The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J officially announced its 2024-2025 season schedule, which includes popular favorites and new works to celebrate its 20th season.
The schedule includes the Theatre Series, Concert Series and a record number of special engagements.
Season tickets go on sale early this summer. More information about tickets and the season lineup can be found at thewhitetheatre.org.
The season will begin with the classic musical “The Music Man,” which has never been produced at The White Theatre. Additional shows include co-productions of “Hairspray” and “West Side Story” with the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, respectively, as well as the Tony-award-winning play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and performances from Heartland Men’s Chorus and Kinnor Philharmonic. Local playwright Victor Wishna and his writing partner, Jeremy Desmon, will introduce “The Dreidel Players Present... Best Hanukkah Show Ever!” as part of the theater’s New Works Initiative, and “Stuff of Dreams,” a new musical about community theatre, will make its world premiere at The White Theatre.
“I’m so excited to be able to present such a wide diversity and abundance of offerings for our 20th season,” said Keith Wiedenkeller, artistic director of The White Theatre and director of arts and culture at The J. “Our team has assembled an amazing season with something for everyone, from tried-and-true iconic titles to groundbreaking original works… and we’re fitting more programs into this season than ever attempted before.”
Theatre Series
The Theatre Series includes four locally-produced shows with matinee and evening performances available for the duration of each run.
- “The Music Man” (Oct. 26 to Nov. 17, 2024) – “The Music Man” follows a fast-talking traveling salesman as he cons people into buying instruments and uniforms for a community band that he vows to create. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for someone who transforms him into a respectable citizen.
- “Hairspray,” Co-produced with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City (Feb. 1 to 23, 2025) — “Hairspray,” winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is a family-friendly musical with laughter, romance and a message of unity.
- “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” (March 15 to 30, 2025) – Fifteen-year-old Christopher is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. Finding himself under suspicion after the untimely death of his neighbor’s dog, Christopher is determined to solve the murder mystery, and his detective work takes him on a journey that upturns his world. Directed by Khalia Davis, new artistic director of The Coterie Theatre, this show will also offer weekday school matinees.
- “West Side Story,” co-produced with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City (July 5 to 27, 2025) — Two young lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, in this musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Concert Series
The White Theatre’s Concert Series will include local favorites such as the Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City and Kinnor Philharmonic, and never-before-seen live performance by nationally recognized Bette Midler and Barba Streisand tribute artists.
- “Bette & Barbra: Together Again… For The First Time” (Nov. 23 to 24, 2024) – Spencer Brown is Bette Midler, and Steven Brinberg is Simply Barbra as they will perform on The White Theatre stage.
- Kinnor Philharmonic (Jan. 1 and June 1, 2025) – The White Theatre’s artists in residence will present two special concerts. On New Year’s Day, a symphonic concert will kick off the new year with a post-performance champagne reception. Kinnor’s June 1 concert to begin the summer will feature music “with a Jewish soul.”
- Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City (April 5 and 6, 2025) – Singing in Kansas City since 1986, Heartland Men’s Chorus brings its “choral theater” format to The White Theatre, which uses music, narration and multimedia to illustrate social issues.
Special Engagements
- “The Jewish Nutcracker” (Dec. 8, 2024) — “The Jewish Nutcracker” returns for its fourth year, following Rebecca and the Nutcracker on their magical journey from Bubbe’s house to the Land of Nosh, encountering everything from “Mother Latke” to a giant “Sleigh-del.” The annual tradition features almost 200 Encore dance students.
- “The Dreidel Players Present… Best Hanukkah Show Ever!” (Dec. 28 and 29, 2024) – This new work written by Jeremy Desmon and Victor Wishna is about a passionate, not-quite-ready-for-primetime theatre troupe that bands together to create the world’s most ambitious Hanukkah show in just eight days. The Dreidel Players scramble to complete their theatrical extravaganza by opening night. Along the way, they discover the true meaning of Hanukkah.
- “Golda’s Balcony” (April 26 and 27, 2025) — Stage and screen star Iris Bahr will perform in this one woman show about the life of Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel. This story of war and peace opens in 1973, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, and uses flashbacks to tell the story of the most memorable moments of Golda’s life and the life of her nation.
- Open Stage Dance Showcase (June 15, 2025) – Back after a three-year hiatus, “Open Stage” showcases the talents of more than 10 local choreographers and their dance companies in a fast-paced performance of diverse dance styles.
- World premiere of “Stuff of Dreams” (Sept. 13 to 24, 2025) — A struggling Midwest community theatre is chosen to be first in the nation to perform the hottest show on Broadway, “Betsy Ross: Seams of Dreams.” This new musical comedy has the “chosen family” of humble players work hard to make it to opening night.
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 and Facebook. Opting for season tickets, which are on sale now, can provide customers with savings up to 40% and additional benefits .
Tickets for the current 2023-2024 season are on sale now. Guests can attend “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” from July 6 to 28 and “Tree of Life,” a new play by Victor Wishna, from Sept. 14 to 22.
