AILEY II
7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, April 5-6, and 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at Folly
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey will present “The Next Generation of Dance” featuring the dancers of Ailey II, whose repertory includes Alvin Ailey’s classics and new works by emerging choreographers. Under the artistic direction of Troy Powell, the company performs across the country and internationally but calls Kansas City its second home.
816-474-4444.
Tickets are $25-$78 through kcfaa.org/ailey-ii or follytheater.org.
OWEN O’NEILL IN “RED NOISE”
7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Drexel Hall
A hybrid of stand-up comedy, theatrical monologue and poetry, “Red Noise” is the one-man show of Owen O’Neill. The Northern Irish writer, actor, director and comedian has toured the world with his show, which features stories from his life, including growing up with 15 siblings, being struck by lightning at the age of 9 and undergoing an interrogation by the Irish Republican Army.
Central Standard Theatre.
816-635-0543. Tickets are $15-$25 through cstkc.com/the-invasion-2018.
EDDIE B.
8 p.m. Friday, April 6, at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
The Teachers Only Tour, with its portrayal of life in the classroom from the point of view of an actual teacher, has established Eddie B. as the voice of the profession across the globe — and as a popular stand-up comedian. The former fifth-grade teacher in Houston has been selling out shows since becoming an online sensation with his teacher-centric viral videos.
816-283-9921. Tickets are $35-$65 through midlandkc.com.
KANSAS CITY BALLET, “DIAMONDS”
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, April 6-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
The Kansas City Ballet’s Anniversary Dance Festival will consist of six performances over two weekends, with the first weekend featuring George Balanchine’s “Diamonds” and a Kansas City premiere by Matthew Neenan. “Diamonds” is the third and final ballet of Balanchine’s “Jewels.” The highlight of the second weekend will be James Kudelka’s “The Man in Black,” with music by Johnny Cash.
816-931-8993.
Tickets are $40.50-$130.50 through kcballet.org.
KANSAS CITY BALLET, “THE MAN IN BLACK”
7:30 p.m. April 13-14 and 2 p.m. April 15. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
816-931-8993.
Tickets are $40.50-$130.50 through kcballet.org.
MIDWEST POTTERY FEST
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 7, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Kansas City Urban Potters and the Drugstore
Six nationally recognized artists will join the Kansas City Urban Potters’ core group of potters for demonstrations, lectures, a flower bar, refreshments and a selection of handmade pottery. All 13 artists will be on hand to chat with the public and will have works on display and for sale, ranging from bowls and cups to large platters and flower vases.
kcurbanpotters.com.
Free.
TAO: DRUM HEART
7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 7-8, at Yardley Hall
Since forming in 1993, Tao has showcased the traditional art of Japanese drumming in more than 22 countries and 400 cities. Complementing the group’s drumming is innovative choreography that includes martial arts displays. The members of the troupe train in the mountains of Japan, and the music, much of which they compose, reflects their diverse backgrounds.
Johnson County Community College.
913-469-4445.
Tickets are $45-$55 through jccc.edu/theseries.
“BELFAST GIRLS”
Opens 8 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at La Esquina
Fishtank Theatre and the Charlotte Street Foundation will present this drama by Jaki McCarrick, who also wrote “Leopoldville.” “Belfast Girls” is about five young women escaping the Irish famine in 1850 and seeking a fresh start by traveling on a ship to Australia. En route, the women share their secrets, but some cannot escape the memories of the lives they’ve left behind.
Runs through April 29.
816-809-7110.
Tickets are $25-$30 through fishtanktheatre.com.
ROYALS VS. SEATTLE MARINERS
7:15 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, April 9-10, and 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Kauffman Stadium
This will be the best chance of the young season for the younger crowd to see the new-look Royals. Wednesday’s game will be the season’s first Student Night, even though it will start in the afternoon. Students with high school or college IDs and any youth 14 and under with an adult can purchase select reserved tickets for $10. Also, the Hermon Mehari Quartet will play at noon.
800-676-9257.
Tickets are $10-$115 through mlb.com/royals.
“GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS”
Opens 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, at H&R Block City Stage
You know the fairy tale, but the Theatre for Young America will stage a production with a modern twist. This musical version features a Mama, Papa and Baby Bear who lead an ecologically correct existence until Goldilocks comes on the scene. She’s a show biz kid from the city who teaches Baby Bear how to sing, dance and act.
Runs through May 12. 816-460-2083.
Tickets are $11 at tya.org.
KANSAS CITY FILMFEST
Opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Cinemark Plaza
From feature documentaries and narratives to short documentaries and narratives, more than 100 local, regional, national and international films will be on display and competing for cash prizes during the 22nd annual Kansas City FilmFest. Film fans can enjoy the screenings and can meet and learn from the filmmakers.
Runs through April 15.
Individual tickets ($10) and festival passes ($45-$80) are available at kcfilmfest.org.
YEKWON SUNWOO
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Lied Center
The gold medalist at last year’s prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition — ahead of silver medalist Kenny Broberg of Park University — 28-year-old Yekwon Sunwoo has since performed around the world. Two weeks after his Van Cliburn win, Decca Gold released “Cliburn Gold 2017,” which includes his performances of Ravel’s “La Valse” and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Sonata. Sunwoo was born in South Korea but studied at Juilliard.
785-864-2787.
Tickets are $11-$35 through lied.ku.edu.
ALSO THIS WEEK
Classical music and dance
Dover String Quartet, April 6, 1900 Building. chambermusic.org
Open Stage at The J, April 8, Lewis and Shirley White Theatre. thejkc.org
William Baker Festival Singers & Orchestra, Kenneth Babcock Memorial Masterworks Concert, April 8, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. festivalsingers.org
Theater
“Superior Donuts,” April 6-22, Olathe Civic Theatre Association. olathetheatre.org
“Wiesenthal,” April 11-14, Lewis and Shirley White Theatre. thejkc.org
Comedy
Godfrey, April 5-8, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Brad Ellis, April 10-14, Stanford and Sons. stanfordscomedyclub.com
Music (rock, pop, jazz)
KU Jazz Ensemble with Anat Cohen, April 5, Lied Center. lied.ku.edu
The Steeldrivers, April 5, Liberty Hall. libertyhall.net
Baths, April 6, RecordBar. therecordbar.com
North Mississippi Allstars, April 6, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Anat Cohen Tentet, April 7, Gem. americanjazzmuseum.org
Bill Frisell with Rudy Royston and Thomas Morgan, April 8, 1900 Building. 1900bldg.com
The Darkness, April 8, The Truman. thetrumankc.com
Dashboard Confessional, April 8, Granada. thegranada.com
John McCutcheon, April 8, Lied Center. lied.ku.edu
Sleep, April 8, Liberty Hall. libertyhall.net
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and Friends, April 10, The Truman. thetrumankc.com
Coast Modern, April 10, Riot Room. theriotroom.com
Missio, April 10, RecordBar. therecordbar.com
Timeflies, April 10, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Todrick Hall, April 10, Madrid. madridtheatre.com
AJR, April 11, The Truman. thetrumankc.com
Erika Wennerstrom, April 11, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com
Visual arts
First Fridays in the Crossroads, April 6, Crossroads Arts District. kccrossroads.org
Events/festivals/etc.
Kegs ‘N’ Eggs, April 7, Kansas City Renaissance Festival. kegsneggskc.com
Project Blue River Rescue, April 7, Blue River. kcparks.org/event/project-blue-river-rescue18
Walk MS: Kansas City, April 7, Kansas Speedway. main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/KSGWalkEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=29710
Fountain Day, April 10, Spirit of Freedom Fountain. kcparks.org/event/fountain-day-2018
Book talks
“The Supreme Court in the Age of President Trump,” April 5, Unity Temple on the Plaza. trumanlibraryinstitute.org
Frances Mayes, author of “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “Women in Sunlight,” will be featured at Books & Boutiques, April 6, Overland Park Convention Center. saintlukesgiving.org
Linda Spalding for “A Reckoning,” April 9, Mid-Continent Public Library-Woodneath Library Center. mymcpl.org or rainydaybooks.com
Sports/recreation
Shamrock FC, April 7, Ameristar. ameristar.com