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Great Performances: Memphis

Turn back the dial to the 1950s in this Tony Award-winning musical. Watch Friday, February 24, 2012 at 9pm.

Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best New Musical, “Memphis” turns the radio dial back to the 1950s to tell the story of a white DJ, named Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball), whose love of music transcends race lines and airwaves. His romantic interest is Felicia Farrell (Montego Glover), a young black singer whose career is on the rise but who can’t make the break out of segregated clubs on her own. When the two collaborate, her soulful music reaches radio audiences everywhere, and the golden era of early rock ‘n’ roll takes flight. But as things heat up, whether the world is really ready for their music — or their love — is put to a test. With an original story by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) and a new score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan, the production is directed by Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

Watch Friday, February 24, 2012 at 9pm.

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KCPT Kicks Off Production for Upcoming PBS Arts Documentary

"Homecoming" will feature Mezzo Soprano and Kansas City native Joyce DiDonato, Maestro Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony.

Our crew officially began production for the upcoming PBS Arts documentary, “Homecoming,” featuring Mezzo Soprano and Kansas City native Joyce DiDonato, Maestro Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony.

The first seconds of footage were caputured in New York City where Joyce is finishing her run at the Met in the opera “The Enchanted Island.”

We spent a beautiful evening with Joyce and her family, Paul Flaherty and nephew Brendan, who made the trip from Kansas City to celebrate Joyce’s final performance. 18 year old Brendan warned his star aunt that he would be vying for screen time and has promised to be looking quite dashing for his first visit to the Met.

They let our crew tag along for a siteseeing trip across the Brooklyn Bridge, where the views of Manhattan are spectacular. Joyce, who is also an avid photographer snapped away wildly taking every opportunity to catch both the beauty of the view and good old fashioned family vacation pics. We hope to get some of those pictures and post them here.

Joyce couldn’t have been more amazing to work with, even giving us a little vocal entertainment for our tour with her own rendition of the favorite Bee Gees hit, “Staying Alive!”

Brooklyn Bridge at dusk with Joyce DiDonato and Family

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge at dusk with Joyce DiDonato and her family

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PBS Arts from Chicago

Follow award-winning director/choreographer Bill T. Jones’s intense creative journey. Watch Fri, Nov. 11, 2011 at 9pm on KCPT or Sat, Nov. 12, 2011 at 7pm on KCPT2.

Follow award-winning director/choreographer Bill T. Jones’s intense creative journey as he leads his company in the creation of Fondly Do We Hope … Fervently Do We Pray, an original dance-theater piece in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial. Anna Deavere Smith hosts. “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man” is a co-production of A Good Man Film LLC, Kartemquin Films, Independent Television Service (ITVS), Thirteen’s AMERICAN MASTERS for WNET, and Media Process Group, with the cooperation of the Ravinia Festival. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WTTW.

Watch Fri, Nov. 11, 2011 at 9pm on KCPT or Sat, Nov. 12, 2011 at 7pm on KCPT2.

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PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains

Film explores the roots of American music. Watch Fri, Nov. 4, 2011 at 9pm on KCPT and Sat, Nov. 5 at 7pm on KCPT2.

Narrated by Steve Martin, a banjoist himself, the film explores the roots of American music — the minstrel show, ragtime and early jazz, blues, old-time, folk, bluegrass and country. It is a story of America’s quintessential musical instrument from its African slavery roots to the 21st century, featuring performances and commentary from contemporary folk musicians such as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Taj Mahal, Béla Fleck and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as from leading music historians, instrument builders and collectors. Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash hosts. GIVE ME THE BANJO is produced and directed by Marc Fields with Michael Kantor as executive producer. Tony Trischka is co-producer and music director. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station UNC-TV (North Carolina).

Watch Friday, November 4, 2011 at 9pm.

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