Summer is the season for musicals in Kansas City as outdoor theaters bring old standards and new favorites to stage. Starlight, Kansas City’s premier outdoor theater, has been entertaining audiences with Broadway shows every summer since 1950. This summer, enjoy professional productions of Camelot (June 9-14), Pippin (June 30-July 5), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (July 7-12), Mary Poppins (July 24-Aug. 1) and Cirque Eloize iD (Sept. 8-13).
Another summer favorite is Shakespeare in the Park. This free outdoor theater and Shakespeare festival is celebrating their 23rd season with a production of King Lear starring John Resenhouse (June 16-July 6). The pre-show festival includes Shakespearian actors, musicians, magicians and festival food for sale.
Fortunate for families, Kansas City has plenty of live theater with children in mind. Coterie Theatre, a professional children’s theater located in Crown Center, captures the imagination with fantastic productions for the family. This season, children will enjoy the classics Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat (March 31-May 17) and A Year with Frog & Toad (June 6-Aug. 2). Since 1977, Theatre for Young America has been entertaining Kansas City’s youngest audiences. This season, they present If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (April 21-May 16) and The Princess & the Pea (June 9-27). The Culture House, a local performing arts group, is performing Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Indian Creek Community Church (April 16-18), Charlotte’s Web at TCH Red Studio (April 24-26), Harvey at TCH Red Studio (May 8-10) and Into the Woods at Yardley Hall (Aug. 6-9).
Other favorites for children include puppet shows by Paul Mesner Puppets, the Puppetry Arts Institute and StoneLion Puppets.
The Kansas City Ballet, the region’s professional ballet company, brings Dances Daring (Then and Now) May 8-17, as well as many exciting shows in the fall and winter, including The Three Musketeers and The Nutcracker.
In addition to live theater, there are wonderful concert venues, ballet, opera and other performances to enjoy all across Kansas City all year long.