Good morning, Wichita!

We like to think of the Wichita Life Update as the new news. But sometimes, you have to go back to go forward. Scroll to the bottom for a new (we like to think fun) section of some of our emails.

Let’s get into it!

- Landon Huslig

Together with Advanced Orthopaedic Associates

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AOA Now is open seven days a week, making it a convenient option when injuries happen outside normal doctor’s office hours. Check out both the east or the west locations.

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Music Theatre Wichita

Wichita is home to multiple different performing arts organizations. They are each incredible in their own right, but it can be confusing which is what and what is who.

There are organizations like Broadway Wichita that bring in and host traveling productions like Hamilton or Lion King (amongst others, those are just the two biggest ones I can think of).

There are others like Roxy's, Mosley Street Melodrama, or even Old Cowtown (and a larger list of other performing arts orgs here - I’m sure I am missing some, so let me know).

Another one that stands out is Music Theatre Wichita, which is the topic of today's deep dive.

So, what is Music Theatre Wichita?

What is Music Theatre Wichita?

Music Theatre Wichita or MTWichita exists to "advance the musical theatre art form by educating and nurturing creators, artists, and audiences, primarily through the production of Broadway-caliber shows."

It was founded in 1972 and MTWichita self-produces 5 Broadway-scale musical productions each year including everything from costumes to sets and more.

This is a top-notch production where young professionals are hired each summer in exchange for employment, training and connections (the network of MTWichita alumni is widespread and can be found in nearly every Broadway musical and national tour).

MTWichita brings in ~65,000 visitors to Wichita and about half of the $5 million annual budget is funded by ticket sales. The rest comes from corporate, private, and foundation donors or renting out the incredible costumes and sets (like from the upcoming Les Mis production or past productions like CATS).

How many people are involved and what does the organization look like?

If you've never been to a Broadway show or even a traveling Broadway show, you might ask:

What does "Broadway-scale" actually mean?

Over the summer, MTWichita employs 200+ seasonal workers to build costumes, craft set pieces, manage the stage, direct, choreograph, build props, design, direct, and perform.

The different departments / aspects of production and performance include carpentry, welding, props, costumes wardrobe, paint, lighting, sound, administrative, education, production, hair and makeup.

The giant props? They are all made in house. It's insane to see the scale in person.

Take a look at a behind the scenes vi video I took a few years ago to get an idea of the scale. It makes you appreciate it that much more when you know everything that goes into a single production.

Actors

Most of the actors primarily come from out of state, and they have a Resident Ensemble composed of talented individuals from some of the top Music Theatre Programs across the country. To select the cast members, they conduct an annual audition tour with stops in major cities such as NYC, Chicago, OKC, and Wichita. A few years ago, the auditions resulted in:

400+ college students auditioning for the Resident Ensemble.
250+ professional actors auditioning for leading roles.

In addition to the out-of-town talent, they also feature some local Wichitans who have become company favorites. These include Roye Moye III, Karen and Tim Robu, Steve Hitchcock, Monte Wheeler, Katie Banks-Todd, Jenny Mitchell, and Injoy Fountain.

What does a day in the life of the team look like?

Costume and Wardrobe Team: "The costume and wardrobe team faces the immense task of sorting, tailoring, customizing, or building hundreds, if not thousands, of clothing pieces for each production. For instance, the golden gown worn by Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast' was custom-made for actress Ranease Brown and took nearly 3 months to complete. Even for rented packages, like 'Cats,' there are numerous alterations and custom pieces to create, as not all costumes fit all actors. The shoes for 'Cats' were ordered to fit each cat and then hand-painted to match their costumes."
Carpentry and Welding, Props, and Construction Departments: "In carpentry, welding, props, and other construction-related departments, workers are tasked with building unique set pieces based on renderings. Effective project management is essential to coordinate progress and maintain a smooth workflow between departments that rely on each other to complete specific elements for each set piece."
Hair, Wig, and Makeup Department: "The hair, wig, and makeup department conducts extensive research to create proper time period styles and hand-craft custom wigs for each character. When wigs are rented from other theaters, workers meticulously inspect and repair them to ensure they are stage-ready."
Production Team: "The production team plays a vital role in maintaining the schedule of the build, managing the budget, and ensuring that all projects are completed on time."
Administrative Team: "The administrative team handles ticket sales, builds donor relationships, and oversees publicity for the organization, ensuring its success in various aspects."
Overall Production Schedule: "To put it all into perspective, MTWichita maintains a tight schedule to produce five stage shows. Building sets, costumes, and props can take upwards of four months. The shows are selected a year in advance, but the time between when performers arrive in Wichita and the opening night performance is just three weeks. So, the performers have only three weeks to master choreography, songs, lines, and character development. Often, during the run of one show, performers are already working on the next production."

What makes Music Theatre Wichita special or different from other productions in town?

Music Theatre Wichita is a world class caliber theatre that employs local talent, upcoming performers, and Broadway veterans.

The company has a national reputation as a major stepping stone to Broadway. It also has a robust and growing education department that cultivates young talent and encourages development in the art form. It is a gem of the Midwest.

Music Theatre Wichita is special due to its long-standing legacy, commitment to professional-level productions, diverse range of shows, educational programs, community engagement, and accessibility efforts. It attracts top talent, enjoys strong community support, and continually innovates in the world of musical theater, making it a cherished institution in the performing arts community.

How to get involved

You can get involved in a number of ways (outside of just buying tickets to enjoy a show). There are a number of classes or camps for kids or adults. A few examples include: