The Nelson-Atkins Museum is teaming up with KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America Chapter to create a free gallery tour for people who are struggling with memory loss.
Aptly called Minds in Motion Tour: My Favorite Things, this event’s aim is to keep tour attendees’ minds moving right along with their bodies as they meander through the museum. With the help of specially trained docents who understand Alzheimer’s patients’ particular needs, visitors and their caregivers can appreciate the beauty the museum has to offer.
While the Minds in Motion series hosts several events throughout the year, this tour encourages patrons to consider the sights, sounds and smells suggested by the art in the various galleries.
GO: Minds in Motion, November 7, 1 pm, Nelson-Atkins Museum, 4525 Oak St., KCMO.
1
Leslie Jones
Comedian Leslie Jones made her breakthrough on SNL a decade ago with her brash humor and offbeat characters, and she quickly became a standout of the cast. Today, she stars in comedy roles and hosts a podcast. Now, she’s on tour in support of her new book, with New York-based comedian Lenny Marcus opening. November 1. 7 pm. Uptown Theater.
1
The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium 25th Anniversary
This two-day celebration of Union Station’s Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium’s 25th anniversary features a unique fusion of performance art, live music and laser light displays under the always-magical planetarium dome. Local musician Calvin Arsenia will headline Friday night, playing the harp and banjo alongside a stunning live aerial silk performance beneath the dome’s stars. Laser artist “Laser” Lew Wilkinson will showcase his Laser Visions show, and DJ Stevie Cruz will also play a live show with video artist Cyan Meeks. On day two, there will be Yoga Under the Stars in the morning. November 1, 7 pm; November 2, 9:30 am. Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium.
2
Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert
As part of the Kauffman’s wildly popular film screenings with live orchestral accompaniment, the beloved anime Avatar: The Last Airbender will feature a live orchestral rendition of the series’ now-iconic soundtrack paired with a special recap of the animated series on the big screen. The projection features the original dialogue and sound effects as the orchestra performs the legendary score live and in sync with the show scenes to bring a truly immersive experience to the beloved series. November 2, 2 pm & 7:30 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
3
Hyprov
Hyprov blends hypnosis and improv comedy—what could go wrong? Fresh off an off-Broadway run and six-month residency in Las Vegas, this new show combines the two mystifying (and sometimes seemingly impossible) art forms of hypnosis and improv. The show begins with hypnotist Asad Mecci welcoming volunteers on stage to be hypnotized. Those most receptive to hypnosis then join comedian Colin Mochrie of Whose Line is it Anyway? fame to improvise the rest of the show while audience members are under hypnosis to create an original, unscripted and oftentimes kooky comedy theater show. November 3. 7 pm. Yardley Hall.
7
Vitamin String Quartet
The Vitamin String Quartet first began in 1999 as an experiment, where the group used classical instruments to transform popular songs. Twenty-plus years later, the group has performed all over the world, with their songs featured on shows like Gossip Girl and Bridgerton. They’re hitting KC on tour with a catalog of their classic spin on songs from contemporary icons like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Daft Punk. November 7. 7 pm. Helzberg Hall.
8
Snow Queen
Presented by Heart of America Youth Ballet, this original ballet imagines a prequel to Disney’s beloved Frozen and Hans Christian Anderson’s classic The Snow Queen. Snow Queen includes favorites like Elsa, Anna, Sven and Olaf, as characters and audiences alike try to figure out who the powerful Snow Queen is in this ballet for all ages. November 8 & 9. 7:30 pm. Folly Theater.
8-10
Godfrey
Comedian Godfrey has been working as a standup comedian and actor for over 20 years, both on popular entertainment channels like BET and VH1 and in comedy films like Soul Plane and Zoolander. Best known for his personal comedy that expertly faces stereotypes in fresh, smart and unexpected ways, Godfrey often draws upon his Nigerian and American cultures for funny, poignant performances. November 8–10. Times vary. Funny Bone Comedy Club.
10
The Nutcracker
World-renowned Grand Kyiv Ballet, which includes some of the most prestigious ballet dancers from Ukraine, breathes new life into the classic heartwarming holiday tale, The Nutcracker, which has been beloved for centuries. This beautiful performance is a fantastical journey to a magical kingdom, filled with dancing sugar plum fairies and toy soldiers, where the characters learn that kindness can overcome adversity and create magic. November 10. 4 pm. Folly Theater.
12
Cold War Kids
Long Beach-based indie-rock band Cold War Kids gained mainstream popularity nearly 20 years ago with their debut album Robbers & Cowards, which had the hit song “Hang Me Up to Dry,” a staple of now-gone (but never forgotten) 96.5 The Buzz. They’re hitting KC on tour in celebration of their 20th anniversary of being a band and in support of their eponymous album released last year. November 12. 8 pm. The Truman.
13
Jelly Roll
Nashville native Jelly Roll is a singer-songwriter and rapper who delves into myriad musical genres, like hip-hop and Southern rock. Although Jelly Roll has been on the scene for over 20 years, he rose to mainstream popularity with his 2022 singles “Son of a Sinner” and “Need a Favor.” Beloved for his gentle giant persona, he’s hitting KC on the Beautifully Broken Tour in support of his newest album of the same name. November 13. 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.
15-17
The Barber of Seville
Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents composer Gioachino Rossini’s 1816 opera, The Barber of Seville, made famous for modern audiences by our favorite wascally wabbit, Bugs Bunny. The rom-com opera follows hopeless romantic Count Almaviva in an elaborate comedy of errors to get his true love before her hasty marriage. November 15–17. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
17
Meet Me at the Fair!: Music from the Great World’s Fairs
Meet Me at the Fair! is a musical celebration of the historical World’s Fairs by Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Often overlooked but historically important, music played a key role in the success of past fairs and festivals, launching both hit songs and the illustrious careers of many musicians like the “King of Ragtime” Scott Joplin. This new program features continuous projections of lost fairground photos and historic World’s Fair films by Thomas Edison and company. November 17. 2 pm (pre-show talk at 1 pm). Yardley Hall.
20
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
A contemporary holiday mash-up, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a reimagined and refreshed version of the classic that fuses hip-hop dance with Tchaikovsky’s classic music. In this remix, digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of the beloved tale from traditional 19th-century Germany to the vibrant, diverse modern-day New York City. November 20. 7:30 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
20
ZZ Top
Influential for nearly 60 years in the rock scene, Houston-based ZZ Top has carved out an enduring legacy by developing a signature sound based on their blues style and rhythm section. With their signature long, larger-than-life beards, the band gained popularity with their party anthems and brash style, including their legendary tours that featured outlandish Texas-shaped stages and live rattlesnakes. November 20. 7:30 pm. The Midland.
21
Book Discussion: The Printmaker’s Daughter
In this free educational event, Nelson-Atkins staff members discuss Katherine Govier’s novel The Printmaker’s Daughter in support of the museum’s featured exhibition, “Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration.” The book features the little-known story of Hokusai’s artist daughter, Oei, and their complex parent-child relationship, while bringing the colorful 19th-century Edo (Tokyo) world to life through research mixed with compelling historical fiction. November 21. 6 pm. Spencer Art Reference Library Reading Room.
23
Yeehaw: A Benefit Show for KC Tenants
Yeehaw is back for its third year, with a night of music and comedy benefitting KC Tenants—KC’s citywide tenant union. Alternative-indie band Waxahatchee, comedian Caleb Hearon and more surprise guests will be performing in support of KC Tenants. November 23. 8 pm. The Midland.
27, 29-Dec 1
Cirque Du Soleil’s ’Twas The Night Before
The world’s largest and most popular circus performance group, Cirque du Soleil, fuses high-performance dance with acrobatics to bring their first-ever holiday-themed show, ’Twas The Night Before, to KC. Inspired by the classic Christmas poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, this story is about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays, but this time with gravity-defying acrobatics and a soundtrack of reinvented holiday classics. November 27, 29–December 1. Times vary. Kansas City Music Hall.
