Contact: Janell Rinne, jrinne2@jccc.edu
For more information: www.jccc.edu/MidwestTrustCenter
Collage Dance Collective in RISE and
Their Eyes Were Watching God
at Midwest Trust Center November 14
Overland Park, KS (October 6, 2025) The Midwest Trust Center is proud to present an evening of dance with
Collage Dance Collective on Friday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Rooted in the heartland of Memphis, TN,
Collage Dance Collective embodies the greatness of American dance and is at the national forefront of inspiring
the growth and diversity of ballet. Collage’s meteoric rise over the last decade is fueled by its dynamic
programming, virtuosic company artists, and its talent for presenting what the Albany Times Union called
“ballet made utterly, gorgeously human.” Collage Dance Collective was recently named a Southern Cultural
Treasure by South Arts and the Ford Foundation and is one of the 50 largest ballet companies in the nation.
The dynamic program of mixed repertory is set to feature Their Eyes Were Watching God, a neo-classical ballet
co-choreographed by company co-founder and Artistic Director Kevin Thomas and Amy Hall Garner, inspired
by the Zora Neale Hurston novel of the same name once heralded as “one of the 100 best novels”
by TIME magazine.
Tickets are now on sale by phone at 913-469-4445 and online at jccc.edu/MTC.
Additional Upcoming Performances at MTC include:
Fresh off the success of its Drama Desk Award-nominated production Zephyr and a five-week holiday run of
Yuletide Factory off Broadway at the New Victory Theater, acclaimed theatrical circus company Cirque
Mechanics is thrilled to announce its sixth touring production, Tilt! The show soars into the Midwest Trust
Center on Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. Press assets can be found here.
On Saturday, November 8 at 2 p.m. Kansas City’s own Opus 76 Quartet will join internationally celebrated
violinist, Alexander Markov, for an afternoon concert featuring music by Paganini, Haydn, Tartini, and Bach.
Established in 2017, Opus 76 has swiftly emerged as a leading force in the classical music world, earning
acclaim in prestigious international music journals such as Bachtrack, Gramophone, and The Strad for their
exceptional performances, innovative programming, and deep commitment to education and community
outreach. Press assets can be found here.
Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale now. Purchase online here or call the Midwest Trust Center Box Office Monday-Friday
10am-5pm at (913) 469-4445.
For more information about these shows and the rest of the 2025-2026 Season, visit jccc.edu/MTC.
Midwest Trust Center Series 2025-2026 Season
Oct. 10 Mariachi Garibaldi & Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande – Eternamente: A Dia De Los Muertos
Spectacular
Oct. 17 Varietopia with Paul F. Tompkins*
Oct. 18 A Live Conversation with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook Following a Screening of
She’s All That
Oct. 19 Dustbowl Revival & Hot Club of Cowtown: 60 Years of Bob and Willie
Oct. 23 The Life and Music of George Michael
Oct. 25 MTC Kids Jam – Flor Bromley*
Oct. 25 Vienna Boys Choir
Nov. 7 Cirque Mechanics – TILT!
Nov. 8 Opus 76 Quartet with Alexander Markov, violin
Nov. 14 Collage Dance Collective – RISE/Their Eyes Were Watching God
Dec. 6 Christmas in Killarney
Dec. 11 Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol
Dec. 13 MTC Kids Jam – Dan + Claudia Zanes Holiday Sing Along*
Jan. 17-18 Jungle Book*
Jan. 24 MTC Kids Jam – Mr. Stinky Feet and the Hi-Tops*
Jan. 30 The Barricade Boys Broadway Party
Feb. 14 The Acting Company – Great Expectations
Feb. 15 The Acting Company – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Feb. 20 The Westerlies*
Feb. 22 Ranky Tanky*
Feb. 26 Tango After Dark
Feb.28-Mar.1 The Coterie Theatre – My Stuffie and Me
Mar. 6 Secrets of Space
Mar. 7 MTC Kids Jam – Divinity Roxx*
Mar. 7-8 Winterlude Jazz Festival featuring Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble
Mar. 13 Serial Killers with Dr. Scott Bonn*
Mar. 14 Seffarine*
Mar. 15 JigJam*
Apr. 4 Yagódy*
Apr. 9 Lightwire Theater – The Ugly Duckling
Apr. 18 The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Apr. 19 Australian Chamber Orchestra
Apr. 24 I AM, HE SAID : A Celebration of the Music of Neil Diamond
May 9 MTC Kids Jam – Uncle Jumbo*
May 15-16 StoneLion Puppet Theatre – 1,000 Cranes and the Tree of Wishes*
About Midwest Center, Johnson County Community College
The Midwest Trust Center is Johnson County’s performing arts center. Early on, the founders of Johnson
County Community College (JCCC) dreamed of building a world-class performing arts venue in Johnson
County, Kansas. In 1990, that dream was realized, and the center soon became a cultural hub for the rapidly
growing county. The Midwest Trust Center’s growth parallels that of Johnson County, expanding from 50
events in the first season to around 150 annually today. Events include Midwest Trust Center Series, the annual
series of around 25 events presented by JCCC that feature professional, internationally known artists in a wide
variety of genres; academic branches of JCCC; and community groups who rent the space.
In 2020 Johnson County Community College accepted a $1,000,000 donation intended to provide an ongoing
endowment to support the College’s Performing Arts Series. These funds will also provide scholarships for
students studying creative arts at JCCC. As a feature of the donation, the center now bears the name Midwest
Trust Center, a local company founded by Brad Bergman. The donors Brad and Libby Bergman are long-time
supporters of the College, having co-chaired the JCCC Foundation’s annual Some Enchanted Evening Gala – the
largest single fundraising event for student scholarships. Brad has also served as Chair of the JCCC Foundation
Board of Directors. The Bergmans have been consistent supporters of dozens of activities at JCCC. They have
four children, each of whom has benefited from classes taught at the College.
For more information, please visit Midwest Trust Center 2025-2026 Season
