Review: Heartland play arrives with poignancy, polish

Check out the review of "Are We There Yet?" from Russ Simmons in the Johnson County Sun.  Just click HERE!

While your checking out the reviews, HERE is the Pitch Weekly review by Alan Scherstuhl.

Video about "Are We There Yet?"

Pop on over to the Crown Center website and check out this great video about "Are We There Yet?"  Just click here!

KC Star Review is in

"Director Paul Hough has assembled some of Kansas City’s best musical theater talents — Cathy Barnett, Jessalyn Kincaid, Ken Remmert and Tim Scott."

Read the entire review by clicking here.

News Release: Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet?
A Family Survival Guide
Kansas City Premiere playing July 10th – August 23rd, 2009

Kansas City, MO: In its first production in the Kansas City area, Are We There Yet? offers a fresh look at the roller-coaster ride we call the “typical American family”. – from childbirth to senior prom, through blind dates and family trips, all the way to empty nests and the joys that can still be had after 60. Using song, dance and sketch comedy, Are We There Yet? has something for everyone. Musical highlights include: “Cause I’m a Mommy,” about juggling cooking, carpooling and child crises; “Whiplash: Divorce Date” about the second time around; and a touching duet, “I Know She’s Out There”. Are We There Yet? runs July 10th through August 23rd, 2009.

American Heartland Theatre has assembled an exciting ensemble of Kansas City favorites for this fantastic summer show that the whole family will love. Ken Remmert returns to AHT after a long absence. He last appeared on our stage in Leaving Iowa in 2006. Quality Hill Playhouse, Starlight, New Theater, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre and Musical Theatre Heritage are among some of the other theatres where Ken has preformed in recent years. Cathy Barnett is also returning to the AHT stage, where she last appeared in the 2008 production of Always, Patsy Cline. Cathy has recently appeared at the New Theater, Actors Theatre of Kansas City, Unicorn Theatre and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Cathy has toured nationally and internationally in both Forbidden Broadway and Forbidden Hollywood as well as traveling across the nation as Louise in Always, Patsy Cline. She has entertained as a stand-up comedienne in New York, appearing at Caroline’s and the West Bank Cafe. She also portrays the Hallmark greeting card character, “Maxine,” and has traveled from coast to coast as this beloved curmudgeon. Tim Scott is pleased to return to AHT where he was last seen rockin’ out in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Tim has been seen onstage at the Quality Hill Playhouse, The Coterie, Starlight, Unicorn Theatre, and Musical Theater Heritage. He has also toured nationally with Beauty & the Beast and the musical production of Robin Hood. Away from the stage, Tim keeps busy doing commercial work and entertaining the crowds during Royals games at Kaufman Stadium. Jessalyn Kincaid will be staying on at AHT where she was last seen as a half-naked accountant in Unnecessary Farce. She has also been seen recently at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, New Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre, and the Coterie Theatre. Jessalyn has had the distinct honor of directly working with such music luminaries as Harry Connick, Jr., and Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.

Anthony Edwards serves as Musical Director for Are We There Yet?, as well as being the Conductor/Pianist. Anthony has appeared with The New Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Starlight Theatre, Theatre in the Park, Unicorn Theatre, Late Night Theatre, Bar Natasha and Epic Entertainment in Kansas City; Casa Manana in Fort Worth, TX; Theatre Under the Stars in Atlanta, GA and The Red Barn Theatre and The Waterfront Playhouse in Key West as musical director. Anthony is the resident musical director for AHT, the Unicorn Theatre, Epic Entertainment, Starlight and All Souls Unitarian Church. Daniel Doss, who serves as Assistant Musical Director and Conductor/Pianist, previously performed at American Heartland Theatre for I Love You Because and Always… Patsy Cline. Musical direction credits include productions at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, Musical Theater Heritage, and Stagedoor Manor in New York. Daniel also enjoys conducting/playing at New Theater Restaurant, Unicorn Theatre, and at the Coterie Theatre, where he currently serves as Musical Director.

Are We There Yet? is directed by Paul Hough and choreographed by Jerry Jay Cranford with set design by Vaughn Schultz, lighting design by Shane Rowse, costume design by Cheryl Weaver, sound design by Donna Miller and props design by William J. Christie.

Written by James Hindman, Ray Roderick and Cheryl Stern with music by John Glaudini, this heart-warming, rib-tickling musical romp will have audiences leaving the theatre humming and feeling better about being human. As the show points out, you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family!

Handicapped entry and seating, as well as assistive listening devices, are available at all performances. An ASL-interpreted performance is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 7:30PM.

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Next at American Heartland Theatre
Opening Production of the 2009-2010 Season
I’ll Be Back Before Midnight September 11th – October 25th, 2009 Rated PG-13

American Heartland Theatre is one of the city’s leading live theatre establishments and was rated #21 in the top area attractions by the Kansas City Business Journal. The theatre serves over 180,000 theatre-goers every year from Kansas City and five surrounding states. Each season, the theatre presents six productions, including comedies, musicals, dramas and mysteries featuring local, regional and national performers. AHT operates under agreements with Actors’ Equity Association in its 440+ seat intimate theatre. American Heartland Theatre is located downtown in Crown Center and is a proud member of www.kclivearts.org.

Media Contact: Morgan Perry 816-842-0202, ext. 107 mperry6@hallmark.com

Unnecessary Farce Opening May 8th

Set in a hotel with two connecting rooms, Unnecessary Farce takes a sting operation to silly new heights that will have audiences rolling in the aisles!  Slamming doors abound in this hilarious farce featuring two likable cops operating out of their league, a possibly crooked mayor and his innocent-acting wife, a shy accountant with a tendency to drop her drawers, a double agent who’d like to get IN those drawers and a Scottish hit man with a brogue that gets thicker the angrier he gets! This dazzlingly funny comedy has more tasty twists than a bag of Twizzlers!  Unnecessary Farce runs May 8th to June 21st, 2009.

Unnecessary Farce features a hilarious cast of familiar faces and brand new talent.  

Some familiar faces include: 

• Kevin Albert was last seen on the AHT stage as understudy to the jolly fat guy in Another Night Before Christmas.  
  
• Craig Benton stars in his 11th show on the AHT stage as Agent Frank. 
  
• Cynthia Hyer stars as Mary Meekly.  Cynthia previously played Jessica in AHT’s production of Communicating Doors. 
  
• Jessalyn Kincaid stars as Karen Brown.  Her tenure at AHT includes a groom-stealer in Perfect Wedding, a tail-chasing dog in A Dog's Life, and a bratty sister in Leaving Iowa.
  

New to AHT:

• Jill Szoo makes her AHT debut as Billie Dwyer. Jill has been featured in over 20 commercials, directed several university productions and made her KC acting debut at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre as Rose in The Woolgatherer.  
• John Wilson is also making his AHT debut as Eric Sheridan. A SAG and AEA member, Wilson has been working professionally on stage and in commercial and film for nearly two decades.  
• Zach Woods is making his professional theatre debut as Todd.  He is a native of Kansas City, MO, having grown up in Grain Valley.  He attended Central Missouri State University, where he received a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance.  
  

William J. Christie, who has been part of the AHT family since 1987, directs Unnecessary Farce.  Christie has served AHT as an usher, actor, director, resident stage manager, floral designer and holiday tree decorator during his tenure.  He last directed A Lion In Winter for AHT in the Spring of 1992.  Christie is a fixture of AHT, and we are pleased to have him back in the director’s chair.

Named one of the “50 To Watch” – “writers of exceptional merit and promise” – by The Dramatist magazine in 2007, playwright Paul Slade Smith is pleased his second play, Unnecessary Farce, is being produced in Kansas City, as well as 17 other locations across the country this year. 

Unnecessary Farce is not to be missed!

The American Heartland Taps Out a Ginger Rogers Tribute

Alan Scherstuhl of the Pitch Weekly had this to say about Backwards in High Heels:

"The American Heartland Theatre's Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Rogers Musical is a high-spirited tribute to the headstrong Texas hoofer who walked away from her partnership with Fred Astaire at the peak of their success. It earns its keep on sweat, hustle and a score I'm tempted to call swell — especially when the talented ensemble taps through "We're in the Money" or "I Got Rhythm."

Musical director Anthony Edwards finally gets songs worth his talent. Dancers come in twos and fours, in solos and in full-ensemble extravaganzas, executing director Jeremy Benton's choreography with dash and verve."

Click HERE to read the entire review at the Pitch Weekly Online.

Change-Over

The air smells like saw dust and the sounds of drills echo in the halls - it must be change-over week!

Change-over is one of my very favorite weeks in the theatre. It is very exciting - you never know what is going to happen next. The set from the last show is taken down and the new set is built. I really enjoy seeing the stage between sets - it reminds me how infinite the possibilities are. This stage has been a beauty parlor, an Iowa cornfield, and the entire city of Tuna, TX. It’s been home to Snoopy’s dog house, Buddy Holly’s recording studio and Marilyn Monroe’s Hollywood bungalow. Last week it was a living room where a murder takes place and next week it will be the setting for the life story of Ginger Rogers.

Since this is part of the theatre that the audience never gets to experience, I thought we’d give you a quick glimpse. The stage is being set for Backwards in High Heels, which opens March 6th. Be sure to come see how the stage is transformed this time!

Press Information about Backwards in High Heels!

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release - February 17, 2008

Backwards in High Heels
An enchanted evening of the Ginger Musical!
Kansas City Premiere – March 6 thru April 19, 2009

Kansas City, MO – Backwards in High Heels dances through the extraordinary life of Ginger Rogers. The evening starts with young Ginger realizing her destiny as she taps her heart out to the tune “Tame These Feet.” We follow Ginger’s life, including her glorious Oscar-winning moment. The evening glides and swirls through such memorable standards as “Fascinating Rhythm,” “Change Partners,” “Embraceable You,” “A Fine Romance” and “We’re in the Money.” It’s a wonderful tribute and evening of music and dance. Backwards in High Heels runs March 6 through April 19, 2009.

The AHT production of Backwards in High Heels stars Vanessa Sonon as Ginger Rogers. She comes to AHT from the Broadway cast of Spamalot. Other Broadway credits include 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer u/s-ensemble). Regional shows include LA cast of White Christmas (Judy u/s-enemble), On the Town (Ivy Smith), and BABY (Pam).

Sean Montgomery stars as Man #1. Regional credits include Oklahoma! (Atlanta TOTS), Show Boat (Gateway Playhouse), Les Miserables, The Pajama Game, Hello, Dolly! (MUNY), Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty (La Comedia), Big Tent, Last Starfighter (NYMF).

Erik Floor stars as Fred Astaire and Man #2. Regional credits include Singin’ in the Rain, The Producers, The Will Rogers Follies, Crazy Love, Pal Joey, Sugar, Dames at Sea, West Side Story, Urban Cowboy and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Chance W. Blakeley stars as Man #3. Chance just finished working in New York with the Little Orchestra Society at Lincoln Center on the Victor Herbert operetta Babes in Toy Land. Other credits include working Summer Stock with Lyric Theatre, City Rep., Light Opera of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Musical Theatre, Opera Performing Arts and Casa Manana. His performances include Urine Town, Forum, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Fiddler on the Roof and The Gift.

Licia Watson stars as Lela. Credits include The Nerd and Menopause The Musical (AHT), Hank Williams: Lost Highway (KC Rep), A New Brain (Eubank Productions), Barefoot in the Park (Great Plains Theatre), Our Town and Book of Days (staged readings for Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre), A Man of No Importance (MET) and Radio Gals (AHT and, most recently, the Chestnut Fine Arts Center).

Larissa L. Klinger stars as Woman #3. She has a BA in Music Education and a minor in Theatre from MidAmerica Nazarene University. Credits include 42nd Street, Gypsy, 1776, Nunsense, The Robber Bridegroom, Once Upon a Mattress, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Singing in the Rain, and West Side Story.

Nathanael Card stars in the Ensemble and serves as an understudy. He was last seen on the Coterie stage in And Then They Came For Me. Mr. Card is a BFA graduate of Stephens College of the Performing Arts.

Backwards in High Heels was conceived and developed by Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern. Book/Original Songs & Arrangements are by Mr. McGovern as well. The production is directed by Jeremy Benton. His credits for direction and choreography include the Broadway production and national tour of 42nd Street. Film credits include The Producers. Regional productions include Mame and White Christmas. World/American Premieres include Ken Ludwig's An American In Paris, Ace: The New Musical, The Witches of Eastwick, Lonestar Love, and Stormy Weather.

Scenic design is by Jeremy Doucette, set construction is by Alex Perry, and Bill Christie and Jan Kohl are serving as stage managers. Finally, sound design is provided by Roger Stoddard, with lighting by Shane Rowse.

To purchase tickets, call 816-842-9999, visit the box office in Crown Center, or view us online at www.ahtkc.com. Groups of 12 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 http://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.

Getting Ready for the New Season

Summer is in full swing, and, along with it, so is Always...Patsy Cline. We've been so overwhelmed by ticket sales that the decision was recently made to extend the show a week! We've gotten some wonderful feedback about this production, and audiences are really enjoying it. Becky Barta stars as Patsy Cline, and has an eerily similar voice, while Cathy Barnett brings all the laughs while she tells the story of how her character, Louise, accidentally became friends with Country music star, Patsy Cline. We will be sad to see this show come to a close on August 17 - it's been great having these two lovely, funny women hanging around the AHT offices!

Currently, everyone in the office is starting to prepare for our 08/09 season. We begin with a special engagement of the hit show Menopause The Musical®. Contracts are being finalized, but so far we do know that Licia Watson will be returning as the Soap Star and Nedra Dixon, who recently directed Once Upon This Island at The Coterie, will join us as Professional Woman (formerly "Power" Woman). Because of the extension of Always...Patsy Cline, Menopause's opening has been shuffled back a week to August 23 and runs through October 26.

We're also already looking forward to the holidays! Most of the staff are excited that our holiday production is A Tuna Christmas, which is a show so wacky and funny that I can't even begin to include all of the jokes here. Our Box Office Manager often quotes the Tuna shows - we're pretty big fans around here of Tuna, Texas. The best part is that we've been able to secure local actor John-Michael Zuerlein (A Dog's Life, Perfect Wedding) to star, and we're hoping he will be joined by Jim J. Bullock, well-known from his roles on '80s sitcom "Too Close For Comfort" and the celebrity game show "Hollywood Squares".

See you at the show!