College Town. City Life.

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: 2nd Annual Musical Bridges Francis Family Fellow: Stanford Thompson
The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is pleased to welcome educator and performer Stanford Thompson, founder of “Play on, Philly!” and Chairman of El Sistema USA. Thompson is the 2nd annual Musical Bridges Francis Family Fellow for 2015.  He will work with students from Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo., through the Conservatory Academy’s Musical Bridges program March 31 – April 3. Thompson will also work with UMKC Conservatory students, including the trumpet studio and the Volker Brass Quintet during his residency, and with the UMKC Black Studies program. The film Crescendo! The Power of Music, a documentary by filmmakers Jamie Bernstein and Elizabeth Kling, will be screened at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1 in the Truman Forum Auditorium at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, 4801 Main St, Kansas City, Mo. The film follows students in two El Sistema-inspired youth orchestra programs – Play On, Philly! and the Harmony Program in Harlem, New York City. The film is free and open to the public. Thompson will also speak about “Humanities Education for the Whole Person” from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2 at the Black Studies House, 5303 Holmes. Rd., Kansas City, Mo. This event is free and open to the public.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Center for Performing Arts, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Wednesday, April 1, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For tickets and information, visit the Musical Bridges website.

 March 25 – April 1

What: HAIR: Retrospection
The Kansas City Repertory Theatre presents this concert documentary event. Directed by KC Rep’s Artistic Director Eric Rosen, the musical that defined a generation and brought rock music to the theatrical stage, HAIR: Retrospection captures the essence of the revolution and passion of the 1960s. In addition to its legendary score, this production will feature documentary interviews with original Broadway artists and continues KC Rep’s tradition of reimagining the classic musical. Book and lyrics are by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. Music is by Galt MacDermot. It is produced for the Broadway stage by Michael Butler and originally produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival Theatre. This production contains adult language and situations, and images of brief nudity. It is appropriate for ages 17 and older.
When: March 20 – April 12
Where: Spencer Theatre, James C. Olson Center for Performing Arts, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
For tickets and information, contact KC Rep.

What: Women Playing Hamlet
A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere by William Missouri Downs and directed by Cynthia Levin. Endearingly awkward Jessica has just been cast as Hamlet and she’s freaking out. Armed with a snappy PowerPoint, a Hamlet handbag and text messages from Patrick Stewart, she dodges the slings and arrows of outrageous characters played by an all-female cast. It’s time for her to woman up or sell out when faced with the greatest role ever written.
Where: Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through March 29
For tickets and show times, visit the Women Playing Hamlet website.

What: Angels in America
Angels in America is written by Tony Kushner and directed by David Cromer. The Kansas City Repertory Theatre production is a world-class revival of this modern classic. The most honored play in a generation, winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Angels in America melds love, hate, religion and politics into a uniquely American epic. Sensitively reimagined, Angels in America changed the landscape of American theatre. This production is appropriate for ages 17 and up. It contains adult language, sexual content and nudity.
Where: Copaken Stage, 1 H&R Block Way, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through March 29
For ticket prices, show times and information, visit the KC Repertory Theatre website.

What: Icarus Saxophone Quartet of the 399th Army Band (Guest Artist Recital)
The guest artist recital is with Icarus Saxophone Quartet of the 399th Army Band: Specialist Kevin Arbogast, soprano saxophone; Sergeant Danielle Lomonof, alto saxophone; Sergeant Kevin Lomonof, tenor saxophone; and Specialist Devin Thomas, baritone saxophone. They will perform FILLMORE: Rolling Thunder March, BACH: Concerto nach italiänischem Gusto (Italian Concerto), BWV 971, ITURRALDE: Suite Héllenique and MASLANKA: Songs for the Coming Day.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Monday, March 30, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free.

What: Design Speaks: Visiting Designer Lecture with Marie Langton
Marie Langton works for Shaughnessy Paper.
Where: Fine Arts Building Room 106, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Monday, March 30, 4 p.m.
It’s free.

What: Cesar Chavez Day
Where: Haag Hall Room 204, 5120 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Tuesday March 31, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
For additional information, call 816-235-6704.

What: Volker Brass: UMKC Graduate Fellowship Brass Quintet
Volker Brass, the UMKC Conservatory Graduate Fellowship Brass Quintet, will feature performances by Charles Calloway and Alex Caselman, trumpets; Matthew Haislip, horn; Austin Peiffer, trombone; and Brielan Andersen, tuba. Their pieces will include LUTOSŁAWSKI: Mini Overture for Brass Quintet; KAMEN: Quintet for Brass; ARUTIUNIAN: Armenian Scenes; TRADITIONAL, arr. Henderson: Amazing Grace; GERSHWIN, arr. Lube: “Bess, you is my woman now” from Porgy and Bess; arr. Douglas: The Saints (Variations on a Traditional Gospel Hymn); and POLLACK: That’s a Plenty.
When: Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
It’s free.

What: Softball vs South Dakota State University
Strike out leukemia at this double header and support the UMKC Softball home opener. A portion of ticket sales this day will benefit both the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Rally for Allie.
Where: 3 & 2 Complex, 9600 Blue River Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Tuesday March 31, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Tickets start at $5. To purchase tickets, visit the website.

What: Unplugged
Where: Student Union Coffeehouse Stage, 5100 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Wednesday, April 1, Noon – 2 p.m.
It’s free.

What: Sarah Frisof, flute and Ellen Bottorff, piano (Guest Artist Recital)
The guest artist recital features KU faculty members Sarah Frisof, assistant professor of flute, and Ellen Bottorff, lecturer, collaborative piano. They will perform music by Leclair, Ernő Dohnányi, Walter Gieseking, Daniel Pesca, and Béla Bartók (arr. Paul Arma).
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Wednesday, April 1, 3 p.m.
It’s free.

What: Saxophone Studio Recital
This recital features students from the saxophone studio of Zachary Shemon, with Dan Velicer, piano.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Wednesday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free.

What: Design Speaks: Visiting Designer Lecture with Julie Cortes
Julie Cortes is a copywriter and founder of KC Freelance Exchange
Where: Fine Arts Building Room 106, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Wednesday, April 1, 4 p.m.
It’s free.

What: The Muñeca Project: An Exhibition by David Ford
For the last 35 years, David Ford has pursued an interest in Guatemalan culture. He first traveled there in the 1980s, during its civil war, as an observer for Amnesty International, bearing witness to the potential violence in the region. In 2009, while visiting the lakeside market town of Panajachel, an object caught Ford’s eye—a muñeca, or doll. Vendors use these plastic doll busts with braided hair to demonstrate the various styles of hair wraps marketed to tourists. The Muñeca Project incorporates econometrics into drawings, paintings and installations ultimately confronting issues of classical political economy and post-colonial theory.
Where: UMKC Gallery of Art, Fine Arts Building, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through April 3.
It’s free. For information, visit the UMKC Gallery of Fine Arts website.

What: The New Theatre Restaurant presents, “Forever Plaid”
This internationally acclaimed musical revue tells the story of four young, eager, male singers who in 1950 meet their demise in a bus crash on the way to their first big concert. Every evening they return from Heaven to posthumously fulfill their dreams, to perform the concert that never was.
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster St., Overland Park, Kan.
When: Now through May 3
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.
For tickets and show times, visit the website.


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