Artspeak Radio with Fortes Lopez and Beth Byrd-Lonski

Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, September 22, 2021, noon – 1pm CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org
Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes Fortes Lopez and Beth Byrd-Lonski on today’s program.

FORTES LOPEZ is a Filipino-American writer born from immigrant parents. As a child growing up in the Philippines, he heard of the hardships his elders endured during World War II. His grandfather survived the Bloody Death March of Bataan. His grandmother’s brother was gunned down by the Imperial Japanese Army for sneaking bread to US POWs. His mother sold cooked food to the US military on their way to Clark Air Base. She aspired to cross over herself someday to the land of opportunity. Their tales of torture and conflict opened his eyes to the harsh reality that nothing lasts forever. Driven to document their affliction, he aims to share his family’s past with future generations with the expectation of keeping their memories alive.
Fortes began writing A Mother’s Will based on his experiences growing up with his grandmother, and her struggle living in poverty. The story follows the character Mel, a young single mother. Embarrassed of being poor, she hides her shame by eating her lunch in the ladies’ room. She works as an intern on a military base hoping her skills as a typist will bring her to America. With great determination to make up for a modest education, it is her will to change her surroundings for something better. If not for her, then for her son’s sake.
Set in the 1970s in Angeles City, it features dialogue in English, Tagalog and Kapampangan. It also has some history about the Philippines, from whence the Spanish arrived, to the Muslims in the south, and the dictator, Fernando Marcos. The characters were inspired by real people and real-life situations. In addition to the book, Fortes managed to produce a short film based on the last three chapters. Over the course of three years, he has filmed inside of a prison in Jefferson City, Missouri. The main character, Mel, has come to a crossroads. She must decide if saving a man’s life is worth compromising her faith in god. Is love truly worth saving even if it goes against everything you believe in?
The book is available on amazon via download and paperback. It’s stories like his mother’s that inspired Fortes to document her life and others so he can share to the world that anything is possible. How one person’s life can create a chain reaction that benefits the greater good. With self-belief and a little bit of divine intervention, even a street girl from the Philippines can find her way to America. His website features interviews from relatives talking about their hardships and can be found at www.forteslopez.com The film premiered in Los Angeles, August 2020 and is available on Fortes Lopez’s youtube channel; the film’s website is at https://e4lfilms.com/.

BETH BYRD-LONSKI is a professional Mime, Clown, producer, director, creator, instructor and lover of all things Physical Theater. She’s received grants and scholarships with The Charlotte Street Foundation, Art in the Loop, Artist Inc., The Margolis Movement Theater Co., and The Goldston & Johnson School for Mime where she studied with Marcel Marceau. She’s been the Artistic Director of Byrd Productions Physical Theater since 1995, one of the founders of The Flock, A Company of Clowns and Commedia Kansas City and worked with the City in Motion Dance Company since 1996. She’s currently teaching both Mime Classes and Clown Classes at the City in Motion School of Dance.
-My Tuesday night Mime classes and Wednesday night Clown classes have JUST started so it’s not too late to join – go to cityinmotion.org to register.
-I perform at Missie B’s typically twice a month in the Cirque Cabaret shows on Thursday nights, 10:00 – 11:30. I’ll be bringing Jazzbo with me on September 30th!!! That’s a BIG deal, most folks assume he’s completely retired. We’re reviving some of our material from 1995.
Friday September 24 – as a French Mime for the Whole Person Night of Independence Gala. They’re a FABULOUS organization and I get to perform with Jane Christison, an award winning accordion player.
I’ll be participating with Puppets a Glo again this year at the Liberty Memorial. It takes place on Friday and Saturday, September 24th & 25th. I’ll just be performing on the Saturday as Maggie O’Malley, The Leprechaun. I’ll be collecting donations for the pot of gold at the end of the drive through performance. It’s a FREE drive through event, but please, bring tips for the performers. KKFI is also participating by providing the music!
Earlier on Saturday the 25th – I’ll be out at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. It’s a surprise birthday event, so I can’t say too much more, but I’m pretty sure that I’ll be in the Children’s Realm. I performed out there as Sparrow the Court Jester 1985-2002.
Sunday the 26th – I’ll go out to the Lawrence Busker Festival and perform some Mime on a corner. It takes place Friday – Sunday, Sept 24- 26. I’ve taught workshops for them in the past but since I performed at the Salt Lake City Busker Festival this past May, I’d like to try Busking at this one.
Saturday, October 9 – I’ll be Betty the Butterfly at the Mural Celebration Block Party at 5100 Independence Ave. It’s for the Northeast Kansas City Chamber. I could GUSH about the Northeast for a few minutes! Seriously!
October 28th – I’ll be a Hedge Person Sokar Par Park for an annual Halloween Trick or Treat event. with Richard Renner. He’s also the organizer of the Busker Festival.
More stuff that I’ve been doing lately: Working with folks who are developing their acts/coaching. That’s been a real treat!
Providing a NEW workshop for corporations and conventions called Clowning Around for Fitness. I get to combine my MANY years of being a Clown and my MANY years of teaching Arthritis and Silver Sneakers classes into one big snarky fun fest for people stuck at their desks. It’s a very accessible class. You can do all of it in a chair.
And my website is up to date!!! byrdproductions.org

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