2006 Festival

A Close Encounter by Debbie Perry

The Lion’s Call by Mary Elizabeth Corrigan

Decorator Box by Glendora Davis

Death’s Dance Cardby Lezlie Revelle

Turnstiles by Liz Amberly

Unit Cost by Evelyn Jean Pine

Moonshine by Gayle Greene

God’s Religion by Edith Weiss

Our Playwrights

Liz Amberly (New York, NY - Turnstiles) Turnstiles was originally created for the ATrainPlays in New York and subsequently appeared at the Snowdance Festival and Mill Mountain Theatre. Other plays include Blueberry Waltz (winner of the Samuel French Festival and published by Samuel French, 2004), Beyond the Cabin (commissioned by the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center) and Whisper Down the Lane (developed through the Workshop Theater, winner of the Asylum Theatre full-length contest in Las Vegas and most recently performed as a staged reading at the Revolution Theatre in Chicago.) Liz is currently collaborating with Tony Sportiello on Suicide Rings and recently completed her first Staccato.

Mary Elizabeth Corrigan (Los Angeles, CA - The Lion’s Call) The LA Times once attributed to Mary Elizabeth Corrigan’s Literary voice the comment: “Life’s a jest and all things show it. I thought so once and now I know it.” Variety offered the opinion that her work “finds humor in the most unexpected places.” An honor graduate of the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, Ms. Corrigan’s plays have been produced to critical acclaim on the West Coast, including The Meeting, Mondo Boffo, and the National Endowment for the Arts Grant worthy piece The Secret of the Frog King. As an actress, she is still receiving residual checks for her co-starring role in Little House On The Prairie and appearances in M*A*S*H and Maude among others. She is founding staffer at the internationally renown LA Opera and currently counts tenor Placido Domingo as her boss.

Glendora Davis (Merriam, KS - Decorator Box) Kansas City resident and co-founder of Potluck Productions, Glendora Davis, has worked since 1994 to create opportunities for emerging women playwrights. Her own works, Burn Barbie Burn, Chocolate Pie, and Upchuck were featured in Real Images of Real Women at the University of Wisconsin. Lullaby was an award winning entry in the Penn Valley Playfest and the Johnson County Community College Playfest. She recently completed Troop Train Treachery for the Mystery Train Dinner Theatre, and two of her scripts, Caretakers and Big Brother Skippy, have been opted by local filmmakers. At home on the stage as well as the page, she was last seen in the 2005 Kansas City Fringe Festival and in The Hindu and the Cowboy.

Gayle Greene (Jersey City, NJ - Moonshine) Gayle is pleased to be able to be part of this year’s Kansas City Women’s Playwriting Festival. Although currently living in New Jersey, Gayle spent many years teaching fine arts classes at St. Mary College in Leavenworth. Currently she is an acting instructor at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Previously produced scripts include Little Bird, a one-act presented at The Actors Studio Playwright / Directors Reading Festival; Mary, a performance / meditation piece; Daffodil, a two-act play presented in workshop form at the Theatre Studio in New York; and Reach Into Your Bag. Gayle is a member of The Actors Studio, The Dramatists Guild, the Screen Actors Guild, and Actors Equity Association.

Debbie Perry (Ojai, CA - A Close Encounter) Close friends have always laughed and enjoyed Debbie’s stories, encouraging her to write. She finally decided to take the plunge “...and I’ve never been so happy. Words seem to fall out of me. Ms. Perry considers it a great release and adventure for her second half-century. “No empty next here, just empty pages ready to be filled.” Her script A Close Encounter came out of a free write and two prop workshop in which she was given a jeweled necklace and a trophy.

Evelyn Jean Pine (San Francisco, CA - Unit Cost) Evelyn Jean Pine won a 2005 Emerging Playwright Award when Playground produced her short play Black directed by Jonathan Moscone at Zeum Theatre in San Francisco last May. Her play Cleaning Out received its world premier at the Offstage Theatre in Charlottesville, VA in June 2005, and also won an Honorable Mention in the Quickies Festival from the Actors Theatre in Santa Rosa, CA. Ms. Pine has been a Playground Playwrights Pool member for two seasons and, as a result, three of her works, Black, Cleaning Out, and Perfect Endings received staged readings at Berkeley Rep. Ms. Pine lives in San Francisco with her husband and their eight-year-old son.

Lezlie Revelle (Prairie Village, KS - Death’s Dance Card) Lezlie has been writing for as long as she can remember. While she has seen several of her skits and small readers theater works come to life, this is her first full one-act production. Lezlie is completing her Master of Arts in Creative Writing at UMKC, where she teaches composition. She’s also a successful singer-songwriter, and is currently working on her next album. Lezlie is excited about this opportunity and would like to thank you for coming tonight to celebrate and support theatre in Kansas City.

Edith Weiss (Denver, CO - God’s Religion) Edith is a stand up comic whose tours include the Balkans, Japan, and Korea. When not on the road she is a director and actress. She acted in and wrote Unidentified Female Objects and The Philosopher Whore in her hometown of Denver. In competitions this past year, her Hoping to See God was performed as part of the Frankenstein Experiment in Lafayette, Colorado, and was the critics choice as “Best of the evening;” Checkmate won the first night at SlamBoston and also got into the Trench Reading Series in Denver, and she is proud to be part of the Kansas City Women Playwright’s Festival. She also writes children’s plays, six of which have been published and receive productions all over the U.S. and Canada. She will sign an affidavit that she is, indeed, a woman.

Publicity Photos

Our Actors

David Bunce (The Lion’s Call, God’s Religion) Dave is thrilled to be back with Potluck Productions for the third time. He has been around town recently in such shows as Glengarry Glen Ross, You Can’t Take It With You, The Boys Next Door, and The Odd Couple. This is also the third time he’s playing God, but he believes there’s an even bigger role that awaits him: that of Elvis.

Glendora Davis (The Lion’s Call, Moonshine) Kansas City resident and co-founder of Potluck Productions, Glendora Davis, has worked since 1994 to create opportunities for emerging women playwrights. Her own works, Burn Barbie Burn, Chocolate Pie, and Upchuck were features in Real Images of Real Women at the University of Wisconsin. Lullaby was an award winning entry in the Penn Valley Playfest and the Johnson County Community College Playfest. She recently completed Troop Train Treachery for the Mystery Train Dinner Theatre, and two of her scripts, Caretakers and Big Brother Skippy, have been opted by local filmmakers. At home on the stage as well as the page, she was last seen in the 2005 Kansas City Fringe Festival and in The Hindu and the Cowboy.

Tom Davis (A Close Encounter, Death’s Dance Card) Tom Davis returns to the theater after several years of film and commercial roles. Most recently, he has acted in several local short films, including as the lead villain in The Truth, which won first place in the Page One Competition at the 2004 Kansas International Film Festival. He also stars as Detective Lance McCurrey in the upcoming regional film release of the feature film The Empty Acre, as well as Dr. Alan Stephons in the ongoing internet horror series, Shadow Falls. Tom has had prominent roles in recent television commercials for Anderson-Erickson, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Ameristar Casinos, and has also been featured in national advertising campaigns for Motorola, Tyson Chicken and, most recently, Hallmark. Tom's theater credits include principle roles in Oklahoma, M*A*S*Hand The Crucible.

D.K. Evenson (Decorator Box) 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 15 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 Two for the Show for the 2005 Kansas City Fringe Festival and Talley’s Folly for OCTA, stage managing Story Theatre for Barn Players and The Marriage of Bette and Boo for Northland Actor’s Ensemble, and properties design for Dinner Party for OCTA.

Taylor Gass (A Close Encounter, Turnstiles) Taylor’s been seen around the Kansas City area as everything from a Princess in Pulling It Off to Sara Jane Moore in Assassins. It’s been a fun trip! Love to fam and friends...thanks for all the support!

John Jessup (The Lion’s Call, Unit Cost, God’s Religion) Since finding sanctuary in theatre and broadcasting at the University of Nebraska four-plus decades ago, John Jessup has made a living saying words for microphones and cameras. He’s now in his 13th season as a cast member of Right Between The Ears, a radio comedy show carried on Sirius Satellite Radio and National Public Radio. In between RBTE laughfests, he performs in commercials, corporate videos, and the exceedingly occasional movie or TV gig. John represents Kansas City on the National Board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Idle hours are spent in pursuit of perfect folk music harmonies.

Janell Karyn (Death’s Dance Card, Turnstiles) Janell was recently coined the “lucky penny” of Potluck Productions. She is not sure about all that, but she is certainly thrilled they allowed her back for the third year in a row. Other credits include Irma Kronkite in Picnic, Trudi in Comic Potential, Eileen in Moon Over Buffalo, and Jane Tate in It Runs in the Family. When she’s not acting, Janell is usually helping her friends through chaotic times (or just living vicariously) and using their drama for writing material.

Linda Levin (Unit Cost) Linda joins the Kansas City theatre community after 31 years as a high school teacher. She recently portrayed five different characters in Museum and Zlata in Necessary Targets. She thanks family and friends for their support and encouragement, and looks forward to working with Potluck Productions.

Joshua Tolley (Moonshine) Joshua is making his second appearance in the Kansas City Women’s Playwriting Festival, having been involved in the 2004 production where participated in Truckers, Dead Dog God, and the racy Last Cigarette. Other roles include Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, Hamlet in Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead, and third cop on the right in The Front Page. He was also in Down By the River at the Westport Coffee House from a few years back, and he appeared in The Trojan Women during Gorilla Theatre’s 2001 Greek show.

Mary L. Wilkens (Death’s Dance Card) Mary considers herself lucky to be a part of Potluck Productions! In the past she has appeared in several short pieces for IFC (Independent Filmmaker's Coalition) and taken workshops with the Actor’s Training Studio and Wright Laird Casting. Recently she played Melissa in Necessary Targets. Mary wants to thank Howard for his support, and she thanks, YOU, for being a member of the audience!

Program Cover

Production Staff

Fran Farah (Stage Manager) Fran is very happy to be working with Potluck Productions, its staff and its actors. Fran comes to us from InPlay Theatre Company, where she is a founding board member and a member of its artistic staff. Fran has directed several productions with InPlay, and serves as set designer, costume designer, stage manager and House Manager, for InPlay. Fran has taught children’s classes at Theatre for Young America, where she has also directed. Fran received her MFA degree in Theatrical Direction at UMKC where she worked with Missouri Repertory Theatre and directed productions in the MFA Conservatory program. Fran has also directed and taught classes for The Leavenworth Military Barracks in Leavenworth, Kansas. Fran was a founding member and Artistic Director for New Directions theatre company. Fran is also a member of the DST Systems Arts Council, for which she serves as Theater Chair. Fran lists the following as some of her favorite directing opportunities: You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Rainmaker, Othello, Harlem Knights, and Winter’s Tale.

Andi Meyer (Director) Pleased to be directing for Potluck Productions, Andi Meyer has been a professional actress for 16 years. Performing on the stage, screen, and radio waves, she is an active member of both Actor’s Equity Association and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Among other places, Andi has performed at the New Theatre Restaurant with Loretta Switt and Gary Sandy, The Coterie Children’s Theatre — recently named one of the nation’s top 5 children’s theatres by Time magazine, and The Unicorn Theatre. Andi is also a member of the multiple award-winning radio comedy group, Right Between The Ears, which can be heard on KPR, KCMO - AM 710 and the Laugh Break comedy channel on Sirius Satellite radio. On top of performing, Andi teaches a comprehensive Shakespeare curriculum, acting/ scene study, and creative dramatics classes for places such as The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, The Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Coterie, and K.C. Young Audiences to a wide variety of ages and cultural backgrounds.

Dana Pflumm (Properties) Dana has been involved with Potluck since her play The Meeting was in their first production in 1995. Since then, she has aided and abetted their cause by doing props, sound, sweeping floors and writing two more plays, Voices and One Last Smile (2005). She has thoroughly enjoyed her association with them and hopes they call her again next year.

Joyce Slater (Set Design, Costume Design) Joyce is one of the Potluck Productions 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. Joyce extends her thanks to everyone, especially her fellow producers Glendora Davis and D.K. Evenson.

Aaron Switzer (Sound Design) A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Video Production, Aaron has lived in Kansas City for a little over two years and now works for Barnstorming Inc. This is his first sound design job. But, he has BEEN to a number of productions including: Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and the Phantom of the Opera in London. He wants to thank the cast and crew for letting him be involved in such a wonderful performance.

Production Photos