There are lots of kinds of laughs – warm laughs, hysterical laughs, astonished laughs, cute laughs and sometimes even naughty laughs. And that’s just for starters.
You’re sure to find one or another that will suit you this weekend, whether that means busting a gut or merely having a good giggle. You can do it purely for a lark or maybe for a worthy cause that helps others.
Ah, so many laughs to be had, yet so little time. Better get going. It’ll be Monday before you know it.
For the second straight year, local parents of kids with autism have collaborated with professional comedians to hone their true and tender family stories for the stage. Moms and dads who will be sharing tales of love and laughter as neophyte stand-up comics include Scott Foley, Brian Goff, Joel and Jennifer Gray, Christine Long, Rosie O’Laughlin, Jeff Nessel, Kris Ray and KCUR’s own on-air announcer Jenny Whitty. Proceeds benefit Camp Encourage, an overnight camp for young people with autism spectrum disorders. Friday, 7 p.m.; Gem Theater, 1615 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $35 (recommended for ages 21 and over due to some grown-up themes).
The latest cross-dressing sendup of pop culture from Kansas City’s one and only Late Night Theatre fuses the 1980s detective TV series Remington Steele with the 1980s female-bonding goings-on of the hit play and movie Steel Magnolias. What happens when these different make-believe worlds collide? Utter adult-oriented silliness, of course, featuring zany takes on such celeb actors as Pierce Brosnan (Missy Koonce), Sally Field (Ron Megee), Dolly Parton (Ryan Matthew Chambers), Shirley MacLaine (Gary Campbell), Daryl Hannah (Ryan Gove) and Olympia Dukakis (Chadwick Brooks). Expect big hair and big laughs, as well as the totally unexpected – because when it comes to Late Night, making it up is part of the plan. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m.; Missie B’s, 805 W. 39th St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $15, $25 (must be 21 and over).
There are plenty of seats left for The Book of Mormon this weekend at the Music Hall. Ha! That’s a good one. Even with a total of 15 performances of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy scheduled through March 8, face-value tickets appear to be sold out. I say “appear” because promoters are still encouraging folks to keep checking back for tickets, in case some may become available closer to show time. If so, it would be well worth the effort, since this famous entertainment’s treatment of the Mormon religion offers both hefty laughs and a lot of heart. If you’re wondering, independent ticket brokers are asking upwards of $300 for select seats. OMG. Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 and 6:30 p.m.; Music Hall, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.; official face-value tickets if available: $45-$160.
4. Steve Aoki
Here’s something funny: Steve Aoki, one of the hottest electro dance music deejays out there, is also a table tennis fanatic. Not laughing yet? What if he wove his dance-inducing remixes while playing ping pong at the same time? OK, that’s (probably) not going to happen when Aoki, who comes from L.A., does his progressive musical thing for local fans. Then again, this guy is all about exercising his options – he’s not only a record producer but a fashion designer. Aoki’s Neon Future Experience tour of trippy sonic acts includes Headhunterz, Caked Up, Dirtyphonics and Reid Stefan. Definitely count on laughing feet! Thursday, 8 p.m.; Midland Theatre, 1228 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $23-$135 (ages 18 and over).
5. Arenacross
Arenacross, featuring Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross competition, takes indoor motorcycle racing to the next level – literally. Not only do 16 riders find themselves soaring almost 30 feet above the dirt track, they must travel 50 feet in the air to cross the finish line, which also happens to be the longest jump on the track. Event organizers compare the feat to catapulting over six school buses placed side by side. Nervous laughter, anyone? The two-day spectacle includes Amateur Day on Sunday, when riders seeking to make a living at this sort of thing will rev up their earth-encrusted machines to try and make the big time. Call me a worrier, but let’s hope for more thrills than spills. Yikes. Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon; Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd.; Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $12-$52.
Laughter is sure to be in the air when Angela and Friends perform ventriloquism and storytelling for kiddos in honor of Tell a Fairy Tale Month. Angela’s special friend Mother Goose is scheduled to make an appearance. (To see Father Goose, you’ll have to watch the 1964 Cary Grant movie of the same name, which offers up its own family friendly laughs – just sharing.) Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; North Kansas City Public Library & High School Media Center, 2251 Howell St., North Kansas City, Mo.: admission: free (registration required).
