Month: October 2014

‘Babes in Arms’ to take the KCKCC stage

by Kelly Rogge
The Kansas City Kansas Community College Theatre Department is preparing to take the stage for the first time this semester in Rodgers and Hart’s “Babes in Arms.”

Based on the original book by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, the musical is set at a summer stock theatre and focuses on a group of young apprentices who are determined to produce the original revue they have created. At the same time, they continue to dodge the underhanded attempts of the theatre owner to squash their efforts at every turn. Further problems arise with the overbearing stage mother of an ex-child star and the inflated ego of a hack southern playwright. But of course, the show must go on.

“Babes in Arms” features some of the most well-known songs ever written including “My Funny Valentine,” “Where or When,” “The Lady is a Tramp” and “Johnny One-Note.” Screen legends Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland starred in a 1939 film version of the musical. However, other than keeping the title song as well as one other song from the musical, the film songs and plot are totally different. The book was rewritten in the 1950s and the songs were reordered. It is this later version of the musical that has been performed ever since.

Music is by Richard Rodgers, lyrics are by Lorenz Hart. The KCKCC production is directed by Charles Leader.

“Babes in Arms” is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16, 17 and 18 at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave. There is also a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Tickets are $5 for students, KCKCC staff and faculty and senior citizens. Admission is $10 for adults. Group rates are available.

“I chose this musical for two reasons – first, because it features a cast of young people (college age) and that is what I have here primarily, young people. For many of this cast, it is their first experience doing a musical. This show serves as a great introduction,” Leader said. “Secondly, I chose it because of the great music. We did ‘In the Heights’ last year with its hip hop/rap score, very current musically with what is going on today. With Babes, I felt it was time to reach way back and introduce them to some truly definitive American classics they need to know and experience first-hand.”

The cast includes – Charles Humphrey, the Press Agent; Savannah Ferris, Terry Thompson; Tyler Rowe, Gus Field; Christopher Miller, Peter; Leah Walker, Betty; Lauren Kuebelbeck, Libby; Peral Fuller, Ann; Pat Boorman, Don and Steve Edwards; Jaziel Sandoval, Valentine White; Ethel Rodriquez, Susie Ward; Adam Lillich, Seymour Fleming; Leo d’Entremont, Bunny Bryon; David Ruis, Lee Calhoun; Scintila Capalla, Jennifer Owen and Paige Darby, Phyllis Owen.

Specially featured in the production are KCKCC alumni David Ruis and Adam Lillich as well as faculty member Paige Darby. Ruis was a member of the company when the college first produced the show in 2000.

“Rehearsals are going along great. The majority of the cast are new to the KCKCC stage, and the bonding that is taking place is terrific. They are talented both individually and collectively. I think our audiences are in for a pleasant surprise,” Leader said. “An added bonus will be hearing the songs performed with a full orchestra. You don’t get to have that kind of experience in most colleges. You have to go to New York for that.”

For more information or to make reservations, call 913-288-7106.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.

School receives award for healthy eating program

Thanks to the hard work of Chef Rick Atallah, Bishop Ward High School was awarded a check for $2,500. Members of the Bishop Ward staff attended the Nutrition Leadership Forum on Friday, Oct. 3, where the award was announced.

The connection between eating a healthy breakfast and better academic achievement is well documented. To promote higher rates of breakfast consumption among students across the state of Kansas, the Dairy Council challenged all schools to increase their breakfast participation by at least eight percent.

Bishop Ward High School exceeded the goal, increasing student participation by 57.9 percent.

“Kids normally do not like to eat breakfast,” Atallah said, “however, by providing students with appealing breakfast options while maintaining the state nutrition guidelines, and using the most effective tool of simply being friendly during those early morning hours, we were able to succeed in increasing breakfast participation.”

Improving student nutrition has been a focused effort at Bishop Ward since 2009 with the removal of soda and snack food vending machines. Students were surveyed regarding health and eating habits and the goal was to increase the numbers of students that eat a healthy lunch on campus.

A major turning point came with a $53,000 grant award from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, according to school officials. This grant allowed Bishop Ward to leverage alumni and community support and renovate the cafeteria and kitchen. The improved infrastructure has allowed Chef Atallah to prepare and serve healthy, fresh food every day in an efficient way for students.

The recent increase in breakfast participation demonstrates Bishop Ward’s ongoing commitment to students health and well-being, the spokesman said.

Kansas AG files suit on same-sex marriage issue

The Kansas attorney general announced today he is filing suit on the same-sex marriage license issue in Kansas.

Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from five states that wanted to retain a ban on same-sex marriage, leading to several same-sex weddings throughout the nation, including one in Johnson County, Kan., on Friday.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a news release that he is asking the Kansas Supreme Court to provide clarity on what procedure state district courts must use in handling applications for marriage licenses by same-sex couples.

In a response, Thomas Witt, executive director of the Kansas Equality Coalition, issued this statement:

“Sam Brownback and Attorney General Schmidt need to stop playing election year politics with people’s lives and allow these legal marriages to proceed. The federal courts have ruled, and we all know how this will end. Delaying the inevitable is a waste of time and taxpayer money, and a gross injustice to LGBT Kansans and their families.”

Kansas Attorney General Schmidt’s statement:
“On Wednesday afternoon, the chief judge of the District Court of Johnson County declared a provision of the Kansas Constitution invalid and ordered the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in violation of Kansas law as it currently exists. No lawsuit was pending that asked the Judge to evaluate current Kansas law, and there was no opportunity for the State of Kansas or anybody else to challenge or even have input into the Judge’s administrative order before it was issued. This is not a proper way to determine whether a provision of the Kansas Constitution remains in force and effect.

“The Johnson County Court’s decision is an outlier. Numerous other Kansas courts have concluded, as I have, that the law in Kansas remains unchanged and same-sex marriage remains unlawful unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction, deciding a properly presented case or controversy, holds otherwise as a matter of federal constitutional law. Because that has not happened, I have concluded the judge’s decision to order the issuance of licenses is unlawful and I now have no choice but to ask the Kansas Supreme Court to set it aside.

“Monday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court declining, for now, to settle the dispute about whether the U.S. Constitution renders state-law prohibitions on same-sex marriage unenforceable has caused considerable confusion and legal uncertainty in Kansas and other states. This confusion was compounded when only two days later Justice Kennedy issued a stay halting same-sex marriages in Idaho. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to refuse to consider the pending appeals has resulted in an inconsistent patchwork of how the U.S. Constitution is to be applied in different states throughout our country. In Kansas, the confusion and uncertainty have been made worse by this outlier decision that effectively renders the Constitution’s meaning different from county to county.

“The situation is needlessly uncertain, is untenable and is unfair to all interested parties. Therefore, I have asked the Kansas Supreme Court to step in and put a halt to the actions in Johnson County so that this important legal dispute can be settled in an orderly manner, with all the processes and safeguards afforded in litigation, that provides legal clarity and certainty to all involved.

”I am a strong advocate for an orderly resolution of this dispute in a way that can be accepted as legally correct and that allows the state to defend its Constitutional provision and its laws.”

Gov. Sam Brownback, in a news release, stated: “I swore an oath to support the Constitution of the state of Kansas. An overwhelming majority of Kansas voters amended the Constitution to include a definition of marriage as one man and one woman. Activist judges should not overrule the people of Kansas.”