The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J unveiled its 2023-2024 season schedule, which includes popular musicals, original works and live concerts.
The theater’s 19th season comprises a Theatre Series, Concert Series and Special Engagements, all produced by The J’s Arts and Culture Department and presented in the 500-seat White Theatre.
Season tickets go on sale early this summer. More information about season tickets and the season lineup can be found at TheWhiteTheatre.org.
The season will include fairy tale classics such as James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods” and “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.” The White Theatre’s partnership with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City will enter its third year with a co-production of the musical revue “Blues In The Night,” and the theater’s New Works Initiative will bring local playwright Victor Wishna’s “Tree of Life” to Kansas City for the first time.
“We are so excited about this, our 19th season,” said Keith Wiedenkeller, director of arts and culture and managing artistic director of the White Theatre. “Once again, we were able to craft a season with something for everyone, from farce to drama, from serious to family fare. We are especially happy to continue our successful partnership with The Black Rep., as well as a new partnership with Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. We’re also very excited to be presenting the next installment of our New Works Initiative.”
The Theatre Series includes four locally produced shows with some of the region’s top talent. With matinee and evening performances available for the duration of each show, it includes the following (summaries provided by The White Theatre):
“Into The Woods” (Oct. 28 to Nov. 19, 2023) – James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant piece. Follow a baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
“The Prom” (Jan. 27 to Feb. 18, 2024) – Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. When they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they put a spotlight on the issue and themselves. Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens, resulting in love that brings them all together.
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” (March 9 to 24, 2024) – A distant heir to a family fortune sets out to speed up the line of succession by using a great deal of charm and a dash of murder. Can the low-born Monty Navarro knock off his unsuspecting relatives without being caught and become the ninth Earl of Highhurst?
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” (July 6 to 28, 2024) - Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her friends, Flounder, Scuttle and Sebastian, to restore order under the sea.
The White Theatre’s Concert Series includes local favorites Kinnor Philharmonic as well as blues and jazz:
Jammin’ at The J: Jews Do Jazz (Sept. 10, 2023) – The season begins with an afternoon of jazz by some of Kansas City’s finest musicians. The concert will be co-produced with Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors.
Kinnor Philharmonic (Jan. 1 and June 2, 2024) – The White Theatre’s artists-in-residence will present two concerts: On New Year’s Day, this symphonic concert will kick off the new year with a post-performance champagne reception. The June 4 concert will include performances of music “with a Jewish soul.”
Blues in the Night (April 13-21, 2024) – This co-production with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City brings the blues to The White Theatre. It tells of the sweet and sorrowful experiences three women have with the lying, cheating man who does them wrong.
Finally, The White Theatre’s Special Engagements include the following (summaries provided by The White Theatre):
The Jewish Nutcracker (Dec. 3, 2023) - “The Jewish Nutcracker” returns for its third year and follows Rebecca and the Nutcracker on their magical journey from Bubbe’s house to the Land of Nosh, encountering everything from mice to dancing dreidels. Featuring The White Theatre’s Encore students, this show has become a tradition.
The Life and Times of A. Einstein (April 27 to 28, 2024) – “The Life and Times of A. Einstein” is a hilarious and touching portrait of this Einstein “loyalist” as well as a humanizing look into the “great thinker's” life as seen through the people around him.
Tree of Life (Sept. 14 to 22, 2024) – Inspired by real events, shifting between continents and across centuries, "Tree of Life," a new play by Victor Wishna, encourages us to examine the foundations of our own identities. How do we define who we are? Do we belong to our past, or does it belong to us? What do we hold onto, and when should we let go?
Full details and performance times can be found at TheWhiteTheatre.org. Auditions for various musicals and plays produced by The White Theatre will be announced on the website as well as on Facebook.
The White Theatre 2022-2023 season is still underway. Fans can enjoy Kinnor Philharmonic’s second performance of the season, “Cowboychik,” which will feature music from Aaron Copland on June 4. The season wraps up with “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” running from July 1 to 23.
