11635 Kaw Dr.
Comedy Variety Show
Comedy Variety Show
Join us for a fun-filled night of comedy! The line up includes a little bit of everything: stand up comedy, improv, and even a comedic song! You won’t want to miss this night. Doors will open at 6:30pm.
Date and Time: April 27th at 7:00pm
Location: Greenleaf KCK
11635 Kaw Dr.
Kansas City, Kansas 66111
Please use Google Maps to avoid getting lost.
Get Tickets Here!
Adventures in Odyssey: A Summer Staple!
Written by Maizie Ferguson | Edited by Evi Wheeler
One wonderful Greenleaf staple of the summer is Adventures in Odyssey®. Greenleaf has offered Adventures in Odyssey® camps since 2000, making this the twenty-third consecutive year of AIO. It is a summertime tradition that children look forward to from year to year! In this article you will find an overview of the typical AIO week, past camp testimonies, and this year’s camp offerings.
AIO is a fast-paced camp that not only teaches incredible acting skills, but also the virtues of patience and determination, and is the catalyst for many long-lasting friendships. Enrolled students will send in a video audition in order to be cast, then they will receive an AIO script. Students will be expected to have their lines memorized before the camp week. Over the course of the week, students will learn valuable theatre skills such as projection, stage terminology, memorization, and characterization; as well as life skills and virtues, such as time management, teamwork, cooperation, responsibility, humility, and confidence.
The day is set up into manageable sections, typically starting with theatre games, before rolling into rehearsal and blocking. All of our AIO instructors are year-round theatre instructors and are very knowledgeable and experienced in working with young actors. There are plenty of game breaks to ensure the cast gets to know each other, and by the end, many students have become fast friends. A showcase is presented to the families at the end of the week.
Here are a few words from past assistants:
“It was amazing to get to see the directors being so joyful and patient with the kids. It definitely was a fun experience for me to go and see what it is like to direct a children’s show and to watch everyone encourage our future actors to grow in their talents.” – Daleigh Kelly
“AIO is a wonderful camp for growing knowledge, talent, and friendships. Some of my best memories of Greenleaf were made at AIO. I had the pleasure of assistant directing the camps this summer. It was incredible to see the kids’ phenomenal growth over the week and to see them make new friends. Greenleaf has made some fantastic young actors!” – Oliver Kelly
“I had the honor of serving as a stage manager at the Adventures in Odyssey (AIO) camp last summer. I was so blessed to watch the kids grow and put on a show with excellence, in only a week! The script had a moral that the kids understood and could relate to thanks to the amazing content from Focus on the Family. This camp is a great opportunity to grow in acting skills and in godly character.” – Lydia Wiley
And a quote from an AIO student:
“Adventures in Odyssey is a super fun camp! One of my favorite things about it is that each year the script is totally different. Settings go from modern times to the wild west to outer space! We not only get to put on a super fun play after a week of rehearsing, but we also get to play theatre games and bond with our cast and leaders. Mics, costume changes, memorizing lines… AIO has it all! It is a great camp to invite your friends to do with you. I love AIO because it has such a fun, positive, silly environment, and it is the perfect addition to your summer!” – Henley Ferguson
Current camp openings:
AIO Afternoon camp at Cedar, boys (4), girls (2)
AIO Morning camp at Cedar, boys (3)
AIO Morning camp at KCK, boys (4), girls (4)
AIO Afternoon camp at South, boys (1)
We hope you can join us! Click here to register.
WHY THEATRE? Theatre and Beyond
Written by Maizie Ferguson | Edited by Sage Friedline
Theatre, like every other performing art, requires extensive practice and dedication, which trains students. Knowledge is not just restricted to books, and theatre is not just acting. Theatre is a way of comprehending yourself and the world.
Oliver, a passionate actor, shared:
I started theatre at Greenleaf in 2016. God used Greenleaf in my life in so many different ways. I was never sure before what I was going to do for a career, but after all the uplifting and amazing experiences at Greenleaf, I feel like God is calling me to the performing arts. I’m excited to see what opportunities this will open up for me.
In conclusion, preparing for a performance and playing theatre games helps students get used to speaking in front of others and communicate well. It also builds empathy! By observing others, students learn how beneficial it is to make creative choices on stage—and in real life. By having a safe and nurturing environment to rehearse, students gain confidence. The ability for students to put themselves in other roles and situations transfers into the ability to come up with solutions to real-world problems. How does theatre apply to real life? It applies to everything!
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
We are excited to see how Greenleaf continues to be “the place to grow” for many years to come.
Interested in joining this amazing art form? Click here to see theatre classes this fall, and register here. We can’t wait for you to join us!
WHY THEATRE? Theatre, Empathy, and Faith
Written by Maizie Ferguson | Edited by Sage Friedline
When a student participates in theatre, they receive or create a part to play. Whether that part is a person, an animal, or something else entirely, more often than not the actors are not playing themselves; they must believably act as someone else. This forces students to step into someone else’s shoes and “leave themselves” backstage. This practice builds empathy, as actors get to experience firsthand a different point of view, different struggles, different joys, different customs, and much more.
Two of our Kids’ Musical students — Haley, the youngest of many Greenleaf-involved siblings, and Joshua, an enthusiastic theatre lover— shared that their favorite part of Greenleaf was the show experience. Performing can cause stress, especially in the new or inexperienced actor, but presenting is a vital part of building empathy. While performing, actors share the story and characters with those in the audience, exposing them to the world of the show.
Theatre at Greenleaf also imbues the truth into a field that desperately needs it. In today’s world, art and media are distancing themselves from modesty and propriety, casting worldly shadows. Faith and theatre can easily go hand in hand. Watching or performing the stories we know so well on the stage can result in a profoundly spiritual experience, strengthening the faith of many in the process.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8
Interested in experiencing theatre for yourself? Click here to see theatre classes this fall, and register here. We can’t wait for you to join us!