The Kansas City Premiere of The Shark is Broken plus food and a talkback by Metropolitan Ensemble Theater at the Warwick

·  Friday, August 14, 2026

·  5:45 PM – 9:30 PM

Friday, August 14, 2026

5:45 PM = Heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and chat in the theater space

6:30 = Director’s talk just for Arts Alive KC (theater cleared at 6:45 to prep the show)

7:30 = Performance begins

9:00 = Dessert and talkback

 About The Shark is Broken: Fifty years ago, a landmark film premiered that forever changed Hollywood. Steven Spielberg's Jaws, adapted from Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, became the highest-grossing movie of its time and ushered in the era of the summer blockbuster.

But the production was anything but smooth sailing. The film's mechanical sharks were plagued by constant malfunctions, frequently sinking after being designed and tested in freshwater tanks before facing the corrosive saltwater off Martha's Vineyard.

The Shark Is Broken, written by British playwrights Ian Shaw (son of Robert Shaw) and Joseph Nixon, imagines what happened during those long, frustrating delays at sea. The play follows the film's three lead actors—Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider—as they are stranded aboard the Orca with nowhere to go. As egos clash and sharp wit collides with deep-seated insecurity, a hilarious and deeply human portrait emerges of three artists wrestling with fame, rivalry, and the fragile nature of masculinity., this behind-the-scenes look at the making of Spielberg's classic becomes the ultimate tale of man versus man… versus beast.

Tickets for the evening - which will also entitle you to a discount code of 75% off parking in the lot - are only $40 per person.

As always tickets are non-refundable. However, you may give or sell your tickets to a friend if your plans change.

Metropolitan Ensemble Theater at the Warwick (MET's beautifully restored Main Street, Kansas City home)

3927 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111

Friday May 8, 2026

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

5:00 pm - “Patterns & Perspectives” at the Buttonwood Art Space

7:30 pm - Don’t Touch My Hair at the Unicorn Theatre

Our evening begins at the Buttonwood Art Space, where we’ll enjoy heavy appetizers and explore “Patterns & Perspectives,” an inspiring exhibition showcasing original works from artists across the region and beyond. The collection invites viewers to consider how patterns—both visual and metaphorical—shape our understanding of the world, and how perspective evolves with time, space, and emotion. Proceeds from the exhibition benefit Pathway to Hope, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting and educating individuals and families navigating mental illness.

From there, we continue to Unicorn Theatre for their production of Don’t Touch My Hair, the final play in Douglas Lyons’ “The Deep Breath Trilogy: New Plays for Black Women.” This electrifying work celebrates Black womanhood and self-discovery - Eemani and Jade light up to unwind—but their blunt is laced with more than weed. What follows is a wild, hilarious, and eye-opening hallucination that grants them the power to confront their past.

Tickets are $45 per person. As always tickets are nonrefundable; however you may give or sell your ticket to a friend if your plans change

 Locations:

Buttonwood Art Space

3013 Main Street,

Kansa City Missouri

 Unicorn Theatre | Levin Stage

3838 Main Street

Kansas City Missouri

4:30PM – Epstein Gallery at Village Shalom: internationally recognized fabric artist Janet Kuemmerlein

7:00PM – White Theater: Dorthea’s Lens performed by Störling Dance Theater

Our event begins at the Epstein Gallery, where we experience the work of nationally and internationally recognized artist Janet Kuemmerlein. A pioneer of the fiber arts movement, Kuemmerlein is known for her monumental textile installations, many of which grace public and private spaces across the country. Her diverse body of work spans large-scale fiber pieces, paintings, and sculptural fiber vessels. The exhibit will also include examples of her portrait work.

Kuemmerlein’s work has been exhibited at the Daum Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and the Nerman Museum, among others, and is held in numerous public and private collections. Her work includes expressive abstractions inspired by elemental forces and richly detailed representational studies of flora. For Kuemmerlein color is a critical element - her creations draw from the vibrancy texture and movement observed in the natural world.

Jeremiah Enna, Executive director of Störling Dance Theater, will join us at the Gallery to give a presentation about the upcoming performance. A light meal and drinks will be served.

From there, we’ll head to the White Theater for Störling Dance Theater ‘s new production, Dorthea’s Lens. In this evocative work, artistic director Mona Störling-Enna brings to life the haunting Depression-era photographs of Dorothea Lange. Through a seamless blend of movement, set design, and costume, Sterling-Enna transforms these iconic images into a powerful narrative that captures both the hardship and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. The production pays tribute to the photographs that stirred a nation’s conscience and inspired compassion for those in need.

Tickets are $45 per person limited to 80 guests. As always, tickets are nonrefundable; however you may give or sell your ticket to a friend if your plans change.

Locations

Epstein Gallery at Village Shalom

5500 W 123rd St.

Overland Park, Kansas

White Theater at the J

5801 W 115th St.

Overland Park, Kansas

The evening begins with a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Dr. and Mrs. Doug Cusick’s extraordinary collection of antique automatic musical instruments. Spanning 1825 to 1947, these self-playing wonders were created to entertain audiences in homes, hotels, restaurants, and carnivals.

 The collection includes delicate music boxes, Edison phonographs, player pianos, monumental pipe organs, and even self-playing violins. A standout highlight is a self-playing grand piano once owned by legendary Kansas City political figure Tom Pendergast. Meticulously restored, these instruments don’t simply perform—they astonish.

 From the Cusicks’ home, guests will move to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art for a reception followed by an artist talk and self-guided viewing of Linda Lighton: Love & War, the first major retrospective of this pioneering artist.

 For more than five decades, Kansas City native Linda Lighton has created a bold and subversive body of ceramic sculpture exploring desire, power, and politics with wit, seduction, and defiance. Love & War traces the full arc of her influential career and is accompanied by a richly illustrated 208-page monograph published by Hirmer. The exhibition highlights Lighton’s boundary-pushing approach to ceramics and her unflinching engagement with gender inequality, gun violence, and environmental degradation—offering a vital Midwestern perspective on contemporary art and culture.

 Thursday, February 19, 2026
4:30–8:00 PM

 Evening Schedule

4:30 PM Exclusive visit to Dr. and Mrs. Doug Cusick’s private collection of antique automatic musical instruments

 5:45 PM Reception with drinks and heavy appetizers at Café Tempo, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

 6:15 PM Artist talk by Linda Lighton

 6:45 PM Self-guided exploration of Linda Lighton: Love & War

 Tickets: $40 per person and limited to 70 guests. As always, tickets are nonrefundable; however, you may give or sell your ticket to a friend if your plans change

Locations

Dr. and Mrs. Doug Cusick
2701 W. 112th St.
Leawood, KS 66211

 The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
12345 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS 66210

 Saturday, January 31, 2026

11am-2pm

11am Belger Crane Yard Studios

12:45pm Belger Glass Annex

 Belger Arts has been a Kansas City gem for more than 25 years. See for yourself why Belger Arts is a nationally recognized arts destination on Saturday January 31, when doors open at two of their locations for studio and gallery tours – JUST for Arts Alive KC.

 There are a limited number of tickets, at the incredible price of just $25 each (our post-holiday gift to you). Act fast!

 The day starts at 11 a.m. at the Belger Crane Yard Studios and Gallery at 2011 Tracy Avenue. There Dick and Evelyn Craft Belger have transformed 100-year-old brick buildings into a vibrant center for contemporary art featuring studio and exhibition space for artists, and a wide range of engaging programming in ceramics education. (Bonus for us: they have some of the best views of KC from their windows and plenty of free parking.)

 We’ll divide into several groups for guided tours of the gallery, studios and The Lawrence Lithography Workshop. You’ll meet ceramic artists, watch a wheel-throwing demonstration, see new works on display and have a chance to shop. At The Lawrence Lithography Workshop, you’ll meet founder Mike Sims who has collaborated with contemporary art notables such as Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Roger Shimomura, and Robert Stackhouse since 1979.

 At 12:45 pm we’ll head just a few blocks north to the Belger Glass Annex at 1219 E. 19th Street. (It’s a two-minute drive and has lots of free parking).

 Belger Glass Annex is the first public glass blowing studio of its scale and scope in Kansas City to provide state-of-the-art equipment for local, national, and international glass artists. In addition, professional glass artists teach classes, lead glassblowing demos, events, and experiences. It offers a furnace capable of holding 300 pounds of molten glass, plus three workstations. You will experience a narrated glass-blowing demonstration by several of Belger’s talented glass artists. And several of our guests will get to work some glass magic in a hands-on experience.

 While in the Glass Annex, guests will enjoy a sumptuous brunch from McLain’s Market, including pastries and a smorgasbord of other options, plus non-alcoholic drinks.

 Tickets are $25 per person and, as always, are nonrefundable.  If your schedule changes, you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to a friend.

 Belger Crane Yard Studios and Gallery

2011 Tracy Ave.

Kansas City, MO 64108

 Belger Glass Annex

1219 E. 19th St.

Kansas City, MO 64108

Join Arts Alive for Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s

American Holiday Stories, a literary lover’s holiday delight.

Thursday, December 11, 2025 6:00 - 10:00 PM Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre

Warwick Theater 3927 Main St KCMO 64111

This special event, perfect for the holidays, includes a reception with live music plus performances of two great American Christmas classics, Thornton Wilder’s “The Long Christmas Dinner” and Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory.”

The evening begins with a private reception at 6:00 PM in the newly renovated theater. We'll be ushered into the actual performance space where, later in the evening, a two-act play will come to life. The UMKC City Conservatory of music will entertain us with live music as we enjoy an Italian dinner and cocktails (cash bar).

At 6:45 we'll repair to the lobby so the tech crew can do their magic as they set the stage for American Holiday Stories. The music will move with us, and the cash bar continues. Shortly thereafter we'll return to the theater to find seats for a performance of two great American Christmas classics beginning at 7:30.

Here's more about the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre's production of American Holiday Stories:

Act 1: In one continuous scene, Thornton Wilder’s "The Long Christmas Dinner" chronicles six generations of an enterprising American dynasty, weaving a seamless series of family Christmas gatherings into a poignant look at the joys and humor of family life.

Act 2: In "A Christmas Memory" Truman Capote recalls a childhood memory of an idyllic Southern holiday season when he baked fruit cakes, gathered holly and flew kites with the beloved, eccentric cousin who raised him and inspired him to become a writer. Finally, join us in the lobby after the performance for some Holiday Cheer!

Cost is $45 per person. As usual, tickets are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes you can give or sell your ticket to others.

Arts Alive Goes Down the Rabbit h0le 

Thursday, November 20, 2025
5:15–7:15 p.m.

The Rabbit h0le
919 East 14th Avenue
North Kansas City

The Rabbit h0le, Kansas City’s unique “radical literary wonderland,” opens its doors just for Arts Alive on Thursday, November 20 from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m.  At our private, adults-only evening, you’ll enjoy free access to the entire museum, the chance to talk with exhibit fabricators, plus visit with fellow arts lovers over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. 

Cost is $45 per person. NOTE: Our special ticketing link—for this event only—will lead you to the Rabbit h0le system. Bring your tickets with you on November 20th for speedy admission.

You’ll want to be there right at 5:15 p.m. to check in and accept Fox Rabbit’s invitation to enter his underground grotto. From there, find your way into a literal rabbit warren of exhibits that bring a century of American children’s literature to life. Once you’re inside, it’s a free-flowing, self-guided event.  Check out the three floors of exhibits.  At several spots, chat with fabricators about how the fascinating, interactive exhibits were built by the museum’s in-house team.

Catch a ride with Nana and CJ on the bus to the Last Stop on Market Street, whisper “Goodnight Moon” in the quiet of the great green room or feed jum-jills to The Funny Thing.  You might even find yourself scaling the cliffs of My Father’s Dragon. Everything you’ll experience has been reimagined and created from the original words and pictures of a beloved children’s book, many you’ll recognize from your childhood.

Take it all at your own pace. Enjoy a break in the café whenever you want to enjoy refreshments.  We’ll provide hors d’oeuvres and one drink ticket (with a cash bar available after that).  Don’t miss the book shop that will be open for holiday shopping until 7:15 p.m.

Cost is $45 per person. Includes museum access, one free cocktail and hors d’oeuvres.

FOR THIS EVENT ONLY ticketing will be done on the Rabbit h0le’s system so things will look different for regular Arts Alive participants.  Use the special Arts Alive link we have provided. Bring your tickets with you on November 20 for easy check-in.

As usual, tickets are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes you can give or sell ticket to others.

Across Borders: Visual Rhythms and Iberian Soundscapes

Artist Talk, Gallery Visit and Private Ensemble Iberica Concert on the UMKC Campus

Event Details

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
Location: University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC)

Schedule:

• 4:00 PM – Gallery Experience
  UMKC Gallery of Art – 5108 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO

              Light, Color, and Movement by William Kay

• 5:00 PM – Heavy hors d’oeuvres & Transition
  Atrium, Bloch Executive Hall

• 6:00 PM – Concert Performance
  Room 218, Bloch Executive Hall
  Featuring Beau Bledsoe (guitar), Ezgi Karakus (cello), and John Currey (percussion)

Join us on Sunday, October 26 for a gallery visit, artist talk and private concert—all within walking distance on the University of Missouri Kansas City campus.

The evening begins at the UMKC Gallery of Art for an exhibit called Light, Color, and Movement, by Kansas City artist William Kay.  Kay will join us for an artist talk to provide insight into his creative process and the emotional architecture behind his work.  Davin Watne will also speak about his curatorial vision and the institutional context that shaped the exhibit.

As the gallery experience winds down, the rhythm carries us across campus to the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, where guests are greeted by the bronze sculpture of Henry and Marion Bloch. Created by Eugene Daub, this eight-foot, life-and-a-half scale tribute was commissioned by the Bloch children to honor their parents’ legacy of generosity and civic leadership.

We’ll step into Bloch Executive Hall for heavy hors d’oeuvres and mingling guests, wrapped in a space that feels both expansive and intentional. The two-story open lobby and acoustically responsive event spaces create an environment where sound moves cleanly and light settles softly—setting the stage for the performance to come.

At 6 pm, we’ll move to Room 218 to enjoy a private concert by Ensemble Ibérica— Beau Bledsoe (guitar), Ezgi Karakus (cello), and John Currey (percussion). The performance is woven into a rich tapestry of music from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.

Cost is $45 per person. Includes gallery tour, heavy hors d’oeuvres, concert, and free parking in designated lots. As usual, tickets are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes you can give or sell your ticket to others. Capacity is limited to 80 guests. Get your tickets now!

Arts Alive Goes Bold with KC Current and Local Artists
Saturday, September 6

Agnes Arts – Reception and Artist Booths | 1:30 – 3:00 PM
CPKC Stadium Tour | 3:30 – 4:30 PM

September’s Arts Alive event brings a dynamic mix of visual art and professional sports as we explore the creative energy of Kansas City’s art scene and the home of the Kansas City Current, our celebrated women’s soccer team.

The day begins at 1:30 PM at Agnes Arts, where a special reception welcomes us into a vibrant, artist-centered space. As you enjoy drinks and light refreshments, explore the booths of local artists whose works reflect the diversity and vitality of our city’s creative community. Agnes Arts fosters an inclusive space where artists and audiences connect, making this an ideal kickoff to an inspiring afternoon.

At 3:00 PM, we’ll depart for the CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world built specifically for a professional women’s sports team and which houses a curated collection featuring works by 12 talented Kansas City women artists titled “Line of Sight,”. Our 3:30 PM private tour will view the artworks and take you behind the scenes of this architectural and cultural landmark on the banks of the Missouri River. A beautiful afternoon of the arts in Kansas City - all while soaking in stunning riverfront views.

Tickets are $45 and include the artist reception and stadium tour. Reservations are required by August 24, 2025. Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred. The Arts Alive Facebook group is a great place to offer unused tickets.

Agnes Arts
1328 Agnes Avenue, Kansas City, MO
More about Agnes Arts

CPKC Stadium
1500 Berkley Parkway, Kansas City, MO
More about KC Current

Sunday, June 29, 2025
1:00 – 5 pm

Arts Alive heads to Johnson County Community College for an extraordinary art-filled afternoon:

1:00– 3 pm
A Match Made in Heaven
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

3:30 pm
Do it with Heart, Heartland Men’s Chorus Summer Concert
Yardley Hall

Between 1 and 3 pm enjoy self-guided tours at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at your leisure. You won’t want to miss A Match Made in Heaven, the Nerman’s remarkable, multi-floor exhibit featuring the work of two Missouri natives: celebrity fashion designer Jeremy Scott from Kansas City and painter Katherine Bernhardt from Saint Louis.

Recently featured in KC Studio Magazine, A Match Made in Heaven is described as “over-the- top,” “fanciful, jubilant, amusing and not a little subversive.” Reviewer Brian McTavish muses that the exhibit “dares to be almost too much to take in during a single visit. It’s that powerful. And plentiful.” Vogue magazine also featured the exhibit saying it “puts a spotlight on the pair’s shared pop cultural references.” Many visitors have been inspired by the exhibit and come dressed in similar creative style. Feel free to join in the fun.

Arts Alive Founder John Hoffman says, “This is one of the best exhibitions the Nerman has ever mounted.” If all this is not enough to tickle your art fancy, there are several other wonderful exhibits on tap. For example, artist Amy Kligman welcomes you to into her Salon for Possible Futures and invites you to physically interact with art and ideas.

Then stroll over to nearby Yardley Hall to enjoy a 3:30 pm performance by Heartland Men’s Chorus. Entitled Do it with Heart, this summer concert kicks off their 40 th anniversary year. This beloved community arts organization promises a powerful concert filled with music and messages of love, inclusion and hope.

Tickets are $35 per person. As always, tickets are nonrefundable, but may be given or sold to others if your schedule changes.

Both venues are on the campus of Johnson County Community College

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Yardley Hall (Midwest Trust Center)

12345 College Blvd

Overland Park, KS 66210-1299

Crossroads Murals Tour

PLUS Happy Hour at Green Dirt on Oak

May 18, 2025

12:30 – 4 pm

 Join your Arts Alive friends for an Urban Hike in the Crossroads Arts District, then celebrate the arrival of spring over drinks, cocktails and a grazing table loaded with locally-made gourmet cheeses and other delicacies.

 Our starting point is Parlor, a food hall at 1707 Locust Street.  Arrive by 12:15 pm to check in and be assigned to a tour group. Tours begin at 12:30 pm.

 You’ll enjoy a one-and-a-half-hour walking tour led by a trained guide from Urban Hikes KC.  Guides will tell you about the mural artists, provide some KC history and give you time to take photos. 

 You’ll see many public murals that the SpraySeeMO Festival (and others) have added to our urban landscape.  SpraySeeMO has painted 20-30 new murals around KC every year since 2017. The festival’s goal is to make Kansas City an art-rich destination like Wynwood in Miami and Bushwick in Brooklyn—neighborhoods whose massive mural displays promote creative expression and exploration on a grand scale.

 Plan to walk about 4,500 steps on city sidewalks and through colorful alleys. The route is flat, but surfaces can be uneven. This is a rain or shine event so dress for the weather. 

 After your tour (around 2 to 2:30 pm) we’ll all meet for an early happy hour at Green Dirt at 1601 Oak St.  In their lovely second floor dining room we will enjoy a delectable spread of cheeses and other delicacies as well as a cash bar.  Green Dirt owner Sarah Hoffman will join us to share the amazing story of her family farm and the restaurants it has spawned. This farm-to-table restaurant builds its menu around the cheeses made from sheep’s milk and meat raised on their farm, celebrating the deep connection between their farm and our community.

 Tickets are $45 per person and include the tour and cheese tasting.  A cash bar will also available at Green Dirt. As always, tickets are nonrefundable, but may be given or sold to others if your schedule changes.

 Starting Point: Parlor

1707 Locust Street

 End Point: Green Dirt on Oak

1601 Oak Street

 Additional ON-YOUR-OWN Options

Extra fun (not included in ticket price).

 Self-pay Option One:  Arrive early at Parlor and order lunch from one of their seven restaurants (and two bars): Wings (Indian Fusion); Food Pedaler (Locally Inspired); Mother Clucker (Daring Fried Chicken); Ladybird Taqueria (Tex-Mex Classics); Sidos (Mediterranean); Mungheez (Smoked Wings) and Slideshow (Sliders and Wings).

 Self-pay Option Two:  We must vacate the Green Dirt dining room by 4 pm.  Weather permitting, grab a drink and head up to Green Dirt’s rooftop to enjoy an extended happy hour.  Note: There is no bar or food service on the rooftop.

 Self-Pay Option Three:  Stay late to enjoy dinner at Green Dirt.  Dinner service begins at 5 pm and reservations are recommended.

 See more murals:  The SpraySeeMo map will guide your way:  Sprayseemo.com

 Take more Urban Hikes.  See their many options:  UrbanHikeskc.org

On Saturday March 29, Arts Alive offers a unique insiders’ event: a private presentation about the six Architectural Competition Exhibition finalists for the museum’s upcoming expansion, led by Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  All this plus lunch and a docent-led collections highlights tour.

• Saturday, March 29

  11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

  Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Tickets for the day’s activities are $40 each. The event is limited to 90 participants and is expected to sell out quickly. As usual, tickets are not refundable.

Our Arts Alive exclusive sneak peek will look like this:

11 am – Meet in Lens 2, grab a boxed lunch (food and drink are included in your ticket) and hear CEO Julián Zugazagoitia talk about the architectural competition process and the museum's future expansion plans.

12 pm - Visit the architectural competition exhibition. Take your time. Leave your personal feedback on comment cards or use a QR code to submit feedback digitally. 

1 pm - Meet in Kirkwood Hall where our group will be broken into smaller groups of 20 to join a small group for a personal docent-led collection highlights tour.

2 pm - Program ends

In October 2024, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art announced an international design competition to undertake a major expansion of the museum’s campus with the goal to attract new audiences by creating a vibrant space to host more art and offer new creative, immersive and energizing experiences. 

The competition attracted submissions from 182 teams in 30 countries on six continents. Six finalist teams were chosen to proceed to stage two of the competition. From this shortlist, a winner will be chosen by the museum’s Architect Selection Committee (ASC) in spring 2025. We will learn about submissions from these finalists (by team lead and in alphabetical order):

Kengo Kuma & Associates (Tokyo)
Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Genoa)
Selldorf Architects (New York)
Studio Gang (Chicago)
Weiss/Manfredi Architecture (New York)
WHY Architecture (Los Angeles)

A reminder that tickets are not refundable. Should your schedule change you are welcome to sell or give your tickets to others. Our Facebook group might be helpful in finding someone to use unwanted tickets.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, MO

• Saturday, March 1

• Bunker Center for the Arts  4:30 - 6:15 PM

• Kauffman Center: Stanislav & Friends: Echoes of Spain  

• Presented by Park University International Center for Music 7:00 – 9 PM

 The Arts Alive March event takes us downtown and around the world at the same time with a Crossroads gallery visit and a concert at the Kauffman Center.  Your $45 ticket includes art, appetizers, drinks and a concert ticket.

Everything starts at 4:30 PM at the Bunker Center for the Arts in the east Crossroads. This artist-run space showcases the work of 30 contemporary artists. Enjoy beer, wine, soft drinks and hearty appetizers from Cupini’s as you tour the gallery and 10 artist studios.

The Bunker’s current featured artist is Mauricio Zuniga. Originally from Mexico, he is a well-known presence in the Kansas City art scene. Zuniga has built a thriving art career in the US, creating works that bridge cultures and offer a unique dual perspective on life. His vibrant, large-scale canvases blend elements of cubism and surrealism to tell engaging, universally relatable stories.

Next up: Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center.  At 7 PM we’ll take in Stanislav & Friends, an annual event of Park University’s International Center for Music.  This year’s theme, Echoes of Spain, celebrates Spain’s rich cultural heritage and musical traditions.  The concert features the extraordinary talent of Park ICM’s alumni, faculty, students and special guests.

 We’ll be immersed in a night of passion as Spanish melodies and rhythms come to life, according to Stanislav Ioudenitch, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist, founder and artistic director of Park International Center for Music

 Tickets are not refundable. Should your schedule change you are welcome to sell or give your tickets to others. Our Facebook group might be helpful in finding someone to use unwanted tickets. 

 Bunker Center for the Arts

1014 East 19th Street (19th St. and Troost Ave)

 Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

1601 Broadway

January 23; 5:30 pm

Kansas City Automotive Museum

5095 West 116 th Street.

Olathe, KS 66062

You’re invited to join fellow Arts Alive participants to celebrate the ART OF THE CAR on Thursday, January 25 at the Kansas City Automotive Museum in Olathe, KS. Knowledgeable docents, music, and dinner will make this an evening to remember. The Kansas City Automotive Museum is widely recognized in the car community and has grown since its founding in 2014 to become a popular meeting place for historians, club meetings, special events, in addition to car enthusiasts. Its current home has room to display 30 autos and highlights significant Kansas City automotive history such as 1965 Le Mans winner Masten Gregory (the “Kansas City Flash”), the Ford Winchester Plant, and Greenlease Cadillac, with a special exhibit that changes monthly. Expert staff will open eyes and hearts to the aesthetics and vision of these rolling sculptures. They will also explore the history behind auto design, with a focus on Kansas City’s role in it.

There’s plenty of free parking, so arrive at 5:30 p.m. and check in

When you’re not touring the exhibits and the other informative displays, enjoy drinks and barbecue catered by The Rub, all to an acoustic set from Legerdemain (Marus Rattler, Daniel Yung, and Imani Mason), a steel pan led multi-genre fusion band with a jazz and funk backbone, second place winner in the Blues Foundation’s 2023 International Blues Challenge held in Kansas City.

Tickets for the evening’s activities are $45 each. This event is limited to 60 participants, so make your decision to participate as soon as you can. As usual, tickets are not refundable. Should your schedule change you are welcome to give your tickets to others. Our Facebook group might be helpful in finding someone to use unwanted tickets.

Directions and helpful landmarks can be found on their website.

https://kansascityautomuseum.com/plan-your-visit/

Arts Alive Event

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

“Christmas Ain’t a Drag”

The Black Box, 8 PM

1060 Union Avenue

For 25 years Arts Alive KC has introduced unique arts experiences to thousands of people.  Now it’s time to party!

 Join us on Wednesday, December 11 at 8 PM for a holiday event destined to be talked about for the next 25 years.

 Your ticket gets you into the musical production of “Christmas Ain’t a Drag” at the The Black Box in the West Bottoms. Arts Alive is adding some holiday desserts to the mix and a cash bar awaits. 

 This rockin’ show is certain to get you into the holiday spirit.  This musical, written by local legend David George, was inspired by the Big Band era and has played to a sold-out crowd in New York City.  Now it returns to Kansas City with a fresh cast and direction by the inimitable Katie Gilchrist.  Original rock, blues and jazz music features the Christmas Ain’t a Drag Orchestra.

 The musical tells the tale of four lonely people whose lives intersect at Club Deveaux on Christmas Eve. They discover love and the magic of the holidays, proving that Christmas should never be a drag.  In a cabaret setting filled with fellow Arts Alive patrons, we’ll celebrate the love, romance and acceptance people find during the holidays. 

 We’ve bought out the house (only 80 tickets available) and will turn the theater into an Arts Alive party.  Get into the act by sporting some vintage big band era attire. Wear some sparkle or even an ugly Christmas sweater.  Or come as you are. Whatever puts you in the spirit.

 Sign up by November 29 to assure a seat. Tickets are $40 each and, as always, are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes, you can sell or give your tickets to friends. Our Facebook page might help you out.

 The Black Box

1060 Union Street (in the West Bottoms)

Parking lot and street parking available

Be among the first visitors to the newly opened Zhou B Art Center in the 18th and Vine Jazz District.  The renovated building in the historic Crispus Attucks School will be our first stop on

Thursday, June 13, followed by a private jazz concert in the American Jazz Museum’s Blue Room.

5:00 PM Zhou B Art Center

1801 E 18th St.

Includes guided tours of the building and artist studios as well as cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with the artists in the Zhou B Spirit Room. Cash bar.

 7:00 PM American Jazz Museum, Blue Room

1600 E 18th St

Private concert by the Jazz Academy with Stan Kessler conducting. Cash Bar.

Arrive at 5: 00 PM to enjoy the recently opened Zhou B Art Center, a new hub for visual and performing arts in Kansas City lovingly renovated in the former Crispus Attucks School and nestled in the culturally significant 18th and Vine District. The Zhou B Center’s grand opening is in early June, so you’ll be among the first to enjoy this grand new space dedicated to serving as “a vibrant hub where artistic expression flourishes…tailored for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.”

Founders of the center are Shanzuo Zhoushi and Dahuang Zhoushi, renowned painters born in Guangxi, China and now based in Chicago.  They have achieved international acclaim for their abstract art. Their philosophy known as "Feelingism" emphasizes the symbiosis of eastern and western influences, encouraging self-belief and following one's heart in the creative process.  Some of their work graces the building we will tour. We will also enjoy the center’s inaugural exhibition called “Benediction from the Rubble.” which features four artists with local and national recognition: Tony Ramos, Robert Hale, Michael Brantley and Harold Smith.

Join the artists in the Spirit Room for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and take guided tours of the building which also 22 artist studios.

Leave the center by 6:30 pm for a short walk to the American Jazz Museum to enjoy a private concert in the Blue Room starting at 7 PM. Stan Kessler, renowned KC jazz trumpeter, will conduct the Jazz Academy musicians, introducing you to artists who been hand-picked to become the future of jazz music in our community.

Space is limited to 70 guests, so sign up right away, bring your friends, and enjoy another special Arts Alive event.

  Tickets are $45 each and, as always, nonrefundable. They are, however, transferrable, so if your schedule changes, you are welcome to give (or sell) them to friends . Our Facebook page should be helpful with this.

5:30 pm Art Exhibit: Threshold II: Migration Patterns

Gallery Bogart *1400 Union Avenue

6:30 Hors d’oeuvres at the Black Box (and cash bar)

Black Box * 1060 Union Avenue

7:30 pm Private Concert by Ensemble Iberica

Black Box

Tickets are $45 each

Head down to the West Bottoms for an evening outing curated especially for Arts Alive participants. This event is limited to 80 lucky participants so sign up soon.

Start at Gallery Bogart at 5:30 p.m. where gallery owner Miller Bogart will tell you about his newly opened exhibit: Threshold II: Migration Patterns - An Exhibit Featuring Kevin Demery & Andrew Mcilvaine. Kevin Demery is a recipient of the Charlotte Street 2024 Visual Artist Award and will be featured in the upcoming exhibitions at the Nelson Atkins and at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Andrew Mcilvaine is coming off his recent solo exhibition, Resilience Story, at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. This exhibition is an exciting opportunity to see their work in dialogue with one another.

Then meander a couple blocks away to the Black Box for a private concert by Ensemble Iberica. Arrive there any time after 6:15 p.m. to pick up a charcuterie box and get a drink at the cash bar.

At 7:30 pm Esemble Iberica will take the stage and transport you through the rich and diverse cultures of Turkey, Spain, Argentina, and Macedonia. Experience the unique sounds and rhythms of each region with the talented Ensemble Iberica artists Beau Bledsoe (guitar), Ezgi Karakus (cello), and Christine Grossman (viola) as they guide you on an enchanting musical expedition that will weave together an unforgettable concert.

Ensemble Iberica is a local nonprofit arts organization that creates music and programming that enlightens, heals, and connects audiences and artists globally.

At any time during the evening, no one would blame you for stopping off The Ship to peek inside this historic venue that has origins in 1950s downtown Kansas City.

As always, tickets are nonrefundable. They are, however, transferrable, so if your schedule changes you are welcome to give (or sell) them to friends. Our Facebook page should be helpful with this.

Join Arts Alive on January 26 for our first event of 2024. 

 5:30 PM “Realize Your Dreams” art exhibit plus drinks and a charcuterie supper at Buttonwood Art Space (inside Buttonwood Financial Group)

3013 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108
7:30 PM “Gaslight (Angel Street)” at Kansas City Actors Theatre

City Stage (lower level of Union Station)

30 W Pershing Rd, KCMO 64108

We gather in Buttonwood Art Space at 5:30 PM to view “Realize Your Dreams.” The exhibit features 170 artworks of varied styles, subject matters, and mediums, including abstracts, landscapes, beaches, vistas, and more. All art is for sale, plus you can do good while you add to your collection. This is because 50% of each purchase benefits Connections to Success, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring families to realize their dreams and achieve economic independence.  The remaining half of any purchase goes directly to the artist and is tax deductible to the purchaser.

 Next stop is City Stage at Union Station to enjoy the Kansas City Actors Theatre’s 7:30 PM performance of “Gaslight (Angel Street).” This 1938 Victorian thriller tells the dark tale of a marriage based on deceit, and a husband committed to driving his wife to the brink of insanity. The play is well known for its Academy Award-winning adaptation to the big screen. According to Theater Guide, “Gaslight (Angel Street) is a roller coaster ride of emotions and second-guessing, as we peel back the onion to uncover the layers of deception and twists.”  Fans of Agatha Christie won’t want to miss this edge-of-your-seat drama.

The entire evening is $45 per person and includes food, drink and theater ticket. The event is limited to 80 guests so put your group together quickly and join us. 

 As always, tickets are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to someone else.

Te Deum performance and the Hoffman’s private art collection

 As Arts Alive closes out its 24th year we’ve planned a holiday event you won’t want to miss. The outing includes a concert and our first private collection tour in quite a while. Only 80 tickets are available.

We’ll gather at 5:00 pm to enjoy the extensive art collection of Arts Alive President John Hoffman and his wife Sharon while enjoying cocktails and a light supper in their lovely home.

The Hoffmans began collecting over 50 years ago and you’ll see examples of photo realism and the pop artists Rauschenberg and Frankenthaler represented alongside major ceramic pieces and diverse period furniture.  In addition, the work of African and African American artists Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Mickelene Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas, Nick Cave and Vaughn Span, Theaster Gates and Titus Kaphar are represented throughout the home.

At the Hoffman’s you also enjoy food prepared by Thelma’s Kitchen (a healthy communities initiative of Reconciliation Services) along with wine, beer and soft drinks, all included in the ticket price.

We leave in time to arrive at Village Presbyterian Church and find our reserved seating for Te Deum’s 7:00 PM concert.  Entitled Lessons and Carols for Today, the performance offers a modern twist on the Anglican tradition of interspersing biblical passages with choral and congregational singing.

Collaborating with Te Deum is Kansas City poet Natasha Ria El-Scari. She has written and will perform new poetry to replace the traditional biblical lessons, delivering modern reflections on the Nativity story through an African American feminist lens.

Following the 70-minute concert we are invited to a reception in the church’s Welcome Center featuring cookies and holiday punch. A Lessons book, featuring the poetry Natasha Ria El-Scari wrote for the concert will be available for purchase for $10.00 at the reception.  

The entire event is only $45 per person and includes food, drink and concert ticket.  Put your group together and join us. This event is limited to 80 guests, so sign up quickly.

As always, tickets are nonrefundable.

If your schedule changes you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to someone else.

Join Arts Alive on December 19 for our final event of 2023

Corbin Bronze + KC Rep

• Saturday, October 28, 2023

• Noon - 4:00 PM

• 12:00 PM Corbin Bronze, 1166 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103

• 2:00 PM What the Constitution Means to Me, 1 H & R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105 

Join Arts Alive on the afternoon of Saturday, October 28th, when we visit Corbin Bronze for a tour of Tom Corbin’s current work and a light lunch followed by a two o’clock performance of What the Constitution Means to Me at the Kansas City Rep’s Copaken Stage.

Tom Corbin turned to bronze sculpture in 1986 after an early career in advertising. Over nearly 40 years he has created a body of work that is now represented in more than 20 museums, corporate collections, private collections, and now, most recently, in the United States Capitol featuring the likeness of former President Harry S. Truman.

We arrive at Corbin Studio (located in a former fire house) at noon and tour the studio and sculpture garden.

After a light lunch and drinks at the studio, we leave in time for the 2:00 PM curtain at Copaken Stage for What the Constitution Means to Me.  

Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. Critics have hailed this Tony-nominated play as hilarious. hopeful, and achingly human.

The entire event is still only $45 per person including the light lunch so put your group together and join us. Space is limited to 100 people at both the studio and the theater.

As always, tickets are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to someone else.

Join Arts Alive on October 28 for a great afternoon exploring the cultural arts in our city.

Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

The September Arts Alive Adventure takes us to Lawrence, KS, just a 40-minute from Kansas City. We’ll enjoy three private tours: the newly refurbished Spencer Museum of Art and the Lawrence Arts Center, ending with a private studio visit with artist May Tveit.

The day begins at the Spencer Museum of Art at 10:00 AM. Saralyn Reece Hardy, Museum Director and several of her staff will greet us and provide private guided tours of the collection’s highlights.  

With a diverse collection of more than 48,000 art objects and works of cultural significance, the Spencer Museum is the only comprehensive art museum in the state of Kansas and serves more than 100,000 visitors annually. Its vision is to present its collection as a living archive that motivates object-centered research and teaching, creative work, and transformative public dialogue. We will enjoy work by contemporary artists Dread Scott and Paul Stephen Benjamin in Black Writing, among others.

At 11:45 AM we’ll take a five-minute drive to Marceli's Arterra event gallery for lunch (cost is included in your ticket).
At 1:15 PM, we’ll visit the Lawrence Arts Center where three new exhibits began in June. In addition to 12 artist studios and the current exhibits, there are performance spaces with rehearsals underway for upcoming shows. The director and his staff will show us the facility.

If time and energy allow, you can take a self-guided tour of the 2023 Lawrence Annual Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition that opened June 30. A tour map will be provided with your event reminder.

At 3:00 PM our last stop is the private studio of May Tveit, an industrial design professor at the University of Kansas and an artist whose large-scale works you may have seen at a solo show at the Nerman Museum in 2018. May is looking forward to greeting us to talk about her work and show us around her studio. Her current sculpture and monoprint work explore geometric configurations of cardboard boxes and physical/metaphysical aspects of the self and being. Other exhibitions include (Fields, Planes, Systems: Self) Farmprojects, (Drop Unit) Greenlease Gallery (Template Days) UK Art Museum and (Art on Paper) at the Weatherspoon Museum. May’s work has been featured in Art in America, Art Papers, National Public Radio, Bad at Sports, among other periodicals. Tveit is a Charlotte Street Foundation Fellow and has participated in the Anderson Ranch, Haystack, Art Omi, Frans Masereel Centrum residency programs.

The entire day is priced at $35 and includes all visits and lunch. As always, tickets are nonrefundable. If your schedule changes you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to someone else.

Because of venue capacity, only 65 tickets are available, so sign up quickly so you won't miss out on this very special Lawrence Arts Adventure. A map, detailed directions and parking instructions will be provided to participants the week prior to the event. Guests will provide their own transportation

Spencer Museum 

1301 Mississippi St, Lawrence, KS 66045

Lawrence Arts Center 

940 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, KS 66044

Lunch at Marceli’s Arterra, 

1031 New Hampshire St Lawrence, KS 66044

Private studio tour with artist May Tveit 

725 N 2nd Street, Suite O (the letter), Lawrence, KS 66044

June 17 Arts Alive

11 AM Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art with Guided tours and lunch

2 PM “Prejudice and Pride,” a musical comedy at the Arts Asylum

Now into our 24th year, our board is determined to find unique cultural opportunities and discover the many facets of cultural arts in the greater Kansas City community. On Saturday, June 17th we'll enjoy guided tours of art exhibits, lunch and a new musical comedy in a new venue. Activities begin at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art at 11 am with guided tours of current exhibits led by Director of Curatorial Affairs Erin Dziedzic and her staff. You’ll see and learn about work by Virginia Jaramillo, Pepe Mar and Reginald Sylvester, a young Brooklyn-based artist who is making a name for himself in the U.S. and Europe. Lunch will be provided at the museum in two shifts due to available space.

Then we'll drive a short distance to the new home of the Arts Asylum in east Brookside for the 2 p.m. show of “Prejudice and Pride.” The gender-swapped musical comedy set at Hoedown Jane’s Bar, Brill & Shootin’ Range offers a new take on Jane Austen’s classic novel. Banjo-picker Bennett Longborn sings the tale of how he and his brothers must find love (or at least empathy) with their millionaire neighbors before they lose the family farm in Tennessee. Critics say, "It's hilarious, fantastic and sheer joy," featuring folk music at its best.

How does a show make its way in the theater industry? In 2022 this new musical won the Musical Theater Heritage Residency Award in KC. Later that year it traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won a #1 Best of Fest award. After the June Arts Asylum run, the show heads to New York City to play at the 59E59 Theaters. If the show makes it even further, you’ll have been a part of its success.

The entire event is still only $45 per person so put your group together and join us.

As always, tickets are nonrefundable. Should your schedule change you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to a friend.

This will be our last event until September as most arts groups will be on vacation. We're already planning interesting fall outings, including a trip to Lawrence to visit the newly refurbished Spencer Museum, several artist studios and private collections.

Kemper Museum 4420 Warwick Blvd.

Arts Asylum 824 East Meyer Blvd. (entrance on east side near parking lot)

Now entering our 24th year, Arts Alive KC just finished a successful and record-setting April event at Hotel Kansas City, richly restored and full of Kansas City history. The food was delicious and the music rocked.

Our next event takes place on the evening of Saturday, May 13th.   

At 5 p.m. we’ll begin at the historic 21c Museum Hotel with a tour of the newest installation of internationally recognized artists including Nick Cave, Mickelene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, and Deborah Roberts along with work by several local and regional artists. Curator Jori Cheville will discuss the new installation and walk us through two floors of artwork.

We'll leave the hotel at 6 p.m. and drive the short distance to The Farmhouse in the River Market where dinner will be served exclusively to our group. Cash bar. The restaurant can be found at the corner of 4th and Delaware.

We'll leave the River Market in time for the 7:30 p.m. curtain of Bliss Point, the spring Kansas City Ballet performance at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Bliss Point offers three contemporary dance pieces never seen before in Kansas City and choreographed by internationally known artists.

The entire evening is $45.00 per person. Put your group together and join us for a special evening as you enjoy and support the best of Kansas City culture.

As always, tickets are non-refundable. Should your plans change, you are welcome to sell or give your tickets to friends.

21c Museum Hotel           219 West 9th (9th and Central Street)

The Farmhouse               300 Delaware Street (4th and Delaware, River Market)

Kauffman Center             1601 Broadway

1228 Baltimore Downtown KCMO

Visit one of Kansas City’s newest hotels and step into history at the same time on April 12 with Arts Alive KC’s first architecture-themed event.  You’ll be intimately introduced to Hotel Kansas City where art and architecture meet in a grand, classic—and classy— way.  Here, in the former Kansas City Club, you will learn about architecture as a high art, explore public rooms holding more than 100 years of memories and search out all the art and unique touches that have preserved this building for modern use. Top off the evening in Nighthawk, the hotel’s popular speakeasy, with live music by Martin Farrell, Jr. and the Blue Station Drifters from Lawrence, KS.

Arrive at 5:00 pm and you’ll be guided to our meeting room in this National Register of Historic Places landmark. Hotel-prepared hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be ready for you to enjoy as Amanda Loughlin of Rosin Preservation chats with us about architecture as high art and the challenges of saving and transforming a building like this one.  Rosin Preservation was involved in the hotel’s recent transformation and Loughlin will share her experiences with the process and her convictions about architecture as a unique and valuable fine art.   

Then you’ll have time for a leisurely tour of the hotel’s fully renovated spaces to check it out for yourself. Take in the Grille Room with its tiled walls and floors plus a mural hand-painted a century ago by a Kansas City Club member. Don’t miss the Tudor Ballroom and its two-story stained-glass windows. Visit the library, the only room women could enter (via a special elevator) until the 1970s. You’ll want some photos of the breathtaking six-story staircase chandelier and the ceramic busts in the lobby of former club members Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman, Tom Pendergast and Omar Bradley.

Head down to the Nighthawk after 7 pm for live music by Martin Farrell, Jr. and the Blue Station Drifters from Lawrence, KS.  They will give us the full speakeasy experience with their “Cosmic Western” music, described as a classic country sound with bluegrass techniques, gospel harmonies and rock rhythms. After 9 pm the club offers a DJ and you’re invited to stay.

In Nighthawk (the Kansas City Club’s former bowling alley) set up your own tab at the bar and, if you’re still hungry, order from Nighthawk’s small plate menu. 

Cost is $45 per person.  As always, tickets are non-refundable. If your schedule changes you are welcome to give away (or sell) your tickets.