KC 2022 event guide: Concerts, comedy, theater, festivals

After postponing twice, Kenny Chesney is scheduled to perform at Arrowhead Stadium on July 2.

After postponing twice, Kenny Chesney is scheduled to perform at Arrowhead Stadium on July 2.

Invision/AP

Kenny Chesney postponed his 2020 Arrowhead Stadium show because of the pandemic. In 2021, he delayed it to 2022. Will the third date be the charm?

The same holds true for other big events, such as concerts by Elton John and Justin Bieber, rescheduled at the T-Mobile Center after lengthy postponements.

The new year brings a full calendar of entertainment after 2020 was largely lost to COVID-19 and 2021 was marked by fits and starts as the pandemic ebbed and flowed. Of course, with the omicron variant surging and millions still unvaccinated, who knows what 2022 will hold?

Some major local events, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Kansas City Symphony’s “Celebration at the Station” and Boulevardia, are scheduled to return after having been canceled the past two years. Boulevardia will move to the Crown Center area after years in the West Bottoms.

Comedy has been the most resilient of all performing arts throughout the pandemic, with shows carrying on almost uninterrupted since the fall of 2020. And after the past two years, a lot of people could use a laugh or two.

This year’s lineup is a veritable who’s who among female comics, including Fortune Feimster, Whitney Cummings, Iliza Shlesinger, Chelsea Handler, Kathleen Madigan, Margaret Cho and Leanne Morgan. An impressive list of male comics also will visit, with the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland serving up Sebastian Maniscalco, Nate Bargatze and Jim Jefferies — and that’s just in January.

It is worth noting that some major annual events have not yet set dates and many, if not most, concerts for later in the year have yet to be announced. Also, most local performing arts groups have not released their 2022-23 seasons, so our calendar is limited to events at the ends of their 2021-22 schedules.

That being said, here is a list of major local events to look forward to in 2022.

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Boulevardia, the festival of beer, food, music, makers and more, was held in the West Bottoms before being canceled the past two years because of the pandemic. This year it will run June 17-18 at Crown Center. Jill Toyoshiba [email protected]

10 annual celebrations

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17, midtown. kcirishparade.com

Brookside Art Annual, April 29-May 1, Brookside district. brooksidekc.org

Boulevardia, June 17-18, Crown Center ($35-$55). boulevardia.com

Riverfest, July 4, Berkley Riverfront Park. kcriverfest.com

KC Fringe Festival, July 17-31, multiple venues. kcfringe.org

Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Aug. 19-21, Swope Park. eeckc.org

Kansas City Irish Fest, Sept. 2-4, Crown Center. kcirishfest.com

Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, Sept. 2-5, Independence Square. santacaligon.com

Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Sept. 3-Oct. 16, Bonner Springs. kcrenfest.com

Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 23-25, Country Club Plaza. plazaartfair.com

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Pop legend Elton John will bring his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour to the T-Mobile Center on Feb. 1. Rob Grabowski File photo

Popular music

Kacey Musgraves with King Princess and Muna, Jan. 21, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Elton John, Feb. 1, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

The Beach Boys, Feb. 9, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org

Eric Church, Feb. 18, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Tyler, The Creator, Feb. 19, Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com

Folk Alliance International Conference, Feb. 23-26, Westin Crown Center. folk.org/programs/conference

Louis Tomlinson, Feb. 26, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Korn with Chevelle and Code Orange, March 5, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Tool with The Acid Helps, March 15, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Journey with Billy Idol, March 16, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Cole Swindell with Travis Denning and Ashley Cooke, March 24, Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com

Alt J and Portugal. The Man, April 7, Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com

Santana, April 12, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Morgan Wallen with Larry Fleet, April 30, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

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Justin Bieber is set to perform at the T-Mobile Center on May 4. AP

Justin Bieber, May 4, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

New Kids on the Block with Salt N Pepa, En Vogue and Rick Astley, May 15, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Rage Against The Machine, May 18, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Judy Collins and Madeleine Peyroux, May 22, Yardley Hall. jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events

AJR, June 1, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Haim, June 4, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

REO Speedwagon and STYX with Loverboy, June 14, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Bon Iver, June 15, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Chicago and Brian Wilson, June 20, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Matchbox Twenty, June 21, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Barenaked Ladies with Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket, June 29, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Kenny Chesney, July 2, Arrowhead Stadium. ticketmaster.com

Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe with Poison and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, July 19, Kauffman Stadium. ticketmaster.com

Goo Goo Dolls, Aug. 1, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

David Gray, Aug. 7, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Alicia Keys, Aug. 24, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

Jack White, Aug. 29, Starlight. kcstarlight.com

“Weird Al” Yankovic, Sept. 2, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org

Roger Waters, Sept. 3, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Twenty One Pilots, Sept. 9, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Shawn Mendes with Tate McRae, Sept. 26, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Keith Urban with Ingrid Andress, Sept. 29, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

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Mike Epps and friends will appear Feb. 26 at Municipal Auditorium as part of the No Remorse Comedy Tour. COLBY WARE File photo

Comedy

Randy Rainbow, Jan. 15, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Sebastian Maniscalco, Jan. 15, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Nate Bargatze, Jan. 21, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Jim Jefferies, Jan. 28, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Fortune Feimster, Jan. 29, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Feb. 3, Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com

D.L. Hughley, Feb. 18-20, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Rodney Carrington, Feb. 18-19, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

Whitney Cummings, Feb. 19, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Terry Fator, Feb. 25, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

No Remorse Comedy Tour featuring Mike Epps, Sommore, Gary Owen, Lavell Crawford, Earthquake, Feb. 26, Municipal Auditorium. kcconvention.com/events

Tone Bell, March 3-5, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com

Adam Carolla, March 11-12, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com

Tom Segura, March 12, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Hasan Minhaj, March 22, Music Hall. kcconvention.com/events

Yakov Smirnoff, March 25, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

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Jim Gaffigan will bring his comedy to the T-Mobile Center on April 1. File photo

Jim Gaffigan, April 1, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Iliza Shlesinger, April 8, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Chelsea Handler, April 23-24, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

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Chelsea Handler will perform April 23-24 at the Uptown. Jordan Strauss File photo

Kathleen Madigan, April 23, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Gilbert Gottfried, April 28-30, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com

Bert Kreischer, May 7-8, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Brian Regan, May 20, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Margaret Cho, June 16-18, Comedy Club of Kansas City. thecomedyclubkc.com

Leanne Morgan, Aug. 27, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

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TV star and comedian Margaret Cho is scheduled to play the Comedy Club of Kansas City on June 16-18. Rich Fury File photo

Broadway Series

broadwayinkc.com

“Mean Girls,” March 15-20, Music Hall

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” March 29-April 3, Kauffman Center

“An Officer & A Gentleman,” April 12-17, Kauffman Center

“Fiddler on the Roof,” May 3-8, Music Hall

“Ain’t Too Proud,” June 21-26, Music Hall

Starlight Broadway season

kcstarlight.com/events/broadway

“Oklahoma!” May 13-15

“Waitress,” May 17-22

“Hairspray,” June 7-12

Riverdance, June 17-19

Blue Man Group, June 24-26

“Anastasia,” Aug. 9-14

“Sister Act,” Aug. 16-21

“The Prom,” Sept. 13-18

Kansas City Symphony

Kauffman Center

kcsymphony.org

“Shostakovich’s Fifth, Plus Gershwin’s Piano Concerto,” Jan. 14-16

“Film + Live Orchestra: ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ In Concert,” Jan. 20-23

“Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration, Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto,” Jan. 28-30

“Prokofiev’s Fifth, with Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations,” Feb. 4-6

“Film + Live Orchestra: ‘Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi’ in Concert,” Feb. 10-13

“Elgar’s First, plus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24,” March 4-6

“Buckets N Boards,” March 13

“La Mer and Brahms’ Violin Concerto,” March 25-27

“Pétrouchka, plus Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto,” April 1-3

“Sinatra and Friends,” April 7-9

“ABBA The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA,” April 12-14

“Miraculous Mandarin with Rachmaninoff’s Fourth Piano Concerto,” April 22-24

“The Composer is Dead and other Musical Mysteries,” May 7

“Windborne’s The Music of Queen,” May 20-22

“Celebration at the Station,” May 29, Union Station

“Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, World Premiere of Rogerson’s Violin Concerto,” June 3-5

“Windborne’s The Music of the Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards 1969,” June 9-10

“Sleeping Beauty with Sibelius’ Violin Concerto,” June 17-19

“Ode to Joy: Beethoven’s Ninth,” June 24-26

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The Kansas City Ballet will present “The Wizard of Oz” May 13-22 at the Kauffman Center. Kenny Johnson

More performing arts

“Our Black Death: Plagues, Turnips, & Other Romantic Gestures,” Jan. 19-Feb. 6, Unicorn Theatre. unicorntheatre.org

“Oliver!” Jan. 20-30, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. metkc.org

“Soul Sisters — Aretha, Billie, Ella,” Jan. 21-Feb. 13, Quality Hill Playhouse. qualityhillplayhouse.com

“Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson — Apt. 2B,” Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Feb. 1-20, Copaken Stage. kcrep.org

Kansas City Ballet, “Dracula,” Feb. 18-27, Kauffman Center. kcballet.org

Lyric Opera of Kansas City, “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs,” March 11-13, Kauffman Center. kcopera.org

“Don’t Dress for Dinner,” Feb. 2-April 10, New Theatre & Restaurant. newtheatre.com

“Beautiful – The Carole King Musical,” Feb. 14, Lied Center. lied.ku.edu

“The Royale,” Kansas City Repertory Theatre, March 8-27, Copaken Stage. kcrep.org

“Madagascar The Musical Live,” March 24, Music Hall. kcconvention.com/events

“Stevie: Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” March 24-April 10, MTH Theater at Crown Center. musicaltheaterheritage.com

Joyce DiDonato’s “Eden,” April 12, Folly. hjseries.org

Lyric Opera of Kansas City, “Tosca,” April 30-May 8, Kauffman Center. kcopera.org

Kansas City Ballet, “The Wizard of Oz,” May 13-22, Kauffman Center. kcballet.org

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Renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, a Prairie Village native, will perform April 12 at the Folly as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series. SIMON PAULY File phot

Other events

“Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: Time Bubble Tour,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. kauffmancenter.org

#Imomsohard, Jan. 29, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

“Dancing With the Stars,” Feb. 8, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

“The Bachelor Live On Stage,” March 20, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Disney On Ice, “Mickey’s Search Party,” March 24-27, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

Trixie and Katya, March 25, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland.. arvestbanktheatre.com

Alton Brown, March 27, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Rupi Kaur, May 18, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

CrankGameplays Presents: I Have To Do This Show, May 19, Folly. follytheater.org

“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Aug. 14, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

“The Price Is Right” Live, Oct. 27, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Disney Princess: The Concert, Dec. 4, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Thre TBA

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Southmoreland Park. kcshakes.org

Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. bigslickkc.org

American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Kansas Speedway. americanroyal.com/bbq

Related stories from Kansas City Star

Dan Kelly has been covering entertainment and arts news at The Star for 10 years. He previously worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Miami Herald and The Louisville Courier-Journal. He also was on the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty for six years, and he has written a historical novel, “Soaring with Vultures.”


https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article256962272.html

Christin Hakim

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