HMCKC Welcomes New Creative Team Member

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The Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMCKC) is excited to announce the addition of choreographer Valerie Martin to its creative team. Martin will be joining the HMCKC family for her first production, “HMCKC presents AFTER ALL: 60 YEARS OF CHER!”

Martin is no stranger to the Kansas City theater scene, having previously choreographed and/or directed for Theater in the Park, The Barn Players Community Theatre, OCTA – Olathe Civic Theatre Association, White Theatre at the JCC, and the Church of the Resurrection. She also has a long history of activism and advocacy and is the resident choreographer for Shawnee Mission West and Blue Valley West high schools, and she also teaches private lessons and coaching.

Martin’s work with Sharp Women, LLC includes choreographing “Overture the Musical,” which won the Best of Fest-Audience Choice Prize at the New York Musical Festival in 2019.

“I am excited and humbled to join the HMCKC family,” said Martin. “Working with the Chorus is a true combination of allyship and art, and I’m thrilled to get to share my joy and love of dance with new collaborators and audiences.”

The Heartland Men’s Chorus is thrilled to have Martin on board and looks forward to her contributions to the upcoming production of “AFTER ALL: 60 YEARS OF CHER!”

For more information about the Heartland Men’s Chorus and upcoming events, please visit www.hmckc.org

Will You Be Our Prom Date?

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HMCKC presents Evening of Note: The Prom! U.B.U. All the things you’ve come to love about Dinner of Note have evolved to become more experiential and more engaging. You’ll enjoy a dynamic setting complete with black tie hors d’oeuvres, crafted cocktails, silent and live auctions, and plenty of “recess” – social time to see and be seen. Later in the evening, we will crown our Prom Court, including our Heroes of Note – those individuals and organizations who inspire us all. Finally, we will close the night out on the dance floor.

Join us for this extraordinary Prom event designed to ensure the chorus is able to continue fulfilling its mission to build community, celebrate pride, and empower authenticity in true HMCKC style!

Buy your tickets here: hmckc.org/theprom

Auditions for Heartland Men’s Chorus Season 37 – It’s Magical!

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Heartland Men’s Chorus kicks off its 37th season with auditions for new singers. This season starts with our Holiday Concert in December, then in March 60 years of Cher, followed by Disney Pride in June.

New singer auditions will take place on Sunday, August 28th, and Sunday, September 4th from 4:30p-6:30p at First Lutheran Church, 6400 State Line Rd, Mission Hills, KS 66208.

The other way for new singers to join us is at open rehearsals on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022, and Tuesday, September 13th at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral from 6:30p-9:30p.

The only requirement to audition is to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Masks are not required for auditions. Artistic Leadership will be looking for the following singing skills: matching pitch, ability to sing harmony, aural recall, a basic understanding of rhythm, and the ability to take feedback. Singers will be asked to sing an excerpt of a song that can demonstrate confidence, something prepared or performed in the past, or something as easy as Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Amazing Grace, or any other simple traditional song. You do not need to be able to read music to be a part of HMCKC – only the intrinsic motivation to continue to build on the basic required skills as a singer/musician.

Learn more about joining the chorus: https://hmckc.org/join-the-chorus/

HMCKC Become Leading Men of Broadway

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Here is your next chance to see members of the chorus on stage before our next concert!

The Heartland Men’s Chorus joins your Kansas City Symphony for BROADWAY’S LEADING MEN – the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and more. Jack Everly conducts, September 23-25 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Jack Everly, guest conductor
Heartland Men’s Chorus, Shawn Cullen, artistic director/conductor
Ben Crawford, guest vocalist 
Jim Hogan, guest vocalist 
Jacob Dickey, guest vocalist 
Shereen Pimentel, guest vocalist 

Friday, September 23, 2022 8:00 PM – Sunday, September 25, 2022 2:00 PM

More info and tickets at https://tickets.kcsymphony.org/broadwaysleadingmen

 

Heartland Men’s Chorus Announces New Executive Director

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HMCKC announces the promotion of HMCKC Development Director, Dudley Hogue to Executive Director after the retirement of Rick Fisher on June 30, 2022. 

Dudley has served the Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City in a variety of roles, on and off stage. He has been a performer, Board Chair, Production Manager, Choreographer, and event chair all prior to becoming the Development Director in 2019.

“I am incredibly excited to become the Executive Director of the Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City,” Hogue says. “It is important to me to continue the legacy of the Chorus and improve community building while increasing support for this fine organization.” 

In his former life, Dudley was the Executive Director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, Executive Director of the Kansas City Women’s Chorus, Board member for GALA Choruses, as well as Advancement Director and Interim Executive Director for GALA Choruses, during which he helped plan GALA Festivals. Dudley has been seen on the stages of many community theater productions throughout the Kansas City region and has been on several not-for-profit boards across the country. Dudley is passionate about LGBTQIA causes, and what the performing arts can do to move us all closer to equality. 

Heartland Men’s Chorus Hires First Business Manager

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After 36 seasons, HMCKC is growing and expanding with the hiring of Vince Pugh in the newly created position of Business Manager. Vince started July 1st in the new role and he will manage the day-to-day operations of the organization, including accounting functions, and ticket sales.  He will also assist in event planning and donor relations. 

Vince Pugh brings years of organizational and project management experience with a passion for the performance arts. Most recently, Vince worked at the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce where he led all marketing, events, and programming. Vince understands the importance of community and what’s required to help foster an organization built on creativity.

Vince has a diverse background in event planning, musical theatre, and interdepartmental management. His experience married with his love for people has him eager for this new chapter.

In his free time, he enjoys running marathons, performing, and spending time with his husband, David and their two fur babies, Stevie and Birdie.

HMCKC Becomes Top 2022 AIDS Walk Kansas City Team

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HMCKC Becomes Top 2022 AIDS Walk Kansas City Team

For the past 34 years, Kansas City has come together to raise money to support those men, women, and children affected by HIV and AIDS with AIDSWalkKC and the AIDS Service Foundation. The foundation provides educational and financial resources to four local organizations that directly support the more than 5,700 men, women, and children in Kansas City affected by HIV/AIDS.

Heartland Men’s Chorus kicked off our fundraising campaign to support AIDSWalk Kansas City 2022 at the end of February and set a goal of $15,000. Heartland Men’s Chorus has a long history of support and is one of the many proud sponsors of this iconic event. As members of the organization, we came together and created fundraising pages, participated in raffles to raise money during rehearsals, collected donations after our Spring and Summer concerts, and donated to personal fundraising pages. In addition, on the day of the walk, during the opening ceremonies, we entertained and created event energy by singing three songs from our Spring concert.

We are proud of the efforts of our membership and the support of all those who donated. We raised $14,036 and, although short of our $15,000 goal, ended as the top contributing fundraising team for 2022. We know all these funds stay local and look forward to being an AIDSWalkKC 2023 Partner.

HMCKC’s First Executive Director is Retiring After 25 years!

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After 25 years of dedicated service to HMCKC, Executive Director Rick Fisher will retire on June 30, 2022. In Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City (HMCKC) history, only one individual has served as Executive Director.

For over two decades, Rick has worked diligently to ensure the financial security of the Chorus. He has established himself as a leader in the local LGBTQIA and Kanas City arts communities. Throughout the changing history of the last 25 years, Rick has served as an unwavering and constant influence for the Chorus.

Rick’s legacy looms large in the history of HMCKC. It seems only appropriate that his accomplishments be recognized as he retires. At his suggestion, we are asking you to join us in honoring him by donating to our endowment fund, a fund that Rick helped create. We hope to raise $25,000 to celebrate Rick and ensure a bright future for HMCKC. Any questions regarding the endowment fund and/or this fundraising effort can be sent to Dudley Hogue, Development Director, at dudley@hmckc.org.

Rick will be honored at our performances of Unbreakable at the Folly Theater on June 11 and 12, 2022. We hope you will be there to help us celebrate Rick and his invaluable contributions to Heartland Men’s Chorus.

Heartland Men’s Chorus Presents Unbreakable: A New Musical About Queer History

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From Selma to Stonewall, the common attribute of our country’s most powerful social justice movements is resilience. Unbreakable presents a historical arc of the experiences of LGBTQ people over the last 12 decades, weaving a musical tribute to how our community has evolved, triumphed, suffered, and soared. This new musical co-commissioned by HMCKC and 8 other choruses from across the United States is brought to you by Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa (I Am Harvey Milk, The Addams Family, Big Fish, The Wild Party).

Through the 75-minute concert, you’ll learn of the often untold stories of LGBTQ+ people who truly changed history. Joining the chorus on stage include local guest artists Kristen Altoro-Nevins, Joel Morrison, Malik Hughes, and Stacey Stofferahn.

HMCKC presents the Great Plains premiere of UNBREAKABLE on June 11th & 12th at The Folly Theater. Tickets on sale @ hmckc.org

 

About Heartland Men’s Chorus

Heartland Men’s Chorus (www.hmckc.org) is Kansas City’s gay men’s chorus, now in its 36th season. Founded in 1986 with 30 singers to make music, HMCKC quickly became a safe oasis for a community scarred by fear and hatred.  Now with 80 singers, HMCKC is a vital part of Kansas City’s robust arts and cultural scene, making the historic Folly Theater its performance home for 27 years. More information can be found at Heartland Men’s Chorus. 

Meet HMCKC Board Member: Michelle Fox

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  • When did you become part of HMCKC?

       My first experience was attending a holiday concert in 1996. I absolutely loved it. I felt so warmly embraced by an instant family.  Not only could I see that the Chorus was proud, strong, and fun-loving, but the audience also contributed to creating an inviting and congenial atmosphere.  I have tried not to miss the holiday concert (in particular) since that time, because it always brings a great sense of family, love, and graciousness.  I became truly involved in 2003 when my wife joined the Board, and we volunteered regularly for events.

  • Why did you want to join the HMCKC board?

   When we returned to KC, after living away for 5 years, I knew I wanted to immediately reconnect with the Chorus.  I wanted to join the Board to help lead the Chorus during the difficulties of COVID, overcome those challenges, and meaningfully contribute to this ever-evolving group of dedicated people. I hope to provide intelligent, practical, and considerate leadership while the Chorus continues to develop as a creative, innovative, and community-building organization.

  • What song makes you happy?

“Walking on Sunshine” and “I Shoulda Been a Cowboy”