// EXPLORE CALENDAR //
CHARLOTTE’S WEB Feb. 5 at Stephens Auditorium,
TREK TO THE TOWER Jan. 13 at the C.L. Hoover Opera
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
STOMP
Ames. This treasured tale—featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals—explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. 515-294-7389. —center.iastate.edu Feb. 5-10 at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy Award, Dear Evan Hansen is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it. 515-246-2300. —desmoinesperformingarts.com
DES MOINES HOME AND GARDEN SHOW
Feb. 7-10 at Iowa Events Center, Des Moines. This show is the largest and most successful home show in central Iowa, featuring over 400 exhibitors, 1,000 experts, and amazing feature gardens. 515-244-5456. —desmoineshomeandgardenshow.com
12TH ANNUAL BLUE RIBBON BACON FESTIVAL
Feb. 16 at Iowa Events Center, Des Moines. Bacon lovers unite at this bacon-centric event that promotes international bacon fellowship. 515-564-8000. —iowaeventscenter.com
MALPASO DANCE COMPANY Feb. 19 at Des Moines
Civic Center, Des Moines. Since its establishment in 2012, Malpaso Dance Company has become one of the most acclaimed Cuban dance companies. 515-246-2300. —desmoinesperformingarts.com
CLOSE TO YOU: THE MUSIC OF THE CARPENTERS Feb. 23 at Temple Theater, Des Moines. Singer and playwright Lisa Rock has compiled a moving tribute to the music and life of Karen Carpenter. She brings it to the stage with her six-piece backing band. 515-246-2300. —desmoinesperformingarts.com
KANSAS
House, Junction City. Get a full tour of the Opera House and the chance to see inside history. Requires reservations. 785-532-6428. —jcoperahouse.org Jan. 15 at the McCain Auditorium, Manhattan. This international percussion sensation has garnered awards, rave reviews, and appeared on numerous television shows. 785-532-6428. —k-state.edu/mccain
LAWRENCE CODY KO AND NOEL MILLER: TINY MEAT GANG LIVE Jan. 23 at The Granada, Lawrence. Cody & Noel are achieving the American dream, setting out on a self-financed comedy tour and entertaining tens of hundreds of people around the ninth smartest nation in the world. 785-842-1390. —unmistakablylawrence.com
TCHAIKOVSKY’S SWAN LAKE Jan. 25 at Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita. The Russian National Ballet Theatre combines artistic mastery and technical perfection, all set to Tchaikovsky’s immortal music. 316-303-8000. —century2.org
ACOUSTIC JUNCTION Jan. 26 at the C.L. Hoover Opera
House, Manhattan. Audiences will get the chance to view the best talent in the region. Each show offers a wide variety of music, including country, folk, and bluegrass. 785-238-3906. —jcoperahouse.org
EAGLE DAY AT MILFORD LAKE Jan. 26 at the Milford
Nature Center, Junction City. Take a guided bus tour and view live eagles as they soar above Milford Lake. There will also be various programs on raptors of Kansas and a tent with activities for the kids. 785- 238-5323. —ksoutdoors.com
LEGALLY BLONDE—THE MUSICAL Feb. 2 at the
McCain Auditorium, Manhattan. The story follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. 785-532-6428. —k-state.edu
Feb.
7
LUKE COMBS: "BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART TOUR" Feb. 7 at INTRUST Bank
Arena, Wichita. This artist, with his gritty, grizzled vocals and brazen songwriting talent takes his arena tour to Kansas, featuring special guests LANCO and Jameson Rodgers. 855-755-7328. —intrustbankarena.com
JEFF DUNHAM: "PASSIVELY AGGRESSIVE TOUR"
Feb. 9 at INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita. Recordbreaking global comedy superstar Jeff Dunham will bring his cast of characters to Wichita for a night of riotous laughter and comedy. 855-755-7328. —intrustbankarena.com
POTTED POTTER Feb. 10 at the McCain Auditorium,
Manhattan. This parody takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books, and a real-life game of Quidditch, into 70 hilarious minutes. 785-532-6428. —k-state.edu/mccain
POPS — WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE
Feb. 16 at the Topeka Symphony, Topeka. Steve Lippia performs with the Topeka Symphony in a concert of the sweet, romantic, and fun songs that made Frank Sinatra famous. 785-232-2032. —topekasymphony.org
JERSEY BOYS
Feb.19-20 at Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award-winning, true-life musical phenomenon. 316-303-8000. —century2.org
AMERICAN AQUARIUM
IMPERFECT DANCERS: ANNE FRANK—WORDS FROM THE SHADOWS Jan. 29 at the McCain
WHO AM I, AND WHERE AM I GOING? Jan.
CELEBRATING WOMEN Feb. 1 at The 1900 Building,
TACO TOPIA Feb. 22 at Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas
JUNK’N’DONUTS SWAP MEET Jan. 12 at the Louisburg
HIDDEN ART LOCKED AWAY
CHOCOLATE AFTER DARK Feb. 23 at Dillion House
Jan. 3 at The Granada, Lawrence. This alt-country band’s songs are filled with biographical lyrics about last calls, lost love, and long horizons. For every drunken night at the bar, there's a hangover in the morning. For every new relationship, there's the chance of a broken heart. 785-842-1390. —unmistakablylawrence.com 19 at Topeka Symphony, Topeka. Giant philosophical questions will be posed and artists will respond through poetry and prose, nostalgia, and naivete. 785-232-2032. —topekasymphony.org Cider Mill, Louisburg. Discover antiques, new items, food, and live music. Grab a friend and peruse the 50-plus vendors, or stop by the country store for some root beer and cider doughnuts. 913-837-5202. —louisburgcidermill.com
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
Auditorium, Manhattan. This inspirational tribute is a work of extraordinary beauty and grace, The Diary of Anne Frank, inviting attendees to think about this dark period of history through the eyes of an adolescent. 785-532-6428. —k-state.edu/mccain Mission Woods. Bach Aria Soloists honors celebrated women composers throughout history, from the Middle Ages to today’s living composers, who are making vital contributions to chamber music. 913-449-6995. —bachariasoloists.com Feb. 1-2 at the Riverfront Convention and Community Center, Leavenworth. This exhibit features artwork produced by inmates of the United States Penitentiary and the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth,and an art sale on Saturday. 913-682-4459. —lvks.org
30TH ANNUAL WINTER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Feb.
22-23 at Wichita Marriott Hotel. The Kansas Bluegrass Association will be throwing the 30th annual festival, which will include Grammy Award-winning singer Tim O’Brien, a songwriting workshop, and an instrument petting zoo. 316-777-1091. —kansasbluegrass.org City. This one-day festival features a variety of Mexican food. This taco-inspired event will include local music acts, giant yard games, unique drinks, and interactive activities. 913-321-5800. —tacotopiaevent.com Events, Topeka. This event features chocolate samplings, music, and the chance to consult with world-renowned chocolatiers throughout the evening. 785-290-0073 —visittopeka.com