Choir Trip St. louis, KCMarch 19 – 23, 2016

Trip Objectives

• To experience professional artistic productions of a high quality, ranging from concerts, to theatrical plays, to musicals.

• To learn about art, music and theatre by touring museums, symphonic halls and historical theatre’s.

• To gain a better understanding of the rich music history of St. Louis & KC, as well as visit historical markers in those cities.

• To be exposed to the culture within these cities and interact with other high school music programs in the area.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016

10:45am Meeting at ACHS

11:00am Depart for Kansas City

2:30pm-4:30pm Exploring the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

5:00pm Supper at El Fogon

8:00pm Matthew Morrison in Concert

Our Ride: Village Tours Mini Coach

• We will meet at the back of ACHS

at 10:45am & leave promptly at 11.

• Eat BEFORE you come please

• This coach is complete with a DVD

player, so if you have a fun movie

you would like to bring to watch you

can, but we will take a vote before

watching it. Must be appropriate for a school activity.

First Stop: Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

Objective: Discovery the art gem of KC that is Nelson Atkins in two hours!

• Your assignment while here, will be

to find your favorite art piece in the

museum. Take a pic of it & share it

with the group when we get back on

the bus. Know the artist, year, what

collection it is from and why you

think it is AWESOME!

TO DO at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

Check out the art work! If you are an art buff,

you can find art work by famous artists like:

• Georgia O’Keeffe

• Rembrandt

• Claude Monet

• Edgar Degas

• Michelangelo

• Dorthea Lange

To name a few… OR if paintings aren’t really your thing, check out the sculpture

park, with a glass labyrinth, shuttlecocks and more!

Second Stop: Supper “El Fogon” Restaurant

• Local joint in Overland Park, KS

• Super close to the hotel

• Authentic Mexican Food

• Small Menu: Tacos, Tortas, Quesadillas,

Burritos.

• Extremely reasonable prices: $1.99-$8

Eating Establishments

Objective: To broaden your pallet horizon’s, eating at establishments that are local to where we are and are known for their distinctive food. i.e. – food culture

I not only want us to eat well on this trip, I want us to eat at local places! You get a better grasp of the city you are in and are exposed to the city’s culture by its unique restaurants. Don’t worry; all are reasonable and there will be a wide variety. But please, keep an open mind.

Third Stop: Comfort Inn & Suites

• This is our hotel in KC

• There is free Wi-Fi & breakfast

• Guy’s you all will be rooming

together.

• Ladies, I need you to tell me who you would prefer to room with & with that information I will create room assignments (with the goal being, everyone is happy).

Fourth Stop: Kauffman Performing Arts Center

Objective: see “Matthew Morrison in Concert”/get to hear a real professional

• What to bring:

- Concert etiquette

- Binoculars (if you want)

- Nice attire

Guys: Dress pants, button

up shirt, tie/bowtie.

Ladies: Suit, nice dress,

slacks & a blouse etc.

Just look classy!

Matthew Morrison in Concert

During the concert, be the young

people everyone is super impressed

by. Turn your phones off and don’t

speak loudly to your neighbor at

the concert.

• This is a tony award winning

singer! Enjoy it & keep in mind

which song was your favorite from

the evening. I’ll be asking on the

bus.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016

10:30am Check-out of Hotel

11:30am-4:00pm New Theatre Restaurant

4:00-8:30pm Drive to St. Louis

8:30pm Grab Concrete’s at TED DREWES

First Stop: New Dinner Theatre

Objective: See dinner and a show, as well as learn from real actors about their acting process & life as an actor.

• What to bring:

- Your dinner is paid for, but bring extra

money for a tip (15%) & dessert. You choose

your drink: water, tea, pop or coffee. Choosing

more than one (besides water) is extra.

- Dress code: same as last night, look classy!

Since it is a matinee, you may wear khakis, or

more of a day dress. No jeans though.

“Over the Moon,” by Ken Ludwig

The show we are seeing is, “Over the Moon,”

by Ken Ludwig.

• After the show we will have a Q & A time with

members of the cast. Each of you need to have a

legitimate question ready, because it is really nice

of them to talk to us on a 2 show day.

The synopsis is below:

In this hilarious comedy two fading stars of the 1950’s are playing a comedy and a drama in rotation in Buffalo, New York. On the brink of a disastrous split-up, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at regaining their stardom. One perfect performance is all they need. Unfortunately, everything that could go wrong does go wrong and no one on stage knows if they’re in the drama or the comedy!

Second Stop: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

This place is a St. Louis tradition and restaurant staple. It is the “go to” stop for locales after a cardinals game or a show at The Muny. It was a business kick-started by local tennis star Ted Drew.

FUN FACT: The stand we are stopping at has been around since 1941. I would suggest getting a concrete, it is a classic here!

• Price range: $2-$7

• There are so many options,

I will have menus printed &

on the bus, so you can decide

what you want before hand.

Third Stop: Hampton Inn by the Arch

• This is our hotel in St. Louis

• There is free Wi-Fi and breakfast

• There is a swimming pool, so bring a swimsuit

• As you can see on your itinerary, lights-out is at

11pm, however please remember that after 9pm

most hotels have quiet hours. I do not want to

receive a call from the front desk regarding noise.

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

9:45am Depart for City Museum

1:10pm Lunch at The Rooster

2:15pm St. Louis Cathedral Basilica

4:00pm Powell Concert Hall Tour

5:45pm Dinner at Blueberry Hill

First Stop: City Museum

Objective: To have FUN and re-discover how great a jungle gym can be!

• What to bring:

- You need to have a driver’s license

with you or a photo ID with age. Otherwise

you cannot get in.

- Have clothes you can move in and don’t wear

Anything that could get caught on things.

- Tennis shoes are a must!

- Stay in pairs at least & try not to get lost.

Second Stop: Lunch at “The Rooster” Restaurant

• Local crepe, breakfast, brunch, sandwich

and lunch Café.

• Large menu with great variety ranging from

Crepes to salad, sandwiches & soups.

• Price range: $7-$13

• If wanting something sweet, go for a

Nutella crepe here!

Third Stop: Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

Objective: To experience mosaic

artwork and architecture.

This space is awe-inspiring. I am

going to ask all of you to observe

that it is a sacred space & as such,

please show respect for the space &

those worshiping there.

Turn your phones to silent when in

the sanctuary.

Fourth Stop: Powell Concert Hall

Objective: Tour one of the most beautiful concert halls in the United States & learn about the historical music influences the hall had on St. Louis. As well as admire its European architecture and learn about the St. Louis Symphony.

I don’t know if they will have a Q & A

time, but figure out at least 1 question

you can ask about the hall or St. Louis

symphony!

FUN FACT: Powell Concert hall was built

in 1925 & the premiere movie theatre,

as well as a performing hot spot for

vaudeville performances.

Fifth Stop: Supper at “Blueberry Hill” Restaurant

• This restaurant has been around since 1972. It jump-started the revitalization of the St. Louis Delmar Loop district and has been a landmark ever since.

• Similar to a hard rock café (only locally owned). The restaurant is decorated with owners Joe Edward’s music memorabilia & pop culture collections. Unlike the Hard Rock café, Blueberry hill has multiple stages were live music happens monthly. Singers like Chuck Berry, Ed Sheeran, the Lumineers, and Grandmaster Flash have all graced the Blueberry Hill Club stage.

• American Food, price range: $9 - $15

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

10:15am Tour the Fabulous Fox Theatre

12:10pm Lunch at “The Fountain”

1:40pm Journey to the Zoo

5:15pm Supper at “Pi Pizzeria”

8:00pm If/Then the Musical at the FOX

First Stop: The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Objective: To learn about the history of the historical FOX Theatre in St. Louis and its musical impact on the city. As well as getting to witness a stand-out work of Byzantine architecture from the late 1920’s.

Performers like Nat “King” Cole, Bob Hope, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Mae West & more recent performers like The Grateful Dead, have all performed at the Fox. In fact, since 1982 over 1,500 shows have had a run in the FOX.

Same as Powell Hall, have 1 question ready.

This is my favorite theatre I have ever been to

in my entire life! You literally feel like you are

walking back in time into a 1920’s movie palace.

FUN FACT: The FOX was 1 of 3 movie palaces built in 1929

Second Stop: Lunch at “The Fountain” Restaurant

• Local café and ice cream bar

Built in 1916, used to be a car show room

on St. Louis’ Automotive row. The café still has the hand painted Art Deco walls.

• Soups, Sandwiches, Salads & Ice Cream

• Price Range: $5 - $12

They have in-house soda’s, so if you ever wanted to try an old fashioned phosphate soda, this would be the place to do it.

Third Stop: St. Louis Zoo

Objective: Learn about the history of the St. Louis zoo and forest park!

• Everything we do here will be as a

group. We will explore the zoo as one.

If we finish before the bus is there to

pick us up, someone should bring a

Frisbee & we can go play in forest

park.

Fourth Stop: Supper at “Pi Pizzeria” Restaurant

• Local Pizzeria

Started as a food truck in St. Louis, the community loved it so much it expanded into multiple restaurants & now, has even been invited/prepared pizza at the White House for the first family.

• Pizza, cornmeal deep dish & thin crust

• Crazy toppings (tons of options)

• You will want to split an order

• Price Range: $13-$23 (split: $7-$12)

Fifth Stop: If/Then the Musical

Objective: To experience a Broadway touring production of high caliber in a one of a kind theatre.

The show “If/Then” has some adult themes;

“ A woman named Elizabeth is rebuilding her life in NYC where

she discovers a world of possibilities. It that moment she will

lead parallel lives. This is a show looking at both of those.”

Dress Code: Same as Matthew Morrison in Concert.

The same rules apply here, please turn off your phones, if you

would like to bring binoculars you may. Be super fantastic audience members!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016

7:30am Check-out of Hotel/Get on the Road

11:30am Workshop with Sumner Academy or Blue Valley North

12:45pm Eat at Joe’s KC

5:00pm Arrive at ACHS

First Stop: Blue Valley North

Objective: To learn from other KC music programs on how their program works, what they sound like and what their class is like.

• We will workshop with Blue Valley North.

• You can wear travel clothes that aren’t sweats.

• We might sing for them, they will sing for us & it

might be more of an exchange of getting to know

another music program & the kids there.

• Try to make an effort to get to know the other kids we

talk with.

Second Stop: Lunch at “Joe’s KC BBQ”

• #1 BBQ Restaurant in KC!

• This is my friends favorite BBQ place.

• It started in a gas station & hopefully we will

be able to go to the original location (because it

is great atmosphere!)

• Price Range: $6 - $23(if you get a rib slab)

Third Stop: Andover Central High School

• We will be home by 5pm! (that is the goal anyway)

• I expect to see each of you at school on Thursday and Friday. Do not skip because you are tired. Trips like this are possible, because individuals like you act responsibly and show up at school after the trip.

• That being said you need to get work in BEFORE spring break if you can. I will be communicating with staff this week about it. So if you can, be proactive and on-top of things (i.e. be the great student’s you normally are)

Clothes to Wear

Saturday, March 19th : Travel clothes & dress clothes for Matthew Morrison in Concert.

Sunday, March 20th: Dressy clothing for New Dinner Theatre (not jeans), travel clothes to change into at NDT before driving to St. Louis.

Monday, March 21st: Tennis shoes, clothes you can move in that won’t get caught on stuff.

Tuesday, March 22nd: Casual clothes & dress clothes for If/Then the Musical.

Wednesday, March 23rd: Casual clothes to travel in & workshop at KC school’s in.

Extra’s to Bring

• Food Money - $100 (if you are going to splurge on desserts or get extra food on the road, I would suggest bringing more than this).

• Binoculars - we did not get the $100+ dollar tickets to shows, so if you want to see everything up-close, plan accordingly.

• Drivers License – you need it for the city museum.

• DVD’s for on the bus.

• A Frisbee for downtime in the park.

• A pillow for the long bus ride.

• Swimsuit for the hotel pool.

• Pajama’s

• Adventurous, open-minded, positive attitude

Closing Remarks

This is a school sponsored activity. The only way we keep getting to do trips like this, is if you all do not break the rules. The reason you get to go on this trip, is because people before you didn’t ruin it.

Rules:

1. No drugs, alcohol or any sort of illegal substances.

2. No co-ed sleeping quarters. Curfew is 11pm, you are in your designated room by then & you do NOT leave it.

3. When we have down time at the hotel, you stay in the hotel, do not leave unsupervised.

4. No drama, traveling in groups can be difficult, keep your cool.

5. Invest in the trip & let’s have a great time!

Please have the parent consent form signed and returned by

Monday!

I’m really excited for this trip. I believe it is going to be

awesome and feel we have a wonderful group going. Please be

on-time to everything so we don’t get behind on schedule, but

especially on the 19th, because we do not wish to leave

anyone behind!