The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre will begin its 2022-2023 season with an homage to Jewish contributions to Broadway with a special one-performance concert on Sunday, Oct. 2.
“A Place for Us: A Musical Celebration of Jewish Broadway” is an award-winning production starring award-winning NYC entertainer Ari Axelrod. The White Theatre is located at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (The J), 5801 W. 115th St., in Overland Park.
During the 4 p.m. concert, Axelrod will perform Broadway melodies from Jewish composers such as Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz and Carole King.
“We are thrilled to be able to kick off our 18th season with a concert of this caliber and significance,” said Keith Wiedenkeller, director of arts and culture for The J and managing artistic director of The White Theatre. “Not only is Ari an amazing performer and educator, but he has a huge heart and great ties to our local community.”
A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduate of Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Axelrod’s theatrical credits include regional, national, Off-Broadway and Broadway stages. He is a recipient of The New York Jewish Week’s 2021 “36 Under 36” Award, honoring young leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers in Jewish New York.
“I am an actor, director, singer and Jewish activist seeking to make Judaism in all its forms accessible to everyone,” Axelrod told The Jewish Week. A sampling of his work can be found on his YouTube channel.
Tickets for “A Musical Celebration of Jewish Broadway” are available online at TheWhiteTheatre.org, and at the box office either by calling (913) 327-8054, or in person at 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park. The White Theatre box office is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as 60 minutes before curtain on performance days.
Now in its 18th season, each year The White Theatre at The J includes a Theatre Series, a Concert Series and lineup of Special Engagements, all produced by The J’s Arts + Culture Department in a 500-seat performing arts community theater. In addition to individual show tickets, season ticket packages are on sale at TheWhiteTheatre.org and The White Theatre box office.
Shows this season include the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots,” staged for the first time in Kansas City since its 2016 Broadway tour, as well as Lorraine Hansberry’s dramatic classic “A Raisin in the Sun,” produced in partnership with the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, featuring special matinee performances for area schools. The season will also include the second show of The White Theatre’s New Works Initiative, partnering with The Culture House, as well as a one-man show with the support of The Truman Library Institute. The season will close in the summer of 2023 with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
Full descriptions and performance times for each event are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org. Auditions for various musicals and plays produced by The White Theatre productions are announced on The White Theatre website as well as Facebook page.
