What’s coming to KC in 2024? Huge Disney exhibit, so many new venues, concerts, more
If 2023 was the year of big concerts in Kansas City, then 2024 appears destined to be the year of big ears. As in Mickey Mouse ears.
“Disney100: The Exhibition” will open May 24 in Union Station. It celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Co., founded by brothers Walt and Roy Disney, but it will focus significantly on Disney’s Kansas City origins.
“Disney is everywhere these days, and for us to have it in the home where he created Mickey Mouse is pretty spectacular,” said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station.
“This exhibition is so unique because we’re able to add a rich story about Walt. … I think it’s going to be very meaningful to Kansas City, and I’m really excited about it.”
The exhibition in the 20,000-square-foot Bank of America Gallery will feature interactive installations and artifacts, works of art, costumes, props and memorabilia drawn from films as old as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) and as recent as “Encanto” (2021) and Marvel movies.
Advance tickets have been available for two months, and Guastello said early sales indicate attendance should compare to “Auschwitz: Not Long Ago. Not Far Away.” That exhibition drew a Union Station record of more than 315,000 during 2021-22 despite being recommended for visitors 12 and older.
“Disney100” will obviously appeal to all ages.
“This one will transcend all ages,” Guastello said. “… They are coming out with the Mouseketeer ears like I’ve never seen before.”
“Disney100” — without most of the Kansas City-centric items — debuted last February at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute and is now open at Exhibition Hub Art Center in Chicago. A separate version has run this year in Munich and London.
The Union Station exhibition will headline a Disney-filled year in Kansas City. Disney on Ice will visit the T-Mobile Center in January, and July will see “Disney’s Newsies” at the New Theatre and Restaurant and “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” at both the Starlight Theatre and the Jewish Community Center’s White Theatre.
Other 2024 theater offerings will include three plays based on the careers of music legends (Nina Simone, Michael Jackson and Cher), and another featuring the music of a fourth legend, Bob Dylan (“Girl From the North Country.”)
The real Dylan was among the amazing local concerts in 2023, having played two nights at the Midland in October. Next year’s music lineup won’t compare to 2023’s Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Janet Jackson, Pink and Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks.
Still, Drake, Bad Bunny, Pitbull, Olivio Rodrigo, Hank Williams Jr. and Niall Horan are nothing to sneeze at, and many 2024 concert dates have yet to be announced, so the local offerings are sure to expand.
Already assured is that it will be a banner year for comedy shows in Kansas City, as well as for new venues.
Expected to open in the next few months are the Rock Island Bridge, America’s first entertainment district on a bridge; the Pennway Point district, where the 150-foot KC Wheel opened this month; Rabbit hOle, the long-awaited children’s literature museum in North Kansas City; and the Kansas City Current’s CPKC Stadium at Berkley Riverfront Park.
Here are the highlights of Kansas City’s entertainment schedule for 2024:
“Disney100: The Exhibition”
▪ May 25 through fall 2024 at Union Station. Now on sale: First access pass, $100; VIP pass, $50; anytime pass (any day except opening weekend), $30. Tickets for specific dates and times will go on sale in January, $25. tickets.unionstation.org.
Four more Disney events
▪ Disney on Ice, “Into the Magic,” 7 p.m. Jan. 25, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 26, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 27, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Jan. 28, T-Mobile Center ($17-$30). t-mobilecenter.com.
▪ “Disney’s Newsies,” opens 6:30 p.m. July 5; runs through Sept. 8, New Theatre and Restaurant ($44.75-$72.75). newtheatre.com.
▪ “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” opens 7:30 p.m. July 6; runs through July 28, White Theatre ($18-$38). thejkc.org.
▪ “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” 8 p.m. July 9-14, Starlight (tickets on sale April 1). kcstarlight.com.
Pair of Pans
▪ Kansas City Ballet, “Peter Pan,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16-17, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-23, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Kauffman Center ($34-$149). kcballet.org.
▪ “Peter Pan,” 8 p.m. Sept. 17-22, Starlight (tickets on sale April 1). kcstarlight.com.
Trio of bio-musicals
▪ “Nina Simone: Four Women,” Kansas City Repertory Theatre, opens 7 p.m. Feb. 13; runs through March 3, Copaken Stage ($35-$65). kcrep.org.
▪ “MJ: The Musical,” PNC Broadway in Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. May 7-10, 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 11, 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 12, Music Hall ($44-$99). broadwayinkc.com.
▪ “The Cher Show,” 8 p.m. May 28-June 2, Starlight (tickets on sale April 1). kcstarlight.com.
Five musical highlights
▪ Kansas City Symphony, “Joyce DiDonato’s Sparkling Songs, and Strauss’ Die Fledermaus,” 8 p.m. Jan. 12-13, 2 p.m. Jan. 14, Kauffman Center ($29-$115). kcsymphony.org.
▪ Drake with J. Cole, 8 p.m. March 2-3, T-Mobile Center ($144.50-$900). t-mobilecenter.com.
▪ Lyric Opera of Kansas City, “Roméo et Juliette,” 7:30 p.m. March 9 and 15, 2 p.m. March 17, Kauffman Center ($38-$213.50). kcopera.org.
▪ Kenny Chesney, 5 p.m. July 6, Arrowhead ($45-$294). ticketmaster.com.
▪ Olivia Rodrigo, 7 p.m. July 26, T-Mobile Center (sold out). t-mobilecenter.com.
More music
▪ Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Jan. 25, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
▪ Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin and Pitbull, Feb. 17, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Scotty McCreery with Anne Wilson and Noah Hicks, Feb. 22, Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com
▪ Bad Bunny, March 26, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Peter Frampton, April 5, Midland. midlandkc.com
▪ Dan + Shay, April 7, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ AJR, April 19, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Kane Brown with Tyler Hubbard and Parmalee, April 11, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Greta Van Fleet with Geese, May 2, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie, May 9, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.
▪ NF, May 10, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Bleachers with Samia, May 23, GrindersKC. grinderskc.com
▪ Noah Kahan, June 5, Azura Amphitheater. azuraamp.com
▪ Tim McGraw with Carly Pearce, June 8, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Sarah McLachlan with Feist, June 9, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
▪ Niall Horan, July 16, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
▪ Morgan Wallen with Lainey Wilson, Nate Smith and Ella Langley, Aug. 1, Arrowhead. ticketmaster.com
▪ Blink-182 with Pierce the Veil, Aug. 9, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Hozier, Aug. 9, Azura Amphitheater. azuraamp.com
▪ Green Day, Aug. 20, Azura Amphitheater. azuraamp.com
▪ Zach Bryan with Levi Turner Matt Maeson, Aug. 20, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ O.A.R., Sept. 5, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
▪ Hank Williams Jr. with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sept. 14, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
Comedy
▪ Nikki Glaser, Jan. 27, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
▪ Mike Epps with DeRay Davis, Lil Duval, DC Young Fly, Chico Bean, Karlous Miller and Mojo Brookzz, Feb. 3, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Kathy Griffin, Feb. 4, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
▪ Nate Bargatze, Feb. 10, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ Rodney Carrington, Feb. 16-17, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com
▪ Leanne Morgan, Feb. 23, Midland. midlandkc.com
▪ Jo Koy, March 14, Midland. midlandkc.com
▪ Jim Jefferies, March 23, Midland. midlandkc.com
▪ Randy Rainbow, April 6, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
▪ Jimmy Carr, April 18, Midland. midlandkc.com
▪ Brian Regan, April 20, Uptown. uptowntheater.com
▪ Jeff Dunham, April 24, Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com
▪ Bianca Del Rio, April 28, Midland. midlandkc.com
▪ Tom Segura, June 7, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
▪ Wanda Sykes, June 15, Music Hall. ticketmaster.com
More kids stuff
▪ “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” Live: King for a Day, Jan. 20, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org
▪ Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour!, March 2, Music Hall. babysharkontour.com
▪ “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” March 2, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
▪ Harlem Globetrotters, April 6, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
▪ “Alice: Dreaming of Wonderland,” April 11, Yardley Hall. jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events
▪ Grimmz Fairy Tales, April 23, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
▪ “Shrek the Musical,” July 26-28, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
Annual events
▪ Kansas City Restaurant Week, Jan. 12-21, multiple venues. kcrestaurantweek.com
▪ Planet Comicon, March 8-10, Bartle Hall. planetcomicon.com
▪ St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17, midtown. kcirishparade.com
▪ Brookside Art Annual, May 3-5, Brookside district. brooksidekc.org
▪ Kansas City Symphony, Celebration at the Station, May 26, Union Station. kcsymphony.org
▪ Big Slick weekend, May 31-June 1, Kauffman Stadium and T-Mobile Center. bigslickkc.org
▪ Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, “Julius Ceasar,” June 11-30, Southmoreland Park. kcshakes.org
▪ Boulevardia, June 14-15, Crown Center. boulevardia.com
▪ KC Fringe Festival, July 12-28, multiple venues. kcfringe.org
▪ Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Aug. 16-18, Swope Park. eeckc.org
▪ Kansas City Irish Fest, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, Crown Center. kcirishfest.com
▪ Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Independence Square. santacaligon.com
▪ Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Aug. 31-Oct. 14, Bonner Springs. www.kcrenfest.com
▪ Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 20-22, Country Club Plaza. plazaartfair.com
▪ American Royal World Series of Barbecue, TBA, Kansas Speedway. americanroyal.com/bbq
▪ Plaza Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 28, Country Club Plaza. countryclubplaza.com
Note: The Kansas City Air Show will not be held in 2024.
