Downtown has it all this week: NAIA, Ballet, Buble, PBR & more

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The NAIA Basketball National Championship Tournament -featuring No. 1 ranked Georgetown (Ky.) – opens Wednesday for a six-day run at Municipal Auditorium. The championship game is set for 8 p.m. next Tuesday, March 26.

March Madness continues this week with the return of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship tournament, along with an over-the-top week at Sprint Center; a celebration at the Folly Theater; eight amazing performances at the Kauffman Center; and three stellar shows at the Midland. Roll the highlight reel for an amazing week in arts, culture, music, sports and theater in the Big Town – Monday to Sunday, Mar. 18-24:

Bridal & Wedding Expo – Find the perfect gown, DJ, photographer, reception venue, band, honeymoon destination and much more this weekend – from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday – only at Bartle Hall.

Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St. – This week, Heartland Men’s Chorus – with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles – presents Quiet No More: a Choral Celebration of Stonewall, a new work that commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Gay Rights movement. Performances are set for 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

Home Show – Whether you live in an apartment, townhome, loft or house, the Greater Kansas City Home and Lifestyle Show has everything you need for #HowYouHome. The 71st Home Show – presented by the Greater Kansas City Homebuilders Association – is set for noon to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bartle Hall.

Kansas City Tornadoes – This week, at home for a total of three games against Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. Monday, and Owensboro at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday at HyVee Arena.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. This week, eight spectacular features at the world-class performing arts center:

  • National Geographic Live presents Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, for a look at a time in ancient history when women – such as Cleopatra, Neferusobek and Nefertiti ruled the world, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Muriel Kauffman Theate.
  • Cosi fan tutte – The Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents this Mozart masterpiece in three performances this week. In the midst of madcap machismo and pre-feminist farce, we find Mozart in Monte Carlo, sipping mojitos, reveling in the mischief, and leaving us to bask in this musical marvel. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
  • San Francisco Symphony will light up Helzberg Hall at 8 p.m. Wednesday, as Michael Tilson Thomas – the longest-tenured music director at any major American orchestra – leads his farewell tour before retirement in 2020. This special appearance is presented by the Harriman-Jewell Series.
  • Kansas City Jazz Orchestra presents Spring Fever, an evening of classic love songs in the style of Billy Strayhorn, John Coltrane and Nat King Cole at 8 p.m. Friday in Helzberg Hall.
  • Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits will be celebrated and performed by the Kansas City Symphony in this one-night-only performance at 8 p.m. Saturday in Helzberg Hall. Richard Carsey, guest conductor, and Amanda Cole, vocalist, will join the Symphony musicians in this salute to the most-awarded female act of all time.
  • KU Choral Festival – The University of Kansas School of Music and Reach Out Kansas, Inc. present an afternoon choral celebration honoring the “Joy of Singing,” featuring the KU Choirs joined by choirs from Olathe South High School, Shawnee Mission South High School, and Turner High School at 3 p.m. Sunday in Helzberg Hall. Free tickets are available here.

Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, This week, 11 blazin’ shows including Adam Nussbaum and The Leadbelly Project at 7 p.m. Thursday, and Keller Williams ‘Pettygrass’ Feat featuring Hillbenders and Old Salt Union at 8 p.m. Friday.

Comedian Sebastian Manascalo brings his long-awaited ‘Stay Hungry’ tour to the Midland on Saturday.

The Midland, 1228 Main – This week, a powerhouse week coming up with:

  • My Favorite Murder – The hit true crime comedy podcast since its inception in early 2016 has broken download records and sparked an enthusiastic, interactive “Murderino” fan base who came out in droves this spring for the sold-out nationwide tour. Hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark will weave their magic to the live KC audience at 8 p.m. Friday.
  • Sebastian Manascalo – A string of record-breaking sold out comedy appearances and a new top-ranked show on SiriusXM, “The Pete & Sebastian Show” will carry this red-hot comedian into Downtown KC for his show at 7 p.m. Saturday.
  • Tori Kelly will presents her ‘Acoustic Sessions’ set at 8 p.m. Sunday. The 2016 Best New Artist GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter and producer, Kelly has been named as an “Artist to Watch” by Rolling Stone, USA Today and Spin.

NAIA Basketball National Championship returns to Downtown KC this week and early next week for 23 tournament games over six days, including the championship match-up at 8 p.m. next Tuesday, March 26. For tickets and complete information, visit NAIA.org.

Sprint Center, 1407 Grand – This week, riding high on the heels of the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, featuring Michael Buble at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Justin Timberlake at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; and the return of PBR: Professional Bull Riders at 6:45 p.m. Saturday and 2:45 p.m. Sunday.

The Truman, 801 E. Truman Rd. – This week, Metric with July Talk at 8 p.m. Thursday and Jordan Davis at 8 p.m. Saturday.

AND, LIVE MUSIC is on tap most nights at these Downtown clubs and joints: Blue Room Jazz Club, Black Dolphin, The Brick, Green Lady Lounge, Hush, The Majestic Jazz Club, Mutual Musicians Foundation, The Phoenix, Prohibition Hall, The Record Bar, The Ship, and throughout the Power & Light District.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including six productions this week:

  • The 1940s Radio Hour – A different time is evoked in this marvelously theatrical and winning show, a live broadcast of a The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade from the Hotel Astor’s Algonquin Room on December 21, 1942. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday thru Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Just Off Broadway Theatre.
  • Nelly Don: The Musical – This original musical celebrates the American entrepreneurial experience of Kansas City’s own Nelly Don, an improbable heroine whose life’s mission was to champion the beauty of women through fashion. Romance, fashion, glamour, justice and gangsters await you for this world premiere musical sensation Sunday, March 31 at MTH Theater at Crown Center.
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins – In this charming musical adaptation of the beloved book, Mr. and Mrs. Popper’s lives take an adventurous turn when a mysterious box arrives on their doorstep with a penguin inside. Performances run through Sunday, March 31 at The Coterie at Crown Center.
  • Polkadots – This new musical follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot, the first Polkadot in an all Square school.  Inspired by American civil rights history, this Theatre for Young America production runs through Saturday at City Stage at Union Station.
  • Roma – A concert of high energy Romany music from Turkey, Romania, Hungary, and Spain featuring Ensemble Ibérica’s mesmerizing Hungarian violinist, Zsolt Eder and special guest artist, flamenco singer Jose Cortes is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday at MTH Theater at Crown Center.
  • Songbook of the 50s – Perhaps no decade had more personalities to its music than the 1950s, as will this dynamite cabaret revue that opens Friday and runs through April 7 at the Quality Hill Playhouse.

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out ArtsKCGo and VisitKC.com

BIG 12 week has arrived, and Downtown is ready!

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The countdown has begun for the next Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday through Saturday in the heart of Downtown KC.

The BIG week has arrived in Downtown KC.
The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament returns to Downtown Kansas City for the 17th time this week, and preparations are under way throughout the neighborhoods. Games begin on Wednesday evening and conclude with the championship match at 5 p.m. Saturday.
This blog post is designed to bring you up-to-date on a series of street closures that began as early as Monday. According to The Kansas City Star. The best advice is to think ahead, and be prepared for delays as you traverse the streets and neighborhoods of Downtown KC.
Here’s what to expect during this festive week ahead:
  • Grand Boulevard is closed between 13th Street and Truman Road through 6 a.m. Sunday.
  • 14th Street is closed between Walnut Street and Grand Boulevard through 6 a.m. Sunday. There will be valet access to 14th between Main and Walnut during the closure.
  • Truman Road is limited to one lane between Oak and Walnut streets now through 6 a.m. Sunday.
  • Beginning at 10 a.m. today, 14th Street will be closed between Main and Walnut streets. It will remain closed through midnight Sunday.
  • Beginning at 10 a.m. today, Walnut Street will close between 13th Street and Truman Road. It will remain closed through midnight on Sunday.
  • Residents and guests of Two Light apartments at Truman Road and Grand Boulevard will have access to the building’s garage throughout the event.

 

Drivers also should expect closures on Saturday morning for the Kansas City Big 12 Run, which will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude about 11 a.m. KCMO Police will allow traffic to cross the race route when it’s safe for runners. Here are the streets that will be impacted by the run:

Here are the streets impacted by the run:

  • Grand Boulevard, between 8th and 12th streets, and between Truman and Pershing Road
  • Eighth Street, between Grand Boulevard and Holmes Street
  • Holmes Street, between Eighth and 18th streets and between 30th and 31st streets
  • Truman Road, between Holmes Street and Woodland Avenue and between Grand Boulevard and Oak Street
  • Woodland Avenue, between Truman Road and 18th Street
  • 18th Street, between Woodland Avenue and Vine Street and between Holmes Street and Grand Boulevard
  • Vine Street, between 18th Street and 17th Terrace
  • 17th Terrace, between Vine Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/The Paseo
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/The Paseo, between 17th Terrace and 31st Street
  • 31st Street, between between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/The Paseo and Holmes
  • 30th Street, between Holmes and McGee streets
  • McGee, between Holmes Street and Gillham Road
  • Gillham Road, between McGee Street and Pershing Road
  • Oak Street, between Truman Road and 9th Street
  • Ninth Street, between Oak Street and Grand Boulevard

Parking Suggestions – Check out the Downtown Council’s Downtown Parking Map and Kansas City’s Click And Park for parking reservations or download the Parkmobile parking app to pay for metered parking with your mobile phone.

The KC Streetcar will be operating for free (as usual) and RideKC will operate the MAX buses every 8 to 10 minutes through the tournament. The Main Street Max will temporarily reroute during the event. For more information about the Main and Troost MAX routes, visit ridekc.org or call 816-221-0660.

Taxi lanes will be available on the south lane of 13th Street between Oak Street and Grand Boulevard. B-Cycle stations are also spread throughout downtown Kansas City and the River Market.

Plan ahead this week, and enjoy every minutes of one the busiest weeks of the year in your Downtown KC.

Big 12 fever to ignite the Downtown A&E scene

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Downtown KC prepares to welcome the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championships back to Sprint Center this week with a series of Fan Fests and good times.

The Big 12 Men’s Tournament returns to KC this week, marking one of the BIGGEST weeks of the year for locals and visitors to flock Downtown for basketball, dining, drinking, arts and entertainment. (Insert smiley face here.) Roll the highlight reel for an amazing week in arts, culture, music and theater in the Big Town – Monday to Sunday, Mar. 11-17:

Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship – Downtown Kansas City will host the 2019 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship on Wednesday through Saturday at Sprint Center. This year marks the 17th time for the Big 12 dance to be played in KC. It is currently scheduled to return each year through 2022. The 2019 tournament begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday with first round action; followed by quarterfinal sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday; semi-finals beginning at 6 p.m. Friday; and the title game at 5 p.m. Saturday. Click here for complete information about Fan Fests and tournament preparations.

Big 12 Run returns to the streets of Downtown beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. Choose from 1 mile, 5K, or 12K distances. Runners of all experience levels are encouraged to participate in this family-friendly event. Strollers are welcome for the 1 mile and 5K race. Celebrate college basketball and wear your team’s colors for this fun running event! Click here for the course map and more information.

John McEuen makes his first appearance at the Folly Theater on Friday, as part of the new Americana series with 90.9 The Bridge.

Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St. – This week, back-to-back world-class performances, including:

  • John McEuen and The String Wizards – The founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band makes his first appearance at the Folly, as part of the The Folly + 90.9 The Bridge Americana Series, at 8 p.m. Friday;
  • Emanuel Ax, the Grammy-winning classical pianist and Julliard faculty member, performs in the Harriman-Jewell Series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Kansas City Tornadoes – This week, back home to face Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. Friday and Monday (March 18) at HyVee Arena.

‘Love is never a sure bet.’ The Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents this Mozart classic beginning Saturday at the Kauffman Center.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. This week, featuring the sitar and a Mozart ballet. including:

  • Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar is a singular figure in the Indian classical and progressive world music scenes. Deeply rooted in the Indian classical music tradition, she began studying sitar at age 9 with her father and guru, the late Ravi Shankar. This special performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Helzberg Hall.
  • The Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Cosi fan tutte by composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for four performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, This week, 12 blazin’ shows including Tyler Hilton with special guest Frank Viele at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Rockstar, a rock ‘n’ roll dream show presented by Next Level Live at 8 p.m. Saturday; and Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Midland, 1228 Main – This week, primed and ready for a blockbuster week, featuring:

  • John Mellencamp – His career in music has spanned more than 35 years, during which he transitioned from pre-fab pop idol to one of the most highly regarded mature songwriters of a generation. The Mellencamp Show is set for 8 p.m. Thursday.
  • Maren Morris – “Can I get a hallelujah, can I get an amen?” sings Texas-born, Nashville-dwelling Morris on “My Church,” the lead single from her self-titled LP. She will bring her pulpit the Big Town at 8 p.m. Friday. Special guest is Cassadee Pope, winner of NBC’s The Voice in 2012.

Maren Morris will deliver us to “My Church” in a long anticipated concert on Friday at the Midland.

Power & Light District – This week, two great reasons to party – March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day with:

The Truman, 801 E. Truman Rd. – This week, Citizen Cope with special guest David Ramirez at 8 p.m. Wednesday; and Jukebox The Ghost & The Mowgli’s with Arrested Youth at 7:45 p.m. Saturday.

AND, LIVE MUSIC is on tap most nights at these Downtown clubs and joints: Blue Room Jazz Club, Black Dolphin, The Brick, Green Lady Lounge, Hush, The Majestic Jazz Club, Mutual Musicians Foundation, The Phoenix, Prohibition Hall, The Record Bar, The Ship, and throughout the Power & Light District.

‘Anastasia,’ the new Broadway musical opens Tuesday at the Music Hall.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including six productions this week:

  • Anastasia – With its opulent settings, dazzling costumes, and a soaring score including song favorites from the hit animated film, this  spectacular new musical is a story of discovering who you are and defining who you’re meant to be. The Kansas City Broadway Series presents this touring Broadway musical from Tuesday through Sunday at the Music Hall.
  • Nelly Don: The Musical – This original musical celebrates the American entrepreneurial experience of Kansas City’s own Nelly Don, an improbable heroine whose life’s mission was to champion the beauty of women through fashion. Romance, fashion, glamour, justice and gangsters await you for this world premiere musical sensation that opens Thursday and runs through March 31 at MTH Theater at Crown Center.
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins – In this charming musical adaptation of the beloved book, Mr. and Mrs. Popper’s lives take an adventurous turn when a mysterious box arrives on their doorstep with a penguin inside. Performances continue through March 31 at The Coterie at Crown Center.
  • Polkadots – This new musical follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot, the first Polkadot in an all Square school.  Inspired by American civil rights history, this Theatre for Young America production runs through March 23 at City Stage at Union Station.
  • School Girls – Jocelyn Bioh’s hilarious re-imagining of the Mean Girls story is a loving exploration of the real lives of young African women trying to negotiate the confusion of Western beauty ideals. The Girls runs thru Sunday at the Copaken Stage of the KC Rep.
  • Songbook of the 50s – Perhaps no decade had more personalities to its music than the 1950s, as will this dynamite cabaret revue that opens Friday and dazzles through April 7 at the Quality Hill Playhouse.

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out ArtsKCGo and VisitKC.com

March Madness begins … and that’s just for starters

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Metallica will rattle the Sprint Center with an in-the-round concert on Wednesday.

Roll the highlight reel for the start of March Madness in Downtown Kansas City, including the MIAA Basketball Championships, plus the KC Auto Show, Kurt Elling at the Folly, Disney Capella at the Midland, Metallica in round at Sprint Center, and five theatrical performances during the week of Monday to Sunday, Mar. 4-10:

Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St. – This week, the Kurt Elling Quintet will dazzle in the Folly Jazz Series at 8 p.m. Saturday and pianist Alexander Melnikov will headline this Friends of Chamber Music performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Kansas City Auto Show – Hundreds of new vehicles all in one place, classic cars, food trucks and a beer and wine garage, have come together for the event you’ve been waiting for all year. The Auto Show opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday runs daily through Sunday at Bartle Hall See below for a layout of the show floor.Kansas City Tornadoes – Next up, back home to face Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. Friday, March 15 at HyVee Arena.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. Next up, the Kansas City Symphony presents Soak Up the Baroque, a free chamber music performance at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and its Classical Series featuring Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” with Barber’s Piano Concerto at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in Helzberg Hall.

Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, will feature 13 blazin’ shows this week including Supersuckers performing the 30th anniversary of the ‘The Big Show’ Tour at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Bluegrass in the Bottoms presents The Lil Smokies with The Mighty Pines at 8 p.m. Friday; and Amy Lavere and Will Sexton will light up the Gospel Lounge at 9 p.m. Saturday.

MIAA Basketball Championships return to Downtown KC this week – Wednesday through Sunday – with more teams and a new format. The top 10  teams in the MIAA men’s and women’s basketball standings will comprise the 20-team field. A new format eliminates on-campus first round match-ups. All games will be played at Municipal Auditorium, beginning at noon Thursday and continuing until the Men’s Championship at 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by the Women’s Title Match at 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

DCappella, Disney Music Group’s new a cappella group, will perform Disney hits with a fresh, new beat.

The Midland, 1228 Main – This week, DCappella, Disney’s new a cappella group featuring 7 world class vocalists, will light up Downtown at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Sprint Center, 1407 Grand – This week, Metallica in-the-round at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Truman, 801 E. Truman Rd. – This week, Andrew McMahon with his Upside Down Flowers Tour featuring Flor and Grizfolk at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

AND, LIVE MUSIC is on tap most nights at these Downtown clubs and joints: Blue Room Jazz Club, Black Dolphin, The Brick, Green Lady Lounge, Hush, The Majestic Jazz Club, Mutual Musicians Foundation, The Phoenix, Prohibition Hall, The Record Bar, The Ship, and throughout the Power & Light District.

‘School Girls’ is now showing on the Copaken Stage of the KC Rep.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including five productions this week:

  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins – In this charming musical adaptation of the beloved book, Mr. and Mrs. Popper’s lives take an adventurous turn when a mysterious box arrives on their doorstep with a penguin inside. Performances run through March 31 at The Coterie at Crown Center.
  • Polkadots – This new musical follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot, the first Polkadot in an all Square school.  Inspired by American civil rights history, this Theatre for Young America production runs through March 23 at City Stage at Union Station.
  • Project Pride – An alliance  of LGBTQ and straight allied teens who create theater that gives voice to their experiences, culminating in a production that challenges the assumptions and celebrates the diversity of the participants and audience. Performances are set for 7 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday at The Coterie.
  • School Girls – Jocelyn Bioh’s hilarious re-imagining of the Mean Girls story is a loving exploration of the real lives of young African women trying to negotiate the confusion of Western beauty ideals. The Girls runs thru March 22 at the Copaken Stage of the KC Rep.
  • Songbook of the 50s – Perhaps no decade had more personalities to its music than the 1950s, as will this dynamite cabaret revue that opens Friday and runs through April 7 at the Quality Hill Playhouse.

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out ArtsKCGo and VisitKC.com

Live music scene will light up Downtown all week long

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Spring may not be in the air yet, but take comfort in the fact that First Friday returns this week. Roll the highlight reel for an amazing week in arts, culture, music and theater in the Big Town – Monday to Sunday, Feb. 25-Mar. 3:

First Friday – KC’s hippest night of the year returns this Friday with a sizzling collection arts and cultural experiences throughout Downtown, including the Crossroads Arts District, 18th & Vine, Lyric Opera, MTH Theater,Box Gallery and West Bottoms (all weekend).

Knucklehead’s presents a special performance by Folk music sensations I’m With Her this week at the Folly Theater.

Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th – This week, I’m With Her – recently nominated for Duo/Group of the year by the Americana Music Association and Vocal Group of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association – at 8 p.m. Wednesday, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Field, featuring pianist Jeremy Denk, in a Harriman-Jewell Series performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Garden Brothers Circus will present a fast paced, 90-minute show in a Theatrical European three-ring setting,  featuring the Human Pyramid, daring aerial, six motorcycles in the Sphere of Fear, the Crazy Cossack Horse Riders and more than 50 performers! The 100-year-old circus will present eight shows on Friday through Sunday at Hale Arena.

Kansas City Public Library, 14 W. 10th, presents Echoes of Grant: The Second World War Leadership of Dwight Eisenhower at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Central Library. The program by John McManus, a Mizzou professor and one of the nation’s top military historians, coincides with the library’s exhibit on Eisenhower’s Middle Road.

Kansas City Tornadoes take on Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. Monday at HyVee Arena.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. Next up, the Kansas City Symphony presents its a Chamber Music performance on March 5 and its next Classical Series program on March 8-10.

Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, will feature 13 blazin’ shows this week including Julia Othmer in the Garage at 8:30 p.m. Thursday; Elise Davis with John Goolsby at 8:30 p.m. Friday; and the Boogie Wonderland Disco Party at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Grammy-winning sounds of Lauren Daigle will fill the Midland Theatre this week.

The Midland, 1228 Main – This week, Lauren Daigle, winner of two 2019 Grammy Awards in the Best Contemporary Christian Music catergory for Album, Look Up Child, and Performance and Song, You Say, will light up Downtown at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Record Bar, 1520 Grand, will feature 7 rockin’ nights this week, including Bart Crow with Stewart Ray and Jesse Harris at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Glorious Sons with special guest Lilly at 7 p.m. Saturday; and The People’s Liberation Big Band at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Sprint Center, 1407 Grand, will be shakin’ Downtown over three nights this week, including:

  • Kiss will rock this town one last time on its End of the Road Tour at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
  • Eric Church will perform two unique shows during a two-night gig at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

The Truman, 801 E. Truman Rd. – This week, Kurt Vile and the Violators with The Sadies at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Nothing More featuring Of Mice & Men, Badflower and Palisades at 6:30 p.m. Friday; and Morbid Angel with Blood Incantation and Necrot at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

LIVE MUSIC is also on tap most nights at these Downtown clubs and joints: Blue Room Jazz Club, Black Dolphin, The Brick, Green Lady Lounge, Hush, The Majestic Jazz Club, Mutual Musicians Foundation, The Phoenix, Prohibition Hall, The Record Bar, The Ship, and throughout the Power & Light District.

‘School Girls’ is now showing at the Copaken Stage of the KC Rep.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including four productions this week:

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out ArtsKCGo and VisitKC.com

Ballet, Mardi Gras, Michael J. light up Big Town this week

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The Kansas City Ballet presents the tragic love story ‘Lady of the Camellias’ over three final performances this week at the Kauffman Center.

Let’s roll the highlight reel for a breathtaking week in arts, ballet, music and theater in the Big Town – Monday to Sunday, Feb. 18-24:

Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St. – Next up, I’m With Her at 8 p.m., next Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Kansas City Tornadoes take on Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. Sunday and next Monday (Feb. 25) at HyVee Arena.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, will light up the KC arts scene with 7 performances this week, including:

  • Lady of the Camellias – The Kansas City Ballet presents Alexandre Dumas’ tragic love story that inspired Greta Garbo’s Camille and Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge! The three final performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
  • Sounds Relaxing: Refresh, a music and meditation event featuring the Kansas City Symphony and certified Relax and Renew® trainer Anita Bailey, begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Helzberg Hall.
  • National Geographic Live presents Mark Synnott, a big wall rock-climber of the highest order. The adventure writer uses his skills to break scientific ground, reaching incredibly inaccessible environments in search of rare species. He will share stories and images of his travels at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kauffman Theatre.
  • Music of Michael Jackson will be showcased by the Kansas City Symphony, guest conductor Brent Havens and vocalist James Delisco in two long-awaited performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Helzberg Hall.

Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, will feature 12 blazing shows this week including Victor & Penny at 7 p.m. Wednesday; and Rumblejetts Reunion with Tri County Band and Lloyd McCarter & The Honky Tonk Revival at 8 p.m. Friday.

The Midland, 1228 Main, presents comedian Lil Duval with Karlous Miller and Chico Bean at 8 p.m. Friday.

MTH Theater at Crown Center stages two performances (in addition to those featured under Live Theater), including an evening of stories and songs with Joel Nichols at 7 p.m. Friday and a musical evening with Sara Sommerer at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Record Bar, 1520 Grand, will feature Le Butcherettes with Stars at Night and New Obsessions at 8 p.m. Monday and Jaenki with The Free Years and Y God Y at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Sprint Center, 1407 Grand, will feature 2Cellos with special guest Jon McLaughlin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Truman, 801 E. Truman Rd., presents Boombox Cartel at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

World of Wheels returns for its 59th annual edition this Friday through Sunday at Bartle Hall.

‘School Girls’ opens Friday at the Copaken Stage of the KC Rep.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including five productions this week:

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out ArtsKCGo and VisitKC.com

Love, Ballet & Elton are in the air this Valentine’s week

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Elton John brings his farewell tour to Downtown KC at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Sprint Center.

Love is in the air this Valentine’s week in Downtown Kansas City. Let’s roll the highlight reel for an amazing week in arts, culture and entertainment in the Big Town – Monday to Sunday, Feb. 11-17:

City Market is the place for lovers this Valentine’s Day, as it presents Tie the Knot, the annual wedding event that begins at 2 p.m. Thursday in Pavilion 3. Participating couples will receive a free wedding ceremony, reception and a wedding portait, PLUS will be entered in a drawing for a grand prize honeymoon in Mexico. Couples must register for Tie the Knot by Monday, Feb. 11.

Folly Theater will light up the Downtown arts scene this with three memorable performances, including:

Kandace Springs

  • Bridges of the Heart featuring the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and the International Center for Music at Park University at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The performance will feature acclaimed young soloists from the ICM performing heartwarming concertos with the orchestra! Escape with gorgeous tunes from Chopin to Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky, Haydn and more for piano, violin, and cello.
  • Kandace Springs, this year’s Spotlight Artist in the 36th annual Folly Jazz Series, will own the stage beginning at 8 p.m. Friday. The 27-year-old, Nashville born singer, songwriter, and pianist allows her comely alto to become a conduit that touches upon soul, jazz, and pop while transforming those aforementioned influences into a personalized sound that reveals itself effortlessly.
  • Jonathan Biss – The world-renowned pianist who shares his deep musical curiosity with classical music lovers in the concert hall and beyond will perform a series of Beethoven sonatas in the Friends of Chamber Music evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Kansas City Tornadoes – KC’s professional basketball team and member of the The Basketball League – will take on the Yakima Sunkings at 7 p.m. Monday at HyVee Arena.

The Kansas City Ballet presents the tragic love story ‘Lady of the Camellias’ over six performances this week and next at the Kauffman Center.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will light up the KC arts scene with 8 performances this week, including:

  • I Love You Verdi Much – The Kansas City Symphony presents a free happy hour concert featuring romantic-era selections from Verdi’s String Quartet, Puccini’s Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums) and Korngold’s String Sextet at at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Helzberg Hall. Cash bars open at 5 p.m. and the casual concert begins at 6 p.m.
  • Casablanca – Don’t miss your chance to experience this movie classic, widely regarded as a landmark in American cinema, in a completely new way on Valentine’s weekend. Watch all of the drama unfold on the huge screen as the Kansas City Symphony performs Max Steiner’s moving score live at 7 p.m. Thursday, and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Helzberg Hall.
  • Lady of the Camellias – The Kansas City Ballet presents Alexandre Dumas’ tragic love story that inspired Greta Garbo’s Camille and Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge!, but none more popular than Verdi’s opera La Traviata. A total of six performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and run through 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
  • Peter and the Wolf Live! Prokofiev’s timeless musical tale of boy vs. wolf comes to life through music and comedy in this unique Kansas City Symphony production featuring mascots from local professional sports teams and universities, guaranteed to spark the imaginations of young and old alike. This family performance is set for 2 p.m. Sunday in Helzberg Hall.

Knuckleheads – the hottest honky tonk in the Big Town – features 13 blazin’ shows this week, including Biscuit Miller & The Mix Valentine’s Party beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday; William Clark Green with Ross Cooper at 8 p.m. Saturday; and Michael Ledbetter Memorial with Danielle, Nick, Kate and the Dust Devil Choir at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Municipal Auditorium will light up Downtown KC this week with two long-awaited performances, including:

  • Charlie Wilson and Joe will share the love with their KC audience on Valentine’s Day with a heart-melting show beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday. To add some spice to this romantic occasion, a special Hearts Desire Valentines Dinner will be served beginning at 6 p.m., just steps away in the Little Theatre.
  • Mike Epps – The comedian and actor Mike brings his “Funny as ish Comedy Tour” to the Big Town at 7 p.m. Thursday. Accompanying Epps is special guest host Sommore, Earthquake, and DC Young Fly.

The Record Bar will light up the Crossroads with 4 nights of live music this week, including Mr. and The Mrs. with Broken Arrows, Brent Windler & Noel Bond from Sons of Great Dane and the Matt Mason Duo, beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, and The Love Hangover – the 20th anniversary of an international music tradition – featuring Lauren Sullivan, Shawn Splawn, Laurel & Ben Parks, The Country Duo (Kasey Rausch & Marco Pascolini, and Anna Cole & Steve Tulipana beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! – Jump to the beat with your friends on Sesame Street! Introducing an all-new, interactive show that unfolds on one of the world’s most famous streets at the funniest, furriest party in the neighborhood. Two shows are set for 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday at Sprint Center.

Sprint Center will serve as the epicenter of the region’s entertainment scene this week, as we bid farewell to a legend; welcome a country icon and his “friends and heroes” and groove to a Super Bowl halftime performer. Here’s what on tap this week:

  • Elton John – After more than half a century on the road and an unparalleled career that has redefined the cultural landscape, true global icon and superstar, Elton John will embark on his final tour “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” that reaches KC at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
  • Blake Shelton has a history of demonstrating his support for the people in whom he believes; when he realized that fans across the country needed to hear music from his friends and heroes, he decided to bring them all out on the road. Friends & Heroes 2019 will reach Downtown at 7 p.m. Friday. Special guest Lauren Alaina joins Shelton for the run, along with special appearances by country icons the Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson and Trace Adkins.
  • Travis Scott = The multiplatinum superstar – fresh from a Super Bowl halftime performance with Adam Levine – will bring the second leg of his biggest tour yet, Astroworld: Wish You Were Here, to the Big Town at 8 p.m. Sunday. Special guest Wes Shreck.

The Truman will be light up the East Crossroads this week with three back-to-back shows, including: Rainbow Kitten Surprise with special guest Mt. Joy in a sold-out performance at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Fidlar with The Sluts will headline Church of Lazlo’s E.D. Party at 9 p.m. Thursday; and Pop Evil featuring Don Jamieson and Them Evils at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including three productions this week:

  • Big Bands Are Better features the evolution of the Big Band era! Enjoy the sounds of the Great American Songbook live on stage with a 10-piece Big Band. A Big Band in a theater with only seven rows! Performances  run through Sunday, Feb. 24 at MTH Theater at Crown Center.
  • Polkadots – This new musical follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot, the first Polkadot in an all Square school.  Inspired by American civil rights history: Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school, and the Little Rock Nine, who integrated Little Rock Central High School. This Theatre for Young America production opens Tuesday and runs through March 23 at City Stage at Union Station.
  • Songbook of the 40s – Join the Quality Hill Playhouse troupe for a sentimental journey through America’s songbook of the 1940s, featuring hits made popular by the likes of Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, and Dinah Shore. Performances continue through Sunday.

ARTS – your guide to arts and culture in greater Kansas City:

LIVE MUSIC – of all tastes and flavors – is performed at these Downtown venues on most nights:

MUSEUMS are alive and well throughout Downtown, including these 16 destinations:

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out our friends at VisitKC.com

Hoops, ‘Evita’, Kelly to light up Big Town this week

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The Harlem Globetrotters return to the friendly confines of Sprint Center on Saturday.

From Evita at the Kauffman Center to the Globetrotters at Sprint Center; from the KC Remodel + Garden Show at the American Royal Center to the Midcoast Takeover Fundraiser Fiesta at Record Bar; and from Kelly Clarkson at Sprint to Here Comes the Mummies at Knuckleheads, Downtown will be rockin’ this week. Roll the highlight reel for a relatively quiet week in arts, culture and entertainment – Monday to Sunday, Feb. 4-10:

Kansas City Public Library presents Through the Photographer’s Lens: Kansas City’s African American Community at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 at the Central Library. Local photographers documented the African American experience in Kansas City, from church, school, and social activities to the realities of segregation and struggle for equality. Historian Delia Cook Gillis highlights this work and examines the history of local black community through their lenses. RSVP now.

Kansas City Tornadoes – KC’s professional basketball team and member of the The Basketball League – will take on the Yakima Sunkings at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Feb. 10 and 11, at HyVee Arena.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will light up the KC arts scene with 12 performances this week, including:

KC Remodel + Garden Show returns to the American Royal Center this Friday through Sunday. The show will feature a complete schedule of speakers and celebrities on a long list of home care, gardening and DIY topics.

Knuckleheads – the hottest honky tonk in the Big Town – features 9 blazin’ shows this week, including Here Come The Mummies at 8 p.m. Thursday and Big Something with Aqueous at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Midland Theatre will be rocking with back-to-back DJ concert nights, including:

  • Dillon Francis and Alison Wonderland will light up Downtown with electronic music magic beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday
  • Excision shows are unique – a virtual apocalypse of twisting and morphing sounds turn massive crowds into a frenzy. Bass will rain down as Excision’s skills as a DJ and producer shine like a light from the underworld beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The Record Bar will light up the Crossroads with 5 nights of live music this week, including Dorothy at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Midcoast Takeover Fundraiser Fiesta featuring The Philistines, Cadillac Flambe and Momma’s Boy at 7 p.m. Friday.

Kelly Clarkson will bring her Meaning of Life Tour to the Sprint Center this week.

Sprint Center will be jumping this week with two mega performances, including:

  • Kelly Clarkson – The GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar will light up Downtown beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday. Special guests will be GRAMMY-nominated Kelsea Ballerini and last season’s winner of NBC’s The Voice, Team Kelly’s Brynn Cartelli.
  • The Harlem Globetrotters – On the heels of taking their unparalleled entertainment to capacity crowds overseas, the Globetrotters will bring their one-of-a-kind 2019 World Tour to the Big Town at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Truman will be light up the East Crossroads this week with one big show, Beats Antique at 8 p.m. Thursday.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including four productions this week:

  • Big Bands Are Better features the evolution of the Big Band era! Enjoy the sounds of the Great American Songbook live on stage with a 10-piece Big Band. A Big Band in a theater with only seven rows Performances begin Thursday and run through Feb. 24 at the MTC Theater at Crown Center.
  • Evita – Follow the rise of ambitious Eva Perón as she becomes the beloved iconic Argentinian First Lady, worshiped by many. The iconic Broadway musical returns to Kansas City for on Tuesday for eight performances that run through Sunday in Kauffman Theatre.
  • Secret Soldiers: Heroines in Disguise – The secret history of women who fought as men in the civil war is revealed in this engrossing production that runs through Sunday at The Coterie at Crown Center. Stories are uncovered in an interlocking set of true tales of battlefront women, with a focus on the solider Private Lyons Wakeman whose letters were discovered by her nephew in an attic years after her death.
  • Songbook of the 40s – Join the Quality Hill Playhouse troupe for a sentimental journey through America’s songbook of the 1940s, featuring hits made popular by the likes of Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, and Dinah Shore. Performances continue through Sunday, Feb. 17.

ARTS – your guide to arts and culture in greater Kansas City:

LIVE MUSIC – of all tastes and flavors – is performed at these Downtown venues on most nights:

MUSEUMS are alive and well throughout Downtown, including these 16 destinations:

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out our friends at VisitKC.com

Recycled Art is set to unfold on Friday

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A special exhibit featuring recycled materials that have been reborn as art will go on display Friday at The Box Gallery, 1000 Walnut St. in the Commerce Bank Arcade.

The exhibit, Allan Winkler: Recycled Art opens Friday and will remain on display through Feb. 22. The public is invited to two, free opening receptions from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Friday.

Winkler, a Kansas City based artist and musician, is well known in local art circles. In this show, he reveals a hidden beauty in cardboard boxes, beer cans, household objects, metal pipes and old clothes, then injects then new life. This exhibit focuses on work created from found and discarded materials recycled in unexpected ways. At first, his technique and materials appear unsophisticated, but Winkler’s talent for transforming our everyday world into something magical.

The Box Gallery is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Free parking validation is available at the nearby Commerce Bank security office.

Downtown A&E scene is red hot … even in the middle of winter

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From Star Wars at the Symphony to the artists at First Friday; from a Modern Night at the Folly to Panic! at the Disco at Sprint Center; and from the comedy of Iliza Schlesinger at the Midland to the drama of Storling Underground at the Kauffman Center, the Downtown creative scene will be at its best this week. Roll the highlight reel for the week ahead in arts, culture and entertainment – Monday to Sunday, Jan. 28-Feb. 3:

First Friday – KC’s hippest night of the new year – is set for Friday with a sizzling collection arts and cultural experiences throughout Downtown, including:

  • The Box Gallery will feature Recycled Art by artist Allan Winkler beginning Friday though Feb. 22. The exhibit focuses on work created from found and discarded materials recycled in unexpected ways. The show is free and open to the public. Opening receptions are set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on First Friday in the Commerce Bank Arcade, 1000 Walnut St., Suite 211.
  • Crossroads Arts District featuring arts organizations, galleries, studios, and a wide variety of local businesses in a celebration of local, regional and national artists and live entertainment from 5-9 p.m.
  • On the Vine is a cultural experience of music, art, food, and shopping on First Fridays year ’round. Shop local artists and a diverse array of food trucks from 4-9 p.m. in the Museums of 18th & Vine Atrium … to keep First Friday hot even if the weather is cool.
  • First Friday Warehouse Weekends – one of the finest vintage marketplaces in the country – flourishes every First Friday weekend (Friday through Sunday) in the West Bottoms.

Folly Theater will celebrate the 16th anniversary of A Modern Night at the Folly at 8 p.m. Saturday. The City in Motion Dance Theater presents Kansas City’s only adjudicated choreographers’ showcase will feature 12 of the region’s most talented choreographers, as well as celebrate modern and contemporary dance in KC.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will light up the KC arts scene with five performances this week, including:

  • Star Wars & The Symphony – Journey back to 1977 and a galaxy far, far away for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the classic first film of the original “Star Wars” trilogy, written and directed by George Lucas and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. You’ll watch the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the Death Star on a huge screen in Helzberg Hall while the Kansas City Symphony performs the thrilling John Williams score live. May the Force be with you over four performances at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

  • Underground – The story of the Underground Railroad is performed to original music, beautiful costumes and a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Don’t miss out on this 12th anniversary, world-class performance by Storling Dance Theater at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Whether you’re celebrating Black History Month, American history or the story that binds us all together, see the show that has become a Kansas City tradition.

Knuckleheads – the hottest honky tonk in the Big Town – features 8 blazin’ shows this week, including Walter Trout with Eric Gales with the Brandon Miller Band at 8 p.m. Friday, and Jeremiah Johnson Band at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Midland Theatre will feature Iliza Schlesinger at 7 p.m. Friday. She is one of today’s leading comedians with a fan base who show their loyalty by creating their own Iliza inspired swag to wear to her shows.  Iliza recently premiered Elder Millennial, her fourth Netflix stand up special for the streaming service.

The Record Bar will light up the Crossroads with 6 nights of live music this week, including DeVotchKa with Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers at 7 p.m. Thursday, and Jeff Harshbarger’s Alt-Jazz Series at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Sprint Center will feature Panic! At The Disco on its Pray for the Wicked Tour, featuring Two Feet and Betty Who beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Truman will be aglow this week with two red-hot concerts, including:

  • Peter Murphy – celebrating 40 years of Bauhaus – featuring David J beginning at 8 p.m. Monday
  • Cherub – the electro, pop, funk, dance, indie band from Nashville – will shake it up at 9 p.m. Friday.

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including three productions this week:

  • Secret Soldiers: Heroines in Disguise – The secret history of women who fought as men in the civil war is revealed in this engrossing production that opens Tuesday at The Coterie at Crown Center. Stories are uncovered in an interlocking set of true tales of battlefront women, with a focus on the solider Private Lyons Wakeman whose letters were discovered by her nephew in an attic years after her death.
  • Songbook of the 40s – Join the Quality Hill Playhouse troupe for a sentimental journey through America’s songbook of the 1940s, featuring hits made popular by the likes of Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, and Dinah Shore. Performances continue through Feb. 17.
  • The Toughest Kid in the World –  This Theater for Young America musical is about a boy named TK, short for Tough Kid, his peaceful friend Serena and their brave discoveries about ways to get along in today’s world with love and respect and without violence or bullying opens Tuesday and runs through Saturday at the City Stage at Union Station.

ARTS – your guide to arts and culture in greater Kansas City:

LIVE MUSIC – of all tastes and flavors – is performed at these Downtown venues on most nights:

MUSEUMS are alive and well throughout Downtown, including these 16 destinations:

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out our friends at VisitKC.com

Downtown A&E scene ‘fabulously superlative’ this week

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Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives return to the Folly Theater on Saturday.

From Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear to Shen Yun; from the Royals Fan Fest to Midcoast Fundraiser Fiesta Takeover; and from Mary Stuart and his always Fabulous Superlatives to the Russian National Ballet performance of Swan Lake, this will be a breathtaking week in Downtown KC. Roll the highlight reel for the week ahead in Downtown arts, culture and entertainment – Monday to Sunday, Jan. 21-27:

The Kansas City Public Library will feature a program on the legacy of President Eisenhower this week at the Central Library.

The Age of Eisenhower – University of Virginia historian William I. Hitchcock examines the Eisenhower legacy in a discussion of his book The Age of Eisenhower: America and the World in the 1950s. The presentation – set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Central Library – has been prepared in partnership with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home.  RSVP now. The program will launch a series of events coinciding with the exhibit, Eisenhower’s Middle Road, on display at the Central Library.

Folly Theater will stretch the boundaries of diverse musical tastes with its weekend schedule, which features:

  • The Prazak and Zemlinsky Quartets – The Friends of Chamber Music present two internationally renowned Czech quartets for a “fierce and passionate” evening of music beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Prazak Quartet—one of today´s leading international chamber music ensembles—was established in 1972 while its members were students at the Prague Conservatory. The Zemlinsky Quartet, founded in 1994 while the members were still students, has become a much-lauded example of the Czech string quartet tradition.
  • Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives return to the Folly at 8 p.m. Saturday, part of the Folly Theater – 90.9 The Bridge Americana Series. Don’t miss one of Kansas City’s most beloved Americana groups, as they return to the Folly for a memorable night.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will light up the KC arts scene with eight performances this week, including:

  • Alon Goldstein – The virtuoso pianist shares musical insights with two area piano students on stage beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Helzberg Hall. It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most dynamic pianists on the classical music scene.
  • Swan Lake – The Russian National Ballet presents this ballet classic to a sold-out Harriman-Jewell Series performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
  • Shen Yun – Experience a lost culture through the breathtaking art of classical Chinese dance, and see legends come to life. Shen Yun pushes the boundaries of the performing arts to make this possible, with a unique blend of colorful costuming, high-tech backdrops, and live orchestra. Be prepared for a theater experience like no other. Four performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Kauffman Theatre.
  • Kansas City Symphony presents Enchanting and Exotic: Firebird, Aladdin and Rachmaninoff featuring pianist Alon Goldstein in this breathtaking Classical Series weekend at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in Helzberg Hall.

Knuckleheads – the hottest honky tonk in the Big Town – features 10 rockin’ shows this week, including Kind Country w/ Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon – a Bluegrass in the Bottoms production – at 8 p.m. Wednesday; The Schwag at 9 p.m. Friday; and Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders with the Free Rent Band at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Midland Theatre will kick off its 2019 season with a flair, featuring Jesse Cook at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The Canadian guitarist, composer, and producer is widely considered one of the most influential figures in nuevo flamenco music, he incorporates elements of flamenco rumba, jazz and many forms of world music into his work.

The Record Bar will light up the Crossroads with 4 nights of live music this week, including the Midcoast Fundraiser Fiesta Takeover featuring Verbose, Headlight Rivals and the UK’s at 8 p.m. Friday, and the 10th annual Human Rights Campaign Battle of the Bands – featuring acoustic performances from favorite local and regional artists – at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Royals Fan Fest – An early taste of baseball fever returns to Downtown KC on Friday and Saturday, as the Kansas City Royals and their fans descend on Bartle Hall. The event will feature autograph sessions with current and former Royals, interactive games for fans of all ages, main stage programming and more! A portion of Royals Authentics proceeds will benefit Royals Charities. More information and event map are available right here.

Sprint Center will be rockin’ this week with two featured performances, including:

  • Disturbed – The two-time Grammy-nominated heavy metal band will blow the roof off the arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Special guest is Three Days Grace.
  • Winter Jam – Christian music’s largest annual tour returns to KC at 6 p.m. Saturday and will be presented on a history-making tour-first, 360° “in the round” center stage, showcasing a diverse lineup led by supergroup Newsboys United.

Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear will light up Downtown on Saturday with a much anticipated performance at The Truman KC.

The Truman will be aglow this week with two shining stars, including:

LIVE THEATER is thriving on Downtown stages, including three productions this week:

  • Death and The Maiden – At once global and intimate, this bracing Olivier Award-winning play has become a contemporary classic that considers both the social and personal implications of abuse and retribution that remain relevant today. This Kansas City Actors Guild production, directed by Cinnamon Schultz, runs through Sunday at City Stage at Union Station.
  • Secret Soldiers: Heroines in Disguise – The secret history of women who fought as men in the civil war is revealed in this engrossing production that opens Tuesday at The Coterie at Crown Center. Stories are uncovered in an interlocking set of true tales of battlefront women, with a focus on the solider Private Lyons Wakeman whose letters were discovered by her nephew in an attic years after her death.
  • Songbook of the 40s – Join the Quality Hill Playhouse troupe for a sentimental journey through America’s songbook of the 1940s, featuring hits made popular by the likes of Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, and Dinah Shore. Performances continue through Feb. 17.

ARTS – your guide to arts and culture in greater Kansas City:

LIVE MUSIC – of all tastes and flavors – is performed at these Downtown venues on most nights:

MUSEUMS are alive and well throughout Downtown, including these 16 destinations:

For more of what’s happening in Downtown and Kansas City, check out our friends at VisitKC.com

Chiefs rally set for Saturday evening in Downtown KC

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Union Station is bathed in Chiefs Red to celebrate our hometown heroes and cheer them on with a rally Saturday evening and for the AFC Championship game on Sunday.

Kansas City Chiefs fans are invited to meet in Downtown this evening (Saturday) – on the eve of the AFC Championship game – to rally in support of our hometown Chiefs!

Fans are asked to gather at Union Station by 5 p.m. to hop a ride on the ceremonial Rolling with the Chiefs edition of the KC Streetcar on to a pep rally at the Kansas City Power & Light District. 

Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. (today) Saturday will include giveaways, contests and appearances by KC Wolf, Chiefs Cheerleaders and Chiefs Rumble.

The party is FREE and ALL AGES are welcome. The first 200 guests will receive an official Chiefs Kingdom flag. Sports Radio 810 will register guests for tickets to Sunday’s game and autographed memorabilia giveaways. Heartland Coca-Cola will give away a pair of field passes for Sunday’s game.

The KC Streetcar at Union Station around 5:30 p.m. where the Chiefs Rumble will perform at the East Transit Plaza location. They will then head onto the Chiefs Streetcar, where they will perform and entertain riders to the Power & Light District.

The Chiefs Rumble will then parade from the Power & Light District stop to the KC Live! Block for the KC Kingdom Pre-Party at KC Live!
Sports Radio 810’s Steven St. John will kick off the rally at 6:30 p.m. on the KC Live! Stage and feature hype videos, as well as performances by the Chiefs Cheerleaders, KC Wolf and Chiefs Rumble.

To cap off the celebration, a KC Kingdom bar crawl is planned for eight bars and restaurants in the Power & Light District– check out Ticketfly.com for tickets and more information.
Dress for the bitter cold, and come prepared to cheer on the Chiefs!