Kansas City PBS Film Showcase Presented by AARP

Watch the Kansas City PBS Film Showcase Presented by AARP Kansas City in October! A new film will be aired on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on the Kansas City PBS channel. Enjoy learning how Kansas City culture contributes to the arts!

Film Showcase Movie Descriptions

Bird: Not Out of Nowhere
On the centennial of Charlie “Bird” Parker’s birth, Kansas City PBS is proud to present a documentary that looks back at the years Bird spent in Kansas City and his lasting legacy on the Kansas City jazz scene. Bird: Not Out of Nowhere features rarely seen archival footage of Parker, interviews with musicians and historians, and live performances from some of Kansas City’s most talented jazz musicians.

Me, Dorothy...and This Road to Oz
“Me, Dorothy…and This Road to Oz” is an unprecedented immersive trip down the yellow brick road with the Kansas City Ballet as the cast and crew prepare for the world premiere of “The Wizard of Oz.” Audiences will follow composers, choreographers, costume builders, set designers and dancers from first read through the final bow and beyond using multi-platform and multi-media storytelling that will engage and enthrall people of all ages.  

A Century of Change 
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Negro National League. Join KCPT for a sneak peak screening of “A Century of Change: The Negro Leagues Centennial” in the historic 18th & Vine District where it all began. The film explores the league’s economic importance to the black community that thrived there and gave Kansas City its signature BBQ and Jazz. Hear the words of the Negro League Baseball Museum’s president, Bob Kendrick, as he describes championing the league and preserving its legacy. Authors Gary Ashwell and Larry Lester discuss the league’s importance in the national context. As Buck O’Neil said, “A lot about the game has changed, and thankfully, much of it is for the better.”  

Land of Opportunity
Land of Opportunity is the story of integration in Kansas City's Santa Fe Place neighborhood as one example in the fight for housing rights across America following the Great Depression. Join KCPT as we explore the legacy of racially discriminative housing policies and celebrate the pioneers who helped transform these barriers. 

Going to Arklow 
Kansas City’s Celtic Rockers, The Elders, invite KCPT – Kansas City PBS on an all-access, immersive journey back home for its 15th annual guided bus Tour of Ireland. With unfettered access to the band members, KCPT captures the personalities that connect The Elders to their die-hard fans.The 12-day tour explores the beautiful landscape of Ireland and introduces fans to the towns and sites that helped shape The Elders’ music, including the inspiration for hits like, “Moore Street Girls” and “Golden Ghost.” Lead singer Ian Byrne welcomes fans to his hometown of Arklow and offers a glimpse into the life of being an Irish-American and the balancing act that comes with being an immigrant.