Catch a Show
Enjoy a live show at one of Kansas City’s theaters this season.
The Coterie is Kansas City’s professional children’s theater, located on the first floor of Crown Center. From April 17 to May 20, enjoy Jack and the Bean Mágico!, a delightful production that is both bilingual and interactive. The classic fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk is told with the audience’s help, assisting Jack as he climbs the beanstalk to the giant’s rich and fertile land. Young audiences will become tiny bugs in the giant’s garden. Goosebumps is showing June 19-Aug. 5. Brooke and Zeke have been cast as the leads in the school's new production of an old play about a phantom. Mysterious things start interrupting rehearsals, and they have to wonder: Is this someone's idea of a joke, or is the Phantom real? Disney’s Newsies is showing July 7-29. Set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century, this is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged “newsies,” who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. Crown Center is home to many fantastic restaurants, but all-time faves for the kids will always be Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant, where trains deliver food to your table, d’Bronx, the New York-style delicatessen and pizzeria, Unforked, known for tasty burgers, tacos and quesadillas made with locally grown ingredients, and Spin! Pizza, a favorite pizza chain.
Enjoy the Kansas City Ballet’s performances at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Diamonds (April 6-8), The Man in Black (April 13-15) and Peter Pan (May 11-20) are all offered this spring. The center offers a dining option in the Founders’ Lounge, featuring a three-course menu with robust selections boasting a variety of fresh, local flavors. Reservations are encouraged for this popular option. Show fans also enjoy nearby restaurants. Los Tules, one of the most authentic and delicious Mexican restaurants in town, is across the street. And for upscale dining, you can enjoy brunch or dinner next door at the elegant Webster House.
Starlight Theatre is Kansas City’s premier outdoor theater. You can dine at the theater before the show or purchase concessions. Summer 2018 brings On Your Feet (May 22-27), Dirty Dancing (June 5-10), The King & I (June 12-17), Chicago (June 22-27), Cinderella (June 29-July 1), Hairspray (July 27-Aug. 2), Love Never Dies (Aug. 14-19) and The Illusionist (Sept. 28-30).
A beloved summer tradition includes packing a picnic and enjoying free live outdoor theater. Some favorites for free shows include Gladstone Theatre in the Park (GladstoneTIP.com) showing Oklahoma! (July 6-8) and Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Aug. 3-5), Leawood Stage Company’s outdoor venue at Ironwoods Park Amphitheatre (LeawoodStageCo.org) presenting West Side Story (July 13-21) and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (KCShakes.org) showing Much Ado About Nothing June 12-July 1.