Up From the Ashes: Warwick Theatre Revival Draws Applause

Karen Paisley, artistic director and cofounder of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, stands in a balcony above the stage at the Warwick Theatre. Behind her are storage tubs full of costumes that she and volunteers cleaned after a devastating fire at the site two years ago, on Feb. 6, 2024. (Todd Feeback | Flatland)

Two years ago, John Cleary met a fellow Kansas City actor for drinks. Their conversation centered on the fate of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. A large portion of the ensemble’s home, the Warwick Theatre, was ash, charred timbers and soot-saturated costumes and props — remnants from a recent massive fire. The destruction was so great…

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Nick’s Picks | Andretti, FIFA, Petition and More …

From Shutdown to Epstein Now that the federal government shutdown is over, our major news outlets need another big drama to focus on. They seem to have found it in the Epstein files. The House is expected to vote Tuesday on releasing the final documents relating to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The…

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Area crop artist’s latest work celebrates U.S.-Mexico ties

Lawrence, Kansas-based crop artist, Stan Herd, says his portrait of a Mexican indigenous woman is the most relevant work he has created. The portrait in a field in Linwood, Kansas. (Mary Sanchez | Flatland)

Kansas soil, cleared of vegetation to reveal a rich brownish mauve, forms the indigenous woman’s skin. Sand, mulch, woodchips, and compost are layered and sculpted to form the rest of the portrait titled “Young Woman of Mexico.” Stan Herd has sculpted similar images for more than 30 years in places like Brazil, China, and Cuba.…

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Nick’s Picks | Layoffs, World Cup, ‘A Christmas Carol,’ and More…

Photo of the Fairfax Assembly plant

The Big Shutdown Nearly two thousand auto workers at GM’s Fairfax plant are being pink-slipped today. General Motors is temporarily shutting down production at the Kansas City, Kansas, facility to transition to electric vehicles. The move signals the end of the line for the Cadillac XT4 and the Chevy Malibu, two models that are being…

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