Kansas’s Theatre in the Park has begun again after a two-year absence, with a triple bill of plays both familiar and new planned for July.
The Theatre in the Park series has been running since 1970 and has helped launch professional theatre and musical careers. The series returned earlier this month with a week of performances of Mamma Mia, the popular musical based on the music of ABBA. Summertime brings theatre from Shakespeare to Broadway to outdoor areas around the country, with events often using flyer printing and social media to bring in crowds, and Kansas is no different.
Theatre in the Park will continue with a new version of Cinderella performed between July 2 and 10, providing a fresh look at the classic fairy tale. On July 16 it will be the premiere of “Half Time – Gotta Dance”, the story of ten older people who aim to dance at a professional basketball halftime show. The summer season will conclude with a performance of the classic musical Newsies, about turn-of-the-century newspaper delivery boys, running from July 30 to August 7. The plays are also accompanied by a “Movies in the Park” program offering family films broadcast on an outdoor screen.
All Theatre in the Park productions take place at Shawnee Mission Park, aiming to attract theatergoers from nearby areas like Kansas City, Olathe, and Overland Park.
