Steve Wilson - Page 7

It's not just a concert it is an art, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel that is. Step back into time as a young-looking Simon and Garfunkel took the stage at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in Kansas City on Tuesday, October 22 for the SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY. Two very talented actors, George Clements as Simon and Andrew Wade as Garfunkel, portrayed the famed folk/rock duo who have sold over 100 million albums since making their appearance in 1965.

A DOLL'S HOUSE PART 2 opened Saturday October 19 on the Jerome Stage of the Unicorn Theatre and runs through November 10. Darren Sextro who directed A DOLL'S HOUSE at the City Stage, where it was produced by the Kansas City Actor's Theatre directs the sequel which takes place 15 years after the end of the original play.

If I was to have to find one flaw in the ROCKY HORROR SHOW, now playing at the Louis Curtiss Studio Building in Kansas City (formerly Prohibition Hall), it is that I only get to review it once this run. Seeing so many shows each year it is seldom that one comes along that makes me want to see it again. The ROCKY HORROR SHOW by Padgett Productions is definitely one of those shows I could see over and over. Audience participation isn't required but is highly encouraged.

The Kansas City Actors Theatre continues to provide Kansas City with some of the best dramas to appear in local theater with the opening of a?oeMASTER HAROLDa??a??AND THE BOYS Saturday night, at the City Stage in Union Station. Directed by Gary Heisserer the play runs through September 29.

The Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City opened its 46th season with WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY, OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR on Saturday, September 7, on the Levin Stage. As with most of the productions coming out of the Unicorn Theatre the show itself was extremely well-produced, with fabulous talent, and wonderful choreography provided by Kyle Mullins.

Join the highly talented tribe of HAIR as Padgett Productions brought the opening night to Kansas City on Saturday, September 7. This is one of the top productions of the highly acclaimed musical that I have had the good fortune to review. Return to an age of hippies, free-love, and the tribe as you enter the small newly renovated Black Box Theatre in the West Bottoms Entertainment District. If you're not ready to party, you are probably in the wrong place.

A BRIGHT STAR shines, shines, shines in the Olathe Civic Theatre Associations (OCTA) current production of BRIGHT STAR now playing at the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse in Olathe. Directed by Julie Ewing, with music direction by Ashley Jones, and choreography by Carolyn Braverman this phenomenal production is anything but community theater. Who would ever think community theater could be so good? BRIGHT STAR is of a quality that any professional theater would be delighted to attain.

Billed as a one-man show EVERY BRILLIANT THING opened Saturday, August 17 at Spinning Tree Theatre now located in the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center in Overland Park, Kansas. This opening production for their ninth season is anything but a one-man show. Filled with interaction with the audience it shines high on a list of must-see performances in Kansas City.

From the first bar of the opening song the audience quickly realizes this is not just another musical, it is an experience. The spectacular production of IN THE HEIGHTS opened Saturday, August 10 at Musical Theater Heritage in Crown Center under the direction of Nedra Dixon. This is the first production Dixon has directed for MTH and what a debut she made.

What a roller-coaster of emotions at a preview performance of A DOLL'S HOUSE on the City Stage inside Union Station. The three-act play produced by the Kansas City Actor's Theatre opens Saturday, August 10th and runs through August 25th. Darren Sextro adapted and directs A DOLL'S HOUSE from the 1882 translation (NORA: A PLAY) by Henrietta Frances Lord.

Director Barbara Nichols has created magic in the White Theatre's production of PETER PAN THE MUSICAL. This summer treat for the whole family, which opened on July 6 at the theater located at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, should not be missed. The show runs through July 28 at the theater.

What do you do when some Bozo commits murder? You go see the newest show being offered by Padgett Productions, CLOWN BAR, at Immersive KC (formerly Prohibition Hall) in Kansas City. The hilarious campy comedy written by Adam Szymkowicz runs Friday and Saturday nights through July 20. This 65-minute production is riddled with sidesplitting humor, musical numbers, and hilarious choreography.

Humorous and delightful, A WRINKLE IN TIME is summer entertainment for children of all ages. A WRINKLE IN TIME presented by Theatre For Young America is now playing at the City Stage inside Union Station in Kansas City. Valerie Mackey the Artistic Director of Theatre For Young America directs this whimsical tale that runs through July 6.

The Tony Award-winning musical HAMILTON opened Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the Music Hall in Kansas City and continues through Sunday, July 7. The American Theater Guild presents the smash Broadway musical featuring rap, jazz, blues, traditional-style show tunes, and hip-hop. Does it deserve all the attention it has garnered? The majority of the theater-goers, especially younger ones, will enthusiastically answer yes. While others, including myself, while recognizing the superb quality of the production and of the talent, will answer no. At times the lyrics are hard to understand, making the plot somewhat hard to follow.

A summer treat for the kiddies in ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY" opened Friday, June 14 at the Coterie Theatre in Kanas City. Directed by Shanara Gabrielle the children's musical written by Mo Willems concludes the 40th season for the theater. Willems author of the popular Elephant and Piggie book series wrote the script and lyrics for the stage. Deborah Wicks La Puma wrote the music for the play with musical direction is by Anthony T. Edwards.

You're not in Kansas anymore Toto, you're at The Starlight Theatre in Kansas City for the opening night of THE WIZARD OF OZ. Based on the 1939 film classic, THE WIZARD OF OZ opened on Monday, June 10 and runs through Sunday, June 16. Philip Wm. McKinley directs his 13th production with Starlight Theatre, an accomplishment which was celebrated before the program began.'

ROCK YOU! A WILD RIDE THROUGH THE MUSIC OF QUEEN was presented by the Heartland Men's Chorus at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, on June 8 and 9, wrapping up the 31st season for the chorus. I have seen numerous shows by the chorus and in my opinion, this tribute takes the crown. Kathleen McGuire provided a fantastic arrangement for the men's chorus.

Musical Theatre Heritage not only brings OKLAHOMA! to the Kansas City stage, but also to 2019. The musical classic OKLAHOMA! opened on Saturday, June 8 at Crown Center and runs through June 30. The 1943 box-office smash was the first written by the team of Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on the 1931 play by Lynn Riggs, GREEN GROWS THE LILACS, it is set out to tell the story of Laurey and her two suitors Curly and Jud in Oklahoma before it reached statehood.

I am a big fan of campy rock musicals and what's not to like with EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL. Hilarious, wonderful music, appropriate scenery, fabulous talent, and a talking moose. Throw in a half dozen zombies and you have the makings of a wonderful night at the theater. That's what Padgett Productions delivers with EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL which opened Friday, June 7 and runs through June 22 at Prohibition Hall in Kansas City. The outrageous musical comedy written by playwright and lyricist George Reinblatt features music composed by Reinblatt, Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, and Melissa Morris.

MAMMA MIA! what a fabulous show. You can dance. You can jive. Having the time of your life is what you're in for when attending Padgett Productions MAMMA MIA! now playing at Prohibition Hall in Kansas City. The jukebox musical which runs through May 19 benefits Children's Mercy Hospital with a portion of ticket sales going to the Cancer Center.