STEEL MAGNOLIAS

By Robert Harling

Directed by Ile Haggins

Welcome to the vivacious world of a small-town Louisiana beauty salon, where gossip flows as freely as the hairspray, and the lives of six Southern women intersect amidst rollers and curling irons.

At the center is Shelby, a charming young woman determined to defy her diabetes by embarking on the perilous journey of motherhood. Her mother, M'Lynn, oscillates between loving support and hair-raising anxiety, especially with a group of friends like Truvy, the sass-talking salon owner who dispenses advice along with hairdos.

Then there's Clairee, the town's witty socialite who finds herself in a perpetual battle of wits with Ouiser, the town's resident grump with a heart of gold buried deep under layers of sarcasm. Annelle, the shy new addition to the group, brings her own quirks and surprises as she navigates life's twists and turns.

Through laughter and tears, the women of "Steel Magnolias" show us that friendship can withstand anything—even bad hair days and catastrophic dye jobs. Their Southern charm and razor-sharp wit transform a simple beauty shop into a sanctuary of sisterhood, where love, laughter, and hairspray reign supreme.

INDOOR at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. | RATED PG-13

Roald Dahl's JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

Words and Music by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Book by Timothy Allen McDonald
Based on the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Directed by TIP Producing Artistic Director Tim Bair

"James and the Giant Peach" serves up a juicy musical adventure as it follows young James Trotter's escapades with a magically enlarged peach and its motley crew of giant insects. After James' unfortunate run-in with a potion-gone-wild, he finds himself aboard a gargantuan peach where Miss Spider, Old Green Grasshopper, Centipede (with a million legs and just as many opinions), Ladybug (who's a real lady, thank you very much), and Earthworm (a bit of a pessimist, but with a heart of compost) join him on an uproarious transatlantic journey.
 

As they navigate stormy seas and encounter peculiar characters, including James' less-than-sympathetic aunts who want to exploit the peach for profit, the unlikely band of travelers discover the true meaning of friendship, courage, and the joy of belting out show-stopping tunes on a floating fruit.
 

Filled with wit and a toe-tapping score, "James and the Giant Peach" invites audiences on a fantastical ride where giant insects become unlikely heroes, proving that sometimes the biggest adventures come from the smallest seeds (or in this case, a very large peach).
 

OUTDOOR at our amphitheater inside Shawnee Mission Park. | RATED PG

Roald Dahl's
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Book by David Greig
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman | Marc Shaiman

Directed by TIP Associate Artistic Director Guy Gardner

Step into the whimsical world of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" where Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolatier with more quirks than cocoa beans, opens his mysterious factory doors to five lucky golden ticket winners and their curious guardians. The chocolate river flows, the Oompa-Loompas dance (and sing, of course), and the candies are bigger and more magical than your wildest sugar-induced dreams.
 

Charlie Bucket, a humble boy with a heart of gold (and a sweet tooth the size of Wonka's top hat), discovers the final ticket amidst his toothpaste-for-dinner routine. Alongside the other winners—Augustus Gloop, the chocolate-loving human vacuum; Violet Beauregarde, the gum-chewing champion; Veruca Salt, the spoiled daddy's girl; and Mike Teavee, the screen-obsessed technophile—Charlie embarks on a sugar-coated rollercoaster of a tour through Wonka's fantastical factory.
 

With songs that fizz like Fizzy Lifting Drinks and choreography as delightful as a lick of an Everlasting Gobstopper, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" musical is a scrumptious spectacle that proves there's no such thing as too much candy... or too much laughter. So grab your golden ticket, leave your worries at the door, and prepare for a musical journey as deliciously zany as a Wonka Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight!
 

OUTDOOR at our amphitheater inside Shawnee Mission Park. | RATED PG

Lerner and Lowes MY FAIR LADY

Book and Lyrics by ALAN JAY LERNER
Music by FREDERICK LOEWE
Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s Play and
Gabriel Pascal’s Motion Picture “PYGMALION”

Directed by Kevin Bogan

"My Fair Lady" is a witty musical romp that follows the transformation of Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl with a tongue as sharp as her wit, into a refined lady fit for high society. Enter Professor Henry Higgins, a phonetics expert with an ego as big as his library, who bets he can turn Eliza into a duchess by teaching her to speak posh.

As Higgins molds Eliza's vowels and straightens out her grammar like a linguistics version of Extreme Makeover, sparks fly between them—though whether they're romantic or just from Eliza's fiery determination remains the question.
 

Alongside Higgins, the charmingly irascible Colonel Pickering provides a touch of sanity and a dash of humor to their audacious experiment.

Set against the backdrop of Edwardian London, "My Fair Lady" blends catchy tunes like "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "I Could Have Danced All Night" with Shaw's sharp social commentary, reminding audiences that class distinctions can be as flimsy as a flower girl's vowels. With its timeless tale of transformation and the power of language, "My Fair Lady" proves that even in matters of speech, the heart can sometimes be the best linguist of all.
 

OUTDOOR at our amphitheater inside Shawnee Mission Park. | RATED PG

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: The Musical

Book by Terrence McNally
Music by Mac Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman | Marc Shaiman

Directed by Kacy Christensen

"Catch Me If You Can" glides onto the stage with all the swagger of a smooth-talking con artist turned jet-setting impostor. Based on a true story (well, mostly true... ish), it follows the escapades of Frank Abagnale Jr., a daring dodger with a knack for forging checks and assuming identities faster than you can say "identity theft."

Chased by the relentless FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who's as determined as he is exasperated by Frank's knack for slipping through his fingers like a greased eel, the musical leaps from one glamorous locale to another. From snappy hotels to airline cockpits (yes, he even pretends to be a pilot!), Frank bluffs and blusters his way into the hearts of audiences and unsuspecting stewardesses alike.

With toe-tapping tunes that swing from jazzy heist anthems to heartfelt ballads about the perils of being a charming rogue, "Catch Me If You Can" celebrates the audacious spirit of youth, the thrill of the chase, and the allure of a life lived just outside the law—though it's not all fun and games when the law finally catches up... or does it?
 

OUTDOOR at our amphitheater inside Shawnee Mission Park. | RATED PG-13

Theatre in the Park's productions of

DISNEY'S THE ARISTOCATS, KIDS

Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman,
Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston, Terry Giklyson
Music Adapted and Arranged and Additional Music by Bryan Louiselle
Bood Adapted and Additional Lyrics by Michael Bernard
Based on the 1970 Disney Film “The Aristocats”
 

DISNEY'S MY SON PINOCCHIO, JR

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by David Stern
“When You Wish Upon a Star” and “I’ve Got No Strings”
Music by Leigh Harline, Lyrics by Ned Washington
from the Walt Disney Motion Picture PINOCCHIO

Directed by LB
 

Disney's "The Aristocats" musical purrs with charm as Duchess and her three kittens inherit a Parisian fortune, only to be cat-napped by the dastardly but bumbling Butler. With the help of alley cat ally Thomas O'Malley, they embark on a jazzy adventure across the City of Lights, where even the alleyways are filled with melody. Filled with catchy tunes and feline frolics, it's a whisker-twitching tale of family, friendship, and the timeless allure of Parisian jazz.
 

Disney's "My Son Pinocchio" musical flips the classic tale, focusing on Geppetto's heartfelt journey as a father struggling with the challenges of parenthood. Yearning to be a real boy, Pinocchio faces off with Stromboli and his diabolical schemes. Geppetto learns the true meaning of fatherhood, navigating a world of magic and misadventures. With catchy songs and whimsical charm, it's a touching tale of love, acceptance, and the power of family bonds.
 

OUTDOOR at our amphitheater inside Shawnee Mission Park. | RATED G

The Mel Brooks Musical
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Heehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks

Directed by Reed Uthe

"Young Frankenstein" the musical electrifies the stage with madcap hilarity as Frederick Frankenstein, a brilliant but reluctant scientist, inherits his infamous grandfather's estate. Determined to distance himself from his family's eccentric legacy, he hilariously battles abnormal brain mishaps and the irresistible allure of Transylvanian temptresses.

Joined by a quirky entourage including Igor, whose hump keeps migrating, and Inga, the yodeling lab assistant with a love for lightning experiments, Frederick attempts to reanimate the dead with side-splitting results. The grumpy housekeeper Frau Blücher, whose name strikes fear (and horses), adds a dose of eerie charm to the chaos.

As the town reels from monstrous mishaps and show-stopping tunes like "Puttin' on the Ritz," "Young Frankenstein" proves that even the most madcap experiments can yield uproarious laughter and unexpected love. With its homage to classic horror and a comedy that zaps like lightning, this musical is a riotous romp that's alive with infectious energy and monstrous amounts of fun.
 

INDOOR at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. | RATED PG16

Theatre in the Park's production of

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

Based on the animated television special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
adapted from the story by Robert L. May and the song by Johnny Marks
Music and Lyrics by Johnny Marks
Script Adaptation by Robert Penola
Developed by Character Arts Creations, LLC
Originally produced, direced and coneived by Jeff Frank and
First Stage with scenic and puppet designs by Brandon Kirkham
Arrangements by Timothy Splain | Orchestrations by William C. White

Directed by TIP Producing Artistic Director Tim Bair & Associate Artistic Director Guy Gardner

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" prances onto the stage with all the holiday cheer and nose-brightening humor you could dream of. Poor Rudolph, with his glow-in-the-dark schnozzle, faces the ultimate identity crisis at the North Pole's annual Reindeer Games, where even Santa's beard is jealous of his luminous nose.
 

Joined by an unforgettable cast including Hermey, the aspiring dentist elf who's all gums and no glory, and Yukon Cornelius, the rugged prospector with a nose for peppermint and adventure, Rudolph embarks on a merry mission to save Christmas from a blizzard of epic proportions.
 

With catchy tunes that jingle like sleigh bells and choreography as nimble as an elf on a sugar high, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" delivers belly laughs and heartwarming moments galore. Whether you're rooting for Rudolph to guide the sleigh or just looking forward to a snowball fight with the Abominable Snowman, this musical is a winter wonderland of hilarity that'll leave you believing in the magic of Christmas and the power of a good nose joke.
 

INDOOR at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. | RATED G.