This week’s edition of Arts Magazine has Michael welcoming guests from the Lyric Opera to discuss their production of Eugene Onegin. Later, at 12:30, Mason Kilpatrick from the Charlotte Street Foundation will give us the details on their player/composer showcase, Times Not Listening. Join us on your lunch break for lively chat and to hear what’s on in Kansas City!

Is the third time the charm for Lego’s animated franchise? Well, even though the novelty is wearing a bit thin, “The Lego Ninjago Movie” is, for the most part, cheeky, colorful fun.

Jackie Chan leads the voice cast as Master Wu, who serves as mentor and inspiration for a group of wisecracking ninjas who protect their city from a none-too-bright evil warlord. Dave Franco, Fred Armisen, Olivia Munn and Justin Theroux lend voice support.

It plays a bit like a video game hyped up on caffeine. Adults may find the whole enterprise too noisy and familiar, but the kids who know the toys and the video games should revel in the zippy action.

The decadent comic book spy movie “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was an over-the-top surprise hit in 2015. The word “over” can apply a lot to, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” as well. It’s overlong, overly silly and an exercise in overkill.

Four Oscar winning actors get mired in a plot so absurd that it makes James Bond look austere by comparison.

Also opening this week, Jake Gyllenhaal stars in “Stronger,” a true story about a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. “Rebel in the Rye” is a drama about author J. D. Salinger and his relationship with socialite Oona O’Neill. Nicholas Hoult and Zoey Deutch star. “Friend Request” is a teen horror flick involving social media. “Dayveon” is a drama about an orphaned boy who falls in with gang members in rural Arkansas. “Zoology” is a Russian drama about a woman who suddenly sprouts a tail. “Trophy” is a documentary about big game hunting. “Lost in Paris” is a whimsical French comedy about a librarian and a bum. Ben Stiller stars in “Brad’s Status,” a comic drama about a man who compares his life to that of his ultra successful friends.

Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s new horror allegory “mother!” provides meaty roles for Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer. But how good is this controversial thriller? Susan and Russ give us the lowdown.

When Trump cuts the federal budget, he’s cutting pensions for federal workers including postal employees. How bad are they, and what are federal worker unions doing to push back? We’ll find out this week on Heartland Labor Forum. Then, the average cost of college in Missouri is about $190,000. We’ll ask Germaine Moody, author of 50 Seeds of Greatness, if it still pays to go to college. Thursday at 6pm, rebroadcast Friday at 5am.

The following statement of objectives is found on the first page of the NAACP Constitution – the principal objectives of the Association shall be:

• To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens
• To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States
• To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes
• To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights
• To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination
• To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP’s Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution.

Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director and Rachel Myslivy, Assistant Director of Climate + Energy Project join host Richard Mabion.

Help is available for inmates exiting prisons and Journey to New Life is one program in Kansas City. Susie Roling joins host Craig Lubow to discuss the services offered by Journey to New Life, including housing assistance, job search help, social services, drug counseling, health and dental services, etc.
www.journeytonewlife.org

This week on Arts Magazine, actors from the Kansas City Actors Theatre talk about their production of Sam Shepard‘s A Lie Of The Mind. Later on, guests from the Olathe Community Theatre Association will discuss their production of Ruthless. Join us on your lunch break for cultural news and lively chat!