Gay & Lesbian Film Festival preview by Robert Butler

Get your tickets and gird your loins. GayFest is upon us. That’s the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival of Kansas City, for the uninitiated, and it gets underway Friday, June 24 at the Tivoli Theatre in Westport. I’ve been able to pre-screen several of this year’s titles; what follows is one guy’s picks of the best of the fest.

more at Butler's Cinema Scene

Starlight "9 to 5" review by Robert Trussell

The touring production of “9 to 5: The Musical” delivers just what you would expect: some good laughs and some nice tunes by Dolly Parton.

more at kansascity.com

"Khaaaaan! the Musical" cast recording released

The original cast recording of Khaaaaan! the Musical is available for download at online music stores everywhere — including Amazon and iTunes. You can also order a compact disc at Amazon on Demand. Khaaaaan! the Musical was the best-attended show of the 2010 Kansas City Fringe Festival. The recording features the vocal talents of Jay Coombes, Kevin Albert, Bob Grove, Steven Eubank, and Amy Hurrelbrink. The music is by Tim Gillespie and Michelle Cotton, with lyrics by Bryan Colley, Tara Varney, and Michelle Cotton. It was recorded and mixed by Howie at Mr. Furious Records.

download a free track (for a limited time only) at Jupiter Kansas


[Note: your humble blogger produced this album.] 

American Heartland "39 Steps" review by UCSD/UMKC

39 Steps

Rating: 3

The 39 Steps

American Heartland Theatre

I had no preconceived notions about this play, having avoided the reviews and the program notes. I enjoyed the film and the recent PBS remake, so I was looking forward to this production. I was very surprised. The script is superficial and the acting is workmanlike. That said, there were moments when I chuckled and appreciated some physical bits. But there's no substance to the piece.  The director and actors are to be praised for putting a lot of energy into this production, and the set and costumes are lovely (as to be expected from a Heartland show), but I was left wanting more.

read the review at KC Stage

Actor Rob Riggle interview by Dugan Arnett

Back before he was popping up in Will Ferrell movies and overseeing the tasering of Zack Galifianakis’ face, Rob Riggle would spin records at a little diner over near Interstate 435 and Metcalf.

more at Ink

Season ticket holder Connie Stella interview with the Kauffman Center

The Kansas City Symphony is pleased to share our second video in the Helzberg Hall series. In this series of 10 videos, Symphony musicians, audience members, and our Music Director Michael Stern discuss their excitement surrounding the Symphony's debut this September at the beautiful new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

AMC Town Center lowers prices, drops reserved seating

Perhaps customer feedback about the cost of movie tickets finally worked at one AMC theater. Prices at the Town Center in Leawood will drop $2 starting July 22, when the location ends its reserved-seating policy.

more at kansascity.com

Local jazz CD reviews by kcjazzlark

I first met Millie Edwards some fifteen years ago, when her husband and I worked at the same ad agency. He was an art director and I was the production manager. Then she was working days and singing nights, often with Everett DeVan. Today she’s best known as a Wild Woman, singing with Myra Taylor, Geneva Price and Lori Tucker as one of the Wild Women of KC, a jazz favorite.