PRIDE AND JOY Plays to Benefits AIDS Walk KC, 4/1-4/18

Pride and Joy and Other Plays by Paul Rudnick will be presented by Actors & Artists Against AIDS to benefit AIDS WALK Kansas City, April 1 through 18, 2010. Directed by Jeff Church, Producing Artistic Director of the Coterie Theatre, this provocative and outrageous comedy, features a collection of hilarious characters, starring local legends, Ron Megee and Missy Koonce.

Koonce and Megee will be joined by Jessica Dressler, Kelly Main and professional wrestler/performer Jeff Smith. Produced by the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City, performances will be on the Jerome Stage at the Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo.

"There are easier ways to raise money than to do a play, but nothing is more fun," laughs director Church. "And I've never forgotten how effective Actors & Artists Against AIDS was in the early '90s when they produced The Normal Heart and The Sum of Us.

Michael Lintecum, who was involved with the group then, felt it was a good idea to resurrect this group this year. I knew I could call in some resources to keep costs down, in order to actually raise money," notes Church.

Indeed, a number of designers are donating their time, talent and expertise to make Pride and Joy and Other Plays by Paul Rudnick. The Coterie donating rehearsal space. Kansas City Repertory Theatre is supporting the play through the loan of scenic items. UMKC Theatre is supplying graduate students.

"This is something artists can do," says Church, who is also donating his services. "This truly fun collection of short comedies celebrates our lives and even our hardships. It is perfect theater to see in the weeks leading up to AIDS WALK this year. Every night will be Opening Night in spirit and with champagne!"

This comical bill of short plays contains some of Rudnick's best works to date. Rudnick also wrote Adams Family Values and Jeffrey. In Pride and Joy, Helene (played by Missy Koonce) is a Long Island matron and self-proclaimed "most loving mother of all time" to her three gay children. The flamboyant Mr. Charles, (played by Ron Megee) spends his time in the company of the hunky Shane, with whom he produces a cable television show, Too Gay.

The group Actors & Artists Against AIDS are promising an evening of extraordinary theater, with characters colliding under surprising circumstances, providing evidence that perhaps the word "family" means something very different than what people might think.

Show Dates:
April 1 through April 18
8 pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday performances
3 pm Sunday matinees

Tickets:
All seats $20, directly benefiting AIDS WALK Kansas City.
There is a $2 per ticket service charge.

For Tickets, call Central Ticket Office at 816-235-6222 or visit actorsagainstaids.com
Tickets also available at the door one hour prior to performance.

Additional information:
Producer...AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Director.....Jeff Church
Associate Producers....Michael Lintecum, Josh Strodtman, Sara Bossler
Stage Manager.....Jessie Davis
Set designer....Jordan Janota
Costume Designer...Jon Fulton Adams
Lighting Designer.....Latrice Lovette
Sound Design....David Kiehl
Properties for Crafty.... Ray Ettinger
Hair Design for Mr. Charles ... Robert McCain, Blo Salon
Sound Op.....Matt Grevan
Head of Box Office... Carol Megee
Marketing...Terry Newell, Joette Pelster, Jeremy Lillig, Karen VanAsdale

The 22nd annual AIDS WALK Kansas City will be held on Saturday, April 24 at Theis Park 47th and Oak Streets presented by the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City the AIDS WALK benefits local HIV/AIDS service organizations to provide practical assistance, housing, long-term nursing care and primary medical, prevention and education services to those whom HIV/AIDS challenges every day. 

Photo of Price & Joy company members: (left to right) Jeff Smith, Ron Megee, Jessica Dressler, Missy Koonce, Jeff Church (director), and Kelly Main. Photo by Terry Newell

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