Catch a Show
Dance to the show based on the Netflix original series Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure at the Coterie, Kansas City’s professional children’s theater, located on Level 1 of Crown Center, April 16 to May 19. Inspired by music made famous by the Beatles, five insect pals explore the world and pick up life lessons along the way in this new musical, with songs like “All You Need Is Love,” “Come Together,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Strawberry Fields Forever” and more. The Coterie’s Young Playwrights' Festival 2019 is Sunday, May 5, at 7:00. This event was created by Coterie artistic director Jeff Church when he was playwright in residence at the Kennedy Center. Feeding into the festival, Reaching the Write Minds is a unique dramatic writing program, which gives a voice to emerging teen playwrights. Nearly 400 students each year participate in this specialized dramatic writing workshop scheduled by schools and taught by professional facilitators. Following the in-school workshops, selected students continue on (free of charge) to the Young Playwrights' Roundtable. Each spring, the Coterie professionally stages works from the roundtable members in its annual Young Playwrights' Festival. Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play” returns to the stage June 11 to August 4 and is one of the most popular and beloved shows the Coterie has ever done. Gerald the Elephant is cautious, and Piggie is not. Along with the three nutty Squirrelles, these “bestus” friends might get invited to a swimmy fancy costume dancey pool party or decide to spend the day playing ping-pong in silly hats. This lively and irresistibly charming musical look at friendship has become one of the best-selling and loved young readers’ series of the past decade.
This spring, Starlight Theatre has some wonderful shows ideal for youngsters, including the Starlight Indoors American Girl Live show, April 23 to April 28. This is a premiere stage production featuring all-original songs and an unforgettable experience. Come along to sleepover camp with some new friends for an exciting summer away from home with your favorite American Girl characters. June 10 to June 16, the outdoor stage showcases the musical theater classic The Wizard of Oz. This production celebrates the film’s 80th anniversary, telling the tale of Dorothy’s quest to return home through the glittering Emerald City, with songs including “Over the Rainbow” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.”
Theatre for Young America presents live shows at Union Station. The summer season includes Go Dog. Go!, April 9 to May 11. This show is based on P.D. Eastman’s classic book featuring a group of highly mobile dogs careening around in cars, scooters and anything that rolls fast. They work, play and finally have a dog party. June 18 to July 6 TYA presents A Wrinkle In Time, based on Madeleine L’Engle’s science fantasy novel for young people, which won the Newberry Medal and is a modern children’s classic.
The Theatre in the Park is the largest outdoor community theater in the nation, located in Shawnee Mission Park. Local actors audition for the plays. This year’s season incudes Forever Plaid, April 19 to May 5; Annie, June 7 to June 15; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, June 21 to June 29; The Music Man, July 5 to July 13; Matilda the Musical, July 19 to 27; and The Wizard of Oz, August 2 to August 10.
Judy Goppert enjoys supporting the local arts in Kansas City.