Jingle Jamboree – Mesner Puppet Theater

By Eugéne Labiche and Marc-Michel, translated by Felicia Londré and directed by Ian Crawford. A UMKC Theatre Graduate and Undergraduate production.
---
Groom-to-be Fadinard gallops all over Paris on his wedding day in search of a straw hat to replace one his horse has inadvertently eaten. Followed in hot pursuit by his fiancée, her blustering father and a giant wedding party of her country relatives, Fadinard makes his way through increasingly ridiculous situations to try to save his big day. In a new translation by Londré, with a contemporary pop music score, this hysterical French farce is not to be missed.

Adapted from the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Join Jack the Narrator as he takes you through the twists and turns of zany versions of classic tales. Hear the stories of Chicken Licken, Cinderumpelstiltskin and the Really Ugly Duckling, as well as the tale of the Stinky Cheese Man, a smelly little fellow made entirely of stinky cheese! Based on the Caldecott Award winning book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith.

Rossini’s “La cambiale di matrimonio” and Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” – UMKC Conservatory

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Book & Lyrics by Tony Kushner Music by Jeanine Tesori

A moving portrait of America at a time of momentous social upheaval. Set in 1963 Louisiana, the musical focuses on Caroline - a maid working in the sweltering basement of the Gellman household - and her relationship with 8-year-old Noah. The score combines spirituals, blues, Motown and Jewish klezmer music.

The Age of Illusions; How America Became Deeply Divided with Speaker Andrew Bacevich- Cockefair Chair

Reception: 6pm-6:30pm
Lecture: 6:30pm-7:30pm
No book signing after the lecture
Parking Information: Cherry Street Parking Garage

Photo Credit- Richard Fomo

Featuring performances by students and choreography by faculty of the UMKC Dance Division.
---
Details coming soon!

The Conservatory Concert Jazz Band and the 11 O'Clock Jazz Band perform.

---Details coming soon!

Concert information for November 20th, 2019 - directed by Adam Boyles ERLIOZ: "Roméo seul... Grande fête chez Capulet" from Roméo et Juliette, WALKER: Lyric for Strings, DIAMOND: Music for Romeo and Juliet, SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120

by Jen Silverman
Directed by Kim Martin-Cotton

Two sisters and a dog live out their lives on the bleak English moors, and dream of love and power. The arrival of a hapless governess and a moor-hen set all three on a strange and dangerous path. The Moors is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and visibility.

The Conservatory Wind Ensemble, directed by Joseph Parisi

---Details coming soon!

The Conservatory Wind Symphony, directed by Steven D. Davis.

---Details coming soon!

This celebrated annual spectacle comes alive again this December!
A cast of more than 40 puppets, including beautiful seven-foot puppets, live music and a choral accompiment grace the stage for this biblical enactment.

Bruce Sorrell, conductor 

A glorious celebration of sound featuring J.S. Bach’s – Magnificent with choir and soloists, 
Telemann’s Concerto for Oboe d’amore and other festive Baroque works. Musica Vocale Choral Ensemble, Arnold Epley Artistic Director Margaret Marco, oboe

A Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Marsha Norman’s “’night, Mother” is the story of a woman driven to her breaking point. A harsh reflection on modern life and its purpose, the psychological exploration of this show will leave an indelible impression. “’night, Mother” will be directed by Sidonie Garrett, who previously directed “A Streetcar Named Desire” for KCAT, and has extensively directed for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival.

Carolyn Watson, guest conductor

Romantic music for strings, voice and soloists in the warm sound of the historic Folly Theater, followed by our signature Champagne Chocolate Celebration event.

The Legacy Lives: Ain’t No stopping Us Now! with Speaker: Mayor Quinton Lucas- Black Archives

More information please visit www.blackarchives.org/events

Contributor Level - One ticket

Friends Level - One ticket

Benefactor Level• 1 prominent table location with seating for 10 guests• Sponsor logo shown during luncheon• Listing in event program (camera-ready artwork provided by you) 1/4 full page

Collector Level• 1 Prominent table location with seating for 10 guests• Sponsor logo shown during luncheon• Listing in event program (camera-ready artwork provided by you) 1/2 full page

Ruby Arnold Champion Level• 1 prominent table location with seating for 10 guests• Group photo opportunity with the speaker• Sponsor logo shown during luncheon• Listing in event program (camera-ready artwork provided by you) 1 full page• Logo on Black Archives of Mid-America website

Horace M. Peterson, III Level• 2 prominent table locations with seating for 20 guests• Group photo opportunity with the speaker• Sponsor logo shown during luncheon• Acknowledgement as presenting sponsor in print & electronic materials• Listing in event program (camera-ready artwork provided by you) 1 full page• Logo on Black Archives of Mid-America website

Based on the book by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Set amongst America's amber waves of grain, this update to the classic story finds Little Red Riding Hood, nicknamed for her beloved red sweatshirt, pedaling her bike to deliver muffins to her Grandma’s prairie home. A hungry wolf wants the muffin recipe for himself and hatches a plan to steal it from Grandma. Tractor-driving Grandma, of course, won’t put up with such nonsense and puts him to work in her kitchen instead! Based on the adaption by Kansas City-based author and illustrator Lisa Campbell Ernst.

By Federico García Lorca
Directed byVanessa Severo

Two families in a semi-mythical rural Spain are intricately bound in an unbreakable cycle of murder and revenge. The death-bound love triangle at the center of the play fuels these passions to a fever pitch and propels the story to its unstoppable tragic conclusion. An arranged country marriage between the children of rich landowners is about to take place. A past lover, himself in a loveless marriage, cannot allow the wedding to take place and spirits the Bride away, who goes with him willingly on her wedding night. An entire town goes after the lovers in the middle of the night where pursuers and pursued plunge into a realm of deep darkness where the moonlight is not friendly and the forest not shelter enough.

directed by Alan Hicks.

This comic chamber opera's libretto is based on Guy de Maupassant's novella Le Rosier de Madame Husson, but is set in the English countryside.

Join the Conservatory jazz bands in a hot collage concert featuring a variety of ensembles that represent the entirety of jazz studies at the Conservatory, directed by Bobby Watson and Mitch Butler. This is ALWAYS a must-see, great night of jazz with our talented students and faculty.

---Details coming soon!

By CactusHead Puppets of Massachusetts
The town of Hamelin has a rat problem, and there's only one person who can help! Guest artists John and Megan Regan of CactusHead Puppets bring the story of The Pied Piper to life. Not only does the town find a musical solution to pest control, but the kids of Hamelin also teach the grownups a lesson about generosity. Told with multiple puppetry styles and plenty of dancing rats!

Co-Created byStephanie Roberts and2nd Year MFA Acting Ensemble

A devised production about what sets Americans apart, and what brings us together.

How do we cope in an increasingly divided nation? Where do we turn when the growing schisms within politics, race, gender, sexuality, religion, and class have become part of our daily lives? Using physical theatre, interviews, music, comedy and personal storytelling, the second-year MFA Acting students take on these questions to discover how looking at America’s divisions can ultimately bring us together.

The dance faculty combine their creative choreography with our talented dance students and collaborate with Conservatory musicians to create innovative performances that you won’t want to miss.

---Details coming soon!

Bruce Sorrell, conductor

A blockbuster season finale featuring award winning soloists from the International Center for Music,
Park University and the full forces of the KC Chamber Orchestra.

The program, featuring the Conservatory Orchestra and Choirs, includes Leonard Bernstein's gorgeous Chichester Psalms and Ravel's choreographic symphony, Daphnis et Chloé. The choirs are conducted by Eph Ehly, Conservatory Professor Emeritus of Choral Music, and the orchestra is conducted by Kevin Noe, Visiting Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras.

Based on the folk song made popular by Fred Penner, this performance tells the tale of Mister Johnson and a mysterious cat who keeps returning to his doorstep. Mister Johnson tries everything he can to get the cat to go away, from giving her to a pilot to sending her into outer space. The cat, however, keeps coming back!