Return to Unicorn Theatre With Three New Immersive Audio Programs

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:27:58 PST

Sound Mandala, the immersive audio experience returns to the Unicorn Theatre's Jerome Stage June 10 through August 1, 2026, with three original programs that push the boundaries of what sound can do to a room and to the people inside it.

Sound Mandala's summer run coincides with Kansas City's moment on the world stage as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city and overlaps with the KC Fringe Festival, positioning it as a must-see cultural destination for international visitors and locals alike.

At the heart of the experience: a custom-built array of 100 independent loudspeakers surrounding audiences on all sides — above them, beside them, moving through them. Programs are complex mixes of recording done by our artists, using their original tracks.

"This is an experience that simply cannot be duplicated anywhere else," said creator and founder Tom Mardikes. "To experience it, you have to be there."

Tickets go on sale May 1 at www.soundmandala.org/experience.

THE 2026 PROGRAMS

Signal&Soul | June 10 – August 1

The flagship variety program, and Sound Mandala at its most kaleidoscopic. Roughly 50 minutes, 10 pieces, zero filler. Signal&Soul collides original music, theatrical performance, beatboxing, spoken word, and unexpected reinvention into a single, propulsive arc. Featured works include The Missionary by acclaimed KC artist Krizz Kaliko; an original composition by Austen Schober; a video game collage from Jacob Souders and Paul Vedros; a Chekhov vignette performed by Vanessa Severo; beatboxer Luke "Skippy" Harbur of musicbyskippy; MU by audio artist Rev. Dwight Frizzell; a new piece by Jon Robertson; and a Sound Mandala reimagining of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" that has to be heard to be believed.

Indie Spotlight from Challenger Artists | June 20 – August 1

Five bands. Two songs each. Original multi-track recordings mixed into an immersive system that will change how you hear them. Challenger Artists has assembled a remarkable roster for this approximately 60-minute set conceived specifically for the Sound Mandala environment. Featuring: Mini Trees, the indie-alt pop project of LA-based songwriter Lexi Vega, whose 2025 headline tour sold out venues coast to coast; Brooklyn duo TOLEDO; Valley Boy, whose collaborators include Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Troye Sivan; Midwest four-piece Post Sex Nachos, whose track "SOS" climbed to the SiriusXM Alt Nation Top 6; and Chicago indie act Capital Soiree, featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds editorial playlists.

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari | June 27 – August 1

One of cinema's most haunting masterpieces gets the sonic treatment it has always deserved. The 1920 German Expressionist landmark — widely credited with introducing the twist ending to film — returns with a brand-new live score by Kansas City composer Thomas Newby and psychedelic chamber pop innovators The Green Zoo. Approximately 62 minutes. Presented through all 100 loudspeakers. The line between screen and sensation dissolves completely.

TICKETS

All programs are $30 per person.

Tickets on sale May 1 at www.soundmandala.org/experience.

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday with multiple showtimes daily. The Unicorn Theatre is steps from the Westport stop on the KC Streetcar line.

SOUND MANDALA to Return to Unicorn Theatre With Three New Immersive Audio Programs

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:27:58 PST

"This is an experience that simply cannot be duplicated anywhere else," said creator and founder Tom Mardikes. "To experience it, you have to be there."

Tickets go on sale May 1 at www.soundmandala.org/experience.

THE 2026 PROGRAMS

Signal&Soul | June 10 – August 1

Indie Spotlight from Challenger Artists | June 20 – August 1

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari | June 27 – August 1

TICKETS

All programs are $30 per person.

Tickets on sale May 1 at www.soundmandala.org/experience.

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday with multiple showtimes daily. The Unicorn Theatre is steps from the Westport stop on the KC Streetcar line.

Anna Lapwood, Samara Joy, and Pink Martini Will Come to the Kauffman Center

Wed, 27 May 2026 05:38:14 PST

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has announced three new additions to the 2026-2027 Kauffman Center Presents series lineup: organist and classical music ambassador Anna Lapwood on Nov. 6, 2026, multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy on March 2, 2027, and the “little orchestra” Pink Martini on March 10, 2027. All three shows will be presented in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center.

“From Anna Lapwood’s incredible virtuosity and accessibility on the organ, to Samara Joy’s dynamic and evocative jazz song stylings, to the unstoppable engine of joy that is a Pink Martini concert, we are very proud of these diverse additions to the Kauffman Center Presents lineup. These three shows represent dynamic cornerstones of a great season and are not to be missed!” Kauffman Center President and CEO Paul Schofer said.

Anna Lapwood

Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, 7 p.m. Helzberg Hall

Anna Lapwood is one of the UK’s most dynamic ambassadors for classical music. As the official organist of the Royal Albert Hall, she has broken down genre boundaries and introduced a huge new audience to the organ. She has reached millions via her devoted social media following and helped revitalise repertoire for the instrument through the dedicated commissioning and performing of new works. She is also an established conductor and broadcaster, and a fierce advocate for the advancement of female voices within her industry. The scope of her influence is demonstrated by her appointment as MBE in 2024’s New Year’s Honours list and her inclusion in the 2025 Sunday Times Young Power List.

Lapwood is a graduate of Oxford University, where she was the first female Organ Scholar in Magdalen College’s 560-year history. In 2016, she also became the Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge–the youngest ever person to be appointed in that role at an Oxbridge college. Her time at Pembroke saw her found a much-lauded girls’ choir, commission works from leading choral composers and spearhead the release of five records.

A keen collaborator, Lapwood is an Artist in Association with the BBC Singers and Featured Artist with the Hallé. Her relationship with Royal Albert Hall has resulted in some of her most memorable pop collaborations including AURORA, Bonobo, Florence + the Machine and Raye, as well as actor Benedict Cumberbatch for Letters Live. Her close relationship with the Hall has also led to the launch of a new annual Organ Scholar Programme, just one of several initiatives demonstrating Lapwood’s commitment to musical outreach and the fostering of young talent. Her relentless encouragement of and support for female organists in particular has made her a role model within that community, neatly captured in the hashtag #playlikeagirl. Now with a three- million-strong social media following, she has helped bring the organ, and contemporary ideas of a what an organist can be, to a whole new audience.

Samara Joy

Tuesday, March 2, 2026, 7 p.m. Helzberg Hall

A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical—her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed and arranged his own astounding original work—she didn’t delve into the jazz tradition until college at SUNY Purchase. During her studies there she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which introduced her to the larger jazz scene as a rising star to watch. She was acclaimed, by audiences and critics alike, as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heiress of the sound, technique and charisma that defined her jazz heroines—including Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae.

Joy released her self-titled debut on the Whirlwind label in 2021, followed a year later by Linger Awhile, her breakout Verve debut. The album earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to a headline-making win for Best New Artist. A deluxe edition of the album was released, as well as the EP A Joyful Holiday, which took home Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance in 2025. Her latest Verve album, Portrait, which Joy co-produced with the veteran trumpeter/bandleader and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch, showcases the intimate, soulful chemistry she’s developed with her touring band, earning her an NAACP Image Award in 2025 for Outstanding Jazz Album and the GRAMMY for Best Vocal Jazz Album in 2026. Portrait also spotlights her burgeoning gifts as a lyricist, in ingenious arrangements that meld her thoughtful words with music by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor Barry Harris.

Pink Martini

Wednesday, March 10, 2026, 7 p.m. Helzberg Hall

If the United Nations had a house band in 1962… Now in its 31st year, the unstoppable engine of joy that is Pink Martini continues to bring founder Thomas Lauderdale’s mission of multi-cultural connection and inclusion to concert stages on six continents. Presenting a mélange of catchy old-fashioned pop, global color, foot-tapping big band sound and Hollywood glamour, Oregon’s most famous “little orchestra” performs music intended to appeal to everyone, regardless of age or background.

Performing with a number of iconic voices including the band’s first lead singer China Forbes, the inimitable Storm Large, NPR’s dashing Ari Shapiro, the soulful Edna Vazquez, America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod, fan-favorite Timothy Nishimoto, and international singing sensation Meow Meow, the “little orchestra” has played on legendary concert stages around the world, including the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall in London, and Bercy Arena in Paris.

Pink Martini has released over a dozen albums on its in-house label Heinz Records, including the newest EP, Bella ciao, featuring the anti-fascist title song sung by Storm Large.

LIKE SIX O'CLOCK Will Make World Premiere at KC Melting Pot Theatre

Tue, 26 May 2026 05:38:02 PST

KC Melting Pot Theatre will bring its 11th season to a compelling close with Like Six O'Clock, a new work by Lewis Morrow. When a nearby factory shooting shatters the quiet rhythm of a small tire shop, the shooter is still at large and the people left waiting may know more than they want to admit. As a close-knit group of friends and coworkers wrestle with the unsettling possibility that they may each share a personal connection to the suspect, old loyalties, buried biases, and difficult truths begin to surface.

Audiences members will be challenged to consider how we navigate the fragile space between accountability and justification. Raw, timely, and deeply human, Like Six O'Clock is an unflinching examination of the choices we make, the stories we tell ourselves to survive them, and what it means to reckon with the people we love in the aftermath of unthinkable acts.

Performances will run June 11-26.

KCMPT is offering limited complimentary tickets for your media outlet to our performance on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 7:30pm. Please reserve tickets for your employees at will-call by emailing their names and media outlet to Melonnie Walker at info@kcmeltingpot.com. Reservations must be made by COB on Monday, June 8, 2026. Cast members will be available for interviews immediately following the performance, and cameras are allowed in the lobby for interviews.

LIKE SIX O'CLOCK Will Make World Premiere at KC Melting Pot Theatre

Tue, 26 May 2026 05:38:02 PST

Performances will run June 11-26.

Starlight Celebrates Area High School Students with 2026 Blue Star Awards Ceremony

Fri, 22 May 2026 05:34:35 PST

Starlight has announced the 2025-26 Blue Star Awards winners in a red-carpet ceremony at Starlight Theatre Thursday, May 21. Thirty seven winners took home the top prizes in 32 categories, and $10,000 in monetary prizes were awarded to deserving high school students. The ceremony also featured 10 onstage performances.

Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards®, Starlight’s annual Blue Star Awards recognize achievement and excellence in musical theatre among Kansas City area high school students. In the 2025-26 Blue Star Awards season, 66 schools and 5,100 metro students participated, making it one of the largest and most respected high school musical awards programs in the nation.

Full List of WInners:

Ceremony Ensemble

Central - Macormick Carlson
Liberty North - Lainey Beaty
Park Hill - Chamberlain Webster
St. Teresa's Academy - Lainey McManamy

Community Impact Award

De Soto

Creative Contribution Award

Olathe West - Lydia Treff for Choreography

Technical Contribution Award

Olathe West - Teddy Garcia for Publicity and Marketing

Dream Production Award

Liberty - Hannah Mees for Direction

Rising Star Scholarship–Sophomore

Pembroke Hill - Cecilia Miller

Rising Star Scholarship–Junior

Blue Valley Southwest - Aliyah Lawrence

Rising Star Scholarship–Senior

Blue Springs - Cailey Petersen

Student Reporter

Fort Osage - Malia Arnold
Lee's Summit North - Jake Johnson

Jimmy Awards–Best Actor

Megan Sheehan
Park Hill South High School
Jesus Christ Superstar

Jimmy Awards–Best Actress

Charlotte Sweet
Platte County High School
Disney's Newsies

Orchestra–Tier I

Lawrence Free State - The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)

Orchestra–Tier II

Olathe Northwest - Mean Girls High School Version

Scenic Design–Tier I

Excelsior Springs - Disney's The Little Mermaid

Scenic Design–Tier II

Central - Footloose

Lighting Design–Tier I

Lawrence Free State - The Addams Family Musical (School Edition)

Lighting Design–Tier II

Liberty - The Phantom of the Opera

Costume Design–Tier I

Belton - Disney's Descendants: The Musical

Costume Design–Tier II

Olathe East - Between the Lines

Hair & Makeup Design–Tier I

Platte County - Disney's Newsies

Hair & Makeup Design–Tier II

Park Hill South - Jesus Christ Superstar

Technical Crew–Tier I

Raymore-Peculiar - Pippin - Costume Crew

Technical Crew–Tier II

Liberty - The Phantom of the Opera - Set Crew

Performer in a Lead Role–Tier I

Ruskin - The Prince of Egypt - Desmond Walker III as Moses

Performer in a Lead Role–Tier II

Liberty - The Phantom of the Opera - Olivia Dolton as Christine Daaé

Performer in a Supporting Role–Tier I

Raytown - Hadestown: Teen Edition - Cameron Ritchie as Hermes

Performer in a Supporting Role–Tier II

Liberty North - Mean Girls High School Version - Jillian Downing as Janis Sarkisian

Performer in a Featured Role–Tier I

Lawrence Free State - The Addams Family Musical (School Edition) - Harper York as Grandma

Performer in a Featured Role–Tier II

Blue Valley Northwest - Grease - Ryan Peterson as Doody

Ensemble–Tier I

Platte County - Disney's Newsies

Ensemble–Tier II

Blue Springs South - Anything Goes

Overall Production–Tier I

Platte County - Disney's Newsies

Overall Production–Tier II

Liberty - The Phantom of the Opera

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Announces Retirement of General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler Kemper

Wed, 20 May 2026 19:46:58 PST

Anthony Durone, president of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Board of Trustees, has announced that Deborah Sandler Kemper, the company's General Director and Chief Executive Officer since 2012, will be retiring effective June 30, 2027, after 15 years of leadership.

Sandler Kemper shared, “These past 14 years have been an extraordinary journey. It has been a rare gift to serve in the company's leadership and witness its growth, evolution, and expanding influence on the Kansas City arts landscape. Helping to shape and mature this outstanding cultural treasure and increasing Lyric Opera's visibility among our peers across North America has been a true privilege and an unforgettable adventure. I am deeply grateful to an extremely talented staff, artists, board members, donors, and audiences whose passion and support made this journey possible.”

Kemper Sandler joined Lyric Opera of Kansas City on July 1, 2012 as its General Director and CEO. She is the first woman to serve as general director and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, founded in 1958, and the third general director in the company's history. During her tenure, Sandler Kemper has been responsible for a period of tremendous growth and a remarkable increase in the company's artistic standards. The General Director oversees both the artistic vision, including all aspects of production planning, as well as the strategic direction and management of the company.

Durone stated, “Deb's legacy is without question. She is an inspiring leader, always in pursuit of artistic excellence and connecting that excellence with our current and prospective audiences. Due to her leadership and passion, she leaves a dynamic, financially sound, and community-minded opera company for future generations to enjoy.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The tenure under Sandler Kemper will leave a tremendous and sustaining legacy. These accomplishments, while each laudable individually, collectively were a natural outgrowth of her tireless dedication to Lyric Opera's vision: To make Lyric Opera of Kansas City indispensable to the public through transformational opera experiences and broad service that capture the hearts and minds of our communities. Her contributions to artistic excellence, company growth, and community connections are remarkable.

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

Under her leadership, the Lyric has widely expanded its offerings, presented groundbreaking new work, developed several co-productions with many notable opera companies, and brought to Kansas City important works by American composers, and much, much more.

She has commissioned five operas and stage works, many of which have achieved record-breaking attendance and national critical acclaim. New productions include …When there are nine (2020), honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, Amahl and the Night Visitors (2022), Capulets and the Montagues (2013), Cavalleria Rusticana (2023), Pagliacci (2023), and La Cenerentola (2025). This tradition will continue with Aida in the 2026-2027 season.

Furthermore, five new co-productions, including Eugene Onegin (2017), Magic Flute (2013), Marriage of Figaro (2016), Of Mice and Men (2026), and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (2022), have enabled Lyric Opera to not only develop new collaborations with other companies but also expand and elevate its reputation and further strengthen the art form.

Performances of several new works, new to Kansas City, include As One (2018), Everest (2017), Silent Night (2015), Dead Man Walking (2017), and The Brightness of Light (2024). These productions clearly demonstrate the deep local talent for artistry and craftsmanship, expanding the canon.

Lyric Opera's production of The Shining (2023) by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell was recorded at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and released by classical music label Pentatone in spring 2024, garnering Lyric Opera's first-ever GRAMMY nomination, with Sandler Kemper serving as executive producer. With that formal recognition, Sandler Kemper was invited to join the Recording Academy in 2025.

She is also responsible for creating the Explorations Series, which featured innovative programming that combined classical and popular music genres, commissioned new chamber opera works, and attracted diverse audiences while transforming the state-of-the-art production building in the East Crossroads neighborhood into an intimate black-box performance space. Productions include Elvis Costello's The Juliet Letters (2016), High Fidelity Opera (2018), As One (2019), Penelope (2019), ...When There Are Nine (2020), and Baseball: A Musical Love Letter (2021).

Under her guidance, Lyric Opera reenvisioned its learning/education department and embarked on a series of commissions of operas for families and children, including Sketchbook for Ollie (2022), The Haberdasher Prince (2024), and Maya and the Magic Ring (2025). And in 2026, Sandler Kemper, with artist-producer Alyson Cambridge, produced Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life (2026), an exploration of the famed poet and Missouri native. All these productions toured schools, community centers, houses of worship, and other places where families and children gather, reaching tens of thousands of individuals.

Her commitment to elevating the artistic values of the productions through higher-caliber casting, with attention to both major and smaller roles, and to bringing world-renowned creative artists, many of whom are women, into the industry has resulted in a record number of Lyric Opera artist debuts. No fewer than five female composers for new works, six female conductors, and a remarkable 23 female directors and more than 30 female designers and choreographers have made their Lyric Opera debuts. Highly respected creative female artists such as renowned director Francesca Zambello, director Shawna Lucey, director Allison Moritz, conductor Jane Glover, director Keturah Stickann, and director E. Loren Meeker have elevated the profile of Lyric Opera of Kansas City, resulting in improved production values, raising the professional quality and diversity of the casting and creative artists.

She served as the driving force behind the creation of OPERA America's Women's Opera Network, as its founding chair, and continues to mentor and convene women across the industry to expand their leadership opportunities.

COMPANY GROWTH

In the past 14 years under her tenure, the company saw record-breaking growth, not only financially but also in deepening artistic and production experiences. Lyric Opera has improved and created new revenue streams, including remaining open while creating new and engaging works during the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, Sandler Kemper's leadership kept Lyric Opera on a steady path, while creating new digital programming, such as Opera in Eight Parts (2020), as well as new live productions such as the new puppet version of Amahl and the Night Visitors (2020) and the world premiere of Baseball: A Musical Love Letter (2021) featuring the beloved local folk musician, Danny Cox.

Most recently, the company also successfully returned to four mainstage productions at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, an unheard-of feat during a time of industry contraction.

DEEPEING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Under Sandler Kemper's leadership, the Lyric Opera began a Resident Artists program in 2016 to support and develop up-and-coming opera talent, who in turn perform widely in the community. These artists perform in mainstage productions, as well as at community events, and in family productions, such as Amahl and the Night Visitors, which was performed with puppeteers, High Fidelity Opera, emulating radio operas and radio sound effects, and The Haberdasher Prince, one of the three new operas created by the Lyric Opera for all-ages audiences in touring productions to local schools and libraries.

Asking the question, “Who will be in our audiences in 2050?', Sandler Kemper had a vision for a new company commitment to the future of the arts in Kansas City and expanded the core programs of the company, creating the Learning Department's new education and community engagement offerings, which emphasize teaching empathy, social-emotional learning, and artistic literacy for all ages. The world premieres and community tours of new works such as Maya and the Magic Ring and Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life utilized a place-based strategy, removing barriers to accessibility. Lyric Opera partners with community organizations—such as houses of worship, community centers, libraries, and schools—throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to bring these works to their spaces free of charge. Through this programming, many audience members encounter opera for the first time.

In addition to the four mainstage productions, she strengthened the education and community engagement experiences around each production. Each carefully crafted for the community, programs such as Opera Plus, Community Conversations, Opera Book Club, and Opera Dives Deep, offer an opportunity to connect both personally and meaningfully to these works of art and, through this process, to forge connections to our humanity and the humanity of others.

Julia Irene Dennie – Kauffman, chairman, president & chief executive officer of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation and former board member of Lyric Opera, shared, “We are immensely grateful for Deborah's visionary leadership, which has been truly transformative for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and has earned respect across the entire opera industry. She successfully navigated the most challenging of times over the past six years, creating vital new revenue streams and significantly expanding the Lyric's educational and outreach programs. As the first woman to lead the Lyric, her profound impact and lasting legacy will continue to benefit our community for years to come, and she will be deeply missed.”

According to Durone, the Board of Trustees has formed a committee to conduct a national search for its new general director.

ABOUT DEBORAH SANDLER KEMPER

Deborah Sandler Kemper became General Director and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2012. Named one of the top 30 music professionals by Musical America in 2022, she is recognized throughout the opera industry for her strong commitment to artistic excellence, company growth, and fostering deeper community connections.

Before joining Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Sandler Kemper served as General Director of Kentucky Opera, where she earned acclaim for productions of exceptional artistic quality. Under her leadership, the company implemented a strategic plan that expanded its audience, strengthened financial stability, and broadened its educational and outreach initiatives. She established a young artist training program and developed innovative educational offerings that introduced opera to young audiences through puppetry. Known for assembling well-balanced casts and recognizing emerging talent, Sandler Kemper was among the first to cast Joyce DiDonato, Anthony Roth Costanza, and Eric Owens, among others, early in their careers.

Sandler Kemper began her career as General Manager of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and later became General Director of Opera Festival of New Jersey, where she oversaw both artistic and administrative operations. In New Jersey, she was recognized for elevating the company's artistic standards, expanding its capacity, and cultivating community awareness through innovative artistic initiatives and dynamic education programs. During her tenure, the company's budget tripled, reflecting her effective leadership and visionary programming.

A tireless advocate for the advancement of women in opera, Sandler Kemper helped catalyze the first field-wide discussion on women's leadership in opera, hosted by OPERA America in 2015 in Washington, D.C. She went on to serve as the founding chair of OPERA America's Women's Opera Network, continuing to mentor and convene women across the industry to expand their leadership opportunities.

Sandler Kemper was inducted into the Recording Academy in 2025 and served as Executive Producer for Lyric Opera's landmark, GRAMMY-nominated recording of The Shining, released on the Pentatone label in 2024.

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sandler Kemper earned a bachelor's degree in music from Temple University and a Master of Arts in Musicology from New York University, where she also completed her doctoral coursework. She has pursued additional studies at the Mandel Center for Nonprofits at Case Western Reserve University and at the Fundraising School at Indiana University.

ABOUT LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY

Established in 1958, Lyric Opera of Kansas City is one of the world's premier regional opera companies and brings high-quality live operatic performances to the Kansas City region. Renowned for its dedication to excellence, the GRAMMY-nominated Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents a diverse repertoire, featuring original-language productions from the traditional opera canon alongside contemporary and American operas. Lyric Opera is committed to lifelong learning through robust education, family, and community engagement programming. Through innovative initiatives and commissions, these programs deepen humanistic connections, artistic literacy, and social-emotional learning. Lyric Opera of Kansas City remains an integral part of the cultural fabric of Kansas City and the surrounding region.

For Tickets: kcopera.org or (816) 471-7344

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Announces Retirement of General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler Kemper

Wed, 20 May 2026 19:46:58 PST

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

COMPANY GROWTH

Most recently, the company also successfully returned to four mainstage productions at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, an unheard-of feat during a time of industry contraction.

DEEPEING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

According to Durone, the Board of Trustees has formed a committee to conduct a national search for its new general director.

ABOUT DEBORAH SANDLER KEMPER

ABOUT LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY

For Tickets: kcopera.org or (816) 471-7344

BWW Q&A: Lacey Connell Talks SHREK The Musical at Theatre in the Park

Tue, 19 May 2026 16:36:29 PST

Theatre in the Park continues its 2026 outdoor season with SHREK THE MUSICAL, running May 22 through May 30. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film and the beloved storybook, the show follows a swamp-dwelling ogre, a wisecracking donkey, and a feisty princess on an unlikely adventure that proves what makes us different can also make us strong.

BroadwayWorld spoke with director Lacey Connell about bringing the production to life. Connell is a Kansas City–based performer, director, and arts administrator who serves as the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, where she curates and leads performing arts classes and camps in music, theatre, and dance. She also helps lead TIP Academy both administratively and on creative teams, working to create meaningful theatrical experiences for hundreds of young performers each year. Connell directs and performs throughout the Kansas City metro area, returns annually as Musical Director at Indian Woods Middle School, and serves on boards and committees including the KC Metro Educators Alliance and the MTC/JCC Education Advisory Committee. She was recently honored with a Governor's Arts Award in recognition of her impact on arts education and community engagement.

SHREK THE MUSICAL runs May 22–30 at Theatre in the Park. Performances begin at 8:00pm, with the box office opening at 6:00pm and gates opening at 6:30pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10.80 for seniors, and $7 for youth ages 4–10; children 3 and under are free (prices before taxes and fees). The production is rated PG. Tickets are available at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center Box Office or online at www.theatreinthepark.org. The 2026 Theatre in the Park season is generously sponsored by AdventHealth and One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning.

TIP is the place Where Dreams are Born. How does directing this production help your dreams come true?

As a director, I've always wanted to create spaces where theatre magic can happen in a fun, positive, collaborative way. Getting to bring Shrek to life with this cast has been really special, and it's exactly the kind of joyful storytelling experience I've always dreamed of creating.

What do you want audience members to know prior to seeing SHREK?

Get ready to LAUGH and be blown away by this cast's talent. They've worked incredibly hard, and it's been such a joy getting to direct them. I can't wait for audiences to see all the humor and heart they bring to the stage.

What themes exist within this story that you connect with?

One of my favorite lyrics in the show is, "What makes us special makes us strong." I honestly don't know if there's a better message for the world right now. Shrek does such a beautiful job reminding us that the things that make us different are often our greatest strengths.

What else should we know about SHREK?

It's all your favorite parts of the movie and musical theatre smashed together in the best way. You'll love the nods to the original film, but the show also brings so many fun surprises!

If you were an Ogre, what would be your favorite part?

Being GREEN, obviously! Green is my favorite color, so honestly, what could be better than getting to wear your favorite color all day every day?

THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour Adds 26 Cities to 2026-27 Route

Tue, 19 May 2026 08:13:15 PST

The North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK hasannounced engagements for the 2026-27 season, adding 26 cites to the previously announced route, including stops in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Houston. The tour began performances on September 6, 2025, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, and has welcomed over 500,000 patrons to date.

Read the reviews for the touring production of The Notebook.

Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. Based on the book that has sold millions of copies worldwide and a film that is one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all-time, the musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK played Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre from March 2024 to December 2024 following a critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2022.

THE NOTEBOOK features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (writer and producer on NBC's “This Is Us,” The Cake). The production is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz), with choreography by Katie Spelman (Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

The creative team for the tour includes scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon. The production's music supervisor is Carmel Dean, who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy, and the music director is Tina Faye. Casting by The Telsey Office, Patrick Goodwin, CSA.

The production was recognized with three 2024 Tony Award nominations (Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical), Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical, two Distinguished Performance Awards and the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.

2026-2027 Tour Dates:

Detroit, MI — Fisher Theatre
September 22 – October 4, 2026

Dayton, OH — Schuster Center
October 6 – 11, 2026

Grand Rapids, MI — DeVos Performance Hall
October 13 – 18, 2026

East Lansing, MI — Wharton Center
October 27 – November 1, 2026

Richmond, VA — Altria Theater
November 3 – 8, 2026

Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center
November 10 – 15, 2026

Schenectady, NY — Proctors
December 1 – 6, 2026

Boston, MA — Emerson Colonial Theatre
December 8 – 20, 2026

Oklahoma City, OK — Civic Center Music Hall
December 29, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Houston, TX — Hobby Center
January 5 – 10, 2027

Dallas, TX — Winspear Opera House
January 12 – 24, 2027

New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre
January 26 – 31, 2027

Hershey, PA — Hershey Theatre
February 3 – 7, 2027

Providence, RI — PPAC
February 9 – 14, 2027

Rochester, NY — Auditorium Theatre
February 16 – 21, 2027

Fayetteville, AR — Walton Arts Center
February 24 – 28, 2027

Huntsville, AL — Von Braun Center
March 2 – 7, 2027

Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Broward Center
March 9 – 14, 2027

Ft. Myers, FL — Barbara B. Mann Hall
March 16 – 21, 2027

Naples, FL — Artis—Naples
March 23 – 28, 2027

North Charleston, SC — North Charleston PAC
March 30 – April 4, 2027

Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall
April 6 – 11, 2027

Atlanta, GA — Fox Theatre
April 13 – 18, 2027

Tucson, AZ — Centennial Hall
April 27 – May 2, 2027

San Jose, CA — Center for the Performing Arts
May 4 – 9, 2027

Sacramento, CA — SAFE Credit Union PAC
May 11 – 16, 2027

Interview: Marilu Henner of CACTUS FLOWER at New Theater & Restaurant

Sun, 17 May 2026 11:55:51 PST

Marilu Henner on Memory, Cactus Flower, and her Life

Marilu Henner is currently starring as Stephanie Dickinson in Cactus Flower at The New Theatre & Restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas. Best known for her work on Taxi and for her Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) - Henner remains one of the most dynamic and wide-ranging performers working today.

We spoke over lunch during her Kansas City run, where the conversation ranged from the origins of Grease to her health philosophy, her family, and what it means to remember nearly everything.

Kansas City and Cactus Flower

Q: Hi Marilu and Welcome to Kansas City. I’m going to assume this is your first extended visit to Kansas City. What has surprised you most?
Marilu Henner: The audiences. They’re incredible — especially the matinees. We do two matinees a week, and they’re wild in the best way. People are so engaged, and that energy really feeds the show. You really feel like you’re in a conversation with them at every performance which is exactly what you want in theater.

And the New Theater facility itself! Richard Carrothers and Dennis Hennessey have created something very special. As an actor, I can share how sensitive they are in their treatment of visiting working actors, how they treat their entire staff, and the respect they show for their audiences.

I have to say, Kansas City is just a great town. I haven’t had the chance to see as much of it as I’d like because we’re working so much, but I really hope I get to come back.

Q: What has the audience response been like to Cactus Flower?
Henner: It’s been great. I think we’re past the point where people would get offended by the material. Now they just laugh. The humor comes from the characters, and if you let it play honestly, it really works.

It’s such a well-constructed play. You don’t have to modernize it. If you let the timing and the relationships do the work, it lands. People recognize the absurdity of some of the attitudes, and that’s part of the fun.

It becomes layered humor—you’re laughing at the characters and, also, at the era.

Q: What has your experience been working with this cast?
Henner: I love them. I especially love playing opposite John Rensenhouse as Dr. Julian Winston — He’s one of my favorite co-stars I’ve ever had. We have great chemistry, and that makes everything easier and more fun on stage.

Early Career and Grease

Q: You’re a Chicago native. Tell me about early Marilu.
Henner: I grew up in a house that was full of activity. We had a dancing school in our garage with 200 students between the ages of 2 and 80, including the nuns from the Catholic school next door who came over for stretch classes.

My Mother also ran a beauty shop in our kitchen. She had about 25 women from the neighborhood who came in for cuts, color and perms. Our refrigerator was in the basement, and in its place was a blue hair-drying chair.

My uncle lived upstairs with ten cats, two dogs, two birds, a skunk, 150 fish and his boyfriend Charles. Uncle taught art at the Catholic grammar school next door and was the neighborhood astrologist and had a cat hospital on our roof. Our house became the cultural center of the neighborhood. There was always music, dancing, and art. People were always coming and going. There was just constant activity.

Q: You were part of the original Chicago production of Grease. What do you remember about that?
Henner: Growing up in a dancing school, I got very involved with community theater in Chicago, and one of the guys I met doing a play when I was 15 called me two years later and said he’d written a show about the kids he went to high school with and would I be part of it. At the first rehearsal there were two stacks of papers a foot high each. One was scenes – the Book Report scene, the Polio Shot scene, the Lunchroom scene, the Pajama Party scene, etc. And the other stack was songs – 37 songs in the first act alone! We just cut, cut, cut and shaped it into something that worked so well that a New York producer, Ken Waissman, saw it and wanted it!

Q: You turned down going to New York with Grease. Why?
Henner: I didn’t think it would be a hit! There had been another Chicago show that went to New York the year before and didn’t work, and I thought Grease was too Chicago. Obviously… I was wrong. (laughs)

Hyperthymesia and Memory

Q: Many people know you have an exceptional memory. It is called Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). Describe what it is like to remember almost everything from your life.
Henner: If you give me a date, I’ll tell you the day of the week and what I was doing on that day. I can access it. I remember conversations, events, context—what was going on around me. It’s just there.

Marilu Henner as Stephanie
in Cactus Flower
Photo by Mike Savage

Q: When did you first realize your memory was different?
Henner: When I was about six. People started noticing it. It’s always been my normal.

Q: Do you think memory shapes how you experience life overall?

Henner: Your memory is your story. Everything you’ve been through is on your emotional hard drive and makes you behave the way you do. So, yes … your memory and the way you process your memories shapes every aspect of your life.

Q: Has your memory changed over time?
Henner: If anything, it’s gotten sharper. People ask me about dates every day—at airports, on the street — so I’m constantly using it.

Family and Personal Life

Q: Tell me about your family.
Henner: I’m such a mom. That’s the first thing I am.

My boys are doing great—my oldest, Nick, is a Sundance award-winning director (Theater Camp). And my younger son, Joey, is not only an international Bridge player, but he’s also won two Emmys for his work on the NBC Olympics. I’m very proud of them.

Q: What brings you the most joy outside of performing?
Henner: My family, absolutely. And learning. I’m always working on something, always curious.

Q: I understand you’re in the middle of a big move.
Henner: Yes. I’ve had a big house in Los Angeles for years, but now I’m selling it to get two places—one in L.A. and one in New York. It just makes sense for how my husband and I live and work.

Health and Philosophy

Q: Health has been a major focus in your life and writing. Where did that begin?
Henner: After my parents both died in their 50s, I knew I couldn’t let their deaths be in vain, so I became obsessed with learning everything I could about health. I went to doctors and nutritionists and read everything I could. I even took Human Anatomy classes at UCLA. I put together a protocol that worked for me, started writing books about my health journey, and I’ve never looked back.

It became even more personal when my new boyfriend (now husband) was diagnosed with two primary cancers the first few months of our dating.

Q: What approach did you take?
Henner: He said right away, “I’m not losing my organs.” So we explored everything—nutrition, detox, immunotherapy, lifestyle changes. No chemo. No radiation. And today, he’s been in remission for over 20 years.

Q: That’s remarkable.
Henner: It changed everything for us. I realized I had to understand what works for my body and my life. That’s what my books are about.

Work, Writing, and What’s Next

Q: You’ve written ten books and are working on another. What drives that?
Henner: I’ve always loved writing. I kept diaries growing up, and I always knew I would write books. It’s just another way of expressing ideas and helping people.

Documentary Work and Future Projects

Q: You’re also working on a documentary. Can you tell me about it?
Henner: It’s about memory—the humanity of memory, not just mine. I’ve interviewed a lot of people—actors, doctors, friends—about what memory means in their lives.

It’s just another way to explore ideas and share what I’ve learned.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge with a project like that?
Henner: Capturing something that’s universal, not just specific to me.

Q: Will it be widely available?
Henner: That’s the plan. We’ll see how it’s distributed, but it’s a very exciting project.

Industry Perspective

Q: What do you enjoy most about being on stage at this point in your life?
Henner: Being present with an audience. There’s nothing like live theater. Every night is different.

Q: Is retirement even a consideration for you?
Henner: No. (laughs) Why would I stop? I don’t understand retirement.

Closing

Q: What’s next for you after this run?
Henner: Everything! Writing, performing, traveling. I like being busy. That’s how I live.

Marilu Henner in Cactus Flower continues at New Theatre through June 28th. Tickets are available on the New Theatre website or by calling 913.649.7469 (SHOW)

Headline photo by Elizabeth Carney.

Authentic Berlin Wall Segments Arrive in Kansas City for North American Premiere of THE BERLIN WALL. A WORLD DIVIDED.

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:03:45 PST

Six original segments of the Berlin Wall have arrived at Union Station Kansas City, a Smithsonian Affiliate, offering a powerful and tangible connection to one of the most defining symbols of the 20th century. The segments were transported to Kansas City as part of the international touring exhibition, The Berlin Wall. A World Divided ., presented by Chase, which will make its North American premiere at Union Station beginning May 29, 2026.

Originally from Germany and preserved by the Berlin Wall Foundation, the segments most recently resided in Barcelona before making their journey to the United States. Traveling approximately 4,000 nautical miles, the installation underscores both the physical and symbolic distance these artifacts have traversed—from instruments of division to monuments of unity and historical reflection.

“These segments are more than concrete—they are witnesses to history,” said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station. “Their presence in Kansas City provides a unique opportunity for our community to reflect on the enduring lessons of freedom, resilience, and the consequences of division.”

Each segment stands 3.6 meters (approximately 12 feet) tall, weighs 2.5 tons (approximately 5,512 pounds), and measures nearly 2 meters (approximately 6.5 ft) wide at its base. Constructed of reinforced concrete, the pieces reflect the stark contrasts that once defined a divided city: the painted side faced West Berlin, expressing freedom and individuality, while the unpainted side faced East Berlin, symbolizing restriction and control.

“Chase is proud to sponsor The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. at Union Station because it brings history to life for our community,” said Christian Brenes, Kansas City Market Director for Chase. “Supporting cultural experiences like this is part of how we invest in Kansas City: by helping families, students, and visitors engage in dialogue, understand the past, and feel inspired to build a more connected future together.”

For nearly three decades, from 1961 to 1989, the Berlin Wall divided the German metropolis. Built by East Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West, it separated families and friends, reshaped lives, and became a defining symbol of the Cold War.

At a global level, the very Wall became the most powerful symbol of a divided world in the second half of the 20th century. It represented the bitter confrontation between Liberal Democracy and Communism, the struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, that came to be known as the Cold War.

Divided into four galleries— A World Divided, Before the Wall, Division and Living with the Wall, and Global Transformation and the End of the Cold War—the exhibition offers an immersive, chronological experience. A complimentary audio guide, available in English, Spanish, and French, provides additional global context and historical insight.

The collection includes not only the Berlin Wall segments, but also a wide range of artifacts tracing its evolution—from early barbed wire barriers to advanced deterrents such as “Stalin's Lawn,” a spiked ground structure. Visitors will encounter personal stories through exchanged notes, escape tools including tunnel fragments and forged documents, a child's nuclear-identification badge, and banners from the peaceful revolutions of the 1980s. The exhibition also situates Berlin's division within a broader global context, including artifacts tied to events such as the Hiroshima bombing.

All tickets to The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. are now on sale at UnionStation.org, and Station officials encourage the public to reserve their ticket ahead of the opening. For more information including exhibition hours, visit unionstation.org.

*Military tickets available for purchase in person at the Box Office only. Must present valid Military ID.

Authentic Berlin Wall Segments Arrive in Kansas City for North American Premiere of THE BERLIN WALL. A WORLD DIVIDED.

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:03:45 PST

*Military tickets available for purchase in person at the Box Office only. Must present valid Military ID.

Starlight's PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Series Will Return This Fall

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:51:08 PST

Starlight Theatre has announced the return of its Performances for Young Audiences Series, featuring international, award-winning theater companies to inspire and engage elementary aged youth. This season, three beloved children's books come to life on the Starlight Indoors stage.

Developed for young people ages 5-9 and designed for children and adults to enjoy together, this series provides young audiences the inspirational and developmental benefits of live theatre to community students and families. School matinee performances and weekend family shows ensure young people and their families have opportunities to experience the magic of Starlight.

“We believe a young person's first experience with live theatre can spark a lifelong sense of curiosity, creativity, and connection,” Alex Jones, Starlight's Chief Programming Officer, said. “This season's Performances for Young Audiences Series brings internationally acclaimed storytelling to Kansas City through productions that are imaginative, joyful, and heartfelt. It's a privilege to create opportunities for students and families to experience the wonder of live performance together at Starlight.”

PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES AT STARLIGHT

In chronological order, the Performances for Young Audiences Series at Starlight features:

The Snowy Day and Other Stories

October 24, 2026

The Invisible Boy

February 20, 2027

The Gruffalo

April 3, 2027

All performances are held inside the climate-controlled Cohen Community Stage House.

The Snowy Day and Other Stories celebrates the magic and boundless possibilities of the first snowfall! Follow Peter and his friends as they romp and play, starting snowball fights and making snow angels in this imaginative musical play about the childhood joys and challenges of growing up. Using innovative shadow puppetry, Keats' treasured characters come to life in this humorous and fun adaptation of Whistle for Willie, Goggles!, A Letter to Amy, and The Snowy Day.

The Invisible Boy shows that the smallest gestures often have the biggest impact. Meet Brian. No one notices him. No one includes him. He just feels invisible. But everything suddenly changes when a new student named Justin arrives. A bit of creativity helps form a new friendship, unleashing Brian's lively personality and vivid imagination. This high-spirited musical, complete with fun songs and heartfelt humor, will help us all discover the possibilities that begin with a simple act of kindness.

The Gruffalo returns by popular demand, celebrating the show's 25th anniversary. On a daring adventure in search of hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl, and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the scary Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there's no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there? Songs, laughs, and mischievous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, from Tall Stories, creators of imaginative storytelling theatre, where everything is possible.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Tickets for each show are on sale now and available online at kcstarlight.com, by calling (816) 363-7827, or by visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City Mo., 64132. For more information, please visit kcstarlight.com.

New this year! Purchase tickets to all three shows in the Performances for Young Audiences Series and receive 20% off.

Discount prices for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting Starlight's group sales department at 816-997-1137 or groups@kcstarlight.com. Please note that kcstarlight.com is the only official ticket source for all shows in the Performances for Young Audiences Series. If you purchase tickets from another website or ticket broker, we cannot guarantee those tickets are legitimate.

Starlight's PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Series Will Return This Fall

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:51:08 PST

PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SERIES AT STARLIGHT

In chronological order, the Performances for Young Audiences Series at Starlight features:

The Snowy Day and Other Stories

October 24, 2026

The Invisible Boy

February 20, 2027

The Gruffalo

April 3, 2027

All performances are held inside the climate-controlled Cohen Community Stage House.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

New this year! Purchase tickets to all three shows in the Performances for Young Audiences Series and receive 20% off.

Discount prices for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting Starlight's group sales department at 816-997-1137 or groups@kcstarlight.com. Please note that kcstarlight.com is the only official ticket source for all shows in the Performances for Young Audiences Series. If you purchase tickets from another website or ticket broker, we cannot guarantee those tickets are legitimate.

StageMag Launches Programmable PDF Editor for Digital Theater Programs

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:04:02 PST

StageMag, the digital show program platform from BroadwayWorld, today launched its new PDF Editor to all producers and stage managers using the service. The tool gives editors granular, real-time control over how their digital program renders as a downloadable or printable PDF - the format most often used in lobby printouts, accessibility packets, and press kits.

Until now, the StageMag-to-PDF path was a one-shot export: whatever fit, fit. The new editor turns the export into a configurable surface. Each section of a program including the cast list, song list, director's note, bios, advertisements, sponsor pages, articles, listings and more — can be individually told how to paginate. Editors choose between three strategies per section:

Flow: natural pagination, sections may split across pages.
Own page: start the section on a fresh page.
Fit one page: start fresh and scale the section to occupy the whole page.

A live preview pane re-renders the PDF on every change, so editors see the final printed result as they work rather than guessing and re-exporting.Beyond the strategy picker, the editor exposes a set of advanced controls familiar to anyone who has hand-tuned a long-form print document: hide-element selectors (drop sponsor strips or vestigial nav from the print version), forced page breaks before or after named elements, a draggable section-order list, custom header/footer/watermark text, and a custom-CSS escape hatch for theaters whose programs follow a house style.

The release also includes paper-level controls including US Letter or A4, portrait or landscape, three margin presets, three type scales, and a "booklet" mode that adds a binding gutter for stapled lobby printouts.

The PDF Editor is available now to all StageMag-enabled productions at no additional cost, under the Share PDF tab in the program editor. Existing programs render with sensible defaults; the new controls are opt-in and per-production.

About StageMag

StageMag is BroadwayWorld's digital playbill platform, used by Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, university, and community theater productions to publish interactive programs that audiences open on their phones from a QR code in the lobby. StageMag is offered as a free service to participating productions.

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BroadwayWorld.com Kansas City Stories

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Editor's Picks: Top News Stories

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

Reviews

Videos

Photos

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra to Launch MILESTONES Signature Series 2026-2027

2026-2027 SIGNATURE SERIES: MILESTONES

SPOTLIGHT:

Charlie Parker FEATURING KC'S SAXOPHONE LEGENDS AND RISING STARS

MILESTONES:

THE MUSIC OF Miles Davis AND JOHN COLTRANE

MILESTONES:

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

MILESTONES:

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE: A TRIBUTE TO STEVIE

MILESTONES:

SINGIN' THE BLUES

TICKET INFORMATION

IN MY JAZZ ERA

ABOUT KANSAS CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Starlight to Mark 75 Years of Broadway at Kansas City Public Library Missouri Valley Sundays

Starlight to Mark 75 Years of Broadway at Kansas City Public Library Missouri Valley Sundays

Bob Dylan Live at Starlight to Feature Post-Show Fireworks Display

About Bob Dylan

How to Purchase Tickets

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

How It Works

Weekly Scoring

The Fantasy Forecast

Managing Your Roster

Join the Game

Starlight Theatre to Offer 75 Tickets for $75 to Mark 75th Anniversary

How to Purchase Tickets:

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

This year's cast includes:

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

MRS. CHRISTIE to Make Kansas City Premiere at KCAT

THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Ozark Actors Theatre To Be Directed By Tony-Nominee Taylor Louderman

MORE ABOUT OZARK ACTORS THEATRE

THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Ozark Actors Theatre To Be Directed By Tony-Nominee Taylor Louderman

MORE ABOUT OZARK ACTORS THEATRE

HADESTOWN to Open Starlight's 75th Broadway Season

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

HADESTOWN to Open Starlight's 75th Broadway Season

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

SOUND MANDALA to Return to Unicorn Theatre With Three New Immersive Audio Programs

THE 2026 PROGRAMS

Signal&Soul | June 10 – August 1

Indie Spotlight from Challenger Artists | June 20 – August 1

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari | June 27 – August 1

TICKETS

SOUND MANDALA to Return to Unicorn Theatre With Three New Immersive Audio Programs

THE 2026 PROGRAMS

Signal&Soul | June 10 – August 1

Indie Spotlight from Challenger Artists | June 20 – August 1

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari | June 27 – August 1

TICKETS

Anna Lapwood, Samara Joy, and Pink Martini Will Come to the Kauffman Center

Samara Joy

Pink Martini

LIKE SIX O'CLOCK Will Make World Premiere at KC Melting Pot Theatre

LIKE SIX O'CLOCK Will Make World Premiere at KC Melting Pot Theatre

Starlight Celebrates Area High School Students with 2026 Blue Star Awards Ceremony

Full List of WInners:

Ceremony Ensemble

Community Impact Award

Creative Contribution Award

Technical Contribution Award

Dream Production Award

Rising Star Scholarship–Sophomore