Tag Archives: theatre

WMM presents: Brock Wilbur & Nick Spacek of The Pitch + Damron Russel Armstrong of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City

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

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Brock Wilbur & Nick Spacek of The Pitch + Damron Russel Armstrong of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City

At 10:00, we welcome Brock Wilbur & Nick Spacek of The Pitch. The annual Pitch “Best Of” issue hit streets on Monday, November 4, 2024. Brock and Nick will share their own observations of the events of 2024, and Nick Spacek shares his Top Ten Favorite Musical Releases of 2024 from: Necrot, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Royel Otis, Confidence Man, The Linda Lindas, Kaitlin Butts, GEL, Odie Leigh, Kathryn Hahn and the cast of Agatha All Along, and VCMN with Joel leoJ.

Brock Wilbur is the Editor-in-Chief of The Pitch in Kansas City and the author of several books on video games and apocalyptic cinema. He lives with his wife, journalist Vivian Kane, their three cats, and one gigantic dog. Nick Spacek is the Music Editor of the Pitch in Kansas City. Additionally, he’s the co-host of horror podcast, The Carnage Report. He lives in Lawrence with his wife, three cats, and a movie and record collection big enough to constitute an actual problem. Nick has been covering music in the Kansas City / Lawrence area, for nearly two decades. Nick covers soundtracks and film scores for Starburst Magazine, and is a freelance writer for Sunflower Publishing and he volunteers for Lawrence Humane Society. More info at: http://www.thepitchkc.com

At 11:30 we talk with Damron Russel Armstrong, Executive Artistic Director of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City. Damron is a producer/director/actor who spent his formative years right here in Kansas City. He has worked on most of the stages Kansas City: Unicorn Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, Theatre for Young America, The American Heartland Theatre, The Living Room Theatre, Chestnut Fine Arts Center, New Theatre Restaurant, and Kansas City Actors Theatre. After graduating from Ruskin High School, Damron sought to further his education in New York City. He has performed nationally in A Raisin in the Sun, The Full Monty, Children of Eden, and Dreamgirls, to name a few. As a Director, his credits include: Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down…A Comedy, Assassins, and Red Hot and Jazz (Piza Festival, Guatemala). The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City kicks off their 2024/25 Season with, Hip Hop Cinderella, a family-friendly musical that reimagines the classic Cinderella in a futuristic, intergalactic setting. Music & lyrics by Rona Siddiqui, Book by Scott Elmegreen, & Story adaptation by Linda Chichester & David Coffman. Hip Hop Cinderella runs November 22 through December 8 at The GEM Theatre 1615 E 18th St. KCMO. Tickets and more informational: http://www.brtkc.org

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #1069

WMM presents: Favorite Releases of 2024 + SOUND MANDALA + Epitome + Marion Merritt + Betse Ellis

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

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Favorite Releases of 2024 + SOUND MANDALA + Epitome + Marion Merritt & Betse Ellis

Mark plays WMM’s Favorite Releases of 2024…So Far (Part 1 of 3) from The Freedom Affair, ALBER, Little Miss Dynamite, Zee Underscore, Monta At Odds, Daniel Gum, RxGhost, The Creepy Jingles, St. George & The Dragons, The Forcefields, Eddie Moore, Miss Boating, Epitome, musicbyskippy, and Leyla McCalla and Valerie June.

At 11:00 we’ll talk with Tom Mardikes, Professor of Sound Design at UMKC’s Conservatory. Tom has worked on over 250 professional productions as Sound Designer for KC Repertory Theatre, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, and many others nationally. Mardikes has been head of graduate sound design training since 1986 and chair of UMKC Theatre since 2001. He co-founded Kansas City Actors Theatre in 2004, an artist-led, artist-driven professional theatre company performing in Kansas City’s Union Station. Tom shares details about SOUND MANDALA an immersive audio system that distributes sound to dozens of independent loudspeakers and moves sounds through space in ways never heard before. Sound Mandala premieres at The 20 annual KC Fringe Festival, in the Olsen Performing Arts Center at UMKC, 4949 Cherry St, KCMO., with 36 continual performances Friday, July 19 at 6:00pm, through Saturday, July 21 at 10:30pm. More info at http://www.soundmandala.org or http://www.kcfringe.org

At 11:30 Mark welcomes Kansas City based rapper Glenn Robinson who is known as Epitome. Epitome released his newest 10 track album, BOUJIE TYPE BEAT on February 19, 2024. Since then has released the new single, “Way Up (feat. Ayron Alexander)” on July 12, 2024. A protest of sorts, “WAY UP” is also a celebration of life and all its struggles. The raucous anthem delves into E’s mantra of “once you reach the bottom, the only way is UP!” Featuring the silky, smooth sounds of Ayron Alexander, the layered vocals transform this gritty griot into an alternative pop confection. Since 2016, Epitome has released 3 albums, 4 EPs. and nearly 20 singles, collaborating with artists including: The Royal Chief, Domineko, Regina Del Carmen, Amira Wang, VCMN, Scotty Wu, Lex Lingo and others. More info at: soundcloud.com/theepitomekc

AND, Marion Merritt of Records With Merritt, a minority owned business in KCMO, and Betse Ellis, critically acclaimed fiddler, singer, songwriter, of Betse & Clarke, Starhaven Rounders, and Little Miss Dynamite join us as special Guest Co-Hosts to encourage listeners to call 888-931-0901, or visit http://www.kkfi.org to support 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio during our Summer Fund Drive Show.

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #1055