Emma Cunningham

Following two weeks of sold out previews, The Bloody Deed of 1857 opens tonight at the landmark Colonnade Row for an open ended run. The new play is based on the actual murder of Dr. Harvey Burdell on January 30, 1857 on nearby Bond Street. The scandalous crime captivated the city, filling the columns of every newspaper for months because all evidence pointed at his rejected lover, a devoted mother and conniving widow named Emma Cunningham. But the jury didn't believe a woman could commit such a violent act. Officially, the case remains unsolved, leaving restless ghosts behind to sort through the truth for eternity.

After a sold-out workshop run in March, Paranormal History Productions returns to Colonnade Row with an official limited run of The Bloody Deed of 1857 for the autumn season. The immersive 90 minute play is an adaptation of news accounts which reported the breathless daily developments about a sensational murder that took place on nearby Bond Street. Elise Gainer, author of Ghosts and Murders of Manhattan, credits the nearby Merchant's House Museum with the idea to turn this true-life murder into a play. The work was selected as the featured piece in the Tectonic Theatre Project's Advanced Moment Work Master Class with Moises Kaufman in May 2017. Ken Davenport, the veteran Broadway producer, consulted on this unique immersive experience including script and overall project development.

Following two weeks of sold out previews, The Bloody Deed of 1857 opens tonight at the landmark Colonnade Row for an open ended run. The new play is based on the actual murder of Dr. Harvey Burdell on January 30, 1857 on nearby Bond Street. The scandalous crime captivated the city, filling the columns of every newspaper for months because all evidence pointed at his rejected lover, a devoted mother and conniving widow named Emma Cunningham. But the jury didn't believe a woman could commit such a violent act. Officially, the case remains unsolved, leaving restless ghosts behind to sort through the truth for eternity.

After a sold-out workshop run in March, Paranormal History Productions returns to Colonnade Row with an official limited run of The Bloody Deed of 1857 for the autumn season. The immersive 90 minute play is an adaptation of news accounts which reported the breathless daily developments about a sensational murder that took place on nearby Bond Street. Elise Gainer, author of Ghosts and Murders of Manhattan, credits the nearby Merchant's House Museum with the idea to turn this true-life murder into a play. The work was selected as the featured piece in the Tectonic Theatre Project's Advanced Moment Work Master Class with Moises Kaufman in May 2017. Ken Davenport, the veteran Broadway producer, consulted on this unique immersive experience including script and overall project development.

After a sold-out workshop run in March, Paranormal History Productions returns to Colonnade Row with an official limited run of The Bloody Deed of 1857 for the autumn season. The immersive 90 minute play is an adaptation of news accounts which reported the breathless daily developments about a sensational murder that took place on nearby Bond Street. Elise Gainer, author of Ghosts and Murders of Manhattan, credits the nearby Merchant's House Museum with the idea to turn this true-life murder into a play. The work was selected as the featured piece in the Tectonic Theatre Project's Advanced Moment Work Master Class with Moises Kaufman in May 2017. Ken Davenport, the veteran Broadway producer, consulted on this unique immersive experience including script and overall project development.

After a sold-out workshop run in March, Paranormal History Productions returns to Colonnade Row with an official limited run of The Bloody Deed of 1857 for the autumn season. The immersive 90 minute play is an adaptation of news accounts which reported the breathless daily developments about a sensational murder that took place on nearby Bond Street. Elise Gainer, author of Ghosts and Murders of Manhattan, credits the nearby Merchant's House Museum with the idea to turn this true-life murder into a play. The work was selected as the featured piece in the Tectonic Theatre Project's Advanced Moment Work Master Class with Moises Kaufman in May 2017. Ken Davenport, the veteran Broadway producer, consulted on this unique immersive experience including script and overall project development.

For the 15th consecutive year, Starlight Theatre has publicly applauded the outstanding achievements and talents of local high school musical theatre students. Last night's 2017 Blue Star Awards Ceremony gave hundreds of area teens an opportunity to perform musical numbers on Starlight's Cohen Community Stage while their teachers, peers, parents and others cheered them from the seats. Many of the students took home Blue Star Awards in recognition of their high school theatrical accomplishments.

Yesterday, high school theatre students and instructors across metropolitan Kansas City and in neighboring communities received the good news that they had received nominations for the 15th Anniversary Blue Star Awards from Starlight Theatre. Starlight leaders, staff and board members personally delivered 132 nominations to 42 area high schools. On Thursday night, May 25, winners of the 2017 Blue Star Awards will receive their honors in a public ceremony on Starlight Theatre's Cohen Community Stage.