UMKC’s weekly arts, sports and culture 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:  Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Thursday, May 1, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
For the 7th year, UMKC male students, faculty and staff will don women’s high heels and walk a mile. The symbolic journey is taken to raise awareness of the painful experiences some women endure, and men’s roles in helping lower the potential for harm.

In 2001, Californian Frank Baird convinced several male friends to put on high heels and give men a part in ending rape, sexual assault, and gender violence. Baird reasoned that the more men learned about gender roles and relationships, the more women might be spared.

The march has grown and is now international in scope, known officially as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence.

Registration for the UMKC event gets each participant a t-shirt and a meal at the end of the walk. Students pay $15 if they bring their own shoes, $20 if shoes are provided by the Women’s Center. Non-students’ fees are $30 with shoes, $50 without. Walk-ins pay an additional $5. Meal-only costs are $7. Funds go to the UMKC Violence Prevention and Response Project.

What: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.
Where: University Playhouse area, 51st and Homes Street. Free parking for community members is available on the 5th and 6th levels of the Cherry Street Garage located at 51st Street and Cherry Street (click here for a map).
When: Thursday, May 1 (rain date Tuesday, May 6), 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, please call 816-235-1638.
Students pay $15 if they bring their own shoes, $20 if shoes are provided by the Women’s Center. Non-students’ fees are $30 with shoes, $50 without. Walk-ins pay an additional $5. Meal-only costs are $7.

What: UPB Unplugged, a live concert of show tunes from the Broadway hits “Wicked” and “Hairspray.” Hear Shoshana Bean, who sang the role of Elphaba in Wicked, and Rudy Currence, a Grammy award-winning producer.
Where: Student Union Theater
When: Friday, April 25, 2014. It starts at 7 p.m., but you’d better get there early and grab a good seat.
It’s free.

What: Women’s softball. Come watch the Roos finish out their season with a three-game sweep of the Bakersfield Roadrunners.
Where: Missouri 3&2 Complex, 9600 Blue River Road, Kansas City, Mo.
Tickets are $5.00, children 3 and under are free. Get more information at (816) 23-KCTIX.
When: Friday, April 25, a double header at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. One ticket is admission to both games.
Saturday, April 26, at noon.

What: Special screening of “Born this Way.”
This documentary reveals life among the underground gay and lesbian communities in Cameroon.
Where: UMKC Student Union Theater.
Free parking (Cherry St. Parking Garage Levels 5 & 6).
When: Tuesday, April 29, 2014, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
It’s free.

What: UMKC Theatre presents COMTEMPORARY ONE ACTS.
Where: Studio 116 in the Performing Arts Center.
When: Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, 2014, 7:30pm; Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, April 28 and 30, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free, but reservations are requested by calling 816-235-2782.

What: UPB Roos in the City – trip to Worlds of Fun
Where:  Contact bjfg8@mail.umkc.edu for details.
When: Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Contact bjfg8@mail.umkc.edu for details and cost, if any.

What: Women’s Soccer – Roos take on the Central Missouri Jennies.
Where: Durwood Soccer Stadium and Recreational Field.
When: Friday, April 25, 2014, at 7 p.m.
It’s free to current UMKC students with ID.
Contact Lance Wesson by email at wessonl@umkc.edu for more information.

What: Women’s Soccer – Roos meet Ft. Hays State Tigers.
Where: Durwood Soccer Stadium and Recreational Field.
When: Sunday, April 25, 2014, at 1 p.m.
It’s free to current UMKC students with ID.
Contact Lance Wesson by email at wessonl@umkc.edu.

What: Civil Rights Film and Scholar Series, “Slavery By Another Name.”
This movie details the years after the Civil War, when many thousands of African Americans were trapped in a system of forced labor.
Where: Miller Nichols Learning Center, Jeannette Nichols Forum. 800 E. 51st Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Sunday, April 27, 2014, at 2 p.m.
It’s free.

What: Design Speaks Series – Stefan Mumaw
Mumaw has spent 16 years in the creative design business for clients such as Pioneer, Sony and Coca-Cola.
Where: Fine Arts Building, Room 106.
When: Monday, April 28, 2014, at 4 p.m.
It’s free.

What: The New Theatre Restaurant presents, “Miracle on South Division Street,” a comedy by Tom Dudzick.
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster, Overland Park, Kan.
When: Now through June 15.
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: Observance of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Dedication of the Memorial to the Six Million.
The Jewish Community Center, Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish
Committee, and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education invite you to a commemoration:  the 71st anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and the 51st anniversary of the dedication of the memorial to the Six Million.
Where: Jewish Community Campus, 5801 West 115th Street, Overland Park, Ks.
When: Sunday, April 27, 2014, at 1:30 p.m.
UMKC Connection: Director of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education is UMKC graduate Jean Zeldin, Education ’71.

A list of ongoing arts events follows:

What:  New World Currency, solo exhibition by UMKC Studio Art and Art History student Christel Highland.
Where:  MLB Designs, 2020 Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo.
When:   Now through April 30.
It’s free.

What:  Two-person exhibition featuring Ron Anderson, UMKC Studio Art student.
The exhibit launches the opening of Farm to Market Bread’s new art space, and a raffle will be held to benefit Healthy Rivers Partnership and the Rose Brooks Center.
Where:  Hearth Gallery Art Space, 100 E. 20th Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When:  Now through April 30.
It’s free.

What:  The Center is a Moving Target, exhibition of 12 artists, including Ricky Allman, UMKC Associate Professor of Studio Art and Painting.
Where:  Kemper at the Crossroads, 33 West 19th Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When:  Now through August 1.
It’s free.
What:  Illuminated, a photography and multimedia exhibition of the work of Lacy Voight and international HALO youth, co-curated by Sara Camiscioni, UMKC Art History student.
Where:  OutPost Worldwide, 1919 Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo.
When:  Friday, April 4 through May 1.
It’s free.

What: Solo video exhibition, Pigeon
Where:  Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 4420 Warwick Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.
When:  Now until November 2, 2014.
UMKC Connection: Pigeon is the work of Barry Anderson, Professor of Studio Art – Digital Video & Motion Design
It’s free.