There comes those rare moments where various pieces of things fall together to create something that is unmistakable from reality and the story it tells. Such is the case in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production of BROKE-OLOGY. Broke-ology written by Kansas City, Kansas native Nathan Louis Jackson and using KCK as it’s setting is an intimate window into the lives of the King family masterfully crafted on the Copaken stage. When we first meet William (David Emerson Toney) and a very pregnant Sonia (Shamika...

The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein is, at times, a juvenile T & A joke-filled, madcap romp filled with quite a bit of lowbrow, though a tinge subversive, humor; it spoke to me. That’s not to say the show is perfect. If you have read anything about this show it seems every one jumps on the “it’s not nearly as good as The Producers bandwagon.” Well fortunately, to some perhaps unfortunately, I have never seen The Producers, something I plan to correct this summer out at Starlight Theater,...

Around the World in 80 days at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre is faithful to the Jules Verne novel on which it is based. I say this as if you are a fan of the work then get your tickets to the show now. If you are not, well I am not sure if this will change your mind, however that shouldn’t deter you from making the trip. Don’t mistake me, this is top of the line theatre work. It’s just that I walked away from the show feeling a bit indifferent. This is no fault of the show’s company of eight. Each...

Broadway Across America’s production at the Musical Hall of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is lots of fun and worth stretching out your holiday for. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is one of those shows that I walked into nearly dreading. Christmas can really irk me. Go ahead, call me a Scrooge. I suppose it’s the false happy face many seem to put on, the forced fake enthusiasm. The ‘magic’ of Christmas was lost on me somewhere around the age of 10 I believe. I, however have never quite tired...

The humor remains in A Christmas Story even when set to song. Retaining it’s namesakes comedy lineage A Christmas Story, The Musical! at the Kansas City Repertory Theater brings the laughs but still feels much like its central character, young and eager but needing a chance to mature to be fully appreciated. Don’t mistake me, it’s fun for the whole family and a welcome change of pace from the last several interpretations of Dickens a Christmas Carol. It’s just that this feels like its in development as...

Wicked boast excellent production values, and outstanding performances but it’s lacking something… Wicked certainly has a devoted fan base. That was evident from the moment I entered the Music Hall Thursday night to a packed house. This is the second visit of the touring production to Kansas City since it’s first stop last year for a show that still plays on Broadway since opening in 2003.  Easily one of the most diverse, loyal crowds I have encountered at any production this year. Some were sporting apparel...

I admit it, I had my reservations walking into the KC Rep’s first, of three world premiers of the season in David Cale’s Palomino (now through November 15th at the KC Rep Copaken Stage.) Not that I was worried it wouldn’t be any good, I just wasn’t sure how well a story about a carriage driver turned gigolo by chance meeting would be as a one man show. As soon as Cale took the stage on Saturday evening my reservations were put aside as I was drawn into the story about five minutes in. Cale is a one man...

Kansas City’s theater season has started out with a bang. Just days after the final curtain for the KC Rep’s amazing production of Into the Woods, the touring production of Spring Awakening hits town as part of the Broadway Across America Series at the Music Hall. I walked into this show knowing very little about it. I intentionally did minimal research on the show so I could go in fresh. Sure I knew the basic stuff, it is a seven time Tony award winner, so a quality lineage is there. A sort of coming of age rock...

Be Careful what you wish for, this journey Into the Woods is fantastic The KC Repertory Theater’s season opening night took place last night before a near capacity audience with Steven Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods. Under the superb direction of Broadway director Moises Kaufman and several stand out performances from the cast  the Rep’s production is a fun turned bleak  and dark journey were the worlds of Brothers Grimm fairy tales collide. When a little boy points his father to a book to be told...