July is National Parks and Recreation Month and to celebrate all of our great parks and facilities, we’re launching a weekly photo contest that will run until the end of the month!
Submit an original photo of friends, family or yourself at any of the locations listed below and post it on Twitter, Instagram or share it to our wall with the hashtag #KCPicsAndRec15. Each photo will earn you an additional chance to win the weekly grand prize (pictured; maximum 5 entries per person and the hashtag must be present in each entry). Winner will be announced each Sunday evening in July.
Week One locations are (submitted photos can be from previous visits):
Glass slippers are so back! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music, is ready to captivate Starlight audiences July 7-12. The national touring production of this classic fairy tale enchants with its magical costume transformations, stunning orchestration and contemporary take on the story.
One of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s most popular titles, Cinderella was actually written for television, debuting in 1957 with a young Julie Andrews in the title role. In 2013, the show made its long-overdue Broadway debut. Along with Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s legendary musicals include Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music.
Before the production each night, Starlight guests will also enjoy a pre-show family event, the “Fairy Tale Festival.” The festival, which runs from 6 to 7:45 p.m., will include fun activities including face painting, crafts, games, storytelling and more. Also, to give back to the Kansas City community, guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently used pair of children’s shoes to donate to Operation Breakthrough as part of Starlight’s “If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Bring It!” philanthropic effort.
Audiences can expect humor and romance as this tour of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella combines the story’s classic moment with some surprising new twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, Cinderella is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul. Cinderella fights for her own dreams and helps the prince open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams, too. She doesn’t let rags or ball gowns trip up her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
“I think Starlight audiences will be amazed by this new and modernized take on the classic tale of Cinderella,” Starlight president and CEO Rich Baker said. “No matter their age, they will reclaim their childhood wonder when they see the magic evolve in this beloved production.”
Douglas Carter’s new book for Cinderella masterfully blends with the musical’s cherished score with favorite songs including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”
Direct from playing the role on Broadway, actress Paige Faure has taken her glass slippers on the road as she continues in the title role for the tour. Ready to sweep Cinderella off her feet, Andy Huntington Jones plays the role of Prince Topher. The touring cast also features a Kansas City connection as Overland Park native and 2005 Blue Valley High School graduate Kaitlyn Davidson stars as Gabrielle, Cinderella’s “misunderstood” stepsister.
The show’s creative team includes Tony® Award-nominated scenic designer Anna Louizos; costume designer William Ivey Long, a six-time Tony Award winner; Tony-winning lighting designer Kenneth Posner;and Tony-nominated sound designer Nevin Steinberg.
Tickets for Cinderella at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $14 to $96. Tickets are available online at www.kcstarlight.com, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. All performances begin at 8 p.m.
Discount prices for groups of 15 or more are available by contacting group sales coordinator Staci Shute at 816.997.1137 or staci.shute@kcstarlight.com.
They’ve “got magic to do, just for you”! PIPPIN, the most nominated Broadway musical of 2013, brings its high-flying thrills and talented company of 48 performers to Starlight Theatre on June 30-July 5. The national tour of this hit Broadway revival, which took home four Tony Awards®, brings to Kansas City audiences the beloved music of Stephen Schwartz, who also composed Wicked and Godspell, and sizzling choreography in the style of Bob Fosse. Tony winner Diane Paulus directs the dazzling production.
Revived and reimagined, PIPPIN is entertaining audiences 40 years after the original production debuted on Broadway. Its celebrated score includes “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic to Do” and “Morning Glow.”
As an added bonus, Starlight guests who attend the performance of PIPPIN on the Fourth of July will also enjoy a free fireworks extravaganza immediately after the show. The 15-minute fireworks production will be supported with a soundtrack of favorite Broadway tunes.
PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. In search of an extraordinary life, Pippin heads off to war, unseats his father from the throne, later regrets his actions, meets a beautiful widow and more. Will Pippin choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory?
Referred to as “a play within a play,” the story of PIPPIN is told by a traveling troupe of actors and acrobats (called “Players”) and led by the mysterious Leading Player. Like a vaudeville act, the Players act out the roles of the story and speak directly to the audience. Sasha Allen of season 4 of NBC’s “The Voice” stars as Leading Player in the national tour, and she is backed by the breathtaking acrobatics of the Montreal-based circus company, Les 7 Doigts de la Main.
“I am thrilled to bring this production to Kansas Citians this season,” said Rich Baker, Starlight president and CEO. “This revival contains all of the wonderful music of the original production, but it’s newly conceived with circus elements that provide a fresh dimension and modern feel which I’m confident will captivate Starlight audiences.”
In 2013, PIPPIN won four Tony-Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical, four Drama Desk Awards, seven Outer Critic Circle Awards and the Drama League Award.
The touring cast of PIPPIN features Sasha Allen as the Leading Player; Sam Lips, who understudied the role on Broadway, as Pippin; John Rubenstein, who originally played the title role of Pippin in the 1972 production, as Charles; Sabrina Harper as Fastrada; Kristine Reese as Catherine; Adrienne Barbeau as Berthe; Erik Altemus as Lewis; and Jake Berman as Theo.
The tour’s creative team is led by director Paulus, director; Chet Walker, choreography; Gypsy Snider, circus creation; Nadia DiGiallonardo, music supervisor and arrangements; Larry Hochman, orchestrations; Scott Pask, scenic design; Kenneth Posner, lighting design; Dominique Lemieux, costume design; and Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm, sound designers.
Tickets for PIPPIN at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $12 to $92. Tickets are available online at www.kcstarlight.com, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. All performances begin at 8 p.m.
Discount prices for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting group sales coordinator Staci Shute at 816.997.1137 or staci.shute@kcstarlight.com
About Starlight Theatre Starlight Theatre, winner of the 2013 Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City and the second-largest outdoor producing theatre in the country. Opened as a theater in 1950 and as a not-for- profit organization in 1951, Starlight presents and produces Broadway musicals and concerts. It also offers extensive community outreach and educational programming, including classes, scholarships and Starlight’s Blue Star Awards, one of the largest high school musical theatre award programs in the nation.
Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, Starlight’s venue includes rehearsal halls, gift store, club area for dining, concessions, gardens, fountains and a 10-story, climate-controlled stage. For more information, visit www.kcstarlight.com.
Leapin’Lizards! Plenty of talented “orphans” will surely charm Kansas City audiences when the national tour of Annie stops at Starlight Theatre on June 19-21 for a Broadway weekend special engagement. This brand-new physical incarnation of Annie remains true to the show’s nearly 40-year traditions, including the beloved songs and themes of resiliency and optimism.
Martin Charnin, Annie’s original lyricist and director, directs the touring production – for the 19th time since the musical debuted on Broadway in April 1977. The show quickly became one of Broadway’s biggest hits ever, running for 2,377 performances, winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, and even a Grammy for Best Cast Show Album. It has since been performed worldwide in 28 languages.
Starlight audiences will be transported back to New York City in 1933 where a little red-headed orphan, Annie, lives in an orphanage but is on a continuous search for her parents who left her there years before. After escaping the orphanage and having a few adventures on the streets of NYC, Annie is chosen to spend the Christmas holiday at billionaire Oliver Warbuck’s mansion. Warbuck soon learns to love the girl as his own and vows to help her in her search for her parents. The musical’s celebrated score features such audience favorites as “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”
“I’m extremely pleased that Starlight is able to host this incredible production and wonderful cast,” Starlight president and CEO Rich Baker said. “Annie is a musical that so many people have grown up with, and now they have a new opportunity to experience it with their family and friends. When that little redhead belts out the words to ‘Tomorrow,’ it fills you with a joy that few other musical numbers can match.”
Annie’s touring cast features a 25-member company. Making her tour debut in the title role of Annie is 10-year-old Issie Swickle. She is joined by principal cast members Gilgamesh Taggett as Oliver Warbucks, Lynn Andrews as Miss Hannigan, Ashley Edler as Grace, Garrett Deagon as Rooster, Lucy Werner as Lily, Jeffrey B. Duncan as FDR, and Sunny, a 5-year-old rescue terrier mix as Sandy.
The tour’s creative team includes Tony Award®winner Beowulf Boritt, scenic design; Suzy Benzinger, costume design; Tony Award®winner Ken Billington, lighting design; Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenski, sound design; Tony Award® honoree William Berloni, animal training; Keith Levenson, musical supervision and additional orchestrations; Joy Dewing CSA and Holly Buczek CSA, casting; and the tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC. The book for Annie was written by Thomas Meehan, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin.
Tickets for Annie at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $12 to $92. Tickets are available online at www.kcstarlight.com, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. All performances begin at 8 p.m.
Discount prices for groups of 15 or more are available by contacting group sales coordinator Staci Shute at 816.997.1137 or staci.shute@kcstarlight.com
This week, the Upper Room Summer Soccer Camps will officially begin at Swope Soccer Village. The camp will be held five days a week for four hours a day. The camp runs daily through end of July.
The summer soccer camp started over 8 years ago with around 1,000 kids enrolled. It has grown tremendously since then as there are 3,200 kids expected this year.
Heartland Soccer created the summer soccer camps with Upper Room and has been one of the biggest supporters of this program. This summer, Heartland will help with the funding of the camps, donating all of the equipment and field rental. Also, Heartland coaches from across the area will provide instruction throughout the week.
“We are very proud to offer and support such a tremendous opportunity for these kids. Soccer is a sport where all ages and skill levels can play. At its very core, the game of soccer is simple. Just kick the ball, run and have fun so literally almost everyone can play,” said Shane Hackett, Heartland Soccer Executive Director. “We started these camps many years ago playing out in the middle of nowhere. No real soccer fields just open land and lots of weeds. Now to have the camps at this world class soccer complex is quite unbelievable. The kids love it!”
Swope Soccer Village, which is Located at 63rd and Lewis Road in Kansas City, Missouri’s Swope Park, the state-of-the-art Swope Soccer Village features nine full-size soccer fields – three natural grass and six synthetic turf – as part of a $15.5 million expansion. Home to MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City since 2007; the facility has also attracted marquee events such as the Big 12 Soccer Championship as well as the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships for Division II (2016-17) and Division III (2014-15).
Heartland Soccer Association is a non-profit organization located in Overland Park, Kansas. Heartland represents more than 1,150 league teams and nearly 17,000 players. This is just league play; the organization also holds some of the largest tournaments in the Midwest. When you add up league and tournament play, Heartland represents more than 2,500 teams. Heartland is dedicated to developing and promoting a healthy lifestyle to the youth of Kansas City.
Upper Room is a local non-profit organization that works closely with youth groups in the Swope Park Corridor and surrounding areas. The organization provides high-quality programs to low-income families in the Kansas City area.
PICNIC IS SOLD OUT — THANK YOU!!! National Teddy Bear Picnic Day is celebrated every year on the 10th of July and this year it will be celebrated in Kansas City for the first time! Join KC Parks on Friday, July 10 for an afternoon of fun on the front lawn of the Kansas City Museum. Be sure to pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and grab your favorite teddy bear (or bears)–dressed in their best attire, of course– and join us! The picnic is presented by Aetna Better Health (formerly Healthcare USA)
National Teddy Bear Picnic Day stems from the early 1900s when then-president Theodore Roosevelt gave the permission to use his nickname for the stuffed animal for children. In 1932, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic song was released and in the 1950s the song was used as the theme for the Big Jon and Sparkie radio program. Between these historical points, there emerged a day where you bring your favorite stuffed bear and head down to the park for a sandwich together.
What is a Teddy Bear Picnic? It seems that there are few rules but generally:
Everyone must bring a Teddy Bear, preferably one which has been spruced up for the day.
A picnic must be brought which should ideally include things which your bear would like to eat too. Cupcakes and honey sandwiches are often high on the list!
Teddy related games and crafts are usually played.
A Best Dressed Bear contest is held.
KC Parks inaugural Teddy Bear Picnic will feature entertainment by Janie Next Door with her own rendition of the Teddy Bear’s Picnic song; teddy bear crafts by Macaroni Kids-Downtown; lawn games including Badminton, giant checkers, giant dice, golf and corn hole (thank you Northeast News!); face painting and more! Each child will receive a goody bag and commemorative photo.
BIG NEWS!!!! Thanks to our sponsor, Aetna Better Health, there is NO COST to attend, however, each child must be pre-registered. Attendance is limited to 150 so sign up today! Please email Carol Green with names and ages of children attending (must be accompanied by an adult).
July is National Parks and Recreation Month and to celebrate all of our great parks and facilities, we’re launching a weekly photo contest that will run until the end of the month!
