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

10:00 – Artists playing Official Showcases at 2018 Folk Alliance International Conference, February 14, 15, 16, and 17 at the Westin Crown Center. More info at http://www.folk.org.

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

2. Steve Poltz – “Hey God I’ll Trade You Donald Trump for Leonard Cohen”
from: Hey God I’ll Trade You Donald Trump for Leonard Cohen – Single / 98 Pounder / Feb 7, 2017
[Steve Poltz (born February 19, 1960) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is a founding member of the indie-rock band The Rugburns and is best known for his collaborations with singer Jewel, especially the 1996 single, “You Were Meant for Me” which reached number 2 in the US. Poltz was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and later immigrated with his family to Pasadena, California, then to Palm Springs, California. He attended the University of San Diego, where he received a degree in political science, he met guitarist Robert Driscoll and The Rugburns were formed. Poltz and his bandmates developed a local and national cult following by playing coffeehouses and bars. While performing dates at the Innerchange Coffeehouse in San Diego, he formed a relationship with Jewel, frequently opening for her on tours, co-writing songs, and appearing in her music video for “You Were Meant For Me.”In 1998, Poltz released his first solo album, One Left Shoe, for Mercury Records. A disagreement in the artistic direction of his material led to him leaving the label and forming his own company, 98 Pounder Records. Five years later, he recorded Chinese Vacation, an album heavily influenced by the events of September 11 and the murder of one of his closest friends. During a radio interview and performance on the Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw radio program, he performed a “male” version of “You Were Meant For Me”. During the bridge, he went on a 5-minute rant on David Cassidy and assorted stories in Las Vegas, including one that led to the album name “One Left Shoe”. Poltz also performed the song on the Bob and Tom Show and included the Cassidy story during the bridge.]

[Steve Poltz plays an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, Thurs, Feb 15, at 9:00 pm, on Benton’s 20th Floor.]

3. Crys Matthews – “Battle Hymn for an Army of Lovers”
from: Battle Hymn for an Army of Lovers EP / Crys Matthews / August 4, 2017
[Crys Matthews is from Herndon, Virgina. In August, 2017 she simultaneously released both a new full-length album, The Imagineers and an EP, Battle Hymn For An Army Of Lovers. These collections showcase two sides of Matthews’ dynamic songwriting; The Imagineers is a selection of thoughtful songs about love and life while Battle Hymn For An Army Of Lovers tackles social justice themes. Songs from both projects have already garnered accolades such as being selected as a finalist for the NewSong Music Competition, and winning the People’s Music Network’s Social Justice Songs contest at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance. Matthews sings about hope, love, perseverance and justice with an ease and candor that one might expect from a southeastern North Carolina native whose mother happens to be a preacher. Equally at home in an acoustic listening room as she is on stage at large music festivals, Matthews has quickly gathered a loyal following playing such prestigious venues and festivals as The Birchmere, The Hamilton, BMI’s Island Hopper Songwriter Festival, the 40th Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, Folk Alliance International, 30A Songwriters Festival, Northeast Regional Folk Alliance and many more.]

[Crys Matthews plays an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, Thurs, Feb 15, at 7:45 pm, in Brookside Room.]

4. Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear – “Whole Lotta Problems”
from: Skeleton Crew / Glassnote Entertainment Group / May 19, 2015
[Debut full length from Madisen Ward and Ruth Ward, who both play guitar, and sing harmonizing as son and mom. They have skyrocketed out of Kansas City, garnering international acclaim, and new fans from all over the world. We first played their music on this radio show in early May of 2013 after our mutual friend Joel Nanos of Element Recording sent us a copy of their independent EP, “We Burned The Cane Field.” Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear opened for BB King at The Midland, on October 2014. 96.5’s The Buzz’s Lazlo Gieger saw them and was blown away. He contacted his friend, Daniel Glass, founder of Glassnote Records who traveled to Kansas City to meet with Madisen and Ruth. They signed with Glassnote Records and recorded their debut full length album in Nashville with acclaimed producer Jim Abiss. They performed their debut single “Silent Movies” on The Late Show with David Letterman, they’ve toured across the United States, and Europe, more than once. They were featured on CBS Sunday Morning, NBC’s The Today Show, and “Later With Jools Holland and played Bonnaroo, Pilgramage, and the Newport Folk Festival, and the Ryman Theatre, in Nashville. Ruth Ward has continually performed throughout her life, mostly in coffee shops and open mics, for over 30 years, even recording a solo record. In the midst of this she got married and became a mom, and was busy raising a family. Madisen Ward was born in Oklahoma, and grew up in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 2007. Madisen’s journey to become a musician, was “melodically passed down” through the songs of his mother, where Madisen grew up watching his mom perform at local coffee shops. Eventually he began to learn to play the guitar, and poured his talent for writing into the music to create original songs. They began playing shows together, playing Madisen’s original songs along with the occassional cover of a classic track, reinterpreted in their own incredibly beautiful performace of two voices and two guitars in harmony and orchestration. Their debut album, The Skeleton Crew, was our most played record of 2015 and was #1 on our 115 Best Recordings of 2015. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear are currently working on their 2nd album.]

[Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear plays an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, Friday, Feb 16, at 8:15 pm, in Shawnee Mission Room.]

5. The War and Treaty – “Down The River”
from: Down The River / Strong World Entertainment / July 21, 2017
[Michael Trotter Jr & Tanya Blount-Trotter are from Albion, Michigan. For Michael Trotter Jr., the journey began in 2004, when he arrived in Iraq, an untested soldier stricken by fear and self-doubt. His captain made it his personal mission to see to Trotter’s survival. The unit was encamped in one of Saddam Hussein’s private palaces, and in a forgotten corner in its basement, they found a black upright piano that once belonged to the dictator himself. When Trotter shared the fact he could sing, he was encouraged to teach himself to play piano on that confiscated keyboard. “I wrote my first song after that captain was killed,” Trotter recalls. “I sang it for his memorial in Iraq.” Soon after it became his mission to sing at the memorial services for those that had fallen. For the next three years, he sang songs that brought solace and comfort to the members of his unit. His efforts eventually garnered wider recognition as well. He came in first place in “Military Idol,” the army’s version of “American Idol,” during a competition held in Baumholder, Germany. Following his discharge, he was featured on the Hope Channel program “My Story, My Song.” Then he met Tanya Blount. Blount’s musically influences include Mahalia Jackson, Sister Odette and Aretha Franklin. The two fell in love, got married and used the experiences they had gained to create a new musical collaboration. The couple then secured the services of musicians whose skills add a distinctive sound to The War and Treaty’s blend of roots music, blue grass,folk, gospel and soul. Recorded in Albion, Michigan, Down to the River boasts a sound that’s both stirring and sensual, driven by joy, determination and an unceasing upward gaze. The music is visceral but never morose, flush with emotion but void of despair… a style that touches on a variety of genres, but never finds itself confined to anyone. The arrangements are uncluttered– harmonies, bass lines, guitar and mandolin licks, settle drum patterns and keyboards create an immensely moving soundscape — but the sentiments and emotions are fully realized and soar with a steady, chilling assurance. “The recording process wasn’t like anything I ever experienced,” Tanya recalls. “This EP has allowed me to breathe musically. I feel like all I have wanted to express for the past ten years has come forth with what we’ve done. The combination of heart, soul and the overwhelming amount of love that Michael and I have for one another comes across in this record.“ “I was sitting on the banks of the Euphrates River in Baghdad dreaming about one day being able to play and sing professionally for people all around the world,” Michael reflects. “As we recorded our music, I constantly had flashbacks of those desert dreams. I thought to myself that this is actually the perfect ending to usher in a new beginning in my life.” ]

[The War and Treaty plays an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, Friday, Feb 16, at 9:00 pm, in Washington Park Plaza.]

6. Mary Gauthier – “The War After the War”
from: Rifles and Rosary Beads / In The Black / January 26, 2018
[Brand new collection of songs by Mary Gauthier, co-written with U.S. veterans and their families, through Songwriting With Soldiers, a non-profit organization that pairs US veterans with professional songwriters. These songs are a glimpse inside the hearts and souls of both male and female soldiers, and their spouses. From Pop Matters: “SongwritingWith:Soldiers is an organization founded by songwriter Darden Smith that holds retreats pairing wounded veterans with established songwriters to help them to find a voice to express their experiences and through their sharing work towards emotional and spiritual healing. Songwriters who have participated in the program include Beth Nielsen Chapman, Marshall Crenshaw, Radney Foster, and Amy Speace, and some of the songs produced have been recorded by major country artists including Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan, and Garth Brooks. Mary Gauthier is a natural to serve as a contributor to this cause, her powerful autobiographical songwriting on past records addressing such topics as addiction, abandonment, and the search for meaning amidst pain. Turning her empathetic ear to the plights of others, she guides a group of veterans and their families through the composition of 11 highly effective and affecting songs. Of the experience, Gauthier writes “None of the veterans are artists. They don’t write songs; they don’t know that songs can be used to move trauma. Their understanding of song doesn’t include that. For me, it’s been the whole damn deal. Songwriting saved me. It’s what I think the best songs do, help articulate the ineffable, make the invisible visible, creating resonance, so that people (including the songwriter) don’t feel alone.” Gauthier was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born to a mother she never knew and left in St Vincent’s Women and Infants Asylum, Gauthier was adopted when she was a year old by an Italian Catholic couple from Thibodaux, Louisiana. At age 15, she ran away from home, and spent the next several years in drug rehabilitation, halfway houses, and living with friends; she spent her 18th birthday in a jail cell. Struggling to deal with being adopted, she used drugs and alcohol. These experiences provided fodder for her songwriting later on. Spurred on by friends, she enrolled at Louisiana State University as a philosophy major, dropping out during her senior year. After attending the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, she opened a Cajun restaurant in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, Dixie Kitchen (also the title of her first album). Mary ran, and cooked at, the restaurant for eleven years. She was arrested for drunk driving opening night, July 12, 1990, and has been sober ever since. After achieving sobriety, she was driven to dedicate herself full-time to songwriting, and embarked upon a career in music. She wrote her first song at age 35. She sold her share in the restaurant to finance her second album, Drag Queens in Limousines, in 1998. The summer of the release of this album, she was invited to play 11 major folk festivals, including the Newport Folk Festival. Drag Queens in Limousines won in The 1st Annual Independent Music Awards for Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song, and she was nominated for Best New Artist of the year by the Boston Music Awards. She was nominated for three Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA) and won best country artist of the year. In 2002 her third album, Filth and Fire, was named “Best Indy CD of the year” by Jon Pareles of The New York Times. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 and secured a publishing deal with Harlan Howard Songs, then secured a record deal with Lost Highway, a division of Universal Music, in 2003. Her first major label release, in 2005, Mercy Now was on the top 10 list for the year in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News, and Billboard Magazine.]

[Mary Gauthier plays a Rebels and Renagades Showcase at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, KCMO, Thursday, Feb 15, at 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, dedicated to the memory of Louis Jay Meyers]

[Mary Gauthier plays an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, Thursday, Feb 15, at 9:45 pm, in Shawnee Mission Room.]

7. Darling West – “After My Time”
from: While I Was Asleep / Jansen Records / February 16, 2018
[Three piece Americana/Country/Folk band from Oslo, Norway. Since the release of their second album, “Vinyl and a Heartache”, they have played concerts all over the world, been listed on the biggest radio channels in Norway and appeared on the Top 100 Country charts in the US, streamed more than three million times on Spotify, booked to the biggest festivals in Norway and Americanafest in Nashville and won a Norwegian Grammy. The band has unveiled two singles from the album they plan to release in early 2018.]

[Darling West plays an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, Sat, Feb 17, at 9:15 pm, in Liberty Room.]

10:32 – Instant Karma

8. Instant Karma – “Make Me A Man”
from: Trying To Find My Mind / Independent / July 22, 2017
[Cole Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass, Zach Harris on drums. All songs written by Instant Karma. Mixed by Zach Harris. Mastered at Eureka Mastering.]

[Instant Karma plays The Brick, at 1727 McGee, on Friday, Feb 9, at 9 PM, w/ Wild Eye, and Akkilles.]

[Instant Karma plays The Rino 314 Armour Rd. North Kansas City, Thursday, February 15, at 7:00 PM, with The Velveteers, and Grey Eyes.]

10:35 – Interview with Colby Bales & Branden Moser

Julia Othmer, Branden Moser, and Colby Bales on the February 7, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI.

Colby Bales & Branden Moser are members of the Kansas City 4-piece band, Instant Karma. Instant Karma plays The Brick, at 1727 McGee, KCMO, on Friday, February 9, at 9 PM, with Wild Eye, and Akkilles. Instant Karma plays The Rino 314 Armour Rd. North Kansas City, Thursday, February 15, at 7:00 PM, with The Velveteers, and Grey Eyes. More info at: http://www.instantkarmakc.com

Colby Bales & Branden Moser, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Instant Karma with Colby Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass and keyboards, & Zach Harris on drums. Now with back up singers

Colby Bales and Cody Calhoun met in High School. They have been playing music together for 5 years. They became friends after forming the band,

Instant Karma bass player Branden Moser has called the band, “a drug trip through the soul section of your local record store.”

Instant Karma is recording new music that will be released as a 7 inch 45 rpm Single to be released through Sunflower Soul Records in collaboration with Chris Hazelton. The band shared one the sides from the new single live in our 90.1 FM Studios.

10:43

9. Instant Karma – “Shine On” (LIVE)
from: New song to be released as a 7” Single through Sunflower Soul Records
[Colby Bales on vocals & guitar, Branden Moser on harmony vocals.]

Instant Karma! is a 4 piece psych/soul rock band from Kansas City, MO. Their influences range from The Black Keys to Syl Johnson to the Wu Tang Clan.

Steven Ervay wrote for PlayistPlay: “This dynamic group mixes everything you love about soul, funk, and rock to create their unique peppy sound. The songs carry a palpable groove to them, accentuated by frontman Colby Bales’ smooth voice and the charming call and responses of the female backup singers.”

Instant Karma! has recently collaborated with other Kansas City musical artists: Erica Joy, Duncan Burnett on “Wiseman,” and Andrew Foshee.

Colby Bales & Branden Moser are also the co-founders of Groove King Records.

Instant Karma! will be playing The MidCoast Takeover, and will open for Durand Jones & The Indications, at recordBar, 1520 Grand, Sunday, April 8, at 7:00 PM.

10:54

10. Instant Karma – “Trying to Find My Mind”
from: Trying To Find My Mind / Independent / July 22, 2017
[Cole Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass, Zach Harris on drums. All songs written by Instant Karma. Mixed by Zach Harris. Mastered at Eureka Mastering.]

[Instant Karma plays The Brick, at 1727 McGee, KCMO, on Friday, February 9, at 9 PM, with Wild Eye, and Akkilles.]

11:00 – Station ID

11. Julia Othmer – “Hungry Days (Make Me Feel)”
from: Hungry Days (Make Me Feel) – Single / Julia Othmer & James Lundie / 6/30/17
[One several new singles released from Julia Othmer, as part of “Sound,” her second full-length album, that took 3 years to complete, and was produced with James Lundie, who also married Julia in January of 2016, during the completion of the record. Julia Othmer, is a graduate of Park Hill High School. She moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her 1st full-length album, “Oasis Motel.” Julia has just returned from an East Coast Tour.]

[Julia Othmer plays Knuckleheads, at 2715 Rochester St, Fri, Feb 9, at 7:30 pm.]

[Julia Othmer will also be playing several Private Showcases at the Folk Alliance International Conference, February 14-17, at The Weston Crown Center.]

11:04 – Interview with Julia Othmer

Julia Othmer

Julia Othmer is getting ready to release “Sound,” her second full-length album, produced with James Lundie, who married Julia in January of 2016 during the completion of the record. Julia Othmer, is a graduate of Park Hill High School and moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her first full-length album, “Oasis Motel.” Julia Othmer plays Knuckleheads, at 2715 Rochester Street, Friday, February 9, at 7:30 pm. Julia Othmer will also be playing several Private Showcases at the Folk Alliance International Conference, February 14-17, at The Weston Crown Center.

Julia Othmer, thanks for being with us on WMM

Julia Othmer was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She went to Park Hill High and studied at Columbia University in New York City.

Julia has lived in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Colorado

Julia moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her first full-length album, “Oasis Motel.”

Out of Print Magazine says: “This Thursday evening in the quaint little village of NYC, Julia Othmer, the mesmerizingly sultry singer/songwriter will be riding into town tucked under the wings of a Southwest jet. She will be performing at Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St. New York, NY) at 7PM sharp. If you haven’t heard of her, it may be because she has been diligently working on her new album for the last few years on the sunny and less immediate coast. Formerly a Kansas City native, Julia has put her pillow in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, some gondola in Colorado and finally Los Angeles, the city of lights and traffic, where she currently lives with her little white piano, her rock star and her cat Cosmo. Julia’s musical musings are so diverse that they become quite elusive to the simple description. Perhaps the best way to explain it would be if Nora Jones, Tom Waits, Billy Holiday and Lyle Lovett had a musical orgy and let you watch behind a curtain of burning lace and a whiskey waterfall. I’ll bring the unfiltered cigarettes, you bring your soul.”

11:25

12. Julia Othmer – “Purple and Gray”
from: Purple and Gray – Single / Julia Othmer & James Lundie / Sept. 29, 2017
[One several new singles released from Julia Othmer, as part of “Sound,” her second full-length album, that took 3 years to complete, and was produced with James Lundie, who also married Julia in January of 2016, during the completion of the record. Julia Othmer, is a graduate of Park Hill High School. She moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her 1st full-length album, “Oasis Motel.” Julia has just returned from an East Coast Tour.]

[Julia Othmer plays Knuckleheads, at 2715 Rochester St, Fri, Feb 9, at 7:30 pm.]

11:31 – Hedwig & The Angry Inch

Justin Carter-Van Pelt and Katie Gilchrist of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, running thru Feb. 17 at the Arts Asylum, 1000 E 9th, KCMO.

13. Hedwig & The Angry Inch – “Tear Me Down”
from: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Hedwig & The Angry Inch / Hybrid / 2001
[Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a 2001 American musical comedy-drama film written, adapted, and directed by John Cameron Mitchell, who also portrayed the title role, reprising his performance from the original production. Based on Mitchell’s and Stephen Trask’s stage musical of the same name, the film follows a fictional rock band fronted by an East German transgender singer who survives a botched sex change operation. Hedwig subsequently develops a relationship with a younger man, Tommy, becoming his mentor and musical collaborator, only to have Tommy steal her music and move on without her. The film follows Hedwig and her backing band, the Angry Inch, as they shadow Tommy’s tour, while exploring Hedwig’s past and complex gender identity. The musical has developed a devoted cult following. Despite largely positive reviews from critics and audiences, the film was a box office bomb, grossing only $3.6 million from an estimated $6 million budget. In 2001, the film won the Best Director and Audience Awards at the Sundance Film Festival as well as Best Directorial Debut from the National Board of Review, the Gotham Awards, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Mitchell received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor and the Premiere magazine Performance of the Year Award. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by a genderqueer East German singer, Hedwig Robinson. The story draws on Mitchell’s life as the son of a U.S. Army Major General who once commanded the U.S. sector of occupied West Berlin. The character of Hedwig was inspired by a German divorced U.S. Army wife who was a Mitchell family babysitter and moonlighted as a prostitute at her Junction City, Kansas, trailer park home. The music is steeped in the androgynous 1970s glam rock style of David Bowie (who co-produced the Los Angeles production of the show), as well as the work of John Lennon and early punk performers Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. The musical opened Off-Broadway in 1998, and won the Obie Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. The production ran for two years, and was remounted with various casts by the original creative team in other US cities. In 2000, the musical had a London West End production, and it has been produced throughout the world in hundreds of stage productions. In 2014, the show saw its first Broadway incarnation, opening that April at the Belasco Theatre and winning the year’s Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The production closed on September 13, 2015. A national tour of the show began at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre in October 2016 before closing at the Kennedy Center in July 2017. The character of Hedwig was originally a supporting character in the piece. She was loosely inspired by a German female babysitter/prostitute who worked for Mitchell’s family when he was a teenager in Junction City, Kansas. The character of Tommy, originally conceived as the main character, was based on Mitchell himself: both were gay, the sons of an army general, deeply Roman Catholic, and fascinated with mythology. Hedwig became the story’s protagonist when Trask encouraged Mitchell to showcase their earliest material in 1994 at NYC’s drag-punk club Squeezebox, where Trask headed the house band and Mitchell’s boyfriend, Jack Steeb, played bass. They agreed the piece should be developed through band gigs in clubs rather than in a theater setting in order to preserve a rock energy. Mitchell was deeply influenced by Squeezebox’s roster of drag performers who performed rock covers. The setlists of Hedwig’s first gigs included many covers with lyrics rewritten by Mitchell to tell Hedwig’s story: Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well”; Television’s “See No Evil”; Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World”; Yoko Ono’s “Death of Samantha”; Pere Ubu’s “Non-Alignment Pact”; Cher’s “Half Breed”; David Bowie’s “Boys Keep Swinging”; Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”; and the Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale.” A German glam rendition of Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” once served as the musical’s finale. Mitchell’s second gig was as fill-in host at Squeezebox on a bill featuring singer Deborah Harry of Blondie. It was for this occasion that Mike Potter first designed Hedwig’s trademark wig, which was initially constructed from toilet paper rolls wrapped with synthetic blond hair. Mitchell, Trask, and the band Cheater (Jack Steeb, Chris Wielding, Dave McKinley, and Scott Bilbrey) continued to workshop material at venues such as Fez Nightclub and Westbeth Theater Center for four years before premiering the completed musical Off-Broadway in 1998. Mitchell has explained that Hedwig is not a trans woman, but a genderqueer character. “She’s more than a woman or a man,” he has said. “She’s a gender of one and that is accidentally so beautiful.”]

11:35 – Interview with Justin Carter-Van Pelt and Katie Gilchrist

Katie Gilchrist, Justin Carter-Van Pelt, and Julia Othmer on the February 7, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is currently running through February 17 at the Arts Asylum, 1000 E 9th, KCMO. Justin Carter-Van Pelt has returned to Kansas City to reprise his award-winning turn as Hedwig a role he debuted with Eubank Productions in 2002 to sold-out crowds. Katie Gilchrist as Yitzhak brings her rock star vocals to this production, written by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask and the winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. This KC production is presented by the Egads! Theatre in association with Arts Asylum and was directed by Vanessa Severo.

Justin Carter-Van Pelt and Katie Gilchrist Thanks for being with us on WMM

Justin Carter-Van Pelt has returned to Kansas City to reprise his award-winning turn as Hedwig a role he debuted with Eubank Productions in 2002 to sold-out crowds.

Justin Carter-Van Pelt grew up in Lee’s Summitt, Missouri. He received his BFA in Musical Theatre at Southwest Missouri State University Lives in New York, New York Married Alex Carter-Van Pelsince October 12, 2017

Justin has done many shows in Kansas City including The Unicorn Theatre, Late Night Theatre, Eubank Productions, and bar Natasha you were one of the the founders of

Katie Gilchrist went to Archbishop O’hara High School, she studied English/Theatre/Music at Saint Mary College, and studied at UMKC. She lives and works non-stop as a professional actress in Kansas City, and her resume is incredible: KC Rep, Unicorn Theatre The Living Room Theatre, Amy Farrand & The Like. She is Artistic Director at Kansas City Irish Theatre, Artist, Manager and Co-Owner at Bohemian Cult Revival, part of the Girls Troupe at Late Night Theatre, Manager and performer at The Pearl KC, Performer at KC Strips

The music of “Hedwig” is “steeped in the androgynous 1970s glam rock style of David Bowie (who co-produced the Los Angeles production of the show), as well as the work of John Lennon and early punk performers Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.”

Songs from the show:

“Tear Me Down” – Hedwig with Yitzhak
“The Origin of Love” – Hedwig
“Sugar Daddy” – Hedwig with Yitzhak
“Angry Inch” – Hedwig
“Wig in a Box” – Hedwig
“Wicked Little Town” – Hedwig
“The Long Grift” – Yitzhak/Skszp
“Hedwig’s Lament” – Hedwig
“Exquisite Corpse” – Hedwig with Yitzhak
“Wicked Little Town (Reprise)” – Hedwig as Tommy
“Midnight Radio” – Hedwig

1998 Off Broadway Debut
2001 Independent Film
2014 Broadway Revival

The universality of Hedwig And The Angry Inch is demonstrated in the fact that there have been professional productions of “Hedwig” all over the world: Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Berlin, Milan, Thailand, Turkey, The Netherlands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Frankfurt, Edinburgh,

EGADS! THEATRE COMPANY with THE ARTS ASYLUM PRESENT
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH // January 31 – February 17, 2018
Text by John Cameron Mitchell // Music & Lyrics by Stephen Trask

Starring Justin Carter-Van Pelt and Katie Gilchrist.

Director Vanessa Severo, known best to Kansas City audiences as an actress, is no stranger to the piece having played the role of Yitzhak. This time she takes the reins; “Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a fully immersive production which brings the elements of rock ‘n’ roll, philosophy, and face melting harmonies together.”

The Angry Inch band: Richie St. John, Sean Hogge, Mark Johnson and Felix Dukes.

“The concept of the stage production is that the audience is watching genderqueer rock singer Hedwig Robinson’s musical act as she follows rockstar Tommy Gnosis’s (much more successful) tour around the country. Occasionally Hedwig opens a door onstage to listen to Gnosis’s concert, which is playing in an adjoining venue. Gnosis is recovering from an incident that nearly ruined his career, having crashed his car into a school bus while high and receiving oral sex from none other than Hedwig herself. Capitalizing on her notoriety from the incident, Hedwig determines to tell the audience her story (“Tear Me Down”).”

“She is aided and hindered by her assistant, back-up singer and husband, Yitzhak. A Jewish drag queen from Zagreb, Yitzhak has an unhealthy, codependent relationship with Hedwig. She verbally abuses him throughout the evening, and it becomes clear that she is threatened by his natural talent, which eclipses her own. She describes how she agreed to marry him only after extracting a promise from him to never perform as a woman again, and he bitterly resents her treatment of him. (To further the musical’s theme of blurred gender lines, Yitzhak is played by a female actress.)”

Winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is thrillingly progressive and thoroughly entertaining.

Egads! Theatre Company (the evolution of Eubank Productions) fosters emerging theatre professionals, produces theatre entertainment that is relevant and/or outlandish, and provides Kansas City audiences with quality productions as a stimulating outlet.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is currently running through February 17 at the Arts Asylum, 1000 E 9th, KCMO, presented by the Egads! Theatre in association with Arts Asylum

More info at: http://www.egadstheatre.com or hedwigkc.com

11:56

14. Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Original Brdwy Cast – “Exquisite Corpse”
from: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Orig. Brdwy Cast Rec) / Hedwig Brdwy Co. / June 11, 2014
[Neil Patrick Harris starred in the first Broadway production at the Belasco Theatre, which began previews on March 29, 2014, and officially opened on April 22, 2014. Harris stayed in the production through August 17, 2014. The director was Michael Mayer with musical staging by Spencer Liff. Lena Hall played Yitzhak, Hedwig’s husband, until April 2015. This production won several Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Lead Actor in a Musical (Harris) and Best Featured Actress in a musical (Hall). It was also nominated for Best Costume Design for a Musical (Arianne Phillips), who also did the costumes for the original 2001 film. After Harris departed the production, Andrew Rannells took over the role of Hedwig on August 20, 2014, followed by Michael C. Hall, who played Hedwig from October 16, 2014, through January 18, 2015. The production then featured co-creator John Cameron Mitchell, who returned to the role from January 21 to April 26, 2015. Darren Criss took over the role of Hedwig on April 29 and played until July 19, 2015. Taye Diggs assumed the role on July 22, 2015, and performed through the production’s end on September 13, 2015. After Lena Hall left the production on April 4, 2015, Rebecca Naomi Jones took over as Yitzhak on April 14, 2015, following a week-long stint with Shannon Conley in the role.The Broadway production closed on September 13, 2015, after 22 previews and 507 regular performances. This version of the musical updates the story to modern day and has Hedwig performing on the abandoned set of Hurt Locker: The Musical, which closed the prior evening midway through its first performance. Hedwig explains that because it closed so quickly, she was able to convince one of the producers to allow her to use what would have been an otherwise empty and unused stage. Faux Playbills for the musical are littered throughout the theater and discuss various elements of the musical, which Hedwig occasionally mentions offhand throughout the musical. Director Michael Mayer stated that they came up with the idea for Hurt Locker: The Musical as a way to explain Hedwig’s presence in a Broadway theater. It was also used as a way to update the script to modern day as well as explain how Hedwig would be able to use such stage settings. Various newspapers have commented favorably on the faux Playbills, both an element of the musical and as a piece separate from the musical itself.]

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

Next week on February 14 we spin more music from artists playing Folk Alliance International Conference. Plus Victor & Penny join us LIVE in the 90.1 FM Studios.

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.kkfi.org,
http://www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM

Show #720