W♥M

West Side Story (musical) August 20-25, 2024 at Starlight Theatre, Kansas City MO

West Side Story Playbill from Starlight Theatre Kansas City, MO)   KANSAS CITY SHOWTIMES   Tue      08/20/2024 8:00PM Wed     08/21/2024 8:00PM Thu      08/22/2024 8:00PM Fri        08/23/2024 8:00PM Sat       08/24/2024 8:00PM Sun      08/25/2024 8:00PM     UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES WORLDWIDE   Sep 5-7* Nottingham, UK Duchess Theatre Sep 8* Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse Sep 25-Oct 11 Vienna, Austria Volksoper Wien Oct 3-6* Lynchburg, VA The Academy Center Of The Arts Oct 10-27* Rochester, NY OFC Creations Theatre Center Dec 7-29* Il Sistina, Rome, Italy Dec 31 Nantes, France Cité des Congrès (Film with Live Orchestra) Jan 1 Angers, France Centre de Congrès (Film with Live Orchestra) Jan 16-19* Florence, Italy Teatro Verdi Jan 31* Houston, TX Brown Theatre, Wortham Theater Center (w/orchestra and chorus) Feb 13-15 Nashville, TN Schermerhorn Symphony Center (Film with Live Orchestra) Feb 13-16* Columbus, OH Ohio Theatre (Opera with ballet) Feb 27-Apr 13* Fort Atkinson, WI, The Fireside Dinner Theatre May 9-11* Indianapolis, IN ​The Indianapolis Zoo (w/Indianapolis Opera) Jun 5-Jul 6* Dexter, MI Maas Encore Theatre Jul 29-31 Barcelona, Spain Gran Teatre del Liceu (Concert Version)   *= Full Production Read More Broadway in Kansas City Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album....

The metro’s east side becomes the location again for West Side Story--

For the ninth time in the venue’s history and first since 2007, West Side Story, the modern classic re-telling of the Romeo and Juliet doomed love story, has returned to the live stage in Kansas City, playing at Starlight Theatre through this Sunday. We were fortunate to take in the opening night, on a picture-perfect evening under the stars and a near-full moon.

The NYC-set tale of two young, idealistic lovers who find themselves caught between warring street gangs, is still universal, and the underlying themes of senseless violence, unfounded fear of immigrants, and the toxicity of racism, are unfortunately as seemingly urgent as ever.

The tale of the two rival gangs- the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks is set in the era of the play’s beginnings, roughly mid-50's Upper Western Side of Manhattan and exposes the struggle to survive in a world that can hate, be prejudiced, and be deadly, as a young couple (Tony and Maria) in their blossoming love, strives to rise above it all.

As a production, West Side Story has had a bit of a recent rebirth, with a Broadway revival directed by Ivo van Hove opened in late February 2020 (unfortunately closing just weeks later due to the pandemic) followed by the Academy Award-winning 2021 film written by Tony Kushner and directed by Steven Spielberg.

This version remains primarily faithful to the original (1957 stage play and resulting 1961 film), not trying to modernize any facet or make it more politically correct for the times (all of which is a good thing).

Like the Jerome Robbins original, it is carefully choreographed as much or more than traditionally acted, with expressive half-dance/half-mime ballets representing the battles and gang rumbles. The lush and dramatic Leonard Bernstein score (with Stephen Sondheim lyrics) still accentuates the action in this distinctively unique pairing.

The songs themselves, have been part of the cultural ether for more than six decades, so at least a couple are familiar to even the most non-theater going attendee. Additionally, its overall influence in terms of the choreography, songwriting, and storytelling, have influenced numerous productions since, and continue to do so.

The other unique characteristic of this particular staging is that a great deal of local talent is being utilized – from Musical Director Anthony Edwards who deftly interprets the Bernstein score with an all-local orchestra, to the supporting characters and the Teen Ensemble, made up of youth from Starlight’s Community Engagement program, all in their best form and visibly excited to be a part of this run.

As far as we can tell, the show is indeed touring, but just the principal roles, not the entire production, which is very different from most Broadway road shows. In some markets, there is an orchestra and chorus (presumably local); in others, only the classic film is playing with a live music soundtrack. So, while it’s a little confusing, rest assured the property is circulating through the US and Europe, though what form it may take, depends on where, and its resources.

Speaking of the primary players, the standout lead was of course, the role of Maria, played by Sabina Collazo, herself a native of Puerto Rico, and who brings a multi-octave, operatic voice to the character that soars with every song. Spencer Larue in the role of Tony, brings a common man empathy to his young man in love, blinded and somewhat idealistic that love itself can change the neighborhood cultures enough and as much as it changed himself.

Stage sets were several in number and gave the look of 1950’s NYC, aimed spotlights heightened the drama of the rumble and solo performances, and the venue’s video screens helped to better see the emotions on the actor’s faces, in greater detail as the story unfolded.

West Side Story is a modern classic that's almost always worth catching, and the opportunity to also see the quality of so much local talent- in the production, playing the music, and behind the scenes, is an extra and appreciated reason to see this version of the timeless show.

 (Photos provided by Johan Persson via their website) / Click on any image to enlarge and see in full) 

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

Cyrano de Bergerac (KC Rep) at Spencer Theatre (UMKC), Kansas City MO Sept 5-24, 2023

KC REP 60th Season 2023-2024 Cyrano de Bergerac Sep 5 – Sep 24, 2023 Written by:Edmond Rostand Freely Adapted by:Martin Crimp Directed by:Associate Artistic Director Nelson T. Eusebio III Located at:Spencer Theatre What the Constitution Means to Me Oct 24 – Nov 12, 2023 Written by:Heidi Schreck Directed by:Amy Anders Corcoran Regional Premiere Located at:Copaken Stage Direct from Broadway, playwright Heidi Schreck’s play breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. Ghost Light 2023  Oct 13 – Oct 14, 2023 Conceived and Directed by:Stuart Carden 4th Annual Haunted Night of Songs and Stories from KC’s Cultural Crossroads A Christmas Carol 2023 Nov 21 – Dec 24, 2023 Based on the book by:Charles Dickens Adapted for the Stage by:Geoff Elliott Directed by: Associate Artistic Director Jason Chanos Located at: Spencer Theatre Little Shop of Horrors Apr 30 – May 19, 2024 Book and lyrics by: Howard Ashman Music by:Alan Menken Directed by:Artistic Director Stuart Carden Located at:Spencer Theatre Nina Simone: Four Women Feb 13 – Mar 3, 2024 Written by:Christina Ham Directed by:Malkia Stampley Co-Produced withMilwaukee Repertory Theater Mark Clements, Artistic Director, Chad Bauman, Executive Director Located at:Copaken Stage KCRep for All Community Tour Mar 31, 2022 – Mar 17, 2024 KCRep is more than just a stage, we’re your theatre! Nina Simone: Four Women Community Tour Presenting free world-class theatre throughout Kansas City, KCRep for All is our community tour. You’ll see the same stories from our stages come to life in community centers, public libraries, and senior centers. Read More Broadway in Kansas City Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album....

Follow your nose, it always knows…

Waitaminute, that was for a breakfast cereal, though the old adage is often true, but what if there were no “nose” …?

That, and several other updates mark the first production of KC Rep’s diamond 60^th Anniversary season, Cyrano de Bergerac. The classic love triangle is a tale of an outgoing dramatist gifted with the art of language, who secretly loves the radiant Roxane; but she in turn, instead loves the handsome-but-inarticulate Christian.

The production is noteworthy as it features the first Asian-American lead in actor James Chen (who has previous appearances in The Walking Dead, Iron Fist, and The Mandolorian among other credits), a genre-fluid culturally diverse cast, and another first of an Asian-American director in Nelson Eusebio III (also KC Rep’s Associate Artistic Director.)

This updated version has one foot in the traditional setting of 17^th Century France, and one foot in more modern times, being freely adapted from Edmond Rostand's original 1897 tale by Martin Crimp, which first saw an audience at London’s Playhouse Theatre in late 2019 (starring James McAvoy, no less).

It’s considered a “modern remix” of the classic story, running 2hr15min with an intermission, in a production recommended for ages 14 and up, due to profane language, war simulations, and brief strobe lights.

“A word of warning-- the performers will be using all of the aisles...and some are armed with weapons!”, Artistic Director Stuart Carden would say in his introduction, and that word of caution would ring true as lights dimmed and the play started in a very meta style, with some actors acting as crowd members, even goading the action that was taking place on stage.

The dialogue was primarily in rhyming verse- in not quite the hip-hop cadence of “Hamilton”, but it did often manage to have some flow as characters spoke or had monologues. The key elements of the original story are intact, as Cyrano has an epic battle against one hundred men that shows off his skills as an expert duelist.

Convinced of his own ugliness, he offers to act as go-between by representing his cohort Christian as he goes about wooing Roxane, setting in motion a love triangle in which each character is torn between the lure of physical attraction, and the seductive power of words.

Most that are familiar with the tale, immediately associate the character with his trademark nose, one that (spoiler alert) is absent in this version, and is not entirely explained away, though it may only represent a metaphor for the barrier between the man and the love he’s always desired.

2021’s “Cyrano” film with Peter Dinklage also made the same decision to eschew the appendage. In spite of that, actor Chen is a relatively attractive man, which makes his verses about his unsightly physical appearance, sometimes hard to believe.

Ito Aghayere plays a confident Roxane, Christopher Rivas is the dashing (but not-so-verbose) Christian, and Khalif Gillett provides some comic relief as an exuberant Lignière, and the staging, lighting, and effects, all mostly worked. The rest of the cast is joyous and well-suited to their roles as well.

Not to further compare it to “Hamilton” but it does have some similarities in bridging the old and new, that does take some time in getting accustomed to (telling the story of the nation’s first Treasury Secretary via hip-hop rhymes probably seemed like a “big reach” when it was first pitched too). Suspending any traditional familiarity of the story and just allowing yourself to get caught up in this modern version, is the best strategy to judge this variation on its own unique merits.

Just follow your nose, and come with open eyes and an open mind, for this version of Cyrano de Bergerac, playing at the Spencer Theatre on the UMKC campus, through Sept 24. The nose may be missing, but the power of words remain as heavy as ever.

Tickets / Info: Cyrano de Bergerac – KCRep

 (All images courtesy of the production and KC Rep- click on any image to enlarge and see in full)    

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

CYRANO DE BERGERAC- Ito Aghayere

CYRANO DE BERGERAC CAST

CYRANO DE BERGERAC- JAMES CHEN

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

CYRANO DE BERGERAC REHEARSAL

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

Hamilton (musical) at The Music Hall, Kansas City MO thru April 2, 2023 (review)

HAMILTON playbill HAMILTON - US Tour Dates Mar 28 - Apr 7 Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall Apr 4 – May 7 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre Apr 11 – Apr 23 Richmond, VA Altria Theater Apr 25 – May 7 Indianapolis, IN Murat Centre May 9 – May 28 Albuquerque, NM Popejoy Hall May 9 – May 21 Appleton, WI Fox Cities PA Center May 24 – Jun 4 Oklahoma, OK Civic Center Music Hall Jun 6 – Jun 18 Wichita, KS Century II Concert Hall Jul 5 – Jul 16 El Paso, TX The Plaza Theatre Jul 19 – Jul 30 Lubbock, TX The Buddy Holly Hall Aug 2 – Aug 13 Lincoln, NE Lied Center Aug 17 – Sep 10 Anchorage, AK Alaska Center Sep 13 – Dec 3 Chicago, IL Nederlander Theatre Jan 30 – Feb 25 (2024) Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre Mar 13 – Mar 24 (2024) Miami, FL Arsht Center Read More Broadway in Kansas City Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album....   AMERICAN THEATRE GUILD WEBSITE

The cultural phenomenon has finally returned to a live stage in our area--

HAMILTON, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s game-changing musical and history lesson that tells the story of America then, via America now, has returned to downtown Kansas City, for a two-week engagement at the Music Hall, through Sunday, April 2.

The revelatory score blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, chronicling the rise and fall of founding father Alexander Hamilton and has blossomed into being a lasting creative piece that has transcended the theater genre, to have a rippled effect on politics, education, television, and the arts itself.

Based on Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography, its book, music, and lyrics are by Lin-Manuel Miranda (who dazzled us initially when he was barely known and we saw the first tour of his previous musical, In the Heights) with direction by Thomas Kail.

With choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, the show would go on to win 11 Tony® Awards, as well as Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors, with so many in the cast becoming seemingly overnight superstars in the process.

Growing exponentially from its 2013 workshop roots, the show itself has now become so huge, it features an ongoing NYC run, international and Canadian versions, and three concurrently touring US companies – for Kansas City, we were witness to the “Angelica” cast; which proved to be most appropriate as her character and the actress portraying her (Stephanie Umoh), was one of the show’s many highlights.

To be a successful Hamilton cast member, one not only has to be able to act, move, and sing, as most Broadway and touring productions would require; but an additional unique and key element of having lyrical flow is an essential skill necessary to successfully pull off the complicated and often hyper-paced, hip-hop styled lyrics.

Additionally, the nature of hip-hop songs are so much about being “in the moment”- relevant and urgent, both musically and lyrically themed at their time, but often seem to lose their impact ten, five, or even one year later. Hamilton’s lyrics seem to be the exception, perhaps because they double as a civics and history lesson, but are also mostly solid songs, that even the biggest non-hip-hop fan, will still be humming a chorus to, as they leave the theater.

During his relatively short life, the orphaned, Nevis-born Alexander Hamilton served as George Washington's chief aide, and was the first Treasury Secretary, instilling a financial foundation for the nation that still remains mostly intact today.

He had streaks of impetus judgment though and was despised by many of his fellow Founding Fathers, eventually gaining a longtime nemesis in Aaron Burr. Hamilton’s character imperfections, like the show itself, are flaws that add, not take away from the overall charm and appeal. During the show, duels are embellished with expressive dance movements and congressional debates morph into modern-day rap battles to advance the narrative.

For our Wednesday (3/22) performance, a few of the diverse cast was replaced by standbys, notably Kansas City native Bryson Bruce in the lead. From the playbill listing, he’s able to perform in almost any role, and smoothed into the primary, after finding some footing during the opening number, with the hometown crowd quickly accepting him in the role.

All three performers as the Schulyer sisters were strong, particularly stage veteran Umoh whose voice soared during her solo songs along with Josh Tower, who plays a solid Aaron Burr. The nimble and restless Deejay Young as Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson was ever-animated and brought a light playfulness to both roles (in a kind of Katt Williams/vintage Little Richard way), and Peter Matthew Smith’s pomp King George was the ideal blend of snarky vengefulness and spite, to keep the audience enthralled during his three brief on-stage appearances.

The stage design mirrors the Broadway production (complete with rotating center and a rolling staircase), lighting was ahem, spot-on, particularly in the contrasts between the high-energy numbers and the more sullen and sparse scenes of loss, and the precise choreography never missed a beat.

A decade later, Hamilton remains young, scrappy, and hungry and in Kansas City, the only place to be (provided you can find a very still-in-demand ticket) is at the Music Hall, the room where it happens.

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(Hamilton is playing at the Music Hall through Sunday Aoril 2)

(all photos courtesy of the official touring company website, click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

John C ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 21-28, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Kimbra More than somebody that you used to know-- New Zealand-born Kimbra is back, touring in support of her second album, The Golden Echo (Warner Bros. Records) …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Mostly good reports coming out of Springsteen’s recent KC stop, despite having no sax player due to a positive Covid test, just before showtime. At least half their band has been affected, but the tour rolls on, like most traveling shows these days.

P!nk just announced for late October and Jelly Roll is also headlining T-Mobile Center in late August, and Guns n' Roses will play Kauffman Stadium on Sept 23, so the Fall is already starting to take shape.

This week has a good mix from different genres, with a few being very sold out and/or limited tix remaining, so lock in your seat while you can!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from February 21st-28th.

TUESDAY FEB 21

International Anime Music Festival, The Midland, $45

This inaugural tour brings virtual music superstars to 37 venues and is the first time the popular VTubers (virtually generated animated YouTubers) and Vocaloids (virtual singers with computer generated voices) will appear on stage together.

Stars Kizuna AI Original Singeroid "#kzn", vocal duo HIMEHINA, vocal trio MaRiNaSu, the North American debut of fan favorite GUMI, and pop twins LiLYPSE, the show will be a live DJ-led multimedia concert. Featuring brand new songs and never-before-seen content, the tour brings these characters to life on LED and digital projections. These characters are fan-favorites of international anime-music, generating over 62 million Google searches, and more than 1.2 billion combined views.

National Geographic Live Presents Wild Cats of India with Sandesh Kadur, Kauffman Center, $33.50-$68.50.

With landscapes spanning the Himalaya, arid plains and jungles, India is home to an unmatched diversity of wild cats. Photographer / filmmaker Sandesh Kadur is on a mission to highlight the country’s lesser-known felines in order to protect their future. Through his images and video, you’ll get a unique and up-close look, and the presentation includes an audience Q&A.

WEDNESDAY FEB 22

 THURSDAY FEB 23

Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $23-$25

This rising rock band melds metal, country and Latin music with radio-friendly pop melodies. Formed back when front man Giovannie Yanez was working at a pawnshop, the Stephenville, TX-based band has had great word of mouth related to their live shows and toured last year with Classless Act, who we saw headline to end the year.

In 2019, the band even supported country star Jason Aldean to a crowd of 36,000 at Globe Life Park stadium. With their third full-length, Tejano Punk Boyz, they remain intent on bringing that passion to each and every live set. “Anytime we’re onstage the most important thing is connecting with the crowd in a way that makes them feel like they’re part of the show,” says Yanez.

SunSquabi, recordBar, $17

Incorporating aspects of many genres including electronic, jam band, and funk, among many others the trio is Chris Anderson (drums), Josh Fairman (bass, synth), and Kevin Donohue (guitar, keys, production). They just performed on the Jam Cruise last month and are now making their way around the country. Megan Hamilton also on the bill.

Gary Allan, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

The longtime Country artist will be performing his greatest hits including “Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain,” "Watching Airplanes," "Nothin' On But The Radio", and others, in a relatively intimate setting. We saw him years ago in Nashville, and his smooth voice and solid songs, are just as strong as ever.

FRIDAY FEB 24

DakhaBrakha, Polsky Theatre. SOLD OUT

This show is Very Sold Out! Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, this unique “ethno chaos” band creates a world of unexpected new music.

They began in 2004 by avant-garde theatre director Vladyslav Troitskyi, with a name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language and their shows are always staged with a strong visual element. Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, Russian and Australian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in their native culture. Support Ukraine!

Fit for a King w Northlane, Alpha Wolf, Kingdom of Giants, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$28.

****POSTPONED TO FEB 27th*****

Supporting their latest metalcore opus, The Hell We Create (released in Oct via Solid State Records). This lineup is packed so prepare for early doors, a long night, and fervent headbanging.  Limited tix left - Act Quick!    

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $29-$69

Celebrating their 30^th Anniversary, the band named themselves after an autograph by blues legend Albert Collins, and since then, they’ve managed to celebrate and revitalize jazz and swing music and bring a sense of joy and fun to audiences.

They began their 30th (officially in April 2023) celebration early by gathering eight other musicians they’ve played with throughout the years, for a total of 17, and delivering a big band sound in their hometown of Ventura, CA and now their show again hits the road-- no telling how many will be on stage, but it will be crowded!

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “The Future” feat. Lee Langston, Kauffman Center. $33.50-$68.50

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra embraces the future of music through performance and education. The Future is built wholly upon that tenet, providing the stage for this art to emerge, featuring current and future legends one and all. Along with the big band, vocalists Eboni Fondren and Lee Langston will put their modern spin on tunes from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, and Sam Cooke. In addition, some of Kansas City’s rising stars, students from Soundwave Academy and KCK Community College, will join onstage.

SATURDAY FEB 25

Blue October, The Truman, $39.50-$75.00

Out on their Spinning the Truth Around Tour, the longtime Houston rock band has an album out by the same name, as part of a planned ambitious triple-album, with the second part due out next month. Always putting on a great live set, we caught them last in Minneapolis in 2019.

Greensky Bluegrass, Uptown, $29-$50

The veteran Kalamazoo-based Americana outfit is out on the road to support their just-released Courage For The Road: Fall 2021 live record, along with cuts from their previous eight studio albums. The five-piece features Anders Beck [dobro], Michael Arlen Bont [banjo], Dave Bruzza [guitar], Mike Devol [upright bass], and Paul Hoffman [Mandolin].

Summer Breeze performing Let It Be, recordBar, $20.

KC’s own soft/yacht rock hits tribute band, whose playlist usually includes the likes of Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Loggins, and Steely Dan, turns its attention to the classic late-era Beatles classic, performed in its entirety, along with special surprise guests!

SUNDAY FEB 26

Kimbra w Tei Shi, recordBar, $22

The New Zealand native who saw her US breakthrough via Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” has returned with new tour and full-length, A Reckoning, with “Foolish Thinking,” as its third single. We caught her live back in 2018 in Minneapolis and she’s even better in concert than you expect.

Opener Tei Shi is a Canadian Colombian singer with music inspired by indie pop, shoegaze and R&B sounds, she's supporting her new EP BAD PREMONITION featuring single, “¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?”. It follows her 2020 EP, Die 4 Ur Love, and features production from herself, Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jacob Portrait, and more. We last caught her headlining back in late 2017.

MONDAY FEB 27

ICM Presents Pianist Claudio Martinez Mehner, 1900 Building, $30 ($10 students)

As part of Park ICM’s 20th Anniversary, a rare U.S. performance by the classical master pianist of a virtuosic work! Friends since their days in school, Park ICM Founder / Artistic Director Stanislav Ioudenitch invited Mehner to come and play Isaac Albeniz’s Iberia, considered one of the most challenging works for piano written. This collection by Spanish composer Albeniz evokes the spirit of Spain and the region of Andalusia in particular, with rhythms and harmonies gleaned from Spanish folk music.  Bravo, Bravo!

TUESDAY FEB 28

Stephen Sanchez w Cece Coakley, recordBar, $15

The buzzing Nashville-based singer/songwriter has returned with his brand-new single, “Evangeline” (via Mercury Records/Republic Records) and he’s out on a 32-date tour.

He became popular on social media, amassing over two million views and a deal with Republic Records. With this opportunity, the young singer wrote another hit song, “Kayla,” in 2021, and a few months later added his EP, What Was, Not Now. Sanchez continued to accumulate hits with his first full album, Easy on My Eyes in 2022.

Joey Molland and Badfinger, Knuckleheads, $38.50-$55

Known for such classic hits as "Baby Blue," "No Matter What" and "Day After Day," Badfinger was one of the first bands to be signed by The Beatles when they decided to start their own record label. Paul McCartney wrote their breakthrough single "Come and Get It," while George Harrison produced both "Day After Day” and "Baby Blue", the latter of which went to #1 decades later, after being featured on the final episode of AMC's "Breaking Bad".

As the only surviving member of this legendary pop band, Joey Molland (a Brit but MN-based for decades) continues the legacy of their music, while also continuing to create new music.

Six (musical), Feb 28- Mar 5, Music Hall, $136+

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived! From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of heartbreak into a celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over (as they are saying!)

SIX has won 23 awards in the 2021-22 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

Much anticipated to play locally, the entire run is just about sold out so secure any remaining tix now!

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

My Fair Lady (musical) at Kauffman Center, Kansas City MO Feb 7-12, 2023 (review)

My Fair Lady playbill MY FAIR LADY Tour Dates AMES, IA Feb 13 STEPHENS AUDITORIUM MIDLAND/ODESSA, TX Feb 15 WAGNER NOEL PERF. ARTS PALM DESERT, CA Feb 17 - Feb 19 MCCALLUM THEATRE SAN JOSE, CA Feb 21 - Feb 26 SAN JOSE CPA PORTLAND, OR Feb 28 - Mar 5 KELLER AUDITORIUM DAVENPORT, IA Mar 8 ADLER THEATRE (RIVERCENTER) SIOUX FALLS, SD Mar 10 - Mar 11 WASHINGTON PAVILLION LIMA, OH Mar 13 VETERAN'S MEMORIAL CIVIC CENTER AKRON, OH Mar 14 - Mar 15 EJ THOMAS HALL LEXINGTON, KY Mar 17 - Mar 19 LEXINGTON OPERA HOUSE SAINT PAUL, MN Mar 21 - Mar 25 ORDWAY CENTER MIAMI, FL Mar 28 - Apr 2 ADRIENNE ARSCHT CENTER  GAINESVILLE, FL Apr 3 PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PA WASHINGTON, DC Apr 6 - Apr 9 THE NATIONAL THEATER GRAND RAPIDS, MI Apr 11 - Apr 16 DEVOS HALL BOSTON, MA Apr 18 - Apr 30 CITIZENS BANK OPERA HOUSE UTICA, NY May 1 - May 2 STANLEY THEATER PAC READING, PA May 3 SANTANDER PAC ROANOKE, VA May 4 ROANOKE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WILMINGTON, NC May 6 - May 7 WILSON CENTER ORLANDO, FL May 9 - May 14 DR. PHILIPS CENTER SPRINGFIELD, MO May 16 - May 18 HAMMONS HALL (MSU) LITTLE ROCK, AK May 19 - May 21 ROBINSON CENTER HALL COLORADO SPRINGS, CO May 23 - May 25 PIKES PEAK CENTER Read More Broadway in Kansas City Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album....   AMERICAN THEATRE GUILD WEBSITE

It’s all in the language--

The importance of communication in general, and phonics in particular, is maybe no more highlighted than in the classic musical, My Fair Lady.

After a quarter-century away, the Lerner & Loewe version of this well-known story of “Cockney to Cultured” is enjoying a current revival, via the Lincoln Center Theater's production (they also brought back The King & I and South Pacific) and director Bartlett Sher’s vision.

We were fortunate enough to catch opening night of their six-night run at the beautiful Kauffman Center for the Arts in downtown Kansas City.

My Fair Lady is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play Pygmalion, with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story revolves around young Eliza Doolittle (played famously in previous incarnations by the likes of Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn) as a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from Professor Henry Higgins (perhaps actor Rex Harrison’s best-known role) a respected phonetician, so that she may pass as a cultured and proper lady.  Despite his cynical disposition and difficulty relating to the opposite sex, Higgins finds himself attracted to her.

The musical's initial 1956 Broadway production won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and set a record for the longest run of any musical on Broadway (2,717 performances!) up to that time. Many revivals followed, and the 1964 film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The themes of the source material haven’t exactly aged well, in our current post-”Me Too movement” culture, with characters maybe once charming and endearing, now thought of differently; but it should all be taken in historical context (like a period-piece novel, film, or painting), as a reflection of the particular times it was initially composed.

And besides, the true strength of this musical are the songs themselves, familiar to almost everyone - “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live” (and as evidenced by the humming and whistling of them we heard in the halls at intermission- at the restroom, water fountain, and cocktail bar lines).

The touring company for My Fair Lady has been on the road for some time, and is very schooled by this point, in presenting a flowing and professional staging. Sets were shifted in a lively manner, cues and prompts were hit, and the orchestra (mostly hidden in the front pit) was well-rehearsed and nicely mixed. A word of warning that the Cockney accents are strong and sometimes indecipherable (especially at the beginning), but as ears acclimate and the story continues, it becomes less of an issue.

Related, this version is a straight-ahead and traditional telling of the tale- no modernization, no American accents, or changes in setting, which preserves its source origins, but can also lack any potential surprises.

Lead Madeline Powell (as the scrappy young Doolittle) is on her first national tour and has found an ideal showcase for her vocal versatility, which stretches from a raspy Cockney drawl to operatic-height solo songs. Jonathan Grunert as Prof Higgins portrays an accurate blend of ego, steadfastness, reserve, and self-absorption and cohort John Adkison as wingman Col. Pickering displays similar, but with more lightheartedness and whimsy.

If you haven’t returned to the theater since our collective isolation years, perhaps the path back to again witnessing the unique language that can only happen on a live stage, is with a classic and traditional musical- familiar in its themes and songs, warm like a comfortable bowl of English stew. My Fair Lady is that musical.

===

(My Fair Lady is playing at the Kauffman Center through Sunday, February 12)

(all photos courtesy of the official touring company website, click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY

John C ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 8-14, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Country Stampede Country Stampede at the Heartland is an outdoor music festival featuring country music stars, camping, and more in Topeka, Kansas at Heartland Motorsports Park, held annually since 1996. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Ahh, the month of love!

KC is showing some love to live shows as well, with a handful this week that are sold-out, and it looks like a busy week at recordBar, The Uptown, and in Lawrence-- get out and see something live while those temps remain mild.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings through the end of the month- February 8th-14th.

WEDNESDAY FEB 8

My Fair Lady (musical), Kauffman Center, $56.50-$121.50

(Continues through Feb 12- look for our review of opening night soon!)  From Lincoln Center Theater (who brought The King & I and South Pacific), comes the Lerner & Loewe classic. Director Bartlett Sher’s production boasts classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” and “On the Street Where You Live,” it tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a professor determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.”

Garrison Keillor and Company (comedy/spoken word), Uptown, $39-$69

An evening of stand-up, storytelling, audience song, and poetry starring Garrison Keillor and featuring pianist Dan Chouinard, vocalist Prudence Johnson and musician Dean Magraw.

There are sung sonnets, limericks and musical jokes, and the thread that runs through it is the beauty of growing old. There is the News from Lake Wobegon, a town booming with new entrepreneurs, makers of artisanal firewood and gourmet meatloaf, breeders of composting worms, and dogs trained to do childcare. Minnesotans and beyond have been enraptured by this world of small-town humor.

Magic City Hippies w Capyac, recordBar SOLD OUT

Miami alt-pop psych-funk party starters are back on tour in support of third album Water Your Garden. We saw them open for Hippo Campus in Mar 2017 on their first-ever national tour, knowing bigger things were to come...and were right. 

THURSDAY FEB 9

Alastair Greene, Knuckleheads,$10

A night of blues rock from a member of the Alan Parsons Live Project from 2010 to 2017, Greene would go on to play with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas and Sugaray Rayford Band, as well as his own band. Greene formed his own Alastair Greene Band in 1997 and subsequently released eight albums, including two live sets and a compilation record, over nearly 20 years. Howard Mahan to open.

FRIDAY FEB 10

Ian Munsick w Ashland Craft, Ned LaDoux, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, SOLD OUT

One of the true highlights of last summer’s Country Stampede Festival was seeing this Wyoming native live, who is currently out on his mostly sold-out Long Live Cowgirls Tour and as well as the local date, is headlining the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the first time.

The tour, named after the song, that has garnered over 74.5 million global streams to date and topped SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown, compliments the news of Munsick’s sophomore LP White Buffalo, due April 7th (on Warner Music Nashville). The album is an ode to the wild landscapes and complex characters of Munsick’s Wyoming, including a real-life glimpse of the bond between Native American and cowboy culture.

Ashland Craft and maybe fellow WY native (and son of legend Chris LeDoux), Ned LeDoux opens as support (scheduled, though we don't see his name listed on the venue's website).  

Chapel Hart w Lucas Hoge, Feb 10, Uptown, $25-$125

The Poplarville country music trio featuring sisters Danica Hart and Devynn Hart and cousin Trea Swindle is out on their Glory Days Tour as they release new music, which includes a song of the same name."This single is so exciting for us because we are currently living in our ‘Glory Days,'" the group said in a news release. "The beauty of it all is that there are some folks who've been where we are, there are some who are in it with us, and there are some who haven’t made it there yet.”

Shlump, Encore at Uptown, $25

Dubstep DJ / producer spins on his Alien Trip Tour

 

 

David Lowery, Knuckleheads, $20

What the world needs now…is a mathematician, writer, musician, producer and serial entrepreneur based in Richmond, VA and Athens, GA. While studying mathematics and computers at the UC-Santa Cruz in the early 1980’s, Lowery founded the critically acclaimed ensemble Camper Van Beethoven and associated record label Pitch-a-Tent Records, helping jump start the modern Indie Rock movement and would later go on to even further success with band Cracker. The one-man show will be an intimate look into early indie.

(Note- Fall 2022 date in Lawrence, KS was previously postponed and is now taking place the night before at Lawrence Arts Center, free)

SATURDAY FEB 11

Voices of Mississippi feat Ruthie Foster, JCCC- Midwest Trust Center, $25+

More than a concert – a unique entertaining and informative Blues and Roots event!  "Voices of Mississippi” is a new multimedia event that celebrates the music, art and storytelling traditions of the people of Mississippi, based on the 2019 double Grammy Award–winning source. The program features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings and rare photographs by folklorist William “Bill” Ferris, who will also serve as host.

The show features musicians Ruthie Foster and Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, Sharde Thomas and Chris Mallory, all of whom have deep ties to Mississippi. With an array of photos, film clips, stories and live music, “Voices of Mississippi” paints a powerful picture of a time and place that remains an essential piece of the American cultural fabric.

Adam Sandler, T-Mobile Center, $34.50-$164.50

The Sandman is back to his stand-up roots (though on an arena stage) promising a special surprise guest and at each show, Sandler pays his respects to his former “Saturday Night Live” cast mate Chris Farley with his original song “Farley.”

The tour leads up to Sandler set to receiving the 24th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor next month. Some who have received the award in recent years include Tina Fey, Jon Stewart, Richard Pryor, Will Ferrell and Carl Reiner.

SUNDAY FEB 12

Super Bowl LVII- Go Chiefs!

MONDAY FEB 13

We Came as Romans, Granada-Lawrence, $25-$28

Out on their Darkbloom U.S. Headline Tour, a 24-date run with support from ERRA and Brand of Sacrifice. Guitarist Joshua Moore commented, "We're stoked to announce we'll be hitting the road again on the Darkbloom headliner! — get ready for a heavy show! We're excited to be able to play a ton of new songs for our fans, we're so grateful for your support over the last four years!"

Oliver Hazard w The 502s, recordBar, $14

Oliver Hazard is an indie-folk band from Waterville, OH whose sound is self-described as a “ramshackle of uprooted folk-stomp,” though band member Mike Belazis says he would consider adding the word “melodious.” The project of musicians Mike, Devin East, and Griffin McCulloch. They’re big enough in their hometown, they even have their own summer festival.

FL Tik Tok sensations The 502s are a sextet comprised of cousins Ed and Jake Isola, who grew up across the street from one another (in house number 502!), and also features kindergarten friends Matt Tonner and Joe Capati, plus Sean Froehlich and Nick Melashenko who joined the gang when they all met at college together.

Blue Man Group, Feb 13, 14, Lied Center- Lawrence,$21-$60

Celebrate with a loved one with a show with a show everyone should see at least once! More than 50 million people around the world have experienced the smash hit phenomenon. It’s everything you know and love—signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and comedy—the men are still blue, but the rest is all new! Featuring original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction, and more.

TUESDAY FEB 14

Eleri Ward, recordBar,$20

The singer/songwriter will perform selections from her new album Keep A Tender Distance (via Ghostlight Records). The album is an introspective folk guitar exploration of Stephen Sondheim's musical theater canon and is the follow-up to A Perfect Little Death, her viral hit debut take on the Sondheim catalog. We caught her live last July with Josh Groban and came away very impressed.

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 1-7, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Death Cab for Cutie before we get to Death Cab for Cutie, I have to explain that I've seen the band before in 2001 at the 7th Street Entry for $5. People who live in Minnesota know that the 7th Street is a tiny venue. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

February already?! And how ‘bout those...Chiefs!!

The chill of winter has hit (thankfully only 5” of snow this season) but there’s hot concerts inside to enjoy. In addition to the below, two massive Midland announcements yesterday for The Smile (Radiohead offshoot) and Sparks, are worthy alternative choices to huge Country pop shows held those same nights. Save those pennies, as Valentine’s is just around the corner too.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings through the end of the month- February 1^st- 7th.

WEDNESDAY FEB 1

Folk Alliance international Conference, Feb 1-5, Westin Crown Center $150-$550

The Folk Alliance International Conference, presented by Folk Alliance International, is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community (crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions and always has hundreds of artists attending. The theme of the 2023 gathering is Facing the Future: Sustainability in Folk Music.  Some 148 or more artists, hailing from everywhere, are scheduled to be in attendance. 

One such featured artist is country-folk-leaning singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris, who will perform on February 3rd at 9:15p in Shawnee Mission, ahead of her forthcoming sophomore album Boomerang Town, with first single “Missing Someone” already out. 

Harris began cultivating the album back in 2016, when a shift in the political landscape had ushered in a new level of cultural polarization (as we all know).  For someone who grew up outside of Waco, TX, Harris believed the values instilled by her parents were not entirely in line with how people had now considered Christians in particular. So, she felt she had to re-evaluate things, and it was from the intersection of these social, personal, and political currents, that the album and its songs were born.

THURSDAY FEB 2

Hairspray (musical), Lied Center- Lawrence, $21-$60.

Broadway’s Tony Award-winning popular musical comedy is back on tour! Join teen Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and bigger hair) change the world?

Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” Hairspray is “fresh, winning and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times in this all-new touring production will reuniting the creative team led by director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

FRIDAY FEB 3

The Judds w Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride T-Mobile Center, $24.50-$394.50

Following the tragic passing of her mother, Wynonna Judd made the announcement that the duo’s intended outing – The Judds: The Final Tour will be continuing, thanks to the overwhelming love and support of fans. Wynonna, along with the help of many of her musical friends, including Kelsea Ballerini and Martina McBride on this stop, will celebrate a lifetime of timeless music and heart.

“I have never felt so overwhelmed by this much love and support!” says Wynonna. “The emotions that flow while listening to the different generations of fans sing back to me each night has been other-worldly. In my 39 years of performing, these shows have truly been some of my absolute favorite experiences ever and I look forward to making new memories with the fans and guest artists in 2023.”

Hairball, Ameristar Casino, $20+

Few do the hair band/heavy metal tribute better than this longtime act, now in its 23rd year of bringing blasts from the past. With their beginnings being first in the Minneapolis area, we’ve seen them over the years and their costumes/routines, and setlist of familiar jukebox songs, are all top-notch to make for a fun and very entertaining concert experience.

Destroy Lonely w/ Homixide Gang, lil 88, Granada- Lawrence, $37-$89.

Following the release of his latest project, NO STYLIST, the Atlanta rapper is embarking on a tour with label mate Homixide Gang, and lil 88 providing support. With a sonically ambitious project, a handful of viral singles under his belt and a legion of dedicated fans, the rapper's tour will be sure to impress.

Joe Pera, Uptown, $39-$49

On his Comedy In Ice: Winter Standup Tour 2023 Pera brings an all-new show. He’s a standup comedian, writer, and filmmaker originally from Buffalo, NY, best known for his current Adult Swim series, ‘Joe Pera Talks With You’, Season 3 of which, is now available to stream on HBO Max.

Marauda w Versa, Drinkurwater, The Truman, $15-$50

Hamish Prasad, professionally known as Marauda, is a Sydney-based EDM producer who has taken the world by storm with his provocative noise which summons a darkness within the souls of his listeners. “Through his relentless, punishing live sets he devours his followers into the wretchedness of depravity, hybrid soundscapes and malevolent force” says the press release...ummm, wow.

GUNNAR, Tin Roof, FREE!

Could be the next big thing! The 21-year-old up & comer is signed with star maker Scooter Braun and is out on tour this February. A social media sensation, he's amassed 22M global streams, 145K followers on IG, and 250K followers on TikTok. And recently released his single "They Didn't Tell Me, "a grunge/rock/pop number. Plus, Free!  

Grab those tix while you can!

Kansas City Symphony- Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, Feb 3, 4, 5, $40-$120

Featuring Gonzalo Farias, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

She fought for civil and women’s rights. She won eighteen Grammy® Awards. She is the most charted female artist in history. She was the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was named the greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone. The story of Aretha Franklin is the story of America in the second half of the 20th century. “Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” celebrates the singer, the icon, the leader, the woman.

(DL Hughley, Feb 3, Kansas City Improv Comedy Club – moved to Sept)

SATURDAY FEB 4

Ott, Madrid Theatre, $25-$55

The UK-born producer of electronic, dub, ambient, trip hop, ethnic electronica, livetronica has worked with Sinéad O'Connor, Embrace, the Orb, and Brian Eno, and has achieved recognition since 2002 for his own psychedelic dub tracks with latest album being last year’s, Heads. And FYI, his stage name is a reference to ethnobotanist Jonathan Ott who coined the term "entheogen".

SUNDAY FEB 5

Small Glories, Feb 5, Polsky Theatre, $25+ ($5 students)

The roots duo of Cara Luft and J.D. Edwards are a musical partnership planted on the Canadian prairies, with hummable songs and a unique stage banter. Luft was an original member of harmony sweethearts The Wailin' Jennys and whose parents were folk singers influenced by the activist Pete Seeger.

Their sophomore album, Assiniboine & the Red, was released the summer of 2019 on Compass/Red House Records as a follow-up to the band’s debut album, 2016’s Wondrous Traveler.

MONDAY FEB 6

Death Cab for Cutie w Momma (re-scheduled date), The Midland, SOLD OUT

Touring in support of latest album, Asphalt Meadows, area fans have been anticipating this show since it was re-scheduled from last October.

Their tenth studio album (via Atlantic Records) was released to widespread acclaim last September. Produced by GRAMMY® Award-winner John Congleton (St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Wallows). An acoustic version of the record, recorded in December, will drop in March.  

The band heads to Europe following, then returns later in the year for a special tour with The Postal Service reunion, meaning singer Ben Gibbard does double-duty nightly.

LA indie rockers Momma provide support, in support of new full-length, Household Name.

TUESDAY FEB 7

Bush w / Starcrawler, The Midland, $32.50-$69.50

The Gavin Rossdale-fronted group is touring in support of their latest album, The Art of Survival

“We’ll always love playing those big summer shows and the big stages, but we wanted to do some shows where we could get close to the diehard Bush fans again,” Rossdale said in a statement. “We’re excited for this run coming up.” LA band Starcrawler opens, in support of the new She Said.

My Fair Lady (musical), Feb 7-12, Kauffman Center, $56.50-$121.50

From Lincoln Center Theater (who brought The King & I and South Pacific), comes the Lerner & Loewe classic. Director Bartlett Sher’s production boasts classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” and “On the Street Where You Live,” it tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a professor determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” Runs through Feb. 12th.  

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Hadestown (musical) at The Music Hall, Kansas City Jan 17-22, 2023 (review)

Hadestown Playbill   HADESTOWN Tour Dates Jan 24 - Jan 29 MADISON, WI Overture Center for the Arts Jan 31 - Feb 19 CLEVELAND, OH Playhouse Square Feb 21 - Feb 26 BUFFALO, NY Shea’s Buffalo Theatre Feb 28 - Mar 5 SCHENECTADY, NY Proctors Mar 7 - Mar 12 HARTFORD, CT Bushnell Mar 14 - Mar 19 ROCHESTER, NY RBTL’s Aud. Theatre Mar 21 - Mar 26 PROVIDENCE, RI PPAC Mar 28 - Apr 2 WORCESTER, MA Hanover Theatre Apr 4 - Apr 9 HERSHEY, PA Hershey Theatre Apr 11 - Apr 16 BALTIMORE, MD The Hippodrome Theatre Apr 18 - Apr 30 CINCINNATI, OH Aronoff Center May 2 - May 7 MILWAUKEE, WI Uihlein Hall May 9 - May 14 GRAND RAPIDS, MI DeVos Perf. Hall May 16 - May 21 LOUISVILLE, KY The Kentucky Center May 23 - May 28 FAYETTEVILLE, AR Walton Arts Center May 31 - Jun 4 RICHMOND, VA Altria Theater Jun 6 - Jun 11 WASHINGTON, DC The National Theatre Jun 27 - Jul 2 FORT WORTH, TX Bass Performance Hall Jul - Aug?? TORONTO, ON Royal Alexandra Theatre Sep 12 - Sep 17 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Orpheum Theatre Read More Anaïs Mitchell Anaïs Mitchell was put together to encourage voter engagement drive in conjunction with the League of Women Voters. The “Use Your Voice Tour 2016,” produced by Columbia Artists ....

A journey we were happy to go down--

Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album is currently playing at The Music Hall, a historic Art Deco-era downtown Kansas City venue (which opened in 1936), and we were fortunate enough to attend the touring production’s opening night.

This fated folk opera musical was originally conceived over fifteen years ago by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell (a member of Bonny Light Horseman, and who we caught playing live solo, last May in St. Paul, MN), who brought the initial vision first to a small Vermont stage in 2006, and later turned it into a 2010 concept album with musical friends (including Ani DiFranco and Justin [Bon Iver] Vernon).

The musical would eventually graduate to larger stages and director Rachel (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) Chavkin was brought in to collaborate and help realize its finished form.

The core story dates back over 2500 years- the two mythic ancient Greek tales of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and also King Hades of the Underworld and his wife Persephone, both updated with modern flair and expert melodic songwriting.

At its heart, it is a love story and additionally highlights the dichotomy of doubt against faith, industry versus nature, and fear against love.

Set here in a depressed dust bowl town, the underworld becomes an underground mine and foundry, ruled by Mr. Hades who attracts workers with thin promises of warmth, food, and work, and who is married to the conflicted Persephone, allowed to spend six carefree months without abandon, and then has to go back underground for the remaining six months of the year.

Orpheus is a poor guitar-playing (instead of a classic lyre) musician, who relies on the goodness of others as he works on his ideal song soon falling in love with Eurydice, a drifter who ends up wooed into the underworld under false pretense.

Orpheus pledges to follow her and he eventually sings the song he’s long been writing– the essence of which helps convince Hades to..., all of which is narrated by the inimitable Hermes.

===

The touring production faithfully recreates the immersive stage design from the Broadway production, featuring a seven-piece band tucked in high corners (including strings and trombone, but with the drummer backstage for this version), and a base floor that rotates in several scenes to help drive the narrative.

Lighting was dramatic and well-planned, and each of the cast was in good voice and form. Male lead Chibueze Ihuoma was exceptional, showing a wide dexterity of pathos, good guitar skills, and a supremely honed falsetto (maybe the best we’ve heard since seeing Prince), that’s worth the ticket price alone.

Nathan Lee Graham as Hermes takes the audience jubilantly along for the ride, young female lead Hannah Whitley already shows some seasoned chops on this, her first national tour, and the workers/fates supporting cast even includes an Overland Park, KS native Lindsey Hailes.

Finally arriving on tour after the hype and Tony Award® wins, Hadestown mostly delivers with a fresh, contemporary telling of a classic tale "of the world we dream about, and the one we live in now.”

(Hadestown is playing at the Music Hall through Sunday, January 22)

(all photos courtesy of the official website, click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

HADESTOWN

John C ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com