Edelman: SMOKING HOT THEATER On Stage in KC This Fall

KC stages heat up with summer fading…

Check out these must sees here in the Fall season :

VENUS IN FUR now thru Sep 29 at the Unicorn. This Broadway menage a deux put actress Nina Arianda on the map (and got her a Woody Allen movie). Rusty Sneary dons the role of director-playwright (not a particular stretch for this multi-hyphenate) of a piece based on Austrian author Sacher-Masoch‘s (as in you know what) steamy novella. When Vanessa Severo shows up late to audition for the dominatrix, the line between director and actor begins to blur. The bustier and garter belt don’t make it any easier.

CARRIE starts Oct 4 at Off Center Theater at Crown Center. Steven Eubank points his Egads Company at one of Broadway’s most memorable flops. Based on bloodmaster Stephen King‘s first novel, CARRIE turned prom night into a nightmare for a whole generation of movie goers. The musical’s pretty freaky, too— the perfect material for the folks who brought you the umpteenth, very funny edition of ROCKY HORROR this summer.

Fats Waller

AINT MISBEHAVIN starts Nov 1 at Off Center. New kids in town Spinning Tree Theatre Co present this jazzy, funky ode to the great Fats Waller, who (by the way) died a few blocks away at Union Station (he actually died in route to Cowtown– they had to cut the oversize Waller out of his train compartment when it arrived here). This one should be a blast– Eboni Fondren, one of KC’s brightest young jazz vocalists, brings her considerable talents to the proceedings, along with the impressive Ron Lackey and a great cast.

THE WIZ starts Nov 12 at the Coterie in Crown Center. A hit movie for Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, the stage version of this take on your favorite Dorothy story finds Coterie artistic director Jeff Church at the helm, alongside the aforementioned Ms Severo in the choreographer’s chair. Take the kids; have some fun yourself.

BTW…

You can preview these three musicals and more at this year’s WaterFire on the Plaza, Saturday, Oct 12. Besides the usual Quixotic, classical music and jazz (and the bonfires in Brush Creek), there will be a new feature at WaterFire 2013– including the Broadway Stage, featuring songs from the shows coming to KC this season. Check it out (it’s free).