KANSAS CITY, MO.: Kansas City Repertory Theatre has announced its 2021-22 season, which will include new partnerships, a community tour, and six productions.
“As we turn the page on this extraordinarily difficult time of isolation that has kept KCRep’s theatres dark and so profoundly impacted all of us, we are so grateful to announce a return to live theatre with a season of experiences that celebrate imagination, resilience, wonder, and joy,” said KCRep artistic director Stuart Carden in a statement. “And with new community partners, performances in beautiful outdoor spaces, a free community tour that will bring a thrilling KCRep production to neighborhoods throughout the KC region, and our two theatres once again vibrantly lit up by extraordinary performances, we are excited to play our part in celebrating a return to community.”
The season will open with Mary’s Wedding (Aug. 27-Sept. 19), by Stephen Massicotte, about an unexpected meeting on the eve of Mary’s wedding in 1914, which leads to a hidden love in a world collapsing into war. Carden will direct this play, to be presented on the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Next up will be Ghost Light: A Haunted Night of Songs and Stories from KC’s Cultural Crossroads (Sept. 30-Oct. 17), conceived and directed by Carden. This Halloween tradition is a hybrid concert and ghost story, which features local storytellers and musicians sharing scary tales on the south lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Following will be the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol (Nov. 19-Dec. 26), adapted by Geoff Elliott. Jason Chanos will direct this return to the stage, with the production scheduled for the Spencer Theatre.
The season will continue with the world premiere of (The Extremely Thrilling & Occasionally Shocking Mis-Adventures of Mesdames) Homes & Watson (Feb. 1-20, 2022), by Kate Hamill, adapted from the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This irreverent modern take on the famous detective team sees female roommates Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Joan Watson solving mysteries and taking on professor James Moriarty.
Next will be The Royale (March 8-27, 2022), by Marco Ramirez, a story inspired by the real life of boxer Jack Johnson, who became the heavyweight champion as a Black man at the height of the Jim Crow era. Steph Paul will direct and choreograph this production which will come to life on stage before going on tour throughout the community.
The season will conclude with The Old Man and the Old Moon (May 3-22, 2022), with book, music, and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. Carden will direct alongside PigPen Theatre Co. for this combination of storytelling, indie folk music, and puppetry bringing to life the tale of an old man charged with making the moon glow nightly while he searches for his missing wife.
Founded in 1964, Kansas City Repertory Theatre has as its mission to advance the art form while cultivating passionate audiences, artists, and advocates to invest in its region’s creative future. It serves as the professional theatre in residence at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
