Fan-Favorite Characters Will Discuss the Indie Classic
Napoleon Dynamite Live at the Kauffman Center
The live screening and moderated conversation of the movie comes to Muriel Kauffman Theatre on June 28
Grab your puffy sleeves and ’90s sport coat and join Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries as they talk about the beloved indie classic Napoleon Dynamite. The movie hit theaters almost 15 years ago. Since then, much has changed; but the characters, as enduring as they are endearing, stay in our hearts.
Appealing to the inner teenager in each of us, the story, and more importantly the dialogue, makes Napoleon Dynamite one of the most quoted movies of our time. Napoleon Dynamite makes us laugh – and laugh hard – over and over again.
This unique evening includes a full screening of Napoleon Dynamite followed by a lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion with fan-favorite cast members Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). VIP tickets include premium seating and a meet-and-greet with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries.
Feed your llama, brush up on your best Napoleon dance moves and buy your tickets for June 28.
Tickets for the event range from $29 to $119 plus applicable fees and are on sale now. Tickets are available through the Kauffman Center Box Office at (816) 994-7222, via the Kauffman Center mobile app, or online at www.kauffmancenter.org.
ABOUT NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
“Napoleon Dynamite” (Jon Heder) comes from the rural town of Preston, Idaho. He is a new kind of hero with his red ‘fro, sweet moon boots, and stellar ninja moves. When Napoleon isn’t fighting with his brother Kip (Aaron Ruell), trying to avoid his conniving Uncle Rico (Jon Gries), or feeding his Grandma’s pet llama, he spends his time drawing magical creatures. After making two new friends, Deb (Tina Majorino) and Pedro (Efren Ramirez), it’s Napoleon’s job to get Pedro voted for class president by unleashing his secret weapon.
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PNC Bank and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Reveal the PNC Grow Up Great Gallery
New art installation features handprints by Kansas City Pre-K kids
An audience of Pre-K kids were all smiles at the Kauffman Center last week as they each saw their own handprint in the new PNC Grow Up Great Gallery for the first time.
The new art installation in the Kauffman Center’s Plaza Lobby showcases hundreds of handprints created by local pre-school students at Growing Futures Early Education Center in Overland Park, Kan. and St. Mark Child & Family Development Center in Kansas City, Mo. PNC Bank created the gallery in partnership with the Kauffman Center and the two early education centers, as part of an effort to inspire great futures for local children through memorable arts experiences.
On November 19th, Pre-K children and their family members got an exclusive first look at the gallery during a special unveiling event that included dinner in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Local performing groups StoneLion Puppet Theatre and Drum Safari entertained the young artists with interactive performances. The kids proudly showcased their handprints in a gallery setting that combines visual art and musical themes.
See a full photo gallery from the unveiling event at the Kauffman Center’s Flickr page.
Miranda Smith’s 4-year-old daughter, Ariana, came to the Kauffman Center for the first time to see her handprint in the Grow Up Great Gallery. When asked what this meant to the family, Miranda said that her uncle, a veteran of the Korean War, is recognized at Liberty Memorial, and Miranda herself has a brick dedicated at Union Station.
“Now Ariana has her handprint here at the Kauffman Center and they are all part of Kansas City and of art and culture,” she said.
The gallery exemplifies PNC Bank’s signature initiative, PNC Grow Up Great, which supports early childhood education and school readiness for preschoolers in underserved communities.
“Early childhood education is about giving a child the right start to life. And that is something Growing Futures and St. Mark Center do very well,” said Dale Klose, regional president for PNC Bank in Kansas City. “This gallery illustrates the exceptional work underway that we are supporting at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.”
PNC Bank is the Kauffman Center’s exclusive bank sponsor, supporting the Kauffman Center’s Ensemble business membership program and the new art installation. PNC is also a key sponsor of the Kauffman Center’s programming series Kauffman Center Presents.
The PNC Grow Up Great Gallery is in the Level 2 Plaza Lobby of the Kauffman Center. The gallery is open for viewing for ticketholders 90 minutes prior to any performance. It’s open to the public during box office hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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National Geographic Live Returns for 8th Season at the Kauffman Center
The 2019 series includes photographers, a rock climber and an Egyptologist
The eighth annual National Geographic Live series this spring at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will feature five speakers, including photographers, a rock climber and an Egyptologist. National Geographic Live speakers share their journeys of exploration from being on assignment around the world. Illustrated with award-winning photography and video, each presentation concludes with a Q&A session with the audience.
For its eighth season at the Kauffman Center, National Geographic Live features biologist-turned-photographer Ronan Donovan; climber and adventure writer Mark Synnott; Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney; and photographer Stephen Wilkes. Biologist-and-photographer team Cheryl Knott and Tim Laman will close the 2019 series with a special engagement event.
Single tickets are available now through the Kauffman Center Box Office at (816) 994-7222, via the Kauffman Center mobile app, or online at www.kauffmancenter.org.
The 2019 National Geographic Live series in Kansas City is generously supported by Teresa and Tom Walsh.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE 2019 SEASON
Social By Nature
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Muriel Kauffman Theatre | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Humans are, at our core, social mammals. We build relationships, communicate, reproduce, establish territories and adapt to shrinking resources. Chimpanzees, wolves, gorillas and bears are among the most charismatic of the social mammals we know—besides ourselves. They’re also under threat. Join biologist turned photographer Ronan Donovan as he talks about the incredible similarities, we humans share with other social mammals in the animal kingdom, and what we can learn from them.
Life On The Vertical
Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Muriel Kauffman Theatre | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Mark Synnott is a man ever on the brink of new discovery. A big wall rock-climber of the highest order, Synnott has made legendary first ascents of some of the world’s tallest, most forbidding walls, from Baffin Island to Pakistan. Today, the National Geographic adventure writer uses his skills to break scientific ground, reaching incredibly inaccessible environments in search of rare species. It’s all in the spirit of adventure and exploration, to educate about these sites of strange, remote beauty.
When Women Ruled The World
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Muriel Kauffman Theatre | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Throughout history, powerful women have been called many things – witches, regents and seductresses. But there was a time in the ancient world when at least one was called “King.” Often neglected in the history books, these women were considered exceptions to the rule, political pawns in a patriarchal society. But their power and influence are undeniable. Join Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, for a look at a time in ancient history when women ruled the world. What can we learn from how these women ruled? Dr. Cooney shares some illuminating answers.
Day To Night
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Muriel Kauffman Theatre | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Can a photograph inspire and create change? For photographer Stephen Wilkes, his five-year photographic study of Ellis Island’s long abandoned medical wards helped secure $6 million toward the restoration of the south side of the island. His work documenting the ravages of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy has brought heightened awareness to the realities of global climate change. In this presentation, he’ll take audiences behind the scenes of his most defining project, Day to Night. These epic cityscapes and landscapes, portrayed from a fixed camera angle for up to 30 hours, capture fleeting moments of humanity as light passes in front of the lens over a full day. Wilkes will discuss the months-long process of turning 1,500 photographs into a single image.
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT: Cheryl Knott and Tim Laman, Biologist and Photographer
Adventures Among Orangutans
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Muriel Kauffman Theatre | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Solitary animals living in hard-to-reach places, orangutans are one of the most difficult large land animals to study. Since 1992, husband-and-wife team Cheryl Knott and Tim Laman have been using innovative techniques and new technologies to gain a closer look at this intelligent, resourceful – and threatened – species, giving us insights not only into their world, but also our own. Frequent contributors to National Geographic, Knott and Laman have been studying, photographing and protecting wild orangutans in Borneo for more than 25 years.
Student Matinee Schedule
As part of the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors program, National Geographic Live will present three student matinee performances in winter 2019:
- Jan. 9, 10:30 a.m.: Ronan Donovan – Social By Nature
- Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m.: Mark Synnott – Life On The Vertical
- March 19, 10:30 a.m.: Dr. Kara Cooney – When Women Ruled The World
Educators can find more information and request tickets to the matinees at kauffmancenter.org/schoolmatinees.
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Dining Experience Introduces New Fall Menu and Custom Bar
Enjoy the luxury of a fully-stocked bar with your seasonal, three-course meal created by Kansas City’s “Chef of the Year”
The Dining Experience at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts launched its new fall menu with 10 new dishes on Sept. 5, accompanied by a newly installed, fully-stocked bar.
THE NEW BAR
The Dining Experience’s new bar includes 10 bar seats where guests can order specialty cocktails, wine, beer and spirits, as well as small plates from Executive Chef Laura Comer’s kitchen. The custom-built bar’s design mimics the Kauffman Center’s exterior, with all-thread tension cables paying homage to the steel cabling seen on the south-facing side of the building.
Within the remodeled bar area, Restaurant Manager Phil Carey offers 12 specialty cocktails, including featured fall additions such as Tedore’s Russian Roe Martini, Pimm’s Copo, Laura’s Lemonade and Papa George. Much like The Dining Experience’s food menu, the cocktails are made with fresh ingredients like basil, house-made ginger soda, fresh squeezed lemon, seasonal fruit and house-made whipped cream. Carey enjoys making many of the cocktails an experience for guests, whether the drinks are shaken tableside or served smoking.
Desserts and small plates may be ordered at the bar as well, all designed seasonally to pair with your drink.
THE FALL MENU
To accompany your drink, enjoy savory, rich, and expressive autumn flavors with the new fall menu by Kansas City’s “Chef of the Year” Laura Comer. (Read more about this prestigious award here).
The Dining Experience’s fall dishes feature seasonal vegetables, Missouri apples and pecans, Green Dirt Farms cheese, Circle B Ranch pork, and Hatfield Signature Beef. The impressive new menu has been featured in Feast magazine.
The Kauffman Center has also partnered with Saint Luke’s Health System to provide recommended heart-healthy options on each seasonal Dining Experience menu. Executive Chef Comer worked with a Saint Luke’s dietitian to create the Autumn Grains and the Skuna Bay Salmon dishes, both approved as heart-healthy options for guests.
Executive Chef Comer’s Dining Experience fall menu will run through the end of November in the Founders’ Lounge at the Kauffman Center. Guests are invited to choose one selection from each of the three courses provided for $37 per person.
The Dining Experience is available for all guests and visitors prior to most performances (excluding Sunday afternoons), though you do not have to be attending a performance to dine. Walk-in dining is welcome depending on availability, and reservations are encouraged. The Dining Experience also offers a small plates menu of lighter fare, a selection of seasonal craft cocktails and a diverse collection of wines and spirits. For a look at the entire menu, visit kauffmancenter.org/dining.
For reservations, call (816) 994-7222 or visit Open Table.
ABOUT EXECUTIVE CHEF LAURA COMER
Executive Chef Laura Comer, who was recently named Kansas City’s “Chef of the Year” by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, brings a wealth of fine dining history to her work at the Kauffman Center. Her background includes time with well-known local establishments including Bluestem, Justus Drugstore and Treat America. Comer is a Kansas City native and graduate of the University of Missouri- Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. She holds an A.O.S. in Culinary Arts and Le Cordon Bleu Diploma from The California School of Culinary Arts.
Photos by Anna Petrow and Jillian Shoptaw
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Black Violin Makes an Impact on the Community
“It was lit,” exclaimed one African-Centered College Preparatory Academy student after a Black Violin school Matinee on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. Many other students from across the Kansas City metro area echoes that sentiment as they returned to their school buses, noting that the show was “fabulous” and “amazing.”
Students enjoy the Black Violin Matinee performance. Photo by Cody Boston.
Black Violin members Kev Marcus and Wil B showcased their impressive skills on the strings while fusing hip-hop, pop, and modern sounds with classical tunes. In between pieces that had students up on their feet, Kev and Wil B paused to share their personal stories as musicians. Throughout the performance, they encourage students to pursue their dreams, break stereotypes and think outside the box. The Kauffman Center’s Black Violin school matinee brought more than 1,500 students from 24 local schools, ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade. When asked about her favorite elements of the performance, one student replied that she liked, “everything, but especially when I got to get up and dance.”
Through the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors program, young people can be a part of high-quality arts experiences like Wednesday’s Black Violin school matinee. The Open Doors Transportation Fund, Community Tickets, and Spotlight on Youth initiatives all work to give Kansas City youth diverse opportunities to experience the arts. Click here to learn more about upcoming performances and programming for young audiences.
Harmony Project KC with Black Violin members, Kev Marcus and Wil B.
Photo courtesy of the Kauffman Center.
After performing for enthusiastic students in the morning, Black Violin performed a second show for a sold-out audience on Wednesday evening. Prior to the Black Violin performance, students with Harmony Project KC, a local non-profit focused on youth development and mentorship, performed for guests as part of the Open Doors Live in the Lobby program. Not only did these Harmony Project KC students get to watch the Black Violin performance, they also got to meet Kev Marcus and Wil B prior to the show!
Ultimately, both Black Violin performances reached audiences of all ages and backgrounds and made for a memorable performing arts experience. The Kauffman Center was thrilled to showcase Black Violin on its stage while connecting so many young people to the duo’s innovative sound and powerful message.
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