FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ellen McDonald
816.444.0052
[email protected]
FOR TICKETS: Box Office at
816.235.2700 or www.KCRep.org.
Kansas City Rep Announces Tickets Now On Sale for
All Productions of 50th Anniversary 2014-15 Season
Return of Pulitzer Prize Winners David Cromer (Our Town) and Tony- nominated Gary Griffin
(Angels in America) and KC Premiere of An Iliad by Obie-Award winners Lisa Peterson and Denis
O’Hare (HBO’s True Blood) and The Who and the What by Pulitzer Prize Winner Ayad Akhtar
Kansas City, MO (August 11, 2014) — Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory
Theatre has announced the 2014-15 season, continuing its tradition of presenting stirring classics
and evocative new works created by the finest local and national talent available.
“There has never been a more exciting time for theatre in Kansas City, or for KC Rep,” said
Rosen. “When I think what we have accomplished since our founding by the inestimable
Patricia McIlrath in 1964, I am astounded. Fifty years of serving our community as an artistic
forum for exploring life’s issues in ways that inspire us, challenge us, and even make us laugh.
And now, as we are preparing to launch our 50th anniversary, KC Rep’s 2014-15 line-up
resonates with transformative works, both familiar stage classics and innovative new plays, all
featuring casts of Kansas City favorites as well as notable visiting artists. I am especially pleased
that David Cromer and Gary Griffin, whose respective productions of The Glass Menagerie and
A Flea in Her Ear garnered national acclaim for KC Rep, will be part of our artistic celebration
this year."
50th Anniversary Block Party
To kick off this milestone season and to say thank you to the community for 50 years of support,
KC Rep will host on September 28, the 50th Anniversary Celebration Block Party, a large-scale,
family-friendly event that is free to the public. KC Rep will transform the UMKC parking area
adjacent to Spencer Theatre into a festive space with food vendors, activities, and performances
by local theatre artists. The Block Party, starting at 10am, will be a collaboration with UMKC
during their annual Founder’s Week celebration. UMB is the Corporate Sponsor.
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OUR TOWN
Written by Thornton Wilder
Directed by David Cromer
September 5-28, 2014
Spencer Theatre
The 2014-15 season of Kansas City Repertory Theatre opens September 5th with one of the
greatest American plays ever written, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, the three-time Pulitzer
prize-winning playwright and novelist and directed by David Cromer, MacArthur Foundation
‘genius’ grant recipient and director of KC Rep’s 2009 production of The Glass Menagerie
which received national and local critical acclaim. This enduring American story will feature a
predominantly local cast of favorites (including Charles Fugate, Peggy Friesen, Gary Neal
Johnson), traveling artists, UMKC faculty and selected UMKC graduate students, examines the
everyday lives of an average town's citizens in the early twentieth century. Cromer’s 2009 OffBroadway revival of Our Town ran for more than 600 performances, making it the longestrunning production of the play in its history. In his glowing review of David Cromer’s new
production, The Wall Street Journal’s theatre critic Terry Teachout wrote, “You’ll never see a
better Our Town- or anything else- as long as you live.” This co-production with UMKC Theatre
will feature redesigned seating at Spencer Theatre in the James C. Olson performing Arts Center
on the UMKC campus and will run September 5 through 28th. Sprint Foundation is the exclusive
corporate sponsor.
Conversation Series
Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE post-show forums to learn more from the
artists and creative teams about the production.
A Conversation with David Cromer
August 18, 7:30pm at UMKC’s White Hall (inside James C. Olson Performing Arts
Center, next to Spencer Theatre) RSVP to Box Office at 816-253-2700. KC Rep Artistic
Director Eric Rosen will moderate the discussion. $20 suggested donation at the door.
Meet the Creative Team: Sept. 10, following the 7 pm performance
Scholars’ Forum: Sept. 20, following the 2pm performance
Actor’s Forum: Sept. 21, following the 2pm performance and Sept. 24, following the 7
pm performance
THE WHO AND THE WHAT
Written by Ayad Akhtar
Directed by Eric Rosen
October 17-November 16, 2014
Copaken Stage
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of Disgraced and the best-selling author of American
Dervish, comes a thrillingly fierce and funny new play about identity, religion and the
contradictions that make us who we are as Americans. Brilliant Pakistani-American writer
Zarina is focused on finishing her novel about women and Islam when she meets Eli, a young
convert who bridges the gulf between her modern life and her traditional heritage. But when her
Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Season Tickets Now on Sale
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conservative father and sister discover her controversial manuscript, they are all forced to
confront the beliefs that define them. A passionate and searing look at a family divided by faith,
bonded by love and searching for truth in contemporary America. The cast will include Kansas
City artist Rusty Sneary.
At KC Rep, Rosen has also directed Clay; Winesburg, Ohio; the world premieres of A Christmas
Story, The Musical! and Venice; Cabaret; August: Osage County; The Whipping Man; Pippin;
Death of a Salesman and Romeo and Juliet.
Conversation Series
Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE post-show forums to learn more from the
artists and creative teams about the production.
Meet the Creative Team: Oct. 22, following the 7 pm performance
Scholars’ Forum: Nov. 1, following the 2pm performance
Actor’s Forum: Nov. 2, following the 2pm performance and Nov. 5, following the 7 pm
performance
A CHRISTMAS CAROL -- 34th Annual Production
Written by Charles Dickens
Directed by Jerry Genochio
November 21-December 26, 2014
Spencer Theatre
For many Kansas City families, A Christmas Carol is the official beginning of the holiday
season. Experience compassion for Ebenezer Scrooge as a boy, delight with him as a merry
young man, and watch his transformation into a cold-hearted miser – but don’t dismay, hope and
redemption await. Directed for the first time by Jerry Genochio and featuring a cast of Kansas
City’s favorite actors and up-and-coming young talent, A Christmas Carol is a magical, musicfilled holiday event. Kansas Citians will want to note that this production will mark the 100th
KC Rep production for Gary Neal Johnson.
Genochio (American Buffalo, The Foreigner and SantaLand Diaries) made his highly regarded
KC Rep directing debut staging David Mamet’s American Buffalo in May 2013.
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
Written by David Sedaris
Directed by Eric Rosen
December 6-24, 2014
Copaken Stage
Brian Sills (Cabaret) returns to KC Rep as Crumpet, America’s favorite irreverent elf, in an
encore production of David Sedaris’ hysterical tale of elfin’ woe in a hilarious send-up of his
brief, misguided career as a Macy’s elf. The show skewers our sentimental love of all things
Christmas—the happy children, the gifts, the spritely elves and the good cheer. The Santaland
Diaries shows us the other side of what it’s like to work at Santaland; the result is merrily
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subversive, but always fun! This production will be directed by KC Rep’s Artistic Director Eric
Rosen.
AN ILIAD
Adapted by Denis O’Hara and Lisa Peterson
from the Roger Fagles translation of The Iliad by Homer
Directed by Jerry Genochio
Starring Kyle Hatley
January 23-February 8, 2015
Spencer Theatre
Homer's epic poem roars back to life in a lean and muscular new telling that reunites on stage
two members of KC Rep’s artistic team, Producing Director Jerry Genochio and Resident
Director Kyle Hatley. The two worked together in 2013 as director and actor, respectively, on
The Foreigner and they reunite for this tour-de-force production of An Iliad, an enthralling new
play that illuminates the human cost of war. Playwrights Obie Award-winning Lisa Peterson and
Denis O'Hare (HBO's "True Blood") have created a spellbinding work of theatre spanning three
millennia. “Pure theater: shocking, glorious, primal, and deeply satisfying.” – Timeout NY
Genochio (American Buffalo, The Foreigner and SantaLand Diaries) made his highly regarded
KC Rep directing debut staging David Mamet’s American Buffalo. Hatley is a multitalented
writer, director and actor (The Glass Menagerie, Death of a Salesman, The Whipping Man and
The Foreigner).
Conversation Series
Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE post-show forums to learn more from the
artists and creative teams about the production.
Meet the Creative Team: Jan. 28, following the 7 pm performance
Scholars’ Forum: Feb. 7, following the 2pm performance
Actor’s Forum: Feb. 8, following the 2pm performance and Feb. 11, following the 7 pm
performance
ANGELS IN AMERICA
Part I, Millennium Approaches
Part II, Perestroika
Written by Tony Kushner
Directed by Gary Griffin
February 20-March 29, 2015
Copaken Stage
This Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play by Tony Kushner forever transformed the
landscape of American theatre. Angels in America is a riveting, thought-provoking masterpiece
about the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Then, as now, Angels in America explores the social,
political and moral issues confronting us as individuals and as a nation. Both parts of Angels in
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America -- Millennium Approaches and Perestroika -- will be presented in rotating repertory at
Copaken Stage.
On a recent visit to KC Rep, director Gary Griffin (A Flea in Her Ear, Saved) discussed the
landmark play: "No play in my lifetime has been more important than Angels in America. I lived
through this time and I knew what it was. There is so much stimuli in this play … you will never
forget it."
Conversation Series
Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE post-show forums to learn more from the
artists and creative teams about the production.
Meet the Creative Team: Feb. 24, following the 7 pm performance
Scholars’ Forum: March 21, following the 2pm performance
Actor’s Forum: March 22, following the 2pm performance and March 25, following the
7 pm performance
HAIR
Book and Lyrics by James Rado & Gerome Ragni
Music by Galt MacDermot
Directed by Eric Rosen
March 20-April 12, 2015
Spencer Theatre
The musical that defined a generation and brought rock music to the theatrical stage, HAIR
captures the essence of the revolution and passion of the 1960s. In addition to its legendary
score, this production will feature documentary interviews with original Broadway artists, and
continues KC Rep’s tradition of re-imagining the classic musical.
Conversation Series
Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE post-show forums to learn more from the
artists and creative teams about the production.
Meet the Creative Team: March 25, following the 7 pm performance
Scholars’ Forum: April 4, following the 2pm performance
Actor’s Forum: April 5, following the 2pm performance and April 8, following the 7 pm
performance
STICKY TRAPS
Written by Nathan Louis Jackson
Directed by Kyle Hatley
April 24-May 24, 2015
Copaken Stage
In a story that seems painfully too familiar, a grieving mother in a small town not far from
Kansas City fights back against a hate-filled church that has come to protest her son’s funeral.
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But her actions have unintended consequences that will test her whole family and the power of
their love in the face of hate.
This is Jackson's second new work as KC Rep’s Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence.
His previous plays at KC Rep include critically acclaimed When I Come to Die and Broke-ology,
both directed by Hatley. Jackson has been hailed by American Theatre magazine as “one of the
important new voices of American theatre." US Bank is the exclusive Production Sponsor.
Conversation Series
Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE post-show forums to learn more from the
artists and creative teams about the production.
Meet the Creative Team: April 29, following the 7 pm performance
Scholars’ Forum: May 9, following the 2pm performance
Actor’s Forum: May 10, following the 2pm performance and May 13, following the 7
pm performance
Subscriptions and Tickets
2014-2015 season tickets range in price from $72 to $344. For subscription and ticket
information for Kansas City Repertory Theatre's 2014-15 season, please contact the Box Office
at 816.235.2700 or visit www.KCRep.org.
Season ticket holders receive many benefits including:
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Free ticket exchanges for another performance of the same show for free with 24 hour
notice
Co-operative arts discount card good for special ticket discounts from local performing
arts partners.
For those season ticket holders with young children, subscribers can receive a $10 rebate
per production, redeemable at the end of the season, to help pay their babysitter
Special discounts at 21 participating restaurants for a lovely evening out on the town!
Check www.kcrep.org for a complete list of participating restaurants in the Plaza (near
Spencer Theatre) or downtown (near Copaken Stage)
Receive monthly emails with exclusive insider info on upcoming events and special
offers
Save 20% on our lobby gift shop. Stock up on all KC Rep swag!
Social and Digital Media
Receive daily updates by ‘Liking’ KCRep’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KCREP
and follow KC Rep on Twitter at @KCRep or on YouTube by visiting
https://www.youtube.com/user/kansascityrep. High resolution photos can be downloaded at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kcrep/sets/. B-roll is available upon request.
About Kansas City Repertory Theatre 50th Anniversary
KC Rep’s 50th anniversary is a celebration of the countless patrons over the years who have
played a major role in our success. What better way to celebrate our patrons than by bringing the
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highest level of quality to every aspect of the theatergoing experience? That is why we are
committed to renovating our main stage home - the Spencer Theatre – in the James C. Olson
Performing Arts Center (PAC) on the UMKC campus. A state of the art facility at the time it was
built, the PAC has not had a major renovation since it opened in 1979. Now is the time for KC
Rep audiences to have a theatre as excellent as the art on its stage.
The renovation will include new lighting and acoustic design; a new stage floor; and 4,000square-feet of new construction, including new restrooms, and a beautiful expansion of the
theatre lobby. Our vision is for all theatregoers – artists, audiences, students - to experience the
Spencer Theatre as a destination for great art.
We are pleased to announce that the Hall Family Foundation has made a lead gift of $3 million
toward this $5 million project. All who enjoy great theatre and appreciate having a professional
theatre of KC Rep’s caliber in Kansas City are invited to join us in celebrating our 50th
Anniversary by making a gift to support this essential renovation of our main stage home.
To make your gift, please contact Jennifer Ingraham, Sr. Director for Advancement at 816-2355262 or [email protected].
About Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Kansas City Repertory Theatre is one of the nation's oldest
and most respected regional theaters. Lauded by The Wall Street Journal, TIME magazine,
Variety and the Toronto Sun, KC Rep produces main stage plays and special events at Spencer
Theatre, where it serves as the professional theatre in residence at the University of MissouriKansas City (UMKC), and Copaken Stage located in downtown Kansas City. Kansas City Rep
employs more than 250 professional artists, technicians and administrators, and serves more than
100,000 patrons and 12,000 school children annually. Kansas City Repertory Theatre is led by
Artistic Director Eric Rosen and Executive Director Angela Lee Gieras.
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Please direct all media inquiries to: Ellen McDonald at 816.444.0052,
816.213.4355 (cell) or [email protected].
For further information, please visit our Web site at www.kcrep.org.
For Tickets: 816.235.2700 or www.kcrep.org.
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