UMKC’s weekly arts, sports and culture roundup
Each week, the University of Missouri-Kansas City offers an array of on-campus activities. It’s nothing new. UMKC has a long legacy of hosting countless culturally enriching events. These activities are part of what give UMKC a vibrant campus life, and make UMKC an arts and culture powerhouse. The influence of UMKC-based and UMKC-trained alumni extends well beyond the campus’ edge, so their activities are listed here as well.
Featured Event:
What: Kansas City Day at Municipal Auditorium
UMKC Athletics has teamed up Charlie Hustle to help celebrate everything great about Kansas City. Charlie Hustle has designed an exclusive Kansas City themed jersey that will be worn on this day only. The specially-designed jerseys, shorts and T-Shirts will be available for purchase at the game.
What: UMKC Women’s Basketball vs Omaha
Where: Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Children ages 5 and under receive free admission for all home games. Single tickets start at $7 each and can be purchased online.
What: UMKC Men’s Basketball vs William Jewell
Where: Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 4:05 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Children ages 5 and under receive free admission for all home games. Single tickets start at $10 and can be purchased online.
Dec. 7 – 13
What: Bernard “Step Buddy” Anderson Exhibit
Jazz musician Bernard “Step Buddy” Anderson was an early innovator in multi-media presentations, combining slide shows with live musical performances. As an impressive amateur photographer, removed from the context of the multi-media shows, Anderson’s images provide a unique and often surrealistic viewpoint of the Kansas City landscape from the late 1970s.
Where: Special Collections Gallery, Third Floor, UMKC Libraries, 800 E. 51st St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 9
It’s free.
What: UMKC Theatre: “Desire: An Evening of Plays Based on Six Stories by Tennessee Williams”
Directed by Darren Sextro, Tennessee Williams’s life-changing short stories depict loss of innocence, coming of age, fighting loneliness and isolation, and what it means to love and to lose.
Where: Studio 116, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 10
Tickets can be purchased from the Central Ticket Office online.
What: Stop and Smell the Roses, Man
Graphic Artist and soon-to-be UMKC graduate, Alexa Rose Di Trolio, has displayed the culmination of her senior thesis.
Where: Miller Nichols Library, 800 E. 51st St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 16
It’s free.
What: A Christmas Carol
Kansas City’s favorite holiday tradition is back for its 36th season. KC Repertory Theatre’s A Christmas Carol tells the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the curmudgeonly businessman who requires the intervention of a few spectral guides to understand the true meaning of Christmas and life. Complete with lively musical numbers, ornate costumes and dashing stagecraft, Dickens’ classic tale of hope and redemption continues to remind us what’s really worth celebrating – at the holidays, or any time!
Where: Spencer Theatre, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center; 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 24
Tickets are available from the KC Repertory Theatre online.
What: An Octoroon
UMKC Theatre and Unicorn Theatre present An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. An Octoroon, directed by Damron Russel Armstrong, transforms a 19th century plantation melodrama with a beautiful maiden, Indians and slaves into a theatrical event that is equally hilarious and moving, subversive and provocative. Part period satire, part meta-theatrical middle finger, it’s a shocking challenge to the racial pigeonholing of 1859 — and of today.
Where: Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 26
UMKC Connection: The Unicorn Theatre was started by three UMKC Theatre graduates. Tickets can be purchased online.
What: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Back at The Coterie by extraordinary popular demand, the beloved television classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. See all of your favorite characters as they come to life in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. It’s a colorful musical adventure that teaches us what makes you different can also be what makes you special. This production is directed by Jeff Church. Music direction is by Anthony Edwards and choreography is by Marc Wayne.
Where: The Coterie, Crown Center, Suite 144, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 31
UMKC Connection: Two UMKC graduate theatre students founded the Coterie.
For tickets and show times, visit the website.
What: The Fabulous Lipitones
What happens when a barbershop quartet loses a key member to a heart-stopping high B-flat? The three surviving members are scrambling to find a tenor before a national competition. When they hear golden tones being sung over the phone at an auto body shop, the three Lipitones are sure they have their fourth … but when they meet him in person, he’s not quite what they expected. An uproarious comedy with pitch perfect harmonies.
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster St., Overland Park, Kan.
When: Now through Feb. 12, 2017
For tickets and show times, visit the website.
UMKC Connection: Co-owners Dennis Hennessy and Richard Carrothers are both UMKC graduates and both were presented with honorary doctorates by the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences in 2012.
What: UMKC Women’s Basketball vs University of Missouri-St. Louis
Where: Swinney Recreation Center, 5030 Holmes, St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Children ages 5 and under receive free admission for all home games. Single tickets start at $7 each and can be purchased online.
What: UMKC Percussion Ensemble with guests Blue Valley High School Percussion Ensemble
The UMKC Percussion Ensemble will perform with special guests Blue Valley High School Percussion Ensemble. Performance pieces include Fellinger: Body Lotion; Casella: Stormbreak; Beethoven/Slawson: The Storm; Daughtrey: Spiraling Light; Higdon: Splendid Wood; Rodlan: Ritmica No. 6; and Hollinden: The Whole Toy Laid Down.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7
It’s free.
What: Ryan Snell, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Ryan Snell, tuba. Performance pieces include Danielsson: Concertante Suite; Plog: Tuba Sonata; York: Elegy for an Angel; and Stevens: The Liberation of Sisyphus.
Where: Central United Methodist Church, 5144 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7
It’s free.
What: The Santaland Diaries
David Sedaris’ hysterical tale of elfin’ woe is a hilarious send-up of his brief, misguided career as a Macy’s elf. Last year’s hit production returns, featuring a hilarious score of twisted holiday favorites against the twisted landscape of Sedaris’s unmatched wit. The Santaland Diaries skewers our sentimental love of all things Christmas—in a production that has become a beloved part of KC Rep’s annual celebration of the darker side of the holidays.
Where: Copaken Stage, 1 H & R Block Way, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Dec. 8 – 24
Tickets are available from the KC Repertory Theatre online. Take advantage of Crumpet Saver Dates: Dec 8, 9, 11 and 18 and save up to 25 percent off the regular price. The discount is automatically applied to the ticket price for eligible performances.
What: Canticum Novum
Performance pieces include Traditional: Veni, veni, Emmanuel; Llobet: El noi de la Mare (The Mother’s Boy); De Victoria: O magnum mysterium; Mangoré: Villancico de Navidad (A Christmas Carol); Britten: Jubilate Deo!; Bach: Jesus Christus, under Heiland BWV 665; Johnson: Lo How a Rose/The Rose; Chapman: Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella; and Vivaldi: Magnificat, RV 610a.
Where: St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Pkwy., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8
It’s free.
What: Composers’ Guild
Composition students of all degree levels present new works. Performance pieces include Landis: Flash Points; Landis: Helix; Yan: The Moon at the Fortified Pass; Sheffield: Elapse; Wing: Dance of Fog; Sprankle: String Quartet; Morel: Pulsar Fields; Muolo: 3 Short Works for Piano; Strawbridge: Piano Etude: Lepidopteran; Johnson: The View From Here; Comp 233: This Jumbled Mess; Schumacher: Concerto for Bass Clarinet; Yan: Almost Transparent Lilac; Hui: Galaxies of Sparkling Raindrops; and Greenwood: Garden Path.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8
It’s free.
What: Erik Augereau, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Erik Augereau, trombone. Performance pieces include Plog: Statements for Contrabass Trombone and Piano; Bozza: New Orleans; Tcherepnine: Andante, Op. 64; Szollozy: 100 Bars for Tom Everett; Baker: Five Water Songs; Verhelst: Devil’s Waltz; Bozza: Trois Piéces, I. Allegro; Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1, Op. 11 II. Andante Cantablie; and Bozza: Trois Piéces III. Allegro Vivo.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8
It’s free.
What: Devon Martene, Master’s Recital
This is a master’s recital for Devon Martene, horn. Performance pieces include Basler: Serenade for Horn and Piano; Hindemith: Sonata for Horn and Piano; and Brahms: Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40.
Where: Central United Methodist Church, 5144 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9
It’s free.
What: Sandra Fernandez, Lecture Recital
This is a lecture recital for Sandra Fernandez, flute, Echoes of the Andes: Folk Elements in Three Works for Flute and Piano by Ecuadorian Composers. Performance pieces include Freire: Sonata para Flauta y Piano; Estévez: Anécdotas Vueltas a Contar No. 1; and Guevara: Diálogos.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9
It’s free.
What: April Kim, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for April Kim, piano. Performance pieces include Fauré: Dolly Suite, Op. 56; Schubert: Fantasie in F Minor, Op. 103, D. 940; Dring: Trio for flute, oboe and piano; and Arnold: Suite Bourgeoise for flute, oboe and piano.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9
It’s free.
What: Lu Lu Yu, Master’s Recital
This is a master’s recital for Lu Lu Yu, violin. Performance pieces include Mozart: Violin Sonata in B-Flat Major, K. 454; Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor; and Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9
It’s free.
What: Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors
UMKC Opera Theatre presents Gian-Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, directed by Joseph DeSota.
Where: St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9
It’s free.
What: Chloe Stewart, Senior Recital
This is a senior recital for Chloe Stewart, soprano. Performance pieces include Donaudy: Amorosi miei giorni; Donaudy: Or che le rédole; Donaudy: Amor mi tiene in pugn; Schubert: Im Frühling; Schubert: Hanymed; Schubert: Liebeslauschen; Debussy: Beau soir; Debussy: Voici que le printemps; Debussy: Nuit d’étoiles; Moore: The Lake Ise of Innisfree; Moore: In the dark pine-wood; and Moore: On Music.
Where: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11
It’s free.
What: Saxophone Studio Recital
This is a saxophone studio recital featuring students from the saxophone studio of Zachary Shemon. Performance pieces include Yoshimatsu: Fuzzy Bird Sonata; Mincek: Ali; Lunde: Sonata; Bauzin: Sonate No. 1; Maurice: Tableaux de Provence; Tanada: Mysterious Morning III; Schulhoff: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (“Hot Sonate”); and Shostakovich/Evans: Festive Overture.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11
It’s free.
What: Shupei Wang, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Shupei Wang, violin. Performance pieces include Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218; Bach: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003; and Elgar: La Capricieuse, Op. 17.
Where: Old Mission United Methodist Church, 5519 State Park Rd., Fairway, Kan.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13
It’s free.