The Option by Elizabeth Dean
Concentration by N. M. Gilmore
The Breakfast by Kendra Finney
Table For One - Sherry by M. K. Sinnett
Requiem by Catherine Browder
Strategy by Mary Beth Gordon
Voices by Dana Pflumm
New Woman by Donna W. Ziegenhorn
Table for One - Nora by M. K. Sinnett
Home Free by M. K. Sinnett
One Last Smile by Dana Pflumm
Dates and Mates by Glendora Davis
Ketchup by Kristin Soper
CATHERINE BROWDER (Kansas City, MO - Requiem) Catherine is a Kansas City-based fiction writer and playwright. She has had a long and fruitful relationship with Potluck Productions. Requiem is her fifth play produced by Potluck. Other plays have been presented regionally, in Kansas City, and in NYC at the HotInk! New Play Festival. Her most recent book of fiction, Secret Lives: Stories, came out in 2003 from SMU Press. Currently she teaches fiction writing at UMKC She wishes to dedicate Requiem to Page Grubb.
GLENDORA DAVIS (Lake Quivira, KS - Dates and Mates) Glendora has been performing since her unscheduled delivery in a car on route to the hospital. Her stage credits are numerous and occasionally she appears in commercials and short films. Her partnership with Joyce Slater began in 1995 when Potluck Productions was formed to provide opportunities for women playwrights. Plays written by Glendora that have been a part of Potluck Productions include: Panty Hose, Mini-Pause, The Last Protest, Big Brother Skippy, Chocolate Pie, and The Last Song at the Fairplane Bowling Palace. Glendora’s play Lullaby was a winner at the Penn Valley College Play Fest and was also given a staged reading at Johnson County Community College.
ELIZABETH DEAN (Lawrence, KS - The Option) Libby, a KU senior, has written other plays, including one that was produced in 2004 by Potluck Productions. The KU senior, who plans to go on to graduate school, intends to continue her playwriting efforts.
KENDRA FINNEY (Lawrence, KS - The Breakfast) Kendra, a KU junior, took a playwriting class on a whim. The result: The Breakfast. She says the play is based in part on some of the discussions and fights she had with a former boyfriend. Although Finney is studying psychology and human development — with a goal of eventually becoming a family therapist -- she says she will always write.
N. M. GILMORE (Kansas City, MO - Concentration) A local nonfiction writer, Gilmore is enjoying a recent foray into playwriting. Her play, Concentration, is part of a series focusing on a theme of life games and games of cards.
MARY BETH GORDON (Kansas City, MO - Strategy) Mary Beth is a local freelance writer who dabbles in playwriting. Her first play, The Dead Cat, was in Potluck Productions’ first festival in 1995.
DANA PFLUMM (Lenexa, KS - Voices and One Last Smile) Dana has worked with Potluck Productions off and on since their first Women's Playwriting Festival in 1995. She has served in capacities such as playwright (The Meeting) and props and sound manager. She wishes to thank Ray, Marilyn and her family for their continued support.
M. K. SINNETT (Columbia, MO - Table For One and Home Free) Kate grew up in Manhattan, KS, where her parents still reside. She graduated from K-State in the theatre department. She received her PhD at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Kate began her theatre career as an actor, director and producer in KC in 1991. She directed for Potluck in 1997 and 1999. She is happy to return to the Potluck stage as a writer in this 10th Anniversary production. Currently, Kate is finishing up a Visiting Artist residency at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA.
KRISTIN SOPER (Lawrence, KS - Ketchup) Kristin describes Ketchup as a tribute to her grandparents. The recent KU graduate currently works at a local theatre in Lawrence. She continues to write and hopes one day to become a working (translation: well-paid) writer.
DONNA ZIEGENHORN (Kansas City, MO - New Woman) Donna scripted The Hindu and the Cowboy and Other Kansas City Stories which premiered at the annual Kansas City Harmony luncheon last year in April. The play is based on actual stories gathered in the community from persons of different faith traditions. Donna is associated with Kansas City Friends of Jung and CRES (The Center for Religious Experience and Study) and formerly convened the Kansas City Life Writers.
Jena Peterson, Janell Karyn, and Will Hutton |
Kim Hentges, Glendora Davis, Joyce Slater, Jena Peterson, and Diane Bulan |
DIANE BULAN (Strategy, New Woman, One Last Smile) Diane is a professional actor working in commercials, industrials, films, theatres and in schools (through Kansas City Young Audiences and Piccadilly Productions). When not performing, she is an acting teacher (references available upon request). And when not performing or teaching, she is a stagehand, and may be found hanging lights at theatres like the Kansas City Rep, the American Heartland, and JCCC’s Carlsen Center.
RYAN BUTTS (Concentration, One Last Smile, Ketchup) Ryan is thrilled to be working with Potluck Productions for the first time. Ryan is a 2003 graduate of the KU theatre department, where he was seen in Schoolhouse Rock Live, and directed W.A.S.P. by Steve Martin and The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas. He was also actively involved in KU’s English Alternative Theatre (EAT), which works primarily with original scripts from KU playwrights. He was seen in EAT’s productions of 18 Seconds and Mourning Glorie, and has directed staged readings of original scripts for EAT. Ryan was last seen as Ronnie in House of Blue Leaves with the Barn Players, and was at the Just Off Broadway Theatre last summer in Comic Potential, directed by J. Robert Paisley. He spends his “free time” working in the box office at the Rep. Thanks for all your support Julia – you’re a rock star!
GLENDORA DAVIS (Requiem, Voices, One Last Smile) Glendora has been performing since her unscheduled delivery in a car on route to the hospital. Her stage credits are numerous and occasionally she appears in commercials and short films. Her partnership with Joyce Slater began in 1995 when Potluck Productions was formed to provide opportunities for women playwrights. Plays written by Glendora that have been a part of Potluck Productions include: Panty Hose, Mini-Pause, The Last Protest, Big Brother Skippy, Chocolate Pie, and The Last Song at the Fairplane Bowling Palace. Glendora’s play Lullaby was a winner at the Penn Valley College Play Fest and was also given a staged reading at Johnson County Community College. KIM HENTGES (Concentration, Strategy, One Last Smile) Kim has been involved in theatre since high school. Since then she has loved being both on stage and back stage contributing where ever she can. She is currently President of the Wyandotte Players When she is not working or doing theatre she enjoys spending time with her husband and their beautiful daughter.
WILL HUTTON (The Option, The Breakfast, Voices, Dates & Mates) Will is a native of Kansas City, Kansas and has appeared in six Bishop Ward High School productions, including Grease and The Mouse That Roared. He also appeared in Romeo and Juliet for the Wyandotte Players, and in Kimberly Akimbo and Carnival for the Kansas City Kansas Community College theatre department. This is his first appearance with Potluck Productions.
JANELL KARYN (The Breakfast, Strategy, Home Free, Dates & Mates) This is Janell’s second opportunity to act in the festival and is thrilled to once again make a contribution. She’d like to thank D.K., Glendora, and Joyce for the invitation and pleasure. All love goes to her wonderfully supportive family (I think we would all agree some shows have been more worth it than others; thank you for being there nonetheless). All joy goes to her awesome group of friends (you know who you are) who have given Janell a different way of viewing almost everything. For those who may take that wrong (you know who you are), that’s a compliment.
CHRISTOPHER KING (Requiem, New Woman, Home Free, Dates & Mates) Christopher is pleased to make his Potluck debut. He was last seen in Cinnamon Eye’s production of Romeo and Juliet last year. Previous work, from Philadelphia to Arizona, includes productions of Lion In Winter, Henry David Wang’s Sound of a Voice, Closet Madness, Pillow Talk, and many others. Christopher is the Artistic Director of Minds Eye Theatre here in Kansas City.
JENA PETERSON (Table For One - Sherry, Ketchup) Jena was raised in St. James MO, and moved to Kansas City two years ago. This is her first show with Potluck Productions. Jena was most recently seen in Seven Short Plays, a KC Collaborative Lab/Actors Equity Association production, and as Catherine in Proof at Lawrence Community Theatre. Jena has been onstage in some capacity for as far back as she can remember. In the past, she has appeared as Agnes in Agnes of God, Lizabette in Anton In Show Business, Frances in 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress and Jessie Mae in Trip To Bountiful.
JOYCE SLATER (Concentration, One Last Smile) Joyce is one of the Potluck Production producers. She is also an actress, a storyteller, a visual artist and a wife, mother and grandmother. Joyce has been on stage most of her life and enjoys finding herself in the many characters she has portrayed. Her favorites include, Mother Watts from A Trip to Bountiful, the bag lady in Titi Beads and the mother in The Last Protest. It is always a thrill to see another Potluck show go up. New people, new scripts, and new playwrights make this an exciting business. Thank you everyone involved especially D K Evenson, our director.
MICHELLE L. TAPPMEYER (The Option, Voices, Table for One - Nora, One Last Smile) Michelle is originally from St. Louis where she performed all over the area. Since moving to Kansas City four years ago, she has completed her teacher certification in Speech and Theatre and finally has time to do some acting. She recently played Bunny Flingus in the Barn Players production of The House of Blue Leaves and has been seen in three musical reviews with the Leawood Stage Company. Some of her favorite roles include Annie in Annie Get Your Gun, the Witch in Into the Woods, Rizzo in Grease, and Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker. She would like to thank her husband for his constant love and support.
JONATHAN CLAYTON (Production Stage Manager) Jonathan is making his debut with Potluck Productions. This is his first time production stage managing.
MICHELLE COTTON (Sound Design) Michelle has worked with Potluck Productions in previous festivals, although this is her first time behind the scenes.
BECKY DeSCHEPPER (Light Board Operator)
D.K. EVENSON (Director) Some people decoupage, others stain glass, while some cross stitch. D.K. does none of these, choosing theatre as his avocation. Having been part of the Kansas City theatre community for over 12 years, D.K. works in all aspects of live theatre — as actor, director, stage manager, set designer, sound designer, properties master, stage hand, and gopher. Favorite onstage credits include playing in The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me for Actor’s Craft Studio, Max in Lend Me a Tenor for Longview Players, and Richard in The Lion In Winter for OCTA. Behind-the-scene favorites include directing Spoon River Anthology for Wyandotte Players, Talley’s Folly for OCTA, and The Faker Experience (a weekly radio drama) for Baker University.
MARY BETH GORDON (Publicity / Public Relations)
APRIL HALL (House Manager)
DANA PFLUMM ( Rehearsal Stage Manager) Dana has worked with Potluck Productions off and on since their first Women's Playwriting Festival in 1995. She has served in capacities such as playwright (The Meeting) and props and sound manager. She wishes to thank Ray, Marilyn and her family for their continued support.
BRANDON THOMAS (Sound Board Operator)
KEVIN VERHOFF (Lighting Design) Kevin is pleased to be able to work on this year’s Women’s Playwriting Festival. Past lighting design credits include Grace and Glorie for OCTA. Kevin is the resident lighting designer for Bell Road Barn.
