Maud Wagner of Emporia joined the circus and defied convention with hand-poked ink. Her story headlines a KCUR live podcast on September 24 in Overland Park.

Pintscher’s leadership and a new contract extension send the Kansas City Symphony back to Europe this August, with a Helzberg Hall preview on Aug. 21.

Third-year Japanese summer festival in Merriam adds 20-plus vendors and tighter safety controls instead of chasing bigger crowds.

Jeff Parsons, known as “Fearless Jackrabbit,” unveiled the black-and-white mural at his Riverside home near NW Riverside Drive and NW Gateway Avenue.

Betsy Burleigh inherits a 195-member volunteer choir after Charles Bruffy's sudden exit ended a nearly two-decade run.

The $1.1 million “Growing Kindness” sculpture stands outside the Arboretum's LongHouse Visitor Center, its poppies modeled on Hanson's own paintings.

Overland Park's Hayley Podschun trained at Miller-Marley before playing Glinda — now Legally Blonde keeps her from the KC run.

A nonprofit group near WaKeeney is building a new drive-in as Kansas theaters fight to survive. Existing venues in Wichita and Kanopolis show why community support matters.

Melissa Etheridge is playing a free outdoor concert at Current Landing Monday, but advance registration is required. The short, family-friendly show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Yo-Yo Ma is headed to Helzberg Hall for the Kansas City Symphony's classical opener. The booking brings instant marquee pull to the new season.

Café 333 opened in May as Kansas City's first alcohol-free jazz listening room, blending zero‑proof cocktails with nightly live music and shareable plates.

KC Fringe pares down to 37 shows but keeps access cheap: a $5 Fringe Button and mostly $15 tickets get you into the 22nd festival running July 16–26.

A new sports‑film festival will debut in Kansas City Aug 28–29 with screenings, panels and the world premiere of Chasing Goals in 18th & Vine.