Wichita Theatre Newsroom

Kechi Playhouse continues its season this September with Things My Mother Taught Me by Katherine DiSavino. This play is a comedy that looks at generational differences and how we can learn from everyone. The story follows young couple Olivia and Gabe who are moving into their first apartment together. They’ve just packed up all of their belongings and driven halfway across the country to start a new life together in Chicago. Their moving day doesn’t go exactly as planned, though, and things become slightly more complicated when all of their parents show up to help!

The Minutes, written by Tracy Letts, is a dark comedy that tells the story of a small-town City Council meeting, where the mundanity of local bureaucracy is threatened by a dark truth, and asks the question “What kind of town do you want to live in?”

  The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a tale of longing, lust, discrimination, and abuse of power in 1547 Paris, is at Roxy’s for just one more weekend. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and book by Peter Parnell. Skillfully Directed by Rick Bumgardner with Music and Assistant Direction by Simon Hill.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Wichita Awards. The 2024 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

What did our critic think of BEAUTIFUL : THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Music Theatre Wichita?

The Performing Arts Association has announced 'The Beat Goes On' featuring Lisa McClowry as Cher at the Historic Missouri Theatre on September 19th.

Roxy’s Downtown is thrilled to continue its 2024/25 theater season with the evocative musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, opening on Thursday, August 22. This lushly scored retelling of Victor Hugo’s epic story of love, acceptance and what it means to be a hero features a soaring score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

The Midwest Trust Center will launch their 2024-2025 season with their signature variety this September. Performances will take place at the Midwest Trust Center on the campus of Johnson County Community College.

If you’re looking for a swashbuckling good time, do yourself a favor and see the original RomCom, Cyrano de Bergerac, at The Kechi Playhouse. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

On July 31, 2024, I had the privilege of seeing an incredibly scintillating production of MatildaThe Musical, presented by Music Theatre Wichita in the Century II Concert Hall. I’m ashamed to say I knew next to nothing about the book, but I have seen myriad clips of the musical numbers.

On July 24th, 2024, I had the great pleasure to see the storied musical Into the Woods at Roxy’s Downtown. This exceptional production runs until August 9, so hurry and get your tickets before they are completely sold out! I hear there are only a few select nights left. The piece moves at an engaging pace, is visually rich, and there are many delightful surprises that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

What did our critic think of TRAVESTIES at ICT Rep At The Welsbacher Theatre At The WSU Metroplex On Oliver & 29th? I had the unique pleasure of attending ICT Rep’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Travesties on its final performance. The comedy ran for one week, July 18-21st, at the Welsbacher Theatre in the WSU Metroplex building on Oliver & 29th. It was a delightful way to wile away a hot July Sunday afternoon. It brought back pleasant memories of youthful Sunday afternoons spent in the Court House Theatre at the Shaw Festival on Niagara-On-The-Lake. Scripts like Travesties are not de rigueur here in Wichita. Wichita Community Theatre presented Stoppard’s most well known play, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead quite a few years back.

What did our critic think of SLOW FOOD at Wichita Community Theatre?

Celebrate Art House Theater Day at Tallgrass Film Center with a special feature on Bob Walterscheid. Enjoy unique film screenings and join the community in supporting independent cinema.

Wichita Repertory Theater (ICTRep) continues its 2024 Summer Celebration of Comedy with TRAVESTIES, opening Thursday, July 18.

In continuing with MTWichita’s 2024 Season Theme “The Year of the Woman,” I had the privilege of seeing Disney’s Frozen on the Century II Concert Hall Stage. MTWichita is one of the first indoor regional theatres to produce Disney’s Frozen after the show closed on Broadway. This can be a challenge because the sets and costumes cannot look the same as the original Broadway production, so all the design elements, including choreography, need to be reimagined. The MTWichita team exceeds expectations here, creating some magnificent, otherworldly realms for the denizens of Arendelle to inhabit. You do not want to miss this show, which runs until July 14th.

Wichita Community Theatre presents Slow Food by Wendy MacLeod July 18th-28th. Performances run Thursday- Saturday with an 8pm curtain and Sunday matinees at 2pm each week. Slow Food is about a middle-aged couple who are empty nesters. They vacation to Palm Springs to celebrate their anniversary. They go to a Greek restaurant for dinner where a middle-aged waiter inserts himself into the couple's life and insists they share his life as well while delivering a slow meal. Slow Food is a great comedy that themes are very universal looking at how we deal and learn through the new changes life throws at us, each with its own ups and downs.

Kechi Playhouse’s third play in their 42nd season is a new adaptation of the romantic classic “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand. Misty Maynard will be directing this new version penned by Joseph Urick, a new professor at Wichita State University. Urick adapted Rostand’s classic specifically for an intimate space, focusing specifically on the words of the story, rather than on the fancy lights, lavish sets, or extravagant costumes.

Roxy’s Downtown is thrilled to begin its 2024/25 theater season with the award winning musical Into the Woods, opening on Wednesday, July 17. This bold reimaging of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical masterpiece brings your favorite storybook characters together for a thrilling, twisted adventure.

PNC Broadway in Kansas City is hosting an event in honor of the 10-time Tony Award®-winning Best Musical MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL on Wednesday, July 10 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at the Kill Devil Club located in the Power & Light District.

What did our critic think of THE SUNSHINE BOYS at Roxy's Downtown?

Roxy's Downtown today announced its new education program as part of its mission to expand access to the arts. Beginning July 13, Roxy’s will offer 5 classes ranging from college audition prep, directing 101, acting for the camera, the art of self-tape auditions, and dialects & accents made easy.

Roxy’s Downtown is delighted to announce the upcoming production of the classic Neil Simon comedy, The Sunshine Boys, coming to Wichita this June. A heartwarming and hilarious story, The Sunshine Boys follows two former vaudeville partners who reunite for a television special after years of estrangement. With wit, charm, and Simon's signature humor, the play explores the complexities of friendship, the passage of time, and the enduring power of laughter.

What did our critic think of 9 TO 5 at Music Theatre Of Wichita At Century II Concert Hall?9 to 5 is one of my favorite shows - it’s entertaining, it’s full of comedic moments, and it has some great lessons in self love, trusting your instincts, and believing in yourself. It shows us not only how far we have come in terms of respecting women’s rights, but also shows us how much more needs to be done in terms of equal rights for not only women, but for all minority groups.

What did our critic think of GYPSY: A MUSICAL FABLE at Music Theatre Wichita At Century II Concert Hall? There is a reason the musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable is a Golden Age classic. The text, suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee and written by Authur Laurents, is economical and succinct. Jule Styne’s music varies from catchy tunes to lush, foreboding orchestral maneuvers, and Sondheim’s nascent lyrics are simple and accessible, yet cut to the core of each scene’s objective.