Feb. 10 Entertainment Briefs

Jewish Community Campus presents 'Rent'

CenterSeason presents the Broadway musical “Rent” in the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 20 and 27, and at 2 p.m. Feb. 14, 21 and 28.

The production is directed by Mark Swezey, with music direction by Jeremy Watson and choreography by Annie Paglusch. “Rent” is rated R for strong language, content and adult themes.

“‘Rent’ is about community celebrating life,” Swezey said. “It asks important questions, such as how do you measure a life? It also teaches us to fight for what we think is right when we perceive injustice and the importance of living every day to its fullest.”

“Rent” takes the audience on a journey through the lives of seven young people coping with the struggles of daily life. The musical, a contemporary take on Puccini’s opera “La Boheme,” won both the Tony Award for Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Anthony Rapp, a member of the original Broadway cast, will be a special guest for the production, as well as master classes and a special event. For details, visit www.jcckc.org.

A special exhibit featuring two panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will accompany the production.

CenterSeason is partnering with reStart, a Kansas City homeless shelter for men, women and children. Theater patrons are urged to bring gloves, mittens, scarves and hats to benefit the reStart’s Youth Street Outreach Services program. Patrons who donate two or more items will receive $3 off their ticket purchase.

“Our partnership with the Jewish Community Center comes at a time of great challenges and great opportunities,” reStart Executive Director Evelyn Craig said. “Demand for our services has doubled this year, and in 2008, we served more than 1,000 homeless and runaway teens in the urban core of Kansas City.”

Discount pricing is available for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets, call 327-8054.

Orchestra to perform at Yardley Hall 

Philharmonia of the Nations, conducted by Justus Frantz with pianist Jon Nakamatsu, performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Yardley Hall, Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park.

In 1995, the Philharmonia was founded as a symbol of peace. The young, professional musicians hail from more than 40 countries and five continents. The orchestra will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “The Titan,” and Brahm’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

A pre-concert talk with William Everett, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music is at 7 p.m.

For tickets, call 469-4445 or go to www.jccc.edu/theseries.

Leawood hosts Valentine's Day concert 

Leawood Arts Council hosts a free concert by the Cantilena String Quartet at 2 p.m. at Sunday, Feb. 14, in the Oak Room of Leawood City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive.

Cantilena String Quartet is a professional performance group based in Kansas City. Members of the quartet include Yu-Fang Chen, Shih-Chieh Chen, Yu-Fen Chen and Kathryn Cheng – all current students of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance.

The quartet will perform a variety of styles. For information, call 339-6700, ext. 157.

Recital Series opens with pianist

Pianist Frederic Chen, a doctor of musical arts candidate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, will perform at noon Monday, Feb. 15, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park.

Chen opens the spring 2010 Ruel Joyce Recital Series, which offers free concerts featuring local classical musicians.
Chen’s solo and chamber performances include universities, concert series and festivals here and abroad; his orchestra appearance was with the National Taiwan Normal University Orchestra. Chen has received many scholarships and awards, most recently the Russian Soul Award from the American Protégé Russian Music Piano Festival in 2009.
The Recital Series continues at noon Mondays in the Recital Hall on the following dates:
Feb. 22, Brookside String Quartet
March 1, Emily Smith, flute; Ronda Ford, flute; Jerry Pope, piano
March 8, Cindy Egger, guitar
March 15, Alberto Suarez, horn
March 22, Jay Carter, countertenor
March 29, Andrew Fuller, violin; Laura Fuller, viola
April 5, Ron Stinson, trumpet; Patricia Higdon, piano
April 12, Steven Elisha, cello; Larisa Elisha, violin
Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For information, call 469-8500, ext. 3605.

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