Theatre Lab Fest: Featuring "Tipton"

Posted April 14, 2023

Thursday, May 18-Monday, May 22, 2023

Join Kansas City Public Theatre for the 2nd ANNUAL THEATRE LAB FEST, a celebration of our city’s playwriting talent!

Over the course of the festival weekend, audiences can attend nightly performances of the world-premiere production of TIPTON, new play-in-development readings, and participate in several interactive events such as a PLAYWRITING JAM and 5-PAGE FRINGE! All are welcome to attend and participate!

TIPTON is an experimental exploration of jazz musician Billy Tipton’s life through his own writing, written accounts from his friends and family, and through the music he made. This musical revue interweaves Tipton’s vaudevillian performance style with a nuanced story of transgender identity in the world of music. This production will both celebrate one of the unsung heroes of Kansas City jazz, and provide a thoughtful perspective on transgender identity in navigating a life the arts.

GENERAL ADMISSION FREE AT THE DOOR to all events. A limited number of reservations may be purchased in advance for TIPTON here.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 18 at 7:30pm –TIPTON Preview
Friday, May 19 at 7:30pm –TIPTON OPENING NIGHT (Opening Festival Reception to Follow)
Saturday, May 20 at 1:00pm – “Under the Table” by Ruthie Wu (Reading and Talkback)
7:00pm – Pre-show Community Discussion
7:30pm – TIPTON
9:30pm – Playwriting Jam
Sunday, May 21 at 12pm – 5-Page Fringe
3:00pm –”Smile, You’re On Camera” by Ash Bowen (Reading and Talkback)
7:30pm –TIPTON
Monday, May 22 at 7:30pm – TIPTON, Industry Night

Event Details

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When

Thursday, May 18-Monday, May 22

Where

Charlotte Street Stern Theater (3333 Wyoming)

RSVP

Next Event

Artist Market – November 2025

When

Saturday, November 29, 2025 from 1:00-3:00 PM

Where

Charlotte Street Campus (3333 Wyoming St)

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Hope-Lian Vinson

Hope-Lian Vinson is a Kansas City-based visual artist whose works recast elements of the built environment to explore internal narratives of history and identity. With a B.F.A in Painting, Art History, and a Social Practice Certificate from the Kansas City Art Institute, Hope-Lian works at the intersections of art and ecology by using locally-sourced clay and natural materials to reference place and geological processes. They have showcased works in MdW Atlas, SITE ONE, Sapien Gallery, and have recently returned from the Chop Wood Carry Water arts residency in the Driftless region of NW Illinois. They currently serve as the Marketing + Communications Manager at Charlotte Street, where they use their artistic background in community-organizing to provide critical support for Charlotte Street programs and initiatives.