Category: Arts and entertainment

KCKCC Art Gallery to hold two events in October for Hispanic Heritage Month

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Art Gallery is preparing for two events in October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

The first event is a part of the college’s historical mural program to further educate the community on local history. The event will be from 11 a.m. to Noon Oct. 12 in the Lower Jewell student area. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The speaker is Gene T. Chávez, a renowned historian, author and community leader, who will be sharing information from his book “Mexican American Baseball in Kansas City.”

Chávez’s historic work has brought a spotlight on the rich history of Kansas City. He also led the Hispanic history featured in the KCKCC and Wyandotte County Historical Mural and has two other exhibitions in the Kansas City area – the Smithsonian Institution Traveling exhibit “In the Barrios and the Big Leagues,” on display at the Kansas City Museum and “Connection Communities across State Lines: Mexican American Fast Pitch Softball Leagues” exhibition, on display at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum.

The first 30 people to register will receive a free taco to support the Hispanic Scholars Fundraiser. In addition, two signed books will be given away at the event. Registration is at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Bm3EI-PF40K4SHY-uwLmrdWn1X0UJGlDumSuiVQiu_lUNDNCVEJLTTUxUlVXWUdDSVpGV0Y1Q09FRy4u.

The second event relates to the “Cultura” exhibition, which celebrates Hispanic artists in the Kansas City region. “Cultura” is currently on display in the KCKCC Art Gallery, Room 2346, until Oct. 21. The exhibition can be viewed from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or by appointment.

Curator Vania Soto is well known for her intricate and colorful murals, which can be seen throughout the Kansas City area. The KCKCC art collection features three of Soto’s original murals.

The group of artists featured in “Cultura” includes Baldemar Rivas, Chico Sierra, Emily Alvarez, Kristie-Lynn McGathy, Luis Merlo, Naomi Apodaca, Nicolas Ortega and Ysabel Santacruz. The exhibit’s closing reception will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14, and the artists will be present to discuss their works.

For more information on either event, the KCKCC Art Gallery or to schedule a private appointment, contact gallery coordinator Shai Perry at [email protected].

KCKCC Theatre to present ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

A modern Broadway classic is headed to the Kansas City Kansas Community College stage.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” directed by Cinnamon Paulette, is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 to 9. There is also a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 10. All performances are in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC Main Campus, 7250 State Ave.

No one will be seated in the first two rows, and all audience members will be required to wear a mask. Tickets are limited to half of the performing arts center’s capacity, allowing for groups to be socially distanced in the theater.

Tickets are $12 for adults; $7 for non-KCKCC students, children or seniors and $5 for KCKCC students, staff and faculty. Two virtual streams will also be presented – 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9. Tickets are $12, and attendees will receive a link one hour before the scheduled event. All tickets can be purchased online at www.kckcctheatre.com.

“I always start out talking with Cinnamon Paulette, the performance professor and the director of the show, to see what she might want direct. We also consider the students we have and are aware of that will be around. This is often a long shot because we do try to select our show about a year in advance,” said Gary Mosby, associate professor and theatre coordinator. “We work as a production team and together we usually select good work for our students, college and our community.”

Based on the characters of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, the musical follows Charlie Brown and his friends as they struggle with homework, sing, celebrate their friendship and discuss life while playing a game of baseball.

The cast includes Christian Anderson, Charlie Brown; Kailey Green, Sally Brown; Samuel Burleson, Linus Van Pelt; Alena Riley, Lucy Van Pelt; Kaitlyn Kreutzjans, Snoopy; Zachary Stoddard, Schroeder and Kyn Johnson, Blanket.

“I think we need some simple innocent entertainment right now, and I want our audience to come back. With such a family friendly and iconic piece, I think it will draw a larger audience base,” Paulette said of the musical. “This is also a unique musical. It is structure quite different than others as it is frame by frame, like a comic strip feel to it. There are some very short moments that are often somewhat related from moment to moment. Much like a child’s mind.”

For more information, visit the KCKCC Theatre Department website at www.kckcctheatre.com.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot to continue Saturday at Alcott Arts Center

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” has been transformed into a western for this production at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Alcott Arts Center, 180 S. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The admission charge is a $10 donation, and those attending need to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.

The play will be performed on the west lawn of the Alcott. Performances will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 25 and 26.

Bethany Phillips is the director of the play.

Alcott Arts Center is not ADA-accessible. For information, visit https://www.alcottartscenter.org/.