Shawn Edwards' Essentials

Although Kansas City is better known for Plaza (not studio) lights, Fox 4 TV critic Shawn Edwards wants Kansas City to be known as an international film hub. And with this weekend’s Kansas City Urban Film Festival that he co-founded, the City of Fountains might be on its way.

more at Ink

Topeka Civic Theatre's Renna Hunter Awards

For some of the actors who toiled last season entertaining audiences from the stages of Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy, their recognition came last weekend in a form other than applause.

more at the Topeka Capital-Journal

Backstage at the Rep

What’s behind the curtain at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre is storybook familiar — there’s whimsy, some wizardry and more than a little magic.

more at kansascity.com

Art Institute short film "Dirt" by Alyssa Lundgren

Actors Theatre "Marion Bridge" review by Russ Simmons

"Marion Bridge" by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor is part two of KCAT’s "Sizzling Summer of Siblings," following closely on the heels of their production of Sam Shepherd’s testosterone-soaked "True West."

more at Sun Publications

Hal Parrott "Duty" interview by Steve Walker

When art and war have collided over the past century, the results have ranged from Picasso's "Guernica" to Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now." 

listen at KCUR

Arts orgs grapple with education budget cuts

Check out these bargains: half off at the Kansas City Symphony; 30 percent markdowns for Alvin Ailey; and a limited number of free tickets to the theater or a puppet show.

more at kansascity.com

Lyric Opera "Carmen" preview

Don Dagenais of the Lyric Opera Guild previews the Lyric Opera of Kansas City production of Bizet's Carmen, starring Sandra Piques-Eddy and directed by Bernard Uzan.