Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Wednesday MidDay Medley presents
Big Bang Buffet’s Black Sheep Rising – Live on the Radio!

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
[WMM’s theme]

2. The Sleazebeats – “Goosesteppin’ Nazis” (Live)
from: The Sleazebeats – The Sleazebeats / Independent / Jan. 1, 2012

Thanks for tuning into Wednesday MidDay Medley, on 90.1 FM KKFI. I’m Mark Manning. Today we welcome performers from Big Bang Buffet’s “Black Sheep Rising,” who just last night performed their benefit show for 90.1 FM at The Buffalo Room. Since last night’s stage show was “sold out” Wednesday MidDay Medley is presenting a special live radio broadcast of “Black Sheep Rising” featuring original pieces, live musical performances, and a special piece from director by Beth Marshall, that wasn’t part of last night’s show, but is being presented especially for radio.

Contributors include: Ron Megee, Jen Harris, Calvin Arsenia, Beth Marshall, Jon “Piggy” Cupit, Ryan Wilks, Nico Gray, Michael McQuary, Amy Britain, Janet Henry, and The Sleazebeats Charlie Colborne, Bill Belzer with Jen Appell who play live in our 90.1 FM studios as our “house band.”

Big Bang Buffet company members in Kansas City are joining with longtime performer friends returning from Chicago, Austin, Orlando, and Rochester, who will participate in this live radio showcase.

We just heard from The Sleazebeats: Charlie Colborne, Bill Belzer and Jen Appell who served as the house band for Big Bang Buffet’s “Black Sheep Rising,” last night at The Buffalo Room.

10:07

3. The Sleazebeats – “Smile” (LIVE)
from: The Sleazebeats – The Sleazebeats / Independent / Jan. 1, 2012

10:10 – Interview Beth Marshall and Nico Gray

One of the big reasons Big Bang Buffet show happened last night, was because of the tragic massacre at the gay night club Pulse, in Orlando Florida, June 12, where 49 people were murdered and 53 others were wounded, by one man, armed with a SIG Sauer MMCX semi-automatic rifle, and a 9mm Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol, all easy to obtain in a country that worships guns more greatly than they worship Jesus. The Orlando massacre shook the entire country, but for LGBTQIA folk, we were devastated. Especially because from 1990 to 1996 Big Bang Buffet produced hundreds of hours of programming, in a gay bar. So many of us “came out” at gay bars. Late Night Theatre currently is presented at a Gay Bar. We all know what a crowed gay bar, at 2:00 in the morning, looks like, and feels like.

Beth Marshall lives in Orlando. She knew people who were in Pulse that night. She has produced shows at Pulse. As the news of this tragedy filtered out, it was social media that connected us. On Facebook we shared our shock, and grief, and sadness In the hours following of this tragedy, one of our facebook threads, started with Beth and Amy Britain, who lives in Rochester Minnesota, with her wife, Dr. Sara Hocker who works at The Mayo Clinic. The thread was saying we should all get together and do a Big Bang Buffet show again, a reunion of sorts, Ron Megee jumped into the thread and encouraged the conversation. From that thread, last night happened. Our intention made real, just like every other Big Bang Buffet Show.

Beth Marshall (Core Member of Big Bang Buffett from 92-95) known for Hosting, Performance Art and her portrayal of Laurie Anne Normal in Big Bang Buffett World News Report is thrilled to be back for BlackSheep Rising. Beth is the Producing Artistic Director/CEO of her 10 year old theatre company in Orlando Florida- Beth Marshall Presents, the recent recipient of Orlando Weekly’s Top 14 People We Love and Orlando Sentinel’s Top 5 Most Fascinating People In Central Florida. Beth’s body of work includes Fringe Festivals Globally, Serving as The Producing Artistic Director of Orlando Fringe, National New Play Network Ambassador, The VP of Canadian Association of Fringe Fests and actor from award wining indy films like Sunlight Jr to cheesy reality tv like South Beach Tow- her award winning stage credits range from top regional AEA theaters to the divest of gay bars! KCMO forever has a piece of her heart!

Beth is here with Nico Gray who was the guest producer of last week’s Wednesday MidDay Medley, which seems like longer than a week ago.

Nico, last night you performed on stage for the first time in 20 years, you started the show, and you started with a very strong piece. Thank you for you brave and beautiful and difficult piece. How do you feel about last night?

Beth Marshall introduced the piece: I REMEMBER I’M A RAINBOW By Aradhana Tiwari, that show Directed for After Orlando: PlayFest: After Pulse

10:17 – I REMEMBER I’M A RAINBOW By Aradhana Tiwari

Directed by Beth Marshall, from After Orlando: PlayFest: After Pulse

Featuring the voices of: Beth Marshall, Nico Gray, Michael McQuary, Janet Henry, Jen Harris, and Amy Britian

10:23

4. Kristie Stremel – “Orlando (Keep Dancing)”
from: Orlando (Keep Dancing) – Single / Stremeltone / June 16, 2016
[Written by: Kristie Stremel. 2016 was a difficult year. On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a hate crime inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Pulse was hosting Latin Night and most of the victims were Latino. About 320 people were inside the club, which was serving last call drinks at around 2:00 a.m. After arriving at the club by van, Omar Mateen approached the building on foot, armed with a SIG Sauer MCX semi-automatic rifle and a 9mm Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol and bypassed security and began shooting and taking hostages. After a three-hour standoff, he was shot and killed by Orlando Police Department officers. It was both the deadliest mass shooting by a single shooter and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in United States history. It was also the deadliest terrorist attack in the US since the 9 /11 attacks in 2001. Recorded and Mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound. Mastered by John Hobson. Kristie Stremel on vocals & guitar, Anna Cook on cello & backround vocals, Ryan McCall on piano & background vocals. Described as “Joan Jett & Tom Petty’s love child,” and armed with her guitar, fueled by coffee, and over 75 published songs, singer, songwriter, producer, rock & roll mom. In October, 2013 Kristie and her partner, Lori Isabell, welcomed their adopted baby son, Charlie, into their family. In April 2014 Kristie released her 6th solo record, and the 9th full-length release of her musical career of over 20 years. Released on her own label, Stremeltone, it was Kristie’s first self-produced album. Stremeltone Records, was created in her home in Lawrence. The last track, “It’s Enough” was released early, as a video, featuring photos of couples in partnerships, relationships, marriages, unions, families. The video was Kristie’s response the the KS House of Representatives passing HD 2453 allowing business the right to refuse service to LGBT customers. In 2015 Kristie released, Wildflowers, her childrens book of song and poems with accompanying CD recording with contributions from Victor & Penny, Kelley Hunt, Ron Megee, Kasey Rausch and more.]

10:26 – Underwriting

10:29- Interview with Nico Gray

10:35 – Interview with Jen Harris

At the center of everything it was always the words, artists living on the edge, writing their way through political confusion, unwarranted wars, the fight for equality, and the bravery to go on stage and tell personal stories about our lives that had been kept silent for so long. Last night Jen Harris appeared in her first Big Bang show, but her work in Kansas City has been about creating venue, making her own path for herself and others. Poet Jen Harris is a Kansas City-based Spoken Word Poet, Women’s Rights and LGBT activist, published author, founder and host of KC Poetry Slam and poet-in-resident at Charlotte Street Foundation. Her next book of poetry and essays is due to release in the Fall of 2017.

The show was sold out last night and Jen touched the audience with her poetry, and showyou talked about how after the show she had several people crying in her arms,

10:41 – Poet Jen Harris Live

10:50 – Interview with Ryan Wilks & Jen Appell

Ryan Wilks is a queer artist in Kansas City who’s work focuses on gender, sexuality, and sensuality. Last year Ryan Wilks presented Gender Treason, his own art exhibition of giant portraits, of real people in Kansas City, who cross over the boundaries of gender and identify. His acclaimed show at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center was printed with a published book of his art. Ryan is currently working on a new exhibition, and continuing his journey of expression and greater understanding, which led him to last night where shared a new performance piece.

Ryan Wilks also created the backdrop for the stage, a 8 X 20 foot tall by painting.

Mark talked with Jen Appell about how they came to name the show “Black Sheep Rising” and about their weekly Monday morning meetings, over the past 6 or 7 weeks in planning the show.

11:02 – Station ID

5. The Sleazebeats – “Do You Like Who?” (Live) (2:08)
from: a new unreleased song

11:05 – Interview with Michael McQuary & Janet Henry

Michael McQuary’s groundbreaking shows in NYC, garnered him Two Bistro Awards. And TCM’s movie channel calls him ” The Man of 1001 Faces” due to his uncanny transformations of the golden age of Hollywood. Character actor and Internationally collected artist. He is also the creator designer of http://www.YourPowerSign.com

Janet Henry has trained unphysical theatre in Spain. She has appeared in One Time Productions Arts or Crafts, Byrd Productions, and Theatre League’s primer of the one woman show Cups, that was produced at The Unicorn Theatre.

11:10

6. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – “I Put a Spell on You ”
from: Single – (Jeremy Sole’s Zombie Stomp Remix) / self released / 2011
[Jeremy Sole is a critically acclaimed DJ, he is also a radio show host at KCRW in Santa Monica, California (www.kcrw.com) and is Co-Founder and resident deejay of “AFRO FUNKÉ.” Sole has drawn a loyal crowd every week for the past 7 years. This is his arena for Afrobeat, Latin, Brazilian and other authentic and remixed world rhythms. Hundreds of international guests have joined him, from deejays Rich Medina and Cut Chemist to impromptu jam sessions with Zap Mama and Stevie Wonder. “Jeremy is a great DJ, presenter, producer and knower-of-music …an extremely cool dude. I cannot stop listening to his remix of ‘I Put A Spell On You’ …it’s irresistible.” – Henry Rollins

11:14 – Interview with Calvin Arsenia

Since Calvin Arsenia came home to KC after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, he has released his EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. He has played Folk Alliance International, Kansas City Fringe Fest, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Folk Alliance International, and in May he will play The Middle of the Map Fest.. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches, Arsenia’s powerful vocals span a 3.5 octave range, while playing piano, banjo, guitar and harp Calvin teaches music to elementary students. Calvin is also a graduate of Artist INC. He’s played The Kauffman Center, and He recently released his debut full-length recording, Catastrophe.

Calvin Arsenia thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:22

7. Calvin Arsenia – “Safe” (Live) (3:09)
This song is on: Catastrophe / Calvin Arsenia / February 14, 2017

11:27 – Underwriting

11:32 – Interview with Ron Megee

Originally from Anaheim, California, Ron Megee has worked at every theater in Kansas City including The Kansas City Rep, The Coterie Theatre, New Theatre, The Unicorn Theatre. I first met Ron Megee through The Unicorn Theatre. He was running the spotight for The Rocky Horror Show. We became friends while working together with Lou Jane Temple at Cafe Lulu. Laughter is healing and Ron Megee is a comic genius. He has created one of Kansas City’s most enduring and successful theatre companies, Late Night Theatre that began in 1997, and after a hiatus, was reborn several years ago at Missie B’s, on West 39th Street. In the last 20 years Late Night Theatre has produced over 100 shows, in the last 20 years, and are currently presenting. “Golden Girls Gone Wilder” now on stage through April 21,

11:37 – Ron Megee’s Performance piece

11:45 – Interview with Jon Piggy Cupit

Jon Piggy Cupit is a multi media artist. He’s always had an affinity to the theatre & stage, both in front of the curtain and behind it, (read: versatile) starting his career in the 5th grade as the back end of a dancing donkey and things have just been coming up roses ever since. With Big Bang Buffet and with Jon’s Thunder Pussy Productions, his works were complete theatre pieces with integral soundtracks and visual effects, often using video, and always using wigs. Jon “Piggy” Cupit was a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, in the fibers department, he was also a busboy and waiter at Cafe Lulu, and with friend Bernie Koehrsen he demonstrated how to properly shave legs on stage at Cafe Lulu. Jon “Piggy” Cupit was one of our most prolific and longtime contributors, helping to make the connections to what performance art really is, telling a story, using everything that art offers, to bring to life the stories and dialogue.

11:51 – Jon Piggy Cupit’s Performance piece

8. The Fifth Dimension – “One Less Bell To Answer”
from: AM Gold / A & M Records / 1970

9. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]
[WMM Closing Theme]

Next week, on April 19, Barry Lee join us to discuss the Beatles Tribute Show at Knuckleheads, and Aaron Rhodes of Shuttlecock Magazine jon us as Guest Producer for our second hour.

Our Script/Playlist is a cut and paste of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:
http://www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
http://www.kkfi.org

Show #677