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: 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.
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6
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: 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 Men’s Basketball vs South Dakota
Where: Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 6:35 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30
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.
What: Conservatory Wind Ensemble
The Conservatory Wind Ensemble, directed by Joseph Parisi, will perform the following pieces: Balmages: Fanfare Canzonique; Bernard: Divertissement pour Instruments á Vent, Op. 36; Guömundscóttier: Overture from Dancer in the Dark; Cobb: Russian Rag for Saxophone Sextet; Chenette: Parade of the Elephants; Barroll: Laf’n Sax; Udow: A Bird Whispered, “Your Children Are Dying”; Scarlatti: Sonata in D Minor, K. 9; Scarlatti: Sonata in E Major, K. 20; and Shostakovich: Two Scarlatti Pieces, Op. 16.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30
Tickets are $8; $6 for seniors; and free for UMKC faculty, staff and all students with UMKC or student ID. Tickets can be purchased from the Central Ticket Office.
What: IMP Ensemble
The Improvisational Music/Media Performance Ensemble (IMP) is directed by Dr. Paul Rudy.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1
It’s free.
What: UMKC Conservatory Student Chamber Music
UMKC Conservatory students of all degree levels perform chamber music.
Where: Diastole, 2501 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1
It’s free.
What: Conservatory Wind Symphony
The Conservatory Wind Symphony, directed by Steven D. Davis, will perform the following pieces: Tippett: Praeludium for Brass, Bells and Percussion; Beethoven: Rondino in E-Flat Major, WoO 25; Varése: Octandre; Reed: Symphony No. 3; and Schmitt: Dionysiaques.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1
Tickets are $8; $6 for seniors; and free for UMKC faculty, staff and all students FREE with UMKC or student ID. Tickets can be purchased from the Central Ticket Office.
What: Madeline Tarantelli, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Madeline Tarantelli, horn. Performance pieces include Neuling: Bagatelle; Berg: Op. 2; Miller: Hunting Songs; Long: Tipsy Howl; Schuller: Trois Hommages; Yenque: Tanguito; and Magin: Between Us Now.
Where: Central United Methodist Church, 5144 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2
It’s free.
What: Narong Prangcharoen Studio Recital
Students of Narong Prangcharoen will perform.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Noon, Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Cheng-Hao Kuo, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Cheng-Hao Kuo, violin. Performance pieces include Mozart: Sonata for Violin and Piano in E Minor, K. 304; Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in G Major; and Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 (“Death and the Maiden”).
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Noon, Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Chun Hang Huang, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Chun Hang Huang, violin. Performance pieces include Beethoven: Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 (“Ghost”); Moszkowski: Suite for Two Violins and Piano in G Minor, Op. 71; and Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 (“Death and the Maiden:).
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Victor Mortson, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Victor Mortson, tuba. Performance pieces include Telemann: Sonata in F Major; Newman: Capriccio; Forbes: The Grumpy Troll; Glazunov: Elegie, Op. 17; Smith: Teutonic Tales; and Beasley: Four Miniatures.
Where: Central United Methodist Church, 5144 Oak St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Herin Cho, Lecture Recital
This is a lecture recital for Herin Cho, violin. Performance pieces include Yun: Königliches Thema for Violin Solo; and Yun: Kontraste: Two Pieces for Violin Solo.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Jordan Voth, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Jordan Voth, piano. Performance pieces include Prokofiev: Sonata No. 9 in C Major, Op. 103; Janáček: Sonata in E-Flat Minor “From the Street”; and Schumann: Fantasie in C Major.
Where: Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, Kan.
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Conservatory Choirs: A Season for Giving
The Conservatory Choirs, directed by Robert Bode and Charles Robinson, present A Season for Giving, the 14th annual choral concert to benefit the Harvesters Community Food Network. Non-perishable food items and monetary contributions to Harvesters will be accepted. Performance pieces include Holmes: Noel; Macmillian: O Radiant Dawn; Wade: O Come, All Ye Faithful; De Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium; Memley: Ave Maria; Holst: In the Bleak Midwinter; Gibson: Salve Regina; Narverud: Quest of the Kings; Decruck: Sonata in C-Sharp Minor; Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium; Forrest: Hark the Herald Angels Sing; Johnson: Lo How a Rose/The Rose; Traditional: Angels We Have Heard on High; Mendelssohn: Weihnachten; McKelvy: Deck the Halls in 7/8; Averitt: Rise!; Knecht: Go Tell it on the Mountain!; Pelz: The First Noel; and Handel: Joy to the World.
Where: Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Xueli Liu and Hui Yao, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Xueli Liu and Hui Yao, duo piano. Performance pieces include Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro; Mozart: Sonata in F Major, K. 497; and Mozart: Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
It’s free.
What: Erin Graham, Master’s Recital
This is a master’s recital for Erin Graham, oboe. Performance pieces include Arnold: Sonatina for Oboe & Piano, Op. 28; Telemann: Fantasia No. 2 in A Minor; Jacob: Seven Bagatelles for Solo Oboe; Andriessen: Trio for Flute, Oboe and Bassoon; and Ravel: Piéce en forme de Habanera.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Noon, Sunday, Dec. 4
It’s free.
What: Wen Zhang and Gayoung Park, Duo Recital
This is a duo piano recital for Wen Zhang and Gayoung Park. Performance pieces include Schubert: Marche Militaire Op. 51, No. 1 in D Major for piano, four hands, D. 733; Schubert: Four Polonaises for piano, four hands, Op. 75, D. 599; Brahms: Sixteen Waltzes for piano, four hands, Op. 39; Shin Na: The Music for Two Pianos; Adrian: Water Lilies for Two Pianos; and Chen Yi: China West Suite for Two Pianos.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4
It’s free.
What: Xin Shao, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Xin Shao, tenor. Performance pieces include Vivaldi: Amato ben; Vivaldi: Lascera; Vivaldi: Sento con quel diletto; Vivaldi: La Farfalletta; Chausson: Nocturne; Chausson: Les Papillons; Chausson: Le temps de lillas; Chausson: Sérénade Italienne; Chausson: Les Heures; Chausson: L’aveu; Griffes: Five Poems of Ancient China and Japan; and Bo: The story of Love.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4
It’s free.
What: UMKC Graduate Fellowship Woodwind Quintet
The UMKC Conservatory Graduate Fellowship Woodwind Quintet will perform these pieces: Reicha: Wind Quintet in E Minor, Op. 88, No. 1; Fine: Partita for Wind Quintet; De Falla: Andaluza, from Four Spanish Dances; and Francaix: Quintette No. 2 pour instruments à vent.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4
It’s free.
What: Conservatory Chamber Orchestra
The Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, directed by Robert Olson, will perform the following pieces: Haydn: Symphony No. 92 in G Major (“Oxford”); Ginastera: Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23; and Stravinsky: Danses Concertantes.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6
It’s free.
What: Shannon Lowe, Senior Recital
This is a senior recital for Shannon Lowe, voice. Performance pieces include Handel: Figlio d’alte speranze, HWV 113; Mendelssohn: Neue Liebe; Strauss: Ich wollt ein Sträusslein binden; Mendelssohn: Die Nacht; Strauss: Frühlingslied; Fauré: Notre amour; Fauré: Aurore; Fauré: Automne; Fauré: Fleur jetée; and Duke: From the Sea.
Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 11 E. 40th St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6
It’s free.