Here are thirteen great things to do in Kansas City this weekend, January 26-29, including Black Panther in concert at the Kauffman, an early 2000’s throwback dance party at The Truman, and the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead.
Smart People
This is the last weekend to see the show closing out the eighteenth season at Kansas City’s Actors Theatre: one of the newest plays ever produced at KCAT, Lydia Diamond’s Smart People. In this contemporary play directed by Ile Haggins, four educated friends gather on the eve of Barack Obama’s 2008 election to attempt to navigate the tough questions about race while examining their biases.
January 18–29. Times vary. City Stage at Union Station.
Black Panther in Concert
Marvel’s Black Panther became an international box-office hit, with audiences connecting to the inspiring messages of Black excellence, tradition and determination set in a superhero world. The film will be shown along with the Kansas City Symphony’s live performance of Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar- and Grammy-winning score.
January 25–28. 7 pm. Kauffman Center.
Refuge
This unique bilingual show features an original score and dynamic puppetry to tell the story of a young migrant who must travel through the harsh and magical desert in hopes of a new life in America.
January 25—February 12. Times vary. Unicorn Theatre.
Denzil Forrester: Duppy Conqueror
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s exhibition presents thirty years of colorful paintings and drawings by UK based artist Denzil Forrester, who documented London’s important underground dub reggae culture and clubs of the 1980s.
Preview with the artist. January 26. 10 am. Exhibition Opening Celebration. 6 pm. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Celebrate I-Lan’s Lunar New Year
Leawood’s Mayor Peggy Dunn, the Leawood City Council and the I-Lan sister city committee host an evening ushering in the “Year of the Rabbit” with cocktails, asian cuisine and traditional entertainment.
January 27. 6 pm. Vista 154 at Ironhorse Golf Club.
Angel Olsen
St. Louis native Angel Olsen is an indie singer-songwriter whose bubblegum voice and emotional lyrics have surprising influences of vintage country and twangy guitar on hits like “Shut Up Kiss Me” and “Unfucktheworld.”
January 27. 8 pm. Liberty Hall.
Shen Yun
The performance behind the inescapable fliers is coming to KC. Boasting a dance presentation of “five thousand years of civilization reborn,” the performance includes ornate costuming, high-tech backdrops and a powerful orchestra to tell the story of Chinese tradition and heritage.
January 27, 7:30 pm; January 28, 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm; January 29, 1:30 pm. Kauffman Center.
This is What Dreams Are Made Of: A Disney/Early 2000s Dance Party
Similar to fellow popular US-touring dance parties that have popped up in the past few years like Emo Nite, this KC stop plays on millennial and gen Z nostalgia, featuring throwbacks like Hannah Montana and NSYNC.
January 27. 8 pm. The Truman.
Torn Label 8th Anniversary
KC’s crossroads-based craft brewery is celebrating its eight year anniversary with a new batch of their first-ever brewed beer, Hang ’Em High, a rotating hop IPA, the return of Double Dry Hopped Alpha Pale and the debut of 8th Wonder IPA along with tunes from DJ Jabberock to get the party started.
January 28. 11:30 am – 10 pm. Torn Label Public House.
Nick Swardson
Perhaps best known for his role on Reno 911!, Swardson has become one of those recognizable but not-big-name comedic actors that you have to look up on Wikipedia while you watch. Most notably, he has been a part of Adam Sandler’s production company and is now touring the U.S. with his aptly titled “Make Joke From Face” tour.
January 28. 6 pm. Uptown Theater.
Opus 76 Quartet with Amadeus
The artist-in-residence quartet begins their next critically acclaimed recording project, where they will be performing Mozart’s String Quartet No.22, which was first composed in 1790 while Mozart was under financial strain and unsuccessfully trying to gain court in Prussia. This quartet also features the cello in an uncharacteristically large role in an effort to appeal to the amateur cellist Prussian King. After the performance, there will be a screening of the film Amadeus to help contextualize the composer’s fascinating life.
January 29. 2 pm. Polsky Theatre.
Philharmonia Fantastique
This animated film follows a magical sprite who makes “violin strings vibrate, brass valves slice air and drumheads resonate.” Blending traditional and modern animation styles with orchestral accompaniment, the performances boast the importance of collaboration and diversity.
January 29. 2 pm. Kauffman Center.
AFC Conference Championship
After the Chiefs win against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend, the Chiefs face off for the AFC championship game against the formidable Cincinnati Bengals, who are led by fellow young stud quarterback Joe Burrow, for a spot at the Superbowl. The Chiefs’ track record against the Bengals hasn’t been the best, so this game will be a nail-biter, with fans hoping that the Chiefs home field advantage will give us the edge
January 29. 5:30 pm. GEGHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
