This world premiere centers on the mentorship Martin Luther King, Jr., receives when he enters Morehouse College at age 15. Through debate over civil disobedience concepts, Morehouse College President, Dr. Benjamin Mays, sets young MLK on a path towards fighting for civil rights.

From the ridiculous to the sublime to the breadlines, American popular culture rode a roller coaster of epic proportions in the 1920s and 30s. Throughout it all, the founders of the Great American Songbook – George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern – produced timeless songs for jazz clubs and Broadway stages. With songs like “Love Is Here To Stay,” “Get Happy,” and “Fascinating Rhythm,” plus favorites from PORGY AND BESS and SHOWBOAT, this cabaret revue sets the foundation for our season through the foundations of American popular song.

Choreography by Septime Webre
Music by Matthew Pierce
With Kansas City Symphony

The much anticipated world premiere by Septime Webre, the creator of Alice (in wonderland), will take audiences on a fantastical journey to the Emerald City. Filled with all the familiarity of the classic story – Dorothy and Toto swept to Oz join up with three unlikely heroes to see the Wizard, their triumph over the Wicked Witch, and the quest to return home – yet realized with a bold, new spectacle of music, costumes, sets, projections and special effects. This is the must-see family event of the season.

by Lynn Nottage

A group of close friends share everything: secrets, laughs, and drinks at the local watering hole in Reading, PA. But when layoffs begin at the factory where they work, friendships are shattered and loyalties are questioned in the fight for survival. This prize winning play by Unicorn favorite Lynn Nottage (Ruined, By the Way Meet Vera Stark) explores the collapse of working class America and the impact on communities when Union workers are locked out and racial tensions run high.

In Kansas City, there is a popular jazz group that has performed every week since their inception in 1991. This would not be so remarkable, as Kansas City is renowned for its tradition of great jazz since the days of Count Basie and Charlie Parker. What is remarkable, is that this group of native Kansas Citians plays nothing but Brazilian jazz, with a flavor and passion one might think could only be found at a night club in Ipanema or Leblon. The Sons of Brasil invite you to sample these sounds, which stem from their love and admiration of “musica bem brasileira.”

There’s a quiet storm in Kansas City. And it swirls around the captivating, elegant, mystifying and delightful music of singer Ida McBeth.

Ida’s musical style is so unique that it is hard to classify. Over the years, her 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.” A song stylist is the title Ida prefers.

By the age of five, Ida McBeth 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.

The Conservatory Concert Choir is a large mixed ensemble of Freshmen and Sophomores which specializes in the performance of a wide variety of choral music, including classical masterworks as well as spirituals and multicultural choral music. Open to all students by audition.

Canticum Novum is a small, select mixed chamber ensemble (12-24 singers), conducted by graduate choral conducting students. Open to all students by audition.

Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its seamless blend of 12 male voices ranging from soprano to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz and popular genres, as well as contemporary compositions. The group’s 40th anniversary tour – Then and There, Here and Now – is a panoramic look at Chanticleer’s complete musical history, featuring classical pieces, traditional songs, and modern melodies.

The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra is the region's premier salsa & latin jazz ensemble. Founded and directed by Pablo Sanhueza, this collective integrates intercultural and intergenerational local, national and international artists, to preserve, project and foster Afro-Latin American orchestral and social dance music. Vibrant and timeless music for international all-ages dance and listening audiences.

We’re celebrating the genius of George Gershwin! From irresistible musicals to iconic works for piano and orchestra, Gershwin endures as one of America’s most beloved composers. You’ll enjoy the exuberant An American in Paris as well as Grammy® Award-winner Patti Austin singing “The Man I Love” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” plus “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess. Topping off an unforgettable evening, your Kansas City Symphony welcomes Park University graduate student and 2017 Van Cliburn silver medalist Kenny Broberg to perform Gershwin’s groundbreaking favorite, Rhapsody in Blue. Tickets from $40.

Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

Patti Austin, vocalist

Kenny Broberg, piano

In a city with abundant dance opportunities, the dance faculty pride themselves on producing motivated and advanced students who perform throughout their student careers and are ready to join professional companies. Students have performed the Kansas City Ballet's Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Firebird, the Nutcracker tour with Albany Berkshire Ballet; Setting the Stage with Friends of Alvin Ailey, and with the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company.

As an equal-emphasis program in ballet and modern dance, students' experiences conform to the current repertoire of national companies. Through the Dance Division's Great Works Projects, our students have the opportunity to dance in masterpieces including George Balanchine's Serenade, Robert Battle's Battlefield, Twyla Tharp's Torelli, Petipa's Paquita, Philip Jerry's Our Town, and Paul Taylor's Aureole.

Students are taught by an impressive faculty of professional dancers and choreographers including Paula Weber (principal ballerina Milwaukee Ballet and Albany Berkshire Ballet), Mary Pat Henry (artistic director of Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company), Sabrina Madison-Cannon (Philadanco), DeeAnna Hiett (Alvin Ailey, Deeply Rooted), Gary Abbott (Deeply Rooted), and Ronald Tice (Joffrey School).

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.”

Your little ghosts and goblins will love our frightfully fun Halloween concert filled with creepy-crawly surprises! Experience symphonic chills and thrills as the orchestra guides you through spooky and silly music that’s not too scary but plenty extraordinary. The Kansas City Symphony invites the entire family to dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat afterward in the Brandmeyer Great Hall lobby. Sponsored by U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management. Tickets start at $25 for adults and $10 for children.

Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

The People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City was formed in 2006. The group has built a large repertoire of original compositions and unique arrangements by Kansas City composers Brad Cox, Patrick Alonzo Conway, Matt Otto, Forest Stewart, Jeffrey Rickman, Roger Wilder, Nick Howell, Jeff Harshbarger, Gerald Spaits, Mark Southerland, Bill McKemy, Peter Lawless, Hunter Long, Russell Thorpe, and others.

The group's large scale works include "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" with Owen/Cox Dance Group, new film scores for the silent films "Battleship Potemkin," "The Cameraman's Revenge," "Frogland," and "The Mascot," new arrangements of music from Kurt Weill's "Three Penny Opera," and Mark Southerland's "Revisionist Jazz History."

Thomas G. Stein is associate professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance. A native of Michigan, he received the Bachelor of Music (with high distinction) and the Master of Music in tuba performance from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Prior to coming to Missouri, Stein taught at Central Michigan University, University of Colorado-Boulder, and University of Southern Mississippi.

Stein is very active throughout the United States as a recitalist, clinician, and chamber musician. He has appeared several times at the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference (ITEC) and the U.S. Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conferences, at all of the regional conferences since 1996, and has appeared in six European countries and at numerous universities throughout the United States.

After an astounding appearance in November 2017 leading the Stradivarius Ensemble, Valery Gergiev returns to conduct the maximum-strength Mariinsky Orchestra. Praised for his "full-blooded and engrossing" musicianship by the UK Telegraph, Gergiev will conduct another unforgettable evening of music in Helzberg Hall. The great Russian pianist Denis Matsuev, who played a magnificent 2016 Series recital, will join Gergiev and the Orchestra for Rachmaninov's dazzling Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Enjoy fabulous music at this benefit concert to support Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. Established in 2003, the Kansas City Symphony’s Bill and Peggy Lyons Support School Music initiative provides area school districts the opportunity to host the Symphony and raise funds to support their music programs — nearly $165,000 total since the program’s inception. Find concert details and tickets, available starting September 4, at kcsymphony.org.

Our amazing guest organist Dorothy Papadakos revives the 1923 classic silent horror film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” with a completely improvised score played on the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ. The program also features Kansas City Symphony Principal Percussionist Christopher McLaurin improvising on orchestral chimes as Quasimodo. Starring Lon Chaney in the title role that launched his career as a major actor and featuring a 19-acre set filled with thousands of extras, “Hunchback” is a visual spectacle on a grand and spooky scale. Sponsored by Russell Stover Chocolates. Please note: the Kansas City Symphony does not perform during this presentation. Tickets from $25.

Dorothy Papadakos, organ

Christopher McLaurin, percussion

One of the most influential musicals in history, Show Boat redefined how musical stories were told. The landmark collaboration between Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock workers on the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River show boat, over 40 years from 1887 to 1927.