Photo credit: James Allison.

UMKC’s Weekly Arts 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 has made UMKC an arts and culture powerhouse. The influence of UMKC-based and UMKC-trained artists extends well beyond the campus’ edge, so their activities are listed here as well.

 Featured Event

The Conservatory Artist Series presents Radiate, Illuminate, Dance! The annual fall dance performance will feature UMKC Dance Division students in one of the area’s top performance venues – the Muriel Kauffman Theatre at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The event will draw on the Conservatory’s various strengths. The October 5 and 6 performances will feature the choreography of Conservatory dance faculty, including Associate Professor Sabrina Madison-Cannon’s Rapture; with music composed by Curators Professor Paul Rudy; performed by the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Associate Professor Joe Parisi.

Another dance, Serenade,will feature choreography by George Balanchine, accompanied by the Conservatory strings, conducted by Associate Professor Steven D. Davis.

The evening will feature a mix of modern and ballet dances.

“It’s an exciting, well-rounded concert with outstanding creativity and amazing talent,” Paula Weber, chair of the dance division, said.

Typically, dance performances are held in White Recital Hall, a rehearsal venue that is too small to do justice to most dance performances. For that reason, Weber is thrilled to bring Radiate, Illuminate, Dance! to a large, professional stage.

“The opportunity for our students is just tremendous. For them to have this professional experience on the undergrad level is quite amazing,” Weber said.

Tickets: $25 general; $10 for UMKC faculty, staff, and all students with ID.

What:Radiate, Illuminate, Dance!
Where: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6, both performances at 7:30 p.m.
Get more details.

 Friday, September 28 – Thursday, October 4

What:The Conservatory Connections series will feature Jane Carl on clarinet, Martin Hackleman on horn, and Robert Weirich on piano. This new series expands the partnership with the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance’s Academy and features the talents of award-winning faculty. Set in the dramatic, light-filled space of Lens 2 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, these intimate performances include music inspired by works in the museum’s collections.
Where: Lens 2 Event Room, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak Street Kansas City, Mo.
When: Friday, September 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Get more details.

What:Doctoral recital with Eric Jackson on horn.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Sunday, September 30, 5 p.m.
It’s free. Get more details.

What:Conservatory Chamber Orchestra performance.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Monday, October 1, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free. Get more details.

What:A student recital with Tatev Amiryan, composer.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Tuesday, October 2, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free. Get more details.

What:The Clothesline Project. This visual display bears witness to domestic and sexual violence. Stop by the Women’s Center (108 Haag Hall) to decorate a shirt and share your feelings and thoughts on how violence against women has affected you or your loved ones. Shirts will be displayed at the Oak Street Residence Hall, 5051 Oak St.
When: Monday, October 1 – Sunday, October 7
It’s free. Get more details.

What:The New Theatre Restaurant’s “Social Security,” features Barbara Eden, best known for her role in “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster, Overland Park, Ks.
When: Now through Nov. 4
UMKC Connection: Co-owners Dennis Hennessy and Richard Carrothers are both UMKC graduates and both were presented this year with honorary doctorates by the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences.
Get more details.

What:The Coterie Theatre presents “The Presidents Tour,” which tours schools this fall. Students will learn about 44 presidents in 45 minutes.
Where: Call the Coterie Theatre to schedule a performance.
When: Performances begin Oct. 4.
UMKC Connection: Two UMKC graduate theatre students founded the Coterie.
Get more details.

What:The American Heartland Theatre’s “Making God Laugh” is a play about God and family.
Where: American Heartland Theatre, 2450 Grand Boulevard, Suite 314, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through October 21.
UMKC Connection: The theatre’s founder, Jim Assad, was a UMKC graduate.
Get more details.

What:The Kansas City Symphony will host an Inside the Music Series, a violin master class with Vadim Gluzman.
When:Saturday, September 29, at 11a.m.
Where: Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
UMKC Connection:The Kansas City Symphony was founded by faculty member Karl Krueger in 1933.
It’s free, but reservations are required.
Get more details.