Join Charlie Brown on a memorable journey as he tries to direct the school Christmas pageant. In their letters to Santa, everyone seems to be acting materialistic - so Charlie Brown tries to restore holiday spirit with a ragged little fir tree. Experience the power of this wonderful story live onstage as Charlie Brown turns to his best friend Linus to learn the season’s real meaning. Special encore: Snoopy’s Christmas Eve encounter with the Red Baron!

Choreography by Devon Carney
Music by Peter I. Tchaikovsky
With Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City Ballet’s annual tradition, The Nutcracker, continues to awe audiences year after year, and is hailed as “positively oozing charm” by The Washington Post. The classic, Victorian-era story by E.T.A. Hoffman featuring Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Dr. Drosselmeier and the Sugar Plum Fairy is a magical theatrical experience wrapped with exquisite costumes, grand sets and captivating choreography.

Sponsored by Bank of America

Celebrate the joy of the Christmas season through its beloved songs and carols. Featuring our signature blend of sacred and secular, popular and traditional, this Kansas City tradition has been called “the best Christmas show in town” and “Kansas City’s most consistently stirring Christmas show for 15 years” by critics and audiences alike. From gospel to contemporary to classical, this intimate cabaret revue features something for everyone, making it the perfect holiday tradition for the whole family!

Julian Wachner, guest conductor
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Lauren Snouffer, soprano
Melissa Attebury, mezzo-soprano
Oliver Mercer, tenor
Alexander Dobson, bass-baritone

Since its 1741 premiere, Handel’s Messiah has absolutely dazzled audiences. Experience this glorious oratorio, brought to life by nearly 200 musicians onstage, including our Kansas City Symphony Chorus and very special guest vocalists. The superior acoustics of Helzberg Hall filled with full and glorious sounds guarantee you’ll savor every note. Supported by the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

For the 39^th year, KCRep is pleased to announce the return of its special holiday event for children, adults, and patrons from every background! Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, cold-hearted creditor, continues his stingy ways, even on Christmas Eve. He rejects a dinner invitation from his nephew, Fred; he yells at charity workers; and overworks his earnest employee, Bob Cratchit. Later that evening he is visited one-by-one by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, who show him the errors of his ways until he ultimately discovers what’s really worth celebrating in his life.

In 1897, the international stage celebrity Sarah Bernhardt sets out to tackle her most ambitious role yet: Hamlet. This performance could catapult her to godly heights or be the end of Bernhardt’s illustrious career. All of Paris is wondering what will happen, and the indomitable actress will not allow anything to hold her back. In a fierce exploration of women, power and the desire to create a lasting legacy, Theresa Rebeck’s new play is full of high comedy and human drama.

Bring your instrument and sit in at the weekly Blue Monday Jam Session – or just take in the sounds of one of Kansas City’s best jam sessions. Each Monday night begins with a set by a featured ensemble and then we open the mic to interested musicians. Doors open at 5:00 pm, live music starts at 7:00 pm, jam session starts at 8:00 pm. Arrive early to sign up! This week's Blue Monday Jam Session is hosted by percussionist Tyree Johnson.

Tyree attended Paseo High School of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO. There he was introduced to jazz music and began his own jazz combo called "Groove 101". Tyree has continues to share his musical experiences through his jazz combo on Monday nights at the The Blue Room. The styles that he embraced to study varies from gospel, straight-ahead-jazz, rhythm and blues, Afro-Cuban, salsa, reggae, funk and drum cadences.

Glamour Profession is an 11-piece band made up of KC’s top studio and jazz musicians that plays the music of Steely Dan.  The band plays faithful arrangements of the Dan’s songbook arranged by Music Director and keyboardist, Paul Roberts. A band highlight is the performance of the entire Aja album from front to back

Indigo Hour in The Blue Room features drink specials, free live music, and the best Kansas City R&B and Neo-Soul acts every Friday night from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm. This week's Indigo Hour is hosted by vocalist Lady D.

Lady D began her musical endeavors at the early age of 8 in church choirs, local gospel groups and countless talent shows.  In her late teen years she recorded a gospel album and appeared on the infamous Bobby Jones Gospel show. In addition to her gospel background Lady D has always been involved with exceptional music projects.  Through the years she has appeared on several recordings and opened for the likes of Roger Troutman & Zapp, Brian McKnight, Najee and Peabo Bryson to name a few.

Her musical style is an eclectic mix of jazz, R&B and blues.  Her sets are sprinkled with a smooth mix of them all. Her smile is contagious; her interaction and ability to get the crowd involved is outrageous!  True to herself and the music she loves, Lady D is a well-rounded, professional entertainer. She prides herself in always being surrounded by the best and most talented musicians and vocalists.

The 37th Annual Folly Jazz Series presents

Pedrito Martinez Group

Friday, December 13th at 8 PM

JAZZTALK: TBA

SEASON TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS GO ON SALE MONDAY, AUGUST 19TH

Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, Sept 12, 1973. Having settled in New York City in the fall of 1998, by 2000, he had been awarded the Thelonious Monk Award for Afro-Latin Hand Percussion and featured in the documentary “Calle 54”.

Pedrito’s career as a leader began in 2005 with the formation in NYC of The Pedrito Martinez Group. The group’s Grammy-nominated first album, Pedrito Martinez Group, was released October 2013 and was chosen among NPR’s Favorite Albums of 2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top Ten Albums of 2013.

BAND LINE-UP

PEDRITO MARTINEZ – PERCUSSION & VOCALS

JHAIR SALA – PERCUSSION & VOCALS

SEBASTIAN NATAL – BASS & VOCALS

ISSAC DELGADO – KEYBOARD & VOCALS

Da Truth Band has been performing together in the Greater Metropolitan area for 10 years.  Started by Anthony Harvey, keyboardist and MD for the band, he envisioned a group not only perform popular music, but be versatile enough to play any genre of music that will allow them to play any venue in the city.  Comprised of Keys, Drums, Bass Guitar, Lead Guitar, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, and Vocals, Da Truth has become a fixture in the Kansas City live music scene. Regularly making appearances in the Jazz District at venues such as The Bayou on the Vine, KC Juke house, The Blue Room, The Fat Fish Blue Bar and Grill, Qudos Cigar Bar, Mingles Nightclub, the Beaumont Club, The Epicurean, Power and Light District on the main Stage, Isle of Capri, and Jerry’s Bait Shop, just to name a few.

Bob Bowman learned to play the piano and clarinet before beginning bass lessons at age 12. He quickly became an award-winning performer. He won a scholarship to the Stan Kenton Jazz Clinic as a high school freshman, followed by study at North Texas State University.

In 1976, he joined the famous Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, touring and recording several albums, including the Grammy award-winning “Live at Munich.” Bob continued his performing and recording career by joining the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin Big Band in Los Angeles in 1979. He recorded numerous albums as a member of this band, many of which were nominated for Grammy Awards.

While based in Los Angeles, Bob toured with the legendary Carmen McRae and performed with Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank and others. Bob moved to Kansas City in 1988 where he has been a vibrant part of the jazz scene there. He is a member of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Faculty Jazztet, and leads the Interstring Quartet. Bob continues to tour and record with jazz artist Karrin Allyson and teaches many workshops.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason is already a star in Great Britain, but he’s waiting to be discovered on this side of the Atlantic. Winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year contest in January 2018, his debut album for Decca hit No. 18 on the official U.K. album chart and number one on the classical chart. The 19-year-old cellist is from an exceptional family of seven children who are all accomplished classical musician. Sheku’s older sister Isata, 21, will play piano for the recital.

In 2015 he appeared on Britain’s Got Talent with his siblings and he was a featured performer at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Like his musical heroes Mstislav Rostropovich and Bob Marley, Kanneh-Mason connects with audiences on a deep, soulful level.

Louis Neal Big Band plays traditional big band music as well as contemporary hits. Comprised of five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, and a rhythm section, this big band puts one in the mindset of Duke Ellington or Count Basie.

The band was formed in the mid 1990s and consists of Kansas City’s finest jazz musicians. The band plays for notable venues in and around the Kansas City area such as the Blue Room on 18th & Vine and The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Comprised of industry veterans, the Louis Neal Big Band prides itself on professionalism and a high-quality performance.

For 35 years, Millage Gilbert has taken center stage at the red hot, blues drenched clubs of urban Kansas City. For over five years, Blues, R&B and Soul aficionados have swarmed to his Saturday matinee at the world famous Grand Emporium. He has chiseled out a solid style of Delta Blues, Memphis Soul, and Kansas City Blues.

The active Kansas City Blues Society did and does champion his cause and helped him get regular work throughout the K.C metroplex. They also helped him expand his net to cover nightclubs and bars in Ohio, Nebraska and Missouri where he is a great favourite on the St. Louis circuit. He had also taken on festival work appearing at the King Biscuit Festival, The Mississippi Valley Festival, the Kansas City Blues Festival and in 2000 flew to France for a blues festival in Paris. His second CD of more recordings made 'Live at the Grand Emporium' was issued in 2003 and the following year the 'Kansas City Street Festival' organisers crowned him 'King of The Festival'.

Indigo Hour in The Blue Room features drink specials, free live music, and the best Kansas City R&B and Neo-Soul acts every Friday night from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm. This week's Indigo Hour is hosted by Just A Taste A Jazz.

Just A Taste A Jazz can be heard performing all over the greater Kansas City Area with emphasis on The 18th & Vine Jazz District and The Blue Room's weekly Indigo Hour. The group is lead by percussionist Bobby Adams, a versatile musician, singer/songwriter, and arranger.

Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Rezound! Handbell Ensemble
Michael Preaceley, vocals

Buckle up for a sleigh ride into Helzberg Hall! Your family and friends will love our annual Kansas City Symphony holiday celebration, filled with festive songs of the season, carols, choirs and special guests — including one jolly visitor from the north. At each performance, we’ll give away a dazzling jewelry prize from Helzberg Diamonds, no purchase necessary. Sponsored by Helzberg Diamonds with support from the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

Head to The Blue Room for a Christmas celebration with Brass & Boujee feat. the Marcus Lewis Big Band and rappers Kemet The Phantom and Kadesh Flow! They are joined by saxophonist Bobby Watson and vocalist Paula Saunders.

For more information about each featured artist, click the "official website" link under Admission Info.

Over the years, Ida McBeth's repertoire has included pop-style ballads, jazz and blues, show tunes, funk, R&B, gospel and well known standards.

Critics have described her as “a jazz singer,” “a blues singer,” “a pop singer” and “a cabaret singer.” Still others have referred to her as “a story teller,” “a professor emeritus of body language,” “a consummate actress” and “the complete entertainer.”

By the age of five, Ida knew she wanted to be a singer. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Ida was provided early exposure to a variety of talented vocalists by her mother. These singers included such greats as Nancy Wilson, Arthur Prysock, Nat King Cole, Bill Withers, Gladys Knight and Sarah Vaughan.