"Kwame a River 2: The Wrath of Conyers": The Detroit Free Press previews "Kwame a River 2"

Posted: July 10, 2009
'Kwame a River 2' opens soon at Andiamo Novi
Comedy sequel focuses on Monica Conyers
BY JOHN MONAGHAN
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

For former Detroiter Marc Warzecha, creator of "Kwame a River: The Chronicles of Detroit's Hip-Hop Mayor," the laughs his show has been receiving nightly on the Andiamo Novi Theatre stage are nothing compared with what has been happening at Detroit's City Hall this year.

"I continued to follow what was going on in city and Michigan politics, especially with the City Council and Monica Conyers," says Los Angeles resident Warzecha, whose "Kwame a River" opened on New Year's Eve. "Obviously, there was plenty of material for a follow-up."

That follow-up arrives Aug. 1, when "Kwame a River 2: The Wrath of Conyers" opens for previews. The show finds former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick out of jail and working in Texas while Conyers presides over a typically dysfunctional Detroit City Council. The show recalls shouting matches, feuds over Cobo Hall and the memorable dressing-down Conyers got last year from an eighth-grade girl.

"The majority of this is about Conyers and the council, but we do follow Kwame as well," Warzecha says. "I was intrigued by this fish-out-of-water story about the Kilpatrick family living this suburban life in Texas."

Four of the six cast members from the first show will return in the second, and most will play multiple parts. Among the roles they'll tackle are former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Martha Reeves, Ken Cockrel Jr., Mel Farr, Kid Rock, Aretha Franklin, Geoffrey Feiger, Stevie Wonder and L. Brooks Patterson.

"Kwame 2" is the second show at Andiamo Novi Theatre, which is no longer affiliated with Second City, the legendary improv comedy organization. The two quietly severed ties earlier this year.

Dan Linnen, a partner in the Andiamo Novi Theatre, says he was sad to see the arrangement end, but "We felt the theater should be utilized for a wider variety of programming opportunities, such as stand-up comedy, live bands and corporate functions."

http://www.freep.com/article/20090710/ENT05/907100340/

Jennifer Gale (Music Director):

Pianist, Educator, Accompanist. Ms Gale is the Owner/Director of the Mount Clemens Arts Consortium, Inc a Community-style school for the Arts. As a pianist she has performed solo concerts featuring the music of Black composers from around the world. As an educator, she has taught general music courses in public schools and for the Interlochen School of the Arts. She also maintains a studio of private piano students who compete and perform across the state. As an accompanist, she's played over 20 different musicals for community groups and schools in southeast Michigan. Musical Director for Kwame 1

Michael Pollock, Composer

Michael Pollock (composer ): Michael is musical director of The Second City Training Center Los Angeles; he studied at the University of Texas at Austin, Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts and The Grove School of Music. His credits include The Tonight Show, The Drew Carey Show, Evening at the Improv and ABC’s Emmy Award-winning Tuesdays With Morrie. He plays piano for various show at Disneyland and taught the first master class in musical direction at the Chicago Improv Festival in 2005. Learn more about Michael at www.michaelpollock.com.

Marc Warzecha (Writer/Director)

Marc Warzecha is originally from Metro Detroit, and now lives in Los Angeles where he has recently appeared on MAD TV and Reno 911. Marc served as writer/director for "Kwame a River: The Chronicles of Detorit's Hip Hop Mayor," a 2009 Wilde Award nominee for "Best New Script." He has worked with The Second City as both an actor and director; most recently directing "BarackStars" in at the Woolly Mammoth theatre in Washington, DC. Other directing credits include: "Pratfall of Civilization" (The Second City ETC - Joseph Jefferson nominee: "Best Director"). "War! Now in it's 4th Smash Year!" (Second City Chicago Mainstage- Joseph Jefferson nominee: Best Director, Best Revue, Best Ensemble), "The Not Ready for $3.99 Prime Rib Players" (Second City Las Vegas), "Woodward to your Mutha" and "Ten: The 10 year Anniersary show" (Second City Detroit). Acting credits include six resident stage reviews at the Second City Detroit, "Romeo and Juliet the Musical" at Chicago Shakespeare theatre, and SCC's "An Evening with Martin Short." Marc's work as a satirist has been featured on ABC's "Nightline", Newsweek, and in the Washington Post, and he has been a guest on CNN's "Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and NPR's "All Things Considered." Marc is the host "No Waiting with Marc Warzecha," a live talk show that satirizes news and politics, most recently performed at the Comedy Central Stage in Hollywood. Thank you to an excellent cast and crew and to family, friends, and the theatre going community in Detroit whose support made this follow up show possible.