Contacts:  Pat Paton, PPPR, 913-491-4000, pppr@kc.rr.com, or Eric L. Magnus, Artistic Director, 913-432-9100, emagnitude@yahoo.com

Special pricing on mid-season tickets for the four remaining productions this theatre season have been announced by The Barn Players, the area’s premiere community theatre.

The remaining season productions are:

‘THE BOYS NEXT DOOR’, June 4-20, rated PG-13

‘THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES’, July 23-August 1, rated R

‘ASSASSINS’, September 12-October 3, rated R

‘RENT’, November 5-21, rated PG-13

All performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30, with Sunday matinees at 2:00 at The Barn Players Theatre, 6219 Martway in Mission, Kansas. 

Mid-season ticket prices for all four shows are $45.00, a savings of $15.00 off  individual ticket prices.  For information on the remaining productions and to order show and/or season tickets go on line to The Barn Players website www.thebarnplayers.org, or call 913-432-9100.

Tickets are also now available for the Barn Junior productions of “FROG AND TOAD KIDS”, July 27-29^th and the Third Annual “SIX BY TEN”, December 3-5.  Both productions are rated G.  Tickets may also be ordered on line at www.thebarnplayers.org or by calling the theatre at 913-432-9100. Adults $10.00, students $7.00 and children under 5 are free. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Julie Hendrix, 816.931.6655

Julie.Hendrix@gouldevans.com

“The Coloring Book for the Man who has Everything” by Greg Daiker to exhibit at the Corridor Art Space

Kansas City, MO – An exhibition by Greg Daiker titled “The Coloring Book for the Man who has Everything” will be on display at the Corridor Art Space (located within the Westport office of Gould Evans) beginning Thursday, June 3 and closing Tuesday, July 27.

“The Coloring Book for the Man who has Everything” will consist of paintings on wood and paper as well as prints. The collection is described by Daiker as “imaginary, futuristic space dwellings set in fantastical landscapes”.  The pieces explore color, pattern and geometric structures while forming the idea of home, environment and architecture’s place in the environment.  

“The work transcends both the digital and analogue modes of production, incorporating both ways of working into the creative process,” says Daiker.

Opening reception to be held Thursday, June 3, 2010 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Open to the public. 

For questions or to request a private showing, please contact Julie Hendrix at 816.931.6655 or julie.hendrix@gouldevans.com. 

Corridor Art Space

Office of Gould Evans Associates

4041 Mill Street

Kansas City, MO   64111

(Located in Westport’s Manor Square building)

a group exhibition inspired by Revolution and Independence 

Art Fairs, City Festivals and Other Fun Events Unite Community

What is better than community spirit? It unites towns and people. It extols the best virtues of an area. It’s essentially putting that best foot forward. With May and June, groups are doing their best to show that kinship as it relates to music, culture, food and the arts. Remember, some events in town are free while others have admission fees.

Jim Cosgrove, who may be better known as Mr. Stinky Feet to thousands of youthful fans, probably best defines why the Kansas City metropolitan area knows how to put on festivals. “Families are always looking for cool things to do with their kids,” he says. “Fundamentally, we all want to get together and enjoy each other’s company in a fun environment.” Cosgrove serves as president of the board for Jiggle Jam. The third annual presentation hits in late May at Crown Center. “Not only have families given us positive feedback, we get it from the performers. Jeni and I have worked hard to produce a great line-up for family entertainment.”

The scene at Jiggle Jam is also like a family. The Cosgroves work to recognize the talent. Jim says the stronger the talent and the stronger the musicians are, especially in Kansas City, the better off everyone is. “When Jiggle Jam is hopping, there is a tremendous sense of community. You feel like you are part of something bigger. It’s our drive to take the talent in Kansas City and share it. What we do have is passion for family music.”

That family entertainment may be key to the success and longevity for many festivals. Lawrence Art Guild has spearheaded the Art in the Park event for 48 years. This year marks 49 May 2. “We are part of one of those communities that is pro-art and proactive. People look forward to our event. They love the fine arts, crafts and children’s activities. It works out well for everyone. I love that I get to see the same faces each year. People carpool and come visit,” says former guild president Linda Baranski. “We also gain from being part of a university town. It’s a town full of community spirit.”

Certain festivals mark how the metropolitan area is a melting pot like the Kansas City Scottish Highland Games. In mid-June, the games provide a chance to help the community look into culture and genealogy, says spokeswoman Jen Charlesworth. “While there are the games, there is also genealogy research. Perhaps you have heard that you have an ancestry to a Scottish clan. This is a chance to look into that specific clan. Many people have family histories that are Scottish, Irish and English. We are such a melting pot.” The event is 33 years old. “There are even kid-friendly versions of the games, like a version of caber tossing, along with all the athletics by the adult pros and amateurs.”

Liberty Arts Squared is a new festival on the historical square in Liberty. For one day, June 5, an amalgam of visual, performing, literary and children’s artists will find a setting. Co-chair Trish Hughes says, “We are going to make it an arts weekend. That same weekend is the Prairie Village Art Fair so we are hoping people will spend Saturday with us and Sunday with them. It could be a nice change for folks to come to the Northland.”

Co-chair Heather Jones says the Liberty Arts Commission wanted a way to promote the arts and the Historic Downtown Liberty group wanted to see the Square touted again. “The timing is right to celebrate local artists,” Hughes says. The women are hoping to attract local and regional artists seeking a convenient place to share their creativity.  “The children’s area is shaping up nicely with Stone Lion Puppets, Wonderscope and an instrument petting zoo.” Jones says families need substantive entertainment and enrichment. “Art does that. It enriches lives and unites people of all ages,” she says.

During Father’s Day weekend, Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival is sure to draw families to the Crown Center area. Executive Director Lotti Halpern says the festival is multicultural and multigenerational. “Parents and children work together on family squares or a children’s corridor. Chalk is such an accessible medium. We have amateurs and professional artists chalking together. Artists start with empty squares of asphalt and by the end of the weekend, these squares will be transformed into magnificent pieces of artwork.”  To continue the sort of European style setting, Halpern says there will be street performers, break-dancers, puppeteers and more.

Second Saturdays starts in May and runs through September in North Kansas City. Police Maj. Steve Beamer may seem a little unlikely to head the ongoing event, but he got the idea after visiting Portland, Ore., during a Green Cities Conference and made a stop at the 36-year-old Portland Saturday Market. “It was all around one of the light rail stops and I had to get off to see all the art. It is self-sustaining and supportive of the artistic community. I liked the bohemian feel and figured we could do this.”

Beamer started appealing to arts groups in the city and got some positive responses. The Art Market will be located on Fayette Street, just south of Armour Road. Beamer says the artists can be part of a synergy that combines the jazz concert series and the local hotrod and car cruise night. “While this is not a juried show, it is a fine art show and a review panel is deciding this. The idea is to have a nice mix of different types of art. Of course, the first event will be important to see if the artists and the visitors unite during the summer months. If the artists find success and visitors like the experience, we will move into 2011.”

Festival Dates and Locations

MAY EVENTS

May 1-2

Kansas Sampler Festival

Ray Miller Park, Leavenworth

www.kansassampler.org

May 2

Art in the Park

South Park, Lawrence

www.lawrenceartguild.org

May 6-9

2010 Spirit of Mission Days

Sylvester Powell, Jr. Community Center, 6200 Martway

www.missioncvb.org

May 14-16

Fiesta Kansas City

Crown Center

www.fiestakc.com

May 15

Rockfest

Liberty Memorial

www.kcrockfest.com

Jiggle Jam

May 29-30

Crown Center

www.kcjigglejam.com

JUNE EVENTS

June 3-6

Old Shawnee Days

Shawnee Town

www.oldshawneedays.org

June 4-6

Festa Italiana

Zona Rosa

www.lotsaitaliana.com 

June 4-6

Prairie Village Art Fair

71^st and Mission Road

www.prairievillageshops.com

June 5

Liberty Arts Squared

Historic Liberty Square

http://www.libertyartssquared.org

June 4-6

Downtown Days

Downtown Lee’s Summit

www.leessummitdowntowndays.com

June 11-12

Raytown Summerfest & BBQ Cookoff

Downtown Raytown, 63rd St. & Raytown Road

www.raytownchamber.com

June 11-12

Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest

Oak Grove Park

www.gladstonechamber.com/bluesfest.aspx

June 11-12

Jazz in the Woods

Corporate Woods, Overland Park

www.jazzinthewoods.com

June 11-13

Kansas City Scottish Highland Games

E.H. Young Park, Riverside

www.kcscottishgames.org

June 12

Little Blue River Art Fest

White Oak Plaza, 7 Highway and 40^th Highways

www.aboutbluesprings.com

June 18-19

2010 Parkville Jazz & Fine Arts River Jam

English Landing Park, Parkville

www.kcblues.info/parkville/

June 19-21

Town Art Show

Town Center Plaza, Leawood

www.townart.org

June 19-20

Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

Crown Center

www.kcchalkandwalk.org

June 24-26

Edgerton Frontier Days

City Lake and Park

www.frontier-days.com

June 25-26

Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival

13^th and State Ave., K.C., Kan.

www.kckstreetbluesfest.com

June 25-27

Waterfest

Downtown Hall of Waters Historic District, Excelsior Springs

www.exspgschamber.com/waterfest.html

June 25-27

District Art Annual...downtown Kansas City Art Fair

 Power & Light District

www.powerandlightdistrict.com

Ongoing

Second Saturdays

North Kansas City

www.nkc.org

Iron Man 2 A Film Review

By Alexander Morales

OK, I’m just going to cut to the chase. This movie is amazingly entertaining, genuinely engaging and above all awesome.

There I said it.

And man do I feel better.

“Iron Man 2,” directed by Marvel movie master Jon Favreau, is the first true blockbuster of this summer season. With most of the original cast back in the armor, this film hits on all cylinders. In fact, I am pretty sure that I will run out of positive adjectives to describe my utter happiness with this film before I end. Be warned.

Anyway, back in full narcissistic, boy billionaire form is Robert Downey, Jr. as everyone’s favorite genuine genius Tony Stark. Just a refresher course for those who missed the boat the first time around – Stark makes weapons. Stark is nabbed by some terrorist baddies. Stark makes giant suit of armor using a power source that is also keeping him alive. Stark becomes Iron Man. Stark finds out he was betrayed by his father’s partner. Stark wins. Stark tells the world “I am Iron Man.”

OK, it’s way better than what I described, but now that everyone’s up-to-date, let’s continue.

Beginning right at the end of the first film, “Iron Man 2” shows us another perspective of the press conference where Stark reveals he is the armored do-gooder. Across the globe in Russia, a dying man painfully is making his exit while his son Ivan Vanko (a frighteningly disturbing Mickey Rourke) watches in sadness. It seems these guys aren’t what they seem. In their shambled apartment, lies the litter of industrial intellectualism and it has Stark written all over it. Revenge seems to be in the equation.

Flash forward some time and Iron Man is now the man. Everyone loves him, but as the hero basks in the limelight, the man has a hidden dark secret.

And that’s all I’m going to give you.

The overall story this time around is anything but formula and while some events are regular hero fodder, you never feel shortchanged, bored or feeling as if you have something better to do. In fact, while most filmmakers (especially those working in the world of heroes and villains, i.e., Bay, Schumacher, and well … Bay) have a tendency to throw too much into their second and third episodes of their franchise, not Favreau. While there is quite a bit more including action, characters and effects – Favreau has been able to craft an overall narrative that balances everyone nicely into what they are supposed to do – allowing each actor to do what they do best – make some good movie minutes. At the same time, similar to the first film, there are some nice nuggets of comic book gold scattered throughout the film making every fanboy in the audience (including me) squeal with excitement (and yes, I did that too.) All I will say is pay attention and stay till the end of the credits for a special treat of what’s next.

There are a few things that you could be nitpicky about – Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha (Black Widow) Romanoff doesn’t have the accent and oddly there is a “Wonder Twins” moment between Iron Man and War Machine – but nothing that ever distracts from the overall experience and excitement the audience gets. One thing I appreciated most is that this story did not fall directly into the “Demon in a Bottle” storyline that everyone expected. At its bare bones, the movie is about addiction – either to heroism or revenge, but not in the way you think.

In terms of the acting … it’s good. Downey Jr. is, as usual, wonderful to watch. He just captivates the audience so well and honestly it’s hard not to take your eyes off his performance. He’s confident and he knows it and makes darn sure that everyone in the audience knows it too. As the baddie Ivan Vanko, Mickey Rourke is wonderful. Reserved with not a great deal of dialogue, Rourke lets his physical presence and meticulous planning do the talking, giving our hero one heck of an opponent to deal with. Along with that, Rourke never really allows his revenge reasoning get too cliché which allows the story to continue easily with little clunkiness.

In terms of the supporting cast, Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow are exceptional. Filling the shoes of Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes, (played by Terrence Howard in the first film) Cheadle plays the proud soldier very well. Torn between the duty to his country and his friendship to Stark, Cheadle gives a nuanced performance that adds to the overall story and makes sense when he is able to wear and use the Mark 1 or War Machine armor. On the flipside, Paltrow’s performance this time around is vastly improved. While I think she did well in the first film, here we get a look at a true, confident female leader … and me likey. Not to be pigeon-holed into the damsel in distress part, Pepper Potts shows her corporate prowess and lets the world know that while she may have been just an assistant to a playboy before, she learned from the best and knows how to be a lioness of industry.

But, with all that being said, there are two performances that I think stand out from the crowd - Sam Rockwell as rival weaponeer Justin Hammer and Garry Shandling as Senator Stern. While Rockwell is not the older, more refined version of Hammer I remember from the comics, his acting ability shines and he makes a wonderful second best to Stark’s first. As the senator whose main desire is getting the Iron Man weapon under the control of the United States government, Shandling is experienced enough to handle the snarkiness of Stark, but still holds the presence of a political powerhouse. These two are the guys you love to hate.

The only part that I am on the fence about is Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. While I love the idea of using Jackson for the part (especially with him looking exactly like the Nick Fury from “Ultimates” universe) it just feels like he is playing the part too loosely. Maybe I need to see him under the eye patch a little more, but in a hero story set in our world, he looks like the only person in costume and, at least for me, it seemed a little silly at parts. I guess time will tell on this one.

Now, usually, when I review blockbusters, I get really into talking about the visual effects. I mean, for the most part, that’s what they are all about, right? The bigger budget means bigger explosions and more realistic battles, etc., etc. But reread above. The acting performances are so good and the story is so strong that you forget that the effects are supposed to be top of mind. Don’t get me wrong, people pay to see Iron Man looking sexy in high resolution, computer generated goodness and he does – but everything is well balanced around the effects that they are truly part of the experience and not just the experience.

Overall, “Iron Man 2” is everything it needs to be – action packed, hilarious and full of hero. This film is a great addition to the Iron Man library and an exceptional stepping-stone toward continuing the momentum that the Marvel universe is building in film. Go see this film. Nuff said.

5 out 5 Ironettes Dancing at the Stark Expo

Ancient Art Galleries Open Saturday

New Galleries Offer View of Objects from Ancient Egyptian Tomb 

By Kellie Houx

I listened to Robert Cohon, curator of ancient art at the Nelson-Atkins, talk about his eighth-grade daughter’s textbooks and how dry the content is. He wonders if students get turned off of things that they should find exciting — history and art being at the top of that list. I thought about how I had to take it upon myself to seek enrichment. Attending the sneak peek of the new Ancient Art Galleries took me back to my youth. During the summer breaks, I would pick a topic and spend hours in the library, researching that topic. One summer, I studied ancient Egypt. I was fascinated with all things dusty, musty and thousands of years old. Nor would I presume to be on same level as Marc F. Wilson, the retiring director of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, but Wilson says he liked reading about King Tut when he was s child. He would hide under the covers and read.  “There was a pounding at the door of intense imagination when I read about ancient Egypt,” he says.

As a kid, I would head to the public library and pick up all the books I could. I would visit the juvenile section and get the books that I could understand easily. Then I would head to the adult section, same Dewey decimal numbers, and would check those books out too. Cohon’s enthusiasm for mummies and tombs made me think about those past days. It tickled me when he said the exhibit is designed to engage kids. That’s one thing I know the Nelson staff encourages — getting kids to be engaged in art and history. The Ford Learning Center is a great fit to allow children to learn about art and create pieces inspired by those great works of art, but I think this is going to be that next great step. In the main galleries, mid-elementary aged pupils and on up will be encouraged to lean in, spend time and relish some cool art. Cohon says he wants curiosity to be stimulated. “I want children and teens to get excited,” he says.

The galleries officially open to the public May 8. The linchpin is the 2,300-year-old collection of funerary objects from an Egyptian tomb. The noblewoman Meretites, whose name means “beloved by her father,” lived around 350 B.C., about 1,000 years after King Tut. Not much is known about her, but her outer coffin, inner coffin, gold adornments and other objects remain intact for a Kansas City audience. The 7-foot-plus inner coffin is striking and seems to greet visitors. The Meretites collection, acquired by the Museum in 2007, includes an elaborately painted inner coffin, an outer coffin, a gilded mask and cartonnage, statuettes of Isis and Nephthys, and 305 ushebtis, or figurines intended as the noblewoman’s workers in her afterlife existence. The assemblage doesn’t include the actual mummy. However, the Nelson-Atkins galleries now features an Egyptian mummy that was acquired prior to the Meretites collection from Emory University, plus other works of art from Egyptian tombs.  

Cohon says he wants to increase the number of younger visitors through the galleries. He figures the inner coffin will inspire viewers. The gold face and blue hair represents a chance for Meretites to be reborn every day like the sun and also to become semi-divine. Her coffin portrays her with the gold flesh and blue hair of the gods, whose hair was made of lapis lazuli.  Another prominent image is the dung beetle, seen in her hair and in the rib cage area. The dung beetle is another solar reference. Similar to the way the sun moves across the sky, a dung beetle pushes excrement across the desert. “There are more than 125 images of major and minor deities on the inner coffin,” says Cohon. “They weren’t taking any chances on seeking out divine protection and hopefully elevating her to a divine status. Coffins were virtual ‘reincarnation machines’ that were absolutely necessary for the deceased to enter the afterlife.”

I really feel like the appeal will be similar to my own youthful experience. If a child finds something interesting, gross or just bizarre – let’s face it, mummification is pretty weird – that child may be inclined to seek out more information. I did and this was before the invention of the Internet. Just a quick look around and there are hundreds, if not thousands of kid-friendly sites including National Geographic Kids. And here is something else to chew on, Egyptians’ contributions to subjects like math are recorded. I also think the ties to the Bible also help the links. If the Biblical numbers are taken literally the kings during the enslavement and rise to power of Joseph would be Senusret II (1894-1878 BC) and Senuseret III (1878-1841 BC), of the 12th Dynasty. Joseph’s career as an Egyptian governmental official would thus begin under Senuseret II and would continue into the reign of Senuseret III. After moving through the pyramid-like structure featuring the mummies, visitors move into more of the ancient galleries. Cohon says the room that includes a stone statue of the nobleman Ra-wer, as well as the over-life-size stone portrait of the great pharaoh Senuseret III.

“Early Egyptian art is the birthing room for all art,” Cohon says. “You can stand at any corner of the gallery and know that you are seeing quality representations of ancient art.” Other pieces have been in the Nelson staff’s possession, but have not been seen until now include a funereal painting or portrait that represents the change in looks after the Roman invasion of Egypt.  “We now have thematic unity in the ancient galleries. There is coherence. It’s going to be a great time to visit our Museum.”

Completion of the galleries continues the overall transformation of the Nelson-Atkins, which has included renovations to the original building, the Steven Holl-designed Bloch Building and newly installed European, American and American Indian galleries.

KC Studio asked Marc Wilson, Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell director and chief executive officer at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, a couple more questions that might be off the beaten path and this gave Wilson a chance to explore his relationship with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art just a little differently.

1. Taking a page from the popular movie, “Night at the Museum,” which museum would you want to spend a night at? After picking the museum, is there a gallery or exhibit space that you would spend the most time in?

Wilson says at first he thought of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the British Museum in London, England, or the Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan. “What place has magic and presence? For me, the answer is right here at the Nelson. I would spend time in our Chinese painting gallery. Chinese painting offers some of the most sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities ever devised. The best are both powerful and subtle at once, while offering the viewer a chance at an experience that unfolds and gets deeper the more the viewer concentrates and works at communing with the work and the mind of the artist.  Experiencing the Nelson’s art collections is also about developing your innate visual I.Q.  Much of the world around us is ordered visually. Like anything else, you have to work at developing that visual intelligence.”

2. The phrase “All Passes. High Art Alone is Eternal” is on the 1933 building. If you could become a piece of art when you die, what would you become?

Wilson decided that if he could, he would become one of two pieces housed at the Nelson. The first might be “St. John the Baptist” by Caravaggio. “It’s the painting that bridges the classic world and the modern world.” According to many scholars, the piece at the Nelson is almost devoid of any religious imagery, but captures a private world rather than a narrative. He is also fond of the 12th century bronze Shiva Nataraja. As a child, he was moved by a 16th century German gilt cup. “My parents took me to concerts and museums. As an 11-year-old child, I remember that cup from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Good art resonates across time and culture. It is a celebration of what we are doing right.”