Medicine for the Soul: A Convo with Music Theatre Wichita

From its affordability to its thriving arts scene and variety of restaurants, Wichita is bursting with excitement and family-friendly fun.

“It’s the hidden gem of the Midwest!” exclaimed Brian Marcum.

Marcum knows how to “cast” the right city. He is the artistic director for Music Theatre Wichita (MTWichita), the city’s world-renowned musical theatre organization that produces Broadway-scale musical productions.

“MTWichita is like no other place. To be able to create the shows that we do, on the scale that we do and in the time frame we do with the caliber of people – actors, designers, orchestra, everyone is incredible. I am so grateful to be here and take up where Wayne Bryan left off,” Marcum explained.

From Lexington to Wichita: A Journey in the Arts

Originally from Lexington, Tennessee, Marcum moved to Wichita in June 2020 after serving as a musical theatre professor at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. His move marked the beginning of a new chapter as he took over the helm of MTWichita, a place that holds a special significance in his life.

“MTWichita is the place where I got my start as a young actor in the mid-90s. It changed my life. Now, I can give the same opportunities I was given to other aspiring music theatre artists,” he said.

In his role, Marcum joked he and his managing director, Angela Cassette, “run the place”.

He chooses the shows and hires the actors, the designers, the directors and the choreographers. He and Cassette promote the organization and the season, which consists of five large musicals during the summer.

“We are homegrown. Everything is designed, built, sewn, taught, directed, choreographed and sung right here in Wichita’s Century II,” he shared. “In NYC we are sought after as a place to come and do good quality work. We saw over 930 actors for the roles that we put onstage this past summer.”

MTWichita’s impact is felt far beyond Wichita. Nearly every Broadway show today features at least one MTWichita alum, a testament to the high quality of training and opportunities provided to artists in Wichita.

Arts in Wichita

What sets Wichita apart? Marcum credits the scale and quality of productions found in Wichita.

“Wichita for its size should not have a theatre this size, but it does! That has been cultivated over many years,” he said. “To be able to bring all of these wonderful artists from around the country to Wichita and create these fantastic shows and then entertain and feed the artistic souls of the people of Wichita is a gift.”

It’s hard for actors to leave once they step foot in Wichita, according to Marcum.

“They are overwhelmed by what we can accomplish in such a short time but also by the city and the kindness and generosity of the Wichitans they encounter,” he explained.

Marcum adds many great organizations in Wichita make up the city’s cultural arts scene including the symphony, the ballet, art museums and galleries, dinner theatres and community theatres, but more can always be done!

“The arts are important, we are medicine for the soul,” he explained. “What we can do better is funding.”

Why Choose Wichita?

Not only is Wichita bursting with opportunities in the arts, but its Midwestern vibe cannot be beaten.

“It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It’s safe and the people are nice,” Marcum explained. “It is a foodie town which I love. Every month a new restaurant opens which is exciting. There is no traffic, it takes about 12 minutes to get everywhere.”