Dinner and a Show
Enjoy dinner and a live show at one of Kansas City’s premier theaters.
The Coterie is Kansas City’s professional children’s theater, located on the first floor of Crown Center. From Sept. 20 to Oct. 21, watch The Nine Who Dared: Courage in Little Rock, a uniquely interactive drama that asks you to put yourself in the shoes of the citizens of 1957 Little Rock, AR, as witnesses to one of the defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement. From Nov. 8 to Dec. 31, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is back by extraordinary popular demand. The beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage as your favorite characters come to life. Hana's Suitcase is on stage Jan. 4-Feb. 12. Past and present mysteries come together in this captivating true story spanning 70 years and crisscrossing three continents. Hana’s story reaches through time into the lives of the young Japanese students in a Holocaust story like no other, providing a contemporary global perspective. 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, and Three Little Pigs Barbeque.
The Kansas City Repertory Theatre performs on two stages, one on the UMKC campus near the Country Club Plaza and the other in the Kansas City Power & Light District. Both shopping districts are home to dozens of excellent restaurants appealing to any palate. Evita is showing Sept. 9-Oct. 2, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This rock opera explores the role of women in politics, the power of populism and the romantic rags-to-riches story of Evita’s life and charity work in Argentina. The Invisible Hand, Oct. 14-Nov. 13, is an intense show revealing the complicated truth behind our simple perceptions of good versus evil, as we discover the invisible hand that moves the global market and shifts the power to those you least want to have it. A Christmas Carol, Nov. 18-Dec. 24, is one of Kansas City’s favorite holiday traditions. The production, back for its 36th season, presents a ripping good telling of the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Santaland Diaries, Dec. 8-24, is a hysterical tale of elfin’ woe as David Sedaris offers his hilarious send-up of his brief, misguided career as a Macy’s elf. The Fabulous Fitches, Jan. 27-Feb. 19, is a madcap musical comedy of heirs. Nothing is as it seems when Max, a New York newsman, chases a story all the way to Palm Beach—only to discover Liz, his ex-girlfriend, newly engaged to the son of the fabulously wealthy Fitch family. A stolen jewel, the arrival of a jealous lover and an oncoming hurricane all conspire to reveal scandals and secrets.
Enjoy the Kansas City Ballet’s performances at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oct. 7-16, is Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mischief and mystery between mortals and fairies. Dec. 3-24 enjoy the annual holiday tradition of The Nutcracker. Kansas City Ballet artistic director Devon Carney promises a traditional yet boisterous, adventurous production audiences will adore. New Moves, Feb. 6-19, is a chance for audiences to see tomorrow’s sought-after choreographers today! 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.
Little ones will delight in Theatre for Young America’s live plays at Union Station. The upcoming season includes Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (Oct. 15-Nov. 3), The Three Wise Cats: A Christmas Musical (Nov. 22-Dec. 24), The Toughest Kid in the World (Jan. 31-Feb. 4) and Curious George (Feb. 14-March 25). Stop in at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a treat before or after the show!