The new director of the International Center for Music at Park University says the young musicians who study in the program often arrive with the same dream.
Kansas City's role in the integration of baseball is a popular subject these days. The recent release of 42, the movie about Jackie Robinson's integration into Major League Baseball premiered in Kansas City, home of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, this month. UMKC Theatre is also tackling the subject with the debut of its play Kansas City Swing.
Chris Carr as Pish-Tush, center, leads the village men in song.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Fans out, men of the Japanese village of Titipu declare, "We are gentlemen of Japan."
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Chris Carr as Pish-Tush, (from left) Joshua Kohl, as Nanki-Poo, and David Kravitz, as Poo-Bah, advise Nanki-Poo not to pursue his beloved Yum-Yum.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
"You must not woo. It will not do, " says David Kravitz, as Poo-Bah.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Behold the Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko, played by Robert Gibby Brand, enters brandishing an axe.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Robert Gibby Brand plays Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, reading his list of people who will not be missed.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
As the holder of many high offices, David Kravitz, as Poo-Bah advises Ko-Ko, played by Robert Gibby Brand, on his upcoming wedding plans.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Yum-Yum, played by Sarah Jane McMahon, arrives to much fanfare.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Yum-Yum, played by Sarah Jane McMahon, received a kiss from her soon-to-be-husband Ko-Ko, played by Robert Gibby Brand.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
David Kravitz, as Poo-Bah, protests as he is kissed by ladies of the village of Titipu.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Joshua Kohl, as Nanki-Poo, woos Yum-Yum, played by Sarah Jane McMahon. As they talk, Nanki-Poo reveals his secret to Yum-Yum. He is the son and heir of the Mikado.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Reading an order from the great Mikado, Ruler of Japan, Ko-Ko, played by Robert Gibby Brand, (from left) and David Kravitz, as Poo-Bah, Chris Carr as Pish-Tush, discover that a citizen must be executed.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Ko-Ko is declared to be the most convenient choice for the execution. But Koko, played by Robert Gibby Brand, suggests that it would be, "Extremely difficult, not to say dangerous", for him to attempt to execute himself.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Koko, played by Robert Gibby Brand, schemes to wed the two lovers for one month. Nanki-Poo, at the end of the month must face the executioner.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
On the eve of the wedding, Katisha, played by Denyce Graves, attempts to disrupt the wedding by taking the groom for herself, but is foiled by Pitti-Sing, played by Elizabeth Tredent.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Denyce Graves, as Katisha, vows to return.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
On Yum-Yum's wedding day, Elizabeth Tredent, as Pitti-Sing, (from left) Sarah Jane McMahon, as Yum-Yum, Joshua Kohl, as Nanki-Poo, and Etta Fung, as Peep-Bo, are distraught remembering that Nanki-Poo is condemned to death.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Sarah Jane McMahon, as Yum-Yum, prepares for the wedding.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Denyce Graves, as Katisha, returns to to the village of Titipu with Dale Travis, as The Mikado.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Ruler of Japan The Mikado arrives in search of his son.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Dale Travis, as The Mikado, is told that his son has been executed.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Believing that her beloved Nanki-Poo has been executed by Ko-Ko, Denyce Graves, as Katisha, takes out her anger on Ko-Ko, played by Robert Gibby Brand. Ko-Ko throws himself on her mercy.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
In the end, the execution was a hoax. The citizens of Titipu join together in celebration.
Love conquers all in "The Mikado," a comic opera by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert introduced in London in 1885. The Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents the satirical comedy in five performances through April 28.
