Jerry Jay Cranford News

General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler Kemper has announced the commission of two operas created to be presented in community spaces where audiences of all ages gather. The Haberdasher Prince by the twin-sister creative team of composer Rosabella Gregory and librettist Dina Gregory will premiere in April 2024. Maya and the Magic Ring by composer Lori Laitman and librettist Dana Gioia will premiere in spring 2025.

The point of musical theater (for most people) is pure entertainment, and the New Theatre & Restaurant original production of 1981’s DREAMGIRLS hits the bullseye. DREAMGIRLS is directed by Jerry Jay Cranford and stars a comparatively large, twenty-one member cast backed by an eight-piece orchestra.  Cranford has assembled a cast of Broadway belters and fine dancers to tell the tale of a Supremes-like black female singing trio around 1960 and in the decade to follow.   The show is flashy and impeccably costumed.  The set, while relatively simple, is technically superior. LED screens are used across the background to simulate locations.  Not much was spared when the producer was asked to fund this production.  Choreography by Courtney German is frenetic, well drilled, and perfectly appropriate for this genre.  The musical score is spectacular by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen.   Several numbers (including the title track) became number one hits outside the show.

Now running on the stage of the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center’s Overland Park campus is a very credible production of 1977’s “Annie.” It is the first new, full, live, Broadway Style indoor production to tread the boards of this very nice auditorium in sixteen months.

Starlight welcomes Godspell to its stage for the very first time Tuesday, June 22 – Sunday, June 27.

Starlight will welcome Godspell to its stage for the very first time Tuesday, June 22 – Sunday, June 27. This refreshing retelling of the Gospel of Matthew is a sensational musical production that is uplifting, celebratory and fun. Godspell includes songs by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, such as the popular hit “Day by Day.”

K-State Theatrea??s Kansas Theatre Works Podcast will present One Dead, One Dying by Laura Camien.

Spinning Tree Theatre will conclude the 2019-20 season April 17 - May 3 with Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles. The 1983 musical, based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret, has music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein. La Cage aux Folles won the 1984 Tony Award for Best Musical, and both Broadway revivals (2005 and 2010) won Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical.

It doesn't much matter whether you happen to be Lutheran, Catholic, another flavor of Protestant, Jewish, or Muslim. All places of worship surely have CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES like these.

Spinning Tree Theatre continues 2019-20 season January 24 a?" February 9 with rock musical Girlfriend. Kansas City premiere, based on Matthew Sweet's 1991 hit rock album by the same name, has music/lyrics by Sweet and book by Todd Almond.

We are pleased to announce the winners for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and voted on by you - the local theatergoers!

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

Audience on a Hairspray High this summer at the Starlight in Kansas City. Hang onto your sandals - this show's gonna knock your socks off. Hairspray is showing at the Starlight Kansas City July 27 through Aug. 2nd, 2018

Starlight Theatre has announced that Broadway star and two-time Tony nominee Brad Oscar will lead the cast of the musical comedy phenomenon Hairspray, playing Starlight Theatre July 27-Aug. 2, as part of the 2018 Shawnee Mission Health Broadway Series. Hairspray's director, principal and ensemble cast will also include a number of performers with Kansas City roots, many of whom are making their return to the Starlight Theatre stage!

Welcome to the 60's, Kansas City! Hairspray, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon, plays under the stars for six performances, Friday, July 27 - Thursday, Aug. 2, and Starlight is pleased to announce that Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar recently joined the cast. Oscar will portray the iconic role of Edna Turnblad, 16-year-old Tracy's mother who hasn't left their apartment in years - but whose life is about to change when her teenage daughter's dreams become reality.

Two sold out audiences leaped to their feet in group appreciation of 'Disney's Newsies,' a co-production of the Jewish Community Center's White Theatre (in Overland Park) and The Coterie Theatre (normally operating out of Crown Center).

The Coterie Theatre and the White Theatre at "The J," the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, will "Seize the Day" with their co-production of Disney's Newsies for a limited run opening July 7 and continuing through July 29.