Beth & Mark’s BIG BANG!

By Big Bang Buffet & Beth Marshall Presents

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2419-BETH & MARK_S BIG BANG

Company Name: Big Bang Buffet & Beth Marshall Presents

City/State: Kansas City, MO & Denver, Co

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Storyteller, Theatre

Ratings: R

Director: Beth Marshall

Premiere: Yes

Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Direct talk of Jeff Church & The Coterie Theatre/Suicide/Trauma/Abuse

Venue: Center for Spiritual Living

Show Times:

9:00 PM Friday, July 19
4:30 PM Saturday, July 20
7:30 PM Sunday July 21st
7:30 PM Wednesday, July 24
9:00 PM Friday, July 26
7:30 PM Saturday, July 27

Description:

30x BEST OF FEST Fringe Producing Artist Beth Marshall & KKFI Radio Host & Co-Founder of Big Bang Buffet- Mark Manning reunite on stage to take you on their unapologetic autobiographical journey of what it was like to BE FRINGE in KCMO BEFORE there was KC FRINGE ! A Performance Art -MixTape Buffet-set to the soundtrack of their friendship serving up laughter & tears of 35 years of friendship & delving into the dark artistic truths of the old mantra... "The Show Must Go On"... Or Should It?

"The 1st Amendment isn't just for people who think like you. Free speech means sometimes listening to people and ideas which you may disagree. Kansas City's Performance Art Group BIG BANG BUFFET was founded on this belief and they have stuck to it" -Kansas City Magazine

" Beth Marshall Presents continue to raise the bar on provocative quality theatre" -Orlando Weekly

"BMP Brings TOP SHOWS to Fringes Globally"- WFN

"“Beth Marshall Presents is one of the most important and inventive theatre companies in town. Even if you do not appreciate every aspect Marshall’s shows, her willingness to experiment with content and push the boundaries of design is a vital part of the Central Florida theatre community.”-Broadway World

"Beth Marshall (and ensemble) give the finest acting of this Fringe" -Orlando Sentinelbr"The 1st Amendment isn't just for people who think like you. Free speech means sometimes listening to people and ideas which you may disagree. Kansas City's Performance Art Group BIG BANG BUFFET was founded on this belief and they have stuck to it" -Kansas City Magazine

" Beth Marshall Presents continue to raise the bar on provocative quality theatre" -Orlando Weekly


"BMP Brings TOP SHOWS to Fringes Globally"- WFN


"“Beth Marshall Presents is one of the most important and inventive theatre companies in town. Even if you do not appreciate every aspect Marshall’s shows, her willingness to experiment with content and push the boundaries of design is a vital part of the Central Florida theatre community.”-Broadway World


"Beth Marshall (and ensemble) give the finest acting of this Fringe" -Orlando Sentinel

Cast/Crew:

Executive Producers: Big Bang Buffet & Beth Marshall Presents
Show Creators: Beth Marshall & Mark Manning

Director: Beth Marshall
Stage Managers/Front of House: Chris Foster, BJ McBride, Janice Woolery
Sound Design: Mark Manning & Beth Marshall
Sound Mixer: Mark Manning
Logo/Poster/Program/Ad/Reel/Postcard/Social Media Design.... Christopher "CMAC" Mcintrye
Set Design Artwork.... Janice "JWoo" Woolery

Past Fringe Shows:

Beth Marshall:
Cosmo Lyrical, 2015
SCREW YOU REVUE, 2009 KC Fringe National Hold Over Show The Bric-A-Brac Vagabond Vintage Variety Show, 2008
La'Ange Avec Le Fleurs, 2008

Mark Manning:
The Children of Karen Carpenter, 2005

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11 Comments

  1. amanda on July 20, 2024 at 9:59 pm

    Fascinating perspective of the underground KC Theatre scene in the 80s/90s + glimpses into the origin stories of Beth & Mark. KC theatre artists will likely appreciate this show more than most, lots of familiar names and some VERY important takeaways on how the theatre industry runs / those who run it.
    The majority of the hour is detailing a devastating account of abuse at the hands of Jeff Church. Very detailed, very graphic. Understandably. The Content Warnings don’t quite feel like enough for what was shared with us. Once this portion of the show starts, there is no respite until the final segment (which I wish was longer because it was so fun and poignant).
    I respect the hell out of anyone who takes their trauma and is brave enough to both share their story and pain and alchemize it into art. I’m glad I saw it.

  2. David on July 21, 2024 at 2:06 pm

    Fantabulous!!! Show. Anyone who has ever seen a Big Bang show in the past should try and see this show.

  3. Troy on July 21, 2024 at 2:53 pm

    Really compelling and gut wrenching.

  4. Olivia S on July 21, 2024 at 9:23 pm

    Absolutely stunning! This is what fringe is all about. Laugh, cry, and think hard all within an hour. This is a must see.

  5. Molly Breen on July 21, 2024 at 11:45 pm

    I saw this show as I have a theatre company in a city that is similar in size to KC, and I was interested in what the theatre scene has been like here. I was unaware of the events detailed in this play, so it ended up being a different kind of show than I expected, but was pretty darn amazing and real. Highly recommended.

  6. Barbara Rues on July 21, 2024 at 11:56 pm

    I felt honored to have these fascinating, and at times heart-wrenching stories shared with me! I cried, and laughed and got a much deeper insight into both of these fascinating characters!

  7. Nicole H on July 22, 2024 at 10:56 am

    Mark and Beth have a created an environment that, even in the hollow atmosphere of this performance space, feels safe and comfortable – immediately welcoming. And I’m so grateful for that because the content is quite unnerving. I believe there is a lot of bravery needed to recount these experiences several times in a row. My heart breaks for all the artists in this city who enter into the theatre industry with hope and exuberance and find so much pain and horror. Maybe shows like this, open spaces to talk & listen, will provide a path towards hope for those who have lost some faith in their community …

  8. Beth Byrd-Lonski on July 22, 2024 at 10:41 pm

    This show is the most cathartic event that has happened for the Kansas City theater community regarding Jeff Church and the Coterie Theater. Whether you’re a theater geek or an audience member, you’ll be moved by Beth an Mark’s shared experiences.

  9. Janis Elzey on July 23, 2024 at 9:39 am

    An hour of bravery, authenticity heartbreak and resilience. Beth and Mark deliver a powerful show that follows a friendship woven through decades of KC theater highs and lows. A must see!

  10. josh brown on July 25, 2024 at 7:16 am

    Glad they had a voice
    as a gay couple of 34 years together
    and a ret sex offense investigator
    never knew the world of theater had such an issue.

  11. Danielle Anderson on July 27, 2024 at 12:28 am

    This show told truths and shone light in dark places. Two friends recount their journey to and through the KC theater scene and expose the horrors that happened. Very gripping storytelling that is raw and real, with lighter moments for a breath of air, and hope that things can change if we all do better.

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