"Kwame a River 2: The Wrath of Conyers": Observer and Eccentric says "Kwame A River 2" hits mark

‘Kwame A River 2' revue hits mark
n Comedy has audience rolling

By Pam Fleming • STAFF WRITER • August 13, 2009

Unless you've lived in a cave, everyone knows about Kwame Kilpatrick's text messaging scandal and Monica Conyers' antics at recent Detroit City Council meetings.

Now the Andiamo Novi Theatre's performance “Kwame A River 2: The Wrath of Conyers” moves these rather serious issues into the realm of comedy — and had the audience practically rolling in the aisles at the Aug. 6 opening night production.

Following the critically-acclaimed “Kwame A River: The Chronicles of Detroit's Hip Hop Mayor,” the new revue is a hilarious original political satire that picks up boldly where the last production left off.

Kwame is out of jail and in exile in Dallas, and in his absence the unpredictable Monica Conyers has become president of the Detroit City Council.

The performance chronicles Conyers' tenure as head of council and comically displays everything that happened — from raucous council wars, Cobo contracts and feuds with eighth-graders — and a few things the audience may not have known — like Conyers' secret therapy session with Dr. Phil, her unlikely passionate affair with Ken Cockrel Jr. and her wacky plans to turn Metro Detroit into a tourism mecca.

This show is especially for Detroiters, as local characters appear in the show's sketches and songs, including Kwame and Carlita Kilpatrick, Dennis Archer, Coleman A. Young, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, George W. Bush, Jeff Daniels, Martha Reeves, Ken Cockrel Jr., Mel Farr, Kid Rock, Aretha Franklin, Geoffrey Feiger, Ted Nugent, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, L. Brooks Patterson, the Sam Bernstein family and the entire Detroit City Council.

Other Detroit names and places mentioned in the show include Kym Worthy, Bill Bonds, Madonna, Alice Cooper, Greektown, Eminem, the Pistons, the Stanley Cup, Twelve Oaks Mall, Rick Wagoner, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Taylor, Mike and Mary Ilich, Little Caesar's, Mackinac Island, Insane Clown Posse, Tamara Green, Gary Brown, Mr. Allen and even Michigan potholes.

Written and directed by Marc Warzecha, a native Detroiter currently living in Los Angeles, Warzecha has appeared on national television in such shows as “MADtv” and “Reno 911!” He has received numerous accolades, including two Joseph Jefferson nominations for Best Director.

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.