Screenwriters Slam at Maker Faire

Join me at Maker Faire as we give staged readings of ten short screenplays by members of KC Screenwriters. Featuring the acting talents of Michelle Cotton, Rick Duplissie, Kelli Hahn Morford, Curtis Smith, and Jeff Smith.

1:30pm Sunday, June 28 at the City Stage in Union Station. Maker Faire admission required.

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Interview with the Missouri Arts Council

I offered a few words about the Kansas City Fringe Festival to the article "Missouri’s Fringe Fests Are Freewheeling Arts Fun" by Barbara MacRobie (pdf link).

"Voyage to Voyager" Coming to the 2015 KC Fringe Festival

In 1977, Carl Sagan was asked by NASA to create a peaceful greeting to extraterrestrial life; a Golden Record that would be included on board the Voyager Space Mission. The next six months were filled with frantic calls, governmental red tape, unexpected egos, miscommunication, and last-minute changes, but most of all, the question: "What does it mean to be human?"

The creators of the 2014 Kansas City Fringe Festival's Best-Attended Show, “Red Death,” invite you to the magical dome of Union Station's Gottlieb Planetarium, where live actors, animation, and outer space collide in a comedic, informative, and unconventional theatrical event for all ages.


"Voyage to Voyager" is co-written by the authors of "Hexing Hitler/Sexing Hitler" and "KHAAAAAN! The Musical," Bryan Colley and Tara Varney, who also directs. The play stars Coleman Crenshaw as Carl Sagan, Jen Benkert, Claire Davis, Andy Garrison, Michael Golliher, Parry Luellen, and Shelley Wyche, and features original animation by local artist Billy Blob.

 Performance dates and times are as follows:

• 8:00pm Fri July 17
• 9:30pm Sat July 18
• 6:30pm Sun July 19
• 8:00pm Wed July 22
• 9:30pm Fri July 24
• 8:00pm Sat July 25

Tickets are $10. You will need a $5 Fringe Button for entry (kids 12 and under get a free button!) which you can get at the box office or at Fringe Central in Union Station. For more information, visit www.kcfringe.org.

"Lingerie Shop" Staged Reading May 11

Lingerie Shop is a male fantasy of life in a sexy lingerie shop. Everything is hot and steamy until one of the actresses curses the playwright and quits the play in the middle of a scene. What follows is a Pirandello-styled farce that deconstructs theatre and feminism.

Robert Trussell with the Kansas City Star called the play "a short, succinct bit of satire that doesn’t wear out its welcome. It’s a clever idea executed with quick, broad strokes."

Lingerie Shop was first produced at the Kansas City Fringe Festival in 2009. Tara Varney, who directed the original Fringe production, will direct the reading. Also returning from the original production is Marcie Ramirez, Amy Hurrelbrink, and Kelli Morford. They will be joined by Melody Butler and Stefanie Wienecke. Unfortunately, there will be no lingerie in this staged reading (at least, none that is visible).

May 11 at the Writer's Place, 3607 Pennsylvania. Doors open at 7 p.m. The approximately 45-minute reading begins at 7:30, followed by a talkback with the playwright, director, and cast.

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Free Download "Khaaaaan! the Musical" Original Cast Recording

You can now download the Khaaaaaan! the Musical Soundtrack from Bandcamp. Just click download on the player above.