KC FRINGE FESTIVAL 2025
Performances July 17-27
Visual Art July 06-26
Film July 18-20
KC FRINGE FESTIVAL 2025
Performances July 17-27
Visual Art July 06-26
Film July 18-20
Click on the venue name above for information on parking and amenities.
Show Description
“The Navel Gazers” is a modern farce set in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Over the course of their lease, Anna and Olivia are forced to confront their expectations of one another, their hopes for themselves, and the unstable futures ahead of them. Exploring themes of identity, selfishness, and the ever-changing visage of “adulthood,” this project sheds an empathetic light on the turbulent— and endearingly familiar— relationships of our youth.
NYC-based theater company Starr Street Productions has been developing “The Navel Gazers” since October 2023. The generative process involved an especially unique cohort of creatives. Actors Mouna Baba, Charlie Hume, Kathryn Taylor, and Oscar Wahlbarg contain among them two couples, two roommates, and two childhood best friends. Writer Jack Harding and workshop director Michelle Chan are also long time friends in addition to repeated collaborators. These working dynamics created a story that not only digs into the minutiae of interpersonal politics, but expresses the shared fears plaguing this generation.
Cast and Crew
Cast: Kathryn Taylor, Mouna Baba, Oscar Wahlberg, Charlie Hume
Director: Michelle Chan
Playwright: Jack Harding
Artist & Show Details:
Starr.street.productions
This will be our first time attending KC Fringe!
Lowell –
This show was an excellent production with a good dose of humor along with a realistic and believable story line. There were only a few of us in the audience and we were treated to a heartfelt presentation as if the house was sold out. Kudos to all of the actors for a job well done. Since this show is only scheduled for 3 days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), be sure to add it to your schedule and you won’t regret it!
Morgan Simon –
Hilarious characters, killer acting performances, and a super sweet ending. Highly recommend!
Denise –
Aptly named
Jessy B. Goode –
Incredible writing, acting and timing!! I was still thinking about these characters hours after I watched it. They felt so real and lived in. Great show, highly recommend if you’re looking for an original play written with humor and love.
Dustin Reckling –
Hilariously mundane situation performed expertly and realistically by all involved. Surprisingly intense stakes given said mundane situation, and great use of the space. No one missed a beat.
Sarah Donohoe –
This show hadn’t been on our original list of “to see.” But we chatted with the cast outside the venue when leaving a different show and they were so nice, enthusiastic and charming, we decided to see their show. It was excellent! The writing was superb and the acting was as good as anything you’ll see. The show moved at a quick pace, had some humor, and was very relatable. Our only suggestion: Olivia spoke too quietly–we lost some of her lines.
RRH –
I feel lucky to have seen this show from Brooklyn, NY! The Navel Gazers feels deeply human. Anna and Olivia play two roommates with a co-dependent friendship, that many can relate to. Through twists and turns the actors leave the audience imagining what might happen next. The fate of friendship and romantic relationships hanging in the balance. Leaving a bittersweet taste in your mouth, like many relationships do.
I live for this slice of life shiz, so I deeply appreciate Start Street Productions bringing this modern farce all the way to Kansas City and wish them luck at future festivals and performances! They’re going places!
James P Waldo –
Wonderful show! Honest, real, emotions everywhere… funny, raw, funny, believable, funny, dramatic, heartwarming. There was an earthy grittyness to it at times. No spoilers but there was one seen that evoked audible gasps of pain from much of the audience… I teared up. They take you through a range of emotions (mostly laughing) and leave you feeling warm and hopeful! Definitely worth seeing.
Che –
Brilliant script, wonderful pacing, and a lovely group of performers. So happy they came out to KC!
Amanda Matteucci –
I’m so glad I made it out to this show before they left! It was intriguing, funny, emotional, everything you want in an hour long play. The acting was top notch, especially for the character “Olivia.” This play does lean on the side of “the girlies who get it, get it.” The row of almost all GenZ girlies were obsessed with this show…especially during the last scene…the tension was palpable. I found myself identifying with all of the characters and also seeing people I knew in them as well, so kudos to the writing for being down to earth and props to the actors for bringing the characters to life. I hope to see this show (or another play from this group) again some day!