Spinning Tree Theatre Announces 2019-20 Season and New Venue

By: Feb. 20, 2019
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Spinning Tree Theatre Announces 2019-20 Season and New Venue

Spinning Tree Theatre proudly announces the 2019-20 season of four mainstage productions. The company will also inaugurate their Youth Theatre Project, a two-week musical theatre intensive for teenagers to be held June 10-23, 2019. Additionally, they will continue the Spinning Tree Sings! cabaret series featuring Kansas City-based musical theatre and jazz vocalists. Spinning Tree will produce its ninth season at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center.

"Our organization is honored to have been invited to produce our ninth season at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center," said Artistic Director Michael Grayman-Parkhurst. "The center features a state-of-the-art black box performance space with the latest sound and lighting equipment and comfortable patron seating as well as a vast, accessible lobby and parking lot. We look forward to continuing to produce intimate experiences of contemporary shows that highlight exceptional storytelling performed by Kansas City's finest talent."

The season features three Kansas City premieres: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe; Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Violet); Girlfriend by Todd Almond and Matthew Sweet, based on Sweet's 1991 rock album; and the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly! and Mame) and Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy).

Season tickets are on sale at www.spinningtreetheatre.com or by calling Central Ticket Office at (816) 235-6222. Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center is at 8788 Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, Kansas (the former King Louie bowling alley/ice skating rink).

Every Brilliant Thing

by Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe

August 16 - September 1, 2019

Kansas City premiere

You're seven years old. Mom's in the hospital. Dad says she's "done something wrong." She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that's brilliant about the world. Everything that's worth living for. 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies... 6. Me. You leave it on her pillow. You know she's read it because she's corrected your spelling. So begins a moving, insightful and hilarious new one-person play that is unlike anything you've seen before. Audiences are taken on a remarkable journey that truly examines what makes life worth living - and the power of theatre to bring people together.

Caroline, or Change

book and lyrics by Tony Kushner

music by Jeanine Tesori

November 8-24, 2019

Kansas City premiere

A moving portrait of America at a time of momentous social upheaval. Set in 1963 Louisiana, the musical focuses on Caroline - a maid working in the sweltering basement of the Gellman household - and her relationship with 8-year-old Noah Gellman. The score combines spirituals, blues, Motown and Jewish klezmer and folk music.

Girlfriend

book by Todd Almond

music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet

January 24 - February 9, 2020

Kansas City premiere

A vibrant and tender coming-of-age musical duet from when flannel was the height of fashion and mixtapes were the language of love. It's 1993 in small-town Nebraska during the summer between high school and whatever comes next. College-bound jock Mike and self-assured but aimless Will find themselves drawn to each other. Their rush of first-time love, full of excitement, confusion and passion, is captured by the power-pop precision and frayed guitar emotion of Matthew Sweet's alternative rock album "Girlfriend."

La Cage aux Folles

music and lyrics by Jerry Herman

book by Harvey Fierstein

April 17 - May 3, 2020

The only show to win 3 Tony Awards for Best Musical: one for the original (1984) and one for each of its revivals (2005 & 2010)!

The 20-year relationship between Georges (a club owner) and Albin (the head drag performer) faces a test when their son announces his engagement to the daughter of ultra-conservative parents. To please their son, Georges and Albin agree to hide their relationship and play it straight for a dinner with the potential in-laws. A fabulously fun musical (featuring the iconic song "I Am What I Am") about family, identity and loving who you are.

Spinning Tree Theatre's Season #9 will play Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center,

8788 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212

Season tickets available by calling Central Ticket Office at (816) 235-6222.

More information including performance dates and times at www.spinningtreetheatre.com.



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