Thursday, July 17, 2014

Fringeful: Why I'm Participating in Four Productions at Fringe this Summer







Really, it's not like I said yes to every project all at the same time. But, somehow, here I am, participating in four shows at Fringe this year.

I knew we were doing "Red Death," of course. It's been in the works for a very long time. (In fact, Bryan talked to Daniel about it about ten years ago, but the project got pushed to the back burner, like they often do.) Then, in February, after a staged reading of a short play I wrote, Kevin King, having recently seen me in "Carrie the Musical," asked if I'd be part of the revolving cast of his show, "Bad Auditions." He said he'd work around the show schedule of "Red Death," so no worries.

Last fall, I started as a co-director of an incredible ensemble called Project Pride, an LGBTQIA and straight, allied teen theatre group, started by Coterie Education Director Amanda Kibler. Our devised-by-the-teens show, "Queerios," was in March, and Amanda decided to re-mount it for Fringe.

So that's three shows.

Then, I heard MoJo Invocations was looking for submissions for their production, called "Free to Be KC," based on the soundtrack of my childhood, "Free to Be, You and Me." I submitted a story-poem about tolerance and acceptance, "The Cute Little Woman, Young Jacob, and Me." They're including it in their show.

Four shows, one Fringe, one exhausted, but happy, Tara.



"Red Death": https://www.facebook.com/events/818883604788578/  Ticket info: http://kc-fringe.ticketleap.com/red-death/
Tara Varney's photo.




Project Pride presents: Queerios! "Things are getting better for queer kids, and it’s because of gutsy people like the teenagers who wrote this. A ticket to Queerios is a 2-for-1 deal: a scandalously charming hour of theater and an exhibition of contemporary queer youth courage." (Camp Magazine)http://kc-fringe.ticketleap.com/project-pride-presents-queerios/

The Coterie’s new Project Pride will perform at KC Fringe. Appearing: members (from left) Josh Metje, 15, Blue Springs; Claire Davis, 18, Lee’s Summit; Christian Williams, 17, Kansas City, North; Leanna Varney, 15, KC; and Leah Brownlee, 18, KC.
 



Here's an article about "Bad Auditions." I'm thinking of adding some more hyphens to my personal "title." (I will be in the Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday performances.)  http://www.examiner.com/article/bad-auditions-mixes-comedy-with-audience-participation-for-fringe-festival

Kevin King slates "Bad Auditions" for his Kansas City Fringe Festival entry for 2014.




"Free to Be KC": http://kc-fringe.ticketleap.com/free-to-be-kc/

Photo: Did you know that the upcoming production of Free to Be KC at the Phosphor Studio (KC Fringe!) features the works of many talented artists such as Tara Varney, Heidi Van, Martin Buchanan (but, really his son), and a character inspired by Alli Jordan!!

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