Happy 50th to Kansas City’s Lyric Opera

KANSAS CITY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN THE U.S. TO ESTABLISH A PROFESSIONAL REGIONAL COMPANY, and the credit goes to Russell Patterson, who believed a local repertory company was the best way to reach the public and expose them to theater. In 1998, Patterson handed the reigns to the present artistic director, Ward Holmquist.

“It’s hard to believe we have been such a strong professional company since 1958,” Holmquist says. To celebrate the milestone, this season features four different styles of productions, a sort of retrospective of Holmquist’s last 10 years with Lyric Opera.

The first production of 2008 (and the third of the season) is The Magic Flute, an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Opening in March, the show follows Prince Tamino through a strange, deserted country as he tries to rescue the queen’s daughter, only to encounter challenges and temptations along the way.

In May, the much-anticipated premiere of John Brown will take the stage. A lot is still hush-hush about the show, and civil war historians can’t wait to find out how the abolitionist will be portrayed: saint or madman.

For the 2009-2010 season, the opera will be moving to the brand-new, Moshe Safdie-designed Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The ate-of-the-art venue will feature an 1,800-seat proscenium theater (also the new home of the Kansas City Ballet) and a 1,600-seat concert hall for the Kansas City Symphony.

“The new center, without a doubt, will allow us to enhance the quality of productions we are able to offer,” Holmquist says. “Our directors, set and lighting designers will have everything they need to create even more magical illusions across the footlights.”

The Lyric Opera also purchased three buildings in the Crossroads District, adding 50,000 square feet for administrative offices and rehearsal space.

www.kc-opera.org

Lights, Camera, Action!

Forget Cannes. This year, head to the Beloit International Film Festival.

Hailed by MovieMaker magazine as “the next big thing” and highly recommended by The New York Times, the Beloit International Film Festival (a 60-minute drive from Milwaukee) prides itself on being like film festivals past: events where everybody has a chance to talk about the screened films with the filmmakers and actors themselves.

One thing that makes this festival more personal and interactive is the variety of venues, which range from a 35-seat coffee shop and a pub (where people can drink beer while watching) to the Wilson Theatre, which seats more than 350 people.

“We’ve also added a special venue for family films, where families can sit on the floor and participate in activities between films,” says Ron Nief, the festival’s public relations chairman.

But what makes this festival most distinctive is the stretch limousines that circle Beloit throughout the four days, transporting anyone who stops them for a ride to a screening. “The limos have become a kind of symbol of the program,” Nief says. It also creates a kind of community, because festival-goers have a chance to meet on the ride.

This year, around 80 films will be screened—double the number of last year—and about 25 are premieres. During the festival, visitors will also get a taste of the small-town charm of Beloit, also known as the “Gateway to Wisconsin.”

“Film festivals are a wonderful way to show off the community,” Nief says, “because people come to see films, they eat and they stay.” Chances are, you’ll want to stay, too.

Beloit International
FILM FESTIVAL
Jan. 17-20
Beloit, Wis.
www.beloitfilmfest.com

AUSTIN’S SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL

MARCH 7-16

If music (or film or gaming) is your thing, head to this rock extravaganza, which is actually three festivals—interactive, film and music—rolled into one. Born in 1987, SXSW is centered around downtown Austin and has become one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., with hundreds of performers playing in more than 50 venues. It’s the best bet for catching the next big thing before their big break. The festival ranks as the city’s top money-making public event, bringing in more revenue than University of Texas home games. SXSW even spawned North by Northeast, a music and film festival in Toronto, held June 12-15.

www.sxsw.com

EVENTS

JAN. 18 - JUNE 1

BODY WORLDS: THE ANATOMICAL EXHIBITION

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM

Thanks to the ingenuity of Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the public is privy to the inner workings of the human body through this groundbreaking exhibit. More than 200 authentic specimens, including organs and whole bodies, are on display, all of which have undergone “plastination,” a method that halts decomposition and preserves the body. Even the squeamish will be blown away by what they’ll learn.

www.mpm.edu

JAN. 25 - FEB. 7

WINTERCITY FESTIVAL

TORONTO

This 14-day celebration of the city’s diversity features delicious culinary treats, free entertainment and a look inside the vibrant arts scene. The “WOW (Wild on Winter)” series at Nathan Philips Square boasts open-air performances by Canadian music talent and theatrical troupes, while the “Warm Up” series takes people inside for acrobatic and kid-friendly shows. To top it all off, “Winterlicious” is a series of culinary events and prixfixe menus at Toronto’s best eateries.

www.toronto.ca/special_events

JAN. 28 - APRIL 12

ART OF MOTION PICTURE COSTUME DESIGN

FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN & MERCHANDISING, LOS ANGELES

What better place to check out Hollywood’s most outstanding costumes than in the film industry’s hometown? This one-of-a-kind exhibit pays homage to film’s greatest designers, showcasing more than 140 actual costumes from 26 of last year’s top movies and past Academy Award nominees and winners.

www.fidm.com

FEB. 7-18

FLORIDA STATE FAIR

TAMPA

For more than 100 years, people have flocked to this state fair, the tagline of which is “Always in Tampa, always in February.” The 355-acre fairground plays host to a wide range of competitions and demonstrations, from baking and cookie decorating to horticulture and woodcarving. There are also seven free entertainment stages, food vendors and much more.

www.floridastatefair.com

THROUGH FEB. 29

CHAPUNGU: CUSTOM AND LEGEND, A CULTURE IN STONE

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

On loan from the Chapungu Sculpture Park in Zimbabwe, 57 monumental stone sculptures are scattered throughout the gardens. The pieces depict the cultural traditions, religious beliefs, social concerns and everyday life of the Shona artists. Three additional sculptures will be on view at the garden’s Littleton location.

www.botanicgardens.org

THROUGH MARCH 9

JIM HENSON’S FANTASTIC WORLD

ARIZONA MUSEUM FOR YOUTH MESA, ARIZ. (20 MILES EAST OF PHOENIX)

Who doesn’t love Kermit the Frog and the rest of Jim Henson’s fluffy gang? Get a rare peek into the life of the creative genius behind the Muppets at this exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and The Jim Henson Legacy. Through 100 original drawings, cartoons, storyboards, rare artifacts and film props, it offers a firsthand look into the artist, puppeteer, film director and producer.

www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com