Rich joined the HMC Board of Directors in July 2020.
HMC has been in my blood since 2003. I joined as a singing member and found the best friends of my life. I was certainly young and had just come out as gay and was certainly in a low place. HMC became my family and I’m so very thankful to be a part of the board and help shape the future of this amazing organization.
What song makes you happy?
All of the songs from naked man or from the charts “Rise Up” by Andra Day
What are you looking forward to the most after the pandemic?
Seeing people I haven’t seen in over a year and TRAVEL!!
Cullen’s Corner
/in BlogWhat a year last year was! From the largest ticketed holiday show in HMC history to the sold-out “After All- 60 Years of Cher” spring show to the epic Disney Pride in Concert- we took a big leap in musical excellence, theatrical presentation, and audience growth! One of the biggest challenges I face each and every season is answering the question that everyone asks- “So, how are you gonna top that?” Even though I have over 50 original career productions under my belt, the pressure to produce something that singers and audience members alike will love is sometimes completely overwhelming.
Creatives often use a process at the beginning of their career rooted in imitating others. Through the learning process, programming moves naturally to assimilation and finally into the final stage of creative producing, innovation. No matter what, each time a producer or writer creates something for the stage, it takes a massive amount of vulnerability and trust grounded in experience and skill (still, always terrifying).
This season we are taking a fresh, innovative approach to our holiday show by creating an original theatrical storyline with characters and a plot to guide our audiences on a holiday adventure. “A Very Merry Christmas Pageant” is an original musical production that follows all members of HMC as they represent various parts of Kansas and Missouri and compete for the title of “Mister Merry Christmas”. You’ll find out the backstory of a few contestants as they partake in several elements of competitive pageants, all while being judged by three guest judges from the KC arts community. This hilarious and heartwarming production will keep you giggling in your seat as you listen to 140 voices performing an eclectic mix of music to get you in the holiday spirit. You’ll hear everything from “My Grown Up Christmas List” and “Do You Hear What I Hear” to non-holiday pop songs through a holiday lens, like Laura Branigan’s 80’s hit- “Gloria”! Now we just need to figure out how to fit all these singers on the Folly and Yardley Stage! As usual, myself and our leadership team stay so very grateful for the community support of HMC, and we can’t wait to bring our music with a message to Kansas City once again this 38th Season!
Shawn Cullen
HMCKC Time Capsule – Gala Festival 2016
/in BlogMeet New HMCKC Board Member: Chris Madden
/in BlogTwo new board members joined the HMCKC Board of Directors during Season 38. One of them is Chris Madden, who is no stranger to music. He is the Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the UMKC Conservatory.
Chris is thrilled to join the board. He says, “Their mission to “build community, celebrate pride, and empower authenticity” is evident not only in the high artistic level of their performances but also in the many ways in which they serve the Kansas City community. These include sponsorship of a scholarship at the UMKC Conservatory as well as their Schools with Heart program, both of which demonstrate the chorus’s commitment to LGBTQ+ youth in the Kansas City metro. As a member of the Kansas City arts community myself, I look forward to supporting the organization in whatever way I can during my time on the board.”