Kansas City Blog Musical

The Wizard of Oz has been adapted so many times; most of these adaptations are wildly successful. This show, presented by the KC Repertory Theatre, is another excellent remake. Their fantastic performance runs through May 24th.  This play did what all plays aspire to do and made me feel like I was watching a movie. The singing and all the different talents are what made it feel so cinematic.

One of the most unique parts of this show was the sheer amount of puppetry that it took to portray all the otherworldly animals that fill Oz. Zachary Garner did a wonderful job with Toto. I would also like to mention the jitterbugs as the wearable puppet aspect with the backpack-type structures was really quite astonishing, as well as the flying monkeys' creepy design. The puppets flying through the air with the grotesquely human faces was one of the spookiest portrayals of these Ozian creatures I have seen. 

Always the wedding singer, never the groom. Music Theatre Kansas City’s (MTKC) production of The Wedding Singer, directed by Drew Thomas and music directed by Julie Danielson, was a show-stopping performance that took us back to the 80s when hair was big and energy was high. Bring your spouse, fiancé or friends and say “I do” to this show filled with true love, heartbreak, nostalgia and comedic, high-energy wedding celebrations. 

The Wedding Singer is a fun and comedic musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin and a book by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. It is based on the 1998 Adam Sandler film The Wedding Singer. The musical revolves around Robbie Hart, who does vocal performances at weddings, and his journey to find true love. The show focuses on his failed relationship with his former fiancée, Linda and his growing romance with a new love, Julia. 

On the Fourth of July, looking up at the fireworks, you feel a boom throughout your body and almost an ache in your chest. This is an ache of emotion and empathy for the real people who went through this story. Watching Hamilton from the Broadway in KC series you can feel so many emotions as if you’re in the story itself. That’s why this iconic musical is a firework.

At Hamilton, I felt truly immersed in every sense. The lights look as if they are dancing with the actors and I felt a shock wave in my chest with the music and smelled the smoke of the gun fights. Every part is designed to immerse you in the story of Alexander Hamilton.

Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at MTKC Pro, a moving holiday performance that tells the true story of the Christmas Truce during World War I. Written by Peter Rothstein in 2007, the show has been produced twice by MTKC and directed both times by Julie Danielson. It is currently playing at the B&B Theatre in Shawnee, Kansas, and runs through December 21, 2025. All Is Calm is a powerful a cappella documentary musical that brings to life the remarkable moment when soldiers laid down their weapons to share the spirit of Christmas in ‘No Man’s Land’ (the dangerous area between opposing trenches).

The show opens with a single tenor voice alone onstage, gradually joined by seven other voices until the ensemble is complete. Singing in perfect harmony, the performers create an immersive atmosphere that reflects both the brutality of war and the quiet humanity within it. Through a blend of Christmas carols and the recitation of real letters written by soldiers, the cast tells the story of one extraordinary Christmas. In 1914, British and German troops were locked in constant conflict on the Western Front. Though the war had been promised to end by Christmas, morale declined as the holiday approached. On Christmas Day, spontaneous and unofficial ceasefires began after soldiers heard one another singing from across the trenches. Enemies met in No Man’s Land to exchange small gifts such as cigarettes and chocolate, sing carols, bury fallen comrades, and even play soccer, demonstrating shared humanity amid the horrors of trench warfare before fighting resumed the next day.

I saw & Juliet’s touring company performance at the Music Hall on November 19th. I was fortunate enough to have recently been in New York City where I saw the Broadway Cast perform in this production and was able to compare the touring production and one on Broadway.

& Juliet is a musical rewriting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet using popular music from the 90’s through today, all written by Max Martin. This production was directed by Luke Sheppard.  The plot questions, “what if Juliet didn’t kill herself over a boy she practically just met?” The story is told through discussion between Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway (played by CJ Eldred and Crystal Kellogg respectively) who delivers an empowering point of view via Juliet’s story.

This whimsical movie has been perfectly directed for the stage by Derek Trautwein.  The classic tale, interwoven with the Coterie Theater's style, shines a new light on ELF.  All the songs flowed well with the plot and gave it a magical vibe.  It really gave some of the characters a good way to show some emotion.

The classic story of ELF recounts Buddy through his adventures in New York City as a human who was raised by elves. He tries to find his birth dad and ends up at Macy's and meets “the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.”  Determined to get her attention he breaks into a cheery song.  On a less happy note, when he finally gets to meet his dad, Buddy discovers something shocking; his dad is on the naughty list and has lost his Christmas spirit. I loved watching Buddy sing loud for all to hear and restore some Christmas cheer and I think you will too. 

The Beauty and the Beast National Tour came to the Kansas City Music Hall from Oct 28th to Nov 2nd. The show was directed by Andrew Flatt, Thomas Schumacher, and Anne Quart; music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice; and book by Linda Woolverton. 

This show delivered on the magic. It brought the classic movie to life, leaving certain details intact, keeping the nostalgia, but also adding exciting new elements. The effects were consistently delivered by the costumes, set, choreography, music, and special effects. 

“I want you to be a story for me that I can believe forever.” That line echoes the heart of The Color Purple and for me, Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production at the Spencer Theatre became exactly that: a story I can believe forever. It’s not just a show; it’s a legacy, a narrative woven for generations.

Directed by Daniel J. Bryant, with choreography by Heather Beal and music direction by Pamela Baskin-Watson, KCRep’s staging shines as both intimate and epic. Scenic design by Eli Sherlock grounds the production in engraved lines from the show, while Bentley Heydt’s lighting design washes the stage in emotion cloaking moments of despair in shadow and flooding scenes of triumph with radiance. Jarrod Barnes’ costumes, Jon Robertson’s sound design, and Kelley Jordan’s hair and makeup design enrich the storytelling, ensuring every detail reflects the world of Alice Walker’s novel.