Most Popular

National Features >

  • SF Weekly

    Pinot Bizarre

    You won't believe the California wine industry's latest new-age craze.

    By Joe Eskenazi

  • Westword

    The Snowboard Bandits

    They lived for excitement, but the FBI got the final thrill.

    By Joel Warner

  • Seattle Weekly

    "Trash Fish"

    Chuck Bundrant built an unlikely seafood empire--with a little help from Alaska Senator Ted Stevens.

    By Laura Onstot

  • Village Voice

    The Transformation of Mike Bloomberg

    How a benevolent billionaire mayor ended up owning us all.

    By Wayne Barrett

Blanket

Spread out that quilt and take in these summertime shows.

By Megan Metzger

Published on June 06, 2007 at 1:19pm

 Now that the ice and snow are but a faded memory, we're game for some sun on our face and some splendor in the grass. Some cultural splendor, that is. Lay down Grandma's patchwork quilt, pop a squat and enjoy a smorgasbord of plays, concerts and festivals.

Are the Stars Out Tonight?

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Heart of America's performances at Southmoreland Park (47th Street and Oak). This year's season brings crowd favorite Romeo and Juliet. The season runs every night from June 19 through July 8 (excluding Monday, June 25, and Wednesday, July 4). General admission is free, but you can reserve seats up front for $15. Chair rental is also available. For more info, call the festival office at

816-531-7728.

The Theatre in the Park

Located in the northeast corner of Shawnee Mission Park (7900 Renner Road in Shawnee), this theater's been putting on family-friendly musicals since 1969. Tickets for each show cost $6 for adults and $4 for kids ages 4-10 (children 3 and younger are free). Gates open at 7 p.m., and shows begin at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 913-312-8841. The schedule:

· Fiddler on the Roof, June 7-10

· Thoroughly Modern Millie, June 15-17,

June 21-24

· The Music Man, June 29-30, July 1,

July 4-8

· Hello, Dolly! July 13-15, July 19-22

· Footloose, July 27-29, August 2-5

Starlight Theatre

It's a summer tradition for drama lovers to take in Broadway-caliber productions at Starlight (66th Street and Swope Parkway). Prices range from $15 to $75, and season passes are available. Purchase tickets online at www.kcstarlight.com, or call the ticket office at 816-363-7827.

· Burn the Floor, June 12-17

· A Prairie Home Companion, June 22

· Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, June 26-

July 1

· Sweet Charity, July 10-15

· The Wizard of Oz, July 23-29

Friday Night Flicks

It's like the drive-in without the cars, at Crown Center Square, 2450 Grand. Shows start at 9 p.m. Call 816-274-8444 for more information.

· Rocky, June 29

· Singing in the Rain, July 13

· Field of Dreams, July 20

· Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,

July 27

Off the Wall

Every third Friday at dusk, downtown's Central Library (14 West 10th Street) shows free movies on its scenic rooftop. This year's theme is "Size Matters" — quirky and trusty flicks that will appeal to people big or small.

· Innerspace, June 15 (1987, a micro-

scopic

Dennis Quaid is injected into Martin

Short)

· King Kong, July 20 (the 1933 original

starring shrill but beautiful Fay Wray)

· The Fly, August 17 (the 1958 version

with Vincent Price)

· Time Bandits, September 7 (Monty

Python and little people collide in this surreal 1981 Terry Gilliam picture about a boy who teams up with a diminutive and motley crew to pillage history).

Good Vibrations

Sugar Creek Slavic Festival

Grammy-winner Brave Combo makes its triumphant return to this annual celebration of all things Slavic. Joining the group are Sugar Creek's own Kolo Kids, the Ed Grisnik Group, the Strawberry Hill Croatian Ensemble and others. Included in the festivities: a children's costume parade, polka dancing and a kielbasa sausage-eating contest. June 8 and 9 at Sugar Creek's Mike Onka Memorial Building Grounds (11520 East Putnam). See www.slavicfest.com.

Fiesta Italiana

This tribute to the country shaped like a boot has new digs this year at Zona Rosa (Interstate 29 and Barry Road). Local crooner Rudy Amato, Sinatra aper Joe Viviano, wise guys the Five Gumbas and others perform while you devour authentic Italian cuisine from the vendors. UNICO, the nation's largest Italian-American service organization, sells T-shirts and novelty items. The party starts at 5 p.m. Friday, June 8, and continues from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 9, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 10. Admission is free. See www.unico-kc.org.

Kansas City Scottish Highland Games

The Highlanders in Riverside, Missouri, put on their annual games at Riverfront Park (Northwest Argosy Parkway on the Missouri River). Highland dancers, sword fights and Clydesdales are just some of the attractions. Oh, and bagpipes, bagpipes, bagpipes. It takes place rain or shine, 6-11 p.m. Friday, June 8; and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, June 9. Tickets cost $15 for one day or $25 for both; kids ages 6-12 get in for $5. See www.kcscottishgames.org.

KC Riverfest

This fest began in 2004 to commemorate Lewis and Clark, who celebrated the first Independence Day west of the Mississippi River in 1804. The KC Riverfest promises a more thrilling party than Meriwether and William had, with carnival rides, fireworks and extreme sports. It's at Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park (between the Heart of America and Paseo bridges at Lydia and Front), June 29-30. Tickets are $5 for adults, and kids get in free. Visit www.kcriverfest.com.

Johnson County Fair

Carnival rides, cotton candy, and a parade mix with 4-Hers vying to win top prize with their goats, rabbits and other livestock. It's August 6-11, at the Gardner Fairgrounds (Gardner Road between Madison and Washington). Call 913-856-8860 or see www.jocokansasfair.com.

Ethnic Enrichment Festival

No passport necessary for sampling food, music, dance and folk art from more than 56 cultures at a festival that's been around since the bicentennial. Check it out Friday, August 17, 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, August 18, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, August 19, noon-6 p.m. at the Swope Park Pavilion (Gregory and Elmwood Road). Admission costs $3 for adults; no charge for children or parking. See www.eeckc.org.

1   2   3   Next Page »

The Pitch Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff
Backpage.com