more at the Lawrence Journal-World
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
"Cowtown Ballroom" screens in Lawrence
more at the Lawrence Journal-World
She&Her 2011-12 Season
William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost
Directed by Jeremy Riggs
September 8,9,10,11,12,16,17
Neil LaBute's The Mercy Seat
Directed by Matt Hentges
October 7,8,9,14,15,16,17,21,22
Urinetown: The Musical
Directed by Tiffany Garrison-Schweigert
Two Rooms (in rep)
November 11,12,19, 21 Directed by Kyle Wallen
November 12,14,18,19 Directed by Robert Fletcher
February 10,11,13,17,18, 2012
Orange Flower Water
Directed by Doug Ford
March 9,10,12,16,17, 2012
Frozen
Directed by Nino Casisi
April 20,21,27,28,30, 2012
The Baltimore Waltz
Directed by Jamie Peterson
May 18,19,21,25,26, 2012
TBA
Directed by Crystal Gould
June 22,23,25,29,30, 2012
Steven Dietz's Rocket Man
Directed by Jonathan Wehmeyer
Check out their website for upcoming auditions and more info.
Bell Road Barn seeking new board members
KC Young Audiences Awards photos by Mike Strong
more at KC Dance
"Blind" Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival preview by Jill Renae Hicks
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
June 2011 issue of KC Stage is online
Here are this month's articles:
If you enjoy this blog, consider subscribing to help support KC Stage and local performing arts.
- Spotlight on John Rensenhouse by Angie Fiedler
- Book Review: Stage Directing: The First Experiences by Angie Fielder
- Comparing Open Source CMSs by Idealware
- The Resident Theatre Needs Your Help
- Film Clips by Larry Levenson
- Seasons
- Blog Notes by Bryan Colley
Monday, May 30, 2011
American Jazz Museum "Colors of Jazz" exhibit
more at Review
Governor Brownback vetoes Kansas Arts Commission
more at ARTSblog
People's Liberation Big Band photos by kcjazzlark
more at kcjazzlark
KC Symphony "Celebration at the Station" review by Bill Brownlee
more at kansascity.com
Dan Schultz, Stephens Summer Theatre Institute interview by Jill Renae Hicks
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Prairie Village Jazz Festival lineup announced
more at the Prairie Village Post
Quin Gresham, Lyceum Theatre interview by Aarik Danielsen
more at the Columbia Daily Tribune
Musica Vocale "Saul" preview by Patrick Neas
more at kansascity.com
Barn Players seeking short scripts for "6x10 Festival"
Playwrights whose scripts are selected will be encouraged to participate in rehearsal and to work collaboratively with the director. They may modify their script as they watch it take shape on the stage.
The Barn Players will host 3 Short Play Workshops this summer for local playwrights to gather to discuss their plays and hear them read aloud. Playwrights may attend any one or all three workshops. Please bring your script to the Workshop so it can be read and discussed by other writers as well as members of the Barn Players Board.
The workshop dates will be announced shortly, and will take place on Saturday mornings from 10am to Noon at The Barn Players Theatre.
Playwrights are NOT required to attend a Workshop in order to submit a script for the Festival. Attending a Workshop does NOT guarantee that a playwright's script will be selected for production.
GUIDELINES
- All playwrights must live within 200 miles of Kansas City.
- Scripts may not have been produced previously.
- Scripts should be easily produced in the context of a ten-minute play festival (i.e. small casts and simple sets)
- Each playwright may submit up to 2 scripts for review.
- Scripts may be submitted electronically or through the mail.
- Electronic: send to "tenminute@thebarnplayers.org"
- Mail: send TWO copies to "6x10 Festival, The Barn Players, 6219 Martway, Mission KS 66202"
- Please put your name and contact info on a separate page from the text of the script.
- Deadline for submission is August 31, 2011.
- Selections will be made and all playwrights informed by September 23, 2011.
- Scripts sent by mail will not be returned.
- No comments or feedback on the scripts will be given.
- There is no entry fee.
For more information, please contact Eric Magnus, Artistic Director of The Barn Players at emagnitude@yahoo.com.
Preparing music for the Lyric Opera
more at The Lyric Opera
Saturday, May 28, 2011
KC Art Institute student short "Packrats" by Caitlyn Harris
2010 Caitlyn Harris. KCAI Animation, Spring 2010 Senior Graduation Animation.
KC Jazz Commissions tales part 5
more at kcjazzlark
Robert Trussell visits Broadway
more at kansascity.com
Blue Star Award winners
more at Starlight Theatre
Documentary honors Florence, Kansas
more at lawrence.com
An overview of the Kauffman Center by Jeff Martin
more at The Examiner
Abigail Disney "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" interview by Steve Kraske
Abigail Disney is a documentary filmmaker whose work chronicles women at the crossroads of war and peace. Her work explores an often overlooked question: "What if we looked at war as if women mattered?" In doing so, Disney examines the role of rape as a war tactic, and the devastating impact that people being forced from their homes has on families, parents and kids. Today Steve Kraske talks with the organizer, philanthropist, and producer about her film Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which documents the unreported role of women in the peace process in Liberia. Later on today's program Brian McTavish, of KC Confidential, talks with Brian Ellison about five fun and unique things to do in Kansas City this weekend. It's what we call Up to Date's Weekend To-Do List.
listen at Up to Date (mp3 link)
Living Room "Accidental Waiter" review by Jen Harris
more at The Vignette
A look at the Lyric Opera scene shop
more at the Lyric Opera
Friday, May 27, 2011
Plastic Sax proposes a jazz festival
more at Plastic Sax
Michael Stern interview with "The Local Show"
Cynthia Wheeler-Linden sits down with Art Fillmore to discuss his role in local veteran's causes. Randy Mason welcomes Michael Stern to The Local Show to discuss this year's Celebration at the Station, the new Kauffman Performing Arts Center and what's in store for the Kansas City Symphony. We present a look at last year's Symphony in the Flint Hills performance featuring Lyle Lovett. And we show the recent Biz Kid$ segment featuring the metro's very own Jeffrey Owen Hanson who talks about how he started investing at age 14 and gives advice about how to choose stocks.
Bruce Branit "CinemaKC" preview by Justin Gardner
more at CinemaKC
Summerfest preview photos by Larry Levenson
more at The Independent
KC Fringe Festival promo
BOOM! touring America
more at The Vignette
Open letter to Governor Brownback from the Vermont Arts Council director
I have been following with great interest your efforts to remove government support from the Kansas Arts Commission and to re-establish it as an independent, non-profit agency, with the expectation that doing so will relieve your administration of the responsibility of allocating taxpayer funds to match federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. The budget now awaits your signature and there is a great deal of concern that you will use your line-item veto to effectively abolish the Commission which, I understand, a bipartisan coalition in the Kansas Senate representing a broad cross-section of Kansas citizens hopes you will not do.
more at Arts Issues by Alex Aldrich
Friends of Alvin Ailey Breakfast photos by Mike Strong
more at KC Dance
Thursday, May 26, 2011
KC Art Insitute student short "Split" by Alyssa May
2011 Alyssa May. KCAI Animation, Spring 2011 Senior Graduation Animation.
Jeff Hamilton, Topeka Jazz Workshop review by Chuck Berg
more at the Topeka Capital-Journal
Quality Hill "Let's Do It" review by Alexia Lang
more at The Vignette
Seeking entries for the "Show-Me Justice Film Festival"
more at the University of Central Missouri
Living Room "Accidental Waiter" review by Grace Suh
more at The Pitch (following the Tommy review)
Metropolitan Ensemble "Tommy" review by Grace Suh
more at The Pitch
KC Symphony reactions to Helzberg Hall
The Symphony had our first rehearsal in our future home at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Helzberg Hall. Michael Stern and the orchestra share their reactions to the sound of the hall and chose Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 as the very first piece to rehearse.
KC Symphony, Sasha Cooke review by Timothy McDonald
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Jonathan Butler review by Bill Brownlee
"Helzberg Hall Diary" by Roger Oyster
American Heartland "39 Steps" review by Alexia Lang
more at The Vignette
Wildheart performs in Missouri state parks
Kids and adults alike will be inspired and entertained by the music and message of Wildheart, an environmental musical group that will perform in seven Missouri state parks in May and June.
more at Infozine
"Tax FAQ" by Dean Vivian
This article is from the April 2011 issue of KC Stage
Editor’s note: what follows are excerpts from Dean Vivian’s 2010-2011 tax letter that he sends out to his clients. It is only excerpts and is not intended as a full-fledged guide on how to prepare your taxes. KC Stage encourages you to seek out qualified help if you have any questions or concerns about preparing your 2011 taxes.
What’s important to know these days?
The continuing big news is the bulls-eye most freelancers have painted on their backs. The IRS has loudly announced targeting the self-employed. A recent study showed about 80% of the under-reported income comes from the self-employed, so audits have increased dramatically, and the IRS is convinced of two things:
1) If you get a 1099, or are self-employed, you’re hiding income, and 2) You don’t have proof for what you’re deducting. I’ve preached the value of keeping good records since the beginning; these increased audits have only made me a stronger advocate. As for the income, I heard something during an audit that put a chill up my spine. From the next cubicle: “If you don’t know what that deposit is, we’re going to count that as Schedule C income.” It’s true: all wealth acquisition is considered income, unless you can prove otherwise. (Aunt Petunia’s birthday check IS NOT considered taxable income ... if you can prove it.) Lesson: keep records of your deposits, too.
Important note: if you have sponsors or “angels” who give you money as an artist because they believe in a project, be sure you have a written agreement they expect nothing in return and the monies are a gift.
What records do I need to deduct entertainment expenses?
Besides date, place, and amount, you’ll need whom you were entertaining (it must be someone with “hiring capabilities”), and what specific income-producing opportunity you were discussing. “The upcoming season” is not specific enough; “Louise in Gypsy”, or “pitched upcoming art installation” is acceptable. The only general times would be opening night, closing night, a specific cast party, or the producer/director’s birthday celebration, i.e., something originating with the business and occurring just before or just after the business event. Contrary to popular belief, going to lunch with a colleague and discussing business does not qualify.
I paid a professional over $600 for lessons. Should I send her a 1099?
Yes. Same for an accompanist, scene partner, contractor, fellow band member, etc. And you should send the IRS a copy as well as a 1096, which is a summary of ALL 1099s.
I gave voice lessons and never got paid. Can I deduct the $500 I’m owed?
Only if the $500 was included in your prior income (which it probably wasn’t). Otherwise, since you didn’t receive any income from this person, no extra income will be reported, and no extra income tax will be due.
Is that fair?
Yes. Think of it this way: if you got paid $400 and stiffed on $500, you wouldn’t be able to suddenly declare a loss of $100. You got the $400, and that’s all you would claim as income.
What is a “qualified performing artist”?
A qualified performing artist is anyone who works for at least two arts organizations with W-2s totaling at least $200 from each, has $16,000 of adjusted gross income or less, and spends at least 10% of their arts income on maintaining their career. The advantage is the QPA gets both a standard deduction, and their itemized arts deductions, which can make a huge difference.
What’s new this year?
Huge change: States are finally serious about the Use Tax, which is sales tax not charged by an online purchase. A recent court ruling allows sales tax to be collected online even if the business has no ties to the state, collected in full by your home state if no sales tax is collected.
Along with that, starting at the end of 2011, electronic payers will report electronic purchases to the government - and probably you - via a new form, a 1099-K, merchant card, and third-party payments. Any prior avoidance of paying sales tax by buying over the internet will end. It will be very important to track your online purchases and the sales tax you pay or don’t pay from now on!
April’s filing deadline is April 18 instead of April 15. The deadline for filing extended taxes is October 17. Remember: if you’re not going to file, be sure to extend. And keep in mind, an extension to file is not an extension to pay; you’ll still need to pay what you estimate you’ll owe. If you expect a refund, no payment is due, but be sure!
Didn’t get a tax packet from the IRS? They don’t send them out anymore. Neither do most states or cities. They expect you (or me) to download them and print them out. Here are links for the IRS and for state tax information. Similarly, if you got unemployment, paid qualified state tuition payments, or got a tax refund from the State of Missouri, you must go to MO 1099-G to get that information, or call 1-573-526-8299. Your tax dollars at work!
Despite what you may have heard, health care will NOT be taxable next year. Your employer has the option of putting the amount paid on your behalf on your W-2, but it’s informational only (like the 401(k) info), not taxable, and, again, optional.
New rule: investment companies now must keep records on your cost basis. Staring in 2011, investment companies will track your cost basis of stocks (and other securities) you buy & sell. At times in the past, it’s been a guessing game at best, especially with investments held for years and years. Next January you’ll get a clear statement of profits and/or losses. This change is long overdue.
The estate tax was suspended for one year in 2010. No one really meant for that to happen, and it’s unconscionable our legislators didn’t fix this before the first of the year. The December 2010 tax bill made the exemption amount $5 million, and the tax above that will max out at 35%. Great news if you’re a multi-millionaire or billionaire!
Most taxpayers with earned income and adjusted gross income under $95,000 ($190,000 for a married couple) still qualify for the Making Work Pay credit, initiated in 2009 and extended into 2010. It’s a 6.2% rebate, up to $400 per person. For workers with steady paychecks, it’s already been “accounted for” via those extra few bucks each week, so it shouldn’t change the usual bottom line. As with last year, those with multiple W-2s could get hurt, as every employer will have accounted for that additional $400. Freelancers should see their burden ease a little. And 2011 will see a different bump in the paycheck, as 2% of the payroll tax has been erased for one year. That means, for filings next year, freelancers will only be paying 13.3% on their profits instead of 15.3% of profits in payroll taxes. If you get a W-2, your withholding percentage for Social Security will be 4.2% instead of 6.2%; your employer will still pay the full 6.2%.
Self-employed workers who pay for health care can now deduct expenses paid for a child 26 and younger (by 12/31/10), even if that child is not your dependant. And this can now be deducted on Schedule C, saving not only income taxes but payroll taxes as well. Speaking of payroll taxes, here’s an important fact: most workers pay more in federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) than federal income taxes over their lifetimes.
Dean Vivian has been an actor for over 30 years, and started helping fellow performers with their taxes in 1985. His specialties include performers, the self-employed, and people with home-based businesses. Should you wish to consult him on your taxes, he can be contacted at aaktor@sbcglobal.net or by calling 816-523-3476.
UMKC Spring Dance Concert photos by Mike Strong
more at KC Dance
KC Symphony first rehearsal in Helzberg Hall
listen at KCUR
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Jawole Willa Jo Zollar "American: Here and Now" preview by Libby Hanssen
KC Symphony "Alexander Nevsky" review by Paul Horsley
more at The Independent
"UMKC Conservatory in the Schools" program
Learn about how the UMKC Conservatory's Academy outreach programs impact Kansas City high school students in positive and amazing ways.
KC Chorale, Shakespeare Fest review by Paul Horsely
more at The Independent
American Heartland "39 Steps" review by Russ Simmons
more at The Johnson County Sun (after the Gypsy review)
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