UMKC’s weekly arts, culture and sports roundup

Every 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: “Women’s Basketball Plaza Lights Classic”

The University of Missouri-Kansas City will host the Women’s Basketball Plaza Lights Classic Nov. 29 and 30.

The UMKC Women’s Basketball team will go head to head against Sam Houston State at 1 p.m., Friday Nov. 29 in Swinney Recreation Center, 5030 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo. This will be a special blackout game for Black Friday. Free blackout t-shirts will be available for the first 500 fans.

Later, in the same venue, Eastern Illinois will play the University of Alabama at Birmingham at 3:30 p.m. The next day Sam Houston State will go against UAB at 1 p.m. UMKC Women’s Basketball will play Eastern Illinois at 3:30 p.m.

Of course, the women’s team isn’t the only group hitting the court this weekend. The UMKC Men’s Basketball team will play University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 7:05 p.m., Nov. 30, in Municipal Auditorium, 301 W 13th St., Kansas City, Mo. Free schedule magnets will be available for fans.

During every game, UMKC Athletics will be collecting donations for Harvesters Community Food Network. Bins will be set up in the Swinney Recreation Center lobby for the collection of canned goods and toiletry items. Prizes will be raffled off during the tournament for those who donate.

What: Women’s Basketball Plaza Lights Classic.
Where: Swinney Recreation Center, 5030 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Nov. 29-30.
Get more details on the UMKC Athletics website.

Friday, Nov. 29 – Thursday, Dec. 5

What: UMKC Theatre presents “Almost, Maine,” a play by John Cariani, comprised of nine short vignettes that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town called Almost, Maine.
Where: UMKC James C Olson Performing Arts Center, Studio 116, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo
When: Nov. 29- Dec. 8.
Learn more on the Central Ticket Office site.

What: Musica Nova, a UMKC Conservatory ensemble, will be directed by Zhou Long with special guest composer Alexandra Gardner.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2.
It’s free. Learn more on the UMKC calendar.

What: The Clothesline Project. This international campaign recognizes the time between Nov. 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.
Where: Health Sciences Building, 2464 Charlotte St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Nov. 26 – Dec. 10.
It’s free. Learn more on the UMKC calendar.

What: The Sonance Media Exhibition and Interdisciplinary Event Series will present digital media, performance, and installation-based work every week in November and the first week of December.  Special performances this week include Electret and Gemini Revolution. In Electret, Associate Professor Ricky Allman and local artist Kurt Flecksing engage viewers in a performance with homemade synthesizers, moving paint and sound waves in liquid. Gemini Revolution will include a local band performance, with visuals by Professor Barry Anderson’s digital video and motion design students.
Where: Gallery of Art, Fine Arts Building, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Exhibit runs through Dec. 6. Electret will take place at 11:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 2. Gemini Revolution will take place 11:30 a.m., Tuesday Dec. 3.
It’s free. Read the press release on UMKC’s website.

What: Quilted Friendship: The Art of NedRa Bonds and Nancy Dawson. Quilted Friendship, an exhibition organized in support of the Hero Quilt Project and curated by current Art History student Anna-Maria Kretzer, will feature quilts made by Bonds and Dawson as well as quilts from the Hero Quilt Project.
Where: Miller Nichols Library, first floor, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 15.
It’s free. Learn more on the Art History website.

What: Exhibition by UMKC Studio Art adjunct faculty, Dylan Mortimer. His exhibition, “Illuminate,” will be on display at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.
Where: Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan.
When: Now through Feb. 9.
It’s free. Get more information on the Nerman Museum website.

What: Garry Noland, UMKC graduate, presents “Floor Samples and Test Patterns,” an exhibition of new floor- and wall-mounted sculpture incorporating found and re-used materials.
Where: Studios INC, 1708 Campbell, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Dec. 20.
Get more information on the Art History website.

What: “Never Too Late.” Six- time Emmy nominee George Wendt stars in this comedy with his real-life wife, actress Bernadette Birkett.
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster, Overland Park, Kan.
When: Nov. 6- Jan. 14.
UMKC Connection: Co-owners Dennis Hennessy and Richard Carrothers are both UMKC graduates and both were presented in 2012 with honorary doctorates by the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences.
Get more information on the New Theatre website.

What: Solo exhibition with Christel Highland, current Studio Art/Art History student.
Where: Bespoke Salon, 1919 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Through March 31.
Get more details on the Bespoke Salon website.

What: Composers’ Guild performances, featuring new music by student composers of all degree levels.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3.
It’s free. Get more information on the UMKC calendar.

What: The UMKC Opera Theatre presents two one-act Christmas operas by Richard Shephard: “Good King Wenceslaus” and “St. Nicholas,” directed by Dale Morehouse, conducted by Robert Bode.
Where: St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Pkwy., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3.
It’s free. Get more information on the UMKC calendar.

What: The conservatory chamber orchestra directed by Robert Olson, with graduate assistant conductor Ramiro Miranda and guest faculty artist Joseph Genualdi, violin.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4.
It’s free. Get more information on the UMKC calendar.

What: Composition Professor Paul Rudy leads composition students in an improvisatory electronic music ensemble.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5.
It’s free. Get more information on the UMKC calendar.

What: Conservatory Wind Ensemble Directed by Joseph Parisi, the Conservatory Wind Ensemble presents a side-by-side concert with Blue Valley North High School. Featuring guest faculty artists Keith Benjamin, trumpet and JoDee Davis, trombone
Where: Blue Valley North High School, 12200 Lamar Ave., Overland Park, Kan.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5.
It’s free. Get more information on the UMKC calendar.

What: Conservatory Chamber Orchestra Directed by Robert Olson, with graduate assistant conductor Ramiro Miranda and guest faculty artist Joseph Genualdi, violin.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4.
It’s free. Get more information on the UMKC calendar.

What: The Kansas City Repertory Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol.”
Where: UMKC’s Spencer Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Nov. 22- Dec. 26.
Get more details on the theatre’s website.

What: The Kansas City Repertory Theatre presents “The Santaland Diaries.”
Where: Copaken Stage, 1 H and R Block Way, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Nov. 29- Dec. 24.
Get more details on the theatre’s website.