This week in KC: Gershwin, Shakespeare take center stage; also big festivals, concerts

Dan Kelly
·5 min read

Theatrical works by two masters will open in Kansas City in coming days.

MTH Theater at Crown Center will present the Broadway adaptation of “Porgy and Bess,” George Gershwin’s final work for the musical stage. It will open at 7:30 p.m. June 6 and run through June 23. Tickets ($45-$65) and more information at musictheaterheritage.com.

Then the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival will produce “Julius Caesar” for its annual summer run of free shows in Southmoreland Park, 8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, June 11-30. Veteran stage, TV and movie actor John Rensenhouse will star in the title role. More information at kcshakes.org.

John Rensenhouse will play the title role in the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Julius Caesar” June 11-30 at Southmoreland Park.
John Rensenhouse will play the title role in the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Julius Caesar” June 11-30 at Southmoreland Park.

More entertainment

▪ Comedian Tom Segura, who also has acted in several movies and wrote the bestselling book “I’d Like to Play Alone, Please,” will appear at the Starlight Theatre, 8 p.m. June 7 ($59.50-$149.50). kcstarlight.com.

▪ Singer Katharine McPhee will perform with the Kansas City Symphony during Symphony in the Flint Hills at Red Ranch in Greenwood County, Kansas; gates open 1 p.m., concert at sunset June 8 ($50-$110). symphonyintheflinthills.org.

▪ Roberta Flack, Patti Austin and Bob James will be inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame, 5 p.m. June 8 (free), followed by a concert with Austin and Jose Feliciano at the Gem, 7 p.m. June 8 ($70). americanjazzwalkoffame.org.

▪ The West 18th Street Fashion Show will take place outdoors at 116 W. 18th St., 7:30 p.m. June 8 ($40-$100; standing room free). west18thstreetfashionshow.com.

▪ Theatre for Young America will present “Tom Sawyer,” a musical set in Mark Twain’s Hannibal, at the City Stage Theatre in Union Station, opens 10 a.m. June 11; runs through June 29 ($10-$12). tya.org.

▪ Pulitzer Prize winner and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will appear for “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s” at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 7 p.m. June 12 ($39; includes book). rainydaybooks.com.

Patti Austin will be inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame at 5 p.m. June 8, then will perform with Jose Feliciano at the Gem at 7 p.m.
Patti Austin will be inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame at 5 p.m. June 8, then will perform with Jose Feliciano at the Gem at 7 p.m.

Fairs and festivals

▪ Old Shawnee Days, 6-10 p.m. June 6-7, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. June 8, noon-6 p.m. June 9, Shawnee Town 1929 (free). oldshawneedays.org.

▪ Downtown Days, noon-10 p.m. June 7, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. June 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 9, downtown Lee’s Summit (free). downtownls.org.

▪ Arts in the Park, 5-10 p.m. June 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 8, Macken Park, North Kansas City (free). artsinthepark.org.

▪ KC PrideFest and Parade, 5-10 p.m. June 7, noon-10 p.m. June 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 9, Theis Park ($5); parade begins 11 a.m. June 8 at Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard. kcpridealliance.org.

▪ Sugar Creek Slavic Festival, 5-11 p.m. June 7, noon-11 p.m. June 8, Mike Onka Memorial Building ($5). slavicfest.com.

▪ Wine, Brew, and Spirits Too! 5-9 p.m. June 7, Independence Square ($25-$45). indepsquare.com.

▪ Slice of KC Festival, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. June 8, Blue River Park ($10). ndleague.org.

▪ Fun on the Bluff, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 8, Fort Osage National Historic Landmark ($15 per car, $25 per bus). makeyourdayhere.com.

▪ Fiesta Filipina, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. June 8, Filipino Cultural Center, Overland Park (free). filipino-association.org.

▪ Juneteenth celebration, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 8, Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center (free). jcprd.com.

▪ Wine Festival, 2-8 p.m. June 8, downtown Excelsior Springs ($10-$55). visitexcelsior.com.

▪ Juneteenth Jazz and Blues Festival, 3-9:30 p.m. June 8, English Landing Park, Parkville (free). bannekerschoolparkvillemo.org.

▪ Future Stages Festival, noon-5 p.m. June 9, Kauffman Center (free). kauffmancenter.org.

Classical music and dance

▪ Kansas City Symphony, “An Evening With Yo-Yo Ma,” 7 p.m. June 6, Kauffman Center (sold out). kcsymphony.org.

▪ Culture House School of Dance, “Cinderella,” 2 and 7 p.m. June 7-8, Yardley Hall ($17-$23.50). culturehouse.com.

▪ Stardew Valley, “Festival of Season,” 8 p.m. June 7, Folly ($49-$65). follytheater.org.

▪ William Baker Festival Singers and Chant Claire, 3 p.m. June 9, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (donation). festivalsingers.org.

Country star Chris Stapleton will play June 12 at the T-Mobile Center.
Country star Chris Stapleton will play June 12 at the T-Mobile Center.

More music

▪ Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind & Fire, 7:30 p.m. June 6, T-Mobile Center ($35.95-$495.95). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Tim McGraw with Carly Pearce, 7 p.m. June 8, T-Mobile Center ($34.50-$79.50). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Randy Travis, 7:30 p.m. June 8, Folly ($46-$126). follytheater.org.

▪ A Day to Remember, 6:30 p.m. June 9, Azura Amphitheater ($49.50-$69.50). azuraamp.com.

▪ Sarah McLachlan with Feist, 7:30 p.m. June 9, Starlight ($25.50-$150.50). kcstarlight.com.

▪ Excision, 6:30 p.m. June 11, Cable Dahmer Arena ($59.50-$79.50). cabledahmerarena.com.

▪ Donny Osmond, 7:30 p.m. June 11, Kauffman Center ($91-$111). kauffmancenter.org.

▪ Goose, 8 p.m. June 11, Midland ($45-$70). midlandkc.com.

▪ Chris Stapleton with Marcus King and Allen Stone, 7 p.m. June 12, T-Mobile Center ($69.75-$159.75). t-mobilecenter.com.

Recently announced

▪ The Righteous Brothers, Sept. 14, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org

▪ Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sept. 27, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

▪ Nicki Minaj, Oct. 1, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

▪ Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin, Oct. 5, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org

▪ Alan Jackson, Oct. 26, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories