Kansas City MO. The Barn Players

are pleased to announce their 2018
season of award-winning shows, and their director selections who will helm each production.

THE BARN PLAYERS AT THE ARTS ASYLUM: OUR 2018 MAIN STAGE SEASON
New Venue Address: 1000 East 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
★ CHICAGO; Directed by Kipp Simmons; March 1 – 11; Music by John Kander; Lyrics by
Fred Ebb; Book by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse. Expect roaring twenties razzle-dazzle as
suspected murderer Roxie Hart and inmate Velma Kelly vie for the headlines in this American
musical classic! Will they achieve the American Dream? Fame, fortune, acquittal, and all that jazz?
★ URINETOWN; Directed by Korey Childs; April 19 – 29; Music by Mark Hollmann; Lyrics
by Mark Hollmann & Greg Kotis; Book by Greg Kotis. In a downtrodden city a water
shortage has led to a government ban on private toilets that is regulated by an evil company
that profits by charging admission. Amongst the throng, a hero decides that he’s had enough
and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!
★ TORCH SONG TRILOGY; Directed by Chris McCoy; May 31 – June 10; By Harvey
Fierstein. Meet Arnold Beckoff, a torch song-singing Jewish drag queen, living in New York
City during the turbulent late 1970s and early 1980s. We see Arnold struggle through love,
disease, and the challenges of child-rearing in this award-winning work that broke new ground
challenging both gay and straight audiences.
★ THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY; Directed by Eric Magnus; August 23 –
September 2; Music & Lyrics by .Jason Robert Brown; Book by Marsha Norman; Based
on the novel by Robert James Waller. An Americanized WW2 Italian war-bride looks forward
to a rare four days alone on her Iowa farm when her family heads to the 1965 State Fair.
When a National Geographic photographer pulls into her driveway seeking directions, those
four days may very well alter the course of her life.
★ ROCK OF AGES; Directed By Guy Gardner; November 8 – 18; Music & Lyrics by
Various Composers; Book by Chris D’Arienzo; Arrangements and Orchestrations by
Ethan Popp. A rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end at one of Hollywood’s last old school
rock clubs when developers come to town with plans to turn the fabled joint into yet another
strip mall. Can the gang save the club (and themselves) before it’s too late? Only the music of
hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, and more hold the answer.
★ THE 11th ANNUAL 6 X 10: Original Ten-Minute Play Festival; December 7 – 9. The
Barn’s yearly December showcase of ten-minute one acts from emerging local playwrights.
DON’T FORGET BARN KIDS & BARN JUNIOR!
New Venue Address: Bishop Miege Campuses, 5041 Reinhardt Drive, Roeland Park, KS 66205
★ Barn Junior: Disney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME; Directed by Jason Coats;
January 11 – 14; Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; Book by Peter
Parnell; Based on the Victor Hugo novel and the 1996 Disney Film. A misshapen 15thcentury
church bellringer (confined by his devious caretaker) escapes for a day only to be
mocked cruelly by all he encounters, save for a beautiful gypsy girl. This stage adaptation
embraces story theatre and also features verbatim passages from Hugo’s classic gothic novel.
★ Barn Kids: SEUSSICAL, KIDS; Directed by Jason Coats; July 13 – 15; Music by Stephen
Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; Book by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty; Based on the
works of Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton the elephant, who discovers a
speck of dust containing tiny people called the “Whos.” Although Horton faces danger and a
trial, his kooky friend Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of
loyalty, family and community prevail for Gertrude, Horton, and the “Whos.”