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Seg. 1: Brother John | Seg. 2: Laura Noble | Seg. 3: Hate Mail

Segment 1: A Fringe-famous performer tells his story.

Brother John is a pastor and storyteller who researches characters from African-American history then creates performances that bring history to life. He's become a regular contributor to Kansas City's Fringe Festival. This year, he's focusing on Smoky Robinson.


Segment 2: Kansas City singer Laura Noble on making her own music.

Laura Noble got her start performing the National Anthem for the Royals, thanks in part to her family's role in welcoming Dominican players for the Royals. She's played for a lot of bands, in other cities and other countries. And now her own band is getting ready for a free summer concert at the Kansas City Museum August 9.


Segment 3: Author Laurie Gelman on her mail from Kansas Citians.

Laurie Gelman's novel You're Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel includes a note to "the fine folks of Kansas City," which includes a request to stop sending hate mail. Although she's half-joking, the mail is real. 

  • Laurie Gelman, author, You've Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

Gina’s background combines print and broadcast journalism, live event hosting and production, creative nonfiction writing and involvement in the arts. Early in her career, she followed a cultural beat for The Pitch, where she served as an editor and art writer in the early 2000s.
Anne Kniggendorf is a freelance writer based in Kansas City, whose work has appeared in local media outlets as well as in the Smithsonian Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, Electric Literature, Ploughshares, and several literary reviews, including two as far away as India and Scotland.
Chris Young
Melody Rowell