KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fans of NBC’s Saturday Night Live will see a familiar face flipping the switch at this year’s Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony on your 41 Action News station.
The County Club Plaza and KCP&L – soon to become Evergy – announced Thursday morning that Kansas City native and SNL star Heidi Gardner will take the Plaza stage on Thanksgiving to flip the switch at the 90th annual ceremony.
Gardner, who remains a Chiefs and Royals fan, has also appeared on the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Finale and Superstore on NBC.
“[Gardner] is a Kansas City fan favorite, and we know she will add an upbeat, fun energy to this year’s event,” Kasey Vena, marketing and sponsorship director for Country Club Plaza, said in a release.
Known for decades to customers across the Kansas City area as KCP&L, this year’s event will be the first under the company’s new name, Evergy.
“We are honored to be a partner in this important community event to light up the Plaza for our region,” Chuck Caisley, chief customer officer for Evergy, said.
The annual Thanksgiving-night event draws tens of thousands of people to the Country Club Plaza as Kansas City celebrates the start of the holiday season.
Harvest Productions is the live entertainment partner for the event, which can also be watched live starting at 6 p.m., Nov. 28, on 41 Action News.
Harvest Productions is scheduling auditions for dancers and singers at the event.
Auditions for dancers and performing groups, including show choirs, dance studios, etc., are scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 4711 Central St., Kansas City, Missouri. There are 12 slots available, with each slot running for 15 minutes.
- Each group will perform a three- to five-minute self-chosen, up-tempo holiday-themed number.
- Performance may take place on hard tile, wood or concrete, so strategic footwear is advised.
- Singers will showcase acoustic talent, and all artists will bring their own music and speakers to these auditions.
- Groups with vocals should bring backing accompaniment tracks, amplification will be provided.
Auditions for individual singers will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 12, also at 4711 Central St. There will be 12 slots available, with each slot running for five minutes. Singers need to prepare 32 bars of an up-tempo holiday number.
Auditions for individual dancers will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, also at 4711 Central St.
- Performance may take place on hard tile, wood or concrete, so strategic footwear is advised.
- The dance combination will be taught at noon.
- Dancers should come stretched and warmed up.
Auditions for dance and performing groups will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at the 4711 Central St. location. There will be 12 slots, with each slot running for 15 minutes.
- Each group will perform a three- to five-minute self-chosen, up-tempo holiday-themed number.
- Performance may take place on hard tile, wood or concrete, so strategic footwear is advised.
- Singers will showcase acoustic talent, and all artists will bring their own music and speakers to these auditions.
