KC Ballet Marcus Oatis interview by Brianne Pfannenstiel

Marcus Oatis grew up watching productions by the Kansas City Ballet. But even after auditioning for the company years later, he never expected to get the opportunity to dance with his hometown ballet.

more at Ink

"Stage Savvy: Ways to Lose Your Customer" by Angie Fiedler

It's an oft-quoted phrase of sales and marketing that it costs 10 times more to get a new customer than to retain an existing one. Whether or not that statistic is right, it does make logical sense that it costs more money to attract the attention of someone who doesn't know your product than to maintain relations with someone who already is familiar and uses your product.

more at KC Stage

UMKC Conservatory offering discounted piano lessons for children

Dear Academy friends,

We are pleased to announce that there are still a few openings for DISCOUNTED piano lessons this fall!

In conjunction with Dr. Diane Petrella's piano pedagogy class at UMKC Conservatory, we are looking for beginners ages 7–8 who want to learn piano.

Each student will have weekly private lessons (Monday afternoons) with one of Dr. Petrella's graduate students. All lessons will be supervised by Dr. Petrella and will culminate in a recital.

The total cost for the 12-week semester is $180.00, which is a significant discount over the usual Community Music and Dance Academy tuition of $330.00.

All instructors are UMKC Conservatory graduate students in piano performance and pedagogy who are taking Dr. Petrella's class to improve their teaching skills.

If you are interested in this great opportunity for high-quality piano lessons at a low cost, email us at music-ce@umkc.edu<mailto:music-ce@umkc.edu> or call 816-235-2741.

"Olaf the Red" short film by Jeremy Fuksa

Olaf The Red 

This is the first installment of a series of short animated music videos I'm making based on silly songs I sing to my son Nathan.

Olaf The Red is the nickname I've given him since he's getting so big. He reminds me of a little viking.

David Henry Hwang 2012 honoree at Inge Theatre Festival

David Henry Hwang, one of America's most dynamic and versatile playwrights, is the Honoree of the 31st Annual William Inge Theatre Festival, in Independence, Kansas, on the campus of Independence Community College. Hwang will be at the Inge Festival all its four days, from April 18-21, 2012.

more at the William Inge Center

UMKC Conservatory collaborates with the Nelson-Atkins

The UMKC Conservatory Academy, a division within the Conservatory which provides non-credit preparatory performing arts education and community engagement programs, is renewing its Conservatory Connections program with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for the 2011-2012 academic year.



more at UMatters

Kauffman Center parking garage's green roof

Throwing dirt and sand may not seem like a good thing, but at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts , it’s revolutionary.

more at the Kansas City Business Journal

Barn Players seeking accompanist for "Sweet Charity"

The Barn Players production of SWEET CHARITY is currently seeking an accompanist for the production.

The job would include...

• Auditions on August 28th and 29th at 7pm at St. Pius School...and callback on September 11th at 7:00pm.
• Rehearsals from September 19th - November 2nd...five nights a week.
•  Performances from November 4th - 20 (Friday and Saturday night...Sunday matinee).

Stipend: $300.00

Please contact production director Eric Van Horn directly at customcasuals@sbcglobal.net