The National World War I Museum is collaborating with Alliance Française de Kansas City with a special film screening of the 2004 award-winning film A Very Long Engagement. This is the final film from a French Film Festival hosted by Alliance Française de Kansas City. All ESU members and Friends of ESU are invited to […]
ESU National Board Member Mary Coleman Way in Conversation with Tamara Meneghini on Elizabeth I: in Her Own Words A critically acclaimed one-woman play, by Carole Levin, in collaboration with Tamara Meneghini and Sabin Epstein, that combines Elizabeth I’s own letters and speeches, the poetry of Shakespeare, and music of the period to reveal a complex woman […]
As Kansas City steps onto the global stage, this lively, community-focused session is designed to build excitement for the FIFA World Cup while helping fans feel confident and connected to the game. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or just starting to pay attention, this panel breaks down what actually matters on the pitch—from formations and […]
Every so often, the English-Speaking Union Kansas City Branch comes across an unexpected opportunity too special to miss, even on short notice. We are delighted to share one of those rare finds with you—a free and extraordinary evening we hope you will add to your calendar. All ESU members and Friends of ESU are warmly […]
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • 5:00 PM ETSponsored by the ESU Hawaii and Seattle Branches Did you know that Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth (President Lincoln’s assassin), performed Shakespeare plays in the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1850s? And he wasn’t alone. The Hawaiian Kingdom hosted many actors who came to the fabled islands to […]
Step beyond the familiar headlines and into the decisions that quietly reshaped the world we live in. In this engaging session, we revisit the presidency of Harry S. Truman—not as a footnote defined by a single moment, but as a force behind the modern global order. From the Oval Office of a plainspoken Missourian, a […]
The American Dream is one of those ideas everyone thinks they understand until you start peeling it back — and suddenly it becomes a conversation about identity, opportunity, struggle, and belonging. Join us for a moderated panel and community Q&A as we explore how immigrants and refugees define, pursue, and reshape this iconic national ideal. […]
With the Commander of the American Forces from Virginia, four of the first five Presidents from Virginia, the authors of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution from Virginia, an early Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from Virginia, multiple signers of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia and, indeed, the very […]
ESU Members and Friends of ESU are invited to a special fundraiser luncheon on Saturday, June 27, to hear the remarkable journeys of our two most recent ESU Kansas City Branch First Place Winners as they performed in our annual Shakespeare Competition. Together, they will offer a fascinating look at the hard work, discipline, and passion for Shakespeare that culminated in this outstanding accomplishment.
Macbeth is a Shakespearian tragedy play that tells the story of a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders the King Duncan and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler marked by […]
Dear Friends, Thank you again for being part of the truly special week in New York City this past April — a week that brought together the Annual General Conference, the National Shakespeare Competition, and, as its highlight, the Celebrate Legacy – Inspire the Future reception marking the 25th anniversary of the ESU House and […]
Every four years, the World Cup brings together fans from around the globe to celebrate the most widely popular sport in the world: football (or soccer, if you’re American). This year’s tournament broke a number of records, including the most teams ever competing (48) and the first time three countries have co-hosted the event (Mexico, Canada, and the United States). Not only does the major sporting event have a rich and complicated history, but this year’s historic nature introduces brand new impacts for Kansas City as a first-time host city. After six games, guests in the hundreds of thousands, and complicated shifts in politics and infrastructure, Kansas City will end the summer much differently than it was at the start.
