Archive for category: Children Center Stage

The Life and Times of the Three Little Pigs
H&R Block City Stage, Union Station: April 12 – May 14

Theater for Young America (TYA) invites you to witness this robust and hilarious musical treatment of the English fairy tale about the three little pigs facing the threat of the big bad wolf. Created by Gene Mackey with original music by Cheryl Benge, the tale is narrated by the Peddler, who not only supplies the pigs with straw, sticks and bricks, but also finagles a role as manager of their singing careers. The pigs—Big,Tweeney and Wee – must out-maneuver the wolf while keeping their musical careers afloat. Tickets to shows can be purchased here.

TYA began in 1974 at the Waldo Astoria Dinner Playhouse. In 1977, the troupe became an independent organization and moved to Overland Park, Kan., where it performed for 17 years in a converted cinema theater. During this time, the organization grew from four productions to seven or eight per season, added drama classes, summer workshops and productions, and outreach workshops in schools.

Today, TYA performs on the City Stage at Union Station, the Wonderscope Children’s Museum, and Avila University. Since their beginning in 1974, TYA has worked to create each child’s lifelong relationship with theater. Their ultimate goal, then and now, is to encourage the educational and emotional growth of young people through our arts-based experiences.

Theater for Young America is ArtsKC Supported.

Looking to keep your mind in the creative loop? Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get up-to-date information on upcoming artistic events in the Kansas City area.

Youth City Network
Building a positive stepping stone for local youth

Founded in 2009 after many Kansas City, Kan. teens expressed the desire to have a place to share their talents, Youth City Network’s mission is to utilize the arts to cultivate and develop self-empowerment, community service, higher education, and self-expression within adolescents aged, 11-18.

Monthly events, like KC Teen Mic Night and the After School Program, are held for teens to share their talents in an encouraging environment, network with professionals, and gain insights on their artistic adventures and possible career goals.

The youth served through Youth City Network’s programs often come from broken homes, qualify for free lunch programs, are in low-income housing, or even live in shelters. Even though these kids sometimes have struggles beyond their control, they still make the effort to go to events and after school programs. Some have incurred steps toward becoming a leader, helping out more at home, and showing a better attitude, which often leads to better grades in school.

Youth City Network is ArtsKC Supported.

“No Such Thing as Normal”
The Jellybean Conspiracy Project

“No Such Thing as Normal” is a fun, educational musical about a young child with autism and his everyday quest to feel included by his neuro-typical peers. This initiative was born with the help of Howard Martin- founder of the Jellybean Conspiracy Project, Kit Bardwell, Andi Meyer and Gaby Lucas. Barclay Martin provided music arrangements and recorded all tracks for the CD.

The Jellybean Conspiracy Project was founded in 2001 and operates with the mission to bring people together by sponsoring theatre shows that share a life-changing secret: everyone’s life is important and each person has the potential to make a unique contribution to the world.

The Jellybean Conspiracy has been ArtsKC Supported in years past.