How lucky are we in Wichita to have such a wonderful theatre community?! Better still, how lucky are we to have such a gem like Music Theatre Wichita? Producing Director Wayne Bryan and his cohort of Wichita Favorites paid homage to the city that has supported MTW for the past 50 years by showering them with some of the amazing talent that has graced the Concert Hall stage. Talent that was nurtured by Wayne and the MTW organization; talent that cut their baby teeth and grew up on the Concert Hall stage.
It was another beautiful night in Andover, Kansas. The temperature was in the mid-80 s, there was a slight breeze, and not a rain cloud in sight. Many in the crowd were purchasing snacks from the food trucks parked behind the audience. Golf carts were transporting the super annuated and folx with mobility issues from the parking areas to the audience area. The VIP area was humming, and the atmosphere was super festive.
The outdoor amphitheater stage, designed by Jordan Slusher, was covered with red, white, and blue bunting, and boasted a scrim with pinwheels and chaser lights that sat directly behind the lush 20-piece orchestra, conducted by Musical Director Thomas Douglas. There were large screens and video coverage from Kent AV, which is much appreciated for those of us in the sections farthest away from the stage.