Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, Cats is one of the most beloved musicals of all time, with an infectious score that includes one of the great musical theater tunes of all time, Memory.

In this cartoony musical mystery that's not too scary for the little ones, Brooke and Zeke have been cast as the leads in the school's new production of an old play about a phantom. Mysterious things start interrupting rehearsals and they have to wonder: is this someone's idea of a joke or is the Phantom real? A musical adventure ensues that will bring out your inner sleuth and keep everyone in suspense until the final curtain.

For Everyone | All Ages

The Kansas City Symphony 2017-18 season finale will set your heart and soul ablaze with two theatrical masterpieces. In Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, a lovesick composer plunges into a deep sleep where he encounters a series of visions involving his beloved, culminating in the stunning “Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath.” Almost two centuries after its dramatic premiere, Symphonie fantastique remains one of concert music’s wildest adventures. Inspired by W.H. Auden’s “fascinating and hair-raising poem,” Bernstein’s Age of Anxiety features a central section where the solo piano emerges as the protagonist (perhaps Bernstein himself) in this larger-than-life human drama.

Michael Stern, conductor

Ran Dank, piano

BERNSTEIN The Age of Anxiety (Symphony No. 2) for Piano and Orchestra

BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

By Taylor Mac

30 May - 24 June

Directed by Ian R. Crawford

The Jerome Stage

When a soldier returns from a war zone in the Middle East to his suburban home, he discovers a household undergoing a total upheaval. His mother has been liberated from an oppressive marriage after his father's stroke, and with the help of his newly out transgender brother, she is passionately dismantling the patriarchy. In Taylor Mac's progressive and absurd comedy, this family may find that even the most radical changes can't always free you from the weight of the past.

Behind the amazing voice of Frank Sinatra was the lyric-writing genius of Sammy Cahn. Sammy wrote for Sinatra – and Sinatra sang for Sammy. Their magical partnership resulted in 87 hits recorded by “Ol’ Blue Eyes” (and four Academy Awards for Sammy), including “All the Way,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “High Hopes,” “Call Me Irresponsible,” “Come Fly With Me,” and more.

Lauren Bradshaw, Lauren Braton, and Joseph Carr will join J. Kent Barnhart and our piano, bass, drums, clarinet/saxophone combo for this thrilling cabaret revue tribute featuring some of the greatest music of all time.

Steven Lambert was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa. In 2006, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri to attend the UMKC Conservatory of Music, where he apprenticed to two great saxophone masters, Bobby Watson and Tim Timmons. He earned his B.A. in Jazz and Studio Music in 2010, and began to teach and play professionally in the Kansas City Area. Since 2010 Steven has taught at The Swope Parkway Corridor Renaissance Program Eddie Baker School of Music, where he teaches Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Piano to students age 6-16.

Steven maintains a very active presence on the Kansas City Jazz Scene. He plays with a number of groups including, The KC Sound, The New Jazz Order, Crosscurrent, The 18th and Vine Big Band, The Steve Lambert Quartet and Trio, Carte Blanc, The KC Latin Jazz All-Stars, and several others. He leads the Foundation 627 Big Band every Sunday night at the Green Lady Lounge in KCMO. He performs regularly at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, The Blue Room, The Green Lady, The Majestic, and other venues throughout KC. Steven is a member of Local 627, The Mutual Musicians Foundation, where he maintains status as a member of the board.

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the Tony Award®- winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific that’s delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love – the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball and more – plus some surprising new twists!

Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago.” This hilarious and romantic Broadway experience is for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream... or a really great pair of shoes.

Suitable for all audiences.

Kansas City native Will Matthews is the guitarist for the world famous Count Basie Orchestra, joining the group in 1996 under the direction of trombonist Grover Mitchell to fill the coveted chair of the late legendary guitarist and composer, Freddie Green who was with the band for over fifty years. Matthews has traveled and toured all over the world and has played on many studio recordings with the group, including two Grammy-winning recordings, Count Basie Orchestra Live at Manchester Guild in 1997 and Count Plays Duke 1999, as well as the Grammy-nominated recording Swing Shift in 2000.

Join us for the KKFI 30th Anniversary celebration on our historic stage on June 30th!

KKFI will bring DJ’s both past and present to perform and speak.

Celebrating our unique diversity and KKFI’s history!

30th Celebration will kick off with a catered VIP Reception in the Shareholders Room of the Folly Theater. A chance to mingle with KKFI DJs & Hosts and enjoy complimentary cuisine and libations.
The onstage presentation will begin at 7:15 with a KKFI History Presentation and Panel of Founders, followed at 8 pm with a showcase of regional artists. We will recreate the diversity of programming live onstage with two all-star bands backing up at least 15 different artists from other bands. Between performances, KKFI Hosts will be side stage in an old-school radio show format introducing the artist and having a great time.

Schedule:

6:00 VIP Reception

7:00 GA Doors

7:15 KKFI History Presentation

8:00 Diverse Artists w/ an All-Star KC Band

9:00 Intermission

9:10 Diverse Artists w/ another All-Star KC Band

10:30 All-Star Jam

KKFI‘s last performance at the Folly Theater, Collaborations! Live at the Folly Theater, was a huge hit bringing together diverse artists from Kansas City! This performance promises to be just as exciting. Make sure to grab your tickets today!

VIP is still available at $120 for Boxes and $90 for Orchestra Rows A – C. General tickets range $15 to $30.

There is a $3 fee applied to all tickets, regardless of purchase over the phone, online, or in person.

Please join us in celebrating KKFI’s History and perseverance while enjoying the artistry created right here in our hometown

Doug Talley has performed with such jazz luminaries as Jay McShann, Clark Terry, Bob Mintzer, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Bobby Watson, Karrin Allyson, Byron Stripling, Ignacio Berroa, Randy Brecker, Scott Robinson and Gary Foster. He is a familiar face throughout the Midwest as a jazz performer and educator. Talley has also appeared at the 18th & Vine Festival, the Kansas Jazz and Blues Festival, the Kansas City Spirit Festival, the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival, Mayport Jazz Festival, and in Las Vegas with The Four Freshman, The Platters and The Diamonds.

Millie Edwards is known in Kansas City for her big voice and wide vocal range. She has been a regular on the Kansas City jazz and blues circuit, performing at the best clubs and in radio and television spots. Music critics have praised her as revealing “a confident, full-range voice that has no doubt been heard in church on many a Sunday.” Her singing has been characterized as being both honest and dynamic, and her phrasing is credited for finding new reflections from old, familiar words.

In this cartoony musical mystery that's not too scary for the little ones, Brooke and Zeke have been cast as the leads in the school's new production of an old play about a phantom. Mysterious things start interrupting rehearsals and they have to wonder: is this someone's idea of a joke or is the Phantom real? A musical adventure ensues that will bring out your inner sleuth and keep everyone in suspense until the final curtain.

For Everyone | All Ages

Behind the amazing voice of Frank Sinatra was the lyric-writing genius of Sammy Cahn. Sammy wrote for Sinatra – and Sinatra sang for Sammy. Their magical partnership resulted in 87 hits recorded by “Ol’ Blue Eyes” (and four Academy Awards for Sammy), including “All the Way,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “High Hopes,” “Call Me Irresponsible,” “Come Fly With Me,” and more.

Lauren Bradshaw, Lauren Braton, and Joseph Carr will join J. Kent Barnhart and our piano, bass, drums, clarinet/saxophone combo for this thrilling cabaret revue tribute featuring some of the greatest music of all time.

Lee Greenwood is an icon in popular country music, with more than 30 albums and seven No. 1 songs. Greenwood’s hits include “God Bless the USA,” “It Turns Me Inside Out” and “Somebody’s Gonna Love You.” Dubbed “the rock stars of bluegrass” by CMT, the duo Dailey & Vincent has been hailed as one of the most exciting bluegrass bands in America. Jamie Dailey and Darren Vincent’s contagious brand of traditional country, bluegrass and gospel music has earned them three GRAMMY nominations.

Jewel Carter, better known in the music community as "JC," was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. Jewel's first love is the bass guitar, but has proven his proficiency as a vocalist, drummer, keyboardist, writer, arranger, composer, and producer. In over thirteen years of entertaining he has toured with such groups as: The Gap Band, Roger Troutman, Teena Marie, Bootsy Collins and Gladys Knight. As a studio musician, JC has laid down bass tracks for such artist as: TUPAC and SHAQ. He has participated in two motion picture sound tracks: Pharcyde's "Can't Stop the Music" from the movie Mr. Good Burger, and "Taste" from The 6th Man. JC continues to hone his craft and has ben dubbed the "The new King of Funk" by those he has entertained throughout the Western United States.

They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines. Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies tells the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged 'newsies,' who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what's right.

Newsies features music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sister Act), lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by four-time Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy). Originally written for the 1992 feature film musical, the multiple Tony® Award-winning stage production of Newsies, which ran on Broadway from 2012-2014, adapts many of Menken’s memorable melodies, including “Carrying the Banner,” “King of New York,” “Santa Fe,” and “Seize the Day,” and expands the score with new songs that help tell the inspiring real-life story of the 'Newsboy Strike of 1899,' when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a two-week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers.

Matt Otto currently performs his original compositions with his Kansas City based septet with members Gerald Dunn on alto saxophone, Jeff Harshbarger on acoustic and electric bass, Shay Estes (vocals), TJ Martley on Piano/Keys, Mike Warren and/or Brian Steever on drums and Hermon Mehari on trumpet, as well as traveling several times per year to NYC and LA to perform and record with various jazz artists.

Matt has recorded and performed with the Grammy nominated Anthony Wilson Nonet (The Power of Nine, Groove Note 1035, 2006), and performs frequently in Los Angeles with the Grammy Nominated Alan Ferber Big Band. He has recorded on over 50 CD’s as both a leader and a side man.

Matt Hopper is a jazz guitarist based in Kansas City. Hopper started playing guitar at 12 years old. At 17 he began studying jazz guitar under Danny Embrey. He studied jazz guitar with Rod Fleeman and classical guitar with Doug Neidt at The University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music 2001 – 2005. Hopper is now a  mainstay of the Kansas City jazz scene. As the featured musician at Green Lady Lounge (rated amongst the top 10 jazz clubs in the United States) he plays there weekly with The Matt Hopper Trio, The Brett Jackson Quartet, and Boogaloo 7. His debut album, First Love, is currently being played nationally over 70 radio stations.

Max Groove is one of the pioneers of the smooth jazz style that has dominated the airways and captivated countless listeners for years. He has twelve internationally released CDs, three in the top twenty Billboard Jazz.  His current release “Night Owl” has his signature urban smooth jazz sound while showcasing his innovative Funky jazz structures.

Along with Garland Smith on drums, and Clay Johnson on bass, they bring their world of sound, melody, and emotion to the stage, a refreshing combination of original and contemporary jazz that guarantees to satisfy the most avid fan.

Over the years, national tour appearances with performers such as Joe Sample & the Crusaders, the Temptations, Four Tops, Peabo Bryson, Count Basie, Chaka Khan, Jeff Lorber, Ronnie Laws, Joan Armatrading, Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons, Marcus Miller, Dave Koz, and many other greats have added to the reputation of “The Groove."

Lisa Henry is an artist of vast accomplishments, both in and outside the realm of performance. These accomplishments include the recently televised PBS Special: In Performance at the White House, First runner-up in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, International Jazz Ambassador to Africa, CD recordings, BET documentaries, and recognition as an international clinician and adjudicator.

Throughout her stellar career, Lisa has, and continues to share the spotlight with many world renowned artists: Herbie Hancock, Anita Baker, Kenny Garrett, Clark Terry, Nnenna Freelon, Ted Curson, Rosemary Clooney, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove, Kevin Mahogany, Frank Mantooth, Norman Simmons, Ruben Alvarez, Tom “Bones” Malone, Lenny Pickett, Grady Tate, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jack McDuff, T.S. Monk, Claude “Fiddler” Willliams, Carmel Jones, Doc Cheethem, Wayne Shorter and Lou Rawls, to name a few.

An engaging performer, Lisa’s charm and charisma, combined with her vocal abilities, make her a performing artist of the highest caliber.

Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, Hairspray takes you back to 1962 Baltimore, as 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a big girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair!) change the world…and still have time to win the boy she loves?

This mega-hit is piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and enough deliriously tuneful songs to fill a nonstop platter-party. It’s the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, “If life were everything it should be, it would be more like Hairspray. It’s irresistible!”

Contains adult language and subject matter.

In a musical career spanning nearly 40 years, Tyrone Clark, born in Chicago, has played professionally since he was eighteen. Although adept in a variety of musical genres, Clark’s concept and interpretation of playing is stylistically best described as rooted in the Kansas City jazz tradition. Described by a fellow musician, Clark is one of the few who impeccably delivers that style. He is a “full” bassist and always right there – “just when you need him.” His sure drive and sense of rhythm and melody impress audiences and musicians alike.

Such proficiency has placed Clark on stage and in studio alongside such talents as: Author Prysock, Hank Crawford, Eddie Harris, Benny Golson, Cyrus Chestnut, Nicholas Payton, Milt Jackson, Billy Taylor, Max Roach, Kevin Mahogany, Luqman Hamza, Lisa Henry, Ahmad Alaadeen, Ronnel Bright, The Pete Eye Trio, and The Madden Brothers.