Jen Bechter News

After World War II was over, we saw an increase in the American population thus characterizing that peace, love making lovers as 'the baby boomer' generation. They of course in turn gave birth to what is known as Generation X bringing a new age emergence of punk rock, grunge, and apparently both awesome and tasty cocktails. Generation X gave us millennials.

It's time, pursue your dreams.a?? This is a quote by S. Weitzman, an entrepreneur. It's plastered on a mural right beneath a sundial on southeast Kellogg here in Wichita. Now, I'm not suggesting attempting to read any of the quotes on Kellogg during your morning commute but if you ever do get the time, you'll be reminded kindly that a?oethe journey is the reward.a??

Set in a fun and funky hair salon, Shear Madness concludes The Forum Theatre Company's 2019 production season in a big and bold way. The plot, almost from Clue the movie, has action that centers around figuring out exactly who murdered Isabel Churney with none other than hair cutting shears. If you go, which I do highly recommend, pay close attention to the action at the beginning of the show. It will be useful later to help solve the murder mystery. Filled with Wichita current events and references plus greatly polished improv from the cast, you can't keep from laughing but also appreciate the hard work and dedication which went into crafting out a carefully selected play thanks to producing artistic director, Kathy Page Hauptman.

There are three doors on this colorful 1980s set designed by Ben Juhnke, and immediately I think 'FARCE!' The 1980s tunes are pumping from the sound system, making the patrons move and groove in their seats. The atmosphere is lively, and the audience is upbeat and happy, chatting away until the action on stage catches their attention. A pre-show pantomime begins; Simeon Rawls and Jen Bechter begin their day in the beauty salon 'Shear Madness'; patrons begin to enter the shop and hilarity ensues. This pantomime continues for at least 15 minutes before any of the actors speak, and it is hysterical. The action is clean, quick, and understandable. The hilarity continues on until the last few minutes of the play. I will not reveal the ending, but suffice it to say these last bits are intense and dramatic, and showcase some serious acting chops.

The madness erupts at a hairstyling salon when suddenly, between a shampoo and a style, the old lady upstairs gets mysteriously murdered and everyone's dying to know whodunit?

  Located at The Wilke Center inside First United Methodist Church at 330 N. Broadway is the Forum Theatre Company. I had the pleasure of attending The Winter Wonderettes during their final week of shows. Kathy Page Hauptman directed four leading ladies to direct the audience, dubbed pseudo employees of Harper's Hardware Store, in an evening of crowd-pleasing participation at Harper's 'Annual Holiday Happening.'

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Wichita 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 Wichita 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 Wichita 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 Wichita 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 Wichita 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.

This musical is the perfect choice for Wichita, as most of the action takes place on familiar territory, from West Texas to Missouri, from Arkansas to Kansas, at the height of the Great Depression. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies to America's most renowned folk heroes and Texas law enforcement's worst nightmares.

Bay Street Theater recently announced that MY FAIR LADY will be extended through September 4 due to popular demand.

Bay Street Theater has just announced that MY FAIR LADY will be extended through September 4 due to popular demand. The classic musical has book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. It is based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture. The production is directed by Michael Arden, Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner for Best Director of a Musical for the Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Long Island's Bay Street Theatre is closing out their historic 25th season electrifyingly with a dazzling production of the iconic Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe musical My Fair Lady. Directed by Tony nominee Michael Arden, this incarnation is exquisitely reimagined and I am certain even the most devout fans will be delighted. Running through September 4th, I dare say this is the must-see of the season.

Bay Street Theater has just announced that MY FAIR LADY will be extended through September 4 due to popular demand. The classic musical has book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. It is based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture. The production is directed by Michael Arden, Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner for Best Director of a Musical for the Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the starry cast onstage below!

Bay Street Theater has announced MY FAIR LADY, Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe, Based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw & Gabriel Pascal's motion picture, and Directed by Michael Arden, Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner for Best Director of a Musical for the Broadway revival of Spring Awakening is now in rehearsals in NYC. MY FAIR LADY will run August 2 - 28. Check out photos below!

Bay Street Theater has announced the full cast and creative team of MY FAIR LADY, Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe, Based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw & Gabriel Pascal's motion picture, and Directed by Michael Arden, Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner for Best Director of a Musical for the Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. MY FAIR LADY will run August 2 - 28. 

This past Sunday, January 31st, Feinstein's/54 Below presented BROADWAY BABYLON 101: EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN, Broadway Babylon's inaugural concert. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

David Christensen and Sarah Ziegler wrote a new opening number for Broadway Babylon 101: Everything Old Is New Again at Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, Tomorrow, January 31st at 9:30 P.M.