MCC-Longview presents: Songs of a New World

MCC-Longview is proud to present Songs for a New World, a critically acclaimed musical written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, who has been praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “one of Broadway’s smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Steven Sondheim.

Since its off-Broadway debut in 1995, Songs for a New World has delighted audiences around world.

Songs for a New World
8 p.m.  July 28, 29 & 30
At the MCC-Longview Cultural Arts Center
Tickets: $10 at the door

For information, or to buy advance tickets, call 816.604.2030.

VIDEO: One-on-One with MCC-Longview's guest theater director Ryan Morehead, PART 3

In this installment of our on-going series of interviews with guest director Ryan Morehead, Ryan explores how the Lakeside Summer Theatre Workshop will fit into MCC's mission of serving the community of Lee's Summit and the greater Kansas City area.

Be sure to check out the rest of the interviews with Morehead. For more information about the Lakeside Summer Theatre Workshop, call 816.604.2530 or 816.604.2338

VIDEO: One-on-One with MCC-Longview's guest theater director Ryan Morehead

Starting this summer MCC-Longview is going to offer a whole new classroom opportunity for students interested in the theater.

Guest Director Ryan Morehead will be launch the inaugural Lakeside Summer Theatre Workshop where he will explore every facet of the theater culminating in a musical theater production in August.

The workshop itself is not limited to just actors or musicians. Morehead has tailored this workshop to also expose students to theatre roles that exist backstage. Set builders, costumers, lighting technicians and more will all get a chance to learn about the theater trade and work through this new experience at Longview with Morehead.

For more information, contact the Liberal Arts Department at MCC-Longview.

MCC-Maple Woods acting students perform Plays in Progress

MCC-Maple Woods Acting I & II students will demonstrate everything they've learned this year in an acting showcase: Plays in Progress, a series of five 10-minute plays written and directed by theater instructor Daniel Wright. The show, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. April 27 in the Student Center Theater. Mature audiences only.

MCC-Longview presents: Death Takes a Holiday

Veteran community actors team up with MCC-Longview's own beginning actors and actresses - working side-by-side - as they prepare for this spring's anticipated debut of Death Takes a Holiday.

The play opens Friday and will run through April 16.

The classic Death Takes a Holiday follows the adventures of Death himself as he decides to quit the killing business and join humanity. On his brief holiday, Death discovers true love, the thrill of life and questions whether he wants to return to his grim profession.

Recognize the story? You should. Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins stepped into the lead rolls in the Hollywood version of the play (renamed Meet Joe Black).

Death Takes a Holiday

Presented by MCC-Longview Dinner Theater

April 8, 9, 15 and 16

For more information and reservations, call 816-604-2299 or e-mail joyce.kuhn@mcckc.edu

Shakespearian delirium for MCC-Blue River Theatre Troupe

An incredible feat of theatrical prowess will be presented by MCC-Blue River’s thespians as they perform all 37 of The Bard’s plays in just 97 minutes! What’s more, the performance is open to the public and proceeds benefit Harvesters. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) is a magnificent and comical paring-down of all of Shakespeare’s theatrical works into a hilarious and manageable high speed histori-dromedy.

To quote Shakespeare’s Polonius from Hamlet, our MCC-Blue River actors must prove themselves to be "The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,/comedy, history, pastoral,/pastoral-comical,/historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-/comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or/poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor/Plautus too light." 

The group will touch on all of those styles, though with a particular flair for comedy, considering the thumb-in-the-eye and tongue-in-cheek that such a hilarious undertaking

MCC-Longview presents guest director for summer theatre workshop

Theatre instructor Ryan Morehead has big plans for his summer.

In May, Morehead will be at the helm of MCC-Longview's newest theatre program and summer workshop that will transform the MCC-Longview Cultural Arts Center into a dynamic space where students will learn about every facet of the theatre.

"This is going to be a new opportunity for students to learn not only about acting, but also lighting design, scenic and costume design, music, and everything that goes into the creation of a play," said Morehead.

The summer theatre workshop and classes are a new collaboration between the college and Morehead, who is the Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan.

Morehead will teach two acting classes (Acting I and II) and the new summer theatre workshop at Longview this summer. All of the work done in those classes and on stage will culminate into a series of final performances of the hit musical Songs for a New World in late July, by and for the students of Longview.

MCC-Longview Spring 2011 Dinner Theater is scaring up a deadly tale

Rehearsals have started for the Spring 2011 MCC-Longview dinner theater production of Death Takes a Holiday.

Veteran community actors and actresses team up with MCC-Longview's own beginning actors and actresses - working side-by-side - as they prepare for this spring's anticipated debut of Death Takes a Holiday.

The play follows the adventures of Death himself as he decides to quit the killing business and joins humanity. On his brief holiday, Death discovers true love, the thrill of life and questions whether he wants to return to his grim profession.

Recognize the story? You should. Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins stepped into the lead rolls in the Hollywood version of the play (renamed Meet Joe Black).

Death Takes a Holiday

Presented by MCC-Longview Dinner Theater

April 8, 9, 15 and 16

For more information and reservations, call 816-604-2299 or e-mail joyce.kuhn@mcckc.edu

Death Takes a Holiday auditions at MCC-Longview

Calling all actors and actresses: The MCC-Longview Dinner Theater is once again looking for players to act in its spring performance of Death Takes a Holiday.

The play follows Death himself as he decided to take a small vacation from his usual deathly duties. Finding a Italian Duke who will let him pretend to be a human for a few days, Death discovers there is much more to life.

The 1928 play has inspired several movie versions including a 1934 remake staring Fredric March. The movie also inspired the 1998 Brad Pitt movie Meet Joe Black.

Auditions will be held at MCC-Longview.  Director Joyce Kuhn is looking for seven males and six females. The play itself will open April 8.

Death Takes a Holiday auditions

6-8 p.m. Jan. 24 and 25

MCC-Longview Liberal Arts Building room 102

816.604.2299 or email joyce.kuhn@mcckc.edu

Production Dates: April 8, 9, 15 and 16.

MCC-Longview presentation of A Flea in Her Ear ends its run this weekend.

MCC-Longview's Dinner Theater presentation of A Flea in Her Ear ends its run this weekend. Get your tickets before this show ends.

MCC-Longview's Dinner Theater presents: A Flea in her ear

$30.00 for dinner theater and the show

$15.00 for show only.

Students for show only are $10.00.

Group discounts available for 10 or more people. October 22 and 23.

To make reservations or get more information call 604-2299

Blue River Theatre Troupe kicks off fall season

MCC- Blue River’s Theatre Troupe kicks off its fall season with “Black Box Theatre” on Oct. 12 & 14, in room 124 in the Arts & Sciences Building. The student performances which begin at 12:45 p.m., are free and open to the public. Enjoy the student artists’ showcase of scenes and monologues from plays written by American Playwrights. Refreshments will be served. For more information about these and other performances, call 816.604. 6676 or visit www.mcckc.edu/blueriver.

MCC-Blue River theatre students preserve childhood cancer legacy

In honor of Childhood Cancer month, MCC-Blue River Theatre students recently paid tribute to a brave young girl and her lemonade stand.

Alex Scott was diagnosed with cancer shortly before her first birthday. The day after her fourth birthday, she received a stem cell transplant and told her parents that when she got out of the hospital, she wanted to start a lemonade stand to raise money so doctors could help other kids with cancer.

By her eighth birthday Alex’s lemonade stand had raised over $1 million dollars. Unfortunately, Alex lost her own battle with cancer.

In memory of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, MCC-Blue River theater students Jacob Garr, Lee Roberts, Adrian Foster and Keith Zoellers recently spent the afternoon reading from children’s book inspired by Alex’s story and offering free glasses of lemonade as reminder of all the children still battling cancer.

“It’s really to carry on her legacy,” said the students. “We were not selling the lemonade to raise money, but to make people aware that childhood cancer is still out there and that’s the first step. Childhood Cancer awareness month may end in September, but we should all be aware, all the time.”

To find out more about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation visit http://alexslemonade.org/ .

Discount tickets to the Kansas City Ballet

MCC employees and students can purchase tickets to see Kansas City Ballet’s Fall Performance, featuring Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, at a 30 percent discount. This Broadway ballet is a comedy filled with Russian gangsters, sultry strippers and murder.

DISCOUNT DETAILS: The 30 percent applies to all performances Oct.14-17 and all sections. The prices listed below do not include service and handling.



TICKET PRICES AT 30% OFF:
Orchestra Center - $60
Front Balcony - $60
Orchestra Circle - $45.50
Balcony Circle - $35
Balcony - $24.50
Balcony Sides - $17.50

ORDER ONLINE, BY PHONE OR IN PERSON:
Online: Go to http://www.kcballet.org/ and provide our exclusive Kansas City Ballet BAB code (BABFALL10) to receive the discount. Click here to login with promo code and purchase now.
By Phone: The KC Ballet box office is open Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 816.931.2232. Use the code (BABFALL10) to receive the discount. You must mention the code at the time of your purchase.
In Person: The box office is open Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 1616 Broadway, downtown Kansas City. Mention code (BABFALL10) to receive the discount. You must mention the code at the time of your purchase.

OPEN AUDITIONS for the BoBette's MCC-Longview Dinner Theatre fall performance

The original poster used by the Kansas City Repertory Theater when they performed the play in May 2009.

Attention all actors and actresses, the BoBette’s MCC-Longview Dinner Theater is looking for new players to star in its upcoming fall performance.

BoBette’s MCC-Longview Dinner Theater is a mentoring in the arts program where college students and community members have the opportunity to learn from and perform with professional actors.

Auditions for the play will be from 6 – 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 and 17 in the Liberal Arts Building at MCC-Longview (500 SW Longview Road, Lee’s Summit, Mo.) in room 102.

The play, which will be performed Oct. 15, 16, 22 and 23 is a new version of Georges Feydeau farce written by David Ives called A Flea in Her Ear. The play follows a complex series of mistaken identities that all starts when Victor Deboshe, a middle-class insurance salesman, becomes impotent leading his wife to think he is having an affair. Hoping to test her theory, she writes a love letter from an anonymous love interest asking that they meet at a shady motel. Not wanting to be unfaithful, but still curious, Victor sends his friend – a notorious womanizer – in his place for the no-tell motel rendezvous.

Hilarity ensues as the story unfolds.

The director is looking for nine men and five women.

AUDITIONS for A Flea in Her Ear

6-8 p.m.

Aug 16 & 17

MCC-Longview Liberal Arts Building Room 102
For more information call Joyce Kuhn at 816-604-2299

BARE will bare it all at MCC-Longview Studio Theater

BARE, the cult-hit coming-of-age musical that took Los Angeles and New York by storm, comes to Kansas City in a new, vibrant staging. The award-winning rock-pop musical plays at the MCC-Longview Studio Theatre July 9-18.

BARE is a searing and beautiful coming-of-age story told through a brilliant, pulsing pop-rock score played by a live band. This production features an immersive, environmental staging that is sure to be an exciting theatrical event!

A group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school faces issues of sexuality and personal identity. As they struggle to come to terms with who they are, and who the world thinks they should be, they seek answers in the church confessional and in less formal venues including a stage, a rave, a well-locked dorm room and ultimately, from within themselves. Its rich, vibrant score draws on many styles of contemporary music.

BARE is staged as part of an effort to produce contemporary or off-the-beaten-path works for Lee's Summit and the surrounding areas.

BARE features book and music by Damon Intrabartolo, and book and lyrics by Jon Hartmere, Jr. The award-winning musical premiered in Hollywood in October 2000. It was supposed to run for 32 performances at an 87-seat theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard. Four months later, it had become a multi award-winning sensation created by two 26-year-old writers and a 23-year-old director. The musical won the L.A. Weekly Award for Best Musical, the Ovation Award for Best Musical and the L.A. Drama Critics Award for Best Score. The show went on to a successful New York run, performing off-Broadway at the American Theatre of Actors.

Ten years after BARE's premiere, its themes of acceptance, tolerance and equality are increasingly relevant today.

The show will play the following performance schedule: July 9th, 10th, 17th & 18th at 7:30pm, with matinee performances July 11th & 17th at 2:30pm.

All performances take place at the Studio Theatre in the Cultural Arts Center on the MCC-Longview campus.

Regular tickets are $15. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online at www.BareInKC.com. Group ticket rate available for parties of 10 or more people. For group sales, contact Ashley Gordon, ashley@BareInKC.com. Audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as this intimate production features a strictly limited number of seats for each performance.

BARE is rated PG-13. The show is not recommended for children under 12 years old.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.BareInKC.com.