It’s Gonna Be A Lovely Day: A Tribute To Bill Withers – ENCORE
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Company Name: Raja Productions
City/State: Kansas City, MO
Genre: Music, Musical, Spoken Word, Storyteller, Theatre
Ratings: PG - Parental Guidance Suggested
Playwright: Br. John
Premiere: Yes
Venue: The Westport Bowery
Show Times:
Sunday, October 8th @ 6pm
Sunday, October 15th @ 6pm
Description:
Brother John, brings his hit show "It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day", back for an encore. Storyteller and musician Brother John tells his personal story of an inquisitive, adolescent struggling with emotional and self-esteem challenges who finds inspiration and purpose through the poignant music and songs of the award winning, singer/songwriter-Bill Withers. Live music, funny touching and all in Brother John style!
Doors open 1/2 before the show, so grab a drink and bite to eat while enjoying the show.
Cast/Crew:
Br. John, Rick Cole
Past Fringe Shows:
Been Loving You Too Long
Change Gonna Come
If I Should Die Tonight
Hey Minnie The Moocher,
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OUR SPONSORS
Missouri Arts Council
Theater League
Arts KC
NTDF
henderson
VMA
KC FRINGE FESTIVAL
P.O. Box 415001
Kansas City, MO 64141-5001
Brother John is back again this year doing his magic to channel another R&B great, Bill Withers. John weaves an intimate glimpse of his own and his subject’s childhoods with beautiful renditions of the best of Bill Withers’ songbook. Entertaining, interactive, joy of a show.
Saw this show 7/22. Had no idea Bill Withers wrote so many songs! Brother John excellent. Standing ovation from crowd!!
I agree, Jane ! Brother John is a FANTASTIC storyteller, performer and singer ! I look forward to his next creative endeavor 🎵
Bill Withers is impeccable and so is Brother John. Go see this show.
* Rating – 2.5 out of 5
* 1-sentence review – Watching a man embody the energy of boyish wonder is refreshing and charming, though at times you find yourself searching for the effect of Withers’ legacy on the featured Fringe actor.
* 3-sentence review – Kansas City native Brother John merges classic Bill Withers repertoire with personal anecdotes in this authentic, deeply personal production. Frequently I asked myself: am I at this show to watch someone sing Bill Withers covers as they reference a binder full of his music, or am I here to witness a jukebox musical featuring the actor’s personal anecdotes as the show’s narrative? I left finding myself smiling, knowing the meaning and origins of Fringe rings true with someone like Brother John and this show: these stages are built to experiment new work, to challenge your artistic bravado, and bring together community through the arts, as the featured actor seems to do every day with a warm, kind, and loving nature.
Brother John always puts on such a great show! The stories are rich and deep, and brother John is a storyteller of epic proportions.
Funny, moving, and thought-provoking! Br. John shares details of his live with admirable bravery. His story interwoven with Bill Withers’ story and songs casts a powerful spell. Don’t miss this show!
Bro John ‘s It’s gonna be a lovely day is a must see. It’s full of drama & inspiration he uses his full vocal range in song . He sounds amazing! As he tells parts of his life story I went opening night & the room was more then half full. At the end we all give him a standing ovation. Brother John always give his all like all of his proformace. I give this show a 10 + please try to attend one of these shows Viola W.
Great show! Brother John has so much energy and conveys the story and music is ways that pulled me into the life of Bill Withers.
I came expecting the lovely tribute show–singing, history, guest singer– that I saw last year, and was surprised to find so much more as I was moved to tears at Br. John’s vulnerability as he weaves the story of his own journey (to which so many of us can relate) with the music of Bill Withers. I laughed, I cried, I sang along–go see this show!!
Br. John’s show is full of music, energy, and reflections on the life of Bill Withers. I knew the songs but I didn’t know the artist until listening to Br. John. Br. John weaves his own story into the life and songs of Bill Withers. It was touching, educational and entertaining.
I love Br.John’s storytelling.
I remember him dressing up like a cookie during the first KC Fringe almost 10 years ago.
He knows how to captivate an audience and write a good story.
This show was heartfelt and had great message.
Looking forward to seeing him again!
Thank you Bro John for another flawless production and performances about Afro American Male Vocalist, I enjoyed the music, journey and history about Bill Withers.
Grandma Hands…
Brother John shares his memories of adolescence with a loving but strict single mother
in an intimate conversation with the audience. As his narrative builds in emotional intensity, it offers opportune moments for Brother John to perform a selection of Bill Withers’ classics. The combination of his own story and his expressive voice was the perfect framework to honor the legacy of Bill Withers.
Brother John is a first class entertainer. He is a local musician that has performed at most, if not all, of the KC Fringe festivals. He pays tribute to a different musical star every year. I did not know who Bill Withers was prior to this tribute by Brother John, but instantly recognized several of the songs. Brother John uses Bill Wither’s music to tell a story. If you have never seen Brother John, look for him again next year.