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Art and Culture

Missing Theatre in the Park? How about Discovering Local Music? So are we.

That’s why our Theatre in the Park team and 50 Plus team have come together to bring you our picks of the best theatrical production videos, performing arts educational content, and good ol’ local Kansas City music. Our Theatre in the Park team has even offered up their own commentary on each item they’ve presented.

So check them out! Click "Learn More" to be taken to the full page! Who knows? You might even learn how to tap-dance!

Explore Kansas City Music: Dansby Vogler

He’s a favorite among JCPRD’s 50 Plus patrons and many other Kansas City folks. Check out songs from Local KC Musician Dansby Vogler.

Uptown Funk Dance Cuts

We sure are missing musical theatre. We think maybe you are too. All that music… all that dancing… you know. The fun! So we thought over the next weeks we would just share some stuff that we think is fun. And… it kinda has something to do with musical theatre:) Here’s a little something to dance the day away for today!

Say It With Firecrackers - Fred Astaire

OK. Hands down, no question about it. My favorite dancer of all time is Fred Astaire. He was ridiculous. As an old tap dancer myself, I just gotta say… I NEVER tire of watching him. My favorite musicals are big old fashioned book shows. Especially big old TAP DANCE shows!...

Introduction to Tap Dance for Beginners

Were you inspired by yesterday’s TIP video of Fred Astaire’s astounding tap dancing? (put in link to TIP) Then take this Introduction to Tap Dance class online! I’s a great way to get moving AND laughing.

How to Knit - a Guide for Beginners

National Theatre - Treasure Island

Hi! This is April from TIP here and I have to admit that I’ve been the one posting everything National Theatre. I’ve been obsessed with the National for years and have been very lucky to see many of their shows both live in London and in movie theatres through NT Live.

This presentation of ’Treasure Island’ is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite NT productions ever and is the perfect show for a family movie night.

Lion King Puppet Shop

Raise your hand if you LOVE ’The Lion King!’

Did you you know that Julie Taymor didn’t just direct this sensory extravaganza, she also designed the costumes AND co-designed the masks and puppets. That’s a whole lot of talent!

22 years and tens of thousands of performances later ’The Lion King’ is still wowing audiences around there world. Take a look at this cool video for a behind the scenes scoop on how the masks and puppets are made and maintained!"

22 Musicals in 12 Minutes - From the Late Late Show with James Corden

Here’s some pure silly musical theatre magic to start your day off right!

Patrick Stewart Sonnet

We were so excited for our Shakespeare class this spring, but we’re just going to have to console ourselves with the master of the bard himself, Sir Patrick Stewart reading us a different sonnet everyday.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers Dance Class

More tap dancing, because...well...Tim’s obsessed and why not? And remember, Ginger did everything Fred did, Backwards and in HEELS!

Swings & Understudies - Wicked

So… there are some unsung heros backstage at broadway shows. Swings and Understudies. Those extreemly talented folks who know SO MUCH about each show they are in… it is remarkable. Don’t know much about these folks?? Here’s a cool look behind the scenes at Wicked on Broadway. There are LOTS of videos in this series... poke around and watch a few!

An American in Paris Ballet

Tim might be a tap dancer, but I’m partial to ballet (and Gershwin), so I’m sneaking in today to share one of my favorite dances from the Broadway production of ’An American in Paris’.

You can watch the whole luscious production now on PBS Great Performances or Broadway HD!

Mindi Moeller - A Day in the Life of a Rockette

A Fun TIP Alum moment! It was 31 years ago that I met one of my favorite people. And I can say with great pride, since she could walk I said, "that’s the face of a Rockette." (It’s true.) And low and behold, Mindy Moeller is now a Radio City Rockette! BUT more importantly, she is a TIP Alum!!! I know right? Cool! She is, as you can imagine, wonderfully talented... and I can tell you... an absolute delight. Here’s a little video highlighting a professional performing artist that performed on our stage. It just goes to show you... Kansas has it goin’ on! Enjoy a day in the life of a Radio City Rockette! Tim

Ukelele Prodigy

See kids, practice makes perfect! Keep up practicing because we’ll be back soon with more Ukelele lessons.

Wicked Conductor

Ever wonder what it is like in a Broadway orchestra pit? Here’s a little peek behind the scenes from the conductor’s point of view! TIP has SO MANY great musicians that play in our orchestras. Here’s to everyone who ever played in a pit… and WILL!!

7 Brides - Barn Raising

WAY back in 1986 I had the good fortune of choreographing Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Oh yea, I was in it too. As one of the 7 brothers. It is a very fun show. Lots of dancing! The trickiest part of this show is that you have to have a LOT of men that dance. All those brothers... all those suitors... whew.

Broadway Scenery - Mary Poppins

2016 was such a fun year for me at the park. One of the highlights for me was that we got to co-produce Mary Poppins with the White Theatre, and I got to direct it too! The show ran at the theatre at the Jewish Community Center for 3 weeks and then moved to the park for a run there too! It was great fun. Of course, Mary has to fly in the show, and you would think that that would be the trickiest part. Oh, nay, nay. Actually... I think that the biggest trick of the whole thing was the set...

Busby Berkely - Footlight Parade (Human Waterfall) 1933

So there was this fellow. His name was Busby. Well, it was really William, but Busby is way better! He was born in 1895 Yea… old timey. He was a Hollywood director and was pretty famous for extravagant over the top musical production numbers involving scads and scads of show girls in particular. How does this relate to Theatre in the Park?...

Follies - Costumes

Feathers and satin and sequins OH MY! Check out this video of the creation of the luscious costumes for the National Theatre’s production of Steven Sondheim’s ’Follies’

Broadway Scenery - She Loves Me

Take a tour of the awe inspiring, Tony Award winning set of Roundabout Theatre’s 2016 production of She Loves Me. You can watch the whole fabulous show (it’s definitely one of our favorite’s here at TIP) on Broadway HD and PBS Great Performances."

Playwriting - ATW - David Henry Huang

I like this one 26 minutes - there’s great exercise at the end and some MAJOR names teaching.

American Theatre Wing - In the Wings Series

Enjoy a full playlist of backstage jobs.