July 6, 2015

MDC @ KC Fringe

Once again, Midwest Dramatists Center playwrights are taking the Kansas City Fringe Festival by storm with a wide variety of new works—including several stage premieres of scripts that were first developed at MDC. We suggest you not miss a single one.

KC Fringe runs July 16-26 at venues throughout downtown and midtown Kansas City. Here’s a complete schedule of Fringe shows by MDC playwrights (and staff!):

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By Bryan Colley and Tara Varney

Carl Sagan takes you on a voyage to the Voyager Space Mission and the Golden Record with its message for extraterrestrial life to discover eons from now. The creators of last year's Fringe favorite “Red Death” invite you to the magical dome of Gottlieb Planetarium where live actors, animation, and outer space collide in a comedic, informative, and unconventional theatrical event. Written by Bryan Colley and Tara Varney, who also directs, and featuring Coleman Crenshaw as Carl Sagan. 

Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium
@Union Station
30 West Pershing
Kansas City, MO 64111

7/17 - Friday - 8:00pm
7/18 - Saturday - 9:30pm
7/19 - Sunday - 6:30pm
7/22 - Wednesday - 8:00pm
7/24 - Friday - 9:30pm
7/25 - Saturday - 8:00pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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By Dave Hanson

A cinematic immersive experience. Set literally at Union Station where, over three different spaces, three separate cat-and-mouse games interact and cross paths as two brilliant sisters who have created a device that can decrypt anything in the world are hunted by two governments desperate to keep the secrets of the world secret. One part - Rear Window: One Part - Third Man. Each audience member will be assigned one of the three spaces and experience the story from that location.  Each location has its own secret only that audience will know.  You will decide to keep or share.  It's up to you.

Union Station
30 West Pershing
Kansas City, MO 64108

7/17- Friday- 6:30 pm
7/17- Friday- 9:30 pm
7/22- Wednesday- 6:30 pm
7/22- Wednesday- 9:30 pm
7/25- Saturday- 6:30 pm
7/25- Saturday- 9:30 pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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By Michelle T. Johnson

Luke is a talented and successful artist who also works a “day job” as a graphic designer. He and his longtime girlfriend Maya are devoted to each other. The only wrinkle in an otherwise beautiful life is Luke's bipolar disorder, where taking his medication regularly to keep life in balance sometimes conflicts with the creative urges to which Luke needs to surrender. What choices does Luke make? What choices does Maya tolerate? When you are bipolar and play fast and loose with your medication, sometimes love means always having to say you're sorry. Written by Michelle T. Johnson (“Wiccans in the Hood”). Directed by Teresa Leggard. Starring Davis DeRock, Meredith Wolfe, Ted Collins and Sherri Roulette-Mosley.

Just Off Broadway Theatre
3051 Penn Valley Dr.

Kansas City, MO 64108

7/17- Friday- 11:00 pm
7/18- Saturday- 4:00 pm
7/20- Monday- 6:30 pm
7/24- Friday- 9:30 pm
7/25- Saturday- 8:00 pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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By Ry Kincaid

“Presidential Briefs” is an American history rock musical. Playwright/composer/actor Ry Kincaid plays a history teacher who gives a rundown on all 44 U.S. Presidents in 44 original songs performed in 50 minutes! Songs include “John Quincy Adams was Bald” and a rap about William Howard Taft (“You Can't Knock Down 340”). Hysterical and historical, “Presidential Briefs” is fun for those who know a little or a lot about the Commanders-in-Chief.

Buffalo Room
817 Westport Rd
Kansas City, MO 64111

7/18 - Saturday - 6:30pm
7/20 - Monday - 8:00pm
7/23 - Thursday - 6:30pm
7/24 - Friday - 9:30pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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By Kevin King, Cynthia Hardeman, Nick Sawin, and Raphael Isabella Tate

The husband of a gay serviceman attends his first Parent-Teacher conference. 
A pregnant lesbian deals with the gender transition of her partner. 
An asexual man comes out to his boyfriend. 
A gender fluid youth searches for a voice. 
Get four helpings of Alphabet Soup in this hour of theater by playwrights from Kansas City's LGBTQIA community!

Union Station City Stage
30 West Pershing
Kansas City, MO 64108

7/17- Friday- 9:00 pm
7/19- Sunday- 4:30 pm
7/22- Wednesday- 9:00 pm
7-24- Friday- 6:00 pm
7/25- Saturday- 7:30 pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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By Vicki Vodrey

It's been eighteen months since Trevvor's ex, Sue, left him. Since then, he's done everything she had wanted -- quit drinking, watched his diet, stayed on top of his diabetes. He's even named his new dog after her. Tonight, his planned “surprise” meeting is set to happen at her office. Will Sue take him back? Will it backfire? Because, as everyone knows, love can be great, but sometimes, love bites. Actors: Laura Jacobs and Scott Cox. Director: Warren Deckert. 

Just Off Broadway
3051 Penn Valley Dr.
Kansas City, MO 64111

7/18 - Saturday - 6:30pm
7/19 - Sunday - 2:00pm
7/21 - Tuesday - 8:00pm
7/24 - Friday - 6:30pm
7/25 - Saturday - 9:30pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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By Margaret Shelby, Lindsay Adams, and Victor Wishna

The Art is a Lie is a thrilling new showcase of short plays with an art theme. Each grapples with immediate, contemporary issues, such as domestic abuse, relationships in a time of technology, commercialism, self-destruction, and of course the ultimate question…What is art? There also may or may not be an art heist involved (Shhhhh. It’s top secret). Come and see what this lie is all about. Directed by Katie Lee and Elizabeth Bettendorf Bowman, the ensemble cast includes Collin Vorbeck, Meghan Newman, Jordan Fox, Frank Oakley III, Frank Lillig, Rasheedat Badejo, Anna Day, Petey McGee, Lindsay Lillig, and Jeff Shehan.

Phosphor Studio
1730 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111

7/17 - Friday - 10:30pm
7/20 - Monday - 6:00pm
7/22 - Wednesday - 7:30pm
7/24 - Friday - 9:00pm
7/25 - Saturday - 3:00pm

Purchase tickets HERE.

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