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Kansas City's Theater Scene Shines with Holiday Brilliance

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As you welcome the fall and winter months, make sure to gather family and friends for some original entertainment to warm your heart and soul. There are many great shows to enjoy throughout the holiday season.

One of the most unique is Tuba Christmas (Dec. 2 & 6 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts). This annual tradition is free to attend (reservations required). Hundreds of local tuba musicians perform holiday classics in Helzberg Hall. Another musical favorite is Kansas City Symphony’s Christmas Festival (showing Dec. 20-23 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts). This holiday celebration is filled with festive songs of the season, carols, choirs and special guests — including St. Nick himself!

Another dreamy show is The Nutcracker, Kansas City Ballet’s annual presentation of joy and sparkle, Dec. 5-24. This production, at Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, features professional dancers from the Kansas City Ballet Company, Second Company and also 212 students selected from Kansas City Ballet School. This show is by far the most popular of all the ballet shows each year! The story goes that Dr. Drosselmeier, a mysterious magician and creator of mechanical toys and clocks, puts the finishing touches on some magical dolls and a very special Nutcracker in his workshop on Christmas Eve. He has made them as gifts to entertain his relatives and friends at the Silberhaus home later that night. As the lights dim, Clara returns to search for her Nutcracker until she becomes tired and falls asleep on the couch. Dr. Drosselmeier appears in the parlor to cast his magical spell. Audiences are mesmerized! This will be the second year the company will offer a sensory-friendly performance on Dec. 18.

Another extraordinary event to experience is A Christmas Carol, produced by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. This time-honored tradition is in its 39th season this year, with Gary Neal Johnson in his 19th season performing as Scrooge. The director this year is Jason Chanos, who formerly served as the interim artistic director. The show features local talent, which endears it to the community. The company’s new partnership with Harvesters this year includes a canned food drive at all shows. The drive is designed to bring new relevance to this 176-year-old story, reminding the metro to care for the hungry. This life-changing performance takes place Nov. 16-Dec. 30 in the Spencer Theatre.

Whichever show you choose, make this the most magical, memorable season of all. Kansas City, with the Plaza Lights, strolling carolers in local neighborhoods and the mayor’s Christmas tree at Crown Center , is the most perfect place of all to do this!

Judy Goppert, a Lee’s Summit writer, loves local theater.

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