Steve Wilson - Page 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once, the humorous modern musical, opened on Tuesday June 16 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. The love story only needs to be seen Once to appreciate the beauty and charm of the captivating tale. Once is based on the motion picture written and directed by John Carney, with book by Edna Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

A Little Bit Wicked, the Music of Stephen Schwartz presented by the Heartland Men's Chorus played Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14 at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. A Little Bit Wicked was the final show of the 29th season of the Heartland Men's Chorus.

The critically acclaimed Tribes continues at the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri through June 28, on the Levin Stage. Theodore Swetz directs the humorous British drama written by Nina Raine, which made its world premiere in 2010 at London's Royal Court Theatre. Tribes opened in 2012 Off-Broadway, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.

Opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday June 5 proves why Musical Theater Heritage is the Kansas City Superstar of musical theater. Directed by Musical Director Sarah Crawford the rock opera with lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber surpasses any musical performance this year in Kansas City. The concert style performance proves that elaborate sets, costumes, and choreography are not necessary when the stage is filled with some of the best talent in Kansas City.

With the daily downpours in Kansas City, the only way to see a full moon is in the audience of The Full Monty at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. Karen Paisley directs the comical musical with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbeth, and musical direction by Loren Bridge. The Full Monty runs through June 14 at the theater located at 3614 Main.

How do you tell if a musical is a success? The answer is easy, it is a success when at intermission, you walk into the restroom, one person is whistling, and two are humming songs from the show. That is what happens with the Quality Hill Playhouse production of Judy, Barbara, Liza at the Playhouse at 303 W. 10 in Kansas City. Judy, Barbara, Liza wraps up the 20th season of Quality Hill.

Mother Freaking Hood! is not a play anyone should see once, because that is not near enough times to catch all the humor that causes the audience to erupt with laughter throughout the two-act play. Mother Freaking Hood! opened on Saturday May 30 at the Goppert Theatre inside Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri to roars of laughter. The Moonshine Variety Company production is without a doubt the funniest musical comedy of the theater season in Kansas City.

Imaginative and innovative use of multi-media makes Six Degrees of Separation a unique must see at The Barn Players in Mission, Kansas. David Martin directs Six Degrees of Separation, written by John Guare, which opened on Friday March 29 and runs through June 14. Vida Bikales, President of The Barn Players, stated the Barn hired Martin to direct the production due to his vision of the use of multi-media in the production. She said his use of video saved numerous set changes that would have been costly and time consuming.

The Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri presents Tribes by Nina Raine June 3 through June 28 on the Levin Stage located at 3828 Main. Theodore Swetz directs the Unicorn Theatre production of Tribes, which features David Fritts, Jan Rogge, Nicole Marie Green, Jake Walker, Paul Ososki, and Lisa Lehnen.

The Heartland Men's Chorus honors composer Stephen Schwartz with A Little Bit Wicked at the Folly Theater in Kansas City. The program runs two nights only, Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14. The chorus if more than 120 singers pays tribute to the 40 years of work by Schwartz with songs from his Broadway and film musicals.

Down the Road, a magnificent production of Andy Perkins continues at the Buffalo Room located inside the Westport Flea Market in Kansas City, Missouri. Lee Blessing wrote Down the Road a social-issue drama that unfolds inside a motel room and a prison. He has written two other social-issue dramas Two Rooms and Patient A.

Take a shower, put on your best duds, but do not forget the Hairspray now playing at The New Theatre in Overland Park, Kansas. Hairspray with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman runs through July 12. Dennis D. Hennessy directs the magnificent dinner theater production, with Richard J. Hinds providing choreography and Mark Ferrell with music direction. Hennessy, Hinds, and Ferrell were in the same capacity in 2012 for The New Theatre production of Hairspray.

Reprising her role from the New Theatre production of Hairspray, Mandy Morris returns to Kansas City as Amber Von Tussle. Hairspray with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Mark Shaiman runs through July 12 at Ithe dinner theater. Dennis D. Hennessy directs the New Theatre production and Richard J. Hinds provides choreography.