June 17 Arts Alive

11 AM Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art with Guided tours and lunch

2 PM “Prejudice and Pride,” a musical comedy at the Arts Asylum

Now into our 24th year, our board is determined to find unique cultural opportunities and discover the many facets of cultural arts in the greater Kansas City community. On Saturday, June 17th we'll enjoy guided tours of art exhibits, lunch and a new musical comedy in a new venue. Activities begin at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art at 11 am with guided tours of current exhibits led by Director of Curatorial Affairs Erin Dziedzic and her staff. You’ll see and learn about work by Virginia Jaramillo, Pepe Mar and Reginald Sylvester, a young Brooklyn-based artist who is making a name for himself in the U.S. and Europe. Lunch will be provided at the museum in two shifts due to available space.

Then we'll drive a short distance to the new home of the Arts Asylum in east Brookside for the 2 p.m. show of “Prejudice and Pride.” The gender-swapped musical comedy set at Hoedown Jane’s Bar, Brill & Shootin’ Range offers a new take on Jane Austen’s classic novel. Banjo-picker Bennett Longborn sings the tale of how he and his brothers must find love (or at least empathy) with their millionaire neighbors before they lose the family farm in Tennessee. Critics say, "It's hilarious, fantastic and sheer joy," featuring folk music at its best.

How does a show make its way in the theater industry? In 2022 this new musical won the Musical Theater Heritage Residency Award in KC. Later that year it traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won a #1 Best of Fest award. After the June Arts Asylum run, the show heads to New York City to play at the 59E59 Theaters. If the show makes it even further, you’ll have been a part of its success.

The entire event is still only $45 per person so put your group together and join us.

As always, tickets are nonrefundable. Should your schedule change you are welcome to give or sell your tickets to a friend.

This will be our last event until September as most arts groups will be on vacation. We're already planning interesting fall outings, including a trip to Lawrence to visit the newly refurbished Spencer Museum, several artist studios and private collections.

Kemper Museum 4420 Warwick Blvd.

Arts Asylum 824 East Meyer Blvd. (entrance on east side near parking lot)