Menopause the Musical Returns!

The Hilarious Celebration of Women and The Change®
Menopause The Musical® at American Heartland Theatre
August 23 – October 26, 2008

Kansas City, MO – Menopause The Musical® returns to American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center for a special engagement this fall after breaking many records at the theatre two seasons ago. Since March 2001, the hilarious show Menopause The Musical® has entertained and inspired women from coast-to-coast and internationally. The work of writer Jeanie Linders, Menopause The Musical® is a 90-minute production which includes 25 re-lyricized tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s and culminates with a salute to women who are experiencing The Change. Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance, the musical pokes fun at things such as hot flashes, memory loss, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and eating binges. Menopause The Musical® is brassy, wacky, and knee-slapping hilarious and runs at American Heartland Theatre August 23 through October 26, 2008.
The AHT production of Menopause The Musical® stars Teri Adams as the Iowa Housewife. Reprising her role from two years ago, Teri has been traveling the country with the production across the country. Teri has recently been seen at the Heartland in I Love You Because, and at the Unicorn theater in Greg Coffin's world premiere musical RightnexttoMe. Adams’ other AHT shows include Meshuggah-Nuns!, Steel Magnolias and My Way, A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Earth Mother is played by Valerie Mackey. Valerie has worked at various theatres and companies in Kansas City, including the Unicorn, The Coterie, Ozark Actors Theatre, City Stage at Union Station, Child Abuse Prevention Council, National Council for the Advancement of Jewish Women, and for 25 years at Theatre for Young America, where she holds the title of Associate Artistic Director. The role of Soap Star is being reprised by Licia Watson who has previously appeared at AHT in Radio Gals, Meshuggah-Nuns, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, and The Nerd. Other roles include work at Starlight Theatre, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, New Theatre Restaurant, Unicorn Theatre, Eubank Productions, and Theatre for Young America. Finally, the Professional Woman is played by Nedra Dixon. Nedra’s theatrical career includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, regional, stock, concert and cabaret productions, including Bubblin’ Brown Sugar, Tintypes, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Children of Eden, Hair, Into the Woods, Annie, Man of La Mancha, Violet, Having Our Say, and Agnes of God. P.J. Jenkinson serves as General Understudy and Dance Captain and has been a member of Menopause The Musical® since 2004. She has worked in various venues throughout the world as National Understudy, including Boston, San Francisco, Omaha, and Malaysia. P.J.'s television credits include "Unsolved Mysteries" and various commercials. Menopause The Musical® is directed by Kathryn Conte and choreographed by Patty Bender. The assistant choreographer is Steven Eubank. Musical direction is provided by Anthony T. Edwards and the national music supervisor is Alan J. Plado. Scenic design is by Jesse Poleschuck, and Bill Christie and Jan Kohl are serving as stage managers. Finally, sound design is provided by Donna Miller, lighting is by Shane Rowse and costumes are designed by Paul Hough.
Menopause The Musical® has entertained audiences across the country in more than 200 cities as well as internationally in 12 countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea and United Kingdom. Each week nearly 35,000 women of all ages and stages find their spirits lifted by the show’s light-hearted look at menopause. It is estimated that over 10 million women in 13 countries have attended a performance since the show’s opening in 2001. Menopause The Musical® encourages a healthy dialogue about issues of aging and women’s health and provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness with female audiences. Recognizing the show’s potential to educate women on health issues, Jeanie Linders, writer and producer, took the show on the road as Menopause The Musical Out Loud™: Breaking The Silence Of Ovarian Cancer. The 2005–2006 tour raised nearly $500,000 for ovarian cancer research and awareness. A 2008 – 2009 tour is scheduled in 2008 in Greenville, South Carolina.
To purchase tickets, call 816-842-9999, visit the box office in Crown Center, or view us online at www.ahtkc.com. Groups of 10 or more may call 816-842-0202 for reservations (group discounts available). Tuesday through Thursday evening performances begin at 7:30pm. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8:00pm. Sunday matinee performances begin at 2:00pm. There are also select Sunday evening performances as well as select Wednesday matinees. Select Saturday matinees begin at 2:00pm & select Saturday twilight performances begin at 4:00pm. Visit www.ahtkc.com for a complete schedule. Tickets have an attached coupon for discounts at several Crown Center restaurants on the date of the performance. Parking is inside, secure and free with theatre validation. Handicapped seating and assistive listening devices are available. An ASL interpreted performance is scheduled for September 24, 2008 at 7:30pm.