A crowd-pleasing show about a conman and would-be bandmaster who gets sidetracked by love, and the beloved story of a young girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers are July productions being presented as part of the Theatre in the Park’s 50th outdoor season in Shawnee Mission Park.
“The Music Man,” which is Rated G, will be presented on the park’s stage July 5 through 7, and July 10 through 13; while Roald Dahl’s
“Matilda,” which is Rated PG, will be presented July 19 through 21, and July 24 through 27. Also during July, TIP’s Summer Theatre Academy participants will present two performances at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, and two more recent family-friendly films will be presented on the outdoor stage as part of the 2019 Movies in the Park program.
“The Music Man” follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band that he vows to organize - despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall.
Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl's
“Matilda” is a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
To help celebrate its 50th season, each performance will feature limited-edition flying discs tossed out from the stage, and a small number of limited-edition popcorn buckets will be passed at the gates, and can be filled for 50 cents throughout this season.
For outdoor productions, gates open at 7 p.m., and shows begin at 8:30 p.m. General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youth ages four to ten, plus tax, and free for children three and under, but tickets are still required. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online. “Anytime tickets” available via either ticket-buying method, are not specific to a certain night or performance, and can be printed out at home and scanned at the gate.
On Thrifty Thursdays, a 20 percent discount is offered on Thursday night performances. This makes adult tickets $6.40 and children’s tickets $4.80, plus tax. The discounted tickets must be purchased at the box office for the specific show.
The July Indoor show at JCAHC will be a production of
“Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.,” which is Rated G, and will presented by performers ages 12 to 18 on July 19 and 20. The public performances will be the culmination of a two-week camp program.
Much more information about TIP, this year’s indoor and outdoor productions, and the Theatre Academy is available at the Theatre in the Park’s website, at
theatreinthepark.org.
The
Movies in the Park program lets participants see popular recent films on a 40-foot screen on the TIP stage for only $1 per person at the gate. With the exception of one Monday screening during August, films are shown on selected Tuesday nights when musical productions are not scheduled. Remaining shows for 2019 are:
“Mary Poppins Returns,” rated PG, on July 9;
“Black Panther,” rated PG-13, on July 23; and
“A Dog’s Way Home,” rated PG, on Aug. 5.
The Theatre in the Park’s outdoor location is north of the main entrance to Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road in Shawnee. The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center is located at 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.
This year’s outdoor season and Movies in the Park presentations are sponsored by Advent Health and First National Bank. Sponsorships for specific shows are still available, and you can learn more by calling Kate Buenger (913) 826-3016 or at
[email protected].