KC Rep offering "Christmas Story" gift set

The Kansas City Repertory Theatre is offering a $100 gift pack to go along with "A Christmas Story, the Musical." It includes 2 tickets to a Rep show, fudge, and a mini leg lamp. Nifty!

Purchase it here!

"Art Funding or Arts Funding" by David Byrne

In the long run there is a greater value for humanity in empowering folks to make and create than there is in teaching them the canon, the great works and the masterpieces. In my opinion, it’s more important that someone learn to make music, to draw, photograph, write or create in any form than it is for them to understand and appreciate Picasso, Warhol or Bill Shakespeare — to say nothing of opry. In the long term it doesn’t matter if students become writers, artists or musicians — though a few might. It's more important that they are able to understand the process of creation, experimentation and discovery — which can then be applied to anything they do, as those processes, deep down, are all similar. It’s an investment in fluorescence.

more at David Byrne's Journal

Metropolitan Opera regional auditions

Longtime vocal music fans in Kansas City know that one of the most enjoyable days to be spent midwinter is at the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions which are held here each year. Usually over 30 singers, and sometimes as many as 40, perform a selection of opera arias in front of expert judges to determine a series of winners, three of whom advance to the regional auditions.

more at KC Metropolitan

Abominable Auditions by Beth Bloom Ochesky

from the November 2009 issue of KC Stage.

Everyone has heard the tips about the what-not-to-dos, but what tips should you do to avoid the abominable audition? There are several, and they are valuable to lock away into your coffers when preparing to audition, no matter what ‘level’ of theatre you are working in. So here are some nifty tips on how to avoid the ‘what-not-to-dos’. 

Record Machine Offers Free Holiday Downloads

Download a free compilation of holiday songs all performed by Kansas City area artists at The Record Machine.

"The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" Review by Nicole English

What do you get when you combine the whimsy of Dr. Seuss, the wit of Tim Burton and a twist of jazz swing with the ballet favorite “The Nutcracker”?

more at kansascity.com

Week-on-Stage: Dec 14-21

*Affiliate Theatres - KC Stage Members receive a discount

Auditions for this week

• Spring Shows - Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville
• The Producers - Starlight Theatre Association

Performances for this week

• A Black Tie Cabaret with a Splash of Holiday! - Antonym Films (Closes Dec 19)
• A Christmas Story, The Musical! - Kansas City Repertory Theatre (Closes Dec 27)
• A Spectacular Christmas - Musical Theater Heritage (Closes Dec 20)
• A Taffeta Christmas - Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre (Closes Dec 20)
• A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail - Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy (Closes Dec 20)
• Christmas in Song - Quality Hill Playhouse (Closes Dec 27)
• Cinderella - Lawrence Community Theatre (Closes Dec 20)
• Dickens Carolers in Concert - Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre (Closes Dec 21)
• Dressed to Kill - The Mystery Train (Closes Jan 2)
• Fiddler on the Roof - CenterSeason Theatre (Closes Dec 20)
• It's a Wonderful Life - Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy (Closes Dec 20)
• It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - American Heartland Theatre (Closes Dec 27)
• Little House on the Prairie - The Coterie Theatre (Closes Dec 29)
• Madeline's Christmas - Theatre for Young America* (Closes Dec 6)
• Martin City Melodrama's 25th Season! - Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company (Closes Jan 3)
• Miss Witherspoon - Unicorn Theatre (Closes Jan 3)
• Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge - Olathe Community Theatre Association* (Closes Dec 20)
• Run for Your Wife - New Theatre Restaurant (Closes Feb 6)
• The Nativity - Paul Mesner Puppets* (Closes Dec 20)

Events for this week **

• Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life & Legends - Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
• Chocolate: The Exhibition - Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
• Parthenia, early-music ensemble with soprano Julianne Baird - Harriman-Jewell Series

Check magazine listing or go to www.kcstage.com for showtimes and information.

Theatre Reviews

Reviews - Current Performances

• 5.00 It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - American Heartland Theatre. (2 Votes)
• 3.67 Little House on the Prairie - The Coterie Theatre. (3 Votes)

Ratings - Current Performances

• 5.00 Madeline's Christmas - Theatre for Young America. (2 Votes)
• 5.00 It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - American Heartland Theatre. (2 Votes)
• 5.00 Miss Witherspoon - Unicorn Theatre. (1 Vote)
• 4.00 A Spectacular Christmas - Musical Theater Heritage. (1 Vote)
• 4.00 Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge - Olathe Community Theatre Association. (1 Vote)
• 4.00 Martin City Melodrama's 25th Season! - Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company. (1 Vote)
• 3.67 Little House on the Prairie - The Coterie Theatre. (3 Votes)
• 3.00 A Christmas Story, The Musical! - Kansas City Repertory Theatre. (1 Vote)

Ratings - Top Ten Rated Shows of the Last 3 Months

• 5.00 Dreamgirls - Ruskin High School Theatre. (4 Votes)
• 5.00 Palomino - Kansas City Repertory Theatre. (2 Votes)
• 5.00 Madeline's Christmas - Theatre for Young America. (2 Votes)
• 5.00 It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - American Heartland Theatre. (2 Votes)
• 4.50 Byrd Productions Proudly Presents: The Fontina & Gruyere Show - Byrd Productions. (2 Votes)
• 4.13 Into The Woods - Kansas City Repertory Theatre. (15 Votes)
• 4.00 Killer Joe - UMKC Theatre. (2 Votes)
• 4.00 Maul of the Dead - The Coterie Theatre. (2 Votes)
• 3.67 Altar Boyz - Sonlight Productions. (21 Votes)

Reviews - Five Most Recent of Past Performances

• Cabaret - The Barn Players, Inc.. 3.42 (19 Votes)
• HMS Pinafore - Lyric Opera of Kansas City. 5.00 (1 Vote)
• The Laramie Project (Undergraduate Fall Production) - UMKC Theatre. 2.00 (1 Vote)
• Arcadia - UMKC Theatre. 2.00 (3 Votes)
• Into The Woods - Kansas City Repertory Theatre. 4.13 (15 Votes)
  

Go to www.kcstage.com and rate performances you have seen. Create a reviewer account or subscribe to KC Stage and write your own reviews of shows.

Nathan Granner Interview by Robert Trussell

“I was in ‘A Christmas Carol’ for a couple of years at the Rep, and over the years those characters and how they sounded and acted have just stayed with me,” Granner said. “I’m feeding off them, like when I say, ‘pu-pu-pu potato.’”

more at kansascity.com