Things to Do in Wichita

Mosley Street Melodrama, which brings life to the tradition of dramatic exaggeration, is Wichita’s only audience-participation dinner theater. Arm yourself with enough snark, wit, and emotional breakdowns to cheer facetiously as the villain saves the day; the productions are designed to incorporate audience cheers, boos, and flying fruit while rowdy, wholesome humor makes the entire family guffaw. After doors open at 6 p.m., theater buffs fuel their laughing machines with an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet provided by Pig In! Pig Out! BBQ. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, sumptuous side dishes, and coffee or iced tea are available, along with vegetarian options if requested in advance. A bar with specialty drinks, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages is also available.

With its grand reopening in 2005, the Louise C. Murdock Theatre married the technological trappings of a modern cinema to its historic, 80-year-old interior. The theater’s original frescoes and iridescent, art-deco chandelier greet guests as they make their way toward a single 25'x16' screen. Framed by lush red curtains, the digital canvas displays images from a digital projector with high-definition capabilities, accompanied by the boisterous booms of Dolby surround sound. The theater screens a diverse calendar of cinematic fare, including limited-release arthouse films and classic foreign cinema augmented by popcorn and other epicurean goodies from the full concession stand stocked with snacks, alcohol, and more. The Murdock also proudly projects simulcast and prerecorded productions through partnerships with The Metropolitan Opera and the National Theatre, transporting international stage performances to the Murdock without the hassle of getting sandbags through customs.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Marcio Laselva has a wealth of championships and nine years of teaching experience under his second-degree black belt. He helps his students hone their bodies and minds into sleek, sinewy machines with the help of a qualified and experienced team of instructors, which includes ISKA World Champion kickboxer Marcio Navarro. Far from being just a dojo for training hard-hitting fighters, the 20,000-square-foot, family-friendly gym helps athletes achieve all sorts of objectives, whether decreasing stress levels with calming yoga classes or learning to beat up the ocean with karate courses.

An intense yet addictive fighter fitness regimen lets laymen and women tone and build their bodies like MMA warriors, while capoeira classes seamlessly combine music, dance, and martial arts. Students learn a wide range of disciplines within the gym's welcoming walls, including the art of the fist and foot in tae kwon do lessons and master’s degrees in the sweet science with classes from 47-year boxing vet Johnny "Coach" Papin.

Stationed inside a vaudeville venue first designed by the Boller brothers in 1928, the Crown Uptown Theatre has continued to nourish creative appetites with delectable dinners and Broadway-style productions since 1977. Concocted by an expert culinary team led by Kevin Gillenwater, formerly of Chester’s Chophouse and Wine Bar, plated entrees are served alongside helpings of soup, salad, and rolls. An enthusiastic waitstaff delivers each meal directly to customers' tables. Crown Uptown Theatre can accommodate up to 400 theatergoers or scarecrows stuffed with recycled playbills during evening performances each Thursday–Sunday, and matinee plays for children every Friday and Saturday.

At The Strike Zone, batters of any age can practice their baseball or softball swings against the pitches of fast- and slow-speed machines. Machines' pitching height can also be adjusted to accommodate guests' varying heights or a child's minute-to-minute growth spurts. When the batting cages aren't being used, kids can practice their form with the help of a T-ball stand. Shaved ice in 60 flavors keeps batters cool and refreshed throughout the day.

Don’t worry if, while attending a movie night at Twist, you begin to hear a steady clicking sound—nothing is wrong with the craft shop’s projector. The movie owes its inadvertent soundtrack to the needles that click together as guests busily knit and crochet scarves, mittens, and blankets. At social events such as Saturday’s Movie Night, as well as at introductory classes held throughout the week, Twist’s staff members foster an informal environment in which they help guests hone their clothes-making skills. They stock their cubbies with polychromatic yarns and other supplies and keep the shop open for crafters in need of a nonjudgmental place to knit tube socks for their kitchen table’s legs.