Four venues for September and October


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Four venues for September and October
Lyric Opera To celebrate the 50th Birthday of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the company will present Giacomo Puccini’s “La bohème” this September, which was the very first opera the company presented on Sept. 29, 1958. This new traditional production will include new sets designed by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. The opera also marks Pucinni’s 150th birthday and the story that still influences modern culture such as Jonathan Larson’s hit “Rent” and the motion picture “Moulin Rouge.” The plot centers on two sets of lovers in a community of artists in Paris. Audiences are invited to attend a free opera preview one hour before curtain. Coterie Theatre The Coterie Theatre’s 30th anniversary season opens with “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank,” by James Still and directed by Cynthia Levin opens in September. The show is weaves interviews with two Holocaust survivors (who were friends of Anne’s), along with live actors recreating scenes from their lives. “Night of the Living Dead” runs in October as part of the Coterie At Night. In conjunction with this production, anyone ages 13 through adult may take a “How to Be a Zombie” class and perform in Night of the Living Dead. Quality Hill Playhouse Quality Hill Playhouse pays tribute to George and Ira Gershwin with “Rhapsody in Gershwin,” in late September and October. The intimate cabaret revue stars Lateesha McDonald Jackson, Melinda MacDonald and James Wright, with J. Kent Barnhart at the piano, Steven Lenhert on bass and Ken Remmert on drums. Barnhart has served as executive director of Quality Hill Playhouse since 1995. During that time, the theater has grown from 113 season subscribers to more than 2,750, with annual attendance of 30,000. Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, an active group performing shows, celebrating new artists and works and reaching out to the community, will offer several shows with lots of strong women, says founder and artistic director Karen Paisley. In September, the group will present “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter. In late October and into November, the group will play in repertory “The Lady’s Not for Burning” by Christopher Fry and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” “Great plays have great characters, male and female. In the case of many shows on the season this year, we are offering exceptional roles for women. I believe we owe it to the audience to give them a great play first, but I also think that it's important that we throw the limelight on the ladies too,” Paisley says.

Lyric Opera

To celebrate the 50th Birthday of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the company will present Giacomo Puccini’s “La bohème” this September, which was the very first opera the company presented on Sept. 29, 1958. This new traditional production will include new sets designed by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

The opera also marks Pucinni’s 150th birthday and the story that still influences modern culture such as Jonathan Larson’s hit “Rent” and the motion picture “Moulin Rouge.” The plot centers on two sets of lovers in a community of artists in Paris. Audiences are invited to attend a free opera preview one hour before curtain.

Coterie Theatre

The Coterie Theatre’s 30th anniversary season opens with “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank,” by James Still and directed by Cynthia Levin opens in September. The show is weaves interviews with two Holocaust survivors (who were friends of Anne’s), along with live actors recreating scenes from their lives.

“Night of the Living Dead” runs in October as part of the Coterie At Night. In conjunction with this production, anyone ages 13 through adult may take a “How to Be a Zombie” class and perform in Night of the Living Dead.

Quality Hill Playhouse

Quality Hill Playhouse pays tribute to George and Ira Gershwin with “Rhapsody in Gershwin,” in late September and October. The intimate cabaret revue stars Lateesha McDonald Jackson, Melinda MacDonald and James Wright, with J. Kent Barnhart at the piano, Steven Lenhert on bass and Ken Remmert on drums.

Barnhart has served as executive director of Quality Hill Playhouse since 1995. During that time, the theater has grown from 113 season subscribers to more than 2,750, with annual attendance of 30,000.

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre

The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, an active group performing shows, celebrating new artists and works and reaching out to the community, will offer several shows with lots of strong women, says founder and artistic director Karen Paisley.

In September, the group will present “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter. In late October and into November, the group will play in repertory “The Lady’s Not for Burning” by Christopher Fry and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

“Great plays have great characters, male and female. In the case of many shows on the season this year, we are offering exceptional roles for women. I believe we owe it to the audience to give them a great play first, but I also think that it's important that we throw the limelight on the ladies too,” Paisley says.