“Matilda” sings its way into the Pittsburg Community Theatre

Alex Chesney and Brynn Sukraw dropped by the KOAM to sit down with Tawnya Bach to talk about the Pittsburg Community Theatre’s upcoming production of “Matilda”. The musical features Alex Chesney as “Mister Wormwood” and 10-year-old Brynn Sukraw in the starring role of “Matilda”. If you are interested in a fun, family-friendly experience, here’s all the information you need to know:

  • July 22nd through 24th
  • July 22nd @ 7:30 pm, 23rd @ 2 pm & 7:30 pm, and the 24th @ 2 pm.
  • Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium
  • 503 N Pine Street
  • You can purchase tickets at any time at MemorialAuditotium.org. Simply click on the link we’ve provided.

Frontenac Theatre Department talks “The Little Mermaid Jr.”

Frontenac, KS — Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” is coming to Frontenac Theatre. Seth Harley stops by the studio with Abby Albright who stars as the main character Ariel to talk about what goes into a theatre production.

 

The play is held at Frontenac High School (201 S. Crawford St. in Frontenac). There are three different show times for you to attend:

 

  • Sunday — March 6th, 2:30 PM
  • Monday — March 7th, 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday — March 8th, 7 PM

Tickets are five dollars at the door and exact change is encouraged.

Pittsburg High School Theatre: previous shows, what’s to come

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Pittsburg High School Theatre department stops by the studio to talk about their previous shows and what they have left in their season. They closed recently on their Mama Mia! show that was held earlier in February. Other shows they did this year includes Little Women the Musical, Macbeth, and Breakfast with Santa.

You can still support the theatre department to help kids get to the International Theatre Competition. PHS’s theatre department is holding a donation event called the Spring Cabaret. It will be on April 29th at 7 pm. They also are holding an event that lets their drama club perform for fun called the Spring Repertory on April 21st through the 23rd at 7 pm.

For more information, you can contact Caitie Almond at the high school at 620-235-3200 or by email at calmond@usd250.org.

You can find more on the USD250 website here.

 

Heartland Opera Theatre: Hits from Opera & Operetta

JOPLIN, Mo. – Heartland Opera Theatre returns to the stage with a free showcase of the most well known opera classics. The production is called Hits from Opera & Operetta and will feature music by Mozart, Verdi, Gillbert and Sullivan, Bizet and more. You can find a list of the performance’s dates and locations below.

JHS Theater Department returns to the stage with ‘The Drowsy Chaperone

JOPLIN, Mo. – Theater students at Joplin High School are preparing for their next performance. They’ll perform the musical “the drowsy chaperone.” The Drowsy Chaperone is an homage to American musicals of the Jazz Age, and the effect they have on fans.

“We’re so grateful that we finally get to do this again,” said Joplin High School Junior Carly Cascone. “As much as we don’t necessarily love wearing masks, we’re so grateful we can do this and wearing the masks is only a small obstacle for a huge opportunity.”

The performances will be this Friday and Saturday. You can buy tickets online for $10. Masks are required.

MSSU presents Broadway hits in 'Southern Showcase, Onstage!'

JOPLIN, Mo. – Later this week, Missouri Southern State University’s theatre and music departments will present classic and contemporary Broadway hits in the new show “Southern Showcase, Onstage!” The production will take place in MSSU’s Bud Walton Black Box Theatre, April 8 – 10 at 7:30 p.m.

The first half of the show is all classic Broadway, including pieces like “Kiss me, Kate,” “Anything Goes,” “West Side Story,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “Guys and Dolls.” The second half consists of modern musicals like “Chicago,” “Jagged Little Pill,” “Hair,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and “Waitress.”

“It’s a mix between choral, chamber, duets, solos, men’s quartets, women’s quartets, dances. It’s just a fun night of kind of a cabaret style show,” said Program Director and Chair of Theatre Erick Wolfe.

This is the first year ‘Southern Showcase, Onstage!’ will be performed.

“The energy behind it has been fantastic,” Wolfe said.

The departments usually put on large musicals in the spring, but with Taylor Auditorium being renovated, they decided to perform something more intimate at MSSU’s Black Box Theatre.

“We wanted to find a way that we could take that same energy of ‘Choral Flourish’ from the fall season and find a way to kind of merge that with the music theater and the theatre program,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe says there are even tables set up on the stage floor so audience members can get a closer look.

“With this kind of show, the intimacy of being that close and the music… It’s so powerful,” he said.

With social distancing in place, there will be 65 seats, including the seating on the stage, available per night. Masks are required.

Anyone interested in the show can order $15 tickets online for in-person admission or a live stream of the event.

Video on demand is also available for purchase.

Lightwire Theatre comes to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center

What’s New at the Bowlus Center:

Preview of Lightwire Theatre’s upcoming show:

IOLA, Kan. – Bowlus Fine Arts Center director Daniel Kays talked with Michael Hayslip about how the center has had to adapt to the pandemic. Michael also got a preview of some upcoming shows. Father-son piano duo Ryan and Ryan will perform “Kickin’ the Clouds Away” Saturday, March 13 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Another performance coming to the Bowlus Center is Lightwire Theatre. The America’s Got Talent runner-up blends puppetry, technology and dance in pitch dark. The group will perform their show “Dino Light!” Saturday, March 20 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

To purchase tickers call (620) 365-4765. For more info and events visit the Bowlus Fine Arts Center website.