On cold, gray winter days in the Midwest, creation awaits with a pair of needles at your fingertips and a skein of yarn. There are endless possibilities for what can be made with a few supplies but even more potential when creating alongside like-minded individuals. This is the ambition behind a weekly event called Nerdy Knitting, which brings together those who share a passion for creation through knitting, crocheting, sewing and cross-stitching—with an emphasis on all things nerdy. From crocheted Pokémon characters to hand-knitted Harry Potter-themed sweaters and dragon-scale shawls, those who attend can stitch among friends in the comfort of ReRoll Tavern, the Northland’s board game bar.
“It’s just a comfortable place where anyone can work on their projects and we can help each other,” says organizer Melissa Schmitt. —Taylor Drummond
GO: Nerdy Knitting is at ReRoll Tavern, 2368 Armour Road, KCMO, every Wednesday from 6–11 pm, including February 1, 8, 15, and 22.
Joe Pera
February 3. 7 pm.
Standup comedian, writer and filmmaker Joe Pera developed a cult-like following after his unassuming hit series on Adult Swim, Joe Pera Talks With You, where Pera plays a fictionalized version of himself and talks directly to the viewer about ordinary subjects like breakfast and sleeping. His stand-up is very similar, getting laughs with a quiet awkwardness and wholesome simplicity. February 3. 7 pm. Uptown Theater.
The Judds
February 3. 7:30 pm.
After losing her mother Naomi Judd, one-half of country duo The Judds, daughter Wynonna is touring one last time using the band’s name in a celebration of her mother’s life. Wynonna will be playing their iconic hits and bringing out other artists like Brandi Carlile and Martina McBride for this arena tour. February 3. 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.
Störling Dance Theater’s UNDERGROUND
February 3–4. 7:30 pm.
This is Störling Dance Theater’s sixteenth anniversary of presenting the Underground Railroad story in KC, UNDERGROUND. The show uses original music, beautiful costumes and exciting pacing to retell the history of the underground railroad and the brave people who helped bring freedom. February 3–4. 7:30 pm. Kauffman Center.
Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin
February 3–5
Kansas City Symphony presents Respect, a tribute to the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Aretha Franklin, dubbed the greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone. This show extolls the Queen of Soul’s music, life and legacy. February 3–4, 8 pm; February 5, 2 pm. Helzberg Hall.
Cenicienta
February 4. 11 am.
Fusing puppetry with Spanish and English storytelling, Cenicienta follows ten-year-old Belinda as she uses everyday objects to recreate the classic fairytale Cinderella. This modern, inclusive retelling centers around cultural heritage, family and the power of language. February 4. 11 am. Polsky Theatre.
Bush
February 7. 7:30 pm.
English rock band Bush reached ultimate fame in the late nineties, with seemingly inescapable radio hits like “Glycerine” and “Comedown,” which relied heavily on guitar riffs and lead-singer Gavin Rossdale’s gravely vocals. After an iconic performance at now-infamous Woodstock ’99 and Rossdale’s heavily publicized marriage to another late nineties pop-punk icon, Gwen Stefani, the band is on tour for their newest album, The Art of Survival, aptly named for a band that has been struggling to stay relevant for the last two decades. February 7. 7:30 pm. The Midland.
My Fair Lady
February 7–12
Director Bartlett Sher’s revival of the Broadway classic My Fair Lady has brought surprisingly great reviews, with many critics extolling this timeless retelling of the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young, poor Cockney flower seller, and linguists professor Henry Higgins, who is determined to transform Doolittle into his idea of a “proper lady.” February 7–12. Times vary. Kauffman Center.
Fairview
February 9–18
Fairview is a Pulitzer-winning play written in 2018 by Jackie Sibblies Drury. The dark comedy follows a sitcom-like middle class Black family as they prepare a birthday dinner for their grandmother, only to be surveilled by four white people. “[Fairview] takes an interesting look at various views of race and ethnicity and the misconceptions that are accepted purely based on stereotypes,” says the show’s director Lynn King. February 9–18. Times vary. Melting Pot Theatre.
Ruth Reinhardt Conducts Sibelius
February 10–12
German guest conductor and violinist Ruth Reinhardt makes her Kansas City Symphony debut in this wide-ranging program, including Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. Written with a strong sense of nationalist pride, Sibelius’ music conveys a deep love for his homeland and its sweeping Nordic landscape. February 10–11, 8 pm; February 12, noon. Helzberg Hall.
Adam Sandler
February 11. 7:30 pm.
The A-List celebrity-comedian is extending his renowned tour, Adam Sandler Live, into 2023, with new dates, including a highly anticipated stop in KC. Sandler’s last comedy special for Netflix in 2018 was his first in twenty years and met critical and commercial success, proving that fart jokes are timeless. February 11. 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.
Voices of Mississippi
February 11. 7:30 pm.
Voices of Mississippi is a new multimedia event that celebrates the music, art and storytelling traditions of the people of Mississippi. Based on the 2019 Grammy Award-winning project of the same name, this program mixes live musical performances with multimodal elements such as film, photos and audio recordings, with original creator William “Bill” Ferris serving as the program’s host. February 11. 7:30 pm. Yardley Hall.
Lucy Loves Desi
February 11 & 12
Playwright Gregg Oppenheimer, son of I Love Lucy creator Jess Oppenheimer, retells this fast-paced, witty tale of Lucy and Desi’s tumultuous battles with CBS over their ideas that changed television forever. Originally written for L.A. Theatre Works, the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic sitcom mirrors the heart and humor that first made it legendary. February 11, 8 pm; February 12, 2 pm. Polsky Theatre.
The Second City Hits Home
February 14–19
Chicago’s sketch and improv comedy theater Second City has become legendary, churning out comedy stars like Tina Fey and Steve Carell. Now, it brings the new show The Second City Hits Home to KC, featuring comedic sketches, songs and improv about KC along with material from the infamous Second City archives. February 14–19. Times vary. Starlight Theatre.
Cinderella
February 17–19 and 23–26
One of the world’s most timeless and beloved fairy tales, Cinderella, is retold through the world premiere of Devon Carney’s stunning choreography performed by the Kansas City Ballet and accompanied by Prokofiev’s enchanting music, along with classic characters like the bubbly Fairy Godmother and the foot fetish-y Prince Charming. February 17–19 and 23–26. Times vary. Kauffman Center.
Bruce Springsteen
February 18. 8 pm.
The boss is coming to KC. Although “Born in the USA,” this will be Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s first tour in North America in nearly seven years. February 18. 8 pm. T-Mobile Center.
Wild Cats of India by Sandesh Kadur
February 21. 7:30 pm.
Part of the National Geographic Live series, photographer and filmmaker Sandesh Kadur highlights the lesser known species of smaller cats that populate India. From the fishing cat that hunts aquatically to the tiny, grumpy-faced Pallas’s cat, Kadur’s videos and photos highlight the importance of these small cats and the urgent need to protect them. February 21. 7:30 pm. Kauffman Center.
DakhaBrakha
February 24. 8 pm.
Ukrainian “ethno chaos” band DakhaBrakha creates unexpected new sound by experimenting with Ukrainian folk music and adding surprising rhythms from around the world. The group was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art by avant-garde theater director Vladyslav Troitskyi. Their name means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. The elements of their theater background are evident in their performances, which always include striking visual elements. February 24. 8 pm. Polsky Theatre.
Kodo
February 25. 7 pm.
The Harriman-Jewell Series presents Kodo, the performing arts group from Japan that mixes old-world tradition with modern art-forms of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko. Kodo can have two meanings: “heartbeat,” as in the source of all life, or “children of the drum,” a reflection of their desire to play the drums simply and purely. February 25. 7 pm. Helzberg Hall.
Kimbra
February 26. 7 pm.
The New Zealand indie-pop singer and songwriter skyrocketed to fame with Gotye’s inescapable hit “Somebody That I Used To Know” over a decade ago. Since then, she’s had a few albums and singles, most recently turning to more of a surprising mix of electropop and jazz. February 26. 7 pm. recordBar.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
February 26. 7 pm.
With acclaimed music director Riccardo Muti and violinist Julia Fischer, the Chicago Symphony plays Robert Schumann’s Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony. Founded in 1981, the Chicago Symphony is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world, strengthened even more so in the last decade with Muti’s renowned skill and leadership. February 26. 7 pm. Helzberg Hall.
Six: The Musical
February 28–March 5
After sweeping a couple dozen awards in the 2021-22 Broadway season, Six has arguably become one of the biggest musicals since Hamilton. The musical is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, presented as a pop concert. Throughout, the queens switch off singing their stories of suffering to decide who should become the group’s lead singer before ending in a celebration of girl power through the last five hundred years. February 28–March 5. Times vary. Kansas City Music Hall.
