KC Actors Theatre 2013-2014 Season preview by Bob Evans

Count on the classics of American theater to generate excitement, and when these classic plays come from icons of the theater world, expect something special. Everyone who follows theater knows the names of noted playwrights Inge and O’Neill so what could be better to kick off a season that two of their favorite plays?

more at examiner.com

Chestnut Fine Arts 2013-2014 Season preview by Bob Evans

The Chestnut Fine Arts Center, in Olathe, KS, again features a top line up of shows guaranteed to please its devoted fan base and snag a few more season ticket holders along the way because of their line-up of Memory Lane favorites and performers who know how to please audiences.

more at examiner.com

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre 2013-2014 Season preview by Bob Evans

One of Kansas City’s popular, yet small, theater venues, the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater, known for producing the classics and building loyal audiences each year as the theater continues to develop a loyal following, just recently announced their 2014 season with a list of plays guaranteed to please Kansas City patrons.

more at examiner.com

Olathe Community Theatre 2013-2014 Season

OCTA is pleased to announce our 40th Season!


COMPANY
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth
Directed by Jason Coats

Synopsis
The clashing sounds and pulsing rhythms of New York City underscore this landmark "concept" show, considered by many to have inaugurated the modern era of musical theatre. COMPANY follows our anti-hero bachelor Robert as he makes his way through a series of encounters with April (the stewardess), Kathy (the girl who's going to marry someone else), Marta (the "peculiar" one), as well as with his married friends.

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried state. In vignette after hilarious vignette, we are introduced to "those good and crazy people," his married friends, as Robert weighs the pros and cons of married life. In the end, he realizes being alone is "alone, not alive."

An honest, witty, sophisticated look at relationships, COMPANY is as contemporary and relevant as ever (witness the recent hit revivals on Broadway and the West End). It features a brilliant energetic score containing many of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs (including "Another Hundred People," "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Being Alive"). -- MTI

Production Dates:

Sept 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 2013


PIECE OF MY HEART

By Shirley Lauro

Directed by Betsy Sexton

SYNOPSIS
This is a powerful, true drama of six women who went to Vietnam: five nurses and a country western singer booked by an unscrupulous agent to entertain the troops. The play portrays each young woman before, during, and after her tour in the war-torn nation and ends as each leaves a personal token at the memorial wall in Washington.A Piece of My Heart premiered in New York at Manhattan Theatre Club, and now has enjoyed over 1000 productions here and abroad. It has recently been named "The most enduring play on Vietnam in the nation," by The Vietnam Vets Association.

"There have been a number of plays dealing with Viet Nam, but none with the direct, emotional impact of Ms. Lauro's work.-The New York Times  - Samuel French

Production Dates:

October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, Nov 1, 2, 3 2013


CHRISTMAS BELLES

By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten

Directed by Gregory Chafin

It's Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas, and the Futrelle Sisters—Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye—are not exactly in a festive mood. A cranky Frankie is weeks overdue with her second set of twins. Twink, recently jilted and bitter about it, is in jail for inadvertently burning down half the town. And hot-flash-suffering Honey Raye is desperately trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb's Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos. But things are not looking too promising: Miss Geneva, the ousted director of the previous twenty-seven productions, is ruthless in her attempts to take over the show. The celebrity guest Santa Claus—played by Frankie's long-suffering husband, Dub—is passing a kidney stone. One of the shepherds refuses to watch over his flock by night without pulling his little red wagon behind him. And the entire cast is dropping like flies due to food poisoning from the Band Boosters' Pancake Supper. And when Frankie lets slip a family secret that h!
 as been carefully guarded for decades, all hope for a successful Christmas program seems lost, even with an Elvis impersonator at the manger. But in true Futrelle fashion, the feuding sisters find a way to pull together in order to present a Christmas program the citizens of Fayro will never forget. Their hilarious holiday journey through a misadventure-filled Christmas Eve is guaranteed to bring joy to your world! – DPS

Production Dates:

December 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 2013



LITTLE WOMEN

Music by Jason Howland

Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein

Book by Allan Knee

Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

Directed by Julie Ewing


SYNOPSIS

Based on Louisa May Alcott's own family experiences (and novel), LITTLE WOMEN, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. LITTLE WOMEN embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right. – MTI

Production Dates:

Feb 21, 22, 23, 28, Mar 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 2014


THE 39 STEPS

By Patrick Barlow, John Buchan

Director - TBD

SYNOPSIS

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This 2-time Tony® and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance!

In The 39 Steps, a man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" is hot on the man's trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, The 39 Steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure! The 39 Steps, was Broadway's longest running comedy, and played its 500th performance on Broadway, May 19th, 2009! – Samuel French

Production Dates:

April 25, 26, 27, May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 2014

Lied Center 2013-2014 Season preview by Robert Trussell

The Lied Center of Kansas will mark its 20th anniversary season with an eclectic mix of musical theater, world music and classical performances — including the legendary Hal Holbrook, who returns to the area with his signature performance of “Mark Twain Tonight.”

more at the KC Star

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/27/4202211/hal-holbrook-memphis-and-addams.html?utm_source=feedly#storylink=cpy

Barn Players 2013-2014 Season preview by Bob Evans

In a suburb of Kansas City, nestled just off Johnson Drive in a stand-alone, nondescript building, The Barn Players perform some of the biggest shows to grace the American stage, year after year; and next year’s season appears to be as stellar as season’s past.

more at examiner.com

Lied Center 2013-2014 Season preview by Sara Shepherd

The Lied Center on Saturday announced its 20th anniversary season lineup, featuring an array of performers from acrobats to award-winning concert pianists, some new and some returning to Lawrence. Executive director Tim Van Leer said the variety reflects one of the Lied’s most important traits — there’s something for everybody.

more at lawrence.com

Friends of Chamber Music 2013-2014 Season by Libby Hanssen

Next fall brings the 38th season of the Friends of Chamber Music, and its lineup of award-winning artists, just announced, will span more than seven centuries of music.

more at the KC Star

Unicorn 2013-2014 Season preview by Steve Wilson

The Unicorn Theatre located at 3828 Main in Kansas City announced the seven shows that will make up their 40th season. The plays will include two Tony nominees, two Pulitzer Prizes, a Tony Award winner and a world premiere. According to information released by Marketing Director Chris Hernandez the audience can experience dramatic highs, shocking revelations and plenty of laughs during the seven evening of life theatre.

more at examiner.com

Unicorn 2013-2014 Season preview by Bob Evans

The Unicorn Theater in Kansas City continues to offer their unique plethora of edgy and new shows for the metro audiences with a 2014 lineup that guarantees to entertain and challenge their patrons with a Tony Award winning play, two other plays that received Tony nominations, two Pulitzer Prize winners, and a world premier musical.

more at examiner.com

Barn Players 2013-2014 Season preview by Steve Wilson

On Friday April 19 the Barn Players located in Mission, Ks. announced their 2014 season. This is the 59th consecutive season for the community theater. In 2014 they will present six regular season shows, one Barn Junior production, one Barn Kids production and the Seventh Annual 6X10 Play Production.

more at examiner.com

JCCC Carlsen Center 2013-2014 Season by Libby Hanssen

From one-man plays to large-scale dance productions, the Johnson County Community College’s Performing Arts Series offers an eclectic 2013-2014 season.

more at the KC Star

Starlight Theatre 2013 Season preview by Bob Evans

Get ready to ‘Look on the Bright Side of Life,’ then take the plunge to go ‘Under the Sea,’ and then go ‘Footloose,’ before learning all about Vietnam and ‘The American Dream’ as Starlight Theatre in Kansas City unveils its season of blockbuster Broadway shows.

more at examiner.com

Helen Hocker Theater 2013-2014 Season by Bill Blankenship

“Shrek The Musical” will kick off an eight-show 2013-14 season at Helen Hocker Theater. The season announcement was made Tuesday evening at a Business After Hours event coordinated by the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Ambassadors staged a ribbon-cutting acknowledging the new management of the Gage Park venue by Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy.

more at the Topeka Capital Journal

Metropolitan Opera HD Broadcast 2013-2014 Season

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters, will feature 10 productions in the 2013-14 season, offering a significant portion of the Met season to opera lovers around the world.

more at the Vignette

KC Repertory 2013-2014 Season

Paul Robeson, Romeo, Juliet, and Ebenezer are just a few of the names - real and fictional - of the dynamic characters audiences will see at Kansas City Repertory Theatre during its 2013-14 season.

more at Broadway World

New Theatre 2013-2014 Season

The New Theatre in Overland Park has announced a 2013-14 season that includes several plays new to local audiences and a roster of guest stars who have not appeared at the venerable dinner theater.

more at kansascity.com

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/10/4171592/new-theatre-and-unicorn-still.html#storylink=cpy

Johnson County Community College Fine Arts Series 2013-2014 Season

Johnson County Community College has announced its Fine Arts Series for 2013-14. The series comprises 25 shows, many of them music showcases. The series launches at 8 p.m. Sept. 7, when singer/songwriter Susan Werner performs in the Polsky Theater.

more at kansascity.com

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/09/4170653/jccc-fine-arts-series-to-include.html#storylink=cpy

Unicorn 2013-2014 Season

Forty seasons is a milestone few theatres achieve. The theatre plans to present seven shows that will sweep up audiences on an audacious journey through cutting-edge, provocative and original entertainment. Prepare to experience dramatic highs, shocking revelations and plenty of laughs during seven unique evenings of live theatre.


more at Broadway World

KC Actors Theatre 2013-2014 Season

Kansas City Actors Theatre announces its 2013-2014 Season,
beginning with a summer of American Masterworks. The summer begins with a celebration of the 100th birthday of our own William Inge. To commemorate this event, KCAT will offer a production of one of his most well-loved plays, and one very appropriate to the season, Picnic.

more at KC Actors Theatre