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"The Nutcracker" proves again why it is an enduring KC tradition

"The Nutcracker" proves again why it is an enduring KC tradition

by Laura Vernaci

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

Kansas City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is a timeless, classic production and has become a well-deserved local Christmas tradition. For the most part, the production remains the same from year to year - Tchaikovsky's score and Todd Bolender's choreography - even the scenery and costumes haven't changed much in the past several years. What makes each performance unique and exciting - or not - is the performer's interpretations. A dance review.

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Reviews

Live - from Overland Park...

Live - from Overland Park...

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

New Theatre's "Run For Your Wife" is pure farce. Mild mannered taxi driver John Smith, has two wives living in different parts of town. After attempting to stop a mugger, John is questioned by the police and hailed as a hero by the press. The whole fiasco leaves him scrambling to cover his tracks as detectives and his wives chase him across town.

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Of voice and viols

by Megan Browne Helm

Of voice and viols

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

Julianne Baird has a reputation for being one of the world's leading interpreters of Baroque vocal music. Her expressive soprano voice has been described by the Washington post as "one of the most extraordinary voices in the service of early music." I had heard about her and seen her name headlining at the Boston Early Music Festival for years, but this was my first chance to hear her live.

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Strong showing for the Kansas City Chorale

by Andrea Montgomery

Strong showing for the Kansas City Chorale

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

The Kansas City Chorale, led by Artistic Director Charles Bruffy, gave a superb performance of Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols at the beautiful Asbury United Methodist Church on Tuesday, December 15. The talented 24-member choir is currently in their 28th season and has performed worldwide as well as released numerous well-received and award-winning recordings.

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KC Ballet and KC Symphony present "The Nutcracker"

by Gayle G. Hathorne

KC Ballet and KC Symphony present "The Nutcracker"

Mon, Dec 21, 2009

Opening night of the Kansas City Ballet's 37th production of "The Nutcracker" illuminated holiday themes of generosity and the value of children on a level beyond the glamour of music and dance when local patron of the arts, Julia Irene Kauffman took the podium to conduct the Overture. A musical review.

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Articles : KCM News

KCM receives a Small Arts Grant Program Award from the Francis Family Foundation

by KCM Staff

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

KCMetropolis.org is a recent recipient of a Small Arts Grants Program Award from the Francis Family Foundation. This grant will be used for FY 2009/10 general operation expenses. What a lovely Christmas present for KCM... thank you Francis Family.

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This season of giving

by KCM Staff

Tue, Dec 01, 2009

Thank you to all who have supprted KCM over the past year. We are finally nearing the end of 2009 - and looking forward to 2010 and brighter days. It's not too late to make a gift of any size to KCMetropolis.org - use the online DONATE feature before midnight on December 31 or postmark your check for that same date...

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Articles : Local Arts News

Theatre for Young America now enrolling for spring classes

by KCM Staff

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

Theatre for Young America is accepting enrollments for its Saturday morning classes offered at Avila University. These weekly classes will take place in the Goppert Theatre complex on the Avila University Campus located at 11901 Wornall Road, in Kansas City, Missouri. Spring semester classes at Avila begin on Saturday, January 30, 2010.

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Kansas City Rep's "Glass Menagerie" heads Wall Street Journal's Top Ten List

by KCM Staff

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

In his national review of "The Glass Menagerie" earlier this year, Teachout called Cromer a "re-creative genius" and wrote "The greatest of all American plays has received a production worthy of its beauty and truth."

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Starlight Theatre's 2010 Broadway line-up

by KCM Staff

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

Starlight's 2010 Broadway line-up will appeal to diverse audiences when four national tours and a locally produced musical comedy take the stage next summer.

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Columns : City Classics

Music and Dance through December 30

by Don Dagenais

Tue, Dec 22, 2009

Kansas City’s classical music organizations have been treating us to some spectacular concerts the past few weeks, but during this Christmas weekend it all slows to a crawl as the musicians and dancers are, for the most part, taking well deserved rests before gearing up for the second halves of their seasons beginning in January. The one exception is the Kansas City Ballet’s performances of "The Nutcracker" which continue through the Christmas weekend, although not on Christmas Day. If you haven’t seen Todd Bolender’s conception of the Tchaikovsky classic this is your chance; it doesn’t conflict with any other performances on your calendar! The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is also at rest, but is featuring an interesting recital of two alumni performers next Monday. Next weekend is similarly slow, but watch this space in the next issue, because we will preview some of the performances to anticipate during the remainder of the classical music year in 2010.

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Columns : City Stage

Columns : Off the Vine

December/January Events

Tue, Dec 15, 2009

"Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World" is an exceptional collection of photographs and documents, now showing at the American Jazz Museum, drawn from important archives around the country that chronicles the tours of American jazz legends as they traveled the globe on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

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