No one can have a fab time all the time.
But this weekend you can damn the torpedoes of reality and go full speed ahead toward a range of fabulous happenings, from cheering the ultimate dream concert to discovering hidden treats left by the Easter Bunny.
Will your head explode from too much fabulousness? It’s unlikely … but what a way to go!
1. Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles
What if the Fab Four had played a reunion concert a decade after they broke up? The revamped Broadway hit, “Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles,” toys with that wondrous rock fantasy. The first half is familiar territory for these sorts of costume-changing Beatles tribute band extravaganzas, covering iconic tunes and looks from 1963 to 1970. But the second half offers the ultimate what-if gig, supposedly taking place on John Lennon’s 40th birthday – Oct. 9, 1980 – less than two months before his tragic passing. But let’s keep it fabulous, shall we? That means also getting to hear some of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s 1970s solo material. On his first post-Beatles solo album, Lennon sang: “The dream is over.” Perhaps not quite.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway; Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $38.50-$68.50.
2. ABBA-Cadabra
The Heartland Men’s Chorus meets the disco-era harmony party of ABBA. All I can say is fab alert! Well, this too: Kansas City’s 150-voice gay and gay-sensitive chorus will share their flair for boogying down in such ABBA favorites as “Dancing Queen,” “Mama Mia” and “Take a Chance on Me.” Feel free to root for a rendition of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight).” It’s like ABBA wrote it, wrote it, wrote it for these guys!
Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.; Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $18-$43.
Without Taylor Swift and other young and oh-so-self-possessed female pop stars to collectively lampoon, where would actress/comedian/singer Colleen Ballinger be? Without more than 1 billion YouTube views, for one thing. For another, not on a fab national concert tour in the guise of her waiting-to-be-discovered pop-star alter-ego Miranda Sings. Everyone is in on the joke – except Miranda, of course. But that doesn’t stop the over-the-top wannabe from calling out her haters and blithely asking the musical question, “Where My Baes At?” Right in front of you, Miranda, right in front of you.
Saturday, 7 p.m.;Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $45.50-$55.50.
The fabulously effective insult comic and celebrity roaster, Lisa Lampanelli, goes where few other successful standups can go and remain standing. Her putdowns are cruder and lewder than those dared by most other gritty laugh merchants, routinely riffing on rude stereotypes of race and sexual identity. But Lampanelli takes care to tout herself as the “Loveable Queen of Mean.” The oxymoronic moniker incorporates her Don Rickles-style show-biz affection for the willing victims who dare to sit near the stage and be taken apart by her exceedingly sharp words. Call it a comedy cocktail of laughs and cringes. And Lampanelli smells fear, so maybe hit the perfume and cologne!
Friday, 8:30 p.m.; Star Pavilion at Ameristar Casino and Hotel, 3200 N. Ameristar Dr., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $35-$50.
5. The Crayons
The love that the Crayons, KC’s time-tested cover band of 1960s rock era hits, still have for the music they play is rivaled only by the love of that music by their fans. If you’re not among the faithful, I’m guessing you will be after experiencing this fab vintage outfit. But you don’t have to be old to feel invigorated by the experience. A Crayons show can be just as much fun for those who missed out on the sixties the first time around – so here’s your two-hour primer, kids.
Friday, 7-9 p.m.; recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $10.
Bring an Easter basket to this fab outdoor community fest hosted by the Easter Bunny that includes a load of family activities – yet no explanation why the big rabbit hides chocolate eggs instead of raw carrots for children to hunt and consume with delight. Wait, chocolates taste better than carrots! Never mind.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon; National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th St., Kansas City, Mo.; admission: free.
Brian McTavish is a regular arts and culture contributor for KCUR 89.3. You can reach him at brianmctavish@gmail.com.
