The story of four dear friends who find themselves stranded in a rural Kansas diner one winter evening in the late 1960s kicks off the Theatre in the Park’s 2022 season in late March with indoor performances at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center.
“The Sparkletones,” which is a world premier, will begin March 18 and run through April 3 in The Black Box Theatre inside JCAHC.
This heartwarming new musical drama is all about sisterhood and song, and how love endures no matter the time or distance. The story of the four women in "The Sparkletones," a singing group in the 1960s, weaves musically through 30 years, and marks the passage of time through an energetic, beautiful, and memorable score. This original production was written by Kansas City regional composers and lyricists.
“This show is by Krista Eyler and Barb Nichols and is based on the real-life story of Krista’s mother and a group of Sweet Adelines singers that she was in a quartette with,” said TIP Producing Artistic Director Tim Bair. “The writers are long-time TIP folks. Krista’s mom also has been part of a “Round Robin” letter writing group for over 50 years which also served as inspiration for the show’s second act numbers. We connected about doing the show when we were conversing, and they were describing their latest project to me. They are also the writers of “Overture,” which they presented at a festival in New York and was the 2019 New York Musical Festival Grand Jury Selection.”
“The Sparkletones” is Rated PG for older teen mature themes and language, and will be presented 11 times. Each show will last about two hours with a 15-minute intermission. Evening performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. are planned for March 18, 19, 25, 26 and 31, and April 1 and 2. Afternoon performances at 2 p.m. are planned for March 20, 27, and April 2 and 3.
With the exception of afternoon shows, tickets are $14.50 for children ages 10 and under, $14.85 for seniors 60 and older, and $16.50 for adults 11 to 59. Admission costs for afternoon shows are $11.60 for ages 10 and under, $11.88 for seniors 60 and older, and $13.20 for adults 11 and older.
Tickets are available online at www.theatreinthepark.org/purchase-arts-and-heritage-center-tickets, or can be purchased at JCAHC during regular hours.
The Black Box Theatre provides the Theatre in the Park with a year-round venue to supplement its outdoor summer productions during June, July, and August in Shawnee Mission Park. JCAHC is located at 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.
Outdoor summer productions for 2022 will include: “Something Rotten,” which is Rated PG-13, and is on stage June 3 through 11; Disney's “Descendents The Musical,” Rated PG, on stage June 17 through 25; “School of Rock” based on the 2003 Jack Black movie, Rated PG, July 1 through 9 with no performance on July 4; “Zombie Prom,” Rated PG, July 15 through 23; and “The Spongebob Musical,” Rated PG, July 29 through Aug. 6.
2022 auditions are planned for April 9 and 10, and will result in the casting of about 125 performers for this year’s shows. TIP holds open auditions, and no prior experience in theater is needed to audition. Audition information will be available in March, and is announced and posted on theatreinthepark.org and Facebook, and also sent out via the TIP e-newsletter, which you can sign up for at theatreinthepark.org.
For much more information about the Theatre in the Park and the 2022 season, go to theatreinthepark.org.